"My Lord, exactly."
"Mephisto and the Flame Dimension are interconnected and cannot completely leave the Flame Dimension."
"He can only transfer part of his power to other worlds in the form of projections."
"And I…"
"I can help you trick this part of his power and transfer it to Earth."
"When the time comes, let us join forces to kill him!"
"She shared her power!"
"…"
After listening to Blackheart's plan, Aron felt bitterness. He no longer even knew how to deal with the absurdity of relationships among demons.
There was always some perverse form of family loyalty. Here, it was not the love between father and son, but a strange and twisted devotion between father and daughter.
"Johnny, Robbie."
"You both heard what was said."
"Earlier I told you that I do not give in to revenge, and that if I desire it, I usually carry it out immediately."
"But you two… honestly, I appreciate that you stood by me."
"I don't want you one day to suddenly fall into a trap because of a wrong choice."
After thinking through everything, Aron called Robbie and Johnny. His voice was serious and resolute:
"So, can you do me one small favor?"
"…?"
"You want us to help you trick Mephisto?" Johnny immediately grasped the essence.
For him, the threat of Mephisto did not carry much weight. Still, he was aware they were playing with the most dangerous opponent. In his eyes, even the very thought that Mephisto could be outwitted made all this worthwhile.
If there was a chance for the Lord of Hell to be humiliated, Johnny Blaze would not miss it.
"And what about me?"
Blackheart finally spoke. Aron's and Johnny's words awakened doubt within him.
Wasn't he sent by Mephisto with a certain goal? Wasn't he supposed to release him? Then why did he now feel like he was being used?
"You?"
Aron looked at him coldly and calmly.
"Thank you for the information and the plans."
His tone was sincere, but immediately afterward his expression changed.
"You…"
The Flame Saber shone and cut through the air. Blackheart's eyes widened as the fire consumed him.
His regenerative power, usually so strong, was completely useless under the endless burning of the fiery weapon.
Yet his demonic vitality did not allow him to die immediately. He had to endure. He had to feel life slowly draining away.
His body trembled as the pain grew. In his eyes flashed a mix of horror and hatred.
Finally, with an explosion of dark energy, Blackheart disappeared.
Aron stretched out his hand and felt how darkness, resentment, and evil from the very earth poured into his body.
Immediately afterward, the system voice echoed:
[Ding!]
[Abnormal energy detected!]
[Exorcism system activated – purification initiated!]
"Of course, all these hells are just different faces of the same source."
Aron closed his eyes and guided the energy through his body. Earlier, while in the Flame Hell, he could never absorb power in such a way.
But now… the process was incredibly natural, almost as if it had always been a part of him.
This meant only one thing – the energy of Flame Hell and Limbo came from the same root.
If Blackheart's plan could succeed, then he himself could also take part of Mephisto's power.
Aron opened his eyes. The golden glow in them was deeper and more intense.
If he succeeded in breaking the dimensional barrier, he would be able to move freely between Earth and the Flame Dimension.
And when the time came to fight Hela, he would have a far greater advantage.
"Johnny, Robbie."
"All we need to do is trick Mephisto."
Aron placed his hand on both their shoulders. It was a sign of promise, but also of responsibility.
Both nodded.
"Good! As long as I can save my uncle!" Robbie's voice was firm. "It doesn't matter whether it's hell or something worse, if you tell me to do it, I'll do it without regret!"
His youthful determination was strong. Almost soldierly.
Johnny raised an eyebrow. He was aware of how full of innocent faith Robbie's words were, but he could not take away his hope. He simply accepted silently.
"If we want the ruse to succeed and for Mephisto to believe it, I might need a little of your blood."
Aron nodded. "Alright."
---
The interrogation of Blackheart and the conversation with Johnny and the others had not actually taken place in the real world. Everything happened within the mirror space.
Only now did Aron close that space and drive away the two evil spirit knights.
"Aron!"
When they saw him again, those who had been waiting outside immediately gathered around him.
"Has the danger passed?"
"Have the two of them really gone?"
"Won't we stop them?"
Questions poured out one after another.
"Can you come one at a time?"
Aron was surrounded on all sides, mostly by women, and it became hard for him to breathe.
"What about the demon?"
"Hm?"
"That's resolved. He returned to hell."
Aron answered casually and quickly slipped out of the crowd.
Immediately afterward his attention was caught by two new people, Spider-Gwen and… Iron Man Peter Parker.
"Peter, what do you think of this armor?"
Aron tapped on the metal shell of Peter Parker, genuinely impressed by the direction this society was taking.
Peter Parker had begun making armor. Who would have thought?
"Aron, you…"
Peter opened his mouth, but the words stuck in his throat. He was even more shocked.
Who would ever have thought that the famous demon hunter lived right next door to his house?
Truly, fate has strange ways.
"It's time to add another AI guardian," Aron muttered, more to himself than to others.
"That, Peter…"
Before Aron could continue, Gwen removed her mask.
Two faces, two truths, and one shocking revelation for Peter Parker.
"You?"
Peter's eyes widened. He was completely taken aback.
At night he built his armor, by day he hid, and he wanted to reveal himself to everyone only later when everything was finished.
But now… now he felt as if his whole secret had become meaningless.
He was the most ordinary, the weakest compared to all the others.
"I'm sorry, Peter," Gwen said softly. "Actually, Aron and I have known each other's identities for a long time. I didn't tell you because…"
She paused. The words caught in her throat. If she continued, she would reach the truth: that the two of them were not from this world.
"It's alright, Gwen. You don't have to say anything more. I understand."
Peter lifted his iron helmet from the ground and put it on his head.
"Joy is yours. Let the world belong to you. It has nothing to do with me."
His voice, muffled through the helmet, sounded lonely and painful. It even seemed to tremble, as if on the verge of tears.
"Aron, Gwen," he added, "let's go home. If we don't return, Uncle Ben will be worried."
For a moment Aron was confused.
What did that child really mean?
Neither did Gwen fully understand Parker's way of expressing himself. But she had no time to dwell on it, because she had something more important in mind.
She turned to Aron and, with a serious expression, asked:
"Aron, can I join your super team?"
"What?"
"I mean the team you've already gathered. Your family and friends, all of them with their powers, all already part of it. And I want to be part of it too!"
Her gaze was firm, her eyes shone with anticipation.
Aron was silent for a moment.
His gaze passed over Wanda, Felicia, Skye, and Elektra, and then stopped at the young and determined Gwen.
"You're right. We have a team."
He paused, then smiled slightly.
"Gwen, you are welcome to join us."
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50 Power Stone – 1 Chapter
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