Chapter 571 is just as important.

Chapter 571: Chapter 571 is just as important.

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"This is simply the most perfect operation of my life," Grandmaster thought triumphantly.

Meanwhile, on Earth.

Although the audience felt a bit regretful about the draw, unexpectedly, they didn’t feel much disappointment.

After all, in the subconscious of humanity, no one wants to see a beautiful woman meet a tragic end; there is always an innate desire to protect beautiful things.

The Ancient One’s stunning appearance and brilliant sword strike just now had completely conquered everyone.

They would rather accept a draw than see this goddess-like Sorcerer Supreme die in the black hole.

Furthermore, the Earth camp still had two absolute trump cards—Homelander and Thor—who hadn’t appeared yet, so the hope of victory remained high.

"Homelander did the right thing! If I had to watch the goddess die just to win a point, I would be even more upset."

"That’s right, and besides, we still have the invincible Homelander and Thor who haven’t played yet; winning the match is just a matter of time."

"Mr. Homelander is truly a hero; such decisiveness and kindness are worthy of our following."

Inside the arena.

Following Grandmaster’s announcement, the terrain of the miniature Universe was deactivated.

The vacuum environment disappeared, and gravity returned to normal.

The Ancient One’s body lost its support and fell straight down from mid-air.

A red and blue blur streaked through the air, steadily catching the Ancient One in a bridal carry.

On the other side, Ebony Maw, who had been frozen into an ice sculpture, crashed heavily onto the hard arena floor.

With a crisp "crack" sound.

This leader of the Black Order, who had once dominated the Universe, shattered directly into a pile of ice shards, ending his wicked life.

Homelander held the Ancient One and landed steadily on the preparation platform.

Steve, Tony, Peter, and the other heroes immediately surrounded them with concern.

"How is she? Does she need a medical pod?" Stephen asked.

The scanner on Tony’s helmet swept over the Ancient One: "Her heartbeat is steady, but... it’s strange, she looks as if she’s just asleep, with no signs of waking up."

However, everyone noticed that Homelander was completely ignoring their questions.

After laying the Ancient One flat on a seat, he stood in place, motionless, his eyes losing focus as if he had been paralyzed.

"Anthony? Can you hear me?" Steve reached out and waved his hand in front of Homelander, his face full of confusion.

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what had happened.

At this moment, Homelander had already projected his astral form out of his body and, in the astral dimension invisible to the naked eye, began a conversation with the Ancient One’s soul.

The Ancient One’s astral form floated in front of Homelander, her eyes filled with a trace of apology.

"I’m sorry, Anthony," the Ancient One said softly. "It was my first time using the power of the Dark Dimension without any restrictions. The vastness of that power exceeded my imagination. My physical body couldn’t withstand the instantaneous energy surge, causing my astral form to be pushed out by the dimensional power."

She looked at the arena below and continued: "Actually, you didn’t need to give up the match. I still had the Seven Rings of Raggadorr cast upon me; even if I lost consciousness, that barrier could have protected my physical body for a long time. Giving up the match for me was too irrational." ℴℴ𝘮

Homelander looked into the Ancient One’s slightly self-reproachful eyes, secretly preparing his script in his heart.

"Irrational? Perhaps." He stepped forward slightly, his voice low. "But I don’t care."

"Because I never gamble with things I cannot afford to lose, Master."

"Maybe your magic could have held, maybe Ebony Maw would have died first."

"But I cannot build your life on a ’maybe’."

"Victory has never been the most important thing to me either."

He raised his hand, his phantom fingers gently brushing across the face of the Ancient One’s soul.

"You have guarded this World for hundreds of years; you are used to sacrifice, used to putting the big picture first. But here with me, you don’t have to be the eternally rational Sorcerer Supreme anymore."

"To me, the World and you are equally important."

These words, every single one of them, struck the soft place deep within the Ancient One’s heart that had been sealed for hundreds of years.

She had always taught her disciples to let go of the self and to sacrifice for the greater good.

She had done the same herself.

In her life, there was only responsibility, guardianship, and endless loneliness.

No one had ever treated her as a woman who needed to be protected.

Waves of indescribable warmth surged into her heart; this emotion made her a little afraid.

And it also caused ripples to gradually appear in her eyes.

She didn’t speak, just lowered her head slightly, burying this touch of emotion deep within her heart.

Notification! Gained special popularity value +20,000! (From Ancient One)

Listening to the system’s wonderful chime, Homelander silently congratulated himself on successfully cultivating another leek.

"Let’s go back, Master. Everyone is waiting for you."

"Hmm." The Ancient One nodded, a very moving smile appearing at the corner of her mouth, "Thank you, Anthony."

Subsequently, both of their astral forms returned to their bodies.

In the real World, Homelander, who had been standing motionless, suddenly blinked his eyes and returned to normal.

Immediately after, the Ancient One on the chair also slowly opened her eyes.

She let out a soft breath and sat up.

Her jet-black long hair slid down her shoulders, and her stunningly beautiful face still maintained that sense of indifference, but in the eyes looking at Homelander, there was a trace of imperceptible tenderness.

"Thank God, you’re finally awake." Peter Parker let out a sigh of relief.

Tony looked at the weird state the two had just been in and couldn’t help but ask: "What exactly happened just now? You two looked like you had both lost power and rebooted at the same time."

Homelander smiled slightly and explained in the most accessible way possible: "It’s no big deal; the magic Master Ancient One released just now was too powerful, causing an energy backlash that briefly pushed her soul out of her physical body."

"Soul?!" Steve widened his eyes, as if he had heard something fantastical. "You mean... a soul in the literal sense? That sounds like a plot from a horror movie."

"What’s there to be so surprised about, Captain." Tony patted Steve on the shoulder with a mischievous smile, "We even have Lords of Hell; is it strange for people to have souls? Maybe Peggy Carter’s soul is up in heaven watching you flirt with her grandniece."

Steve’s face instantly flushed red, and he coughed awkwardly twice: "Tony, that’s not funny."

"You Midgardians are really easily surprised." Thor boasted proudly, "In our Asgard, the immortality of the soul is common knowledge. Every Asgardian warrior who dies honorably has their soul enter Valhalla, gaining supreme glory and eternal life. There is endless mead and never-ending feasts there!"