Turning Danger into Safety

"Finally resolved..."

Carter lowered his head slightly, reached up to press down the brim of his hat, and sighed softly with an expression of relief.

"E-evil... has... been... judged."

Johnny stammered out the words beside him.

After speaking, his somewhat confused gaze slowly turned toward Wes.

Wes instinctively avoided his eyes. Frowning slightly, he said irritably, "Bastard, don't look at me!"

"Looks like Mr. Wizard isn't exactly a good person."

Carter curled his lips, his tone full of teasing.

"That's right. Wizards are all cruel..."

Wes froze when he heard that.

There were clearly only three people present. Where had that fourth voice come from?

His brows drew together as he warily raised his wand toward the source of the voice.

A gray-haired man stood quietly there. He was impeccably dressed and leaned on an exquisite cane, emanating a mysterious yet dangerous aura.

"Mephisto!!"

The moment Carter saw the man, his face changed drastically. Without hesitation, he fired two shots at him.

Yet the bullets passed through Mephisto's body as though he were an illusion, causing him no harm whatsoever.

Johnny charged forward at incredible speed, trying to deliver a vicious punch to Mephisto's face.

But unsurprisingly, with merely a glance from Mephisto, Johnny froze in place as if struck by a petrification spell.

"You truly wound me. My own rider is being so rude to me."

Mephisto slowly took out a spotless white handkerchief and gently wiped at tears that did not exist at the corner of his eyes.

Yet the corners of his mouth lifted slightly into a disdainful smile.

Wes's heart tightened as he slowly backed away, inch by inch widening the distance between himself and Mephisto.

At the same time, his mind raced, calculating when he might have a chance to use Apparition to escape this dangerous place.

Johnny and Carter had signed contracts with Mephisto. In a sense, they counted as his employees—and particularly special ones at that.

Wes had no desire to get involved with this demon king from Hell.

"And you, little wizard." Mephisto's profound gaze landed on Wes with keen interest, as if he were examining a novel toy.

"In the 'future' I foresaw, you did not exist."

Upon hearing that, Wes intended to immediately use the panel to travel to another world. But as he considered it, Mephisto's hand suddenly landed on Wes's shoulder like a ghost.

When did he...?

Wes was shocked. His body instantly tensed, and he did not dare make the slightest rash move.

"You ruined my plans. How do you intend to compensate me?"

Mephisto narrowed his eyes slightly and forcibly squeezed out a few tears, looking thoroughly affected. "My beloved child was cruelly killed by you. Can you understand my grief at this moment?"

However, seeing that none of the three were playing along, Mephisto gradually lost the desire to perform. Curling his lip, he said, "What uncultured brutes. That performance just now could have won me an Oscar."

Mephisto slowly spread his fingers. The Sanctum Sanctorum Contract flew out from Wes's chest as though alive and landed firmly in Mephisto's hand.

"Ah, after so many years of hard work, the time for harvest has finally come."

A smug smile appeared on Mephisto's face as he chanted an enigmatic spell.

In an instant, the Sanctum Sanctorum Contract erupted with a brilliance too intense to look at directly.

A moment later, the light vanished, replaced by 3,000 holy souls floating in the air.

The moment those souls saw Mephisto, they panicked and tried to flee.

"That will not do. You are God's people—how can you fail to honor your promise? That would violate the commandments."

Mephisto frowned slightly and opened his right hand. A powerful suction force surged forth, trapping the 3000 Holy Spirits firmly and preventing them from escaping.

"Think of something, quickly!" Carter's face was full of anxiety, and his voice was tense. "Once Mephisto absorbs those souls and opens the gates of Hell, it'll be over."

"Why are you looking at me? Is someone at that Level really someone I can deal with?"

Wes was panicking as well. He wondered whether he could escape while Mephisto was absorbing the souls, but his instincts told him that if he tried, his end would certainly be terrible.

Wes fell into indecision, not knowing what to do.

Just then, someone unexpected stepped forward.

The Old Priest walked steadily toward Mephisto, one step at a time, seemingly untouched by the howling winds around him.

"Damn it!" The instant Mephisto saw the Old Priest, his expression changed dramatically. He said in astonishment, "That idiot Dormammu couldn't trap you??"

A phantom suddenly emerged from the Old Priest's body. It gradually became clear, revealing Ancient One.

After staring blankly for a moment, the Old Priest sprinted toward the church.

"It's been a long time." Ancient One's voice was gentle, like a spring breeze brushing against one's face, as though she had run into an old friend she had not seen in years.

"Have you come to drive me out? This is merely one of my avatars. Even if I abandon it, I lose nothing." Mephisto was briefly stunned before pretending to suddenly understand.

"Oh, you're here for this contract."

Mephisto smugly produced the Sanctum Sanctorum Contract and waved it in his hand.

"But they signed this contract with me of their own free will. I'm merely here to fulfill this long-overdue agreement. Not even you can invalidate it."

Ancient One nodded, her expression calm. "You're right."

"Then what are you here for? To witness me opening Hell's Gate..." Unease rose in Mephisto's heart.

A spear suddenly appeared in Ancient One's hand. Its design was somewhat ancient, even shabby.

Yet its tip was covered in blood—the blood of Jesus.

"The Spear of Longinus!" Mephisto's face turned utterly grim. Feigning composure, he asked, "He joined forces with you?!"

"It's only a temporary partnership. I want Earth's stability, and he needs these 3000 Holy Spirits."

Ancient One shrugged and said evenly, "You know, I struck too heavily back then. His losses were rather severe, and he needs to replenish his forces."

"Damn it!"

"Shameless!"

"How could he do this? He's even more shameless than a Devil like me!"

Amid Mephisto's helpless expression, the Spear of Longinus fiercely pierced the Sanctum Sanctorum Contract.

Under the power at the spearhead, the Sanctum Sanctorum Contract gradually turned to ashes.

"Fine." Mephisto's expression instantly became incomparably cold, as if he had become a different person. "It was only one of countless arrangements."

Ancient One did not respond to him, merely standing there in silence.

Mephisto removed his hat, bent slightly at the waist, and gave a light bow. "Then farewell, Sorcerer Supreme. I look forward to our next meeting."

With that, his body slowly faded away. At the very moment he vanished, he glanced at Wes once more.

A magnificent gate suddenly appeared in the sky, surrounded by angels.

The angels softly sang sacred hymns.

With a sweep of her sleeve, Ancient One instantly concealed the magnificent gate and the angels.

The 3000 Holy Spirits all bowed to Ancient One in thanks, then finally gathered into a single mass and transformed into a streak of light that shot toward the sky.

Only a fist-sized Crystal Ball remained, quietly floating in the air.

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