In the courtyard of Kamar-Taj, the war council to decide the future had concluded, though preparations for the final battle had yet to truly begin. The scents of tension and determination stirred in the air as everyone found their designated positions.
Inside an elegant meditation room, the last of the flames receded from Carter Slade, turning him back into the weather-beaten and weary old gravedigger. He solemnly handed the yellowed parchment scroll, which bore a century-old curse, to Lin Huai.
"I can no longer transform," Carter's voice was raspy, tinged with a sense of relief. "I've hidden this contract my entire life, hoping that one day it could be completely destroyed. Now, this burden is passed to you." He looked at the scroll and added with a complex gaze, "If... it still ends in failure, let it remain in Kamar-Taj. This is the safest place in the World. Even Mephisto cannot take it from here."
Captain America Steve found Master Wong, who was busy assigning personnel. The recent battles had made him feel powerless; facing that unreasonable magic and those Devils, his proud set of fighting techniques simply wasn't enough.
"Master Wong," Steve's expression was sincere, his words laced with urgency, "I'd like to ask for some magic that can be used in close-quarters combat. I feel like I've been dragging everyone down, and I don't want to be just a punching bag that needs protecting next time."
Master Wong looked at the legendary soldier's undisguised frustration and determination. He nodded and replied in a deep voice, "I will report your request to Sorcerer Ancient One. Until then, I can teach you some basic energy channeling techniques."
Bruce Banner, meanwhile, took the claws of rage forged by Tony and walked into a relatively quiet meditation room. He closed his eyes, speaking to his other self in his mind: "Listen, big guy, we both know the side effects of this thing. But we're two people; if one can't hold on, the other takes over. Rage to charge, reason to seize. The two of us can definitely last longer than anyone else, right?"
Deep in his mind, an angry roar served as the response. Banner took a deep breath, his gaze becoming increasingly firm.
Far away at the top of Stark Tower in New York, Tony Stark was running holographic projections, holding a three-way call with Kamar-Taj and S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Fury, have the Military guys on standby at the designated coordinates," Tony commanded Nick Fury on the other side of the screen, his tone forceful. "Tell them Stark Industries is footing the bill for this joint operation. All missiles consumed are on my tab—help them clear out their inventory."
Then, his projection turned toward Lin Huai: "OK, our stage is the Nevada Desert. Russell has already taken people to set things up. Now, how do we get our protagonist to make his entrance?"
"If you want to catch fish, you have to lay down heavy bait," Lin Huai said calmly, his gaze falling on the zarathos contract. "I must go in person to let him catch the scent. Only then will his mind, clouded by Pride and greed, believe that this is a 'deal' he can actually pull off."
"That's too dangerous!" Steve immediately objected. "You're walking straight into the tiger's mouth!"
"It's not walking, it's opening a Door." Lin Huai looked at Russell. "Russell, I need your help to open a portal near them. I'll show my face, say my piece, and leave. Three seconds, no more."
Russell nodded, indicating it was no problem.
---
Texas, an anonymous abandoned meatpacking plant.
The smell of decay here was nauseating. Black Heart Demon was in a state of Fury because he couldn't track the contract.
At that moment, in the open space between the two of them, a ring of sparks suddenly tore through space!
Black Heart Demon and the Spirit Guide stared in surprise as Lin Huai unhurriedly stepped out of the portal. An exaggerated, Joker-like smile was plastered on his face, and in his hand was the zarathos contract.
The aura of thousands of sinful souls within the contract exploded instantly, like the strongest perfume, hitting them right in the face.
"Good evening, gentlemen," Lin Huai gave an elegant bow. "I have found the contract, but you must first guarantee to release your control over Johnny, otherwise I cannot trust you. Therefore, I will set the location and time. This is the contract you want; you can feel for yourself whether it's real. The location I demand is the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. The time is tomorrow at midnight. I know you'll come, Your Highness, Prince of Hell. After all, you're here to conquer the World; you can't be a woman's lackey forever, right?"
Having finished, Lin Huai turned decisively and retreated into the closing portal. The entire process took no more than three seconds.
"He is provoking you," the Spirit Guide's voice turned even colder after the portal closed. "This is a trap with real bait."
"A trap?" Black Heart Demon clenched his fists, a greedy and brutal laugh on his face. "In the face of absolute power, any trap is a joke! He thinks he can win just because he has those trash sorcerers backing him up? Tomorrow, I'll let them see with their own eyes that being bait... comes with a price! The contract is mine!!!"
---
The next day, late at night. The Nevada Desert.
The grand formation of the Mirror Dimension had been set, and the heroes were all in position, waiting for the prey to take the bait. Lin Huai stood alone in the center of the open sand, holding the zarathos contract.
"Hey, Lin, how does it feel to make a deal with a Devil?" Tony joked over the comms channel.
"Shut it, Tony," Steve's voice was serious. "He's here."
Just as Steve finished speaking, a pitch-black rift tore open in front of Lin Huai.
Black Heart Demon stepped out first, glancing around with eyes full of contempt. The Spirit Guide followed closely behind, her brow furrowed, and at her side, Johnny Blaze was brought out, bound by two chains glowing with a pale light. His eyes were hollow and his pupils lifeless, like a Puppet that had lost its soul.
"The air here is... too 'clean'," the Spirit Guide whispered to Black Heart Demon. "Abnormally clean."
"Don't worry about that, the contract is mine." Black Heart Demon interrupted her impatiently, his eyes fixed on the contract in Lin Huai's hand, greed nearly overflowing from his gaze. "Give it to me!"
"Of course." Lin Huai smiled eerily and suddenly tossed the parchment scroll into the air!
This was the signal!
"Vroom—!"
The entire desert landscape twisted and folded! A magnificent yet eerie Mirror Dimension suddenly snapped shut, completely isolating the three of them along with the falling scroll from the outside World!
"You're looking for death!!!" Black Heart Demon realized he had been played and roared in Fury.
"Too late!" Tony's voice exploded over the comms channel.
Lin Huai looked at the stunned and enraged enemies within the Mirror Dimension and smiled coldly. He raised his hand to the communicator and gave the final command.
"Everyone, get ready. Tony, notify Fury."
"Fire!!!"