https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-357-The-Arrival-of-the-Dark-Elves-6000-/13460843/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-359-Guardian-of-the-Reality-Stone-6000-/13460845/
Chapter 358: Jerry's Combined Magic (6000+)
Chapter 358: Jerry's Combined Magic (6000+)
"Wong, gather all the Kamar-Taj mages and prepare to face the enemy!"
The Ancient One glanced up at the sky and then turned to a middle-aged Chinese-American mage standing by the door.
"Yes, Master!"
The middle-aged mage bowed respectfully to the Ancient One and hurried away.
The Ancient One's unusual behavior made Jerry pause. He was about to ask what was happening, but then he seemed to notice something and turned to look in the same direction the Ancient One had been watching.
"It looks like something is approaching Kamar-Taj!"
Thor and Jane followed Jerry's gaze, but all they saw was a clear blue sky and some suddenly gusting wind.
"They must be invisible. Smoke Recon Spell!"
Jerry waved his hand, and a large cloud of smoke appeared, swirling out of the living room and toward the sky.
The Smoke Recon Spell, a spell specifically designed by the Morgana School of Mages to counter invisibility magic, had once been used by Hogwarts to break Jerry's Disguise Charm.
As the smoke spread and coiled through the air like a living entity, a massive, kilometer-high warship with an alien technological style appeared high above the Himalayas.
"Oh my God, what is that thing!"
Jane's eyes widened in shock as she saw the colossal warship. As a top scientist on Earth, encountering such advanced technology was bound to elicit this reaction.
Thor frowned:
"The emblem on that ship looks like the symbol of the Dark Elves, a race that was supposedly extinct!"
"That's correct. These are the survivors of the Dark Elves who have been dormant for five thousand years, awakened by the power of the Aether."
The Ancient One nodded with a smile, seemingly unfazed by the arrival of the Dark Elves.
"So, they are here for the Aether!"
Jerry quickly understood why the Ancient One had ordered the Kamar-Taj mages to prepare for defense.
Thor, unusually serious, added:
"We cannot let the Dark Elves obtain the Aether. My grandfather eradicated them because they intended to use it to plunge the universe back into darkness. They surely have the same goal now."
Hearing Thor's words, Jerry felt a spark of excitement in his eyes.
What? Plunging the universe back into darkness? What a grand ambition, and the consequences would be severe!
Jerry found the Dark Elves' grand vision quite impressive, given that it involved the entire universe. More red stars would certainly be a bonus.
Although Jerry doubted the Dark Elves could achieve their goal even if he didn't intervene.
The Reality Stone is indeed powerful, but using it to plunge the universe into eternal darkness is unrealistic.
Even if the Dark Elves managed to use the Reality Stone to darken the universe, it wouldn't be long before top-tier cosmic beings intervened to reclaim the Reality Stone and restore the universe to its original state.
Some of these beings might not even need the Reality Stone to restore the universe to normal.
Moreover, Odin and the Ancient One are still alive and would never allow the Dark Elves to use the Reality Stone to affect the Nine Realms or Earth.
However, Jerry believed that if he could help prevent the Dark Elves from obtaining the Reality Stone, he would earn a significant number of red stars.
After all, the Dark Elves are invading Earth with a warship, just like the Chitauri did before.
At that moment, Wong, Mordo, and Kasheen, the Ancient One's three disciples, entered the hall:
"Master, all the mages are in position. Should we attack the enemy?"
"Master Ancient One, since we brought the Aether to Kamar-Taj, it would be unfair to involve and potentially harm the Kamar-Taj mages.
Therefore, please have the Kamar-Taj mages activate protective magic to safeguard this place. Thor and I will handle the Dark Elves!"
Jerry's eyes, which had been gleaming with excitement, now returned to a more serious expression as he stepped forward and declared.
He was joking; if the Ancient One went all out, Jerry suspected that the Dark Elves would be obliterated before he could earn many red stars.
It would be better if the Ancient One and the Kamar-Taj mages provided support while Thor acted as a tank and he focused on dealing damage.
If they could eliminate the Dark Elves, that would be ideal. If not, they would kill as many as possible, and the Ancient One could finish off the rest, ensuring safety and maximizing his red star rewards.
"Master Jerry, you don't need to feel guilty. It is our duty to protect Earth. We do not interfere in internal conflicts, but we will defend against invasions from other planets and extraterrestrial beings."
Ancient One looked at Jerry, a smile of admiration spreading across her face.
Why did she admire Jerry so much, to the point of unconditionally opening the library and her personal collection to him, even if he did not join Kamar-Taj, and personally guiding him in the study of magic?
It was because, through the Time Stone, she had seen that in most of the possible futures and pasts of Jerry, he always stood at the forefront, risking his life and facing dangers head-on when it came to matters of great importance.
To judge a person's character, one must primarily look at their actions over time.
Through the Time Stone, Ancient One had observed Jerry's past, and it was nearly flawless. He took care of his sister and father at home, handling almost all the household chores, and outside, he did as much good as he could.
While some of his methods were a bit extreme, such as beating up bullies who targeted the weak, lying to teachers to get them to punish bad kids, or symbolically accepting payment for good deeds, his intentions were always for justice, not for personal gain.
After all, no one is perfect. Even Ancient One herself had made many mistakes in the past, and that was perfectly normal.
To be honest, if she hadn't already determined the next Sorcerer Supreme, Jerry would have been a perfect candidate for the role.
What Ancient One didn't know was that Jerry's true motivation for doing good was largely to earn red stars, something the Time Stone couldn't reveal.
It wasn't Ancient One's fault. After all, no one could read minds or access Jerry's memories. Based on his actions from childhood to the present, Jerry appeared to be the best and most trustworthy superhero.
This was also the prevailing impression most people had of witches.
"Although that's true, the responsibility still lies with us. If any Kamar-Taj mages are sacrificed because of this incident, I would feel deeply guilty.
So, let me and Thor do our best to deal with the Dark Elves. If we can't handle them, we'll ask the Kamar-Taj mages for help!"
Jerry's tone was resolute, and he seemed to glow with determination.
Wong and Mordo exchanged glances, their faces showing admiration.
They finally understood why the Sorcerer Supreme admired Jerry, a non-Kamar-Taj mage, so much.
Facing the massive Dark Elf warship and the formidable Dark Elves, Jerry was willing to face them alone to protect the Kamar-Taj mages, a noble act that truly commanded respect.
"The responsibility is ours, and we will resolve it. I'm sorry, Jerry. This matter was not your concern, but you've been dragged into it, putting you in danger alongside me."
Thor looked at Jerry, his face filled with guilt.
He had only intended to ask Jerry for a little help to save Daisy, never expecting to unleash the long-extinct Dark Elves.
Although the Dark Elves had been defeated by the Asgardians in the past, as a race born from the darkness at the dawn of the universe, they possessed physical strength and technological power on par with Asgard, making them formidable foes.
"Thor, we are comrades-in-arms, so don't say that. Besides, Daisy is my friend too, and I also want to test the magic I've recently learned!"
Jerry patted Thor's shoulder, his face breaking into a radiant smile.
If not for Thor's request, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to encounter such events and earn a large number of red stars.
Indeed, every famous superhero in the Marvel world was always involved in various incidents. Building connections with them would provide him with numerous opportunities to earn red stars.
Thor looked into Jerry's sincere eyes, feeling deeply moved.
"Alright, I'll use my little sweetie to smash those Dark Elves' heads!"
"Since Jerry has made his decision, I won't insist further. However, to ensure this battle doesn't affect civilians, allow me to provide a small assistance!"
Ancient One smiled and gently spread her hands, casting the Mirror Dimension magic of Kamar-Taj.
Unlike when Kasheen had pulled Jerry and himself into the Mirror Dimension, or when Jerry later entered it on his own, Ancient One directly transported all the Kamar-Taj mages and the massive Dark Elf warship into the Mirror Dimension.
Compared to Kasheen and Jerry, Ancient One's understanding of this magic was far superior.
In the command room of the Dark Elf warship:
"Leader, our ship has been pulled into a special dimension. Should we activate the spatial jump function to return to normal space?"
A lean Dark Elf reported to Malekith.
"No need. I can sense that the Aether is also in this dimension. I didn't expect Midgard to still have mages, and they seem quite powerful."
As an ancient race born from the darkness, although they primarily focus on technological advancements, this does not mean they are completely ignorant of magic.
The way they dispelled the stealth smoke from the warship and then pulled the entire vessel into a special dimension clearly demonstrates the magical abilities of mages.
"Leader, they are just a bunch of mages playing tricks. Let me take three squads down there, eliminate them all, and retrieve the Aether for you!"
On the other side, a muscular Dark Elf knelt on one knee and loudly volunteered.
Malekith glanced at the subordinate:
"Take thirty squads down there, finish the fight quickly, and bring back the Aether!"
With the stealth effect gone, Asgard would soon discover the Dark Elves' warship. They needed to secure the Aether and hide before Asgard's forces could react.
Once the Convergence occurs and the Nine Realms are connected, they would appear at the convergence point and use the Aether to fulfill their dream of returning the universe to darkness.
"Yes, Leader!"
The muscular Dark Elf quickly rose, turned around, and began gathering Dark Elf warriors, swiftly boarding the shuttles.
On the roof of Kamar-Taj, mages clad in robes, wielding various magical tools, emerged from portals.
They were the Kamar-Taj mages stationed at the three major sanctuaries, summoned by Wong to defend the sacred site of Kamar-Taj.
"Prepare to defend the sanctuary!"
With Wong's loud command, over a hundred Kamar-Taj mages raised their sling rings, ready to activate the combined defensive shield to fend off the attacks from the warship.
Another hundred mages stood on the roof and high platforms, drawing Magic-imbued bow-shaped weapons.
Even in the special positions at the corners of the roof, several mages pushed out large cannons engraved with various magical runes.
Clearly, Kamar-Taj had its own defensive and offensive arrays to deal with external attacks and was not unfamiliar with such situations.
"They are about to attack, Thor, let's go!"
Jerry, already on the roof, saw thirty small shuttles suddenly detach from the massive warship. He called out to Thor, spread his wings, and flew forward.
These small shuttles were only small in comparison to the thousand-meter-high warship. In reality, each shuttle, similar in design to the warship, was about thirty to forty meters tall, not much smaller than a ten-story building.
Each shuttle had a crimson cannon, with red energy seemingly ready to be unleashed at any moment.
"Cough, Brother Jerry, I think just the two of us might be a bit difficult. I'll take the lead, and if you can't hold on, retreat quickly!"
Thor flew to Jerry's side, swinging his hammer, and looking at the thousand-meter-high warship and the aggressive Dark Elf shuttles, felt a chill run through his scalp.
He was no longer the arrogant Thor from two years ago who dared to charge into the Frost Giants' lair with a few friends. If not for Odin's timely rescue, they might have been wiped out.
He knew very well that, with his current strength, even with Jerry's powerful magic, they couldn't possibly take down such a large warship and so many shuttles on their own.
As for why he agreed to Jerry earlier, it was partly because the atmosphere had been built up, and he had been caught up in the moment.
Of course, he wasn't being cowardly. Even alone, he would dare to face them with his hammer. He just wanted to give Jerry a heads-up.
"Don't worry. I haven't been idle these past two years. Let me show you the new magic I've studied in Kamar-Taj!"
Jerry saw Thor gripping Mjolnir, already beginning to channel Thor's Power, and gave him a reassuring look before focusing his mind to cast a spell.
He had taken on a lot of responsibility from the Ancient One, and he had some confidence in his abilities.
In Thor's memory, the last time he saw Jerry in battle was during the Battle of New York, when Jerry used the Basilisk to kill a large number of Chitauri soldiers and rode Fire Dragons, casting flame magic.
Back then, he could only summon up to ten Fire Dragons at a time.
In the current situation, the Basilisk wouldn't be effective unless the Dark Elves left their warship and shuttles.
However, his magic skills had improved significantly since New York.
"Eckern's March!"
With a low chant, eighteen arms suddenly appeared behind Jerry, and nine identical figures to him flew out from behind him.
Eckern's March is one of the advanced spells of Kamar-Taj.
It allows the caster to create physical doppelgangers to assist in battle, and these doppelgangers can cast the same magic as the original.
The number of doppelgangers and the duration they can be maintained depend on the caster's understanding of the spell and the amount of energy available.
Jerry was only a beginner with this spell, able to summon up to nine doppelgangers and maintain them for less than ten seconds.
But he felt this would be more than enough to handle the thirty shuttles.
After summoning the nine doppelgangers, Jerry didn't hesitate. Both the original and the doppelgangers shouted in unison:
"Hundred Dragons Descent!"
With nearly half of his magic power depleted, a thousand roaring Fire Dragons appeared out of thin air in the sky above Kamar-Taj.
Seeing the sky filled with these Fire Dragons, each at least ten meters long, not only the Dark Elves in the warships and shuttles were stunned, but even the Kamar-Taj Mages on the ground, who were on high alert, and Thor, who was ready to strike with a Thunderbolt, were taken aback.
A thousand Fire Dragons roaring and flying around, their fiery presence lit up half the sky, creating a terrifying spectacle.
"Destroy them!"
Jerry pointed at the incoming Dark Elf shuttles, and the thousand Fire Dragons immediately roared and charged forward.
There were only thirty shuttles, but a thousand Fire Dragons. On average, each shuttle would be attacked by more than thirty Fire Dragons.
Even if the shuttles managed to intercept a few with their energy cannons, they would still be hit by at least twenty Fire Dragons.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A series of explosions echoed in the sky, and the shuttles instantly turned into brilliant fireworks, scattering the Dark Elves inside into the void.
The Dark Elf shuttles were not made of ordinary metal; it was evident from their ability to function after five thousand years.
If it were just the power of Earth's cannons, they might not have been able to penetrate these shuttles.
However, Jerry's Fire Dragons were magical creations, infused with the curse of Fiendfyre, making them far more powerful than ordinary flames.
Combined with their large numbers and controllable nature, the Dark Elf shuttles had no chance of evading them.
"Great job, Jerry! That Magic was awesome. Quickly, give the warship a dozen more!"
Thor, seeing Jerry take out thirty Dark Elf shuttles with just two spells, felt a glimmer of hope and urged Jerry to cast more.
He believed that with a few more such spells, even the massive warship could be destroyed.
"What are you thinking? It's not that easy. While they're still stunned, let's create an entrance in the warship and go inside to finish them off!"
After his nine doppelgangers dissipated, Jerry rolled his eyes at Thor and pointed toward the warship, then flapped his wings and flew over quickly.
Although his magic power had increased significantly due to his level exceeding three hundred, he could only cast the combined spells twice.
The "Eckern's March" spell, while powerful and consuming a lot of magic power, only needed to be cast once, which was manageable with his current magic power.
The real issue was the "Hundred Dragons Descent" spell, especially when casting ten at once. The magic power consumption was immense, equivalent to casting a thousand ordinary Dragonfire Spells in rapid succession.
With his current magic power, he could cast around two thousand ordinary Dragonfire Spells, so he could only perform such a large-scale attack twice.
"Right, let's go inside the warship and fight!"
Thor, who knew Jerry could only cast one more spell, felt a bit disappointed but was immediately reinvigorated by Jerry's suggestion.
Indeed, they had little chance of winning from the outside.
Even if Jerry took out thirty shuttles, the enemy could always launch more. The warship was massive, and who knew how many shuttles it could hide.
If the warship and shuttles fired their weapons simultaneously, the Dark Elves wouldn't even need to show themselves, and they would be in serious trouble.
Inside the warship, however, it would be different. Without the shuttles and the warship's weapons, the odds of defeating the Dark Elf soldiers would be much higher.
Even without Jerry, Thor had a chance.
"Break it open!"
Thor swung his beloved hammer, Mjolnir, and quickly approached the massive warship. He then summoned a bolt of lightning and slammed the hammer into the warship.
With the power of Mjolnir, Thor's divine strength, and the lightning's force, a single strike created a large hole in the warship's surface, large enough for two people to pass through.
While this hole was tiny compared to the warship's size, it was enough for Jerry and Thor to enter and cause destruction.
"Nice work!"
Seeing Thor create the hole, he leaped inside, and Jerry followed closely behind.
Jerry could have opened a portal inside the warship, but there was a risk of being attacked by the warship's internal weapons or the Dark Elves immediately upon entering.
He didn't know the capabilities of the Dark Elves' weapons, so it was safer to let Thor create the entrance and lead the way, while he followed behind. Being too reckless could be dangerous for a mage.
Thor, with his formidable body, would likely be unharmed even if hit by the Dark Elves' weapons.
(End of Chapter)
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