
Stephen has spent time studying the martial arts along with sorcery. He then informs him that while Wong is his servant, in other ways, he is his master. Stephen was merely waiting for Nicodemus to waste his energy and delivers a hard kick to Nicodemus' midsection. As Stephen slowly takes off his gloves to reveal his old scarred hands, Nicodemus begins the pummel Stephen. Nicodemus claims that while Stephen has spent decades relying only on sorcery while he has been keeping his body in shape. It prevents both of them from using any sorcery for three minutes. Nicodemus finally decides to cast a spell he can still recall. Nicodemus tries to leave again through a portal to the roof of Timely Pharmaceuticals, but Stephen shows up an instant later. He admits it was his own recklessness that caused it. Stephen then tells him that he forgives him for the surgery that failed to save his hands. It's not natural to cure all sickness in the world. Nicodemus says that the potion is a poison. He questions why he hasn't destroyed it before now if he's had it all this time. Nicodemus is in the washroom ready to pour the potion down the drain as Stephen arrives. As he turns back, they discover that Nicodemus is gone. Strange puts a binding spell on Nicodemus as he looks at Wong. She tells Stephen that he no longer has a pulse. Wong lies near death in the arms of the Night Nurse. In this shocking finale, Doctor Strange's new arch-enemy forces him to make an impossible choice between saving millions of lives or the life of Strange's best friend.
