The moment the word "Hell" left his lips, Sharon—who had been ready to drive Hawk—froze.
A beat later, she blinked at him.
"What?"
"Hell," Hawk repeated.
At the same time, the law of life and death around him finally locked onto the coordinates of the infernal dimension.
He didn't hesitate. His fist lashed out.
Boom—
Death's power flared on his knuckles, and the space before him shattered like glass. A swirling vortex of black energy opened, reeking of death and ill omen.
Through it, Hawk could clearly see the great black Gates of Hell.
Sharon gaped.
"There are jackals in this desert at night," Hawk said calmly. "Head back. Don't wait for me."
Then, under her stunned gaze, he stepped into the vortex.
Whoosh!
The air contracted with a violent snap, and the gateway vanished as if it had never been. Silence returned to the canyon.
A howl rose.
From a hidden cave, wolves padded out, raising their muzzles to the moon, sensing the departure of a predator far beyond them. Sharon shook her head quickly, sprinting back to her car.
…
At the Gates of Hell.
One step through the vortex, Hawk stood before the ominous doors.
He remembered them.
When his sister Anya had been dragged away by a Hell-witch's summoning, he had felt this very gate. He also remembered the swarm of spirits lurking, eager to tear her apart as she was pulled inside.
Now, thick black mist choked the cliffside, hiding countless restless wraiths—souls that could go neither to Hell nor back to the world of the living.
Sensing a living soul, the wraiths screamed. They poured toward Hawk, clawed hands stretching from the fog.
They were starving.
The mist itself seemed to surge alive, rushing at him.
Hawk smiled faintly. His right hand clenched into a slow, deliberate fist.
Ten seconds later—
He turned, and the fog disintegrated behind him. His fist slammed forward, hammering into the Gates of Hell.
"Mephisto!"
"Get out here!"
BOOM!
Under a storm of blows, the unbreakable gates toppled backward. The crash echoed like a world-shaking bell across all Hell.
Inside his palace, Mephisto had been plotting how next to trick Hawk. The thunderous crash froze him mid-thought. Hawk's voice boomed across the entire dimension.
Impossible!
Utterly impossible!
No mortal could cross the boundary of life and death into his realm.
Unless—
No. He dismissed it. Another thought struck him, brightening his eyes. One step, and he vanished from his throne.
He reappeared where Johnny Blaze had last been cast aside.
And there stood Hawk.
Mephisto, once again in his gentleman's guise, smiled smoothly.
"Hawk, welcome to my Hell."
"And?" Hawk's eyes were calm, his tone flat.
"Your wayward son—I killed him. Don't thank me."
"…Thank you!" Mephisto's eyes lit up, his tone bright with false joy. He even sighed.
"You've spared me trouble. Had I been free to walk Earth, I'd have cut him down myself—"
Hawk interrupted.
"Oh, and to be sure he wouldn't crawl back up to bother me, I destroyed his soul too. Hope you don't mind."
Mephisto's eyes twitched, fury flashing deep within, though he masked it quickly with laughter.
"Of course not. You've done me a favor! If that brat had succeeded, the Sorcerer Supreme would have come knocking. That would have been… troublesome."
Then his smile widened.
"Come. Let's return to my palace. Anya waits there. We'll drink, you and your sister can reunite."
It was no subtle threat. Your sister is mine.
Hawk ignored the bait, smiling thinly.
"No need for drinks. Just bring her spirit here. I'll take her."
Mephisto blinked.
"You've already found a vessel for her soul?"
"Not yet," Hawk said coolly. "But once we're back on Earth, I'll carve one out. Quicker that way. Fresh, you understand."
"You can't!" Mephisto's composure cracked, smoke practically rising from his ears. He forced a smile.
"No, no. I told you—find a body first, then I'll release her."
Hawk laughed inwardly at the demon's act.
Mephisto pressed on.
"Come to the palace. You've helped me greatly. Let me thank you properly. Your sister awaits."
His plan was simple—lure Hawk inside, then devour his soul in front of his beloved sister for maximum torment.
Hawk's smile widened.
"Forget it. Just the soul. Hand her over, Mephisto."
The demon's polite mask fell away. His smile turned cold.
"You don't trust me?"
"No."
Silence stretched. Their eyes locked.
Finally, Mephisto's voice grew low, venomous.
"Hawk, do you know your greatest flaw?"
"Oh?"
"You're too arrogant. Just like that fool Johnny."
The pretense dropped. Mephisto sneered.
"On Earth, I couldn't touch you. But here, in Hell—you're mine."
Cracks spread across his skin.
In an instant, his human form ripped apart, revealing his true body: over two meters tall, horns curling, tail lashing, sparks hissing from his nostrils.
He bellowed,
"In your words—Heaven had a path, but you refused it. Hell had no gate, yet you forced your way in!"
Hawk's expression didn't change.
"So. You never intended to release my sister at all."
Mephisto laughed wildly.
"Release her? Hah! That was a lie. Did your mother never teach you? You don't trust a devil's word."
He grinned cruelly.
"Oh, that's right. You don't have a mother!"
His laughter was loud and cutting—until Hawk glanced at him coldly and replied,
"F*** your mom."
…
Mephisto's face froze.
His demon-red skin flushed hotter.
His golden eyes burned as he stared at the unshaken Hawk. The insult, blunt and savage, crushed his elaborate mockery.
"You dare—" he growled.
"You think you can kill me?" Hawk said calmly.
Behind him, a black phoenix emerged from the void, wings spreading wide.
Above Hell, the Black Phoenix spread its shadow and let out a cry that shook the infernal skies.
"SKREEEEE—!"
…
(End of Chapter)
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