Interesting.
Mephisto's expression registered subtle surprise, his half-smile never quite reaching his eyes.
Beside him, Dormammu's gaze intensified, focusing on Strange with undisguised contempt. The Lord of the Dark Dimension found the mortal's audacity genuinely perplexing.
What manner of insignificant creature dares demand contractual agreements from beings of our stature?
His assessment shifted, however, as he observed Strange's hands resting deliberately on the table's surface. The sling ring adorning the sorcerer's right hand pulsed with unmistakable mystical energy—a concentrated reservoir of aggressive power, primed for instantaneous deployment.
The mortal was prepared for confrontation despite overwhelming disadvantage. Either supremely confident or profoundly foolish—possibly both.
"Your Excellency Mephisto," Strange addressed the demon lord with calculated formality. "Kamar-Taj grows increasingly formidable, making our alliance with you potentially valuable to all parties."
He maintained unwavering eye contact. "Despite your historically questionable reputation, our previous contractual arrangement created a foundation for mutual trust. The document serves as reciprocal assurance."
Strange's expression hardened slightly. "Surely you harbor no intention of violating these established parameters?"
Mephisto studied Strange's azure eyes with penetrating intensity, deliberately placing both hands on the table with fingers interlaced—a gesture mirroring Strange's own positioning.
After prolonged, strategic silence, he redirected his attention toward David. "You've neglected to introduce your associate properly," he observed with deceptive casualness. "How should one address him?"
Before David could formulate response, Strange intervened decisively. "Stephenson Strange, acting as fallen sorcerer representative regarding prospective cooperative destabilization efforts."
His tone acquired subtle edge. "Though I increasingly question whether Lord Mephisto maintains genuine interest in substantive discussion."
Simultaneously, Strange transmitted telepathic message directly to David: Chief, Mephisto's intentions appear transparently hostile. By bringing Dormammu unannounced despite existing contractual obligations, he clearly intends leveraging superior power dynamics.
Conforming to their established framework guarantees disadvantageous outcomes. We must maintain unified resistance to prevent complete tactical subordination.
David acknowledged Strange's assessment with imperceptible confirmation signal. His analysis precisely aligned with David's own conclusion—Mephisto had deliberately introduced Dormammu without prior consultation, fundamentally altering previously established power equilibrium.
How to proceed? David considered their limited options.
"Ah, Strange, is it?" Mephisto interjected with artificial nonchalance before his tone abruptly hardened. "Your leader maintains conspicuous silence. Your presumption exceeds your authority."
He shifted focus toward David with dismissive gesture. "David, exercise appropriate control over your subordinate before unfortunate disappearance befalls him."
David maintained strategic silence, allowing events to unfold according to emerging dynamics.
Strange seized this opening without hesitation. "Disappearance indeed," he retorted with deliberate provocation. "I recall similar boasts from your previous incarnation before encountering Lockhart."
"Such magnificent arrogance preceding such spectacular capitulation," he continued mercilessly. "This newly recruited 'ally' demonstrated comparable hubris, promising Lockhart's decisive defeat."
Strange's expression conveyed theatrical disdain. "Results proved rather embarrassing, wouldn't you agree?"
"Virtually immediate surrender occurred," he continued relentlessly. "Whichever incarnation you dispatched demonstrated remarkable skill—specifically in genuflection."
Strange's verbal assault functioned as precisely calibrated blade, causing Mephisto's expression to freeze with barely contained fury.
Despite their caustic delivery, Strange's assertions reflected undeniable reality. Mephisto's confrontation with Lockhart had concluded with minimal resistance before dreamscape manipulation and subsequent defeat.
The demon lord remained unaware that Lockhart had additionally extracted significant memory fragments—a violation that would likely trigger apocalyptic rage should he discover it.
Dormammu registered genuine surprise at this revelation. Lockhart's development apparently exceeded anticipated parameters. While Mephisto's incarnation represented merely fractional power projection, its defeat by conventional sorcerer defied reasonable expectation.
The dimensional lord's interest intensified. Perhaps this explained Mephisto's unprecedented solicitation of alliance.
Perceiving Mephisto's deteriorating composure, Strange intensified his offensive. "Chief, I previously expressed reservations regarding extradimensional entity reliability."
"Mephisto's performance against Lockhart suggested deliberate underperformance rather than genuine effort. No alternative explanation justifies such comprehensive failure."
Strange gestured dismissively. "Our contractual arrangement appears increasingly ceremonial rather than substantive."
"Kamar-Taj alone demonstrates sufficient power to render Mephisto ineffectual. With Asgard's recent arrival, we should consider ourselves fortunate if Mephisto doesn't actively undermine our position."
This calculated provocation produced visible reaction—Mephisto's eyebrows rising sharply at the unexpected mention of Asgardian involvement.
Asgard's presence on Earth? The implications cascaded through Mephisto's consciousness. Clearly, substantial developments had occurred during his brief absence.
Before Mephisto could formulate appropriate response, Strange stood abruptly, grasping David's arm as though preparing immediate departure.
David exhibited no resistance to this initiative, his expression suggesting receptiveness to Strange's assessment.
Recognizing imminent alliance dissolution, Mephisto intervened hastily. "Patience, David," he urged with forced cordiality.
"And you, Master Strange," he added with evident effort, "please remain seated for proper discussion."
Sensing potential leverage restoration, David finally broke his calculated silence. "Strange, your observations, while valid, perhaps exceed diplomatic boundaries."
He gestured toward their seats. "Let us continue negotiations appropriately. Despite recent complications, our historical cooperation against Kamar-Taj merits consideration."
With David's apparent mediation, Strange resumed his seat with deliberate composure, maintaining unwavering scrutiny of both extradimensional entities.
When their gazes connected, Strange exhibited neither apprehension nor subservience—an anomalous reaction that further piqued Dormammu's curiosity. Strange merely retrieved his coffee, sipping with apparent indifference to the cosmic powers observing him.
Exhale.
Inwardly, Strange released profound tension while simultaneously experiencing unexpected exhilaration. Navigating psychological warfare against two dimensional lords represented unprecedented challenge—simultaneously terrifying and intoxicating.
Lifting his gaze, Strange reassumed cold skepticism, deliberately projecting suspicion and latent hostility.
Mephisto, noting this persistent antagonism, strategically redirected attention toward David—clearly the more amenable negotiation partner based on established history.
"David, your urgent communication suggests specific purpose," Mephisto observed, deliberately avoiding immediate inquiry regarding Asgardian presence despite burning curiosity.
David's gaze shifted toward Dormammu, his silence communicating unmistakable concern regarding the unanticipated participant.
Their existing contract with Mephisto established certain behavioral parameters the demon lord wouldn't openly violate. However, Dormammu remained entirely unbounded by such restrictions. Should information regarding the Celestial embryo reach him, nothing prevented independent action—potentially including direct acquisition of the captive Eternals.
"Mephisto, request your associate's absence," Strange declared with surprising authority. "Discussions proceed exclusively between contracted allies."
His complete disregard for Dormammu's increasingly hostile attention demonstrated either extraordinary courage or profound recklessness.
Mephisto recognized the impossible position this created. Dismissing Dormammu at a mortal's demand represented unthinkable capitulation that would irreparably damage interdimensional standing.
From Mephisto's perspective, Dormammu represented peer-level entity—unlike these fallen sorcerers, whose significance derived primarily from fortunate positioning rather than intrinsic power.
Furthermore, Dormammu's temperament made accommodating such presumptuous demands utterly inconceivable. The notion that cosmic entity would withdraw at mortal insistence bordered on delusional.
Impasse materialized—Mephisto maintaining diplomatic silence, Dormammu remaining motionless, Strange projecting implacable indifference, and David observing with calculated reserve.
The standoff stretched into uncomfortable duration.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
Overwhelming thunder-infused magical energy radiated throughout their immediate vicinity, shattering the dimensional barriers Mephisto had established around their meeting.
The unmistakable signature of Asgardian power manifested with devastating clarity.
Thor had arrived.
From within his mystical prison, the real Doctor Strange observed these developments with mounting confusion and alarm. The unexpected addition of Thor to this already volatile mixture of cosmic powers created a potentially catastrophic confrontation.
This can't be coincidence, Strange realized with growing certainty. Grindelwald has engineered this precise convergence of forces.
The dark wizard's manipulations had reached new heights of complexity—simultaneously positioning Mephisto, Dormammu, the fallen sorcerers, and now Thor himself into direct confrontation, while Kamar-Taj and the Eternals remained entangled in separate but connected conflicts.
Whatever Grindelwald truly seeks with the Celestial embryo, Strange thought with mounting dread, he's creating the perfect diversion by orchestrating a conflict between some of the most powerful entities in the multiverse.