Mephisto descended with his followers and surrounded the place.
Amon, within a rift in time, watched everything unfolding. "Adam, do you really believe in Him that much? You even personally made arrangements."
An elegant smile hung on Mephisto's handsome face.
He ignored the ready-to-strike Johnny and didn't even look at the heavy machinery.
His gaze remained locked on the boy within the container, the one who carried his own bloodline.
Truly a pure soul, a perfect bloodline.
"My child."
Mephisto sighed softly and reached out, prepared to take this long-overdue gift.
Johnny Blaze let out a roar, just about to rev his motorcycle and charge, but it was already too late.
Mephisto's figure flickered, crossing dozens of meters in an instant to arrive before Danny. His palm pressed gently against the child's forehead.
"Get away! My child has his own life!" Nadia roared loudly.
Mephisto lightly tapped his scepter, and Nadia and Banner were instantly imprisoned in place by a force.
"From now on, you shall be with me."
He declared softly as a vast, foul surge of soul energy poured into the body.
However, at the very moment his soul energy flooded into Danny's body...
*Buzz—*
On the distant altar, the Magic Circle personally inscribed by Lin Huai suddenly lit up.
The silver powder erupted in a blinding light, and invisible threads of spirituality emerged from the Magic Circle, binding Mephisto's soul tightly to the physical shell.
"What?!"
Mephisto finally sensed that something was wrong.
"No! Go and destroy that Magic Circle for me, you wretched mortals!"
He felt his soul sinking into some unknown filth. There was no purity or potential in this body, only endless filth, greed, and sin—it was even continuously absorbing his own soul.
It was a trap!
He let out a roar, trying to pull his soul out, but the power of the Magic Circle held him fast.
At the same time, sitting atop the Peaks of the Himalayas, Sorcerer Ancient One slowly opened her eyes. She seemed to sense something and simply nodded calmly.
"Next time I catch you invading Earth, I'll go a bit easier on you."
Simultaneously, several Dimension Lords who were on bad terms with Mephisto collectively used their power to set up barriers around Mephisto's domain.
Mephisto's path back to Hell was sealed shut.
"Roar—!"
Realizing he was trapped in a mortal shell, Mephisto went mad.
He gave up struggling and completely took over the body. Violent Hell energy erupted from within him, snapping the ropes. The body began to twist and swell, black demonic patterns surfaced under the skin, and his eyes turned pitch black.
"My contract, my three thousand souls! Hahaha! Though it's a trap, you returned my contract to me just to deceive me. Now, I can use my power on Earth!"
"You... all must die!"
His voice was no longer elegant, becoming violent and crazed.
"Hulk, smash!" Dr. Banner immediately transformed, tearing through his restraints with immense strength.
With a roar, the green giant lunged forward, his massive fist swinging toward Mephisto.
"Humph, the mere strength of a mortal."
Mephisto snorted coldly and casually raised a hand.
Hulk's heavy punch was actually blocked easily. Black energy surged from Mephisto's palm, enveloping Hulk's arm and making a sizzling corrosive sound.
Hulk roared in pain, and his other fist smashed forward as well.
*Boom!*
Johnny Blaze also launched an attack.
Chains burning with Hellfire coiled toward Mephisto's neck.
"My Rider, you seem to have forgotten that your power was given by me." Mephisto didn't turn around, catching the end of the chain with a backhand grip.
Hell energy of a higher order poured back down the chain.
Johnny let out a scream; he felt the Hellfire within him instantly suppressed, and even the flames on the Skull dimmed. The curse of the spirit of vengeance roared in his mind, nearly tearing his soul apart.
Johnny stumbled to his knees, clutching his head, his body trembling violently.
Mephisto looked mockingly at the struggling Johnny before punching Hulk away again, sending him crashing into a crane.
"This is your reliance? A stupid Monster and a cursed waste? Where is that strange Joker? If he doesn't come out, I'll kill this traitor first."
He walked toward Johnny step by step, intending to deal with this eyesore of a burning skeleton first.
Just then, a trembling female voice rang out: "Don't... I won't let you hurt him! Compared to you, he is more like Danny's father."
It was Nadia.
She had run out of the container at some unknown point, spreading her arms to block Johnny's path. Her face was deathly pale and her body shook violently, but her eyes held a look of determination.
Mephisto stopped, watching the scene with interest.
A woman who had almost sold her son's soul not long ago was now actually stepping forward to protect a "Monster"?
High above the Quarry, within a rift in time that no one could perceive, a young man wearing a monocle was also watching the play with great interest.
Amon clapped lightly.
"Wonderful, what a wonderful twist."
"However..."
His gaze fell upon the screaming Johnny on the ground, and he frowned slightly.
"The noise in this soul is a bit loud."
"Adam, since you believe in Him, I'll lend a hand as well. After all, I am still His Bell-Ringer Angel."
Amon raised his hand and lightly snapped his fingers in Johnny's direction.
*Snap.*
The sound was crisp, yet it carried the power of a certain authority.
On the ground, Johnny Blaze, who was being tortured by the curse of the spirit of vengeance, suddenly stiffened.
The constant roaring in his head, the madness deep within his soul, the curse that had entangled him for countless days and nights... in this instant, they all vanished.
They were stolen cleanly from the depths of his soul by an incomprehensible power.
A sense of calm and clarity descended upon his consciousness.
He felt as though he had broken free from his shackles, feeling the vast power of the spirit of vengeance purely and completely for the first time.
This was a power of Justice.
Johnny slowly stood up.
The flames on his body were also quietly undergoing a change.
The originally violent crimson Hellfire shed all its impurities, transforming into a deep azure blue.
Those flames were no longer scorching, but they carried an inexplicable sense of Judgement; he felt as though he could accomplish anything.
Johnny's Skull lifted, and within the hollow eye sockets, two quiet blue Soul-fires burned. There was no longer any madness in his eyes as he looked quietly at Mephisto nearby.