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.

The entire area, spanning several thousand meters, had transformed into a scene straight out of purgatory.

"Hell… we've got to move!" Pietro's eyes widened in fear. He grabbed Wanda and Sumarokov, attempting to speed them away, but the oppressive aura weighed down on his very soul, stiffening his body. It was as though he had lost control over himself.

"Damn it. If only I had that kind of overwhelming power like Leon..." Pietro cursed under his breath, wishing he could awaken the same dominating energy.

"Trying to run? That's not happening." Mephisto's grim laughter echoed through the air. He had already taken the risk of breaking his contract; there was no way he would let his prey escape now. His eyes glowed with hellfire as he spread his arms, readying another surge of dark magic.

But before Mephisto could strike again—

Rumble!

It felt as though the heavens and earth were colliding. The will of an ancient god stirred, and a torrent of spiritual energy, like a violent ocean, surged forward. This unstoppable wave of force transformed the world around them, turning the sky blood-red. Dark clouds rolled in like an oncoming storm, thick and suffocating, as if they were about to burst at any moment. Red lightning flashed through the darkness, intertwining with the thunder, creating a chaotic scene.

The scale of this power was immense, apocalyptic even. Outside the epicenter, Jeff and the others in the RV struggled to breathe as the two clashing forces divided the sky into two realms: one, a world of darkness, evil, and despair; the other, so pure and overwhelming that it felt as though it could shatter souls with its sheer intensity. It was like the end of the world had arrived.

It was terrifying.

The scale of the event felt like the end of the world itself, making it nearly impossible for Jeff and the others in the RV outside Perfection to catch their breath. The clash of energies split the night sky into two realms—one full of gloom, darkness, and pure evil; the other, so pure and overwhelming, it felt like it could shatter souls with its mere presence.

Mephisto's expression darkened as he stared ahead, sensing a familiar and ominous aura. Wanda and her companions, startled by the shift, turned around. There, a hundred meters away, stood Leon, dressed in a red leather jacket and jeans, walking toward them with an air of calm.

The power emanating from Leon was like the wrath of a god, making the world tremble in response. The rain falling from the sky evaporated before even touching the ground, and the air around him distorted under the sheer weight of his aura.

"Boss Leon!"

"Leon!"

Seeing Leon, Wanda and the others breathed a sigh of relief, their faces lighting up with reassuring smiles. To them, Leon was a mountain of strength, always standing firm behind them. No matter the challenge, no matter how powerful their enemies, they believed that as long as Leon was there, they had nothing to fear.

This time was no different.

Leon's sudden arrival and the unprecedented, terrifying power he unleashed caused Mephisto to furrow his brows, his face dark with tension. Despite being a demon lord who had roamed the world for countless years, encountering all manner of people, this new presence unsettled him. The only other humans who had ever impressed him were the mages—their mastery of white magic and their iron will had always stood out. The Ancient One, in particular, had been the greatest among them.

As for mutants, Mephisto viewed them as little more than genetically enhanced beings. Talented as some might be—such as the former Apocalypse—they never posed much of a threat to him.

But this human, Leon, was different. The sheer force of his presence, his defiance of Mephisto, shook the very fabric of reality. For the first time, Mephisto's gaze narrowed as he muttered, "Your soul… it's more special than theirs."