A Deal with the Devil

"There’s nothing to discuss. You’re not welcome here. Get out!"

Mephisto shed his elegant demeanor from moments ago. He could not even be bothered to maintain his current appearance. In the blink of an eye, he shot up another two meters, transforming into a massive crimson demon.

Yet Zhang Ye felt no fear in the face of the angered Mephisto. Or rather, with the Time Twister’s help, Zhang Ye knew that Mephisto could not truly threaten his life.

Under such circumstances, although Zhang Ye remained constantly on guard against Mephisto, he kept a calm expression on the surface.

"Let’s talk it over. Since you know about that thing, you should also know how terrifying its dangers are. If it’s left unchecked, the entire universe will fall into crisis."

"What does that have to do with me?" Mephisto sneered. "I have witnessed the end of reality and experienced the void of consciousness. I understand the Multiverse’s crises far better than you do, wizard."

"But this time is different. To put it in terms I’ve experienced before, it has already slipped out of control. I have seen that thing devour the Multiverse—celestial bodies falling, all things dying. When that time comes, even an immortal being like you will not survive, will you?"

After staring deeply at Zhang Ye, Mephisto suddenly realized that this wizard was even more "dangerous" than he had imagined.

"If you were able to find me here, then you must have encountered that thing. Yet you were not contaminated. How did you manage that?" Mephisto suddenly asked.

"Perhaps it did not notice me. Its target is the Prime Universe, and the matter it observes is all born upon the foundation of the Prime Universe. As an ‘outsider,’ I am not among them," Zhang Ye replied.

At Zhang Ye’s words, Mephisto fell silent for a moment, seemingly accepting his explanation. Only after a while did he speak again. "That thing possesses a warped kind of thought. It differs from all matter and all consciousness. It was born from emptiness and originated at the end."

Seeing Zhang Ye about to say something, Mephisto waved a hand, cutting off his question before continuing.

"I know what you want to ask, but I do not know where that thing came from either. I know even less than you do. If you came seeking my help, then forgive me, but there is nothing I can do. I can offer you only one piece of advice: run. Run as far away as you can."

Listening to Mephisto’s account, Zhang Ye could not help frowning slightly. He had assumed that thing was some higher creation beyond the reality of the universe, but from Mephisto’s perspective, everything related to it had become obscure and incomprehensible once more.

Thoughts that had once seemed clear were now a tangled mess. Even Zhang Ye himself could no longer determine what position that thing truly occupied. He even began to wonder whether he should continue interfering in this matter at all.

But soon, Zhang Ye let out a long breath and steadied himself once more.

He raised his head and looked at the grave-faced Mephisto. Zhang Ye spoke again. "Actually, I have already thought of a way to resolve this. But to carry it out, my strength alone is far from enough. I need the help of other beings who command the power of entire dimensions."

"Are you insane?"

Mephisto could scarcely believe it. He looked at Zhang Ye as though he were a cultist who had fallen into endless madness. "Did you not understand? That thing comes from a world beyond destruction. If you rashly touch it, you will become part of it as well."

"I’m not insane. Nor am I planning to confront it head-on. Its contamination is even more terrifying than I imagined, but I discovered a flaw in its actions. It contaminated the timeline, yet it did not contaminate history. If I have enough power, I can create an entirely new timeline from nothing—"

"And you still say you’re not insane?" Mephisto interrupted him. He could not help saying, "Altering history is nowhere near as easy as you think, let alone creating a parallel universe identical to the original timeline."

"But this method is feasible, isn’t it?" Zhang Ye said.

Mephisto froze.

He stared into Zhang Ye’s eyes, suddenly unsure how to respond, because he realized that the wizard before him was serious.

Within the Hell Dimension, where sinister winds howled, the atmosphere between Zhang Ye and Mephisto became somewhat delicate.

Zhang Ye was silent for a while, then smiled.

Just as Mephisto could see through him, Zhang Ye had obtained the answer he most wanted from Mephisto’s reaction.

The two fell into a tacit silence.

After a long while, Mephisto spoke, breaking the quiet.

"What do I get out of it?"

At those words, the tension in Zhang Ye’s heart gradually eased.

"To weaken the Prime Universe’s rejection, that thing has focused its attention mainly on Earth. That means its contamination is likewise concentrated around Earth. Once it is done, an entire timeline—all uncontaminated souls. How does that price sound?"

"You really are willing to pay any price. Isn’t your goal to save those people? Why are you handing their souls directly over to me?" Mephisto murmured.

"It doesn’t matter. This reality can no longer be saved. But they will live well on another timeline," Zhang Ye said calmly.

"Then can ‘they’ still be considered ‘themselves’?" Mephisto revealed a mocking smile.

When Zhang Ye did not answer, Mephisto continued.

"To the people of that new world, you are nothing. No one will thank you for saving them. No one will even remember you. But in the original world, the people you encountered and the friends you came to know will all die—die because of your plan."

"In their perception," Mephisto said, raising a hand to point at the sky, "the one destroying the world will not be the strange existence spreading contamination."

"It will be you, outsider."

"It doesn’t matter."

Zhang Ye spoke. Rather than falling into the inner struggle Mephisto had expected, he remained remarkably calm.

"I do not care about anyone’s misunderstandings, nor can I be bothered to explain myself. I want to save this universe because I want to do it. That is all."

"Hehehehehehahahaha."

Mephisto burst into laughter that was both mocking and sarcastic. Then he reined in his laughter, and his expression gradually turned solemn as he said seriously,

"The deal is made, but it is not enough. To carry out the plan you described, we need to bring in at least one more Dimension Lord."

"I know." Zhang Ye nodded, then dipped his head slightly toward Mephisto.

"As it happens, I have a key to another Hell Dimension’s security door. Want to come along and pay someone a visit?"