DC Heroes in Marvel

"So, Mephisto and the Holy Lord know each other?"

Constantine had been listening carefully. He caught onto a key detail and turned to Dad, a man who was undoubtedly a master in the world of magic.

"Of course."

Dad looked at Constantine in surprise. "Demons have existed for countless years—perhaps even longer than humanity itself. As powerful beings among their kind, Mephisto and the Holy Lord certainly know each other."

"Then this is going to be a problem."

Constantine felt a headache coming on.

He had already anticipated that when Ghost Rider—Johnny Blaze—rushed into this antique shop, Mephisto would sense the shift in fate.

Right now, Mephisto might have already found the Holy Lord and was likely planning to use his influence on Earth to form an alliance.

On one hand, he could help the Holy Lord break free and plunge the world into chaos once more.

On the other, he could manipulate Johnny into finding the San Venganza Contract, a relic powerful enough to open the gates of Hell.

That had to be Mephisto and the Holy Lord's biggest objective at the moment.

And in fact, Constantine—or rather, Anton—was right.

The moment Ghost Rider barged into the antique shop, Mephisto sensed the shift in fate and became aware of the Holy Lord's existence.

This revelation surprised him.

During ancient times, the Holy Lord and his seven demonic brethren had been sealed away by the Eight Immortals in another dimension, severing all contact.

Mephisto hadn't expected that the Holy Lord had somehow returned to Earth, seeking to re-establish demonic rule.

For Mephisto, this was excellent news.

Without hesitation, he immediately used his influence to investigate everything about the antique shop and soon discovered the Holy Lord's whereabouts—through none other than Valmont.

"Mr. Murphy, this way, please."

Valmont wore a flattering smile as he led Mephisto into a building.

Although Valmont was the leader of a Mafia syndicate, he was still just a gang boss—a far cry from a true power player.

Mephisto, in contrast, had taken on the guise of a cult leader.

This cult was no small organization—it had high-ranking political figures from multiple countries, along with billionaires from around the world.

With this influence, Mephisto easily bought Valmont's loyalty, pulling him into his ranks.

"The Holy Lord is inside."

Valmont gestured as they arrived at his office—a luxurious suite on the top floor of a skyscraper in Los Angeles. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking cityscape beyond.

But neither Valmont nor Mephisto had any interest in the view.

Mephisto's gaze locked onto a massive oriental dragon sculpture coiled in a circular shape, a knowing smile creeping onto his face.

"Holy Lord, it's been a long time."

His voice was slow and deliberate, carrying a chilling undertone.

The moment he spoke, something stirred.

Hiss!

The dragon's eyes snapped open.

Scarlet irises burned with a sinister glow, radiating an overwhelming aura of malice that immediately engulfed Valmont and Mephisto.

"Murphy… it's you…"

A deep, hoarse voice echoed in their minds.

Valmont immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

"Sealed inside a sculpture… How pathetic."

Mephisto chuckled, his tone dripping with amusement.

"Murphy!"

The Holy Lord's voice seethed with fury. "If you've come to mock me, you're wasting your time! I will soon regain my power and make the world bow before me once more!"

"Hmph!"

Mephisto let out a derisive snort.

"Don't forget—after you escaped from Hell hundreds of years ago, someone sealed you away again, turning you into this miserable stone prison."

After becoming aware of the Holy Lord's presence, Mephisto had quickly launched an investigation, uncovering key details about his past.

A few hundred years ago, after breaking free from his dimensional prison, the Holy Lord had established a new empire somewhere in Asia—only to be sealed away once more by a powerful enemy.

Asia had long been a weak point for Mephisto's influence.

Because of this, he had rarely paid attention to the region's affairs, which was why the Holy Lord's existence had escaped his notice all this time.

But now, things were different.

Now, Mephisto had found him.

Of course, before he encountered Constantine and the Ghost Rider escaped from his grasp, even if Mephisto had known about the Holy Lord's existence, he wouldn't have actively sought him out.

As one of the Lords of Hell, Mephisto was used to acting alone.

Cooperating with other demons could damage his prestige.

If it weren't for his current human vessel growing weaker—where using demonic power too frequently could cause the body to deteriorate—he wouldn't have even considered approaching the Holy Lord.

"Master Saint Seiya, Lope!"

The Holy Lord closed his eyes in silence for a moment before reopening them. "That was my mistake. Once I regain my power, I will crush anyone who stands in my way."

"No."

Mephisto shook his head and sighed. "Humanity has evolved. Their modern civilization has given rise to forces that even we demons must acknowledge. There are too many extraordinary beings now, and they pose a real threat to us. That is why we must join forces."

He paused, his voice dripping with persuasion.

"Holy Lord, I can help you."

"Oh?"

The Holy Lord narrowed his eyes. "You are not one to offer help out of kindness, Murphy. Speak your true intentions."

"I will help you reclaim your talismans. In return, you will assist me in capturing the Ghost Rider and retrieving the San Venganza Contract," Mephisto proposed.

"An equivalent exchange—that is our way, is it not?"

"You wish to open the gates of Hell and descend in your true form…"

The Holy Lord was no fool. The moment Mephisto mentioned the San Venganza Contract, he immediately understood the latter's real objective.

"Correct."

Mephisto's voice deepened.

"When that time comes, we will carve up the Earth together—just as you and your seven demonic brethren once did. But this time… it will be only the two of us."

"Very well. Deal."

The Holy Lord didn't hesitate.

"As long as you help me restore my power and gather all of my talismans, I will aid you in capturing the Ghost Rider and reclaiming the San Venganza Contract."

Meanwhile, at Papa's Antique Shop

"You mean Mephisto is likely to team up with the Holy Lord?"

Dad's eyes widened in shock. "This is not good!"

"If those two demons join forces, it will create an unprecedented crisis."

Constantine nodded grimly.

"The only silver lining is that the Holy Lord is still sealed and cannot wield his full power yet. And Mephisto… his human vessel is aging. After yesterday's battle, he'll be forced to restrain himself. He won't risk his own body collapsing by recklessly using his powers again."

"So, our true enemy is the devil… but the devil won't act directly. Instead, we need to focus on his followers," Xiaoyu deduced, summing up the situation.

"Like Valmont's Mafia?"

"Exactly."

Constantine folded his arms in thought.

"Both Mephisto and the Holy Lord have devoted followers on Earth. We must be prepared to face them."

…

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