Marvel: Sign-In System – Starting with the Glint-Glint Fruit

Matthew’s sudden invasion of Limbo and the battle that erupted between him and Belasco immediately drew the attention of numerous Hell Lords throughout the various hell dimensions.

One presence after another turned toward Limbo, watching the battlefield with very different thoughts.

“Hah, that kid has gotten stronger again. Now he’s gone after that sorcerer Belasco. What a troublesome personality.”

Mephisto clicked his tongue in amazement.

At the same time, Matthew’s uncompromising nature was giving him a headache.

By now, Mephisto was completely certain that Earth was producing a ruler similar to Odin.

Matthew displayed his strength openly and possessed an intense desire for expansion.

That meant there was a very real possibility that he would eventually follow the same path Odin once had.

Mephisto would have to think very carefully about what to do next.

Fighting Matthew directly was not an option, and if enough time passed, Matthew would soon reach the same level as him.

When that happened, what could Mephisto even do?

Beyond Mephisto, other Hell Lords were also evaluating this powerful figure who had risen from the human world.

“Another human like this has appeared besides the Ancient One? The last time he entered hell and confronted Mephisto, he wasn’t nearly this powerful. Is he the Ancient One’s chosen successor as Sorcerer Supreme?”

“The Terra Empire, Matthew, the Emperor… a forceful ruler has emerged in the human world. How Strange. This doesn’t match the future I could only vaguely perceive. Has the future truly shifted?”

“Is this the Ancient One’s doing? Isn’t she supposed to be a guardian? Why would she allow someone like this to emerge?”

“I don’t sense the influence of any other ancient god. How did someone like him suddenly rise to power?”

“Earth will need much closer attention from now on.”

Some of the Hell Lords were indifferent, others were surprised, and several had become deeply wary.

Matthew’s sudden appearance had clearly made them realize that many events were beginning to diverge from what they had expected.

Even so, most of them chose to observe quietly rather than interfere personally.

They wanted to use the battle in Limbo to study Matthew and see exactly what he was capable of.

Inside Belasco’s palace within the Dark Fortress, a small and frail figure was slowly making her way through the dark corridors.

Along the way, she saw that the vicious demonic guards who had once terrified her were now collapsed on the ground, trembling and too frightened to move.

Hope began to rise inside Illyana.

She had heard everything.

She had heard the voices outside the palace and felt that terrifying pressure, as though an enormous mountain had been placed on top of her, making every breath difficult.

But Illyana did not care. Years of deliberate torture at Belasco’s hands had raised her tolerance for pain far beyond what was normal.

Belasco might have believed that the suffering would destroy her will and break her mind. Instead, it had forged an extraordinarily resilient heart.

So even though both her body and mind were under immense strain, she could still move.

She needed to get outside and see what was happening.

Her destination was the terrace on this level of the palace.

The distance was not great, but every step was painfully difficult.

Illyana moved slowly, gritting her teeth as she forced herself forward one painful step at a time.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, she finally reached the balcony along the outer wall of the palace.

Then she saw it.

Illyana raised her head and held her breath as the scene above was reflected in her eyes.

Despite everything she had experienced at such a young age, she had never seen the skies of Limbo look like this.

A vast sea of violent lightning clashed against flowing currents of molten energy.

Every collision sent plasma and burning fragments of magma raining down like meteors.

Whenever they struck the ground or crashed into the Dark Fortress, enormous explosions of fire and debris erupted. The earth shook violently beneath her feet, and powerful winds roared across the city.

It looked like the end of the world.

Yet none of it truly held Illyana’s attention.

Her eyes were fixed on the golden figure high above—the man seated upon a throne beneath an endless ocean of lightning.

That golden light seemed to pierce directly into Illyana’s heart and soul.

For the first time in years, she saw hope. A single light had appeared within the endless darkness surrounding her.

Illyana stared at it almost desperately, unwilling to look away. The numbness inside her began to fade, and her heart seemed to awaken as a single thought screamed through her mind—

someone had finally come to save her.

In that moment, she desperately hoped that the Emperor would notice her.

She wanted him to see her.

She wanted him to save her.

And the light she had placed her hopes in did not disappoint her.

The Emperor lowered his gaze.

He looked directly at her.

They were separated by a vast distance, yet somehow Illyana felt as though their eyes had met.

She was no ordinary twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl anymore.

Years of torment in Limbo had transformed her into something far stronger than she realized.

But Illyana did not care about any of that.

She simply stood there, staring at the Emperor in the sky.

There was no overwhelming authority in his gaze as he looked at her.

Instead, there was compassion.

A single thought entered her mind—

Was he feeling sorry for me?

Illyana felt her nose sting as tears slowly gathered in her large eyes. She had not felt that kind of aching emotion in a very long time—the last time had been when she managed to escape back to Earth and see her brother.

Her vision blurred, and as she raised a small, bloodstained hand to wipe away the tears, she suddenly froze again.

The Emperor who had looked at her with compassion was now right in front of her—so close that she could barely understand what had happened.

Without even realizing it, Illyana had somehow been brought high into the sky and was now standing on the steps of the throne.

She saw the Emperor sit upright and extend his arms toward her, completely ignoring the dirt and blood covering her body as he pulled her into an embrace.

At the same time, Belasco’s furious roar exploded in the distance.

“Illyana! How dare you steal her from me?! I will kill you! I will tear out your soul and torment it for ten thousand years!”

BOOM!

The violent winds intensified as terrifying energies collided and sent shockwaves through the sky, but Illyana felt none of it.

Everything around her seemed peaceful.

“Hello, Illyana. My name is Matthew.”

Matthew’s refined face appeared clearly before her, his gaze gentle and his voice warm.

Illyana knew she would never forget this moment.

No matter how many years passed, it would remain one of the most precious memories she possessed—something that could never be erased from her mind.

She desperately wished time could stop right there.

For the first time since being trapped in Limbo, she felt safe.

She no longer had to fear being tortured, endure endless pain, or fight terrifying monsters just to survive.

And she no longer had to face Belasco’s hideous, cruel expression.

…

RUMBLE!

The tremors running through Limbo grew increasingly violent.

Far away, countless demons were charging forward like a crazed tide, seemingly endless in number.

Yet the force they were attacking consisted of only five humans.

Inside a narrow canyon, five Astartes stood in power armor. Some carried battle axes, others long spears, while another wielded a massive two-handed sword.

The five soldiers looked toward the dense swarm of demons flooding into the canyon ahead.

A barrage of purple energy beams came pouring toward them like heavy rain.

The Astartes raised massive shields in their left hands, each one nearly as large as a door. Intricate runes carved into their surfaces glowed with a faint, flowing golden light that seemed almost alive.

As the beams slammed against the shields, they produced nothing more than faint ripples across the magical barriers, failing to force the Astartes back by even a single step.

“Squad One has secured coordinates 22X-11Z and is carrying out the purge.”

“Squad Four has located a demon nest. A high-ranking demon is leading a force of more than thirty thousand. They are preparing to advance.”

“Engaging a massive beast. Multiple entities present; currently at a stalemate. Requesting support.”

“Squad Three has completed its purge and is establishing a forward camp.”

“Squad Seven has encountered a demon horde estimated at more than two hundred thousand. Requesting reinforcements.”

“Squad Two’s battle brothers are already moving to assist.”

The specially designed receivers inside their helmets continuously relayed calm, orderly reports.

Every message was brief and precise, using as few words as possible to communicate the necessary information.

“Squad Twelve has encountered a large demon force at the marked coordinates. Estimated strength exceeds three hundred thousand. No reinforcements required.” the tall Astartes leader with the battleaxe said calmly into his comms.

As his words faded, he watched the lead wave of the demon army surge toward their position.

Raising his Storm Shield with his left hand, he slammed it violently into the canyon floor.

BOOM!

The instant the shield struck the ground, a violent surge of energy erupted outward, racing through the narrow canyon.

Every ranged dark-magic attack launched by the demons was crushed apart.

At the same moment, the shields held by all five Astartes dissolved into golden particles and vanished from their hands.

The leader raised his battle axe while the Astartes beside him lifted his greatsword.

Terrifying black lightning began surging across both weapons.

“Haah!”

With a thunderous roar, the two soldiers gathered their power and swung downward from opposite sides.

The axe and sword never touched, but the two streams of energy collided, intertwined, and merged into something far more powerful.

A violent torrent infused with Conqueror’s Haki formed into a massive rotating beam of energy and blasted forward.

BOOM!

The entire canyon shook violently.

The attack did not even need to touch the ground directly—the pressure alone tore long trenches through the earth, dragging enormous amounts of stone and dust into the blast.

Under the shocked and terrified gazes of the demons ahead, the beam completely swallowed the front ranks of their army.

Screams and shrieks filled the air beneath the deafening explosions.

“Run!”

“I don’t want to die! Please, spare me!”

“Damn it… I can’t move!”

By the time the demons tried to escape, the Conqueror’s Haki had already crushed their will. Their bodies simply refused to move.

Then the overwhelming energy reached them.

Demonic flesh was shattered and completely erased within the blast.

The brilliant beam continued forward, tearing through layer after layer of canyon rock. Massive sections of stone collapsed as the attack carved a long, empty corridor straight through the densely packed demon army.

When it finally ended, the five Astartes could see an enormous passage stretching into the distance, with massive holes punched through one canyon wall after another.

Above them, winged demons hovered over the canyon, staring down in absolute horror.

Then one of them finally screamed the only word that came to mind—

“Run!”