In thousands of parallel worlds, Stephen. Strange has a variety of lives.

He is mostly a doctor, or has a doctor-related profession, occasionally making a cameo appearance as a modern-day detective.

On rare occasions, he would become a handsome detective in modern times, and live a life of pampering himself with his male friends, juggling fascinating conspiracies one after another.

And in this strange life, Stephen. Strange will always be entangled with Miss Palmer, and will always have an intersection with the identity of the Supreme Mage.

In the comics that Deadpool brings back to Merlin, there is an account of Strange's life.

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

He was not a pleasant fellow, but he also had a subtle medical skill, and he also relied on his craft to earn himself unimaginable praise and wealth.

He lived a rather lavish life and was in love with Dr. Palmer, but due to pride and low emotional intelligence, he was never able to really be with Palmer.

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

In that story, he also suffered a catastrophe and lost his status as a doctor, and unlike now, he has never been exposed to any supernatural powers.

He was a hopelessly materialist.

Exhaust all means and scatter your wealth to seek a cure for the possibility of your own hands.

In that technologically advanced world, he had no hope at all, not even a replacement of a prosthetic limb, let alone a bizarre biological experiment.

Well, the comic book world in which Strange lives is a different kind of society than reality, more chaotic, but also more complex and exciting.

In short, guided by fate, the unruly Dr. Strange finally embarks on a quest to find Kama Taj.

He was lucky enough to meet Mordo, and when he was exhausted, he was given the opportunity to enter Kama Taj and meet the Ancient One...

Well, it's worth mentioning that in this comic, Master One is the image of an old Oriental mage with a long beard.

Yes, the big sister with no hair is, in that comic story, a man.

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

Strange didn't believe in magic at first, but after being harshly educated, he actually entered the door, and then in a series of events, finally inherited the throne of the Supreme Mage.

It's a great story.

But that's not Strange's story in this world.

There are many discrepancies between it and reality...

"Bang"

A black tome wrapped in chains was placed in front of Strange's eyes.

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

"You don't need to think about it any more, Stephen, you just need to open the book now and tell me what you saw..."

"But you haven't answered my question yet."

In the dream world, Strange's mind is a little confused.

He sat down in his chair and looked at the book in front of him that was chained, and he did not touch it, but raised his head and looked at Merlin earnestly, and said:

"Why me? Also, I remember you weren't such an impatient person, but look at you now, you haven't even asked me if I accept it? ”

"Okay."

Merlin stared at Strange, and he said in a calm tone:

"I'll ask you that question, but before that, I want to give you a brief overview of the current situation you're facing."

"I'll only say it once, so, be patient and listen to me."

"You can choose to refuse, I won't get angry for it, I won't punish you, I will send your consciousness back to your body, and you will fall into a coma because of extreme pain, and the time will be at least 3 months or more, and you will regain your senses."

"In your current situation, 3 months of coma will cause you to lose muscle atrophy and most of your mobility, and you will need to undergo a series of rehabilitation treatments, at least another 3 months, before you can regain your mobility."

"The most important thing is that your hands will not heal, you will no longer be able to be a trusted doctor, and you will be removed from the industry."

"The quacks you look down on will laugh at you, ridicule you, step on you to climb to higher positions, and you will become a harlequin in the story of the seniors persuading the juniors."

Merlin paused, he glanced at Strange, and continued:

"Assuming your haughty pride can accept all this, you have to face more realistic problems."

"I've seen Palmer. Christine's past life, she was not the kind of woman who would abandon you in difficult times, she would love you more in a martyrdom posture, marry you, and have children for you, but you are a wasted person..."

"I'm more direct, I ask for your forgiveness if I offend you."

Merlin paused, and he continued:

"You're a wreck, Strange, you can't handle the intensity of work, not even the simplest of clerical jobs."

"You need Miss Palmer to feed, and losing your clinic, Palmer will most likely have to go back to a private hospital and endure the harassment and squinting eyes of his superiors, the harsh jokes of his colleagues, and even sexual harassment."

"You know, this society is not tolerant of beautiful women."

Merlin's voice didn't change in tone, but it was like a cold wind blowing through Strange's consciousness.

The Raven Lord whispered:

"If you have children, it's even worse, Palmer doesn't earn enough to make a decent living in Manhattan for the family."

"You're going to have to get out of the upscale neighborhood and go into Brooklyn or Queens and live in a cheaper, neighborhood-less neighborhood where you live."

"You can no longer enjoy a high-quality daily life, your child needs milk powder, a good education, and the pressure of your unfulfilled ideals."

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

"You will become cynical in extreme depression and pain, and even try to kill yourself, without dragging poor Palmer down."

"If you choose to continue to live strongly, the problem will not become easier, firewood, rice, oil, sauce, vinegar and tea, these most basic needs of daily life will quickly wear down Palmer's love and passion for life, and you will start to quarrel over trivial matters..."

"You will stop caring about each other's hearts under the pressure of life, and you may support each other at first, but no matter how patient you are, life will always beat."

"You'll become the strangers you know best, and Palmer will grow emaciated and age fast in a difficult life, or worse, and she'll be crushed by the pressure at the occasional argument."

"I met a man who could tell the pressure after drinking, maybe a handsome guy, maybe a scumbag, maybe a fat house, and then under the influence of alcohol, I chose to go crazy while I was still old and decrepit."

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

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

"Mom who has been trying to support her family and endure everything?"

"Or is it a father who is like a waste, who only knows how to complain and be cynical, and hides pain and despair in his heart?"

"So you lose all possibilities, and in your old age, you may die in a hospice, or even on the street, in a cold rain, full of grief and leave this world."

"You may even forget that in your life you had a chance to change your fate... You will leave the world with endless regret and return to my hell to accept my ridicule..."

"Of course, it's all speculation, my dear Strange."

The Raven Lord bent down to make himself look at Strange at eye level, and the proud Doctor Strange was even a little afraid to look directly into Merlin's gaze at this moment.

But Merlin wasn't done yet.

"You can bet that my predictions about the future of your life are wrong."

"You can gamble, maybe you're lucky enough to avoid all the disaster options I've listed."

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

"Enough!"

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

That kind of life, it's like hell.

"Then hear about another future, Strange."

The Raven Lord reached out and tapped at the large black-skinned book that was placed in front of Strange's eyes, and said:

"If you accept this career plan I have arranged for you, you open the book and understand it..."

"You'll become a mystical spellcaster beneath the surface world, and you can draw magic from nature to repair damage to your body."

"Maybe in a few months, maybe a few years, and your injuries will heal as before."

"You have the power, you can choose to live as a mage and deal with strange creatures; You can also choose to return to Dr. Strange, marry Palmer, and live a good and happy life. ”

"You will have children, and you will earn enough money to let Palmer and her children live in an upper world where food and clothing are worry-free, 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 hostess of the clinic, and no one will dare to harass her."

"Go for a skin fix three times a week, get a new hairstyle once in a while, buy a seductive set of underwear, and play some more intimate games with my handsome, golden, mysterious husband."

"Your children will be born with the best education possible, and they don't need to worry about the future, and they will become a polite upper class."

"In old age, maybe you'll be able to take a trip to the perfect world on your own yacht."

"And if you choose to continue the path of mage, then you will cross the shackles of mortal lifespan, and there are many such drugs in the wizarding world."

"Your wife will stay young forever, and when she is 120 years old, her skin will be as delicate as a 20-year-old virgin..."

Merlin chuckled, and he said:

"And you?"

"You will swim in the ocean of knowledge, experience scenery that you have never thought of before, or even dare to imagine, your life will not be wasted, and you can even be immortal."

"You will be a powerful hero like Thor, fight for this world, protect it, protect 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 me to remind you to seize it, you are wise enough to discern what I say..."

"I'm done talking, Strange."

Merlin stood, his hands behind his back, hovering over the grass in front of Strange's eyes.

He asked softly:

"Now, then, tell me, Stephen. Strange, what would you choose? ”

"Open the book? Or do you want me to send you back? ”

"Don't have too much psychological pressure, I said it, no matter what you choose, I will act according to your will."

"Mortals always want to hold their destiny in their own hands, and you are luckier than them..."

"At least for now, Strange, your fate, Palmer's, your children's fate, is in your hands!"

The Raven Maharaja increased his voice, and as if he had been reminded and as if he had been warned, he said:

"Don't worry, take the time to think about it, don't be manipulated into making choices with enthusiasm, and don't make decisions when you're angry. As I said, I'm more direct if I offend you..."

"I beg your pardon."

"Now, tell me, your choice is..."

"Bang"

Strange slammed his fist on the table.

He glared at Merlin, and he gritted his teeth and said:

"You... You're a devil! ”

"No, I'm not."

Merlin earnestly explained:

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

"I don't know how I classify myself, but I'm definitely not a devil, trust me."

"I don't have a choice!"

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

He breathed a sigh of relief, and he said:

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

As he spoke, he unchained the tome, and under Merlin's gaze, he opened the large black book outward.

After a few seconds, Strange looked up at Merlin, and said:

"This should be Sanskrit, right? I haven't learned, can you give me a mobile phone? Or translators, I need to know at least what they mean, right? ”

"Also, I was negligent."

Merlin nodded.

He was indeed negligent, all of Kama Taj's magic was written in Sanskrit and other magical scripts, and to those who had never touched these things, it really felt like a book from heaven.

Raven Lord raised his finger and threw a cloud of light at Strange, who felt like he had a lot more in his mind.

"You can read before the magic dissipates."

Merlin Says:

"But it's only a few days, and if you can't memorize these words during that time, then you'll have to start from scratch, and now, tell me, what do you see?"

"Spell, it should be."

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

"A magic that manipulates fire and light, with the right gestures and the power of magic, can unleash a magical flame that can reach a temperature of up to 2000°C and shape it into the form I want to see."

"Can you read the model?"

Merlin asked:

"It's complicated, right?"

"Hmm."

Stretching out his finger in an attempt to sketch out that intricate figure in the air, Strange said:

"It's like a 3D model with 23 sides, what should I use to outline it? A pen? ”

"With magic."

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

"But you can't feel the magic yet, that's about that later."

The Raven Lord thought for a moment, then put his finger into the dream air, and with a flick of his hand somewhere, he placed another book in front of Strange's eyes.

It was the primordial tome taken from the Holy of Holies.

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

The Ancient One Master said that only a person with some kind of mystical talent could understand such a text.

In the test just now, Merlin was almost certain that Strange had a great talent for spell casting, and there were not many wizards who could understand it when they saw the mana model for the first time.

But if that's all there is to it, Merlin still won't put Strange as the last candidate.

The man would have to show some kind of rarer talent in order for Merlin to fully approve of him.

He has to be better than the other candidates in one aspect, he has to have his own strengths.

Otherwise, 6 months of training will allow him to join the Supreme Mage Battle, which is not expecting a miracle, it is completely sending Strange to death.

"Read."

Merlin stared into Strange's eyes and said:

"This is the final test, Stephen. Strange, if you're really different, let me see. ”

"Read it out!"