Six months had passed since their fateful encounter with Dormammu’s dark disciple, and though the world around Adrian, Emily, and Ava had moved forward, nothing truly felt the same. That battle had left more than just scars—it had shifted their entire reality. They had become stronger, more resilient, and more aware of the dangers lurking in the shadows of the world they now inhabited.

Their hidden sanctuary was a place of refuge, a loft nestled in the heart of the city, away from prying eyes. The hum of Adrian's technological projects filled the room, the arcane symbols glowing faintly around his workbench. His energy shield, once a crude prototype, now pulsed with magic—fused with the protective spells Emily had woven into its core. It was stronger, faster, and more reliable, able to absorb both physical and magical attacks.

Yet, despite this advancement, Adrian felt a sense of dread. It wasn’t just the aftermath of the battle or the slow recovery that had weighed on them; it was the recent incidents that had taken place all over the city—strange, inexplicable occurrences that hinted at something larger on the horizon. Portals were appearing at random, their swirling energies distorting the air, and people had started vanishing without a trace. The very fabric of reality seemed to be unraveling.

Adrian’s fingers hovered over the shield’s interface, his brow furrowed in concentration. Emily’s footsteps were soft as she approached from the doorway, her presence grounding him as always. She had changed in the past six months—her martial arts powers had blended seamlessly with her deepening connection to magic. Each movement was fluid, every step a precise blend of control and energy. She was a force of nature.

“You still working on the shield?” Emily asked, her voice cutting through the hum of energy.

Adrian looked up from his work, offering a half-smile. “Yeah. This one should be the final version—hopefully. It’s infused with a defensive spell that can absorb energy, like the magic we faced with that disciple.”

She nodded, leaning closer to inspect his work. “Good. We’re going to need every advantage we can get.”

Her tone was steady, but there was a tension beneath her words—a tension they both shared. The portal incidents had increased over the past weeks, and whispers of something even darker stirred in the corners of the city. Emily had heard rumors in the magical underground, of sorcerers preparing for something. It all pointed toward a greater convergence, something that sent ripples through time and space itself. It was unsettling.

Emily placed her hand on his shoulder, a gesture of comfort that carried unspoken fears. “Whatever happens, we’ll be ready. We’ve been preparing for months. We’re stronger now.”

Adrian took a deep breath, nodding. “Yeah, we are. But I can’t shake the feeling that this is bigger than us.”

Before either could say more, the sound of tiny footsteps echoed from down the hallway.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Ava’s excited voice carried into the room as she ran in, a bright smile lighting up her face. The faint glow of golden sparks trailed her fingers as she held them up proudly. “Look, I did the lights like you showed me!”

Adrian’s heart swelled with pride and worry. In the months following the battle, Ava’s abilities had begun to manifest more clearly. At first, it had been small sparks of light or objects moving on their own, but now… now her powers were growing, just as theirs had. She was so young, and the weight of responsibility for her training pressed heavily on both of them.

Emily crouched down to Ava’s level, her smile warm. “You’re getting better and better, Ava. We’ll have to keep practicing so you can control it more.”

Ava’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Can we do the big lights next time?”

Adrian chuckled, kneeling beside them. “Maybe. But for now, let’s keep it small, okay?”

Ava giggled, nodding eagerly before running off to her play area, leaving her parents to exchange a quiet, knowing glance.

“She’s getting stronger,” Adrian said, his voice low. “It’s happening faster than I expected.”

Emily nodded, her gaze lingering on Ava. “It is. And with everything happening out there… we’ll need to make sure she’s ready.”

The air between them felt heavy. They both knew that the randomness of Ava’s abilities wasn’t the only thing growing. The strange portals, the distortions in reality—it all pointed toward something. And in recent days, Emily had sensed something on the edge of her consciousness, like the ripples of an ancient force awakening.

Later that night, after Ava had gone to bed, Adrian and Emily sat on the balcony, watching the city below. The stars above twinkled in the vast sky, but tonight there was something off—an almost imperceptible shift in the energy around them.

“I’ve been thinking,” Emily began, her voice thoughtful. “All these portals… the ones we’ve been hearing about… it’s not random.”

Adrian nodded slowly, his mind turning over the possibilities. “It’s connected. I don’t know how, but it feels like something’s building.”

“It reminds me of what we read in Wong’s texts,” Emily said, her brow furrowing. “The talk of convergences—moments when dimensions overlap. It’s not just coincidence that these portals have been increasing.”

Adrian’s eyes widened slightly. “The Convergence,” he murmured. “Like the one that brought Malekith to Earth during Thor: The Dark World. But this… this is different. These portals are scattered, and they’re not tied to one event. It’s almost like someone’s opening them intentionally.”

Emily’s gaze sharpened. “Or something.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a distant hum—a sound they had come to recognize all too well. It was the unmistakable hum of a portal opening, and it was closer than any they had sensed before. They stood in unison, their senses on high alert.

“We need to check it out,” Emily said, her voice steady but urgent.

Adrian nodded, quickly gathering his gear. “Stay close. We don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

As they left the loft, the city lights illuminated their path. They followed the energy signature, moving through the city streets with practiced caution. The portal’s hum grew louder as they approached the source, a swirling vortex of energy that rippled in the air like a tear in reality itself.

The moment they arrived, the air felt electric, charged with magical energy. Adrian’s heart raced. He had seen portals before, but this one felt different—more purposeful. As they approached the edge of the distortion, a figure emerged from the shadows. A man in a crimson cloak, his eyes glowing with the intensity of the spell he was casting.

“Doctor Strange…” Emily whispered, recognition flooding her voice.

Stephen Strange, the future Sorcerer Supreme, was focused on the portal, his hands weaving intricate symbols in the air. He didn’t notice them at first, too engrossed in his task.

But something about this portal was wrong. It crackled with chaotic energy, unlike the controlled portals they had seen sorcerers create. This was unstable, its edges fraying like a wound in the fabric of space.

Strange’s concentration faltered for a split second, and that was all it took. The portal’s energy surged violently, expanding outwards with a deafening roar.

“Get back!” Adrian shouted, pulling Emily behind him as the shockwave hit.

The force of the portal’s collapse knocked them off their feet, the world spinning as they struggled to regain their balance. When the dust settled, the portal was gone, leaving only a faint ripple in the air where it had been.

Doctor Strange stood before them, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Adrian and Emily. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of recognition.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Strange said, his voice calm but commanding. “This is far beyond anything you can handle.”

Adrian and Emily exchanged a glance, their resolve hardening. Whatever was happening, they were in it now—whether they wanted to be or not.

And the game had just begun.