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"Prince Blackheart, stay safe," Hus stepped forward, smiling.

"Hus!" Blackheart recognized him, but their relationship was clearly strained.

"Did Mephisto hire you again?" Hus asked coldly, fists clenched.

"No, I'm not here on anyone's behalf this time, and I may not be in the future. Certainly not Mephisto," Hus replied calmly. "I'm here to borrow your dimensional gateway."

Black Heart bristled at his tone. "Can you just borrow it at will? I am a member of Satan, and this territory belongs to me! Besides, Hus, we still have unsettled business from last time."

"I'm not here to borrow it for myself. It's for them," Hus gestured towards the army of evil spirits behind him.

Norbert Kyle rode forward on his warhorse, locking eyes with blackheart, his gaze burning with hellfire. "Although you are a devil, I have consulted God. If He does not forbid me, I will spare your life. The condition is that you open your portal and allow us to leave Hell."

"..."

Black Heart was at a loss for words. Emotionally, as the lord of this realm, he wanted to assert his dignity and refuse outright. However, facing the Ghost Rider before him, he knew he stood no chance.

With hundreds of ghost knights behind him, a refusal would likely mean instant annihilation.

"He seems unwilling," Hus remarked when blackheart didn't respond. "Actually, given some time, I could activate the Hellgate myself."

"I... I didn't say I disagree!" blackheart stammered.

"So you agree?" asked Norbert Kyle.

"Obviously. You are free from Zatanus' control. As an enemy of Satan's Council, I am willing to assist you," Black Heart affirmed.

"Excellent," Norbert Kyle nodded.

Hus laughed loudly, clapping Heixin hard on the shoulder. "Haha, esteemed Highness blackheart, you are quite the coward."

"Alright, open the Hellgate."

Blackheart took a deep breath, leaving the ruined palace to approach a dark stone monument shortly after.

Hus looked at Forseti and Norbert Kyle. "Where do you want to teleport? This tablet is linked to Earth; you can use it to open the Hellgate anywhere on the planet."

"Anywhere," said Norbert Kyle.

Forseti pondered briefly. "Antarctic Hearth Valley."

"The Hearth Valley?"

Forseti observed the Earth map engraved on the stone tablet. The map was distorted but still a recognizable projection, accurately displaying relative positions of various regions.

After a moment's consideration, Forseti pointed to a location. "Here."

Hus nodded. "Let's begin, Your Highness Blackheart."

Black Heart commenced the incantation, activating the stone tablet. A faint light gathered, creating ripples in the surrounding space.

Suddenly, three terrifying figures swooped down from the distant sky, causing everyone to tense.

"Mephisto!" Black Heart exclaimed.

Moments later, three blood-red figures appeared in the sky: Mephisto, Asmodeus, and Beelzebub, the three lords of Hell.

"My son," Mephisto addressed Black Heart, smiling as he glanced at the stone tablet. "I'm genuinely surprised. You still possess such a valuable artifact. No wonder the army of evil spirits found you."

Blackheart gritted his teeth, unable to hide his resentment towards his father.

"Mephisto, what is the meaning of your presence here?" Norbert Kyle demanded sternly.

Mephisto responded, "Ghost Knights, I fail to comprehend why you are leaving Hell. After being imbued with Hellfire by Zatanos, you've essentially become demons."

Norbert Kyle countered, "No, we uphold justice. We belong to Heaven, and Hellfire is merely our tool."

"Angels see it differently. They won't tolerate the lingering demonic aura on you," Mephisto stated. "Hell is a more fitting abode for you."

"You are Hell's most formidable legion. You revel in battle, relishing the opportunity to slaughter demons," Asmodeus added. "Join us, Ghost Rider. You will be as powerful as ever, and we won't constrain your freedom as Zatanos did, let alone manipulate your mind."

In truth, after millennia in Hell infused with Hellfire by Zatanus, not all Ghost Riders still revered Heaven and steadfastly believed in God.

Thus, some Ghost Riders wavered after the three Hell lords' persuasion, whispering among themselves.

"Is there still a place for us in Heaven?"

"God, why won't you answer us?"

Norbert Kyle snorted dismissively. "Mephisto, abandon your foolish notions! God will not forsake us, and we will not abandon God."

At that moment, Blackheart interjected, "It would be best if a few of you helped me inject energy into the stone tablet together. This will expedite the portal's opening."

Initially compelled to assist the Ghost Legion, Blackheart's sentiments shifted upon Mephisto's arrival.

Upon hearing this, Mephisto's expression darkened slightly. "Black Heart, I granted you life, yet you never showed gratitude."

"Grant me life?" Blackheart retorted sarcastically. "Typical of you, Mephisto. You 'grant' someone a gift before they even exist."

"Perhaps I should revoke that 'gift' of life," Mephisto threatened coldly.

Blackheart remained silent, focusing solely on casting spells. Several ghost knights also joined, channeling Hellfire energy into the stone tablet.

Observing this, the three Hell lords launched an immediate assault. Intense demonic energies brewed and surged towards the army of evil spirits.

The Evil Knights braced for battle, hundreds of chains circling in the sky transformed into round shields. Fiery Hellfire illuminated the vast sky overhead.

"Boom!"

The round shield suddenly shattered, but the hundreds of chains that composed it swiftly reconfigured, converging in one direction. Overwhelming the sky, they surged towards the three Hell lords in unison.

In that critical moment, Forseti gestured, directing the Hand of Reckoning towards Asmodeus and Beelzebub.

Though intended to counter the surging chains, Asmodeus and Beelzebub were caught off guard by the Hand of Reckoning, momentarily losing their focus.

This lapse allowed them to be ensnared by over a hundred chains, Hellfire blazing along the bindings, burning ferociously.

"Damn it!" The two Hell lords struggled furiously, the chains tightening and slackening in their confrontation with the army of evil spirits, their agitation palpable.

Mephisto evaded the chains, noticing Forseti. Swirling around, he conjured a blood-red glow in his hands, hurling it towards him.

"Boom!" Forseti raised a light shield, but Mephisto's attack shattered it with a deafening roar.

Though taken aback, Forseti wasn't entirely surprised. As the renowned demon lord of Hell, Mephisto wielded formidable power.

Casting a glance at Black Heart, Forseti inwardly calculated. Fortunately, the portal's opening pace remained steady. It wouldn't be long before they secured it, allowing them to depart Hell.

Once on Earth, the three Hell lords wouldn't dare recklessly pursue them. Even if they did, Forseti felt no fear.

Until then, he and the Ghost Riders needed to prevent the three Hell lords from sabotaging the portal.

With most Ghost Riders binding Asmodeus and Beelzebub, Forseti found himself tasked with restraining Mephisto alongside the remaining Ghost Riders.

At that moment, Mephisto drew a pitch-black twisted blade, weaving through the ranks of evil spirit knights. Each touched by the blade's darkness was swiftly obliterated.

In a blink, Mephisto moved to charge towards his son, Blackheart.

Yet, Forseti intervened just in time, wielding the fiery hand of Saffron, brandishing the Demon Slayer Sword in a swift strike against Mephisto.