Chapter 1080: Doom's Journey to Hell

"I understand. I'll try it immediately," Doom said sincerely, bowing deeply to the Ancient One. He knew that if not for her keen perception, he might never have realized he was being manipulated.

Doom had met Robert many times before, but despite Robert’s immense power, his magical expertise was no match for the Ancient One’s. This explained why Robert hadn’t detected the anomaly affecting Doom.

With a low hum, Doom began forming intricate mystical hand seals. Moments later, the aura of the Hell Dimension manifested within Kamar-Taj.

Everyone present recognized this infernal energy—it was all too familiar. Despite Earth's dimensional rift remaining unrepaired, demons from the Hell Dimension consistently sought to infiltrate and wreak havoc.

This persistence, ironically, had bolstered the fame of the Black Cape Patrol. Their live-streamed battles against demons drew massive audiences, as supernatural events on Earth had become less frequent. Capturing a demon on camera guaranteed a surge in their popularity.

Of course, the Black Cape Patrol could safely combat these demons because Hell Dimension’s overlords rarely acted directly, leaving only lower-ranking demons to contend with.

Now, a hellish portal opened within Kamar-Taj, and a sulfurous, wind-bearing demon emerged. Waves of air pressure radiated from its form, marking it as a wind-elemental demon of considerable rank—higher than most demons that sneaked into the earthly realm.

“Human mage, you summoned me—” The demon’s arrogant voice echoed around them. But before it could finish, its tone faltered as it sensed an overwhelming threat.

Recognizing the Ancient One, the demon panicked, feeling its life on the line. “You... You’re fishing for enforcement?! This is entrapment!” it roared in anger, transforming into wind and rushing back toward the portal.

With another hum, Doom swiftly closed the portal and sealed the area, cutting off the demon’s escape.

“How can you call this entrapment? I didn’t specifically summon you. You came voluntarily, didn’t you?” Doom said, smiling faintly.

“You call this voluntary? Do you think I don’t know what’s happening on Earth?!” The demon’s bravado faded, replaced by seething frustration as it glared at Doom.

“Well, if you were aware of the risks and still took the bait, how is that my fault?” Doom spread his hands nonchalantly, further irritating the demon.

Unfortunately for the demon, its elemental nature offered no escape. Before it could react, magical chains ensnared its body, tightening inexorably.

“Curse you, human sorcerer! What do you want from me?!” the demon snarled, its fury giving way to fear as it struggled in vain against its bindings.

“Relax. This won’t be bad for you,” Doom said as he approached. Using the hypnotic magic he had learned from his mother’s relics, he clouded the demon’s mind.

Though not a top-tier spell, in the hands of someone as powerful as Doom, even such a basic technique could produce extraordinary results. Soon, the demon was entranced.

The hypnosis was merely a prelude. Using Kamar-Taj’s unique techniques, Doom linked his aura with the demon’s, initiating a transfer of the infernal debt.

“Just as I suspected,” Doom muttered as he felt an immediate relief in his body. The Ancient One’s warning had been correct—he had indeed fallen victim to a hidden scheme.

However, as the debt transferred successfully, Doom’s mind grew heavy with troubling thoughts. His mother’s relics had been the source of these spells, and while he had long known she was a witch, her death now seemed more suspicious.

What if her death wasn’t natural? What if her soul, tainted by the magic she had wielded, was still ensnared by some dark entity?

Determined to uncover the truth, Doom cast additional spells, hoping to identify the source of these infernal dealings. If enough debts accumulated, the shadowy creditor would eventually reveal itself.

At first, the Ancient One and Constantine watched in confusion. Doom had already freed himself from the curse—why continue using the perilous spells?

“Wait! Stop!” the Ancient One finally intervened, raising her hand. “The demon has reached its limit. If you continue, you’ll have to bear the costs yourself.”

Doom halted, acknowledging her words. The demon was visibly straining, unable to withstand further burdens.

“If your goal is to find the source behind these spells, you’ve already succeeded,” the Ancient One said calmly.

“Thank you, Master,” Doom replied respectfully. His demeanor toward the Ancient One had shifted; he now viewed her as a mentor deserving of deference.

“I’ll handle this,” the Ancient One said, forming complex hand seals. The bound demon began emitting an aura identical to the one linked to Doom’s curse.

“Let’s go,” the Ancient One instructed. A fiery portal appeared beneath the demon, swallowing it. She and Doom followed through. Constantine, attempting to join, found the portal closing before he could step in.

Arriving in the Hell Dimension, Doom looked around in surprise. “This is the Hell Dimension? How coincidental that it’s tied to the spells.”

“Not surprising,” the Ancient One replied. “Hell Dimension entities are among the most numerous and influential in the dark realms. Many Earthly dark magic and witchcraft traditions draw from them.”

“However, we’re not here for a direct confrontation. This is their domain, and we lack key information. Our goal is to use the demon to locate the creditor and uncover their identity.”

“I understand,” Doom said. He knew the dangers of the Hell Dimension and that a confrontation with a powerful overlord could be disastrous, even with the Ancient One’s assistance.

The demon, still controlled, flew through the infernal skies as the Ancient One and Doom shadowed it from its own darkness.

Meanwhile, within a sprawling infernal domain, Mephisto sat on his throne. He frowned slightly, sensing a familiar energy approaching. “Interesting... Is someone tracing one of my loans? How amusing.”

Mephisto, Earth’s long-standing infernal nemesis, had been absent from the earthly dimension for years. His previous ventures there had cost him dearly in avatars and resources. Observing Earth’s rising powers, particularly Robert’s battle with Darkseid, he had prudently chosen to focus elsewhere.

Now, Mephisto was curious. “It seems this mortal has come looking for trouble. Let’s see what they’re capable of.”

Near Mephisto’s territory, the Ancient One’s sharp gaze landed on the approaching stronghold. She muttered, “Familiar energy… Mephisto?” Suddenly, her expression changed as she waved her hand, erecting a magical barrier.

“Crack!” The barrier shattered instantly as Mephisto materialized before the Ancient One and Doom.