A radiant page glowed before Constantine, its holy light stinging Mephisto's avatar's eyes.
Angel, seated calmly in the magic circle, felt a familiar courage, fearless and pure. Carter Sley sensed the knight within him trembling—part fear, part longing.
"In the name of God, you shall fall like harvested straw. Amen!" A shadowy figure emerged in the glow, only their glasses reflecting the holy light clearly.
A right hand, clad in a pristine glove inscribed with "Jesus Christ in Heaven," slowly extended from the page's aura, drawing everyone's gaze.
Constantine shouted at Mephisto's avatar, urgency in his voice. "What are you waiting for? Sign the contract, and I'll end the circle!"
The avatar, sensing death's threat from the figure, had no time to read the contract. Though just a fragment of Mephisto, his partial Hell authority glimpsed a chance to supplant the original. He couldn't let this opportunity slip—if he amassed enough power, he could break free from Mephisto's true self.
Constantine, done with banter, kicked the avatar. It was his first time striking a demon of Mephisto's caliber, even if just an avatar, but he had no time to savor it.
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me." The figure gathered the fluttering pages into a book, his left hand resting on the cover, partially revealing the words "Iscariot…"
"You idiot, hurry!" Constantine slapped the avatar's sagging face, the loose flesh quivering.
Snapped awake, Mephisto's avatar scrawled his name on the crumpled A4 paper.
"The contract is sealed. Congrats, you're free to return to Hell." Constantine smudged a corner of the magic circle with his foot, stepping aside.
He snatched the contract from Mephisto's hand, reciting it aloud with a theatrical, Dickensian flair, as if his life were fading. "I, under fair and open terms, free from coercion, trade Carter Sley's soul for… a marker~"
He waved the contract, pointing at the marker in Mephisto's hand. The deal was done. Non-compliance would invoke the contract's punishing rules.
Once again, Constantine outwitted a demon.
Suddenly, the towering figure's book vanished, replaced by two glowing bayonets forming a cross. "Fighting demons is redemption! In God's name! Amen!" The bayonets pierced Mephisto's chest, the wound emitting sulfur and the scent of roasted meat, tinged with… milk?
Clutching the marker, Mephisto's avatar vanished. Constantine released the circle, letting the demon escape. A powerless avatar could be used to trick Hell's true master later—after all, the real Mephisto would bear the contract's penalties.
Carter, no longer skeletal, aged rapidly but found peace. "God was never far," he whispered, exhaling his last breath. He collapsed, caught by Angel.
His shovel hit the ground, its wooden handle splintering, revealing the Saint Vanganza Contract.
"Mephisto's loaded," Constantine quipped, eyeing the contract's intricate patterns.
A bayonet pierced his shoulder. "You're neither believer nor ordinary man. The stench of dealing with demons clings to you, John," the priest said, his tone tinged with madness.
Constantine, skewered like a fish, let the bayonet bear his weight. "Father, long time no see. Must you always stab the same spot?"
He offered the priest his cigarette, lit by Mephisto's heat. "Try it? Demon-warmed."
The priest shoved him aside, the bayonet dissolving into a bloodstained page. "Saint Angel, I'm a Vatican priest, here to escort you back."
Angel laid Carter's body gently on the ground, picking up the Saint Vanganza Contract. "Thank you, Father. I'd like to bury this gentleman first."
She returned the priest's bow.
"Hey, Carter's got no family or friends. You planning a funeral?" Constantine's eyes lingered on the contract. Mephisto's true self might not care for its thousand souls, but this avatar wouldn't give up. After this trick, trouble was brewing.
"At least bury him," Angel said softly. Once a decisive cop, sainthood had softened her.
"Fine, this place is practically a graveyard." Constantine stepped into the magic circle, Angel's power flowing into him.
Clang! Two bayonets struck the circle's barrier, the priest's book morphing back into blades.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ
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