Chapter 1081: Striking a Deal

“Master Ancient One, it’s been a long time,” Mephisto greeted, his tone casual and devoid of any embarrassment as he materialized before them. His faint smile suggested familiarity rather than animosity.

The Ancient One and Mephisto were indeed old acquaintances, having crossed paths countless times long before Robert and Clark had emerged on the scene. As one of the most active top-tier Hell Lords, Mephisto had frequently targeted Earth with his schemes, leaving numerous traps and machinations in his wake.

That Doom’s discovered witchcraft originated from Mephisto came as no surprise to the Ancient One. However, what did surprise her was Mephisto’s preemptive appearance, and his attempt to ambush them, which nearly caught her off guard.

The Ancient One acknowledged her lapse. Perhaps it was due to her years of imprisonment by Earth’s dimensional consciousness or her gradual transition away from shouldering all responsibilities now that Kamar-Taj had successors. Regardless, her vigilance was not what it once was.

“So, it’s you, Mephisto,” the Ancient One said, her voice calm but wary. She narrowed her eyes, and two distinct glows enveloped her—blue from the Space Stone and green from the Time Stone. These two Infinity Stones, still intact in the universe, made her an even more formidable opponent.

“Hmm?” Mephisto frowned at the sight of the two stones. Even with just the Time Stone, the Ancient One was a challenging adversary. Adding the Space Stone into the mix complicated matters further, making any attempt to confront her unwise.

Just as dimensional powers struggled against Robert’s teleportation abilities, the Ancient One’s mastery over the Time Stone paired with her temporal magic made her exceedingly difficult to defeat. While her destructive potential paled compared to Robert’s, her defensive capabilities were unmatched.

“You’ve transferred the cost of your spells to this demon, haven’t you?” Mephisto asked, his sharp eyes shifting to Doom. A mere glance at the wind demon revealed everything he needed to know.

“Yes,” Doom replied firmly. Though Mephisto’s oppressive aura bore down on him, Doom maintained his composure. His encounters with cosmic beings like Galactus and Darkseid had strengthened his resolve, making Mephisto’s intimidation tolerable.

“Is he your apprentice?” Mephisto turned to the Ancient One with mild curiosity. “So, was this trivial matter worth bringing him to Hell? Aren’t you worried that someone strong enough might destroy your Time Stone while you’re away?”

“He’s a candidate for the next Sorcerer Supreme,” the Ancient One replied candidly. “Bringing him here allows him to witness the majesty of a Hell Lord firsthand and prepare himself mentally.”

“Ha, is that so? Then why does he look like he wants to kill me?” Mephisto chuckled, his tone laced with mockery. “It’s amusing. He seems angrier than a mere observer should be.”

“Am I the first person tricked into using this witchcraft?” Doom interjected, his gaze piercing as he addressed Mephisto.

“How should I know? Are you here to settle accounts with me?” Mephisto’s voice carried amusement as if he found Doom’s inquiry entertaining. “You’re worried about someone close to you who might’ve used this magic, aren’t you? Afraid I’ve done something to them?”

Doom clenched his fists tightly, his teeth grinding as his anger simmered. Yet, he knew Mephisto had the strength and cunning to back his arrogance. If his mother’s soul truly resided in Mephisto’s grasp, Doom couldn’t risk outright hostility. Mephisto could easily destroy her soul in retaliation.

Seeing Doom’s internal struggle, Mephisto’s smile widened. Manipulating others was his art, and watching humans wrestle with their emotions while suppressing their rage was a particular delight.

With a wave of his hand, Mephisto conjured a contract scroll, presenting it to Doom. The Ancient One reacted instantly, stepping between Doom and the scroll with her guard fully raised.

“Calm yourself, Master Ancient One,” Mephisto said, his tone casual. “You’ve lived long enough to know that every action comes with a price. If you can transfer the cost of my magic elsewhere, I won’t stop you. After all, it’s a game of skill, isn’t it?”

“You’ve already transferred the cost to this wind demon. Once you kill him, I’ll claim his soul without caring where the cost originated. What do you say, young sorcerer? Care to strike a deal?”

The Ancient One’s expression darkened, her experience shielding her from Mephisto’s honeyed words. Doom, however, was less immune to the Hell Lord’s manipulations. While his power was notable, it still paled in comparison to Mephisto’s, making resistance to his persuasion difficult.

“What do you want from me?” Doom asked cautiously, his vigilance intact despite his curiosity. He knew any deal with Mephisto was fraught with traps, yet his concern for his mother compelled him to hear the terms.

“Doom!” the Ancient One exclaimed, her voice stern. Disappointment and anger mingled in her gaze as she admonished him for entertaining Mephisto’s offer.

“Frankly, you hold little value to me as you are now,” Mephisto said, casually dismissing Doom’s worth to provoke him.

“Spare me the games,” Doom retorted, regaining his composure. “Tell me what you want. If the terms are unacceptable, I won’t agree to anything.”

Mephisto smirked, finding Doom’s defiance amusing. “Fine. Bring me ten lord-level beings from different dimensions, and I’ll tell you who has used this witchcraft and what became of them. Simple, isn’t it? With the Ancient One’s help, it should be easy.”

“Ten lords from different dimensions?” Doom frowned. While challenging, the task was feasible. Capturing Hell Lords was straightforward; weaker ones were plentiful.

“No, Hell Lords don’t count,” Mephisto interrupted. “I can’t risk accusations of inciting a Hell Lord war. I need lords from distinct dimensions. Only they hold unique energies valuable to me.”

“Fine, I accept. Draft the contract,” Doom said, inhaling deeply to steady himself.

With a flick of Mephisto’s hand, the contract scroll altered and floated toward Doom. The Ancient One intercepted it, casting intricate magic seals upon it.

“Crack!” With an audible snap, loopholes appeared in the contract, and the Ancient One glared at Mephisto, her aura flaring as her Infinity Stones pulsed with power.

“Cough, cough,” Mephisto chuckled lightly, unfazed. “It’s habit, you see. But I knew you’d catch it, so why not add a little flair? No harm done, right?”

“If you lack sincerity, there’s no deal,” Doom said firmly, his gratitude toward the Ancient One evident.

“Relax, here’s a clean version,” Mephisto said, waving his hand to revise the scroll. After another inspection, the Ancient One nodded, signaling Doom to proceed.

With a hum, Doom signed the contract, sealing his agreement with Mephisto. In exchange for delivering ten lords from distinct dimensions, Mephisto would divulge the identities and fates of those who had used the witchcraft.

“Let’s go,” the Ancient One said, opening a fiery portal. She and Doom departed Hell without further words.

As they vanished, Mephisto’s smirk widened. “Interesting. So, he’s looking for someone. Does he think I wouldn’t notice his real objective? Let’s see… whose kin could this be?”

Returning to his domain, Mephisto waved his hand. Souls of various shapes and sizes appeared, each tainted with infernal energy.

“Well, well… Cynthia. It’s you,” Mephisto said, his gaze settling on the soul of a woman, his grin deepening.