Marvel: Starting as a Time Criminal, Stealing Powers

Wanda Mountain Range. The peak that was always hidden in mist had, at some point, become exposed to the real world. At its summit stood a da

Wanda Mountain Range.

The peak that was always hidden in mist had, at some point, become exposed to the real world.

At its summit stood a dark temple, emanating a faint dark red glow in the midst of a snowstorm—a presence that was both ominous and oppressive.

Inside the temple, the priest stationed in New York sat cross-legged on the ground. Before him lay dozens of candles and a dark, ancient tome placed at the center of a glowing magic circle.

At that very moment, the book spontaneously caught fire, burning rapidly until it turned to ash.

"Huh~"

Sweat dripped down the priest's forehead as he exhaled deeply.

"Stealing even a sliver of Chthon's dimensional energy... it's really no easy feat."

A voice suddenly echoed from behind:

"You're right."

"Next time, go for Dormammu. He's dumber and easier to rob."

Startled, the priest flinched violently.

Reacting quickly, he cloaked himself in swirling black smoke and ash—ready to teleport away.

"Tsk tsk. That hell-stench... you're one of Mephisto's lapdogs."

As the voice spoke, golden runes suddenly appeared out of thin air throughout the temple.

They morphed rapidly, forming a massive arcane cage shaped like two intersecting hands—trapping the fleeing smoke within their grasp.

The smoke transformed into a humanoid figure with goat-like pupils, dark red skin, a devilish tail, and—notably—two missing horns.

A half-demon.

It was Azazel, the red demon.

Shocked and furious, Azazel couldn't help but shout:

"Ancient One?! Impossible! The dimensional barrier was breached—why didn't you go to Xavier's School?!"

In this universe, Azazel was not a mutant.

At the temple door, the Ancient One pulled a knitted wool hat over his bald head, scrunching his neck down into his cloak.

"Getting old. Cold weather like this isn't for me. Why not pick a warmer place next time?"

"Anyway, I won't stop you from summoning."

Although he didn't answer directly, that single sentence made Azazel's face pale.

"You knew... from the beginning... that I was trying to steal Chthon's power?!"

"That's impossible!"

The Ancient One chuckled.

"Not quite. I just followed along to see what you were planning."

Still uneasy, Azazel pushed further:

"If you knew I was summoning the Black Magic God, why didn't you go to Xavier's School to intervene? If you don't, all of New York could become a part of Chthon's domain!"

The Ancient One raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you in such a rush to send me there?"

"Interesting... your eyes tell me I guessed right."

Azazel's pupils shrank. Black smoke laced with red sparks spewed from his mouth and nostrils as his body began to mutate, swelling with demonic energy.

No longer remotely human, he had become a full-blown demon.

His voice grew deep and coarse:

"If you won't leave, then you'll die here with me!"

He roared and slashed his claws through the golden cage, then dropped to one knee, plunging his hand into the ground.

RUMBLE!

A colossal black claw burst from beneath the mountain, seizing the entire temple peak.

"Tsk tsk... the last piece of the puzzle is finally in place."

Russell looked toward the woman surrounded by surging magical energy, a flaming sword in hand. His eyes lit up in realization.

When she tried to kill Professor X, something finally clicked.

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

Magik (Illyana Rasputin) raised her flaming sword with a cold glare.

"Step aside. Otherwise, I'll take you for a lackey of Chthon and kill you too!"

Storm quickly intervened:

"Mr. Russell! She's one of the X-Men! That's Illyana Rasputin—Colossus' sister. She was taken by demons and only just returned. She's not a villain!"

Magik glanced at Russell. After a pause, her expression softened slightly.

"I killed my demonic mentor in Limbo. I've been training there since. I never lost touch with Earth... but I came back because I sensed Chthon's power here."

Russell nodded and sighed:

"Makes sense. The hellish aura on you checks out."

"But..."

He suddenly paused, eyes narrowing as he stared into hers. The blue magical glow in Magik's eyes reflected something deeper.

A few seconds later, Russell said:

"It's just... all too convenient."

"A ritual occurs at the academy. Though it's interrupted, Chthon still had a backup to manifest. As if his descent was inevitable."

"Then you return from Limbo, join the Sorcerer Supreme, kill Professor X, and seamlessly reintegrate into our world."

Russell turned to Mystique, smiling:

"How's that for a plot twist?"

Magik's expression didn't change, but the flames on her sword burned fiercer.

She pointed the blade at Russell.

"Are you saying... you're the Sorcerer Supreme now?"

"Then I have every reason to suspect you're colluding with Mephisto to devour the Earth!"

Russell didn't answer. He simply laughed.

"Your plan's airtight. If I weren't in this world, you might've succeeded."

"But unfortunately, I'm not the Sorcerer Supreme. And the Ancient One never came."

"The power I left in Professor X's body told me clearly: Chthon's energy didn't come from here. It came through real-space—its true summoning point was elsewhere."

"Back then, I was confused. Until you showed up... and then everything made sense."

Mystique may not have fully understood the intricacies of demonic summoning.

But after Russell's explanation, she realized one thing:

This Magik in front of them... was definitely not who she claimed to be.

All of this felt far too coincidental, as if an invisible hand had been pushing events forward from behind the scenes.

Yet even so, Magik's expression remained unchanged, completely unaffected.

She looked as if none of it had anything to do with her.

That was until Russell tilted his head, as if hearing something faint.

Then he turned to Magik and grinned.

"Mephisto, your red-skinned pawn has been exposed."

The moment those words fell, all the nearby Mutants gasped in horror.

Mephisto!

Satan himself, the devil from the Bible!

A name legendary enough to send chills down anyone's spine — far more terrifying than some obscure dark magic god like Chthon.

Some of the more timid students immediately tried to flee in panic.

Magik didn't even glance at them. The energy on her flaming longsword dissipated as she casually tossed it aside. Her aura calmed.

She sighed deeply, voice filled with resignation:

"Looks like the Ancient One is already dealing with Azazel."

"What a pity. I was so close."

"I expected the ritual to be interrupted — the fate of these Mutants is too unique. So I prepared a backup. Even if the ceremony failed, I'd still be able to extract some of Chthon's dimensional energy. My master and I only wanted a deal."

"I also suspected the Ancient One would kill the contaminated host directly, so I rushed over."

"But out of everything I planned for… I didn't account for you."

She looked at Russell now, her tone curious.

"You…"

"Who are you?"

"You shouldn't exist in this timeline."

The magical energy faded from her eyes, revealing demonic amber irises.

The watching Mutants paled.

Li Ganhuan immediately grabbed Rogue and bolted toward the exit.

She didn't want to stick around and die just from looking at something she shouldn't.

But at that very moment, a fiery ring appeared around half of Xavier's School — a circle of golden flames.

Several Mutants reached the edge of the flame and tried to dash through — but the moment they touched it, their flesh disintegrated into ash, and their souls were torn from their bodies, devoured by the hellfire.

The horrifying sight caused the remaining students to freeze in despair, feeling like they were already in hell.

Still, Mystique didn't move.

For some reason, she didn't even try to break free.

Something in her heart told her to stay — to find out who Russell really was.

The X-Men around her stood firm as well, despite knowing they were likely doomed.

They were Mutants.

And they weren't afraid to die.

Mephisto's voice echoed again:

"My time is limited. Azazel won't keep the Ancient One busy for long. I must kill you before she arrives."

"Tell me your origin, and I'll reserve you a place in hell."

In the Marvel comics canon, the soul of an ordinary person doesn't always fall into hell — but anyone killed by a demon? Their soul is guaranteed to be dragged down.

Russell suddenly laughed — bold and carefree.

Facing the Lord of Hell himself, he showed no fear.

"Tell me something," Russell said meaningfully, "is it possible that I'm actually stronger than that guy?"

Mephisto's laughter died.

As someone who excelled at reading lies and manipulating emotions, Mephisto could sense no deception in Russell's voice or face.

That… was the most terrifying part.

Seeing Mephisto's expression, Russell's grin widened.

"Kamar-Taj's records on Mephisto are clear."

"Dimensional Lords like Mephisto are heavily suppressed by the real dimension."

"They cannot manifest their true bodies here — only descend via avatars, incarnations, or indirect energy projection."

"And those manifestations have strict limits. Their power can never reach the cosmic level. If it exceeds a certain threshold, they simply can't enter."

"Especially Earth — it has its own dimensional barrier."

Each sentence from Russell made Magik — or rather Mephisto — frown deeper and deeper.

Finally, Russell smirked mockingly.

"So, tell me, mighty Mephisto — how much dimensional energy did you bring with that vessel this time?"

Mephisto's face turned pitch-black with rage.

There was nothing he hated more than being checkmated.

And this time, his opponent clearly held the better hand.

So — he refused to play anymore.

A burst of blazing blue hellfire erupted around him as he attempted to tear open a portal back to the edges of hell.

But just then, the sound of shattering glass echoed.

The flaming ring was sliced into dozens of fragments, spiraling away like serpents.

Before the gateway to hell could fully form, it was completely severed — the connection cut off.

It wasn't just Mephisto's corner — every Mutant around Xavier's School suddenly saw the world go mad.

It twisted.

It fractured.

It flowed like water.

In mere seconds, the entire landscape changed dramatically!

The courtyard fountain now floated upside-down in midair.

The castle's front facade had been cleaved open, exposing endless repeating rooms spiraling into infinity.

The grass rolled like waves.

The road twisted underground into unknown depths.

Then — a crisp snap echoed.

Everyone blinked.

And suddenly, they found themselves in isolated rooms.

There was nothing in front of them… but when they reached out, they touched invisible walls.

They had become like tiny people trapped in a dollhouse.

In the next room, Mystique and Storm looked at each other — both wide-eyed, stunned.

They didn't know what this power was.

They only felt goosebumps prickling every inch of their skin.

Mephisto sighed, then turned toward Russell and said:

"This level of shapeshifting mirror dimension…"

"Looks like the Sorcerer Supreme has a successor."

"Congratulations, Ancient One."

"…But I hate surprises."

That final word boomed like thunder.

And suddenly, Mephisto's body expanded — rapidly — until he became a giant.

In a flash, he stood over 100 meters tall.

He raised his arm, conjuring massive blue flames, and hurled them straight at the castle.

Targeting the innocent.

A devil always strikes at the weak first.

Sure enough, Russell appeared before the flames, seemingly preparing to defend.

But the next second, Mephisto froze.

Because Russell didn't block the flames.

He absorbed them.

The demonic hellfire flowed into him like water into a sponge.

Russell exhaled comfortably, as if enjoying the sensation.

If it had been only the Fire Mutant's powers, this would've been impossible.

But Russell had another identity.

The God of Fire.

With the Fire Mutant's gene entry and his godly nature, he devoured the demonic flames and turned them into his own power.

Honestly, if Mephisto had kept feeding him, Russell would've gladly accepted.

The Mutants trapped in the castle — who moments ago were terrified of a sea of fire — could only stare in disbelief.

The infernal flames that made their very souls tremble…

Were absorbed by Russell as if they were nothing?

And from his expression… he enjoyed it?

It was outrageous.

Even Mephisto couldn't believe what he saw.

He had brought only a limited amount of dimensional energy to stay hidden.

That single attack just now?

It had consumed nearly a tenth of it.

Cursing a vile phrase in a demonic tongue, Mephisto summoned a massive hellblade and slashed it toward the "despicable human" who dared look so smug.

"Oh? Angry already?"

Russell chuckled.

His joy seemed to grow the more Mephisto raged.

With a single gesture, a glowing arcane shield formed in front of him — intricate runes swirling across its surface.

The giant sword struck it, unleashing a deafening boom.

A shockwave rippled across the space, distorting everything nearby.

Mephisto growled.

Then his eyes turned pitch-black.

For a heartbeat, everything went dark.

When the world lit up again, the sky had turned blood-red.

Lava flowed across the ground.

Volcanoes erupted in every direction.

The strange dreamlike mirror world had been replaced by… hell.

Real, burning, screaming hell.

And Mephisto now stood fully transformed — his true form towering above the world like a nightmare come to life.

The students inside the castle could only stare, frozen.

Their eyes trembled uncontrollably.

Even the senior X-Men found themselves paralyzed by sheer dread.

Mephisto grinned.

He could feel their terror.

And with fear, his power grew.

But before he could act again, a voice — clear, confident, and laced with mockery — echoed across the warped landscape.

"Oh? So you finally brought out your illusions, Mephisto?"

"If you love playing tricks that much…"

"…Why not take a look at mine?"

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