The demons of the Legion bore a striking resemblance to the Burning Legion of Azeroth—massive, winged fiends, hellhounds resembling monstrous canines, and seductive, sinister succubi.
Perhaps there was a connection between the two.
The once-dark sky was now illuminated by the infernal glow of the demonic horde. The creatures swarmed, some taking to the skies while others charged across the land, reveling in their long-awaited freedom after being confined in hell for too long.
"Looks like we've got a big problem!" Johnny limped toward the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, his gaze filled with helplessness as he watched the sky-darkening invasion. The Spirit of Vengeance within him was uncharacteristically silent.
"Let me make a call for backup." Johnny fumbled through his tattered leather jacket and pulled out a phone.
Perhaps influenced by Parker, May couldn't help but feel that Johnny had inherited a bit of his reckless energy.
"Hey, Tony, we've got a major issue here," Johnny said, staring at the demonic horde in the sky, struggling to put the situation into words. "The demons... they're loose."
"Yeah, I can see that." Tony Stark, clad in his Bloodedge Armor, was locked in combat with the infernal invaders. Even his coastal mansion in Breakwater had fallen under attack, the demons gleefully tearing through its structure.
News stations across the United States were broadcasting live coverage of the invasion, and panic was spreading like wildfire.
Then, a radiant, multicolored beam of light descended from the heavens, piercing through the dense clouds. Several unfortunate demons caught in its path were instantly incinerated. The beam left behind an intricate, glowing sigil on the ground.
"Thor, you finally made it." Garus had just slaughtered a group of demons when he leapt down to meet the Asgardian. Mephisto was still lurking, likely biding his time.
"Garus."
Since the Battle of New York, Thor hadn't seen Garus. Now, looking at him, Thor felt as if he were gazing upon death itself.
A thunderous tremor abruptly interrupted their reunion.
"Surtur?" Thor turned to see a towering, hundred-meter-tall infernal giant emerge from the clouds, its very presence shaking the earth.
The demon's fiery form was nearly identical to that of a fire giant, so Thor's confusion was understandable.
"I'll handle him!" Thor's battle spirit ignited instantly. Surtur had long been a sworn enemy of Asgard.
With a whirl of Mjolnir, Thor launched himself toward the massive demon.
"Boom!" The infernal giant swatted him away as if he were a mere insect.
Thor crashed through several buildings, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
"I am Lok, Lord of Hell, and I have finally set foot upon the mortal realm!" The booming voice shook the air. Upon spotting Mephisto, Lok bowed respectfully. In Hell, power dictated everything, and with the Lord of Hell standing before him, Lok knew better than to challenge authority.
This invasion was far grander than any previous demonic incursion. It wasn't confined to a single American city but was rapidly spreading across continents.
Garus had no time to concern himself with minor missions—if this world fell to the demons, his own losses would be immeasurable.
Above, a horde of winged demons closed in on New York, their bloodthirsty eyes gleaming as they gazed upon the humans below, regarding them as mere prey.
Just as the city braced for impact, a translucent, sky-blue energy shield enveloped the skyline. The floating necropolis, Naxxramas, had reappeared above them. Thanks to Skrull technology, they had managed to construct planetary defense barriers, though currently, the system could only protect a single city.
Ironically, the once-feared mutant academy was now their savior. The people below could do nothing but stare in awe.
Near the portal, the scorching heat of the battlefield was suddenly overtaken by a bone-chilling cold that seeped into the soul. Even the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents hiding within the Quinjet, despite their specialized suits, couldn't withstand the eerie frost.
From the glowing arcane sigils on the ground and in the air, ghostly figures emerged—undead warriors bathed in spectral blue light, standing in stark contrast to Mephisto's fiery minions.
Garus had been waiting for Mephisto to reveal himself from the cosmic rift. The cunning demon was too adept at slipping away. This time, Garus intended to cripple him, absorbing his fragmented soul.
"Human, you never cease to amaze me. You are the third person I've encountered capable of summoning an army of the dead." Mephisto raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, though his expression soon turned dismissive. "But these are mere lowly undead, weaker than even common mortals. They are nothing more than cannon fodder for my infernal legions."
Until now, Garus had refrained from revealing the full extent of his necromantic prowess. Today, that changed.
"What about now?" A crimson rune spread outward from beneath Garus' feet, enveloping his undead minions. Their movements became swifter, and their hellfire-inflicted wounds rapidly healed.
The previously one-sided battle was now at a stalemate. Mephisto struggled, the abyss of the cosmos tugging at his very essence, dragging him back inch by inch. Though this was merely an avatar, he had no intention of losing it.
"Human, why don't we negotiate?" Mephisto, still partially trapped in the rift, suddenly adopted a friendly demeanor. "If you agree to work with me, we could conquer this world together. I'll let you rule it as king, and in exchange, I only ask for their faith—and their souls after death."
To him, bartering away human lives was as casual as any other transaction.
His glowing eyes locked onto Garus, his tone coaxing as if he were offering an irresistible deal.
"Garus, don't trust him!" Thor, locked in a fierce battle with the flame demon, shouted over the chaos. His once-golden locks were now singed and curled from the heat. The strength of this infernal lord rivaled his own.
"No thanks. I have no interest in ruling Earth, and I certainly don't trust you." Making deals with demons was a sure way to be deceived.
"If you don't believe me, ask Johnny. Our contract was entirely fair."
Thor scoffed. "Fair? You wrote the fine print in letters so small no one could read them."
Mephisto smirked. "If he didn't bother reading such a sacred document, that's his fault, not mine."
Garus had seen enough of Hell's deception. He summoned a massive flesh-stitched abomination to stand guard, ready to strike the moment Mephisto emerged.
"I will rip your soul apart and cast it into the deepest lava pits!" Mephisto finally snapped. Desperation drove him to fully manifest, lest he be pulled into the abyss.
"I will turn this world into a realm of fire and brimstone!"
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