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[Img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1062565740852547584/1219474583158259854/20240318_223624_0000.png?ex=660b6f35&is=65f8fa35&hm=6a3ee613f15e637d886a0c856091231acaef32f657860b5926cdaaa622cba0f4&[/img]

Now it was Max's turn to listen. Jack made some valid points. They had to have been chosen for a reason. Perhaps it was to be different than Strange. To do things he wouldn't do, or couldn't do. A part of him wanted to say to be [i]better[/i] than Strange, but he didn't think that possible. He was to be the best of them. Frankly Max didn't think Strange [I]could[/i] die until this night. Even then he still grappled with that fact, as if walking throughout a dream this whole evening, waiting to wake up from the nightmare. [Color=aba400]”What exactly is our own way then?”[/color]

His original point would have been that they had their own means of banishing a god. Jack could have simply banished it to his realm, and as far as he knew, Max could theoretically snap it out of existence with his own magic. But as the god disappeared and the sky seemed to turn almost [i]normal,[/i] there was another set of problems to deal with. Comparatively minor, but problems nonetheless. Wong was being attacked by demons, the Pentagram was still active, and Witchfire was on the ground.

They had to break that Pentragram, Wong could defend himself a little longer.

[color=6644ff]We do what we know best,[/color] Jack said, as the two moved backward beyond what would hopefully be the full blast radius in case this went wrong.

They got into position to remove the Everdark rifts from the Pentagram, breaking it to help dissipate the magic within. But as soon as they were about to break the enchantments they placed, the Veil began to renew, the Pentagram dissipating on its own as the other world's began to fade into the distance once more. They didn't know what had transpired, but whatever it was he was glad it had happened. Too little too late for Wong however, as a hoard began to enshroud him and attack. But once again as they lifted their hands to free Max's friend, Carolina came out and banished the damned things. It seemed their allies were finally coming out of the woodwork to help out. Madalyne had been doing her part, sure, but the others Max hadn't seen since the squabble.

[Color=aba400]”Then we must call upon an old friend first. To help us with our…condition.”[/color] Max said as he opened a portal between himself and James. He was currently sitting at his clinic, the most obvious place to find him, especially if you were a mutant in need. [Color=aba400]”James! It's Max, well…sort of. We go by Jax, I'm bound to another at the moment and if we part we die. If you could give this old man some youth again?”[/color]

James paused, eyebrows raised as he put down the book he just picked up. [color=mediumspringgreen]"Well, I have to admit, you finally surprised me again. Ben and Dorian are fine, though I recommend a really nice bouquet when you get yourself sorted out."[/color] James gave his best friend's most recent mishap a look over. [color=mediumspringgreen] "So, what's the trick here? Do you just need to be younger, or do you need me to support while you pull apart?"[/color]

[color=6644ff][i]…DORIAN?[/i][/color]

[Color=aba400]”Just make us younger. We need the combined might to fight off the demons invading New York City.”[/color] Max snapped back like a crotchety old man. [Color=aba400]”Ever second longer this portal stays open is a second longer to allow the demons armies to invade through it. So time is of the essence.”[/color]

[color=mediumspringgreen]"It's only been an... You know what, not important. You're the only one who'd stumble into this without us so fast."[/color]  James shook his head in fond exasperation, reaching out to take both Jax's hands. James closed his eyes, sinking into the familiar feeling of their vitals syncing up, and nearly disconnected. His own heart was barely beating; he could hardly believe Jax was still alive!

He focused, bringing Jax back from the brink, unwinding the clock as carefully as he could. It took a few moments but finally, James stumbled back with sweat on his brow. [color=mediumspringgreen]"Christ, Jax. I haven't had to fix anyone up like that since we brought our last batch back from death. Please try to stay alive and make sure you bringing your friends by the clinic when you clean all this up; they'll probably need a touch up too."[/color]

[color=6644ff]”Whoever you are, thank you,”[/color] the other half of Jax said. [color=6644ff]”…Wait just a moment. You knew Strange, Max. I [i]thought[/i] you seemed familiar when we first met. This “Dorian” person is your son, isn’t he?”[/color]

[Color=aba400]”Yes? But I don't see what that has anything to do with this?”[/color]

[color=6644ff]”…I am from your relative future. And you’re from my relative past,”[/color] He explained. [color=6644ff]”Strange’s death pulled us all from different times, and our times were not so far apart. I likely should not be telling you this, but when I was young, I went to a school for superhumans. With Dorian Gray.”[/color]

Max looked at James sheepishly before stepping backwards into the portal and closing it behind himself. He'd have held up a finger to Jack to tell him to shut it if they weren't cohabitating a body. [Color=aba400]”Not another word. This is a delicate balance we have right now, and any information about the future could [i]change[/i] the future, create a paradox, or worse…write it into stone. Nothing good ever came from peering ahead. When the time is right, I will know.”[/color] Jack was clearly from a not too distant future, after all Dorian was slated to go to Xaviers School for Gifted Youngsters when he became of age, or at least that was the current idea Max had had. He didn't know whether or not Ben would bite, he hated that school, but if Jack's already spilled the beans on that then it means Ben agreed in the end.

[color=6644ff]”Apologies.”[/color]

[Color=aba400]”So. The demons. You thinking banishment or just kill them all? Ones less risky and avoids collateral damage to both human lives and buildings. The other…well its more to the point with less risk of failure.”[/color]

[color=6644ff]”Banishment would mean we tamper with the Veil, which he went through enough trouble already to repair. [i]But,[/i] we cannot be slow when they are taking human lives…We can renew the Veil indefinitely, at this point: Banishment is quicker.”[/color]

[Color=aba400]”Then let's do this. Care to try that spell once more? Should be easier to handle that it's small fry and not the literal hand of god.”[/color]

[color=6644ff]”By all means. I’ll follow your lead.”[/color]

Max took the lead, once again attempting one of Strange’s spells. His most difficult one it seemed. The Flames of Faltine conjured with ease, as too did the Crimson Bands, yet try and try again Max couldn't summon the Winds of Watoomb to aid him like Strange had. But this time was different. [Color=aba400]”By the Whirling Winds of Watoomb I banish you back to Limbo you fiery fiends!”[/color] Max proclaimed as winds erupted from around him and blew a handful of demons back into their plane. A grin spread across his face. He turned to face another group and did much the same, diminishing the numbers slowly but succinctly.

Good, it was working. [color=6644ff]”They've been cut off from this world. There is little more to do than return them from where they came.”[/color] But he looked down before, and saw that Witchfire and Annika were… Gone?

[color=6644ff]”We will need the others.”[/color]