"You're saying this wasn't your doing?" Robert asked Constantine with evident surprise. He then added curiously, "So, what are you planning here? Capturing dimensional beings to study them? Preparing for an offensive against their dimensions?"
At Robert's words, a strange silence fell over Kamar-Taj. None of the students responded, yet they were clearly communicating with one another—not through words or telepathy, but with meaningful glances. This unexpected behavior puzzled Robert.
"What is the meaning of this?" Robert frowned, his gaze sweeping across the Kamar-Taj students.
Once again, no one spoke. Instead, more students turned their eyes toward Constantine, silently urging him to step forward and explain.
"What? Why are you all looking at me? This has nothing to do with me!" Constantine snapped, annoyed. "Fine, keep acting this way. But let me tell you, I've already sacrificed enough for this!"
Before the situation could escalate further, a fiery portal appeared in the mystic chamber with a loud whoosh. Through it staggered Doom, looking battered and exhausted. He clutched a bloodied dimensional being in one hand, panting heavily.
"Hmm?" Robert raised an eyebrow at Doom and the captured being. Finally, he understood the source of the other imprisoned dimensional creatures in the chamber.
Still, Robert found the situation more perplexing. "Why are you capturing so many dimensional beings? Are you using them for some twisted magic ritual?"
"Robert?! What are you doing here?" Doom froze in shock upon seeing him. His gaze quickly darted to the students before settling on Constantine.
"Don't look at me! I didn't call him here," Constantine retorted indignantly. "He came on his own, stumbled upon these dimensional beings, and started asking questions. You're back now, so you can explain everything yourself!"
"I see," Robert said, his curiosity piqued. He turned to Doom with a knowing look, waiting for an explanation.
"This is… a personal matter," Doom began awkwardly. "I've already captured eight dimensional lords. I'm close to achieving my goal…"
"A personal matter?" Robert chuckled, shaking his head. "The moment you started targeting dimensional beings, this stopped being just your business."
Robert's expression grew serious. "You've captured dimensional lords—rulers of their realms or critical power players in stronger dimensions. By doing this, you've undoubtedly drawn attention. Even if they don't know your identity, they'll trace you back to Kamar-Taj and Earth."
"I…" Doom hesitated, guilt flashing across his face. "I'll deal with those dimensions. I won't let them threaten Earth."
"Then tell me where these dimensions are. I'll go ahead and destroy them completely so no one will come seeking revenge," Robert said with a calm but unsettling tone.
Doom was left dumbfounded by Robert's blunt suggestion. So too were the Kamar-Taj students and the eight dimensional lords, who had assumed Robert might be intimidated enough to release them.
Moments ago, those lords had been contemplating how to coerce Kamar-Taj into compensating them for their troubles. But Robert's words shattered their illusions, replacing them with a chilling realization.
"Surely… he isn't serious?" The thought echoed in their minds, accompanied by a rising dread. Could Robert truly be so ruthless as to annihilate their entire dimensions?
Though dimensional beings were often selfish, most had a deep connection to their home realms, much like Earthlings felt about their planet. None of them wanted to become rootless wanderers—or worse, obliterated entirely.
"You're joking, right?" Doom asked hesitantly, his expression stiff.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Robert replied evenly. "A full dimension is a formidable opponent, even if it lacks strong inhabitants. The dimension itself could make for an interesting challenge."
To Robert, this was a chance for an exhilarating battle. Since Doom's actions had already turned these dimensions into enemies of Earth, Robert saw no reason to hesitate—better to strike first and eliminate them entirely.
"Also," Robert added, "who made you capture these dimensional lords? A hell lord, perhaps? I can't think of anyone else who would demand dimensional lords as part of a deal."
Doom's face paled instantly. He hadn't yet named Mephisto, but Robert's insight left him feeling exposed.
"What's with that look? Even with just the information you've gathered, it's not hard to deduce this," Robert said with a smirk. "We all know how hell lords operate, don't we?"
"True," Doom admitted reluctantly, sighing heavily. He realized that with Robert here, his dealings with Mephisto were bound to come to light.
"I was trying to save my mother's soul. It's in Mephisto's hands," Doom explained, recounting his journey to the hell dimension, Mephisto's conditions, and the contractual trickery the Ancient One had uncovered.
"Even if the Ancient One caught some of Mephisto's tricks, that doesn't guarantee he'll honor the deal. He could still withhold your mother's location," Robert warned. "There's only one way to ensure success—force him to surrender through sheer power."
Robert's tone grew resolute. "Hell lords can't be trusted. To save your mother, you'll have to crush Mephisto until he has no choice but to comply. Once he realizes defying you will cost him more than he can afford, he'll yield."
"Actually," Constantine interjected, "we've prepared some surprises for Mephisto. With the Ancient One's help, we've left traps on these dimensional beings. If Mephisto devours them, he'll face… complications."
Robert raised an eyebrow. "Clever. But do you really think it'll fool Mephisto?"
"With the Ancient One's craftsmanship? Absolutely," Constantine said confidently. "We've layered two traps—one subtle, one overt. If he overlooks the first, the second might catch him off guard."
"Alright then. Let's expedite this," Robert said, turning to Doom. "You need ten dimensional lords, right? I'll help capture the remaining two. You keep prepping these ones."
Before Doom could respond, Robert vanished in a flash, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
"Well," Constantine said dryly, "not so much a personal matter now, is it?"
"What choice do I have? Robert figured it out on his own," Doom muttered, resigned. "I just hope this all works out."
"It won't, unless Robert is involved," Constantine quipped. Despite the traps set on the dimensional lords, no one could guarantee they'd be effective against Mephisto. If the hell lord retaliated, only someone like Robert could stand against him.
Meanwhile, Robert had arrived outside a moderately powerful dimension. He surveyed it with eager eyes.
"This one looks promising," he muttered. Compared to Wakanda's celestial dimension, it was significantly stronger, yet far weaker than colossal dimensions like Hell or the Dark Dimension.
"Perfect for testing its capabilities," Robert said, a grin spreading across his face.
With a loud whoosh, he launched a powerful energy blast toward the dimension.
From within, a surge of dark energy erupted, forming an invisible barrier to counter the attack.
CRACK!
The barrier shattered instantly. The energy blast surged forward, hurtling toward the vast dimension with unstoppable force…
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