Boom!
From Hawk's eyes, scorching Phoenix Beam shot out, landing on Alexander Pierce who was standing before him in a fanatical stance.
In an instant—
Alexander Pierce was vaporized on the spot, leaving not even a bone fragment behind.
But!
Alexander Pierce's soul remained in place.
As Death transitioned him into a soul state, Pierce stood there somewhat dazed, seemingly unable to comprehend why Hawk had killed him so effortlessly.
After all, in Pierce's imagination, Hawk would certainly torture him thoroughly.
He was already prepared to endure Hawk's torment, and no matter how he was tortured, he wouldn't reveal why Hydra dared to test Hawk so boldly.
Because their second struggle plan had failed.
But they still had a chance.
Whether it was Dr. Zola's cloning plan or Strucker's plan, if any succeeded, Hydra could still rule the world.
But in the end...
Hawk did not torture him. Instead, when death came, he didn't even feel a tinge of pain.
Was it because Hawk was kind-hearted?
Of course not.
Just as Alexander Pierce was contemplating this, he suddenly felt a pull and turned to see a door slowly opening in front of him.
It was the Gate of Hell.
He must hurry inside; if he doesn't enter within the stipulated time, he'll become an evil spirit.
In soul state, Alexander Pierce instantly understood the meaning of this door and his next destination.
But...
Just as he cast a final glance at Hawk, who seemed unable to see him, preparing to turn towards the Gate of Hell, he heard Hawk's voice.
"Pierce, where do you think you're going."
"..."
Alexander Pierce instinctively turned his head.
The next second.
His eyes narrowed dramatically.
In his vision!
The Netherworld had already unfolded behind Hawk, and the pull from the Netherworld instantly fell upon Alexander Pierce, attempting to guide him into the Netherworld.
Pierce had provoked him so much, and yet expected to die peacefully and go to Hell for enjoyment?
What was he thinking.
Hawk would make Pierce understand what his words truly meant.
Perfect timing.
Since establishing the Netherworld, the Eight Great Nether Prisons hadn't yet opened, so Pierce would make the first guest.
Pierce would soon understand what 'worse than death' truly meant.
In an instant!
A roar emanated from the fissure in the real world.
"Hawk!"
"Boom rumble!"
As space distorted and collided violently, the Gate of Hell that originally pulled Alexander Pierce suddenly opened wide, followed by Mephisto's emergence as a demonic giant.
The powerful Hell aura instantly enveloped Pierce, who was being drawn by the Netherworld, attempting to pull him back to Hell.
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
Hawk stepped forward; with the emergence of Black Phoenix's shadow, the Black Phoenix Nether Armor rapidly adorned him, appearing at the fissure between the real world and countless dimensions.
The Netherworld manifested behind him, contending against Mephisto's Hell Dimension in a battle for Alexander Pierce's soul's allegiance.
In life, Alexander Pierce stood above tens of thousands, enjoyed immense glory; even in death, his soul was contested by Hawk's Netherworld and Mephisto's Hell.
Undeniably, Alexander Pierce lived a straightforward life.
In a physical sense.
Amidst the extreme tug-of-war between the Netherworld and Hell, Alexander Pierce's soul nearly stretched into a straight line.
Mephisto roared menacingly.
"Hawk, this soul belongs to my Hell!"
"I know!"
From beneath the Black Phoenix face armor, Hawk stared at Mephisto across countless spaces.
His eyes calm, his tone steady, he watched Mephisto at the edge of the Hell Dimension.
"But I want this soul."
"Don't even think about it!"
Mephisto roared in anger.
"Alright."
Hawk sighed, and calmly replied to Mephisto: "Then let me say it differently, I must have this soul. Either you give it to me now, or we'll have another divine clash. I'll find a way to smash open your Gates of Hell, enter your Hell Dimension, cause chaos, beat it till Hell fractures, rivers reverse, and then I'll take the soul. Your choice."
Mephisto heard this, his anger intensified.
His face as red as lava about to erupt from a volcano.
"Do you still plan to contest Earth's soul allegiance?"
"Depends on you."
"What!"
"I just want this soul; wanting to die isn't that easy. I'll make him understand the meaning of 'worse than death', so either give me the soul, or I'll truly contest Earth's entire soul allegiance."
Just in time while his Netherworld hasn't started the soul business yet, he can make Alexander Pierce the chief experience officer of the Nether Prison, and let him thoroughly experience whether the Eight Great Nether Prisons he designed are fun or not.
By then, Alexander Pierce can experience, while he makes improvements.
It's just like a game that's in closed beta before it launches.
As we all know.
During the closed beta, various data can be modified freely, but once the game is publicly released, many data cannot be changed freely anymore.
It's the same with his Little Cosmos.
Right now, his Little Cosmos hasn't turned into reality yet; it's merely infinitely approaching reality under the influence of the Infinity Gemstones' Reality Gemstone.
So at this moment, any shortcomings can be modified freely, but once the Little Cosmos becomes reality, even if he wants to make changes again, it would be a very troublesome task.
Listening to Hawk's blatant threat, Mephisto was almost furious.
"Damn it, Hawk, you've sworn an oath."
"Tsk!"
Hawk laughed directly upon hearing Mephisto's words: "Oath? What's that? Demons are the least trustworthy, you told me this yourself, Mephisto, I'm just learning from you, but I'm more dignified than you; I leave the choice to you. You can choose to let me keep the oath, just give me the soul, or let me break it, and I don't mind."
Listening to Hawk's shameless words, Mephisto's massive demon body was trembling.
Hawk showed no emotion.
A gentleman to a gentleman.
A scoundrel to a scoundrel.
The best way to deal with a dishonest demon like Mephisto is to be even more dishonest and shameless than Mephisto.
The most important point.
At this moment, compared to Mephisto, Hawk is more like the one barefoot.
As we all know.
Since ancient times, it's been said that those with shoes fear those barefoot, never have we heard that those barefoot fear those with shoes.
And as I said before.
Hawk's Little Cosmos only exists in the spirit terrace, in a confined space, hasn't turned into reality yet.
Whereas Mephisto's Hell Dimension solidly exists in reality.
So…
Another divine war isn't a problem.
In one word.
Hawk can recklessly burn and explode his Little Cosmos, and after a period of rest, his Little Cosmos will recover, even better than before.
After all, the Little Cosmos has the Holy War Technique, every battle enhances his Little Cosmos.
Otherwise, why do you think Hawk is like a hedgehog, wanting to fight everyone he meets, even anticipating battles?
No other reason.
Saint Warriors grow fastest in battle, that's why with the increasing number of duels, Thor is less inclined to fight him.
He's too desperate!
In short.
Hawk enjoys war, even loves it.
But Mephisto can't.
If Mephisto's Hell Dimension gets wrecked, it would be truly wrecked.
So…
Mephisto has no choice.
He looked at the expressionless Hawk before him, who was leaving the choice to him, seething with rage, his face flushed as if magma was boiling.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it."
"Yes, yes, yes."
Hawk's tone was indifferent: "You just keep stalling, let this soul break into fragments, I also assume you're initiating a divine war with me."
Mephisto's expression froze.
That's exactly what he was thinking.
After all…
For him to just hand over the soul, he can't do it, it's akin to yielding one city today and five tomorrow.
Mephisto instinctively relaxed his hold on Alexander Pierce's soul, took a deep breath, and looked at Hawk with a low tone.
"Do you promise, just this one soul."
"I..."
Hawk was just about to nod but suddenly thought of something, looking at Mephisto: "Old Mephisto, I don't want to deceive you, there might be a few more souls I need to throw into my Nether Prison later, I want to watch them suffer, so ten then, give me ten slots."
Old Mephisto?
Ten?
Mephisto felt utterly helpless as a demon.
He laughed in exasperation.
"Should I just give you half, then, and let you share Earth with me."
"That's wonderful."
"Wonderful my ass!"
Mephisto roared: "Hawk, I've never seen anyone as shameless as you, life and death are the powers of my Hell, yet you challenge my authority repeatedly, do you truly believe I have no means against you?"
Hawk heard this, tilted his head slightly, looking at the furious Mephisto.
"You have means against me?"
"You can't even enter my Cosmos, while I can violently enter your Hell."
"So..."
"Let's not talk about this, I just want ten souls, I can swear to the Goddess of Death, as long as you don't provoke me, I guarantee I won't covet the power of life and death on Earth."
"..."