"Stephen Strange, the great Sorcerer Supreme."
Mephisto smiled as he caught sight of Strange. He began to praise him profusely, though for some reason, the words didn't sound like compliments at all.
"Guardian of reality, yet you let in a terrifying demon and a dimension lord. A brilliant surgeon, yet your hands are useless. A gifted mage, yet you watched your own teacher die before your eyes."
"Haha, very funny," Strange replied unmoved. He asked Mephisto, "Are you really not planning to clear out? I think it'll be quite a hassle for you if I have to throw you out myself in a moment."
"Who do you think I am? Belasco?"
Mephisto remained indifferent. Strange immediately performed an instantaneous incantation, placing protective spells on the other four present. He then directly invoked the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, summoning chains from all directions to bind Mephisto.
"Do you know why I mentioned Belasco? Because that fellow recently visited Dormammu as a guest and encountered someone who had tossed Cyttorak's toys over there. Being a kind soul, I put in a good word for him with Cyttorak."
Mephisto swatted the chains away as if brushing off dust, causing them to dissipate into smoke. "So, Cyttorak probably won't be bothering me with his chains."
Next came a web-binding spell infused with magical properties. Peter continuously fired webbing to pin Mephisto in place while simultaneously vanishing. Peter instantly reappeared behind Mephisto, releasing bio-electricity even as he questioned him: "Hello, Mr. Devil. I've always wanted to ask a question. Many people say devils are fallen angels—is that true?"
"Ah, Spider-Man. Many people say you are the emissary of Neith. Let me see if that's true."
Mephisto abruptly vanished from Peter's layers of restraints. He reached out from behind toward Peter, but Ghost Rider used his chains to yank Mephisto's hand back, dragging the demon before him. Ghost Rider stared directly into Mephisto's eyes.
"Hehehe, you have no idea how long I've been looking forward to this day."
"The feeling is mutual, Johnny," Mephisto smiled. "You don't know how long I've looked forward to the moment you realize I have no soul to burn. Also, you think the Ghost Rider is immortal, don't you?"
Ignoring the Hellfire, Mephisto pierced the Ghost Rider's body, gripped his spine, and hoisted him up. He then paused, realizing something: "Oh, you truly are immortal. There's something odd about your Spirit of Vengeance; even I can't take it back."
"But that doesn't mean you're indestructible, does it?"
Logan roared as he drove his claws into Mephisto from behind. Mephisto turned his head one hundred and eighty degrees with a look of mock shock. "Oh, indestructible! Just one problem—you do know that metal can rust, right?"
Logan froze. Mephisto smiled and stepped back, watching as the steel claws protruding from his body turned into decayed, rusted scrap. Even Logan's entire skeletal structure became so brittle that with a mere flick of a finger, Mephisto caused him to collapse to the ground with his bones shattered.
Hulk was the last to charge. He slammed a fist directly into Mephisto's face and then raised his fists high. Mephisto let out a yawn and asked the Hulk, "Are you finished?"
Hulk was stunned for a second, then roared as he unleashed a relentless barrage of punches. After countless strikes, Hulk raised his fists again. Mephisto remained completely unharmed. He yawned boredly, then pulled a music box out of nowhere. It played a lullaby; hearing it, Hulk grew drowsy and collapsed to the ground.
"Now then, what has our Great Mage been doing during these dozen or so seconds? Surely not nothing?"
Mephisto turned to look at Strange, but Strange was indeed just standing there as if he hadn't moved at all. Mephisto frowned, looking around curiously before taking an uncomprehending step toward Strange.
He saw the corners of Strange's mouth curl slightly upward and immediately halted his step. Strange's smile widened.
"You should know, I am the Sorcerer Supreme. I taught the Ghost Rider how to cast spells."
Strange smiled thinly. "Naturally, I can teach others as well."
Mephisto looked at Peter in surprise. Peter opened a portal beneath Mephisto's feet. Of course, Mephisto did not fall through; he simply turned to Peter with great curiosity. "I didn't know you were so multi-talented, Spider-Man."
"I have friends ranging from magic to science, so I can learn a bit of everything."
"By that same token, you have enemies ranging from magic to science as well." Mephisto looked at Peter with interest. "Have you ever considered saving the entire world? Give your soul to me, and I can grant your wish. You could save everyone."
"And what happens after they're saved?" Peter asked.
Mephisto smiled without answering. Strange had finally completed his preparations. Peter looked at Strange curiously; he wasn't sure what method Strange had devised to deal with a dimensional demon lord who had manifested his true form.
Strange's solution was quite simple and crude. Mephisto seemed to sense something and looked at Strange with a hint of surprise.
"Everyone here was a decoy. In reality, you have people dealing with me back at Kamar-Taj."
"Kamar-Taj has prepared many monster souls; they can be put to use at a time like this." Strange issued his final threat. "What happens to a dimensional demon lord who has left his own dimension if his realm is suddenly flooded with countless monsters? If you don't go home right now, Mephisto, you might lose your house."
"Very creative, and very interesting. You're much more fun than the Sorcerer Supremes of the past, Strange."
"If you don't want me to hit you directly with the Book of Vishanti or the Darkhold, you'd better get lost now."
Hearing Strange's threat, Mephisto shrugged and departed. In reality, however, his goal had already been achieved. As the devil vanished, Peter asked Strange curiously, "Why didn't you just hit him with the Book of Vishanti?"
"Because the Book of Vishanti only contains white magic for defense. It is certainly enough to defeat Mephisto, but Mephisto knows very well how the book works—if he just stood in front of us for a hundred years, we would never find a way to attack him with it. Believe me, Mephisto is entirely capable of doing that."
As for the Darkhold, things hadn't reached that level of desperation yet.
Strange then looked toward Johnny Blaze, who had returned to normal.
"It seems... we've found a key, Spider-Man."