Lucas wasn't wrong.
Chaos Magic was one of the three Primordial Forces of the Marvel universe, the source of all dark magic.
As the ruler of Hell, Mephisto's power naturally belonged to that category—
and all of it ultimately traced back to Chaos Energy.
"Can you break the seal?"
Lucas asked.
Wanda nodded.
"I can."
"Johnny, are you ready? Removing this seal might trigger… unpredictable reactions. You need to brace yourself."
Lucas warned. Once the seal broke, anything could happen—
an overload of memories, excruciating pain, loss of consciousness, or even severe memory distortion.
"I'm ready. Do it."
As a professional stuntman, Johnny had nerves of steel.
"Alright. Begin."
Lucas signaled Wanda.
She raised both hands.
As if grabbing hold of something in the air, she clenched her fingers—
BOOM!
Johnny clearly heard an explosion inside his skull.
In the next instant, an overwhelming flood of memories surged into his mind—
replaying in rapid sequence like a stuttering film reel.
Johnny's pupils dilated.
His gaze went unfocused, staring blankly into space.
"The seal is broken. He should be reliving his memories now."
Wanda confirmed after checking his condition.
At the same time…
In a palace surrounded by lava, a crimson-skinned man wearing a matching cloak abruptly rose from his throne.
"Hm? Someone just removed the seal."
His eyes narrowed.
"Who?!"
Mephisto reached out and clawed at empty air.
Back in Lucas's office…
A red vortex opened in front of the motionless Johnny.
A massive crimson hand lunged straight toward Wanda.
Before Lucas or Skye could react—
The Moogle, previously dozing in Skye's arms, suddenly shot forward.
"Kupo!!"
With a sharp cry, it swung its staff.
CRACK!
The massive hand shattered like brittle glass—
and the vortex vanished with it.
The Moogle hovered there a moment, glaring at the fading space, then puffed up angrily.
It circled the room twice in indignation before flying back into Skye's arms, brows furrowed in offense—
its dignity clearly insulted.
"What was that just now?"
Wanda asked, bewildered. The attack had been aimed directly at her.
Lucas thought for a moment.
"A manifestation of Mephisto. You removed Johnny's seal—he must've sensed it."
"Mephisto… the demon you mentioned? The one from Hell?"
Wanda asked, more curious than alarmed.
Lucas nodded.
"Yeah. That guy's a professional con artist. Not a single honest word comes out of his mouth. He scams for a living."
Meanwhile, in Hell
Mephisto stared at the stump where his arm had been severed.
"Who…
WHO DARES break my hand?!"
As one of the Hell Lords and a dimensional demon god akin to Dormammu, he was not someone Earthly beings should have been capable of injuring.
If not for the sorcerers' protective wards around the planet, he would have descended long ago to reshape Earth into another Hell.
Even a partial projection—like an arm—should have been overwhelming by mortal standards.
Yet his hand had been obliterated in a single strike.
Unthinkable.
With a scowl, he reached into the void and seized a screaming soul.
Without even looking at it, he crushed the soul in his fist.
Wisps of spectral smoke drifted into his severed arm—
and within a heartbeat, the limb regenerated perfectly.
"It seems I've been absent from Earth too long.
Those insects must have forgotten the name Mephisto."
His eyes glinted dangerously.
"That brat actually found someone capable of undoing my seal.
Very interesting…"
He sat back down.
A flare of red energy burst from his body and vanished into the void—
Kamar-Taj
Hidden high in the Himalayas behind an illusory barrier lay Kamar-Taj—winter outside, eternal spring within.
In her meditation chamber, the Ancient One abruptly opened her eyes.
She had sensed a spike of malevolent energy.
Her body vanished in a shimmer.
When she reappeared, she stood in the chamber housing the Eye of Agamotto.
It was open—projecting an image of the front entrance of Lucas's office.
Even with the Time Stone's abilities, the Moogle's warding prevented it from seeing inside.
Beyond time manipulation, the first Sorcerer Supreme had developed many functions for the Stone—
including using the global sanctum network to monitor dark forces attempting to breach Earth.
The sanctum barriers could stop true descension of demon-gods,
but not projections or power transfers—
just like Kaecilius and the Juggernaut, both of whom wielded power bestowed by dimensional entities.
The Ancient One took up the Eye, fastened it around her neck, and opened the door of the New York Sanctum.
"Supreme Sorcerer."
The guardian stationed outside bowed.
"You sensed the surge of dark energy?" she asked.
"Yes. I located its origin, but the signature vanished shortly after."
"I see. Stay here. I will investigate personally."
She lifted her hood and departed.
A brief teleport later, she stood before the door of DevilMayCry.
She was about to step inside when she stopped.
"…What an exquisite barrier.
And formidable."
She reached out.
Her fingers passed through effortlessly.
"So it acknowledges that I mean no harm."
Smiling, she stepped through the ward and opened the office door.
"Master Ancient One?"
Lucas froze for a moment.
"Good afternoon, Lucas."
She returned his greeting with a gentle smile—
and then her gaze fell on Wanda.
"What a pure well of Chaos Magic.
So you are the child blessed by Chthon.
It seems fate has led you to Lucas after all."
She spoke like someone reciting riddles.
But Lucas understood.
The Ancient One recognized Wanda, knew her origins—
and even knew things Lucas himself did not.
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