Chapter 1082: Forgotten Foes and Revenge

Elsewhere, Doom had no idea that Mephisto had so easily located his mother. For a demon adept at manipulating souls and minds, such a feat was hardly difficult. After all, the bond of kinship wasn’t confined to the physical realm; it extended to the soul itself.

Despite the Ancient One’s efforts to uncover and nullify the traps Mephisto embedded in their contract, the moment Doom signed it, his soul’s aura was etched onto it. Using this, Mephisto easily traced the unique connection between Doom and Cynthia.

“Yes, my lord. What are your orders?” Cynthia answered Mephisto’s call, her voice trembling as she bowed her head in deference.

“You have a son named Doom?” Mephisto asked, his piercing gaze fixed on her.

“Yes…” Cynthia’s voice quivered even more, and her previously clouded eyes momentarily cleared before fear and reverence took over again.

“Interesting. How much can I gain from you, I wonder?” Mephisto mused aloud, noticing the fleeting clarity in Cynthia’s expression. Even with her head bowed, her reaction didn’t escape him.

He had to admit, humans were fascinating creatures. Despite their inherent darkness, often resembling demonic seedlings, some displayed extraordinary qualities. Cynthia was one such example. Though her soul had long been corrupted and assimilated into the Hell Dimension, her motherly instincts still stirred at the mention of her son, defying the limitations of her current existence.

This spark of humanity made her even more valuable to Mephisto. The more she cared about Doom, the more leverage Mephisto gained. Her importance to Doom elevated her worth.

“I’m curious to see just how much I can profit this time,” Mephisto murmured, a sly grin forming as he waved his hand. Cynthia’s form vanished, as did the other spectral demons in his palace. Alone on his throne, Mephisto’s expression brimmed with anticipation.

Back at Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One observed Doom with a furrowed brow. “You’re not planning to involve Robert and his group in this?” she asked.

Constantine and the others looked puzzled, unsure why the Ancient One would suggest contacting Robert—a measure she rarely considered unless the situation was dire.

“This is my issue. For now, I can handle it myself,” Doom said calmly. “Neither Mephisto nor the other dimensions have directly affected Earth. Waging a reckless war would only make things worse.”

“Doom, when did you become so distant? We’re all on the same side. Your problems are our problems,” Constantine interjected, his tone a mix of surprise and concern.

Hearing Mephisto’s name made Constantine uneasy. Although he and Doom were rivals vying for the title of Sorcerer Supreme, their shared experiences had softened Constantine. No longer the manipulative trickster he once was, he now displayed genuine camaraderie.

Of course, those Constantine had previously deceived—friends and foes alike—would likely curse him even more for this newfound “kindness.”

Constantine doubted Doom’s ability to confront Mephisto alone. On Earth, where dimensional rules limited external forces, Doom might have a chance. His Earth-bound power could potentially outmatch Mephisto’s avatar unless the Hell Lord made significant sacrifices to manifest fully.

But outside Earth’s dimension, Doom stood little chance. Mephisto’s dominance, both in power and cunning, far exceeded Doom’s.

“This is personal,” Doom insisted, shaking his head at Constantine’s offer of help. Turning to the Ancient One, he added, “Thank you for your guidance. I’ll proceed cautiously.”

“Very well. If you’ve made up your mind, go ahead,” the Ancient One said with a sigh. She understood Doom’s reasoning. If Mephisto felt excessively pressured, he might retaliate by harming Doom’s mother, making the situation even worse.

For Doom, the best course of action was to play along with Mephisto’s terms. He could later leverage Robert’s strength if necessary, but directly relying on him to retrieve his mother seemed unfeasible.

With a faint hum, Doom conjured a fiery portal. Giving a final glance at the Kamar-Taj students who had supported him, he stepped through, disappearing into the interdimensional realms.

Doom’s journey to capture ten dimensional lords would be grueling. While his power made him capable of subduing weaker lords, the task would be far from easy. Each dimensional lord had unique strengths, often amplified in their home territories. Defeating them required meticulous strategy and immense effort.

Yet, Doom saw this as both a personal mission and a trial. Success would solidify his growth and bring him closer to his ultimate goal: finding his mother and potentially becoming the next Sorcerer Supreme.

Unlike the relatively tranquil Kamar-Taj students, Doom believed strength came from adversity. With Robert and the Avengers protecting Earth, Kamar-Taj’s members faced little external pressure, leading to a somewhat complacent attitude. Even Constantine, once known for risking everything in dire situations, had become more restrained.

Doom, however, was determined to forge his path through hardship. His resolve pushed him into the uncharted dimensional wilderness, where challenges awaited at every turn.

Meanwhile, Robert remained unaware of Doom’s predicament. Having relocated to New Earth, he saw little difference between his current home and Earth. Unless summoned by the Avengers to address an urgent crisis, he had no reason to intervene.

Clark’s recent recovery brought the Kent family together after years of separation. With the year’s end approaching, the Kents and Danvers families decided to celebrate, enjoying a rare period of peace and joy.

However, the Danvers couple couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. Their eldest daughter, Carol, had been absent for years—far longer than Clark’s time spent recovering in the sun.

The Danvers were unaware of Carol’s fate or her conflict with the Skrulls. Kara had kept these details from them to spare them worry. Yet, Carol’s previous visits had rekindled their hope. Her sudden absence now weighed heavily on them.

Noticing their parents’ unease, Kara and Alex inquired about their concerns. Upon learning it was about Carol, Kara discreetly informed Robert.

“Oh, right! The Skrulls!” Robert exclaimed, suddenly recalling the unfinished business with the alien race. The Skrulls on Earth had been dealt with, but those scattered across the universe remained elusive.

Robert’s increasing power had diminished his perception of the Skrulls as a threat. Yet, with Carol potentially lost due to their schemes, Robert resolved to track them down and exact vengeance.

The Skrulls’ mastery of concealment complicated matters. On Earth, they had successfully hidden in plain sight for years. Across the vastness of space, uncovering every last Skrull seemed an insurmountable task.

“I’ll ask the Silver Surfer. He might have some clues,” Robert mused. The Surfer’s vast knowledge of the cosmos, acquired through years of scouting worlds for Galactus, far surpassed Robert’s own understanding.

Currently, the Silver Surfer was on Earth, enjoying its culinary delights with Galata. With Galactus dormant and no new assignments, the Surfer had ample free time. Having rediscovered his emotions after years of suppression, he sought solace in simple pleasures.

While the Surfer could return to his homeworld, the fear of finding it irrevocably changed kept him away. Instead, he stayed close to Galata, finding purpose in their companionship—even if she hardly needed his protection.