Bab 103: Reality Dagger

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Ivan's heart ached as he witnessed Mephisto devouring all the souls in the town. The potential of those good souls, capable of creating thousands of super-spectral forms when swallowed by Ghost, was now lost with the absence of the army, unable to fulfill its purpose.

Mephisto, brimming with newfound strength, exuded confidence, and the flames on his body surged toward Ivan with unmatched momentum, akin to a spark striking the earth.

Armed with guns in both hands, Ivan raised them high above his head, creating a powerful visual impact as if an ant were blocking a foe many times its size, holding up two claws.

Unexpectedly, Mephisto's full-strength blow failed to halt Ivan. Swiftly reacting to Mephisto's tail sweep under the influence of Ivan's mental power, he countered by leveraging the absorbed power and his strength. Pushing away the devil's claws, Ivan jumped, narrowly avoiding the dangerous sweep of the devil's tail.

Though Mephisto temporarily retreated, his increased strength allowed him to quickly stabilize. Seeing Ivan airborne, he seized the opportunity for another strike.

Facing the crisis, Ivan remained composed. Shifting his gun to his left hand, he placed his right hand on himself, chanting a spell, and propelled his body with a sudden force, narrowly escaping Mephisto's grasp.

Having just employed magic he learned at Hogwarts, Ivan utilized a spell originally intended for launching objects at enemies. However, this time, he directed it towards himself, propelling him away.

"Damn, wizard!" Mephisto, recognizing the magical technique, couldn't help but curse, then patiently resumed the chase.

Chanting spells like "Expelliarmus" and "Protego," Ivan attempted various magical maneuvers. Unfortunately, apart from initially causing Mephisto to stumble, the effects were limited. Especially after Morpheus, a black fog emerged from Tuo's body, rendering most of the magic ineffective. Once the magic entered the black fog, it would dissipate, nullifying its impact.

Undeterred, Ivan persisted, showcasing his repertoire of magic while evading Mephisto. Finally, casting one of the three unforgivable spells, "Avada Kedavra," Ivan shattered the black fog enveloping Mephisto.

Mephisto, in pursuit, abruptly halted, staring at Ivan with fear. A smile played on Ivan's eyes as he observed Mephisto's reaction. Wizards had successfully passed down a comprehensive system, retaining knowledge to combat the devil. The conflicts and fights documented in Hogwart's books indicated a complete inheritance, implying that wizards had prevailed in their battles against the devil.

"It seems we're evenly matched now. It's hard to predict the winner if we continue. With the town's soul absorbed by you, my plan has failed, and there's no point in further fighting. How about we call it quits here?" Ivan suggested.

"Humph! If you had made this request earlier, I might have agreed. Unfortunately, it's too late now. Thanks to you, I've suffered heavy losses. I won't let you go unless you sacrifice your soul." Mephisto, forced to absorb the town's souls to confront Ivan, had his original plan disrupted, fueling resentment that knew no bounds.

Ivan shrugged helplessly. Honestly, he wasn't interested in a futile battle. However, this didn't mean he would retreat easily. Since Mephisto refused to relent, Ivan contemplated teaching him a lesson so he wouldn't be underestimated.

"Well, negotiations seem to have failed. Let's settle this with one decisive move."

Ivan retracted his spear, stowed it in his bag, closed his hands, and then slowly opened them. A gloomy red light gathered between his palms, growing brighter. Ivan forcefully condensed it to its limit, it transformed, shaping into a long, dangerous red dagger.

As an ancient devil, Mephisto had survived for countless years, dating back to the time when humans first appeared. The aura emitted by the red knife resembled Avada Kedavra's spell, but it was much more potent. Confronting it, even with Mephisto's robust devil physique, would be a severe blow.

Mephisto, cautious, chanted a spell. The black mist around him condensed, the black light intensifying, forming a demonic claw several meters wide.

Meanwhile, the red long dagger in Ivan's hand was fully formed. Instead of immediately attacking, Ivan blocked Mephisto's view with his hand, allowing a pendant hanging from Ivan's neck to release a cloud of red fluid—slowly seeping into the interior of the long dagger.

Ever since obtaining the Reality Gem, Ivan rarely used its power due to a specific reason. However, this time, he planned to use it, as he had an idea and wanted to snatch something from Mephisto.

"Hell's Claws, Kill"

"Reality Rupture"

Ivan and Mephisto simultaneously shouted, launching their attacks. The red long dagger collided with the black demonic claws.

With a resounding "Boom," a powerful wind overflowed, and violent energy erupted. The long knife clashed with the demon's claw, both seemingly pleased by the collision, yet firmly locked in a struggle, unable to advance. Mephisto and Ivan stared each other down, gnashing their teeth, each attempting to overpower the other as they pushed back and forth.

"Explode" Ivan attempted several times but couldn't overpower Mephisto. Finally, gritting his teeth, he detonated his dagger, neutralizing the demon's claw. The violent energy dispersed, throwing Morpheus Stowe out. Ivan prepared, and stepped back in time, avoiding any harm.

While caught off guard, Mephisto didn't overly concern himself. Ivan's didn't trouble him much, as it also ended the demon's claw, preventing a continued assault.

Getting up from the ground, Mephisto believed Ivan wouldn't have the strength for another shot in the short term. His guard dropped. However, to his surprise, at that moment, a red fluid surged from the violent energy, transforming into a crimson arrow aimed directly at Mephisto's eyes.

Stunned, Mephisto tried to evade, but it was too late. Instinctively, he used black mist to form a protective shield, but the unexpected occurred. The blood-colored arrow, powered by an unknown energy, penetrated the shield and struck his eyes.

"Ow" Mephisto unleashed a violent scream. As a devil, physical damage wasn't too severe, but the red arrow possessed a peculiar power, directly tearing at Mephisto's soul. The agony from soul-tearing surpassed physical pain thousands of times, even for the seasoned devil.

Emerging from the back of Morpheus's head, the red arrow transformed into a fluid, flying back to Ivan's hand. Sensing a preserved soul fragment within, Ivan's face lit up with a smile. Today, he finally gained something—not in vain.

After the blood-colored fluid exited Mephisto's body, he felt some relief from the pain. The wound, visible through the hole to the back of the brain, rapidly started healing. However, the eyes, being organs, couldn't fully recover in a short period.

Mephisto glared at Ivan with one eye, a burning flame of resentment in his gaze. If looks could kill, Ivan would have been riddled with countless holes by now. Death seemed an impossibility for him.

In this predicament, Mephisto's best choice should have been an immediate escape. Severely injured, he was no match for Ivan. Yet, the stolen part of his soul held too much importance for him. Reluctant to abandon it, he hoped to reclaim it.

Understanding the severity of the crisis, Mephisto knew he needed to remain composed. His mind raced for countermeasures. Power in hell was foundational, and the soul directly influenced the devil's strength. With his soul severely damaged and his strength diminished, he anticipated potential betrayal from the devils under him. He needed a solution.

"Give back that part of my soul, or I'll kill you, no matter the cost," Mephisto declared. Behind him, two thick bone spurs appeared, growing rapidly into bat-like wings. His eyes held a resolute gaze, ready to charge at Ivan, willing to pay a significant price.

Ivan, a wily devil with countless years of experience, saw through Mephisto's theatrics. Mephisto's apparent decisiveness was a ploy to gain an advantage in the negotiation.

In response, Ivan retrieved the fluid containing Mephisto's soul fragments, slapped his right hand on his neck, and produced a larger fluid. He tossed it at Mephisto.

Mephisto's resolute expression crumbled, and his words choked back. With the red fluid in hand, Mephisto stood no chance, rendering his earlier threats meaningless.