"But I must say you look very confident, Leon," Mephisto remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You do realize this is my world."
The demon king's words carried an air of authority, yet his eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt. Though confident in his dominion over Hell, Mephisto couldn't dismiss the unease creeping through him.
In Hell, Mephisto's strength was unparalleled. Unlike in the mortal realm, where dimensional shifts diminished his powers, here in his domain, his might was near-absolute. Leon, too, had crossed dimensions to be here, meaning his power would face similar suppression. Logically, the gap between their strengths should favor Mephisto.
And yet, Leon's calm composure unnerved him. What gave this mortal such confidence?
Leon said nothing, his silent, unwavering gaze adding to Mephisto's mounting tension. The oppressive atmosphere pressed down on the demon king, who knew that rejection of Leon's demands would lead to an inevitable battle.
Internally, Mephisto seethed. He was the master of Hell, yet this human dared treat him with the condescension of a superior addressing a subordinate.
A glint of ferocity flashed in Mephisto's fiery eyes. But Leon, unshaken, had already anticipated it.
BOOM!
A monstrous burst of energy erupted from Leon, centered around his figure like a tidal wave of raw power. The sheer force cracked the ground beneath him and sent tremors through the air. The walls, floors, and ceiling of the demon's castle splintered under the pressure, unable to withstand the overwhelming might.
Caught off guard, Mephisto faltered momentarily, the intense force rendering him briefly disoriented. But in the blink of an eye, he regained his composure—just in time to face a golden-lit boot mere millimeters from his face.
Time seemed to freeze.
Mephisto's eyes widened in disbelief.
BOOM!
The golden strike connected with a deafening roar, sending Mephisto hurtling through his castle like a blazing comet. Walls crumbled, debris scattered, and the demon king's body tore through mountains and hills, carving a path of destruction millions of kilometers long before embedding itself in the side of a massive peak.
A crater thousands of meters wide formed where Mephisto landed, the impact shattering the landscape and sending dust and rubble skyward.
Slowly, Mephisto emerged from the debris, his fiery aura flickering angrily. Hovering in the distance, Leon stood calmly in midair, his black trench coat and tousled hair rippling in the wind.
"So," Mephisto growled, his voice laced with fury, "you intended to start a war all along?"
Leon's voice was steady, carrying over the chaos. "I don't trust the promises of devils. I trust only in power."
Mephisto snarled, his rage exploding outward in a torrent of hellfire. The ground shook violently, and the air warped with heat as flames ignited across the desolate landscape. The inferno spread like a living thing, consuming everything in its path. These flames weren't ordinary—they burned not just flesh but also the soul, extinguishing life at its very essence.
Leon gazed down at the sea of fire without flinching, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Keisha," he murmured.
A mechanical voice sounded in his mind. "Scanning subject: Mephisto. Height: six feet, six inches. Weight: three hundred and ten pounds. Estimated age: approximately two billion years. Power level: Sky Father tier."
The voice continued, delivering vital data. "Primary abilities: omnipotence within Hell's domain. Power is directly proportional to the domain's size and the number of souls tethered to it. Weakness: significant reduction in power if separated from Hell or its soul connection."
"How long will it take?" Leon asked, his tone calm.
"I can construct an anti-Mephisto space—a complete inversion of his domain—within sixty seconds."
"Begin," Leon commanded.
"Understood. Initiating anti-Mephisto space module. Countdown: sixty seconds."
The countdown began.
Mephisto's fiery eyes narrowed as he observed the subtle shift in Leon's demeanor. Though furious, a growing unease gripped him, warning him to tread carefully.
"What are you doing?" Mephisto demanded, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Leon smirked. "Just waiting."
"Waiting for what?" Mephisto pressed, his anger momentarily overshadowed by anxiety.
"Maybe for you to attack me," Leon replied, his tone light, almost mocking.
The unease clawing at Mephisto's core deepened. Something about this man's confidence was suffocating, and as each second passed, the sense of impending doom grew stronger.
Damn it!
Realizing the danger, Mephisto decided retreat was the only option. Pride meant little to him when his survival was at stake. In a flash, his form flickered, vanishing as he attempted to flee.
But Leon was ready. His aura, like an unyielding tether, locked onto Mephisto's presence. With a burst of golden light, Leon's figure blurred, tearing through space in pursuit.
In an instant, he was upon Mephisto, twisting his body midair and channeling his energy into a single, devastating strike.
BOOM!
The blow shattered the space around them, and Hell itself seemed to quake under the sheer force of Leon's attack.