Chapter Forty-Four: The Lich King—"I Have the True Spy, Natasha..."

The moment Kel'Thuzad appeared, perhaps due to some mysterious resonance among sorcerers, it caught the attention of a certain bald figure in the crowd.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Kamar-Taj, a golden rift suddenly tore open in the air, scattering sparks and illuminating the surrounding space. Soon, a pair of hands reached through the crack and, with a forceful tug, widened it into a circular golden portal.

The Ancient One stepped through from the other side, her brows furrowed as she searched for information while pondering the origin of this strange aura. Though she borrowed, freeloaded, and enjoyed meals without paying, she was, after all, a good sorcerer.

Quickly, she closed her eyes in meditation, beginning to divine the timeline. After a while, the Ancient One opened her eyes.

Just then, Strange stared in confusion at the Ancient One who had appeared before him, and she spoke words that left him utterly bewildered.

"My fate has already been altered, and my journey is about to come to an end... But many others' destinies will now become utterly different. These people will face choices of fate; their experiences and personalities will diverge from what the original timeline held. You have obtained the Eye of Agamotto and earned its approval. Everything that is to come will simply be trials on your path of growth."

The Ancient One gazed at Strange, her words slow and deliberate.

Strange had not yet recovered from this sudden revelation when he saw the Ancient One casually cast a spell to peer into the future's timeline.

She sensed that her time was nearly up, her connection to this world growing ever weaker. The presence of death weighed heavier upon her; using this last opportunity, she peered for Strange into the myriad possible futures, seeking the most probable timeline.

Having the Eye of Agamotto, Strange too felt it: his once orderly timeline was now a tangled mess. Countless future moments and paths intertwined, and many timelines grew indistinct, as if something had disrupted them, causing them to veer from their original course.

"My destiny is severed here, and my mission as guardian will soon end. Yet before I depart, I can reveal to you things you cannot see."

"Not long from now, here—and perhaps the whole world—something far more terrifying will emerge. The beginning of this event is also tied to an artifact similar to the Eye of Agamotto. Your task is simply to protect it, or to embrace another form of power!"

Strange frowned. His teacher's habit of saying half and leaving half unsaid always left him speechless.

But he could not refute it, for he knew that whatever his teacher said was always meaningful.

---

The Ancient One looked at her disciple, making her final farewell. Staying longer in this world would only deepen the corruption of darkness within her; the force of death was more terrible still, more corrupting than the power of the Dark Dimension.

Once the addiction to magic could no longer be contained, she dared not imagine what her timeline as guardian would become.

The price for wielding magic must always be paid. Now, having found a successor, she was ready to hand the long bill over to the Dark Dimension, taking her borrowed power and living freely outside.

After protecting the Earth for so many years, could she not enjoy a moment of leisure?

May New York remain healthy and long-lived.

While the Ancient One instructed her disciple on what to beware in the future, somewhere beneath New York—

In the dim tunnels under the Manhattan River.

Within a certain dark cavern, countless blue-green sparks of electricity flickered, seemingly guarding something.

Zazela's hands radiated purple arcane energy, illuminating the cave just enough for vision.

"Are you sure this will work?" Erica asked, frowning as she fiddled with the ritual items in her hands. In the center of the magic circle lay a shadowy figure.

"Of course. Once the mark is branded, she will forever belong to the Scourge..." Zazela answered in a deep, raspy voice.

Her body was shrouded in purple magical energy, her visage obscured, but it was clear she was quite satisfied with her incarnation—even the magic in her hands shone brighter.

"This is a gift for the Lich King. Though we should hide and wait for our moment, there are things we can do—such as a grand ritual to turn this human woman into one of our own!"

Zazela raised her other two arms, each hand clutching a ritual dagger, and began etching the blessings of the Spider Mother onto Natasha.

"Hiss—hiss—hiss!" The ritual daggers, imbued with magic and spider venom, hissed as they worked; the ceremony proceeded unhurriedly.

"Will we succeed, Lady Za...?" Erica asked nervously.

"I told you..." Zazela glanced at Erica. "This is just a small gift, a pawn, a hidden thread—or perhaps a disposable asset..."

The thinking of cave spiders was always at odds with that of night elves, yet now they shared a single purpose.

Before long, the massive ritual circle flared with purple light, and the figure within was lifted, floating horizontally as if drawn by some unseen force.

---

In the end, the purple magic bathed her face, revealing a beautiful visage and a tall, commanding figure, her vibrant red hair adding to her allure.

After that mission, Erica had brought the unconscious Natasha here, preparing to make her truly one of their own.

"Is the ritual about to succeed?" Erica exclaimed, excited and thrilled as she watched Natasha float.

She had played her part, and to contribute to the Lich King filled her with joy.

"Yes, we have succeeded!" Zazela's voice was hoarse, the blue-green sparks around them flickering in response to her mood.

Quickly, as the purple magic poured into Natasha, the ritual wounds etched onto her body began to glow with strange purple light. Faintly, a spider seemed to materialize on her back.

"This is my servant, my representative, my vessel, my soul's container!" Zazela's voice grew shrill as she performed the final step. "Once the transfer of consciousness is complete..."

"I will dedicate everything to the Lich King!"

Finally, the last consciousness was transferred!

In an instant, purple light blazed forth, illuminating the entire cavern, the spider symbol fully merging into Natasha's body. Erica soon sensed the surge of vitality within her.

The light flashed intensely, growing nearly blinding; Natasha, suspended in midair, began to twist in an unnatural manner. In the haze, a spectral spider devoured her soul.

The floating body gradually settled, her heart beating once more, and purple light flickered in her eyes as she opened them.

"Zazela!" Erica watched as the ritual's light faded and the purple markings vanished into Natasha's body, a joyous smile spreading across her face. "Did you succeed?"

"Yes. I feel better than ever before."

Some time later, Nick Fury's phone rang.

"Director, this is Natasha. I have new intelligence. I am at..."

Nick Fury sprang to his feet.