Chapter 71
Mephisto, now fully transformed into his demonic form, radiated an overwhelming, oppressive force that felt almost tangible, pressing heavily on Wanda, Pietro, and Sumarokov. If not for their immense physical and mental strength, they might have crumbled under the sheer weight of his presence. This wasn't merely a test of combat ability—it was a suppression that came from the very essence of life.
Despite being just a soul projection, Mephisto was still on the level of a Skyfather, an entity far beyond their reach. If this had been his true form, one glance from him would have likely reduced Pietro and Sumarokov to ashes in an instant, their souls condemned to eternal torment in hell. Only Wanda might have lasted a little longer.
Wanda, sensing the imminent danger, quickly deployed her Chaos Magic, slowing time around them. The downpour of rain seemed to fall at a crawl, each droplet clearly visible to the naked eye. Even with this shield, the three of them felt like a fragile boat in a storm, ready to capsize at any moment.
"You've done well. I'm more impressed with you than ever. You are... special," Mephisto's low, rasping voice echoed through the sky as thunder rumbled above, flashes of red lightning slicing through the darkened sky. The flashes of lightning briefly illuminated the desolate land below.
"Pietro, we can't defeat him. We need to leave," Wanda whispered, her gaze fixed on the demon floating in the stormy sky. She knew they stood no chance, and she didn't want to push their luck—especially if Leon and Natasha found out, they'd definitely get a scolding.
"Should we call for backup?" Pietro, the younger and more impulsive, was hesitant to retreat in defeat. If the three of them couldn't win, surely the rest of the team could take this red-skinned monster down.
Wanda shook her head. "There's no need for that. From what this old guy mentioned earlier, there's likely something on Earth that's restricting him. We don't need to take unnecessary risks."
"Alright, just hold on—" Pietro began, but before he could finish, a violent, powerful surge of energy swept over them. Their expressions shifted as they realized too late that Mephisto had already anticipated their plans and launched his attack.
Mephisto's black magic unfolded in full force. The ground beneath them began to crack, and from the fissures, the red flames of hell erupted. Within the flames, the faint wails of countless tormented souls could be heard, their screams filling the air as they clawed desperately, sensing fresh souls nearby. These souls, trapped in the abyss of hell, seemed to be trying to break free and enter the human world.