Chapter 75
The golden light illuminated the earth for hundreds of kilometers, banishing the darkness. Even residents in nearby cities witnessed the phenomenon, bewildered as they pulled out their phones to capture the rare sight. None of them knew that, just hundreds of kilometers away, on a desolate road, a demon lord feared by the world had been bested by a human.
As the brilliant beam of light slowly shrank and faded, calm returned to the land.
Outside the sealed 10,000-meter radius, Wanda, Pietro, Sumarokov, and Jeff sat in the RV, utterly speechless.
Bang!
Jeff and the others, as if puppets on strings, opened the car doors and stepped outside. They stared up at the sky, their eyes wide with shock.
The once dark and stormy sky, filled with heavy clouds, had been cleared by the golden light. The downpour that had soaked the area ceased entirely, leaving behind a stunningly clear night. A bright moon now hung high, surrounded by countless twinkling stars. The scene was breathtaking.
Yet, beneath this tranquil beauty, something far more awe-inspiring took place. High above them, Leon floated, his strong hand gripping Mephisto's throat.
The demon lord was not faring well. Moments ago, Leon had nearly dealt him a devastating blow by awakening the full extent of his power. Despite being a demon lord, Mephisto was still, at his core, a dark creature—innately vulnerable to the power of light.
After all, why else would the angels in Heaven constantly suppress Hell? While power struggles play a role, the inherent weakness to light also factors in heavily.
Now, Mephisto's once imposing demon form had begun to flicker and grow faint, his essence becoming slightly illusory.
Mephisto's breath was weak, his hands and tail hanging limp, but despite his condition, he still carried himself with arrogance.
"You're something special. I like you more and more," he said, his voice steady despite his weakened state.
Leon stared at him in silence, but Mephisto mistook the look in his eyes, misreading it as hesitation. A smirk curled on his lips.
"You're not planning to kill me, are you? I can see it in your eyes. That glimmer—oh, I know it well. It's ambition," Mephisto purred, his voice unexpectedly soft. "You're different from the usual humans, aren't you? Ambitious. Unlike those small-minded fools."
He continued, his tone calm and persuasive. "Most humans are ignorant. They crave wealth, power, women, life... and to get it, they'll trade anything, even their souls. They make deals with devils, enjoying a brief moment of satisfaction, but in the end, they lose their souls. They become slaves, tortured, sold like property."
Mephisto's eyes gleamed. "But you—you're different. You have ambition, yes, but it's bigger, more rational."
Leon nodded slightly, as if acknowledging Mephisto's words.
"What you said makes sense. I do have ambition," Leon admitted.
Mephisto's demon grin widened, confident. "See? We're alike. We can make a deal, you and I. I can help you achieve whatever it is you desire."
Leon's eyes narrowed with interest. "I'm curious," he said, his voice cool. "What kind of deal are you proposing?"
"I don't know if you're aware, but you're not alone in this world. What I can tell you is that there's something much bigger beyond it," Mephisto said, his voice dripping with intrigue.
Leon raised an eyebrow, his tone neutral. "Uh-huh."
Little fox... Mephisto thought to himself, growing frustrated. Despite his attempts to read Leon, the human remained a mystery. Outwardly, Mephisto maintained a charming smile. "Asgard, Hell, Heaven, the Dream Dimension—these are secret realms, unknown to most humans on Earth."
He paused, studying Leon, but the young man's expression gave nothing away.
"So... what's your point?" Leon asked softly.
Mephisto leaned in, his voice smooth, almost seductive. "These dimensional gods rule their worlds, enjoying near-eternal life. Isn't that something you'd want? To be like them—a god?"
Leon didn't flinch. "And you, being one of them, don't have the power to help me achieve that?"
Mephisto's grin faltered slightly but quickly recovered. "Well, to a certain extent, I do. But I suspect you wouldn't approve of the methods—side effects, and all that."
Leon raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue.
"I admire you greatly," Mephisto said, eyeing Leon closely. "There's a mystery about you that I can't quite unravel, and mystery often leads to an unimaginable future."
Mephisto, despite his arrogance, realized something important. Even with all his power, he couldn't fully understand Leon. Two possibilities crossed his mind: either Leon had someone stronger backing him, or he possessed some unknown, mysterious power of his own. If it was the former, Mephisto would be eager to flatter and align with this hidden force. After all, he hadn't climbed to the throne of Hell by strength alone—cunning and shamelessness played their part.
But if it was the latter, Mephisto faced a decision. Should he risk everything to eliminate Leon and uncover his secret? Or, perhaps, it was wiser to show goodwill and seek an alliance?
The idea of killing Leon was too complicated for Mephisto. Due to his contract with the Ancient One, he couldn't even set foot on Earth. Summoning his minions from Hell would be an insult to her authority, and the last thing he wanted was to provoke the Ancient One into storming Hell to destroy him. Mephisto knew how ruthless she could be, especially as her time was nearing its end. He couldn't afford to stir trouble with her now.
Realizing this, Mephisto leaned toward the safer option. He weighed his choices carefully, and Leon, sensing Mephisto's thoughts, remained unbothered. Leon understood that Mephisto might scheme behind the scenes, but he didn't care. His confidence rested in the Sky Blade, and in the adult world, everything boiled down to interests and benefits.
Leon loosened his grip on Mephisto's throat, allowing him to breathe easier. This gesture clearly showed that Leon accepted Mephisto's offer of goodwill. Seizing the moment, Mephisto quickly said, "I can grant you access to Hell."