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Chapter 78 Hogarth's Ancient Body!
🕑 Added 2025-03-13 19:00:06 +0000 UTCSeeing that Jeanlooked very conflicted, Aaron asked, "What’s the matter? Is there something else?"
"Do you know Kaecilius?" Jean asked anxiously.
"Him? Why are you bringing him up?"
Of course, Aaron knew who Kaecilius was. In the future, he would defect to Kamar-Taj, and even have the distinction of sending the Ancient One offline and summoning Dormammu. He could even be considered a minor character with a significant impact.
Boss-level villains like Ultron always caused trouble around Kaecilius. According to the timeline, Kaecilius was supposed to attack Kamar-Taj a few years later, which would eventually lead to the events with Doctor Strange. Could it be that Kaecilius had run away early because of Aaron’s arrival? It wasn’t impossible.
But Aaron didn’t think it was necessary to eliminate him in advance. The Ancient One wasn’t concerned, so why should he be? Besides, even if Kaecilius was dealt with early, someone else would likely follow the same path. Kaecilius wasn’t the only one willing to go astray in search of power.
"During this time, he’s been asking me about 'that thing,' and I feel like he has ulterior motives," Jean continued. "I can see the desire for power in his eyes."
Jean hesitated as she spoke. She hadn’t told anyone about it. Over time, she realized that Kaecilius was the most powerful magician in Kamar-Taj. She, on the other hand, was just an outsider living there temporarily with Aaron. Why would anyone believe her? She had also made this assumption based on her experience at the Xavier Academy of Giftedness, recognizing that Kaecilius' eyes resembled those of some students obsessed with power.
But since she had no proof, she kept her suspicions to herself, waiting to tell Aaron once he returned.
"That’s it…" Aaron frowned and immediately said, "I’ll talk to the Ancient One and ask her to keep an eye on Kaecilius."
"Hmm!" Jean nodded, her face lighting up with a smile.
The worry that had plagued her for so long finally had a solution. She was happy that Aaron hadn’t questioned her suspicions, and instead went straight to the Ancient One to address it. In a strange place, it felt good to know there were people who paid attention and cared.
"By the way, where does Kaecilius usually meet you?" Aaron asked suddenly.
Jean was startled for a moment before responding, "In the library. I’ve noticed he often goes there, but I don’t know where he goes or what he does."
"Hey, you’re not going to confront him now, are you? These are just my guesses; there’s no need to go to him directly," Jean added, worried.
She feared that Aaron’s actions, bypassing the Ancient One, could cause trouble or stir up hostility, both from Kaecilius and from the rest of Kamar-Taj. After all, if an outsider went to confront a local magician based on a guess, no one would be pleased.
"Don’t worry, I’m just going to warn him."
Aaron reassured her, then set off to find the Ancient One. But before he left, he decided to stop by the library.
He couldn’t help but think about what Jean had said. Could Kaecilius be spying on the Phoenix Force?
The Phoenix Force, representing life and emotion, was immortal to Chaos. This was exactly what Kaecilius craved. For this, he might even throw himself into the embrace of darkness, summoning Dormammu to devour the world.
Aaron had brought Jean here to avoid the Phoenix Force detonating prematurely. If Kaecilius made things worse, it might prompt him to bring Asgard into the mix.
Although he wasn’t overly worried about the Phoenix Force breaking out just yet, the confidence he gained from his father’s power gave him assurance.
In the library, Wong Zheng sat in the most obvious position, reading a magic book with great focus. Wong, who had earned the title of Sorcerer Supreme after Doctor Strange’s departure, was one of the most trusted magicians in Kamar-Taj.
Given his high position, it was no surprise that he was the librarian, tasked with overseeing many forbidden books, including one containing dark magic capable of summoning Dormammu.
When Wong saw Aaron, he immediately stood up and saluted.
"God of Magic!"
Despite Wong’s doubts about this Asgardian God of Magic, he followed the Sorcerer Supreme’s instructions to greet Aaron with the highest standard of respect.
Aaron glanced around and didn’t see Kaecilius, so he asked, "Is Kaecilius here?"
Wong, sensing Aaron’s search, quickly offered, "If you’re looking for something, I can find any magic book in the library immediately. I check every day to make sure it's available."
"Is Kaecilius here?" Aaron asked again.
Wong didn’t expect Aaron to be looking for Kaecilius. He wondered what might have happened to provoke the God of Magic. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "He’s not here. He’s probably taking over Mordo’s role, teaching the apprentices. Do you need me to find him?"
Aaron shook his head. "No need, I’ll find him later." If Kaecilius was in Kamar-Taj, he couldn’t avoid Aaron forever.
As he turned to leave, Aaron’s gaze landed on a familiar title.
"That’s… Hogarth!"
Could it be the ancient god from the Vishanti legends? Aaron remembered a powerful spell named after him.
His steps faltered as he approached the shelf.
Wong quickly followed and explained, "This is the spell of the ancient god Hogarth, known as the ancient body of Hogarth. This magic is profound. It elevates the caster from the material world to a higher dimension, granting them powers beyond material rules."
"It also allows the user to dissolve material rule-based attacks and provides absolute defense against material-level assaults!"
Aaron immediately understood. This spell was a powerful defensive magic, capable of neutralizing attacks like Thanos’ black hole during Doctor Strange’s fight with him. In terms of defense, it surpassed both the Ring of Lago Gador and the Shield of Sephirah.
Wong continued, "According to Sorcerer Supreme’s instructions, if you're interested, you can study it anytime."
Aaron decided to learn the spell. Although he already had an energy shield, this defensive magic against material rules would complement his physical defense. Additionally, with his current high magic resistance, this spell would provide a significant advantage.
Since the Ancient One didn’t mind, Aaron wasn’t going to be polite about it. He took the magic book and told Wong when he’d return, then left the library.
Wong, left at the table, wondered how long it would take Aaron to master Hogarth’s ancient body. Currently, only the Ancient One could wield this magic proficiently. Even Mordo and Wong could only observe from the sidelines. The complexity of Hogarth’s ancient body was legendary.
Meanwhile, Kaecilius, who had been lingering nearby, was approached by Wong, who casually mentioned, "The God of Magic was looking for you earlier. He didn’t seem very friendly."
Kaecilius, startled, immediately began to worry. Had his recent actions attracted Aaron’s attention? He feared the worst, thinking about his pursuit of the Phoenix Force. His heart raced as he realized the consequences of his actions.
Wong, unaware of Kaecilius’ inner turmoil, simply mentioned, "Maybe you should think about what you’ve done recently to draw the God of Magic's attention."
Kaecilius couldn’t think clearly. He needed more time to investigate the Phoenix Force. This moment was critical, and if he couldn’t act fast, it might all fall apart.
As he plotted his next move, Aaron arrived at the Ancient One’s chambers. She had sensed his magical power and greeted him with a serious expression.
"It seems you’ve gained a lot of power in the past few days. The energy you’re emitting is truly shocking."
Aaron didn’t respond much, instead focusing on Kaecilius.
Upon hearing his concerns, the Ancient One’s expression grew serious. "I’ll pay attention to what you said. Kaecilius has gone astray," she sighed. "The world operates according to its own laws, and everything will age and die."
"The sun will burn out one day," she continued, "and those who seek immortality must endure suffering beyond ordinary comprehension."
Aaron understood that the Ancient One’s words came from her knowledge of countless futures. It was a burden to know what was destined to happen but feel powerless to change it.
The arrival of Aaron had brought her new hope, a hope that the future could still be altered.
When the Ancient One saw the magic book Aaron had taken, she said, "I didn’t expect you to start with this magic. It’s difficult but powerful."
"I want to try," Aaron replied, determined.
Unlike the Ancient One and Doctor Strange, who used the magic power of the Vishanti, Aaron was using his own energy. Mastering Hogarth’s ancient body required vast magical power, but with Aaron’s abundance of magic, he was confident he could learn it.
The Ancient One, seeing Aaron’s resolve, didn’t try to stop him. "Why don’t you try learning it here? I might be able to offer some advice."
Aaron agreed, and under her guidance, he began his training in Hogarth’s ancient body. Within no time, he mastered the spell, though he was surprised by how much magical energy it consumed. It was a powerful, but expensive, defense.
