Mephisto: The Fish Had Taken the Bait

Russell had secretly controlled the armor to fire the Pym Particle Bullet.

Tony had failed to dodge because Russell had secretly accelerated the bullet as well.

Having just stabbed Tony in the back, Russell felt a little guilty.

It was all Doctor Pym's fault. If you'd been more reliable, I wouldn't have had to hit a teammate so hard.

Tony was my beloved friend and sworn brother.

Mephisto, you'd better compensate me for my guilty conscience later!

Quantum Realm.

Tony landed on a small island.

He surveyed his surroundings.

The ground was barren, with nothing but jagged rocks standing everywhere.

In the sky floated enormous spherical objects of various colors, like stars.

Taken as a whole, this space seemed utterly absurd and bizarre.

Just as Tony's Mental Focus was captivated by the fantastical sight, a crimson Portal opened before him.

Mephisto, dressed like an English gentleman, stepped out.

"Finally, we meet, Iron Man Tony Stark."

As he spoke, Mephisto removed his Top Hat and saluted Tony.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

"My name is Mephisto. The world calls me—the King of Demons, the Lord of Hell, the Supreme of the Demonic Realm."

Mephisto?! The one who wanted my soul?

Tony's expression tightened as he recalled his conversation with Russell a few days earlier.

"It seems you've heard of me, Mr. Stark. Was it Sorcerer Russell who told you?"

Mephisto spoke unhurriedly.

Neither Tony's changed expression within the armor nor his thoughts could escape Mephisto.

"You may have some misconceptions about me. Yes, I want your soul.

"But I will offer a price you cannot refuse. This will be a win-win transaction."

"Telepathy?"

Tony questioned him, while keeping his Mental Focus tightly guarded and using the Shield of the Seraphim to separate himself from Mephisto.

Mephisto did not mind Tony's wariness and nodded generously in admission.

"That's right. I can see through your soul and understand the desires in your heart."

Mephisto continued.

"Tony Stark, do you want to know the truth behind your parents' deaths?

"They were beaten to death."

Tony's face turned ashen as he asked, "Didn't they die in a car accident?"

He knew Mephisto was most likely telling the truth. All these years, he had been kept in the dark.

Mephisto did not explain. He merely raised a hand and opened an illusory screen.

On the screen were the souls of Howard Stark and Maria Stark.

With another sweep of his hand, Howard and Maria's lives began to rewind.

After studying magic, Tony had gained Spiritual Power, and his Perception had improved.

His enhanced Perception had helped him at crucial moments many times.

Now, it helped him see every expression on his parents' faces as they died—pain, despair, helplessness.

Tony's eyes turned bloodshot, and he nearly went mad.

Mephisto seized the opportunity and tempted him.

"Tony, sign a contract and serve me. I can resurrect your parents."

Mephisto painted Tony a very enticing picture.

In Mephisto's eyes, Tony possessed immense potential.

Once that potential was realized, he could grow into a powerful force in the Hell Dimension second only to Mephisto.

Well. It was not that Tony could never surpass Mephisto in the future. It was just that becoming any stronger would be rude.

Tony was somewhat tempted, but he still remembered the teachings from the book.

—Never sign any contract with a devil!

"And your friends and family as well.

"For example, your butler, J.A.R.V.I.S.?

"And after they die, I can guide them into my dimension to continue living."

Mephisto raised the stakes.

The screen shifted to another soul.

Tony secretly suppressed his anger and regained his composure.

On the surface, however, he appeared even more hesitant.

He believed Master Ancient One and Russell would come to save him.

For now, he had to rely on his acting to stall for enough time.

As the Passage of Time continued, Mephisto grew somewhat impatient. He sensed someone watching this place.

It would not be long before that sorcerer arrived.

Mephisto had been willing to give Tony time to consider because he was sincerely trying to recruit an ally.

—After falling from Satan's position, Mephisto's power had been diminished, and Mephisto urgently needed to replenish Mephisto's fighting strength.

Mephisto wanted to use Tony to lure Russell out, which was why Mephisto had not directly taken Tony back to Hell.

If Mephisto could tempt Tony into signing a contract while luring Russell out, that would naturally be best.

But Tony had been considering it for too long, far beyond Mephisto's expectations.

"Tony, don't agree to it."

A golden light appeared, and a Portal slowly opened.

Russell had arrived.

Russell had deliberately arrived late.

Tony was not in danger. On the contrary, he had unexpectedly held Mephisto back, buying Master Ancient One time to perfect the spell formation on the perimeter.

Naturally, there was no need for Russell to reveal himself too soon.

He was appearing now because Master Ancient One's formation was about to take shape.

First, Russell needed to make some noise to conceal it.

Second, he needed to hold Mephisto back at the critical moment and prevent Mephisto from escaping before the formation was complete.

Seeing Russell arrive, Mephisto revealed a vicious grin.

"Master Russell, we meet again." The fish had taken the bait.

"We meet again, Mephisto." The net was nearly woven.

Russell returned the smile.

Boom!

After the greeting, Mephisto stopped wasting words and fired a bolt of Crimson Energy at Russell.

Russell shifted positions and arrived beside Tony, with the Crimson Energy following close behind.

In one ten-millionth of a second, Russell considered putting Tony in front of himself as a shield.

But he gave up on the idea.

Shield of the Seraphim!

Russell spread his hands and summoned an energy shield to block Mephisto's attack.

At the same time, he handed Tony a vial of Pym Particles.

"These are Pym Particles with an enlarging effect. Use them, and you can leave the Quantum Realm."

Tony took the Pym Particles without another word and used them immediately.

After using the Pym Particles, Tony's body rapidly began to return to normal.

Just then, Mephisto brought both hands before Mephisto's chest, loosely cupping them as if grasping something.

The next instant.

The entire island was clenched within a pair of enormous energy hands.

As his expanding body crashed into the energy hands, Tony's restoration process was interrupted, leaving him in great pain.

Russell leaped into the air and held his hands as though gripping a weapon.

The Sacred Sword of the Vishanti appeared in his hands, and he slashed it at the energy hands.

The Sacred Sword of the Vishanti collided with the energy hands, producing a tremendous roar.

Both nearly collapsed at the same time, scattering crimson and pale yellow energy.

The fragments resembled flames.

The former turned into Hellfire and continued burning.

The latter dispersed in midair like sparks.

Seizing the chance, Tony rushed out and returned to the real Macro Universe.

Mephisto watched Tony depart with an ugly expression.

Mephisto had underestimated Russell.

Mephisto had not expected Russell to break Mephisto's blockade with a single strike.

But this also proved something.

Russell's soul was immensely valuable.

Although Russell had displayed a high level of magical mastery.

Sorcerers were all fragile.

As long as Mephisto could get close, Mephisto could win!

Changing tactics, Mephisto charged at Russell.

Mephisto intended to use Mephisto's physical superiority to defeat this sorcerer at close range.

Watching Mephisto rush toward him, Russell looked panicked.

He hastily used all kinds of spells to stop Mephisto while retreating to widen the distance.

Mephisto: As long as I get close, I win!

Russell: If you get close and discover that hitting me only makes you lose health, how am I supposed to keep acting?