Before Tony could finish speaking, a cold, sinister voice impatiently barged into the arena.
"What a touching reunion." Mephisto's laughter dripped with mockery.
"But I must remind you, little Stark. I possess more than just your father's soul."
"I also have your mother... Maria. She is currently placed inside the Soul Incinerator of Scorching Hell."
"What?!" Tony was shocked and furious.
"I mercifully made a contract with your father," Mephisto continued. "As long as Howard wins, your mother will be spared from torment. But if Howard loses..."
"His and Maria's souls will both become fuel for the furnace, suffering the torment of hellfire that will never go out! Forever!"
"Now, choose, genius of Earth. Think about it..."
"Ah—!"
Before Mephisto could finish, his voice suddenly turned into an incomparably shrill scream that echoed everywhere.
Grandmaster's furious voice rang out. "Daring to break the rules in the arena? You're courting death."
Mephisto was forcibly expelled from the Combat Realm by the Gladiator Spirit. No one knew exactly what punishment he received, but judging by those screams, it sounded as if he had been skinned alive.
The devil's voice vanished, but his goal had already been achieved.
On one side was Earth's future—the survival of all humanity.
On the other were his parents' souls. If he won, his parents would fall into Hell forever and endure endless torment.
This was a soul-crushing choice meant to kill both body and heart.
"Kill me! Tony! Fire!" Howard was still roaring. More than half his body had already been consumed by flames.
How could he choose?
There was no choice at all.
Tony dropped to his knees on the gleaming floor.
This super genius who had always styled himself as a playboy, cynical and carefree.
This billionaire who always hid behind his sharp tongue and