Anyone with common sense knows that, in every universe, Hell exists.
The Hell Dimension was one place Lucas had no intention of confronting head-on—at least, not yet.
Demons.
Hell Lords.
Demon Kings.
Possibly even Satan himself.
And perhaps… the First Fallen, lurking somewhere in the shadows.
After witnessing everything before him, Lucas was now certain—this was the Hell Dimension.
The only question was which Hell this universe belonged to: Marvel's, or DC's.
Marvel's Hell was less a single realm and more a vast multiversal structure—a great universe made up of countless smaller dimensional hells. Each of those domains was ruled by a Hell Lord, all operating under the overarching laws of the greater cosmos.
DC's Hell, on the other hand, was a single, unified cosmic Hell.
In both universes, the title "Satan" was not a specific individual, but rather a designation—something akin to Emperor of Hell.
If this is Marvel's Hell, things are still manageable.
But if this is DC's Hell… then he is in real trouble.
Because if it were Marvel's Hell, the being residing in that castle would at most be a Hell Lord—powerful, but within limits.
If it were DC's Hell, then that castle belonged to a Demon King—a level of existence far beyond what Lucas could currently challenge.
At that moment, Lois—still guided by the beam of light—was pulled toward the ancient castle.
Lucas performed a spatial shift and instantly arrived inside.
The structure resembled a medieval European fortress. When Lois's soul was drawn into the great hall, Lucas frowned again.
At the far end of the hall sat a figure of roughly human size, wrapped in faint crimson energy, lounging upon a throne.
"I knew it," the crimson figure said calmly.
"I did not misjudge your soul. Opening the Gates of Hell and bringing you specifically into my domain was well worth the effort."
"You—who are you?" Lois asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"I?" The figure rose to his feet.
"In your world, I am known by a name—Mephisto."
As he stood, his muscular form was revealed, his deep red skin looking as though it were perpetually wreathed in flame.
Lois's pupils shrank.
She had heard that name before.
That was the name of a Demon King.
"Yes," Mephisto chuckled darkly.
"I am exactly who you think I am. And the scent of fear you're giving off right now—how delightful."
"Why… why did you capture me?" Lois asked, confused and terrified.
Why would a Demon King bother with the soul of an ordinary human woman?
"Fate told me to," Mephisto replied with a smile.
"Fate showed me that obtaining your soul would bring me immense benefit."
"So I watched you. Waited. And finally paid a considerable price to seize the perfect opportunity to bring you here."
Lois felt utterly helpless.
Before a Demon King, what could a normal human soul possibly do?
Just as Lucas was preparing to continue observing, Mephisto suddenly turned his head—his gaze locking precisely onto the position where Lucas was standing.
Lucas was genuinely surprised.
He was currently observing from within the time dimension. Without time-based abilities or artifacts, it should have been impossible to detect him—like a three-dimensional being trying to perceive a four-dimensional entity.
"This sensation…" Mephisto muttered.
"Time?"
"Someone is peering at me from the time dimension?"
He laughed softly.
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
"This is my universe."
"Everything here—every fluctuation, no matter how small—is within my awareness."
"So don't assume that hiding within time means you're invisible to me."
Lucas said nothing.
He could not respond—this was the past.
"Oh," Mephisto continued, eyes fixed on Lucas's position,
"you must be someone important to this little girl. Otherwise, you wouldn't be watching her so intently."
"Listen carefully. If you want her soul back, it's very simple."
"Bring me what I want—in exchange."
"Otherwise, I will never release her."
Lucas made no attempt to argue.
Instead, he pulled the timeline forward, returning directly to the present.
He had already confirmed where Lois's soul was.
What remained was how to retrieve it.
"Heimdall!"
The moment Lucas spoke, the Rainbow Bridge's light descended upon him.
"What?" Clark exclaimed in shock after hearing the explanation.
"Lois's soul was taken by Mephisto? Then how are we supposed to save her?"
Hela frowned deeply.
"We can't act recklessly," she said.
"That is Mephisto."
"Is he really that dangerous?" Clark asked.
"Dangerous?" Hela scoffed from her throne.
"He is a ruler of an entire cosmic domain and has existed for countless ages."
"Even our grandfather chose not to provoke him directly."
"If you want the soul he holds, the price you'll have to pay will be enormous."
Lucas rubbed his temples.
"So there's really no way to defeat him?"
Hela replied coldly, "Mephisto has lived for so long that if he were easy to kill, he would have died ten thousand times over by now."
Lucas's voice hardened.
"Then we'll find another way. I already promised Clark that I would bring Lois back—no matter what."
Clark nodded firmly.
"Yes. No matter the cost, I will bring Lois back to life."
Hela shook her head helplessly.
"No matter how firm your resolve, you cannot simply storm his Hell and kill him."
"In his own domain, Mephisto is nearly invincible—just as I am in Asgard."
"I'm sorry. I can't help you."
"If I leave Asgard, my power will drop drastically. I wouldn't stand a chance against him."
Lucas looked at her calmly.
"I never asked you to come with me."
"That would be too dangerous."
Hela's brows knit together.
"So you're planning to go alone?"
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"
"You could move freely before only because you were observing through time."
"And now he already knows you exist."
"With Mephisto's personality, he's surely prepared countless traps just for you."
"If you truly enter his domain, he will find endless ways to torment you."
"And if you die there—"
"You will never escape. You'll be enslaved in Hell forever, with no chance of redemption."
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