Malrick waited calmly, expecting Dormammu to walk right into the snare he had prepared.
Before this, Dormammu had deceived him, but now the situation had reversed. It was Malrick's turn to deceive the Dark Dinsion ruler.
Galan eyed him with a puzzled look. "You're surprisingly welcoming, inviting a Hell Lord straight into your ho."
"I'll be even more welcoming when they actually arrive," Malrick replied, waving casually. "Aren't you supposed to be looking for your father? If you stay any longer, the Earth might not be around when you get back."
Galan hesitated. "Can you really handle all of them? Do you not need my help?"
Malrick pointed toward his clone in the distance. "Do I look like I need you right now?"
Galan slapped her forehead the mont she understood. She had forgotten how absurdly strong an Abstract Entity could be compared to a group of Dinsional Demon Gods.
"Alright, I'm leaving. I'll co find you again later!"
With her mission complete, Galan departed like a carrier bird delivering a package, dragging Satanish and the ssage behind her before flying off.
Once she was gone, Malrick removed the Ti Fortress strapped to his waist and tossed it into the air.
The tiny structure rapidly expanded, unfolding within the emptiness of space until it grew into a massive armored fortress, towering dozens of ters high. It imdiately pulled Satanish inside.
This wasn't even the Ti Fortress's largest possible form. It could grow to the size of hundreds of light-years if needed. But for suppressing Satanish, this was more than enough.
The mont the green Hell Lord was dragged inside, an invisible force pinned him firmly to the ground. Unless Malrick released him, Satanish wouldn't even regain consciousness. He would remain trapped in dreamless sleep forever.
Such was the terrifying suppressive strength of a palace-type supre artifact.
And this was only Malrick's first step.
Next, he sent the Black Light Clone out from the God Realm Dinsion. The clone drifted into the Ti Fortress, extended a fleshy tendril, ripped a chunk of flesh off Satanish, and absorbed it.
After a brief digestion, the clone's genetic limit, which had not changed in two and a half years, surged dramatically.
It rose from 10081 to 10100.
Malrick's eyes widened slightly. "Perfect genes. The Black Light Clone really is built for genetic evolution."
He added quietly, "Looks like I'll need samples from other Hell Lords too."
The clone's dark, liquid surface rippled before reshaping itself into an exact copy of Satanish. Even the demonic aura was identical.
"No one will recognize ," Malrick murmured.
He moved through the clone, slipping out of the God Realm Dinsion into the void outside. There was no light source here, but thanks to Kryptonian genes, the clone possessed enhanced vision and could perceive everything clearly.
Malrick waited.
After several hours, seven faint silhouettes erged from the distant darkness.
Once close enough, they imdiately started shouting.
"Satanish, you found the target and didn't notify us! We're allies now!" Dormammu bellowed, sounding uncharacteristically lively.
A Dinsional Demon God truly did sound different after gaining hope.
Malrick, playing the role of Satanish, let out a cold, familiar chuckle. "Dormammu, we all know what creatures we are. Don't pretend."
Around him stood phisto, Marduk, Lucifer, and the other Hell Lords. Not one of them seed suspicious. Though they had known each other for ages, they rarely t, and demons were unpredictable by nature. Even if Malrick behaved slightly differently from Satanish, no one questioned it.
Until phisto suddenly frowned.
His elderly, human disguise twisted with concern. "Sothing is wrong. That dinsion's barrier is blocking external entities. It already has a Master."
phisto's voice sharpened. "Dormammu, you lied to us."
The others imdiately turned on him.
"This is not what we agreed on!"
"Dormammu, explain yourself!"
Before Dormammu could speak, another Hell Lord growled, "There is another possibility. Satanish's coordinates disappeared earlier. He entered that dinsion. He could have already bound the dinsional core!"
The group all turned accusingly toward Malrick's disguised form. Dormammu's flas darkened in suspicion.
Malrick snorted sharply. "Nightmare, stop spouting nonsense."
Nightmare, ruler of the Dream Dinsion, hissed back but found nothing amiss with his identity.
"I already rule a Hell dinsion," Malrick continued. "If I bound another dinsion right now, I'd be weakening my own control and giving phisto a chance to interfere."
"Our goal is simple. Divide this unclaid dinsion."
He pointed to the God Realm Dinsion. "It isn't bonded to anyone yet, it's just transforming into a true universe. That's why it looks unusual."
The Hell Lords studied it closely. The dinsion was indeed absorbing chaotic energy, expanding like a newborn cosmos.
"It really is transforming," phisto said. "If completed, it might one day join the Outer Dinsions."
He narrowed his eyes. "Whoever controls it could beco as powerful as the Crimson Lord."
The mont Setorak's level was ntioned, every demon's eyes burned with greed.
Dormammu suddenly spoke. "If I offer the entire Dark Dinsion as paynt, will you all let take this new one?"
The Dark Dinsion was far larger than the God Realm Dinsion had once been.
But all seven Demon Gods hesitated, watching each other with growing distrust.
Lucifer scoffed. "Dream on. This dinsion could beco a universe."
The alliance began cracking instantly, demon instincts overpowering cooperation.
Malrick chuckled. "Before you all tear each other apart, shouldn't you worry about whether you can even get inside?"
Dormammu snarled. "Do you agree to give it to then, Satanish?"
Malrick didn't slow down. "You called us because you couldn't defeat a human. The Sorcerer Supre of Earth Universe 199999 is inside. He's guarding the dinsion, and the Vishanti are involved."
"When I entered earlier, I was forced out."
"If we want to claim anything, we must stay united, or gather more forces."
He looked directly at Dormammu. "Anyone else left?"
Dormammu flinched at the ntion of his past defeat. His flas shifted from black to purple. "phisto's Blackheart hasn't arrived yet," he muttered.
phisto waved a hand dismissively. "Forget him. Useless."
"Fine. Just us then," Dormammu said uncertainly.
After a brief hesitation, he muttered, "If we cannot defeat the Sorcerer Supre, I can inform Shuma."
Every demon froze.
Marduk shouted, "Dormammu, are you insane! If Shuma cos, none of us will get anything. We might lose ourselves entirely!"
Even Malrick felt a chill.
Shuma-Gorath, an Outer-Dinsional ancient god, ruler of hundreds of dinsions, with mind-breaking corruption and overwhelming power.
Dark Strange once ate only one of Shuma's tentacles and beca strong enough to fight an Infinity Ultron wielding six stones.
Malrick silently acknowledged that even he would flee from Shuma.
"Do not summon Shuma," Malrick said coldly. "If you want to die, do it alone."
phisto added, "Satanish is right. Dormammu, we only took one tenth of your hoarded power last ti. No need to lose your mind."
At the reminder, Dormammu's flas erupted violently.
"You stole from while I was being attacked by the Sorcerer Supre! That matter is far from over!"
Nightmare snorted. "Then what do you want? We can give you a larger share. But if you call Shuma, we're leaving."
Dormammu trembled with anger, flas flickering, then finally nodded. "Fine. But if I am not satisfied with the final split, no one gets anything."
"Good. You pick first," Malrick said. "But first we break the barrier. The Sorcerer Supre strengthened it after ejecting ."
Inside the God Realm Dinsion, Malrick's main body was reinforcing the barrier with curse markings, protective spells, and spatial sigils.
The Demon Gods agreed.
Dormammu unleashed energy from his palms and mouth, striking the barrier. The others joined, including Malrick's clone.
Their combined power slamd into the dinsional wall, but nowhere near Galan's level.
After half a minute, the barrier only shuddered slightly.
"Incredible. My Dark Dinsion doesn't even have such a fortified barrier," Dormammu said. "As expected of a forming universe."
While the Demon Gods focused entirely on attacking, Malrick silently stopped and appeared behind Dormammu.
A massive claw pierced through Dormammu's chest.
Dormammu turned slowly, eyes full of disbelief. "Satanish… why?"
Malrick replied, voice calm. "Sorry. I decided to do sothing good today."
---
Access special early releases on my Patreon! Becoming patrons count as support for : patreon/Zphyr 🥀
Reviews
All reviews (0)