The Book Of Origin: Codex Architectus

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Chapter 4: "The Grand Illusion"

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EXT. MYSTIC SANCTUM – MIDNIGHT

A storm of magical energy crackles through the air. Lightning strikes the ground with an unpredictable force. Doctor Strange hovers above the sanctum, the Eye of Agamotto glowing with divine power, his Cloak of Levitation billowing in the chaotic winds. His gaze locks on the Architect, unwavering, sharp.

On a rooftop across from him, the Architect stands still, unbothered. Clad in unremarkable attire, their hands casually tucked into pockets. The only thing of note is a single playing card, flicked lazily between their fingers—a distraction that says more than words ever could.

DOCTOR STRANGE
(calm, authoritative)
You have no power here. This is a battlefield of the mind.

The Architect smirks, their gaze flicking over Strange with quiet amusement.

ARCHITECT
(cool, amused)
Oh, Doc… it always was.

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The fight begins without hesitation. Strange spins, golden sigils forming in the air around him, creating a portal beneath the Architect. But the Architect doesn’t disappear into it. Instead, they simply vanish, replaced by a version of themselves standing directly behind Strange, watching him like an audience member.

DOCTOR STRANGE
(narrowing his eyes)
Illusions? Parlor tricks won’t work on me.

The Architect doesn’t answer, but another playing card is flicked into the air. A pulse ripples through the air, causing Strange’s Cloak of Levitation to falter. He stumbles, briefly losing his footing. The Architect remains still, their expression unchanged.

Strange’s eyes flick to the Architect, then to the dozens of flickering holographic versions that now populate the rooftops. Some of them move through the environment like shadows, while others blink in and out of existence like mirages. Strange closes his eyes, sensing for the real one.

But every time he thinks he has pinpointed the true Architect, they vanish again, replaced by another illusion.

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Strange’s hand twitches. He reaches for the Eye of Agamotto, invoking its power to peer through the trickery, to discern the truth beneath the illusions. Yet even as his magic unravels the fabric of reality around him, the Architect is nowhere to be found. There’s only the endless sea of clones, each one shifting in and out of existence.

Frustration mounts on Strange’s face, and in a moment of desperation, he reaches out, summoning the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to bind the Architect’s form. But it’s futile. The bands strike, but they only catch another illusory version of the Architect, who flickers out of existence the moment they are touched.

DOCTOR STRANGE
(growling in frustration)
Where are you?!

The Architect watches from the shadows, a soft smile curling at the corner of their mouth. They don’t need to answer. They are already in control.

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In an instant, the Architect appears directly behind Strange once more. This time, there is no illusion—just a simple click of a wrist device, and the entire battlefield shatters.

The storm vanishes. The rooftop is no longer there. The illusion dissolves, and the very air around them flickers, revealing that the battle itself was nothing more than a crafted experience. Strange stumbles, his feet no longer on solid ground, realizing with a jolt that they’ve been inside the sanctum this whole time—while he fought against shadows.

The sanctum’s power grid hums ominously, and with a second click, Strange’s defenses are locked down. Every spell he’s cast, every piece of his magic, is now a part of the Architect’s trap.

Strange stands alone in the darkened sanctum, his hands reaching for the familiar hum of the Eye, but it is silent. His cloak hangs limp. His magic is gone.

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STRANGE’S FINAL WORDS

Breathing heavily, Strange looks up at the Architect, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips despite the overwhelming defeat.

DOCTOR STRANGE
(smirking through gritted teeth)
Clever. But you do realize I’ll get out of this?

The Architect flicks a single card at his feet. It spins in the air before landing with a soft thud.

ARCHITECT
(grinning faintly)
Of course. But by then, I’ll already be gone.

And with that, the Architect steps into the shadows once more, leaving Strange in the silence...

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FADE TO BLACK.