(Somewhere in New York)

Lex paced back and forth in the dimly lit office room. His mind running the events of the evening back and forth.

"The report just came in. They couldn't secure the target." Felix told his employer the bad news. "Everything was going on smoothly until that powerful sorcerer intruded. The mission would otherwise be a success."

Lex stopped his pacing, his body looking away from Felix.

"The mission was a success." Lex retorted, but calmly, a sly grin forming in his face. "We saw the prototype in action, and it worked perfectly."

"But it still is incomplete, and the crystal we lost is the key to completing it." Felix said.

"Are you sure about the powers of the crystal?" Lex asked.

"Yes. The artifact isn't exactly a magical relic, and harnessing it's powers will enable you to use anti-magic indefinitely." Felix explained.

"Why would you agree to such a thing?" Lex asked, curious. "Are you planning to pull a stupid stunt against me?"

"I'm helping you because we have a deal. Use your science to enhance my magic, and I'll help you become a master of magic. It's that simple." Felix said. "As to whether anti-magic will affect me or not, that's my concern, and it doesn't involve me betraying you."

"Very well." Lex said. "What happened to crystal?"

"The sorcerer took it." Felix replied.

"What do you know about this sorcerer?" Lex asked.

"I know he's powerful and mysterious, and his identity and activities have been concealed up until now." Felix started. "But I have never heard of a Doctor Strange, and I doubt he showed us the full potential of his powers."

"However, just like all those who stand before us, he shall perish the next time we meet him." Felix added.

"There is no us." Lex retorted authoritatively.

"How did Mirage fair against him, having the prototype in her suit?" Lex asked.

"She had an edge against him, but he somehow managed to sabotaged her suit. But she managed to escape in the nick of time." Felix replied.

Lex smiled to himself. His plan was going on well, despite the minor trifle he had experienced.

He had managed to harness magic and imbue it in his weapons, creating more powerful weapons like never before, and now he was going for the countermeasure.

He would use the powers of the crystal to protect himself from any magical attacks. Hopefully, superpowers fell into that category.

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But there was no need for hope. He was sure, and, Superman would stand no chance against him and his new improved suit. Metropolis would be his, and Superman would finally be defeated.

"Find that sorcerer and retrieve the crystal." Lex issued his command and Felix left the room.

(Inspired)

The encounter with Lex and Felix had left me intrigued. Such a combination of villains was unconventional, not to say a bad omen.

If Lex had an interest in magic, that threatened everything as it was. His advancement in the arcane would only result in total chaos as he tried to fuse magic and technology, disregarding the principles and rules of magic.

At the end of the day, Lex was always a bad guy that needed to be stopped.

I could already guess what Felix was getting out of the relationship with Lex. He must have seen a rare opportunity for him to get back all his power through science, without the need of making deals with demons, an opportunity he jumped right at knowing that he had nothing to lose.

Both of them needed stopping, and I could ask for help from the Justice League... But, nah. I work better alone, especially where magic is involved.

I didn't know what the crystal I had retrieved did, but the radiation it produced felt really weird. But while in the Greenpoint Sanctum, I put it away in the mirror dimension, where no one could access it.

Meeting Lex had also inspired something within me. I needed to set my plans in motion as fast and as creatively as possible, in the likeness of a master mind.

For one, I needed to ensure that the three locations I had projected my magic stayed hidden and protected if I wanted to keep the OmniSight Aegis up. I couldn't exist in these places at once, however.

Secondly, I needed to hunt for artifacts too, in search of the scrolls. That was a lot of work for just one person, having scouted in New York long enough, bearing no fruits of my labour.

As for the book I was searching for, I had a strange feeling that only Doctor Fate would possess such a thing. I needed to pay a visit to the Tower of Fate.

Thirdly, I wanted a normal life, doing normal things and enjoying life as it was, while still in my quest. I also needed to keep organizing my knowledge and become the ultimate Doctor Strange.

To achieve all my goals, and create a vast network of resources, I knew I had to amount a lot of wealth and influence, uncharacteristic of a Sorcerer Supreme. But I wasn't one right now, was I?

I needed to play a Lex Luthor card and become a mastermind.

"Bzz zzz zzz." My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I retrieved my phone from my pocket and saw that Zatanna was calling. I hadn't heard from her in a while. I swiped to answer the call.

"Zatanna, it's been a while," I greeted her warmly. "Are you back yet?"

"No. But I have an important message to tell you." Zatanna said, sounding serious and urgent. "The axiom - the mirror is a powerful relic from the Homo Magi, my heritage. I got preoccupied with my father, so I can't make it back just yet. You must keep it safe, and, no matter what you do, don't remove it from the astral plane."

I listened to her warning, and replied. "You can count on me."

The call disconnected, and I lowered my phone from my ear.

Just as I was about to put it back in the pocket, a notification popped up on my phone.

It was a reminder for an appointment I had scheduled - a surgery. In my scouts around New York City, I had been able to secure a job in a major hospital (by breaking a few magic rules).

It was mostly for the rush of being a surgeon again, but I also wanted to make some money, while building up my reputation, and increasing my influence in New York.

I sighed and decided to address this professional commitment. With a few taps on my phone, I confirmed the appointment and sent a message to my assistant to ensure everything was in order.

Balancing my life as both a sorcerer with a quest and a surgeon would not be easy, but I was willing to try it out for a while.

I would come back to set up the Greenpoint Sanctum as a place protected by skilled sorcerers, later.

With that, I opened a portal, leading to a secluded place in the hospital.

(Surgery)

The surgery had gone off without a hitch. My hands, guided by the precision only I could command, had effortlessly navigated the delicate terrain of the patient's brain.

The once-turbulent sea of internal turmoil was now calm, thanks to my surgical prowess. As I gazed upon the completed operation, confidence and pride welled up within me. I knew that even in the realm of medicine, I was unmatched.

The operating room staff had witnessed my extraordinary skills firsthand. They stood with admiration evident in their eyes.

Though I was new to this hospital, my reputation as a brilliant surgeon had preceded me. Rumors of my skillful abilities and incredible success rate were spreading like wildfire among the medical community. (Not 100% true)

It seemed that my arrival had created a buzz of excitement, and my colleagues treated me with a reverence that bordered on worship.

Nurse Thompson, an experienced and highly respected member of the surgical team, approached me with a look of wonder. "Doctor Strange, that was incredible! It's always like you have some kind of magical touch in your surgery."

I chuckled softly, the eye glowing subtly beneath my scrubs. "I assure you, Nurse Thompson, it's all about precision and focus. Magic, in a way, is an extension of that."

Dr. Rodriguez, the head of the department, joined the conversation. "Doctor Strange, we've heard stories, but witnessing your skills in action is something else entirely. We're lucky to have you here. I hope you'll consider staying with us for a long time."

I appreciated the warm welcome, but my life as Doctor Strange was multifaceted. There was no telling when my duties would clash. "I appreciate your kind words, Dr. Rodriguez. I'll do my best to contribute to the team."

But despite all this, my body, the very body that had participated in a high-profile surgery, was killing me. I was exhausted and drowsy from my escapades in the previous night.

I had not had a wink of sleep, and right now, I was looking for a way to escape the group flocking around me.

A little magic did the trick, and the group turned around mesmerized by an illusion in the hallway. And just like that, I slid away from their grasp.