I sparked a mythological frenzy in Marvel.

Chapter 210 The Schemes of the Dagon Church

Strange's gaze lingered between Christine and West, their eyes filled with unwavering faith in the unknown power and a deep expectation of him.

He was filled with mixed feelings. On one hand, he was afraid and confused by this sudden change, and on the other hand, he was curious and longing for the power that they described that transcended life and death.

"The Church of Dagon... what exactly is your plot?" Strange finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly. After practicing magic here for quite some time, he had gotten used to it. However, the church had never revealed their secret, which made Strange feel uneasy.

Kaecilius smiled slightly, as if he had anticipated Strange's question. "Your Highness, the mission of the Dagon Church is to welcome the awakening of the Great Cthulhu and lead the world into a new era. Cthulhu slumbers beneath the deep sea, awaiting the right moment, and you are one of the key figures chosen."

"Me?" Strange pointed to himself, repeating incredulously, "I'm just a doctor, how could I be a key figure?"

"No, Your Highness, you underestimate your own importance." Kaecilius shook his head, his tone carrying an undeniable authority. "Ancient blood flows within you, making you a bridge between humanity and the sea gods. Through you, we can guide the power of Cthulhu into the human world, paving the way for His awakening."

Strange felt a chill run down his spine and through his entire body; he had never imagined that he possessed such evil blood.

He looked at Christine and West, hoping to find a trace of opposition on their faces, but unfortunately, their expressions only showed agreement and expectation with Casillas's words.

"But what would that mean for humanity?" Strange swallowed hard, a hint of despair in his voice. "If Cthulhu truly awakens, what kind of catastrophe will the human world suffer?"

Kaecilius's expression turned serious. He slowly walked up to Strange, his gaze deep. "Your Highness, you must understand that the awakening of Cthulhu, the ruler of the Great Old Ones, is not a destruction of humanity, but a reshaping of the existing order. In this new era, humanity will no longer be alone; they will coexist with the gods of the deep sea, sharing the endless knowledge and power of the universe."

"But wouldn't that be a disaster for those who are unwilling to accept this change?" Strange retorted, his voice weak but revealing an undeniable firmness.

Casillas sighed, seemingly exasperated by Strange's stubbornness. "Your Highness, the world is always changing, and every change is accompanied by growing pains."

But believe me, Cthulhu's awakening will bring unprecedented prosperity and peace to humanity, and those who are unwilling to accept change will eventually find their place in the new order.

Strange fell silent, weighing Casillas's words in his mind.

Although he was terrified of the Dagon Church's plot, it was undeniable that a yearning for unknown power was also quietly growing in his heart.

He recalled his hands, which he had once lost, but which had miraculously returned to normal, a power that filled him with both awe and longing.

Just as he was lost in thought, Christine's gentle voice rang in his ear: "Strange, whatever decision you make, I will support you, but please believe that becoming Deep Ones is our shared destiny, and also the beginning of a new era for us."

Strange looked up at Christine, whose eyes were filled with tenderness and determination, as if to tell him that no matter what lay ahead, she would fight alongside him.

At that moment, an unprecedented surge of courage and determination welled up within Strange. He realized that he was no longer just a doctor, but had been drawn into a massive vortex concerning the fate of the world.

So he slowly stood up and looked at Casillas with a firm gaze.

"Alright, I'm willing to learn more about the Dagon Church and Cthulhu, but on one condition: unnecessary sacrifices must be avoided as much as possible."

Casillas smiled slightly, as if he had already anticipated Strange's decision. "Of course, Your Highness, we cherish your kindness and sense of justice. Rest assured, we will work together to ensure that the arrival of the new era is accompanied by the least possible sacrifice and suffering."

Casillas' words were like a reassuring pill, calming Strange's anxiety somewhat. He knew that the path he had embarked on was full of unknowns and dangers, but with the support of Christine, West, and the rest of the Dagon Church, he seemed to have found a sliver of courage to move forward.

In the days that followed, Strange began to delve into the doctrines and rituals of the Dagon Church, and everything about Cthulhu, the deep-sea deity. He was astonished to discover that this seemingly ancient and mysterious religion actually contained a profound understanding and reverence for the universe. The Church members believed that Cthulhu's awakening was not merely a transfer of power, but the establishment of a bridge between humanity and other intelligent life forms in the universe, heralding a new era of knowledge and wisdom.

Under Kaecilius's guidance, Strange learned how to utilize the ancient blood within him, sensing and guiding the energy from the deep sea. With each practice session, he felt an unprecedented power surging within him, a power both strange and familiar, as if it were a part of him he was born with.

However, as his understanding of the Church of Dagon deepened, Strange gradually realized that this change was not without cost.

Some believers suffered mental breakdowns due to the overwhelming power, and some even lost their lives while trying to communicate with Cthulhu. These facts filled him with contradictions and struggles, and he began to question whether it was truly possible to usher in a new era with minimal sacrifice.

During a late-night meditation, Strange seemed to hear whispers from the deep sea, the voice of Cthulhu, ancient and majestic, filled with the allure of the unknown. The voice told him that change always comes with sacrifice, but only through sacrifice can one truly touch the essence of the universe and gain eternal knowledge and power.

Strange awoke from his meditation, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

When Strange awoke from that late-night meditation, a seed seemed to have been planted in his heart. That seed, carrying the whispers of Cthulhu, took root and sprouted in his heart, gradually distorting his perception of reality.

Each interaction with members of the Dagon Church, each guidance of the power of the deep sea, allowed him to immerse himself more deeply in that ancient and mysterious universe.

He began meditating frequently, attempting to establish a deeper connection with Cthulhu. With each meditation, he could feel the energy from the deep sea surging within him—a power that was both awe-inspiring and intoxicating.

He longed to learn more about Cthulhu and to grasp the power that could reshape the world order.

However, as his reliance on deep-sea power deepened, Strange's behavior began to become erratic.

His eyes were only on Cthulhu, only on that power that allowed him to touch the essence of the universe.

Strange's transformation was like a silent plague, gradually eroding his mind and soul. His obsession with Cthulhu grew stronger each day, and each meditation was like opening a door to an unknown abyss, from which he could not extricate himself.

He began to distance himself from those who had once fought alongside him, including Christine and West. In his eyes, they were no longer equal partners, but pawns in the process of welcoming Cthulhu's awakening, stepping stones for his path to a higher realm. Strange became increasingly withdrawn and fanatical, his words filled with endless praise and longing for Cthulhu, as if the entire world existed solely to welcome the awakening of this deep-sea deity.

Although Christine and West noticed Strange's change, they were not worried. Instead, they saw it as a sign that Strange had finally accepted his destiny. They believed that Strange was gradually growing into a true Deepman, a great figure who could lead the world into a new era.

However, Strange's madness didn't stop there. He began attempting even more dangerous rituals, trying to communicate directly with Cthulhu and gain more power. These rituals were fraught with unknowns and dangers, but Strange relentlessly pursued them, as if each attempt brought him one step closer to Cthulhu.

Deep within the Church of Dagon, Strange built a secret altar, a sacred site for his communication with Cthulhu. He devoted himself entirely to each ritual, as if offering his soul to the deep-sea deity. His actions became increasingly extreme, even to the point of sacrificing other members of the Church for greater power.

Although Kaecilius was concerned about Strange's actions, he did not stop him. In his view, Strange was undergoing a necessary transformation; only through these pains and sacrifices could he truly become Cthulhu's messenger and lead the world into a new era.

Strange's madness gradually infected the entire Dagon Church, and its members began to imitate his behavior, performing even more dangerous rituals in an attempt to establish a connection with Cthulhu. The entire church fell into a state of fanaticism, as if the whole world was trembling at Cthulhu's awakening.

As Strange's obsession with Cthulhu deepened, the Church of Dagon gradually gained Cthulhu's increasingly close attention. Deep beneath the sea, an ancient and powerful force seemed to sense the Church's piety and yearning, and began to respond to their call in a subtle way.

The atmosphere within the church underwent a dramatic transformation. The believers, who had previously simply prayed and performed rituals silently, now seemed driven by an invisible force, their eyes gleaming with fervor and anticipation. Each ceremony became more solemn and mysterious, the air thick with an indescribable sense of reverence.

Strange's ritual at the secret altar began to produce astonishing results. He could feel the will of Cthulhu resonating within him, an ancient and profound wisdom that seemed to possess the ability to perceive all the mysteries of the universe. Cthulhu's whispers echoed in his ears, each one bringing him a profound and uplifting experience.

Under Strange's leadership, the Church of Dagon began to wield powers never before seen. They learned how to channel energy from the deep sea, transforming it into mystical forces usable by humankind. These powers not only made the Church members stronger and more agile but also granted them the ability to manipulate the elements of nature.

The Church's influence expanded rapidly, drawing in more and more believers from all over the world. They came with a thirst for unknown power and an expectation of a new era. Inspired by Strange, they were willing to pay any price to welcome Cthulhu's awakening.

As the Church of Dagon grew in power, Cthulhu's gaze upon it became more direct and frequent. Deep beneath the ocean, Cthulhu's tentacles began to stir, as if making final preparations for his impending awakening. Each wave of his tentacles was accompanied by a powerful surge of energy, a force powerful enough to make the entire world tremble.

Strange sensed Cthulhu's expectation and approval, which strengthened his resolve. He began to plan an unprecedented ritual, aimed at directly awakening Cthulhu and bringing the power of this deep-sea deity to earth.

This ritual will be the most important in the history of the Dagon Church. It will not only require immense effort and sacrifice from its members, but also necessitate the use of ancient and mysterious props and ritual sites. Strange is fully aware of the dangers of this ritual, but he is already hopelessly drawn in. He yearns to witness Cthulhu's awakening and to become the initiator of a new era.

During the preparations for the ritual, Strange gradually lost his mind. He became ruthless and willing to sacrifice everything to achieve his goals. Even Christine and West, who had once fought alongside him, began to have doubts and concerns about him. However, Strange was deaf to any dissent; his mind was only on Cthulhu and the coming new era.

Finally, on a dark and stormy night, the Church of Dagon held its grand ceremony. Strange stood atop the altar, raising his mystical staff and channeling energy from the deep sea into his body. His eyes gleamed with fanaticism, as if he had become one with the soul of Cthulhu.

As the ritual progressed, an unprecedentedly powerful force surged from the deep sea, enveloping the entire altar in a mysterious light. Strange felt his body being torn apart and reshaped by this force, and his soul seemed to be engaged in a fierce battle with the will of Cthulhu.

Finally, as the ceremony reached its climax, a deafening roar came from the depths of the sea, and the divine message was delivered!

(End of this chapter)