This is… frost?
Belasco was stunned. How could there be cold wind in blazing Hell?
Even some ice-based magic cannot be released here.
At that moment, she suddenly saw the dark red world fade away from its scorching color and turn into a dull, chilling blue.
Snowflakes began to fall, and the north wind grew even fiercer.
The erupting volcanoes went silent and extinguished, collapsing into stillness.
The magma lake solidified, hardening into black stone.
In the next second, her pupils shrank into needles, her face filled with disbelief!
The barrier constructed entirely of magic had condensed into crystalline ice, covered in countless frozen blossoms—an enormous prison of frost.
But what shocked her most was not the ice on the surface—it was the magic energy itself that had been frozen!
This completely shattered everything she knew about magic.
Crack!
The magical structure could no longer hold. It splintered apart into countless shards.
The three mighty Balor Flame Demons inside were instantly turned into ice sculptures, frozen mid-motion in their final postures before death.
The fire in their eyes vanished, leaving behind lifeless pupils devoid of spirit, without even a trace of fear.
Belasco felt a chill of true horror.
This meant that the three Balor Flame Demons had been frozen in an instant—so fast they couldn't even resist!
She stood dazed for a moment.
When her mind returned, she realized the entire world around her had turned into blinding white.
Snowfall seemed endless, transforming Hell itself into a frozen wasteland!
As the Lord of the Hell's Border, Belasco finally glimpsed the truth and trembled in fear.
"This… how is this possible?! The very attributes of the world have been changed!?"
She had lived tens of thousands of years and had never witnessed something this terrifying.
At this moment, only one thought filled her mind—
Escape!
No matter what this was, it was something far beyond the power of a mere Lord of the Hell's Border.
Belasco tried to teleport to the Secret Guest's side, intending to abandon this body and flee.
But nothing happened.
At this moment, she suddenly realized—why couldn't she feel the cold anymore?
She tried to look down, but her body couldn't move at all.
At some point, she had been completely frozen in midair.
"…..."
When Belasco processed this thought, he suddenly found himself slammed against the frozen ground again.
His disciple, Illyana, was embracing a strange man, her eyes filled with a tenderness he had never seen before.
The man gently patted her shoulder, then turned his head toward Belasco. His gaze was calm, almost casual, as he spoke:
"You're still alive…? Fine. I'll strip you of your title as Demon Lord."
Belasco could no longer understand the meaning of these words. Only his spirit screamed in instinctive terror.
Illyana—Magik—was stunned!
She understood all too well what those words meant, and that was why she was even more shocked.
The Lord of the Hell Border…
Such a title was comparable to a Lord of a Dimension. Though not as powerful as the true rulers like Mephisto, within their own realm they wielded strength beyond almost any other.
In their territory, even a Hell Lord's avatar could stand on par with the might of an Elder God!
Russell killing Belasco instantly already proved he had ascended to a higher tier—but to extract authority from a dimensional ruler? That was something far beyond even a newly awakened cosmic entity.
Normally, the shift of such power required the approval of Hell itself.
Illyana's expression was a mix of awe and unease as she looked at the man she hadn't seen in so long.
"Are you sure this will work?" she asked quietly.
"Changing the border lord will definitely attract the attention of the true Hell Lords. If they notice us, we're finished. If it doesn't work… let's just seal him again."
She was stunned that he had managed to advance so far after leaving her timeline.
But that only deepened her worry. She knew far too well how terrifying Hell Lords truly were—their influence radiated even to the outer borders of Hell itself.
Russell gently stroked Illyana's face, and with invisible power, healed every trace of her injuries. Then he turned his eyes back toward the dazed Belasco, a faint smile curling on his lips.
"Heh… if they don't notice anything, there won't be trouble."
Illyana frowned, uncertain.
This man had once been Sorcerer Supreme—he knew the terrifying power of Mephisto and his kind. Was he underestimating them, or had something gone wrong during his ascension?
Russell didn't explain.
He simply extended a single finger, lightly touching Belasco's forehead.
In an instant, all of Belasco's authority as Demon Lord was severed from him and drawn into Russell's control.
Then, with a simple tug, Russell pulled it free.
Illyana gasped audibly.
Before her eyes, the invisible authority of the Hell Border manifested into reality—an endless stream of arcane sigils, densely layered, endlessly shifting into new combinations.
What shocked her even more was that the authority itself seemed to possess a will. It rejected her presence outright, as if declaring she was unworthy.
But the next second, a faint voice echoed through the air:
"Step aside, or you will cease to exist."
The symbols trembled violently. Then, like streams of light, they surged into Illyana's palm.
She raised her hand, staring in disbelief as the runes gradually faded, merging with her.
At that moment, she could feel it—her soul resonating with this Ice-bound Hell. A vast, terrifying power erupted inside her, filling her every vein.
She knew instantly: the three Balor Flame Demons she had struggled against could now be destroyed with a mere gesture. She could even bend this Hell Border itself to her will.
She was the ruler here now.
Illyana's eyes widened in shock as she looked at Russell.
With a single sentence, he had made her the Lord of this Hell Border.
Gods above—this was like a dream!
But the raging energy coursing through her body told her it was real.
At that moment, she realized she had completely underestimated this man.
Then Russell casually snapped his fingers.
Space itself cracked open, revealing a small pocket dimension.
From within it, an incredible figure stepped forth.
Though his flaming head concealed his face, Illyana recognized him instantly.
What shattered her worldview was not his presence—but his reaction.
The being bowed deeply, his voice dripping with reverence as he smiled with flattery:
"Great Master… is it time?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can visit my Patreon page:
Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel
There are 20+ advanced chapters available for you to read.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Check out my new Marvel fanfic!
[Marvel: A Video Editor]