Blackheart stood at the base's entrance, surveying the scene.
Beside him were three demons he'd dragged from Hell, now useful pawns.
Though not powerful, they were effective against humans.
The wind demon, invisible in the air, could easily confound mortals.
Its lack of a physical form made it the perfect choice to accompany Blackheart.
The others were too conspicuous.
The San Venganza Contract's aura lay ahead, but Blackheart grew cautious.
He knew his father's cunning and power. Even a mere clone wouldn't abandon such a prize.
Mephisto's clone had been here, yet the Contract's trace lingered. Blackheart pondered why.
But, being a fool, he sent the wind demon to investigate, observing through its perspective.
Inside the base, Steve's team clashed with a swarm of vampire soldiers.
Bullets pinged off the car door, the impacts shaking Steve's frame.
Without a vibranium shield to absorb kinetic energy, he couldn't charge unimpeded.
John Wick's shots, fired from unexpected angles, disrupted vampire attacks.
Realizing headshots didn't kill them, he targeted their weapons instead.
Coulson and Melinda abandoned firing; their guns were useless here.
Hawkeye's throwing knives slowed the vampires' advance, but couldn't kill them.
Constantine, grinning with excitement, sensed Blackheart's presence.
Having conned Mephisto, he had no qualms about tricking his son. Demons were rarely worth pity.
He pondered what to offer as leverage to provoke Blackheart's move.
The demon was a master manipulator, so Constantine needed a solid plan to avoid missteps.
"What an exhilarating atmosphere, haha!" the wind demon's voice echoed.
Fearless, as mortals couldn't harm it, it mocked the chaos.
"Who's there?" Hawkeye scanned the area.
The voice came from the entrance, close, yet no enemy was visible.
His gaze fell on Constantine, the only one with apparent supernatural abilities.
"What a nostalgic scent. It's been ages since I smelled this, with Hell sealed off," Constantine said, lighting a cigarette.
In combat, he no longer needed to hide his smoking.
"But to ignore me? You're just a lowlife demon," he taunted.
His words made Hawkeye grip a knife, ready to throw. He distrusted Constantine.
"Constantine, no tricks. This isn't a game," Hawkeye said coldly, his tone laced with menace.
Constantine tsked, annoyed.
The wind demon, hearing Constantine's name, trembled.
A nobody demon, it followed Blackheart only because stronger ones wouldn't.
Constantine's name, however, was infamous in Hell.
Its trembling betrayed it to Hawkeye. A knife flew through its form, embedding in the wall.
Constantine yanked Hawkeye forward, saving him from a slashing mark that appeared where he'd stood.
"Demon, want to test my tricks?" Constantine challenged.
He was ready to use Hawkeye's soul as a bargaining chip, but not with this trash demon.
He pulled out a shroud, wrapping it around his fist.
Charging forward, he struck the wind demon's position, forcing it into a solid form.
The moment he revealed the shroud, the vampires' assault faltered.
These mythic vampires were vulnerable to holy relics.
"What's that?" John Wick whispered, noting the shroud's effect on the vampires.
Steve, focused on the vampires, didn't turn but was curious.
Coulson exchanged a glance with Melinda, who nodded.
They agreed to probe Constantine later.
Coulson would need Melinda's help to gain his trust.
Constantine, if he knew, would be thrilled to cooperate with someone so eager.
"A saint's shroud, from a friend," Constantine said, stomping the wind demon's head, answering Wick.
"John Constantine, I've heard of you," Blackheart declared, stepping into view for a dramatic entrance.
Positioning himself between the groups, he faced the vampires, his hand radiating Hell's power to block their bullets.
Then, with a ghastly white face, he twisted his neck 180 degrees toward Constantine.
The sight unnerved Steve and the others, though it was unremarkable for a demon.
Constantine crushed the wind demon's head, forcing it back into the air.
"Blackheart? You dare come to Earth in person? I admire your guts," Constantine said, taking a deep drag.
"Need another introduction, mate?" he quipped, blowing a smoke ring at Hawkeye, slipping on inscribed brass knuckles over the shroud-wrapped hand.
Hawkeye, silent, tightened his grip on his knife.
He felt powerless.
(Chapter End)
-------------------------
The new chapter just dropped! Be the first to read it 🤭 Patreon: [pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]