"Become the Sorcerer Supreme."
When Bren heard those words from the Ancient One, his face twisted into a peculiar expression, as if someone had just suggested he assassinate a group of Buddhist monks.
"You must be joking, Master Ancient One. I don't even know magic." he replied, quickly shaking his head in refusal.
What was so great about being the Sorcerer Supreme?
Even a dog wouldn't take the job!
Sure, the title sounded prestigious, but it came with the monumental responsibility of guarding the Sanctum and fending off dimensional entities. There were no real perks to the role, and as for the Time Stone in the Ancient One's possession, Bren wasn't interested.
With the Omnitrix containing the Clockwork Alien and X-Superman's powers, both of which surpassed temporal constraints, the Time Stone was little more than a localized trinket. Outside this universe, it would be no more than a shiny rock.
Most importantly, Bren wasn't about to anchor himself to the Sanctum and create unnecessary trouble for himself.
"You possess incredible magical potential. If you chose to stay at Kamar-Taj, you would be the finest among us." the Ancient One said earnestly, her tone free of jest.
The finest?
Bren raised an eyebrow, wondering if the Ancient One was just flattering him or if "being the best" was simply the entry-level qualification at Kamar-Taj.
Which begged the question: who truly was the best?
Well, it's definitely not Doctor Strange.
"I thought Stephen Strange was supposed to be the greatest." Bren remarked.
"He would have been." the Ancient One nodded thoughtfully, unperturbed by Bren's knowledge of Strange. "But then you appeared."
She rose gracefully, walking a slow circle around Bren, her gaze unwavering.
"Within you lies immense potential, not just for magic but something far greater. You call it mana."
Mana?
Bren blinked, momentarily taken aback.
"Wait, are you saying I have Anodite blood?"
In the animated series, both Ben and Gwen Tennyson had traces of Anodite lineage. The Anodites were beings of pure mana energy, able to wield it instinctively.
However, even with such a heritage, activating those abilities wasn't guaranteed. For instance, the fathers of Ben and Gwen, despite having 50% Anodite ancestry, never unlocked any powers.
"No." the Ancient One replied, shaking her head. "Your lineage appears to be entirely human. Yet, as you've observed, all living beings possess mana."
Bren nodded. She wasn't wrong.
Creatures like Hex and Charmcaster in his universe weren't Anodites but could wield mana-based magic. Though in comparison, Hex needed enchanted artifacts, while Charmcaster had innate talent.
"But in this dimension, mana doesn't exist. You are the sole bearer of it, Mr. Parker." the Ancient One said.
Her calm gaze concealed an undercurrent of excitement.
Perhaps Bren saw mana as just another superpower, but to the Ancient One, it was a seed, something that could take root and reshape this world.
Here, most sorcerers relied on power borrowed from dimensional entities to perform their magic. But someone like Bren, with innate mana abilities, could tap into his internal reserves and even share it outwardly.
It could revolutionize Earth's magical system.
But Bren still declined the Ancient One's proposal.
Learning magic? Sure.
Carrying the responsibilities that came with it? Hard pass.
"Maybe someday I'll change my mind, but right now, I don't plan to waste time on magic." Bren said with a shake of his head.
With the Omnitrix, magic was merely an accessory to his already overwhelming arsenal.
The Ancient One didn't press further.
In truth, she had expected this response. But hope had compelled her to try.
"Let me send you home, then." she said, opening a portal and watching as Bren stepped through.
Moments after his departure, Baron Mordo approached, a faint shadow of jealousy flickering in his eyes. Still, he asked respectfully, "Sorcerer Supreme, was what you said true?"
"I see no trace of magical aptitude in that man, yet you claimed he could be the finest..."
"It's natural that you can't see it." the Ancient One replied, her voice steady. Yet her gaze lingered on the portal Bren had passed through, as if seeing something far beyond.
"He isn't a matter of being the best or not. He is... unique." she mused, pausing briefly before adding, "Perhaps he could even become a new dimensional entity someday."
…
Back in Queens
The Ancient One didn't return Bren to the ruins of Oscorp Tower. Instead, she sent him directly home.
Bren's towering Diamondhead form felt cramped in his modest room, but before long, the transformation timer expired.
After securing the serum, his thoughts drifted to Norman Osborn.
That night's battle had left Oscorp Tower in shambles. On the outside, it appeared intact, but the interior was in ruins.
"I wonder if this will affect Norman." Bren thought, feeling a pang of concern.
He didn't usually worry about such things, but Norman had been genuinely kind to him. Even if there were ulterior motives, Norman had still invested billions into helping him.
Whether Norman was a hero or villain didn't matter to Bren. He remembered the assistance given.
"Once my equipment arrives and the lab's set up, I'll cure Norman and Harry's genetic issues. It's the least I can do." he resolved.
As he mused, a faint knock sounded against the window.
Bren's senses tingled. He turned to see Peter slumped against the glass, drenched, disheveled, and reeking of filth.
"Did you bathe in a sewer?"
Bren wrinkled his nose but opened the window.
Peter stumbled in, collapsing against the wall, utterly drained. His clothes clung to him, and the stench was overwhelming.
"Fell into the river. Swallowed a few mouthfuls. Grade-A sewage." Peter groaned, raising a weak thumbs-up.
"Vintage Ganges flavor."
For a moment, Bren considered throwing him out.
But the sight of the deep gash across Peter's chest made him hesitate.
Sewers were breeding grounds for bacteria. If that wound wasn't treated soon, infection was inevitable, even with Peter's enhanced healing.
"Alright, get cleaned up." Bren muttered, reluctantly reaching for supplies. "You smell like death."