Blackheart dissolved into a rolling black mist that blotted out the sky.
Wherever it passed, everything withered away. Even concrete crumbled into black powder in an instant, drifting down like ash.
The stretch of highway Herman had torn from the ground couldn't even slow it—one clash, and it was reduced to dust.
"Your mutant tricks are impressive. But in my current state, no psychic force can touch me!"
"Do you have Psychic Domination? Try it… Heh, you'll discover something amusing." The mist-shrouded Blackheart cackled madly.
Herman knew perfectly well this creature had no soul, making Psychic Domination useless. Not that he had such an ability anyway.
"Noisy."
He tried dispersing the black fog with telekinesis.
But the effort was pointless.
So he lifted his hand again, tearing vast swaths of sand from the earth along with streetlights, cars, and debris.
A violent storm roared into being under his control, sweeping across the land. Trees for kilometers around were ripped from their roots and dragged into the maelstrom.
The storm raged like it would devour the world, countless fragments swirling within. Under Herman's command, it collided head-on with the black fog that was Blackheart.
Rumble—
The sound shook like heaven collapsing.
Frenzied energy tore across the battlefield. Everything on the ground suffered another round of destruction. Amid the howling gale, flocks of birds tumbled lifelessly from the sky.
The three demonic lackeys had never seen anything like it. Panic-stricken, they scattered for cover, terrified of being caught in the clash of such overwhelming power.
"This human… he's this strong?!"
The Water Demon's eyes went wide with horror.
"The boss… he's not gonna lose, is he?"
The Earth Demon's face showed unease.
"You're joking. The boss hasn't even shown his full power. A mere mutant can't possibly be a match for the new Lord of Hell."
The Wind Demon's faith in Blackheart remained unshaken.
And indeed, events unfolded as he expected.
Though the clash had unleashed a cataclysmic uproar, once their forces canceled each other out, Blackheart's black mist surged forward without losing momentum.
"A worthy opponent!"
"As a reward for your strength, I'll allow you to become part of me—nourishment for my ascent to the Supreme Throne!"
Blackheart grinned savagely.
His power came from devouring souls, consuming lives, drawing strength from the essence of others.
And Herman's strength… he found it very satisfying. Devour him, and the legendary contract would be his for the taking.
Even if Mephisto sent Ghost Rider against him, he'd have no reason to fear.
"You really are pathetic."
Herman showed not a hint of panic. He retreated swiftly through the air while simultaneously raising another concrete dragon to slow Blackheart's advance.
"Ignorant fool. Do you actually believe that San Venganza Contract will let you build a new hell, a new kingdom?" His tone dripped with scorn.
Ambitious, yes. But utterly brainless, to think that contract held power beyond the mortal world.
"You know nothing! Stop running! Let me devour you! Your soul! Your soul is mine by fate!"
A twisted face pushed out from the mist, jaws filled with serrated teeth, terrifying and grotesque. Blackheart's speed surged, and he began to close the gap.
The distance between them narrowed rapidly.
"I know nothing, huh?"
As the black mist surged toward him with frenzied force, Herman Chu's expression stayed calm, almost amused, like he'd just heard a joke worth laughing at.
He might not understand Marvel's deeper secrets as well as the true heavyweights, but when it came to a brat like Blackheart, he felt more than qualified to act like the one in the know.
"The Beyonder, the Watcher, the Time Variance Authority, the Sacred Timeline—ever heard of them? Of course you haven't."
Herman faced the charging Blackheart with unshakable composure.
"Sharp tongue! Trying to stall me? Heh! Futile! Your fate is to become a part of me!"
The black fog that was Blackheart spread wide like a gaping maw devouring the heavens, closing in to swallow Herman whole.
"Hm? Another one preaching about fate?"
Herman glanced at the black mist hemming him in from every direction, sealing off all escape. Without hesitation, he made his choice—an extremely risky one.
Of course, he kept his retreat in hand.
The Raven's teleportation was still his ultimate escape card.
"Then… let's see who survives to the end."
Herman abruptly stopped moving.
He didn't strike back.
He simply let the black mist engulf him, dragging him slowly into the rancid darkness. Blackheart took it as a sign that Herman had surrendered.
But was that really the truth?
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Herman felt the mist gnawing at him, trying to consume him whole. A crisis unlike anything he had ever faced pressed down on him, and the terror of death loomed so close he could almost taste it.
"This is it!"
He licked his dry lips.
His heart pounded, strong and unyielding.
And with every beat, something within his soul began to stir.
This was exactly what Herman had been waiting for, the gamble he had placed. As death pressed closer, a dormant power within him began to awaken.
He knew what it was.
His divinity.