"Aaaa!!"
A scream, filled with unwillingness and resentment, echoed through the desert.
Mephisto's body gradually disintegrated, collapsed, and turned into magnificent hellish energy that spilled across the land.
"The old power is within reach!"
Aron's eyes gleamed.
He had been waiting for this moment.
As soon as he stretched out his hand, a black hole formed in his palm, and enormous energy poured onto him like a pillar of light.
The density of the energy was incredible.
It even surpassed that moment when Belath fell.
Yes, this is what he had been seeking!
In his eyes, it was the same as when in RPG games you kill a monster and precious equipment drops.
[Ding!]
[Abnormal energy detected!]
[Exorcism System activated – purification initiated!]
Along with the system's cold tone, Aron's aura suddenly began to rise sharply.
His strength soared in an instant, surpassing even that which Belath had possessed in his golden age.
If earlier he had been just a beginner, only stepping onto the path toward Heavenly Father, now he was infinitely close to truly crossing that threshold. Just one step away.
"Excellent!"
Feeling the energy spreading through his body, Aron smiled.
Of course, this was much better than an empty trick.
He didn't need to make elaborate schemes, it was enough to outwit the demon and kill him.
"But there's still one more who stands in my way."
Aron shrugged, indifferent to the rage and insults of another great demon.
The more lies, the better, they couldn't touch him.
...
After absorbing Mephisto's power, Aron raised the mirror and returned to reality.
At the edge of the Gobi Desert, where Mephisto had earlier opened a huge chasm of hellish energy, the outside world still appeared untouched.
The sea of blood in the sky, the destruction that threatened to annihilate both heaven and earth, all of it had taken place within the mirror space.
The real world remained unchanged.
Robbie had also survived. Since he could not transform into the Ghost Rider without the soul of his uncle Eli, death had not claimed him.
"Aron, where is Mephisto? Did you succeed?"
Robbie ran toward him, seeing that only Aron had emerged from the mirror space. It was clear to him that the plan had succeeded.
"Excellent, Robbie."
Aron nodded and even gave him a thumbs-up.
He had just heard the conversation between Robbie and Mephisto.
There had been truth in it, but mixed with lies.
In the end, he had managed to deceive Mephisto himself, the demon who most reveled in deception.
That kid…
Reminds me of what I used to be like.
"Aron, Mephisto sealed my uncle's soul, and Johnny is still trapped in Hell."
Robbie didn't care about Aron's praise.
Even though the plan had succeeded, inside him relief was mixed with unease.
"Now we've completely enraged Mephisto. If he directs his wrath toward my uncle and Johnny… what will we do then?"
Panic could be seen in his eyes.
On Earth, it was possible to deceive a part of Mephisto's power and destroy him.
But to go into the Flame Hell would mean facing the Lord himself, not a mere projection.
"Calm down."
"There's a solution to everything."
Aron's mind quickly started working.
The system was on his side.
"I summon…"
In the Marvel world, Johnny Blaze and his Ghost Rider had been imprisoned in the Flame Hell. And by the way, what's your uncle's name?"
"Eli Morrow."
"I summon Eli Morrow, imprisoned in the Flame Hell."
As the words left his lips, space cracked open.
From the rift appeared Johnny Blaze, in the form of the Ghost Rider, with empty eyes.
After regaining control, his flame died down and the transformation vanished. Before them stood a man, Johnny Blaze.
"Aron? Robbie?"
He clearly saw the Gobi Desert and the two of them. Johnny rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating.
"I'm back…?"
Only when he saw the Gobi Desert around him, the familiar sight of Earth, was Johnny certain he had truly returned. All his tension dissolved in an instant. He nearly collapsed, but Robbie caught and supported him.
"Welcome back. How about another round?" Robbie joked.
Aron frowned.
Hadn't he summoned two? Then why had only Johnny returned, along with the Spirit of Vengeance inside him?
"System, where is Eli Morrow?" he asked inwardly.
[The target's strength is too weak. Analysis shows it poses no threat to the host.]
[Therefore it is not marked as evil.]
The system answered coldly and mechanically.
Only beings from other dimensions that directly threatened the host were considered demons. At that moment, Aron paid attention only to the part about "other dimensions," but overlooked the more important part of the answer.
"So where is my uncle?" Robbie now also noticed something was wrong. The rift was closing, but Eli, his soul, had never returned.
"Well, Robbie… would you mind switching uncles?" Aron tried to break the tension.
"…"
"Just kidding."
His tone immediately grew serious: "Your uncle's problem is complicated, but I will solve it."
Aron promised him that as long as Eli was alive, he would find a way to save him.
"I trust you." Robbie nodded, more serious than ever. Now he had no choice but to rely on Aron.
"I have a solution."
At that moment, Johnny stepped forward.
"Do you remember what Blackheart said?"
"It's a crack in the hellish dimension."
"I can use that small passage to infiltrate the Flame Hell and save Eli's soul."
"And only I know where they're keeping him."
Johnny paused.
Aron immediately understood. "But you need someone to distract Mephisto, don't you?"
"Yes." Johnny nodded. "Mephisto knows everything that happens in his domain. If no one diverts his gaze, the moment I step in there, he'll discover me instantly."
"Hmm… that sounds like moving the tiger away from the mountain." Aron was thinking.
"Nothing easier."
If he didn't know what to do, he would find the parents.
...
Kamar-Taj.
The Ancient One, who had been meditating peacefully until then, suddenly opened her eyes. Her brows furrowed as she sensed the surge of energy.
She let out a deep sigh.
After a moment of silence, she raised her hand and activated sound transmission magic, addressing her disciple.
"Wong, prepare yourself."
"Soon a being on the level of Heavenly Father will arrive. It comes as a guest."
"Do not ask who or why. Think for yourself, who could cause such a disturbance?"
When she finished, she cut the connection and slowly stood up. Her old but strong hands stretched as silence filled the room.
"I haven't done this for over a hundred years…" she murmured.
–––
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