I'M IN MARVEL

c38 Mephisto, Let's Negotiate (Seeking Follow-Up Reading)

Scarlet energy surged from Mephisto's forehead, rapidly repairing his injuries, and his distorted, infernal face gradually returned to its usual menacing form.

He was stunned.

"You're a mage, yet you fight so fiercely in close combat?" he marveled.

"You're fierce in close combat, so why did you retreat just now?" he challenged, confusion flickering in his hellish eyes.

Click, click, click!

At the center of it all, Mephisto's position became the epicenter of a violent spatial distortion. The surrounding area twisted and fractured in expanding concentric circles.

Multiple layers of mirror dimensions began overlapping, surrounding him, building up an intricate, magical prison.

From a distance, the glowing runes of Kamar-Taj's ancient sorcery began to pulse, a familiar sign of mystic energy.

Three enormous, interconnected magic circles formed in the sky, positioned strategically in three different directions. When fully linked, they would encircle Mephisto entirely, trapping him with nowhere to run—just as they had done to Russell earlier.

As Mephisto regained his composure, he shot toward the gap in the magical circle, moving with great speed.

It was clear to him now: he had been ambushed.

Master Gu Yi, the Sorcerer Supreme, waved her enchanted folding fan.

The space before Mephisto twisted, deflecting his trajectory mid-flight.

Russell, seizing the opportunity, dashed forward, blocking his path.

"Old Mo, you don't want to fight me up close?" Russell mocked, his confidence swelling as the plan unfolded perfectly.

"Come meet your doom!" Mephisto roared in fury, charging at Russell with reckless abandon.

The demon was gambling—betting that Russell would step aside.

As a supreme dimensional lord, Mephisto's physical presence here was merely a projection, a clone. The destruction of a clone might cause him significant harm, but not death.

On the other hand, Russell and the Ancient One were the real bodies—seriously injured, they could die if defeated.

Yet Russell, grinning, didn't flinch. He rushed to meet Mephisto head-on, undeterred.

"You don't know what an invincible body feels like," Russell muttered, already activating his energy-draining abilities.

Boom!

Russell didn't retreat; instead, he used his [Energy Drain] to its maximum, absorbing Mephisto's energy the moment they collided.

Ironically, both warriors, who had condensed their powers to enhance their attacks, were now in a contest of physical brawn, their blows creating shockwaves that could shatter mountains. But despite their titanic power, the force of their strikes dissipated, absorbed by Russell's powers.

In fact, the energy exchange was so contained that the effects of their battle were much quieter than the prior chase.

If viewed in slow motion, their struggle looked almost like a street brawl—Mephisto appearing to gain the upper hand as his attacks landed, while Russell's seemed ineffective.

But soon, Mephisto realized something disturbing.

His punches and kicks landed with full force, yet they seemed to have no effect. It was as if his attacks were sinking into an abyss, causing no harm to Russell whatsoever.

Even worse, each time he made contact, Russell absorbed the hellish energy that leaked from him, leaving the demon feeling drained.

It wasn't that Mephisto's combat skills were inferior—it was that Russell had no need to dodge or defend. Every attack that landed on him only empowered him.

"Hah!" Russell laughed, enjoying the fight more than he should have. "You didn't think I'd smile, did you?"

Mephisto's fists and feet struck Russell, but it was almost comical—like a massage, as most of the kinetic force vanished into Russell's energy-draining field.

Hell energy poured into Russell's body, only to be consumed by his abilities, leaving Mephisto feeling weaker with each moment.

In the short span of their exchange, Russell absorbed nearly 100,000 units of energy—equivalent to spending over two weeks under the stars.

"Ha! You're in trouble now," Russell thought, relishing the feeling of power.

Mephisto, now realizing the futility of his charge, unleashed a burst of hellish energy, trying to force Russell back.

But Russell stood firm, his body absorbing the full brunt of the attack.

With no other option, Mephisto flew back, distancing himself from Russell, trying to regain control.

Nearby, Russell stood, his clothes tattered, looking somewhat disheveled, but physically untouched. Behind him stood the Ancient One, her posture regal, gently waving her folding fan. All around them swirled an unending labyrinth of mirrored spaces.

In the distance, three gigantic magical formations connected, sealing the heavens and the earth in their mystic grip.

Mephisto knew it was over. His clone was trapped.

Meanwhile, aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. space carrier, Tony Stark addressed the team. "Russell's fighting Mephisto in the Quantum Realm. We need to support him."

Dr. Bruce Banner raised an eyebrow. "How do we get into the Quantum Realm and locate them?"

"We'll use Pym Particles," Tony replied, looking at the rest of the Avengers. "Once we get to the location I marked, we follow the battle's energy signature."

The Avengers exchanged nervous glances. The prospect of fighting a mythical entity in an entirely new dimension was daunting.

Nick Fury, ever the leader, turned to Tony. "So, the Sorcerer Supreme left Kamar-Taj and may be aiding Russell?"

"Yes," Tony affirmed. "If they fall, the Earth is in grave danger."

Nick Fury considered this. The newly formed Avengers could handle most terrestrial threats, but this was different. Mephisto was no mere villain—he was a lord of hell.

Rejecting Tony's request would signal weakness, and that could jeopardize future efforts to recruit Russell and Tony into the Avengers.

Finally, Fury made his decision. "Avengers, assemble!" He reached for the pager in his jacket pocket, knowing that if things went south, he might need to call in an old friend.

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