Noah had no idea what was happening outside.
After the day his battle with Dormammu ended-after he casually erased Kaecilius and reversed everything with the Time Stone-Noah returned to his room and immediately fell asleep.
This wasn't meditation.
It was real sleep.
Even Noah himself didn't know how long it had been since he'd rested like this.
Ten years?
Twenty?
Ever since acquiring the system, he had spent nearly every night inside the system space, never missing a single one.
He even remembered how Evan, Lance, and Kate once suspected he was cursed, just because he spent so much time "sleeping" in strange ways.
Those were things of the past.
This time, Noah slept deeply.
Peacefully.
For three full days.
When he finally opened his eyes, it was late at night.
Moonlight slipped through the curtains, silver and quiet.
A woman lay beside the bed.
Hermione.
Just from her hair color, Noah knew it was her.
Smiling, he gently brushed his fingers through her hair.
She looked exhausted.
Golden light flickered faintly at Noah's fingertips.
A moment later, Hermione's breathing evened out completely as she sank into deeper sleep.
Let her rest.
That was Noah's first thought.
He had no intention of waking her.
"I'm starving."
Noah rubbed his stomach and muttered.
"How long have I been asleep?"
After a moment's thought, he located the Hogwarts kitchens.
To be honest, the Sanctum's food wasn't bad.
But right now, Noah didn't want to alert anyone.
Given that, Hogwarts was the obvious choice.
The portions were generous.
And there was always food left untouched.
Naturally, it became Noah's target.
Soon enough, Noah returned with an Angus steak, a glass of fresh milk, and a chicken leg.
Completely unaware of how long he'd been hungry, he ate without restraint.
At his current level, he technically didn't need food anymore.
Absorbed magic alone was enough.
But habits were habits.
And Noah was still human enough to keep them.
After finishing the meal, he finally felt alive again.
Eating and not eating were two completely different states.
"Feeling good? Then come in."
Just as Noah was about to stretch and say something like that really hit the spot, the system's voice echoed in his mind.
It immediately soured his mood.
This thing really didn't know how to give people a break.
"Damn it, I just ate."
Noah complained lazily.
"Can't you let me rest for a bit?"
With a flick of his hand, paper and pen appeared.
He quickly scribbled a note and tossed it into space.
It was for Neville.
Among his old classmates, Neville seemed to be the only one who had stayed at Hogwarts.
There might have been others, but Noah was closest to him.
Neville had also fought in the Battle of New York and was part of the Sorcerer Alliance.
The note itself was simple.
If Hogwarts noticed missing dinner food, don't worry.
It was him.
Noah disliked sneaking around.
After settling that, he lay back down.
Complaining all the while, he closed his eyes and entered the system space.
"You make me lie down right after eating. Aren't you worried I'll get fat?"
Dormammu was dealt with.
Noah was in a good mood.
He even joked.
"Your physical constitution is not prone to obesity," the system replied flatly.
"Furthermore, given your current state, weight gain is impossible. Even if it occurred, you could alter your body with magic."
"You really don't have a single trace of humor," Noah sighed.
"Colder than Siberian winds."
Then he got to the point.
"So. Why the rush?"
"You just fought Dormammu for an extended period," the system replied.
"Isn't now the optimal time to consolidate your strength?"
It left him no room to argue.
"Your luck was exceptional. You faced an entity far stronger than yourself and survived. You gained invaluable experience. But none of this is reason for pride."
"What you must do is maintain humility, review every detail of the battle, and refine your understanding."
Noah felt a twinge of displeasure.
Not because the system was wrong.
But because of its assumption.
He had never been arrogant.
He'd been proud, yes.
But he had always been clear about himself.
The system's words had guided him from the very beginning:
You are not chosen. You are not invincible.
Without the system, Noah knew exactly what he would be.
That was why he had always been cautious.
Always.
Snorting softly, Noah didn't argue.
There was no point competing with a machine.
"Fine," Noah nodded.
"I get it. So what now?"
"I will open a simulation field," the system replied.
"You may reconstruct everything-battle insights, magical comprehension, power usage."
"After that, meditate."
"You have seventy hours."
"I understand."
Noah inhaled deeply, his expression turning serious.
"Let's start. I don't want to lose anything I gained."
-
While Noah began reviewing every detail of his battle, far away in New York, Fury was having a miserable time.
Watching the figures arguing endlessly on the screen, Fury felt a deep sense of irritation.
This was the newly formed highest decision-making body overseeing SWORD.
And what were they arguing about?
Sorcerers.
The clash between Mordo and Kaecilius had terrified them.
It proved how dangerous sorcerers could be.
With the exception of the Eastern representative-who clearly stated "no participation, no interference, no stance"-everyone else was at each other's throats.
Their shared conclusion?
Sorcerers were a massive hidden threat.
They didn't care about ordinary people.
Why was Fury here?
Bad luck.
Even as the director of SWORD-and the de facto head of S.H.I.E.L.D.-he wasn't part of the decision-making tier.
He was just "senior management."
The real reason he was present was simple.
The footage of Noah killing Kaecilius and reversing time had caught Fury's bald head on camera.
That was it.
Fury didn't want to be here.
The entire discussion was meaningless.
Did they think talking and voting could solve this?
Naive.
All they were doing was courting disaster.
"Director Fury."
A voice snapped him back.
"You seem familiar with sorcerers. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Do you understand them?"
Fury straightened slightly.
"If it's understanding, then yes."
"I've had contact with sorcerers since '95. Our relationship has been ongoing. Many of your advisors have similar connections. You could ask them."
"Stop dodging," another voice interrupted sharply.
"I want to know if you have a way to deal with them."
Fury looked at the man calmly.
Then sighed.
The original idea behind SWORD-both his and Noah's-was to have people close to sorcerers at the top.
That plan had failed.
This group was no better than the old World Security Council.
After an hour of pointless arguing, Fury had had enough.
He took a breath and smiled faintly.
"Then may I ask, sir-what's your plan?"
"Nuclear weapons?"
Silence.
"If you have their coordinates, I'll arrange it right now."
"But be careful. Sorcerers aren't easy prey."
"Don't forget New York four or five years ago."
"Don't forget today's resurrection."
The man opened his mouth.
Fury cut him off.
"If you have schemes or dangerous thoughts, bury them."
"Take them to your grave."
"SWORD and S.H.I.E.L.D. exist to protect Earth. Not to fuel your paranoia."
"Think carefully."
"If sorcerers are enraged-"
"Can you bear that responsibility?"
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