The Battle Begins

"Can this kid actually control space?"

The mysterious magician was somewhat surprised, but even more jealous—he had cultivated for over a decade before gaining the ability to control space within the Mirror Dimension. This was not a trick just anyone could use.

Then, the mysterious magician leaped up, using the Walter Speed Boots to walk through the air, before lashing his whip viciously at Strange.

Strange dodged the whip, flew in front of the mysterious magician with the aid of his cloak, and slashed fiercely at him with a Space Blade.

The mysterious magician transformed his whip into a Space Blade and engaged Strange in a fierce midair battle. The two exchanged blows, sparks flying everywhere as they fought intensely.

Every magician of Kamar-Taj was proficient in close combat. This setting was mainly to save on special effects costs—cough, cough—it was mainly to improve their chances of survival.

A magician who did not understand close combat was not a good magician.

Leaving Strange and the mysterious magician’s battle aside for the moment, Tony and the others were all stunned when Strange suddenly disappeared. At that moment, Viper shouted, "Tony Stark, surrender immediately, or we really will begin slaughtering people."

"Slaughter them! Slaughter them!"

The Demon God Believers shouted one after another, while the righteous side frowned. The man in the suit held his staff and shouted, "I will never allow you to slaughter people in New York."

"That’s right, absolutely not."

The fat man pulled out an axe and roared angrily—he was a Magic Berserker, so using an axe was perfectly reasonable.

The other magicians nodded as well. Viper shouted to the Grand Elder, "Grand Elder of Holy Light, force them to hand over Pepper first. After that, we’ll each rely on our own abilities to fight over the reincarnated Demon King."

"Our goal is to eliminate the reincarnated Demon King, not fight over him. We have never been allies with you."

The Grand Elder said coldly, "Viper, Iron Man and the others will not surrender. I think another method would be better."

Viper frowned and asked, "What method?"

The Grand Elder said, "Tony Stark, open the Defense Shield. Let us fight a decisive battle."

"This method is good."

The man in the suit and the others nodded one after another. Viper glanced at the Grand Elder, feeling that something was off about him.

It was not that the method was bad, but it clearly favored the Super Heroes. Furthermore, judging from the Grand Elder’s past actions, he should not have had any bottom line at all.

After thinking it over, Viper did not object, because she was full of confidence in the power of the gods.

"Again? What exactly was the point of building this Defense Shield?"

Tony wanted to curse. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Release the hostages first."

Viper snorted and withdrew the green gas. The terrified reporters immediately fled outside, while the bodyguards covered their noses and dragged the candidate out with them.

After everyone had escaped far away, Tony shut down the Defense Shield and said, "Then let’s begin. I’ll say this one last time: once the battle starts, I won’t hold back."

The man in the suit said, "Mr. Stark, since we came here, we were prepared not to make it back. I even bought insurance."

"Insurance? Then let’s begin."

Tony did not waste any more words. With a tap of his finger, a large number of Drone Armors flew out of the hospital. Together with the Drone Armors already outside, they raised Gatling guns and fired wildly at the righteous people and Demon God Believers.

In an instant, tens of thousands of metal bullets densely poured toward the enemy.

The magicians and Demon God Believers panicked somewhat, hurriedly dodging and defending. Only the Grand Elder and Viper remained calm, because they had anticipated this situation long ago.

Holy Light Barrier.

The Grand Elder raised his scepter high, and a wall formed from holy light descended, blocking every bullet.

"You do it."

Viper nodded at an Inhuman. The Inhuman pressed down with his right hand, and every metal bullet changed direction and shot into the ground.

That was not all. The Inhuman raised his hand and swept it toward three Drone Armors. The three Drone Armors simultaneously crashed into nearby Drone Armors. Bang! Bang! Bang! They all tumbled across the ground together.

"This kid can control magnetic fields. I’ll deal with him."

Electro immediately converted electricity into a magnetic field, disrupting the magnetic Inhuman’s control. Seeing this, the magnetic Inhuman controlled the surrounding metal and launched it fiercely at Electro.

Electro smiled disdainfully. Electricity flashed around his body, knocking away all the incoming metal. Then, he brought his hands together and blasted an enormous electrical current at the magnetic Inhuman.

The magnetic Inhuman was alarmed and hurriedly grabbed another Inhuman’s hand. That Inhuman turned both of them into phantoms. The current passed through their bodies and electrocuted a Demon God Believer behind them down to the bone.

Then, black smoke rose from the Demon God Believer’s entire body as he collapsed. Even in death, his eyes remained wide open. I was innocent.

"Attack! Wipe them out and seize the Demon King reincarnation!"

Viper shouted. The Demon God Believers cast their magic one after another, transforming demonic energy into dark fireballs, corrosive poison arrows, deadly icy blasts… all of which shot toward the Drone Armors and Super Heroes.

At the same time, the exoskeleton Enhanced Humans brought by Viper launched Micro Missiles at the Drone Armors in unison, while the Inhumans used their abilities nearby to protect them.

The Super Heroes and Drone Armors naturally retaliated fiercely. A great battle erupted, with bullets whistling and missiles exploding everywhere. It was like a battlefield.

"You are all guilty."

Damon swung his flaming chain at the Demon God Believers. In an instant, he sliced six of them in half at the waist. Then, the Demon God Believers swiftly turned to ash amid the intense heat.

Damon laughed proudly. He was a professional when it came to dealing with Demon God Believers. Just then, a scepter descended from the sky and transformed into a hollow Holy Mountain, imprisoning him within it.

Damon roared as Hellfire burned madly, trying to shatter the Holy Mountain. But the mountain was unexpectedly sturdy. Even Hellfire could not burn through it.

Then, the Grand Elder led the Holy Light Warriors and several recovered Reincarnated Angels to fly beside the Holy Mountain. They glanced at Damon and poured the holy light from their bodies into the Holy Mountain with all their strength.

The massive amount of holy light made Damon extremely uncomfortable. He roared and attacked with all his might, but the Holy Mountain remained unmoved. The reason was simple: the Grand Elder and his group were all burning their lives away.

Damon complained, "Can’t you use another move? God gave you life so you could burn it for fun?"

"We’ll hold back Ghost Rider. Deal with the Demon King reincarnation as quickly as possible."

The Grand Elder shouted loudly. The righteous people nodded and charged forward with all their strength. Viper frowned slightly. There was definitely something wrong with this Grand Elder.

Ghost Rider’s main targets were the Demon God Believers. There was no reason for the Grand Elder to go all out to suppress him. After all, the righteous people and the Demon God Believers did not share the same goal. It could even be said that their goals were completely opposite.

Once the Super Heroes were defeated, or Pepper appeared, the righteous people and Demon God Believers would certainly turn on each other.

Is he plotting something?

After thinking it over, Viper decided to wait and watch. No matter what, she could never have imagined that the Grand Elder was actually one of the Super Heroes’ own people.

Damon could not imagine it either. He was struggling desperately when Annie’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind. "Don’t waste time. Draw this holy light into your body and let it purify the demonic energy within you."

Damon was stunned. "Annie? What do you mean? And where are you?"

"I’m inside the Grand Elder’s body. I specifically arranged this situation for you."

Annie said, "Several dozen Holy Light Warriors, several angels, plus holy power accumulated over thousands of years—this is enough to purify the Spirit of Vengeance within you into an Avenging Angel. Then, you will no longer be controlled by the Spirit of Vengeance. More importantly, you will no longer fear sunlight."

"So I can transform even under sunlight?"

Damon was overjoyed. Then he thought of something and asked, "Annie, isn’t this too cruel to those Holy Light Warriors? They were tricked into sacrificing their lives."

"Holy Light Warriors may not be very smart, but their faith is firm. They want to protect the world and save humanity."

Annie said, "Tell me, which is truly the better deed: killing Tony’s child, or purifying the Spirit of Vengeance?"

"Of course it’s the latter. I may not be a perfect saint, but I’ve done a lot of good."

"That settles it, doesn’t it?"

Annie said, "Rather than letting them foolishly serve demons, it is better to let them contribute some strength to the world. It can also atone for their sins."

Damon nodded. "That does make sense. But Annie, you really don’t sound like an angel."

"I am an Avenging Angel. My mission is vengeance and punishment, not mercy."

Annie said, "Enough nonsense. Start absorbing the holy light and solve your problem once and for all."

"Fine."

Damon stopped talking, lowered his defenses, and began absorbing the holy light frantically. Then, he let out a miserable scream as black qi continuously rose from his body.

The Grand Elder shouted, "The holy light is working. Increase your power."

"Yes."

The Holy Light Warriors were greatly encouraged and exerted themselves with all their might. Damon’s cries grew even louder.

With Damon and Strange gone, the Demon God Believers used their abilities without restraint. Their magic all came from demons, making it especially evil. For instance, one Demon God Believer pulled hand after hand from his pocket and hurled them at the Drone Armors like grenades. They were incredibly powerful, capable of even blasting through Drone Armor.

Those hands were not props. They were real human hands, each filled with endless resentment.

In addition, some Demon God Believers took out small Altars and sacrificed human hearts on the spot, summoning demonic power that became black lightning and bombarded the Drone Armors.

Under Friday’s control, some Drone Armors raised large shields to defend, some fired energy beams at the enemy, and others advanced to fight the exoskeleton Enhanced Humans at close range. They were like a well-coordinated army, firmly holding the enemy back.

Iron Man and the other Super Heroes, meanwhile, each confronted the powerful opponents among the Demon God Believers. Iron Man faced Viper, Absorbing Man fought the fake-nosed believer, and Hellcat Trish rode the newly released Green Goblin Glider as she battled three flying Inhumans in the air.

As for Jessica, she had not come this time. The reason was simple: Wang Bert had sent her over to the Ravagers.

Besides Iron Man and the others, the three demons were also present. They each used their abilities to fight the Inhumans and Demon God Believers. Wind Demon was especially enthusiastic; he wanted to use the blood of these Demon God Believers to prove himself.

As one Demon God Believer controlled skulls to frantically suck up the surrounding air, he cursed loudly, "Wind Demon, you traitors!"

"Traitors?"

Wind Demon suddenly appeared behind the Demon God Believer and cut off his head with a single slash. Then he said disdainfully, "I may have fallen into demonhood, but I’ve never been to Hell. What the hell kind of traitor does that make me? I’m a genuine Earthling."

The entire hospital was completely plunged into chaotic battle. Both sides exchanged attacks and fought in a tangled mass. Drone Armors constantly exploded, while Enhanced Humans, Inhumans, and Demon God Believers continually died.

The commotion here was enormous, yet neither the police, the FBI, nor the military sent anyone over. They set up checkpoints beside the hospital and quietly waited for the battle’s outcome.

Many people among America’s upper ranks did not want the Demon King to be born.

Compared with the Demon God Believers and Enhanced Humans, the righteous people caused far less commotion. They used relatively ordinary elemental magic and had no intention of killing anyone as they continued breaking through toward the inside of the hospital.

Spider-Man led several dozen Drone Armors in blocking the magicians. He shouted, "Sorry, this road is closed."

The magicians hesitated as they looked at Spider-Man, who was immensely popular in New York and exceptionally kind. At that moment, a rather greasy-looking magician ran over and shouted, "Spider-Man, do you remember me?"

Spider-Man was stunned. "Huh? Aren’t you the uncle who sells hot dogs on the street every day? Last time, you even gave me a few hot dogs you couldn’t sell."

"That’s right, it’s me. Didn’t expect it, did you? I’m a magician."

The magician laughed heartily. While talking, he quietly approached Spider-Man. Spider-Man did not notice anything wrong and said, "I really didn’t expect that. Wait, were those hot dogs made with magic? Eating them felt like eating nothing. I was never full after having them."

The magician cursed, "Nonsense. If there were magic that could make hot dogs, I’d have gotten rich long ago. Why would I still set up a stall there every day?"

Spider-Man complained, "So if such a spell really existed, you would actually sell fake hot dogs?"

"Making money isn’t shameful."

The magician smiled. By then, he had reached Spider-Man. With a thought, a green ball flew from his chest and slammed toward Spider-Man at astonishing speed.

Spider-Man had not expected an old neighborhood acquaintance to plot against him. Although he dodged immediately, he was still too late and was struck directly by the green ball.

Then, the green ball transformed into a green net that trapped Spider-Man inside. Though Spider-Man struggled with all his strength, he could not break free. Instead, the net only tightened around him.

"Spider-Man!"

Harry was startled. He immediately transformed into Spider King and sprayed corrosive venom at the magician. At the same time, ten Drone Armors aimed their Gatling guns at the magician, preparing to give him a bullet bath.

"Don’t!"

Spider-Man hurriedly stopped the Drone Armors. Being kind-hearted, he did not want someone he knew to die.

The magician was frightened by Harry and hurriedly tried to dodge, but he was simply too late. Fortunately, the man in the suit raised his cane, and a Defense Shield appeared, blocking the venom.

The magician sighed in relief. He first nodded to the man in the suit in thanks, then said, "That was dangerous. Spider-Man, your best buddy can actually turn into a spider? You two really are made for each other."

"Who’s made for each other?"

Spider-Man said angrily, "You actually ambushed me?"

"We’re enemies now. Isn’t ambushing you perfectly natural?"

The magician said, "Stop struggling. The more you struggle, the tighter it gets. All right, my task is complete. I’m going back to selling hot dogs. Spider-Man, next time you come by, I’ll give you some unsold hot dogs as an apology."

"I’m not going anymore. You’re not a good person. Also, can’t you give me fresh ones?"

Spider-Man complained. Then, thinking of something, he asked in astonishment, "You’re leaving?"

"Yep. I don’t know any magic. I only have that Sacred Object. Now that I’ve used it, naturally I’m leaving."

The magician shrugged and turned to leave with an easy manner. Spider-Man and the others looked at one another. Was this some kind of child’s play?