Chapter 85: The Ancient One and Mephisto

As violent winds howled here, a distant, otherworldly dimension was equally unrestful.

Wide, deep fissures crisscrossed the land, with scalding magma erupting from their depths. The air was thick with sulfurous fumes, smothering the earth and turning it into a blazing furnace. When these sulfurous currents rose a hundred yards into the sky, they formed red and black thunderclouds. As these clouds swelled to their limits, torrents of rain as corrosive as venom would fall from them.

Scattered across the blood-red, barren earth were bizarre plants of every shape and size, clustering together in twisted forests. Some trees towered dozens of yards high, while others sprawled low like shrubs.

Slaughter, desolation, and resentment—this was the crevice between worlds, the very realm of Hell.

The instant the Wind Fiend died, a wave of malignant will burst forth, an invisible hurricane sweeping across Hell, causing even the damned to wail in agony.

A black shadow instantly enveloped the earth, like the judgment of doomsday, surging with enough power to destroy the world as it rushed toward it.

Just as this immense force was about to descend, Mars spun in its orbit and a portal appeared in the void. A slender figure silently emerged.

Golden light radiated from her form. In New York, Hong Kong, and London, three sanctums unfurled profound, intricate magical arrays—like three great shields, they wrapped the earth in their protection.

Complex magical runes orbited her body like a golden veil.

"Mephisto, you have crossed the line."

The Ancient One spoke calmly, her voice quiet yet trembling through the void. The endless tide of black shadow, as if blocked by an invisible wall, could not advance.

Thunder rumbled as the void quaked and the boundless black clouds instantly receded.

An elderly man with a gaunt, sharp-featured face slowly stepped from the gloom. He wore a well-tailored suit and carried a cane of indeterminate material, its handle a crystal-clear skull reminiscent of the one once wielded by Gu Zhongyan.

Mephisto emerged from the darkness, his face sullen as his hands caressed the skull. Wherever he passed, even space itself seemed to burn, the stench of sulfur echoing through the void.

"The Ancient One, my servant has been killed. I demand an explanation," Mephisto snarled, his presence swelling with power and menace.

Yet the Ancient One, well acquainted with Mephisto, knew it was all bluster and bravado.

She remained serene, ignoring his wrath, and replied coldly, "Withdraw, Mephisto. Otherwise, you know the consequences."

Mephisto grew even more furious. He struck his cane upon the ground with force, and the everburning fires of Hell erupted around him, amplifying his formidable presence.

"I told you, my servant is dead. I must act to defend the dignity of the devils."

"Ancient One, I do not wish to break our pact or become your enemy, but the majesty of Hell cannot be defiled. Stand aside, now!"

The Ancient One’s tranquil gaze turned icy, and golden light coalesced in her hands, forming a weapon like a fan.

"This is your final warning. Return to your Hell, Mephisto."

Intense waves of magic began to spill forth, instantly suppressing the raging fires of Hell.

The force made Mephisto hesitate. He wished to retreat, yet thoughts of his schemes made him stubborn. "Ancient One, though you are powerful, you are still mortal. Time has weakened you, your strength is fading."

"Battling Dormammu has drained much of your spirit. Are you sure you wish to make war with Hell now?"

His tone softened, a sly glint in his eyes.

"Master Ancient One, I have no wish to break our bargain or invade Earth. I simply want to find the one who killed my servant—a small act of revenge, nothing more."

"I promise, once I have my retribution, I will return to Hell and meddle no further in the affairs of your world. How about it?"

The Ancient One listened calmly to all Mephisto's words, her expression unchanging. "Are you finished?"

Her understated tone gave Mephisto pause. Then, with a sweep of her hands, a vast magic circle blossomed behind her, its immense power shaking the heavens and universe, unleashing a terrifying force that made even a demon lord blanch.

In her hand, the small, fan-shaped weapon of pure magical energy flicked outward.

Though it seemed delicate, it held the power to slice through space and time. As it flew, it erased every trace of Hellfire in its path before even reaching Mephisto.

"You cannot do this, Ancient One!"

A flicker of panic crossed Mephisto’s eyes as he slammed his cane into the void. Amid swirling red mist, a colossal demon—its skinless, sinewy form towering a thousand meters high—suddenly appeared.

Twin, enormous ram’s horns jutted from the void, spewing endless magma, bathed in Hell’s flames. Mephisto had revealed his true form.

A terrifying roar shook the air. Mephisto hurled a mighty fist, channeling curses and the fire of Hell in a volcanic eruption of power.

Boom!

The two forces collided, shattering the void. Golden light and black-red flames alike were sucked into a swirling vortex, vanishing without a trace.

Unperturbed, the Ancient One turned her palm, torrents of magic flowing forth. The massive magic circle spun behind her, and a peculiar sigil appeared at her brow—the symbol of darkness, the mark of Dormammu’s power.

Night descended, the stars blanketed the sky.

Drawing on the power of darkness, the Sword of Vishanti—the emblem of white magic—materialized in the void.

Sword in hand, the Ancient One became a close-combat mage. With a single stroke, the brilliant blade ignored the limits of space and time, falling before Mephisto could react, severing a massive arm.

Mephisto recoiled in shock, then roared in fury. "Ancient One, you have gone too far! I am Lord of Hell. As long as Hell endures, I cannot die. You cannot kill me!"

Chanting ancient, mysterious incantations, Mephisto instantly regenerated his severed limb and swung it furiously at the Ancient One.

Unmoved, she swiftly formed intricate hand seals. Red magical energy surged before her, weaving into the mighty Shield of Seraphim.

Boom—the weight of thousands of tons struck the magical shield, but failed even to make it tremble.

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