Chapter 173: Doom’s Destiny
The great invasion of Earth by the dark god Dormammu had come to an end. Though Gene had literally kicked him back into his own lair, Kamar-Taj was still left with a mountain of troubles. Two of the three Sanctums had been completely destroyed and needed to be rebuilt. A large number of sorcerers had perished in the battle against the Dark Zealots.
Even the former Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, had died in the conflict—a loss that could not be understated.
Not long after, as expected, Master Mordo chose to leave Kamar-Taj. This man, who had once revered his teacher like a divine being, had completely broken down upon learning that the Ancient One had secretly drawn power from the Dark Dimension. His faith shattered, he began to question everything he once believed in. His departure from the Sanctum was no longer surprising.
The current Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen Strange, now faced a daunting challenge. In truth, his current strength didn’t match his title. But fortunately, his talent was astonishing and his potential immense. Given time, he would undoubtedly become an extraordinary sorcerer.
(Well, that’s the benefit of protagonist plot armor.)
Meanwhile, S.W.O.R.D. welcomed two new recruits: the private detective Jessica Jones and journalist Eddie Brock. Their ability assessments quickly landed on Gene’s desk.
Our private eye, Miss Jones, wasn’t just armed with a sharp mind—she also possessed a terrifying brute strength. According to the results from the strength testing machine, Jessica’s power level had shockingly reached fifteen tons.
Even more surprising was Venom, the sinister alien symbiote. After a series of tests, it was discovered that Venom could swiftly assemble incredibly delicate machines. This opened up new possibilities—Venom could conceal numerous weapon components within his own body and, when needed, assemble them in an instant to unleash devastating power.
As an evil alien lifeform, the biggest concern became: how to control Venom. Surprisingly, the symbiote seemed unusually enthusiastic about "joining S.W.O.R.D. and protecting global peace."
In fact, the term "overly eager" wasn’t far off.
Especially when the Scarlet Witch gave him orders—his behavior became borderline fanatical.