Start in Terra, immortal

The aroma of tea wafted slowly through the Sanctum Sanctorum's reception room. The Ancient One withdrew her gaze from Rosso and returned it to Black Strange.

"What are your plans next?"

Black Strange paused for a moment, his fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of his teacup. "I promised Lord Rosso I would work for him for a while to repay that 'debt.' After that..."

He paused, his gaze unconsciously glancing in Rosso's direction. "Afterwards, I'll go to the spirit world. Christine will be waiting for me there."

"The spirit world?" Strange frowned. "What kind of place is that?"

Black Oddity shook his head: "I don't know exactly what kind of existence it is. But Lord Rosso said it's his world. Christine is there, somehow... alive."

There was a moment of silence in the living room after he said that.

All eyes were on Rosso. He was sipping a cup of tea brewed by Gu Yi, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.

The Ancient One's gaze lingered on Rosso for a moment, a knowing glint in her eyes.

"I see." She said softly, without surprise in her tone, as if confirming some guess. "The spirit world seems to be the place where the dead return, a realm that the living cannot set foot in. If this is your world, then Christine's matter makes sense."

Rosso put down his teacup, looking at the Ancient One with a half-smile: "Did the Ancient One see through it all along?"

Gu Yi smiled slightly: "I wouldn't say I figured it out. It's just that I've lived a long time and seen some inexplicable things, so I've just learned by analogy."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Beyond the multiverse, there are infinite dimensions, and some of these worlds are similar to Mr. Rosso's spirit world."

Hei Qiyi listened to this conversation, his heart filled with complex emotions. He looked at Rosso, his lips moved as if he wanted to ask something, but he didn't know where to begin.

Rosso noticed his gaze and raised an eyebrow: "Just ask what you want to ask."

Black Strange took a deep breath: "Christine... what kind of being is she in the spirit world? Is she still herself? Or is she just... a shadow?"

This question had been weighing on his mind for a long time. From the moment Rosso took Christine's soul into the spirit world, he had been afraid—afraid that the person he had tried so hard to win back would ultimately be nothing more than a fragment of memory imprisoned in eternity.

Rosso looked at him, unusually abandoning his usual cynical expression.

"She is the Christine you remember," he said, his tone calm but earnest. "She has her own consciousness, her own emotions, she remembers you, and she remembers everything between you. What a soul is like in the dimension of hell, that's what she's like in the spirit world."

He paused, then added, "Of course, calling it heaven might be more accurate."

Hei Qiyi fell silent. He slowly raised his head, his eyes slightly red, but his gaze was clearer than before.

"That's enough," he said, his voice low but firm. "No matter what form she takes, I'm already satisfied to see her again."

After saying that, he drank the tea in his cup, which had already gone cold, in one gulp.

Seeing that everyone seemed somewhat pessimistic, Rosso extended a finger, and a vortex rose from the fingertip.

As the vortex gradually expanded, scenes of the spirit world began to appear before everyone.

The scene is bright and sunny, with lush vegetation and a cluster of uniquely styled buildings in the distance. Figures can be vaguely seen moving around, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

In the center of the image, Christine Palmer is sitting on a bench next to a flowerbed, looking down at a glowing book.

She seemed to sense something, raised her head, looked towards the "window," saw Rosso and the Strange group outside, a smile appeared on her lips, and she waved gently.

Black Strange suddenly stood up, the chair scraping against the floor with a screeching sound. He stared intently at Christine on the screen, his body trembling slightly, his lips moving but no sound escaping.

Strange was also stunned.

"Christine..."

His gaze swept back and forth across the screen, Rosso, and the face of the Black Strange, finally settling on Rosso's face, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Gu Yi nodded slightly, his eyes revealing approval and understanding.

America covered her mouth, exclaiming softly, "Wow, what a beautiful place! She really is dead..."

Rosso withdrew his finger, and the vortex and the image disappeared. "You saw it?"

He looked at Black Strange, "She's doing well, much better than in your broken universe. The environment of the spirit world is nourishing for the soul; she won't feel pain or loneliness."

Hei Qiyi slowly sat back in his chair, his hands clenched into fists and placed on his knees. After a long while, he finally let out a long breath, as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"America, you must master your abilities as soon as possible." The strange black voice regained its calmness, carrying an undeniable mentor's authority. "Our journey ahead requires you to reliably open the portals."

America immediately straightened up and nodded earnestly: "I will try my best, Dr. Strange!"

Black Strange then turned to Rosso: "Lord Rosso, when do we depart?"

"Anytime is fine." Rosso put down his teacup and stood up. "However, before I leave, I have something I need to discuss with Master Ancient One alone." He looked at Ancient One, his eyes filled with a question.

Gu Yi nodded slightly: "Please follow me."

The two left the living room one after the other and headed deeper into the sanctuary.

Only 616 Strange, Black Strange, and America remained in the living room. A moment of silence fell.

"So," 616 Strange broke the silence first, looking at Black Strange, "you're really going to that spirit world? And with... a Christine in a spirit state?"

Black Strange met his gaze, his eyes resolute: "Yes. For me, this is the best ending. At least, we can still 'meet' and 'talk'."

Strange opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he only sighed: "I...can't fully understand, but I respect your choice. Good luck, my other self."

"Thank you." Black Strange nodded, then looked at America, "Let's practice our perception and positioning again while we have this opportunity."

America immediately closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. Black Strange whispered instructions beside her, correcting her breathing and focusing.

Meanwhile, in a quiet room deep within the sanctuary.

Rosso and Gu Yi sat facing each other. There was no tea, only the quiet air and the faint scent of sandalwood.

"Did the Ancient One ask me to stay behind alone because she wanted to ask about the spirit world?"

Gu Yi shook her head: "Not entirely. What I'm more interested in is you yourself."