Mephisto was about to refuse, but after a moment's thought, he changed his tune. "I'll sign, but I have conditions."
"Name them," Charlie said with a smile.
The old devil's trying to trick me.
Mephisto conjured his own contract. "I'll give you half my Hell, but you give me half your divine domain."
He continued, "Think about it. My Hell has been built up over countless years. Its power is beyond your imagination. Your domain's just a half-baked prototype. It's a fair trade." His honest smile left Charlie speechless.
After all these years, Mephisto's scams were still so blunt.
"Sure!" Charlie agreed.
To Mephisto's astonishment, Charlie consented almost instantly.
He'd expected a long debate to convince him, not an immediate agreement.
Now he had to wonder if Charlie was plotting something.
As Mephisto hesitated, Charlie shrugged. "What? Changed your mind about the domain swap?"
"Of course not," Mephisto said quickly. "I need to refine my contract. Give me a moment."
He turned, adding clauses to prevent Spider-Man from cheating.
After all, Spider-Man had a history.
Charlie let him tinker with the contract.
Honestly, the half-finished divine domain wasn't his priority. Without the twelve talismans, the underground world was just a decoration. Losing it to Mephisto wouldn't hurt.
But Mephisto's Hell was different. Even half of it would give Charlie a massive power boost.
Mephisto's plan to trade half his Hell for half a divine domain was likely a scheme to swallow Charlie's entire domain through that half.
He was betting Charlie, as a new god, didn't know the ropes.
As a veteran Hell Lord, Mephisto's mastery of domains far outstripped the rookie Spider-Man.
He was confident he could devour Charlie's half-finished domain with only half his Hell, then reclaim his half before Charlie figured out how to use it.
A no-loss deal.
Everyone knows Mephisto never takes a loss.
But he didn't know that both Fin Fang Foom and Future Jade understood "godhood" far better than Charlie.
From them, Charlie, though a new god, had grasped the basic rules of divine dealings.
Mephisto wanted to devour his domain? Charlie wanted it more.
While he wasn't guaranteed success, trading a half-finished domain for a shot at devouring Hell was a steal.
Everyone knows Spider-Man never takes a loss.
So, the old trickster and the young trickster exchanged smiles and signed the domain-swap contract.
If other gods knew you could play like this, they'd call it genius.
Mephisto, ignoring honor, deceived a young, helpless new god.
The cunning new god turned the tables and signed the deal.
The contract took effect, splitting into two beams of light that sank into their foreheads.
Then, Mephisto and Charlie each relinquished control of half their domains.
When Charlie received a demon horn burning with Hellfire, a cryptic smile crossed his lips.
This was the key to half of Hell.
Mephisto, meanwhile, let his Hellfire illuminate half of Charlie's half-finished domain, his smile faintly sinister.
In the underground world, as forests were engulfed by Hellfire, Totem Steve fled desperately on the outskirts.
"Ahh!! Spider-Man, get me out!!"
"Damn it, I'm lost again!"
No one cared.
Having lived there awhile, Totem Steve had become half a wildman.
Back in Hell, after Charlie and Mephisto completed their trade, Charlie left with the soul Mephisto retrieved.
It wasn't time to turn on each other yet.
Mephisto felt the same.
He needed a moment to plan how to catch Spider-Man off guard.
Watching Charlie leave, Mephisto couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Hahaha, poor insect! Once I devour your domain, your power will be mine!!"
Poor Spider-Man didn't know that losing a divine domain meant losing the chance to ever become a god again.
It wasn't just the domain at stake.
A half-finished domain was still a domain.
But a sudden cold laugh shattered his fantasy.
"Mephisto, congratulations."
"Who's there?!"
Mephisto, mid-laugh, jumped at the voice. Turning, he saw an unremarkable human girl smirking at him.
His heart skipped. When did she get here?
He hadn't sensed her at all.
Impossible!
Even Spider-Man's arrival in Hell would've been detected instantly.
This girl… wasn't simple.
Mephisto went on high alert.
The girl crossed her arms, smiling. "Just a passing Jade. Remember that!"
With that, Future Jade's eyes glowed eerily, her body erupting with a terrifying aura akin to Hell's power.
Instantly, the entire—no, half—Hell was engulfed by this aura. The Hell Volcano fell silent, and the world plunged into absolute darkness.
Every soul in Hell lost their senses, except Mephisto, whose faint Hellfire flickered weakly in the dark.
"Damn it, what is this power?!" Mephisto roared with effort.
In the darkness, Future Jade, clad in a flowing black dress, exuded cold dominance. Her skirt billowed without wind. She stepped gracefully onto a shadowy throne, summoning dark elves wreathed in eerie flames with a wave of her hand.
The dark elves circled Mephisto's Hellfire, as if inspecting something amusing.
Mephisto was powerless.
With half his Hell gone, he was completely suppressed by Future Jade.
With his full Hell, he wouldn't be this pathetic.
As if sensing his resentment, Future Jade's eyes dripped with disdain. "If you were at full strength, I wouldn't have dared come here. Too bad you thought you were clever, giving half your Hell to Spider-Man. You've lost your chance to devour his domain."
"What?" Mephisto's face fell. "How did you know—"
Future Jade's lips curled. "Because I convinced Spider-Man to devour your Hell. He didn't succeed, so I had to do it myself."
In Mephisto's horrified gaze, Future Jade unleashed a dark vortex. The familiar power within it stunned him.
"What? That's Hell's power!!"
"Impossible!!"
In the dark Hell vortex, Mephisto's flame form vanished, and half his Hell was mercilessly consumed.
When it was done, Future Jade dispelled the dark energy. The Hell Volcano roared back to life, unchanged from before.
She had fully claimed Mephisto's half-Hell and snatched Spider-Man's half-domain.
She used the Hell power from her own world—the one that once sealed the eight demons.
Only Hell's power could devour another Hell so quickly.
This was her, Future Jade, the true Hell Queen!
Across the infinite multiverse, Mephisto's surviving fragments received news of Hell's theft and froze in place.
As long as his fragments endured, Mephisto wouldn't truly die.
In one universe, Mephisto reformed in a city alley, cursing furiously to vent his rage and resentment.
Half an hour later, he slumped against a wall, tears streaming.
Sniffle "That wretched woman stole an old man's home! What am I supposed to do?!"
Losing his entire Hell dimension, and with the half-finished domain also taken, he'd lost his chance to be a god again.
Now, he was just an ordinary demon, scraping by on soul trades.
If other demon lords found out, he'd be too ashamed to live.
Imagining a bleak future, Mephisto sat on the ground, sobbing and pounding his legs. Passersby cast sympathetic glances.
…
Meanwhile, things weren't going great for Aaron!
Back in the main world, Charlie returned Xu Wenwu's wife's soul to him.
How to give the soul a body wasn't his problem.
What drove Aaron to despair was the "odd" looks from the man and ghost before him.
He'd never met his so-called parents, with no memory of them.
Now, he had a villain dad and a ghostly mom.
His life was a mess.
Under Jade and Old Man's teasing, he was dragged back to the Ten Rings to inherit the family business and live as a happy rich kid.
Sniffle "Never thought I'd reach the peak of life like this."
Aaron left, vowing, "I'll be back!"
Jade and Old Man left too. With the twelve talismans collected, they were done with S.H.I.E.L.D.
They wanted to return to their antique shop.
Training was too exhausting!
Amid Wakanda's national farewell, Charlie left.
Before he went, T'Challa gave him a card—a personal sponsorship for Spider-Man.
Not bad for a king. He gets it.
With that, Charlie returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. with a fortune.
"That's the story. I didn't pocket a single cent," Charlie declared righteously in the meeting room.
"I absolutely believe Spider-Man!" Old Steve raised his hand. "Anyone who doubts him is a Hydra spy!"
Everyone: "…"
Peggy Carter rolled her eyes. "I didn't even ask, and you're already explaining. Looks like you really didn't stash any cash."
Her words hit the truth.
Charlie wasn't embarrassed.
Tony didn't care if Spider-Man hid money. He just eyed the black-clad girl behind him, curious. "She looks familiar. Jade's sister?"
Charlie glanced at Future Jade and jumped. "No way! When did you get here?" He patted his chest.
Future Jade shrugged. "I followed you in. You didn't notice me, did you?" she asked, hands on hips.
Charlie waved frantically. "Of course not! I just didn't see you."
"Then the consequences will be severe."
"No, sorry, let me rephrase."
"Stop talking."
"Heh, gladly."
"You—"
Future Jade fumed. Carter frowned.
They seemed awfully close.
No way—S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sacred, serious halls couldn't have this flirty nonsense!
"Ahem, you haven't introduced her!" Carter interrupted.
Before Charlie could speak, Future Jade introduced herself. "I'm Spider-Man's personal assistant, Jade's sister. Call me Big Jade."
Charlie: "…"
Damn, she knows I can afford an assistant's salary!
Careless.
Carter's brows furrowed. "Jade doesn't have a sister. You're lying."
Future Jade didn't flinch, meeting Carter's gaze. "In the records, Captain Carter is the Frozen Hero, not the Resurrection Hero. What do you think?"
Carter's eyes narrowed, sensing the challenge.
She didn't back down. "I've already picked an assistant for Charlie. You can leave," she said coldly.
Future Jade spread her hands. "Sorry, that's not your call."
"I say it is."
Carter stood, glaring at Charlie threateningly.
"Can I?" she asked with a forced smile.
Charlie: "…"
"You can't!" Future Jade yanked Charlie's face toward her.
"She can't, right?" she smirked, squinting.
Charlie: "…"
Look, your personal drama doesn't need my vote, does it?
Women are scary.
Girls too.
He forced an awkward smile. "You two figure it out! My house is on fire—I'm out, bye~"
He bolted.
Old Steve followed. "Little Spider, wait! I'll help put out the fire…"
…
Ten minutes later, Bleecker Street.
Amid the crowd, Charlie stared at his house engulfed in flames, speechless.
His home was actually on fire.
"Who did this?!"
Behind him, J. Jonah Jameson took the spotlight, facing the camera.
"Hey, folks, it's Bleecker Street, live at the fire! I'm your pal Jonah. You're probably wondering why a star like me is reporting, but don't wonder yet—the fire's still raging, and the trucks aren't here…"
Before he could finish, Eddie snatched the mic.
"Boss, don't steal my job. This isn't how live reporting works."
Eddie shoved Jonah aside, adopting a professional tone. "This is Bleecker Street, fire scene. I'm Eddie, reporting. After investigation, a suspicious figure was spotted nearby before the fire. We checked local surveillance and found—wait, sir, don't interrupt our broadcast."
Eddie tried to stop Charlie, but Old Steve hoisted him into the air.
"Whoa, old man, you look familiar," Eddie said, thrilled, as if seeing an old friend.
Charlie, watching the footage of the old figure near the fire, darkened.
"Mephisto, I'm gonna take you down!!"
He roared to the sky.