Mephisto Arrives

Russell aimed his right fist at the enormous foot descending toward him.

At the same time, his Subatomic Vision locked onto the rock structure of the Lava Troll's foot.

The rock was made of silicon and oxygen atoms. Bolstered by Hell energy, the chemical bonds between them were many times stronger than those in rocks on Earth.

But his Psychic Power wasn't there to break those bonds. It was there to rewrite them.

Under his will, the silicon and oxygen atoms rearranged themselves. Their hard crystalline structure became a loose amorphous one, then crumbled into powder.

Just as the Lava Troll's right foot was about to meet Russell's fist, it began to peel away from the sole upward, layer by layer, like stone weathered for millions of years. It cracked and turned to dust.

From the outside, it looked as though Russell had punched straight through the monster's foot as easily as a nail driving into wood.

Roar!

The beast howled in pain, the sound deafening. Unable to balance on one leg, its massive body began to sway.

Boom!!

The Lava Troll soon toppled forward and slammed into the ground. A huge crater opened beneath it, spraying gravel and dust in every direction.

Russell stood impassively at the crater's edge and looked down at the giant still struggling below.

The core flame in the Lava Troll's chest still burned fiercely. He leaped into the crater and landed on its chest.

The troll's blood-red eyes fixed on the little insect atop it. A hand vast enough to blot out the sky came crashing down, intent on flattening him.

Then—before the troll's disbelieving eyes, an irresistible force diverted its mighty palm and sent it smacking into its own face.

Thud!

The heavy blow seemed to clear the beast's gaze a little.

Russell