I'M IN MARVEL

c36 Mephisto: The Fish is Hooked

Russell secretly controlled the mecha and fired Pym particle-enhanced bullets. Tony couldn't dodge in time, as Russell had accelerated the bullets covertly.

After stabbing Tony in the back, Russell briefly faltered with a pang of guilt.

"It's all Dr. Pym's fault. If you had been stronger, I wouldn't have to fight my own teammates."

Tony's my closest friend, my brother.

"Mephisto, I'll make you pay for the cost of losing my conscience later!"

Quantum Realm

Tony collapsed onto a small island and looked around. The ground was desolate, with only jagged rocks. Above, enormous, multicolored spheres floated like stars. The entire space looked absurd and bizarre.

Just as Tony absorbed the surreal sight, a scarlet portal opened in front of him.

Mephisto, dressed like a British gentleman, stepped out.

"At last, we meet, Iron Man Tony Stark."

With a flourish, Mephisto tipped his hat and gave Tony a polite salute.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mephisto, the King of Demons, the Lord of Hell, the Supreme Ruler of the Demon World."

Mephisto? The one who wants my soul?

Tony's expression hardened, recalling the warnings from Russell a few days earlier.

"Ah, you've heard of me, Mr. Stark. Was it the wizard Russell who told you?" Mephisto asked, his voice calm.

Mephisto could sense Tony's unease, his thoughts almost laid bare.

"You may have some misconceptions about me. Yes, I want your soul," Mephisto continued, "But I'm offering you a deal that benefits us both."

"Telepathy?" Tony muttered, mentally shutting down and using his Seraphim Shield to keep a distance from Mephisto's influence.

Mephisto, unfazed, nodded. "Indeed. I can see through your soul, Tony Stark. I understand your deepest desires."

Mephisto leaned in, his voice lower, more intimate.

"Do you want to know the truth about your parents' deaths? They were murdered."

Tony's face went pale. "Didn't they die in a car accident?" he asked, the memory of his parents' deaths always haunting him.

Mephisto didn't answer verbally but raised his hand to conjure a glowing, illusory screen.

On the screen, the souls of Howard and Maria Stark appeared.

With a flick of his wrist, their final moments unfolded on the screen, revealing their tortured expressions—pain, despair, helplessness. Tony's eyes widened, his chest tight with grief and anger.

The blood drained from his face, and his mind whirled. He couldn't breathe.

Mephisto seized the moment, his voice dripping with temptation.

"Tony, sign a contract with me, serve me, and I will bring them back to life."

To Mephisto, Tony was an asset—powerful, a prime candidate to become a valuable ally. The demon lord believed that once Tony's potential was fully realized, he could become a force second only to Mephisto himself, perhaps even surpassing him in time.

But Tony held fast to his principles: Never make a deal with the devil.

Mephisto wasn't done yet. "I can also bring back your friends and loved ones. For example, Jarvis, your butler. Even after they pass, I can guide them to my dimension, where they can continue to exist, free from the shackles of mortality."

As the screen displayed more souls—his family, his loved ones—Tony fought to regain his composure.

He knew Ancient One and Russell would come to his rescue. The only thing he needed now was time. Time to stall, to delay.

Minutes passed. Mephisto, sensing the approach of others, began to grow impatient. He was keenly aware that someone was trying to interfere, and soon, the mages would arrive.

Mephisto had a plan—draw Tony into the fold, use him to catch Russell, and bring him back to hell.

But Tony was taking too long. This was not part of the plan.

"Tony, don't listen to him!" A golden light flared as a portal opened.

Russell had arrived.

Russell, who had been purposely delayed, knew Tony was not in immediate danger. His arrival was strategic—to buy time for Ancient One's magic circle to finish forming outside.

He had to make some noise, distract Mephisto, and ensure that the demon couldn't escape before the magic circle was completed.

Upon seeing Russell, Mephisto's lips curled into a sinister grin.

"Master Russell, we meet again. The bait is caught."

Russell's response was calm. "We meet again, Mephisto."

Boom! Mephisto wasted no time, unleashing a powerful burst of scarlet energy at Russell.

Russell sidestepped and moved toward Tony, the scarlet blast in hot pursuit.

For a split second, Russell considered whether to shield Tony. But then he decided against it.

"Seraphim Shield!" Russell summoned a protective barrier to absorb the incoming attack.

At the same time, he handed Tony a vial of Pym particles. "Take this. It'll help you escape the quantum realm."

Tony, without hesitation, drank the Pym particle formula, and his body began to heal rapidly.

Mephisto, forming a powerful energy grip with his hands, seemed to manipulate the island itself, trying to hold it together in a crushing force. As the island grew larger, it collided with Tony's body, hindering his recovery and inflicting pain.

Seeing the peril, Russell leaped into the air, drawing the Holy Sword of Vishanti. With a mighty swing, he cleaved through the energy hands, sending a resounding roar through the air.

The clash of powers—scarlet and golden—resulted in a violent explosion. Hellfire engulfed the battlefield, while a yellow spark evaporated into nothingness.

In the chaos, Tony seized the opportunity and, using the Pym particle's power, escaped the quantum realm and returned to the real world.

Mephisto, watching Tony vanish, cursed under his breath.

He had underestimated Russell's power.

But it also revealed something else. Russell's soul was of immense value.

Though Russell demonstrated formidable magical prowess, Mephisto knew that all mages were vulnerable. If he could get close, he could still win.

With that thought, Mephisto rushed toward Russell, intending to close the gap and overpower him.

Russell, seeing the demon charge, feigned panic, retreating while casting spells to keep Mephisto at bay.

Mephisto growled in determination. "As long as I close the distance, I win!"

Russell smirked. "You get close, and you'll find out how much blood you lose just by trying to hit me."

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