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Chapter 258: The Leader of the Ancient Demonic Mutants: Azazel
Azazel, an old monster who has kept a low profile for several thousand years.
Many people only knew he had lived for a very long time, assuming it was simply due to his X-gene possessing a life-extending effect.
Life extension, while not common among mutants, was not without precedent. For instance, Mystique, who was still holed up in A.R.G.U.S. disguised as who knows who, was as old as Magneto and Professor X, but she was actually more youthful and healthy than someone in their twenties or thirties.
Many people, including Magneto, thought Azazel was the same and found nothing special about him.
But Tony, as a Transmigrator, knew very well how cunning this old fellow was, and how terrifying his background and schemes were.
Azazel was, in fact, the most powerful Mutant after the Progenitor, Apocalypse—second only to Jean, who possessed the Phoenix Force.
The Azazel active on Earth was merely a clone of his true body, one that had been plotting a grand scheme for thousands of years.
"Azazel, in a moment, watch for an opportunity. As soon as Dormammu unleashes his ultimate attack, you must immediately use teleportation to get me out of here. The two of us are very weak; we absolutely cannot get caught up with a Universe Level Powerhouse." Tony grabbed Azazel, analyzing the situation carefully, repeatedly warning him, appearing extremely anxious yet forced to take the risk.
Tony seemed to have entrusted his very life to Azazel.
"If it's so dangerous over there, what's the use of you going? These Transformers of yours can't have any significant effect on the enemy, can they?" Azazel asked suspiciously.
"I can only do my best. In any case, my Legion is numerous. As long as I don't die, I can at least annoy that bastard Dormammu to death. Maybe I can buy the Ancient One and the others a chance," Tony said.
"...Alright, then." Azazel agreed, though he cursed inwardly at how ridiculous it was.
He was not entirely ignorant of the battlefields of Universe Level titans; they could blast Tony to smithereens in minutes! As for why Tony was so eager... Azazel sneered. Did he really think he was a fool? Back when his true body was sealed in the Other-dimensional Space, Dormammu was just a relatively outstanding sorcerer on Earth.
But after obtaining the Dark Dimension, Dormammu leaped to become a Single Universe Level being. It was like he had cheated, becoming one of the few powerhouses in the Universe.
The core energy of the Dark Dimension—it was obvious that this Tony before him had his eyes on that thing.
Who wouldn't want something that could allow a life form to advance so dramatically? Not only would it be a boost in power, but it also came with a bonus Dark Dimension the size of a small universe.
"A pity. It would be useless even if I snatched it," Azazel thought, a flash of greed in his eyes quickly replaced by a sense of regret.
Tony patted Azazel's shoulder, putting on an act so convincing it seemed real. But in his heart, killing intent was already surging.
Azazel was not as weak and pathetic as his movie version, who seemed only capable of spatial teleportation and stabbing people with a small knife by appearing and disappearing...
After living for several thousand years, even a pig would have become a spirit, let alone a Demonic Mutant like Azazel.
Four thousand years ago, the Mutant Progenitor, Apocalypse, was forced into eternal slumber underground after being betrayed by his subordinates. After Apocalypse, the Mutant Faction fractured, with the two most powerful factions fighting against each other.
One faction, whose members generally had white wings growing from their backs, were called "Angels" by ancient humans. The other faction of Mutants, led by Azazel, were called "Demons" because of their ferocious appearances, strange colors, and mostly insidious and cunning personalities.
The Demonic Mutants and Angelic Mutants fought a brutal war that lasted for a thousand years. The final result was the defeat of the Demonic Faction. Their chieftain, Azazel, and his most loyal subordinates were sealed into a small, harsh Junk Dimension by a group of powerful Angelic Mutants.
Naturally, Azazel was unwilling to accept this fate. He tried everything he could think of to break open a passage and free himself and his Demonic Faction kin.
He had no choice. That damn Other Dimension was far too small, devoid of resources, and plagued by constant natural disasters. The most terrifying part was that this small Other Dimension was in a constant tug-of-war with other Major Dimensions; its destruction was only a matter of time.
Thus, a brilliant idea was born. The Demonic Faction used every means at their disposal to finally tear off a small piece of their chieftain Azazel's soul and cast it onto Earth, searching for a way to break the seal.
The price was heavy. Aside from a few who remained conscious, the rest of the Demonic Faction fell into a deep slumber, waiting for a successful Azazel to return and awaken them.
"Azazel, I heard you and Mystique, Raven, don't get along? And that you have a blue-skinned son who inherited your teleportation ability?" Halfway there, Tony suddenly asked.
"Oh?" Azazel had been frowning, sensing the terrifying fluctuations of power up ahead, the pressure immense. Tony's abrupt question confused him even more. "That is true. But Raven despises me and refuses to tell me where my son is. I can't find him."
That messy affair back then seemed absurd, but it was all within Azazel's calculations. Raven had become another one of his test subjects for procreation.
Nightcrawler, that timid, blue-skinned young mutant with the power of teleportation, is the son of Mystique and Azazel.
He was also the target Azazel coveted most and had been desperately searching for.
"Don't worry, how you and Raven reconcile your relationship, or if you become enemies from now on, is none of my business. I can't be bothered with your romantic debts..." Tony said, feigning indifference. Around him, twenty million Transformers gathered, their presence subtle yet tangible.
Suddenly, Tony said, "Tell me, what do you think would happen if I found your son first... and killed him?"
Azazel whipped his head around, looking at Tony, whose face was as calm as still water. In his red pupils, a trace of horror and ferocity flashed for an instant.
"How could this be?!"
"What did this guy know?!!"
"What are you talking about?" Azazel, ever the deep schemer, wore a cold expression, as if he felt a deep, protective love for the son he had never met. "What do you want to do to my son?"
"Nothing, just kidding. I'm the type of person who likes to make all sorts of strange hypotheses," Tony said, sitting comfortably on Predaking's head.
Predaking postured menacingly, letting out a ferocious and aggressive roar at Azazel, its voice filled with savagery.
Azazel took a deep breath, his voice low and tinged with anger. "Are you trying to recruit me? Do you think you can make me compromise this way? My loyalty to Magneto cannot be shaken by such things! Give up!"
Tony sneered. "Loyalty? Azazel, as the head of the Demonic Mutants, having loyalty? What a joke!"
"You have the blood of demons of Hell flowing through you, Azazel. The birth of the Demonic Mutants is inextricably linked to the Demons of Hell. Lying is an instinct etched into your very gene." Tony enunciated each word clearly. "Why don't we talk about something more practical?"
"What on earth are you blabbering about?"
"What I'm trying to say is, what if I were to use the Grand Magic Array inscribed upon Earth to bombard the pocket dimension where your true body is located at full power... What do you think would happen? With a 'bang,' you and all your ambitions would be gone.
"Most importantly, that plan of yours to use the sacrifice of the offspring you've accumulated over thousands of years would all be for nothing..."
(end of chapter)
Azazel, an old monster who has kept a low profile for several thousand years.
Many people only knew he had lived for a very long time, assuming it was simply due to his X-gene possessing a life-extending effect.
Life extension, while not common among mutants, was not without precedent. For instance, Mystique, who was still holed up in A.R.G.U.S. disguised as who knows who, was as old as Magneto and Professor X, but she was actually more youthful and healthy than someone in their twenties or thirties.
Many people, including Magneto, thought Azazel was the same and found nothing special about him.
But Tony, as a Transmigrator, knew very well how cunning this old fellow was, and how terrifying his background and schemes were.
Azazel was, in fact, the most powerful Mutant after the Progenitor, Apocalypse—second only to Jean, who possessed the Phoenix Force.
The Azazel active on Earth was merely a clone of his true body, one that had been plotting a grand scheme for thousands of years.
"Azazel, in a moment, watch for an opportunity. As soon as Dormammu unleashes his ultimate attack, you must immediately use teleportation to get me out of here. The two of us are very weak; we absolutely cannot get caught up with a Universe Level Powerhouse." Tony grabbed Azazel, analyzing the situation carefully, repeatedly warning him, appearing extremely anxious yet forced to take the risk.
Tony seemed to have entrusted his very life to Azazel.
"If it's so dangerous over there, what's the use of you going? These Transformers of yours can't have any significant effect on the enemy, can they?" Azazel asked suspiciously.
"I can only do my best. In any case, my Legion is numerous. As long as I don't die, I can at least annoy that bastard Dormammu to death. Maybe I can buy the Ancient One and the others a chance," Tony said.
"...Alright, then." Azazel agreed, though he cursed inwardly at how ridiculous it was.
He was not entirely ignorant of the battlefields of Universe Level titans; they could blast Tony to smithereens in minutes! As for why Tony was so eager... Azazel sneered. Did he really think he was a fool? Back when his true body was sealed in the Other-dimensional Space, Dormammu was just a relatively outstanding sorcerer on Earth.
But after obtaining the Dark Dimension, Dormammu leaped to become a Single Universe Level being. It was like he had cheated, becoming one of the few powerhouses in the Universe.
The core energy of the Dark Dimension—it was obvious that this Tony before him had his eyes on that thing.
Who wouldn't want something that could allow a life form to advance so dramatically? Not only would it be a boost in power, but it also came with a bonus Dark Dimension the size of a small universe.
"A pity. It would be useless even if I snatched it," Azazel thought, a flash of greed in his eyes quickly replaced by a sense of regret.
Tony patted Azazel's shoulder, putting on an act so convincing it seemed real. But in his heart, killing intent was already surging.
Azazel was not as weak and pathetic as his movie version, who seemed only capable of spatial teleportation and stabbing people with a small knife by appearing and disappearing...
After living for several thousand years, even a pig would have become a spirit, let alone a Demonic Mutant like Azazel.
Four thousand years ago, the Mutant Progenitor, Apocalypse, was forced into eternal slumber underground after being betrayed by his subordinates. After Apocalypse, the Mutant Faction fractured, with the two most powerful factions fighting against each other.
One faction, whose members generally had white wings growing from their backs, were called "Angels" by ancient humans. The other faction of Mutants, led by Azazel, were called "Demons" because of their ferocious appearances, strange colors, and mostly insidious and cunning personalities.
The Demonic Mutants and Angelic Mutants fought a brutal war that lasted for a thousand years. The final result was the defeat of the Demonic Faction. Their chieftain, Azazel, and his most loyal subordinates were sealed into a small, harsh Junk Dimension by a group of powerful Angelic Mutants.
Naturally, Azazel was unwilling to accept this fate. He tried everything he could think of to break open a passage and free himself and his Demonic Faction kin.
He had no choice. That damn Other Dimension was far too small, devoid of resources, and plagued by constant natural disasters. The most terrifying part was that this small Other Dimension was in a constant tug-of-war with other Major Dimensions; its destruction was only a matter of time.
Thus, a brilliant idea was born. The Demonic Faction used every means at their disposal to finally tear off a small piece of their chieftain Azazel's soul and cast it onto Earth, searching for a way to break the seal.
The price was heavy. Aside from a few who remained conscious, the rest of the Demonic Faction fell into a deep slumber, waiting for a successful Azazel to return and awaken them.
"Azazel, I heard you and Mystique, Raven, don't get along? And that you have a blue-skinned son who inherited your teleportation ability?" Halfway there, Tony suddenly asked.
"Oh?" Azazel had been frowning, sensing the terrifying fluctuations of power up ahead, the pressure immense. Tony's abrupt question confused him even more. "That is true. But Raven despises me and refuses to tell me where my son is. I can't find him."
That messy affair back then seemed absurd, but it was all within Azazel's calculations. Raven had become another one of his test subjects for procreation.
Nightcrawler, that timid, blue-skinned young mutant with the power of teleportation, is the son of Mystique and Azazel.
He was also the target Azazel coveted most and had been desperately searching for.
"Don't worry, how you and Raven reconcile your relationship, or if you become enemies from now on, is none of my business. I can't be bothered with your romantic debts..." Tony said, feigning indifference. Around him, twenty million Transformers gathered, their presence subtle yet tangible.
Suddenly, Tony said, "Tell me, what do you think would happen if I found your son first... and killed him?"
Azazel whipped his head around, looking at Tony, whose face was as calm as still water. In his red pupils, a trace of horror and ferocity flashed for an instant.
"How could this be?!"
"What did this guy know?!!"
"What are you talking about?" Azazel, ever the deep schemer, wore a cold expression, as if he felt a deep, protective love for the son he had never met. "What do you want to do to my son?"
"Nothing, just kidding. I'm the type of person who likes to make all sorts of strange hypotheses," Tony said, sitting comfortably on Predaking's head.
Predaking postured menacingly, letting out a ferocious and aggressive roar at Azazel, its voice filled with savagery.
Azazel took a deep breath, his voice low and tinged with anger. "Are you trying to recruit me? Do you think you can make me compromise this way? My loyalty to Magneto cannot be shaken by such things! Give up!"
Tony sneered. "Loyalty? Azazel, as the head of the Demonic Mutants, having loyalty? What a joke!"
"You have the blood of demons of Hell flowing through you, Azazel. The birth of the Demonic Mutants is inextricably linked to the Demons of Hell. Lying is an instinct etched into your very gene." Tony enunciated each word clearly. "Why don't we talk about something more practical?"
"What on earth are you blabbering about?"
"What I'm trying to say is, what if I were to use the Grand Magic Array inscribed upon Earth to bombard the pocket dimension where your true body is located at full power... What do you think would happen? With a 'bang,' you and all your ambitions would be gone.
"Most importantly, that plan of yours to use the sacrifice of the offspring you've accumulated over thousands of years would all be for nothing..."
(end of chapter)
