Shadow of the Beautiful World

In thousands of parallel worlds, Stephen Strange has various lives.

In most cases, he is a doctor, or is engaged in occupations related to doctors, and occasionally plays a guest role as a great modern detective.

On rare occasions, he's a handsome detective in the modern age, living a life of comfort with his male friends, amid fascinating conspiracy cases.

And in this strange life, Stephen Strange will always be entangled with Miss Palmer, and will always have some kind of intersection with the Supreme Sorcerer.

In the comics brought back by Deadpool for Merlin, there are records about Strange's life.

In that story, Strange's character is more extreme, more arrogant, and more difficult to get along with than he is in reality.

He is not a likable guy, but he also has exquisite medical skills, and also relies on his own skills to win unimaginable praise and wealth for himself.

He lived a very luxurious life, flirting with Dr. Palmer, but due to his pride and low emotional intelligence, he was always unable to really be with Palmer.

The relationship between the two is as unstable as a roller coaster.

In that story, he also suffered a catastrophe and lost his identity as a doctor. Unlike now, he has never been in contact with any supernatural power.

He is a hopeless materialist.

Exhausted all methods and scattered all the family's wealth to seek the possibility of treating his crippled hands.

In that world where technology is not very developed, he has no hope at all, and he can't even replace the omnic prosthesis, let alone weird biological experiments.

Well, compared to reality, the comic world Strange lives in has a different social form, which is more chaotic, but also more complicated and exciting.

In short, under the guidance of fate, the rebellious Doctor Strange finally embarked on the road to find Kama Taj.

He was lucky, met Modu, and when he was exhausted, he got the chance to enter Karma Taj and met Master Guyi

Uh, it is worth mentioning that in this comic, Master Gu Yi is an image of an old oriental mage with a long beard.

Yes, the hairless big sister, in that manga story, was a man.

Then there's not much to tell about the story.

Strange didn't believe that magic could cure diseases at first, but after being educated hard, he really got into it, and after a series of events, he finally inherited the throne of the supreme mage.

It's a wonderful story.

But not Strange's story in this world.

There are many discrepancies between it and reality

boom

A black magic book wrapped with chains was placed in front of Strange.

Merlin looked at Strange, who was still a little dazed, and said:

You don't need to think about it, Stephen, you just need to open this book now and tell me what you see

But you haven't answered my question yet.

In the dream world, Strange was a little confused.

He sat on the chair and looked at the chained book in front of him. Instead of moving it, he raised his head and looked at Merlin seriously. He said:

Why me? Also, I don't remember you being such a pushy person, but look at you now, you didn't even ask me if I accepted?

All right.

Merlin stared at Strange, he said calmly:

I'm going to ask you that question, but before that, I want to give you an overview of the situation you're facing right now.

I'll only say it once, so be patient and hear me out.

You can choose to refuse. I will not be angry because of this, let alone punish you. I will send your consciousness back to your body. You will fall into a coma due to the extreme pain. It will take at least 3 months before you will regain your sanity .”

Based on your current situation, the three-month coma will cause your muscles to atrophy, and you will lose most of your mobility. You need to undergo a series of rehabilitation courses, and you will need at least another 3 months before you can regain your mobility.

The bottom line is that your hands won't heal, you won't be able to be a trusted doctor anymore, and you'll be removed from the industry.

Those quack doctors you look down on will laugh at you, ridicule you, step on you to climb to a higher position, and you will become the buffoon in the story of the seniors persuading the younger generations.

Merlin paused, glanced at Strange, and continued:

Assuming your lofty ego can take it all, you have more real problems to face.

I have seen Palmer Christine's past life, she is not the kind of woman who will abandon you in difficult times, she will love you more with a martyrdom attitude, marry you, and have children for you, but you He's a loser

I speak more directly, please forgive me if I offend you.

Merlin paused, and continued:

You're useless, Strange, you can't handle high-intensity work, and you can't even do the simplest clerical work.

You need Miss Palmer to support you, but if you lose your clinic, Palmer will most likely have to return to the private hospital, enduring the boss's making things difficult and lewd eyes, enduring the dirty jokes from colleagues, and even sexual harassment.

As you know, this society is not tolerant of beautiful women.

Merlin's voice did not change in tone, but it was like a cold wind blowing on Strange's consciousness.

Lord Raven said softly:

If you have kids, then the problem is even worse. Palmer's salary alone is not enough to support a family in Manhattan with a decent living.

“You have to leave the high-end neighborhoods and go into Brooklyn or Queens and live in a neighborhood that’s cheaper but has noisier neighbors.”

You can no longer enjoy a high-quality daily life. Your children need milk powder, a good education, and you have to bear the pressure of your unfulfilled ideals.

And you yourself will have to endure pity or malicious looks from others for the rest of your life.

You will become cynical and even suicidal in the extreme depression and pain, not to drag poor Palmer down.

If you choose to continue to live strong, the problem will not become easier. The most basic needs in daily life will quickly consume Palmer's love and passion for life, and you will start because of trivia quarrel

You will no longer care about each other's hearts under the pressure of life. Maybe you will support each other at first, but no matter how patient you are, life will always defeat you.

You will become the most familiar strangers, Palmer will grow haggard in the difficult life, age quickly, or worse, in an occasional quarrel, she will be crushed by the pressure.

After drinking, I met a man who could tell about the pressure. Maybe he was a handsome guy, maybe a scumbag, maybe a fat man. Then under the influence of alcohol, he chose to go crazy while he was still young.

Merlin shook his head, he looked at the stunned Strange, and said softly:

You're going to get divorced, and your kids may be grown up by then, who do you think he or she will blame for this mistake?

A mother who has been working hard to provide for her family and endured everything?

Or a father who only knows to complain and cynical, and hides pain and despair in his heart?

So you lost all possibilities. You are lonely in your old age, and you may die in a shelter, or even on the street, and leave this world full of sorrow in a cold rain.

You will even forget that in your life, you have such a chance to change your destiny. You will leave the world with endless regrets, and then return to my hell to accept my ridicule

Of course, this is all speculation, my dear Strange.

Lord Raven bent down so that his eyes were level with Strange's. The proud Doctor Strange even felt a little afraid to look into Merlin's eyes at this moment.

But Merlin wasn't finished yet.

You can take a gamble that my prediction about the future of your life is wrong.

You can take a gamble, maybe you are lucky and perfectly avoided all the disaster options I listed.

You can bet that the gentle and beautiful Palmer will not choose to leave you in the end

enough!

Strange felt cold all over, he gritted his teeth, trying to keep the described future away from him.

That kind of life is like hell.

Then hear about another future, Strange.

Lord Raven reached out and tapped the big black book in front of Strange, and said:

If you accept this career plan I have arranged for you, you have opened this book and understood it

You will thus become a mysterious spellcaster wandering below the surface world, and you can draw magic power from nature to repair the damage to your body.

Maybe in a few months, maybe a few years, your injury will be back to normal.

When you have power, you can choose to live as a mage and deal with strange creatures; you can also choose to return to the identity of Doctor Strange, marry Palmer, and live a beautiful and happy life.

You will have children, and you will earn enough money that Palmer and the children will live in the upper world without worrying about food and clothing, and you will not quarrel over a bag of rice or a piece of bread.

The beautiful wife drives a private car to work, she will be the mistress of the clinic, no one dares to harass her.

I do skin care three times a week, occasionally change a new hairstyle, buy a set of seductive underwear, and play some more intimate games with my handsome, wealthy and mysterious husband.

Your children will receive the best education as soon as they are born. They don't need to worry about the future and become a well-mannered upper class.

In old age, maybe you can take a perfect world tour in your own yacht.

And if you choose to continue the mage's path, then you will cross the shackles of mortal life. There are many such drugs in the magical world.

Your wife can stay young forever. When she is 120 years old, her skin will still be as delicate as a 20-year-old virgin

Merlin chuckled lightly, and said:

what about you?

You will swim in the ocean of knowledge and experience scenery that you have never thought about before, or even dared to imagine. Your life will not be wasted, and you can even create immortality.

You'll be a mighty hero like Thor, fighting for the world, protecting it, and protecting all you love.

You will have infinite possibilities, as long as you seize this opportunity in front of you, I don't think I need to remind you to seize it, you have enough wisdom to distinguish what I said

I'm done, Strange.

Merlin stood up, with his hands behind his back, hovering over the grass in front of Strange.

He asked softly:

So, now, tell me, Stephen Strange, what would you choose?

Open this book? Or do you want me to take you back?

You don't need to have too much psychological pressure, I've said it all, no matter what you choose, I will act according to your will.

Mortal people always desire to hold their own destiny, you are luckier than them

At least now, Strange, your fate, Palmer's fate, and the fate of your children are in your hands!

Lord Raven increased his voice, he said like a reminder or a warning:

Don't worry, take some time to think about it, don't be manipulated by passion to make a choice, and don't make a decision when you are angry. As I said just now, I speak more directly, if I offend you

please forgive me.

Now, tell me, your choice is

boom

Strange slammed his fist on the table.

He glared at Merlin, gritted his teeth and said:

You are a devil!

No, I am not.

Merlin explained seriously:

I have some demonic blood in this body, but my flesh is an angel, my blood is a god, and my soul is a human

I don't know how to classify myself, but I'm definitely not a devil, please believe me.

I have no choice at all!

Strange lowered his head and looked at the book in front of him.

He breathed a sigh of relief and said:

No, I shouldn't have asked that stupid question at all.

While speaking, he untied the chain on the book, and under Merlin's gaze, he opened the big black book.

After a few seconds, Strange raised his head, looked at Merlin, and said:

This should be Sanskrit, right? I haven't learned it, can you give me a mobile phone? Or a translator, at least I have to know what they mean?

Yes, I was negligent.

Merlin nodded.

He was indeed negligent. All the magic of Kama Taj is written in Sanskrit and other languages ​​of the magic world. For those who have never been exposed to these things, this thing is indeed like a book from heaven.

Lord Raven raised his finger and threw a ray of light at Strange. At this moment, Strange felt that there were many things in his mind.

Before the magic dissipates, you can understand.

Merlin says:

But there are only a few days. If you can't memorize these words during this time, then you have to learn from the beginning. Now, tell me, what did you see?

Spell, it should be.

Strange read those obscure and complicated runes, he frowned and said:

A magic that manipulates flames and light. As long as you use the correct gestures and mobilize the magic power, you can release a magical flame with a temperature of up to 2000 degrees, and shape it into the posture I want to see.

Can you understand that model?

Merlin asked again:

It's complicated, right?

Um.

Strange stretched out his finger, trying to draw the complex figure in the air, he said:

It seems to be a 23-sided three-dimensional model. What should I use to outline it? A pen?

Use magic.

Merlin reached out and took back the book in Strange's hand, he said:

But you can't sense the magic power yet, I'll talk about that later.

Lord Raven thought for a while, then poked his fingers into the air of the dream, twitched somewhere, and placed another book in front of Strange.

It was the original grimoire taken from the Holy of Holies.

The ancient stories recorded in ancient Sanskrit are words that even Merlin cannot understand.

Master Gu Yi said that only those with a certain mysterious talent can understand such words.

In the test just now, Merlin was basically sure that Strange possessed a superb spellcasting talent, and there were not many wizards who could understand it when they saw the mana model for the first time.

But if it was just like this, Merlin would still not consider Strange as the last candidate.

This man had to display some rarer talent for Merlin to fully approve of him.

He must have one aspect that is stronger than other candidates, and he must have his own advantages.

Otherwise, 6 months of training would allow him to join the battle for the Supreme Mage. That would not be to expect a miracle, but it would be to send Strange to his death.

read.

Merlin stared into Strange's eyes and said:

This is the final test, Stephen Strange, if you are really different, then let me see.

Read it out!