434

The San Venganza

The San Venganza, written in the blood of the fallen, stood out in the dilapidated church with its bright red hue.

Forseti stared at the contract for a moment, then reached out and grasped it, rolling it up tightly under his arm.

This action stirred up the nearby fallen souls. Though they feared his's power, they couldn't help but cry out, "Stop him!"

"He's taking the San Venganza deed! He must be a lackey of Mephisto!" The fallen souls lunged at him with outstretched claws.

Carter pulled the reins, and his warhorse neighed loudly. The fires of hell blazed around him and the steed, turning them into a fiery streak that barreled through the mass of fallen souls blocking their path out of San Venganza Village.

The fallen souls were bound to the village and could only watch helplessly as he rode away, their anguished cries echoing behind him.

Soon after leaving San Venganza Village, Forseti arrived in a desolate wilderness where the man who had made the pact with him awaited.

The man appeared well-dressed and genteel, with neatly groomed gray hair, but behind the facade lay Mephisto, the demon lord from hell.

"It seems you've completed your task once again," Mephisto smiled. "You've not disappointed me, my knight."

Forseti held the San Venganza deed firmly, his expression hidden beneath the brim of his hat.

"The contract," Mephisto extended his hand.

Internally, Carter struggled. In their brief interactions, he had come to recognize Mephisto's vile and cunning nature.

He harbored no desire to serve such an ancient devil.

Moreover, the San Venganza contract wielded terrible power. Handing it over to Mephisto could unleash unimaginable consequences upon the mortal realm.

Yet, he was bound by the contract he had signed. Though Mephisto's influence in the mortal world was weak, the pact could potentially restrain him.

His mind raced, weighing his options in an instant.

In the end, he made his decision. He couldn't allow Mephisto to succeed.

"Boom!" Hellfire erupted, startling Mephisto, who recoiled quickly.

"What are you doing?" Mephisto's tone darkened. "Have you forgotten our previous agreement?"

"Of course not," Carter replied.

He stowed the San Venganza contract and produced a pale golden feather from his pocket. Holding it aloft, he continued, "I believe you'll recognize the power it holds, Mephisto."

Mephisto's face contorted upon seeing the golden feather in his hand. "A high-ranking angel's feather... and imbued with Holy Light! Where did you acquire this?"

"That's not for you to know," Forseti replied.

Mephisto fell silent.

High-ranking angel feathers weren't inherently remarkable, posing only a minor threat to lower demons. However, the infusion of Holy Light made it profoundly unsettling for Mephisto, stirring uncertainty within him.

As the foremost demon of hell, Mephisto's power in the mortal realm was severely restricted, rendering him weaker than his demonic peers. Faced with Forseti and the holy light-infused feather, he feared being banished back to hell.

"What do you want?" Mephisto finally asked.

"Freedom."

"Very well. I can release you from our contract," Mephisto offered.

But Carter added, "And the St. Vaticanza contract as well."

"That's impossible!" Mephisto snapped, his gentlemanly facade twisting to reveal demonic features — pallid skin and fangs.

"Then this is farewell," Carter declared, pulling on the reins and galloping away into the distance, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

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