The Holy Son in Marvel

The moment Mephisto sensed the power of the silver key, his expression changed abruptly, his face twisting visibly. It was rare for anything to rattle a demon lord after countless ages, but the silver key was certainly an exception.

"An Old One!" Mephisto's eyes widened. "Shuma-Gorath! Didn't the Ancient One warn you about the dangers of the Eye Demon?"

"No." The archmage waved the silver key. Even his preliminary exploration of it had yielded significant results. In his plan, the silver key would become a unique advantage, enabling him to tap into powers he hadn't previously possessed—like spells that could manipulate a target's age or control shadows. If his experiments were successful, he would be able to enhance spells simply by wearing the key around his neck. "This is the key to witnessing the ultimate cosmic abyss, the gateway to the heart of chaos. So, Mephisto, your offer is far too low. If I want the throne, I'll take it myself. To hell with Marduk; he doesn't deserve the title of Satan."

"I wouldn't mind offering a bit of assistance." Mephisto seemed to regain his composure and resumed his valuation. "I know your legion is formidable, but not every demonic pillar will willingly support you, even if you were once their master."

"We could create a memorandum." Solomon tucked the silver key back against his chest. "You know, my value keeps rising. There's no way you'll buy in at a discount. Besides, I have no intention of making a deal at the moment."

"Then let's hope for a pleasant partnership in the future." Mephisto conjured a hat, gave Solomon a slight bow, and vanished from the lab. Once he was gone, the stagnant air slowly returned to its usual warmth, and the light, previously tinged with a bluish hue as if covered by a thin plastic film, resumed its natural glow. Solomon exhaled a long breath—pretending to be King Solomon was quite the ordeal. When Mephisto addressed him by that name, he had no choice but to play along. Although the devil's presence on Earth was merely a powerless avatar, there was no telling if the full force of Hell might suddenly back it up. Solomon couldn't risk offending Mephisto, lest the devil flip the table, in which case he wouldn't be able to hold out until help arrived from Kamar-Taj.

Yet he couldn't agree to the devil's deal either. The Supreme Sorcerer's words were etched in his memory: the moment one believes they have outwitted a devil, they've already fallen into the trap. With no other option, Solomon used the silver key to shift the power dynamic, presenting it as a seller's market. He was signaling to Mephisto that the Seventh Throne was just one possible future, and though he was inclined to pursue it, the devil's current offer wasn't sufficient.

This subtle rejection left room for future collaboration without insulting Mephisto, as they had reached a shared understanding: the one to take the Seventh Throne would not be Marduk. If someone had to claim the Satanic throne, that person would be Solomon Damonet.

Quickly gathering his belongings, Solomon slipped on his Sling Ring, opened a portal, and returned to Kamar-Taj. He needed to inform the Supreme Sorcerer of Mephisto's visit, especially since the devil had mentioned a particular term—"Old Ones." This was something the Supreme Sorcerer had never mentioned, yet the Old Ones evidently existed in this universe, as Mephisto knew of them and, surely, so did the god of Eternity. Solomon couldn't shake the suspicion that the Supreme Sorcerer's initial reason for sending him to Salem might not have been so straightforward, nor was Eternity's purpose so simple.

Shortly after the archmage departed, Mephisto reemerged from the shadows in the corner. After all, he was a devil—anyone who believed his words would be nothing short of a fool. Though he hadn't achieved his full objective this time, making early contact with the future Seventh Throne's ruler wasn't a wasted effort. This mission wasn't just his idea but was backed by several hellish lords. Lucifer, Beelzebub, and many other infernal lords had long grown tired of Marduk. Now that Mephisto's primary objective was mostly achieved, Solomon Damonet would indeed ascend the Satanic throne.

Next, Mephisto had to deal with issues concerning his troublesome son.

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"Master, you were aware of Yog-Sothoth, weren't you?" Solomon's conversations with the Supreme Sorcerer were always confidential, privy only to the two of them. He placed the silver key on the table, sliding it toward the Supreme Sorcerer. "You never mentioned Shuma-Gorath. I want to know why Eternity first sent me to Salem."

"The Eye Demon Shuma-Gorath is indeed one of the Old Ones," the Supreme Sorcerer responded slowly, picking up the silver key and examining it closely. "It is a tremendously powerful god of an extradimensional nature, existing across multiple dimensions. In fact, it is far more dangerous than the Dark Dimension's Dormammu or the Black Magic God Chthon. When we resist Dormammu, we can rely on support from the Sephiroth City, and Chthon is currently sealed and unable to interfere with reality directly. But Shuma-Gorath? We never know when it might appear. Born from chaos, it invaded our multiverse from another universe long ago, and repelling it requires power from beyond this world."

"So Eternity sent me to Salem to face Nyarlathotep?"

"Precisely. Because of your countless connections to the All-in-One, when you confront Nyarlathotep, Yog-Sothoth is sure to aid you." The Supreme Sorcerer avoided meeting Solomon's eyes. "You are the best candidate for contacting a god from another universe. Eternity himself designated you as the one to drive Shuma-Gorath out of the multiverse."

"Well." Solomon pursed his lips. "It's not a pleasant feeling, being manipulated."

"I am sorry…"

"It's not your fault, Master." Solomon shook his head. "More accurately, it's this universe's will driving me against Shuma-Gorath. As a member of Kamar-Taj, it's my duty. But at the very least, I'd like to be informed of the risks."

"In the future, it will be you and Strange who face Shuma-Gorath." The Supreme Sorcerer sighed. "You still have time to prepare. I believe that by the time you confront the ultimate gateway of the universe, you will have the power to challenge Shuma-Gorath. It will be the most terrifying enemy you've ever faced; Dormammu will seem insignificant in comparison. From now on, you must delve into black magic—not merely the dark magic of the Dark Dimension but black magic originating from another universe. Only then will you be able to defeat that immortal god."

"Even if it costs me my sanity?"

"Yes."

[Note 1] Shuma-Gorath first appeared in Marvel Premiere #5 (Nov. 1972). Its true debut, however, was in Robert E. Howard's short story "The Curse of the Golden Skull." A tremendously powerful demon that killed both the Ancient One and Doctor Strange, Shuma-Gorath is depicted as one of the Great Old Ones, heavily inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos.

[Note 2] Oshtur envisioned two factions—the Asura of Justice and the Seraphim of Peace. Together, they built the City of Sephiroth, a fortress that serves as a barrier against entities from the Dark Dimension invading lower realms.

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