Mephisto: Hank, do you want your daughter or not?
Unconsciously, Hank Pym staggered into a retro-style bar, seeking solace in a few drinks to calm his frayed nerves.
The bartender, an elderly man with a cane, appeared to be about the same age as Pym. While Dr. Pym looked worn and burdened by life's tragedies, his own spirit seemingly lost, the bartender maintained a sharp, energetic demeanor, impeccably dressed.
As Dr. Pym drank a few glasses of wine, his vision grew blurry. In a haze, he heard the bartender speak.
"Dr. Pym, I have a way to bring your daughter back. But there's a condition."
"As long as Hope can come back, any condition is acceptable," Pym replied with desperation in his voice.
The bartender's eyes narrowed and a faint smirk crossed his face. "Alright then. Sign the contract."
The bartender handed him an ancient parchment scroll and a quill. Dr. Pym took it absently, attempting to focus his blurry eyes to read the words.
"Mephisto will resurrect Hope van Dyne, and Hank Pym accepts any condition."
Dr. Pym, hiccupping, chuckled bitterly. "Ha, man, you're good at this. Looks like the real deal."
Without another thought, he signed his name and collapsed onto the bar, mumbling in his stupor, "Janet... Hope…"
Mephisto laughed heartily as he retrieved the signed scroll, his pride in a perfect deal palpable. For a devil, securing such a bargain was a true delight.
The full text of the scroll read:
"Mephisto promises to resurrect Hank Pym's daughter Hope van Dyne, and Hank Pym agrees to any condition."
Mephisto didn't need to honor his promise, and his condition could be anything—anything that would serve his will.
The deal was an utter triumph for the demon lord. Dr. Pym, unaware, had exchanged everything—his wealth, his soul, and even his life—for the resurrection of his daughter.
"Well, I did pay a little price—just a few glasses of wine," Mephisto mused.
His voice echoed in Dr. Pym's mind, "Dr. Pym, bring Tony Stark and the wizard Russell to the Quantum Realm. I, Mephisto, the Demon Lord, will resurrect your daughter."
Dr. Pym stirred the next morning, slowly regaining consciousness. His first thoughts were of a dream—a reunion with his family. A smile tugged at his lips. But then the memory of the strange contract hit him, and he shook his head with a rueful laugh.
"No devil. Just hallucinations from a drunken stupor."
Suddenly, Mephisto's voice boomed inside his mind again.
"Dr. Pym, bring Tony Stark and wizard Russell to the Quantum Realm. I will resurrect your daughter."
With a flicker, Mephisto's form materialized before Dr. Pym. He stretched out his palm, and a ball of fiery, ethereal flame appeared. In the center of the flame was the figure of Hope van Dyne.
"Do you want your daughter back, Dr. Pym?"
"Give her back! Please!" Dr. Pym cried out, stumbling toward the image of Hope, his hands outstretched.
"Bring Tony Stark and Russell to the Quantum Realm, and I will bring your daughter back."
Mephisto repeated his terms, his tone calm yet laden with temptation.
Dr. Pym took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. "Tony Stark is dead," he said, his voice trembling.
Mephisto only smiled, unshaken. "Not entirely, no."
Dr. Pym stared, disbelieving. "How is that possible? I… I destroyed his mind!"
Mephisto simply smirked. "The wizard Russell resurrected him after your attack."
He was deliberately sowing seeds of trust, nudging Pym toward believing that if Russell could resurrect Tony Stark, surely Mephisto could easily resurrect Hope.
Dr. Pym's thoughts raced. If Tony Stark could be brought back, Hope surely could as well. The mission was clear—get Tony Stark and Russell to the Quantum Realm.
But then a dark thought hit him. His memories of Russell, the sorcerer, made his stomach churn. Russell had once nearly killed him, and the fear he felt was still fresh.
After a moment of hesitation, Dr. Pym spoke, voice trembling, "One for one—Tony Stark for Hope."
Mephisto raised an eyebrow at the proposition. "Negotiate with the devil?"
"Okay," Mephisto agreed instantly, a grin curling his lips. "I'll wait for your news."
With that, Mephisto's figure dissolved, along with Hope's image.
Dr. Pym had unwittingly made his bargain, but Mephisto knew the game was far from over. He had already begun formulating a new plan: trap Tony Stark in the Quantum Realm, lure Russell in, and capture them both.
Meanwhile, in the hidden sanctum of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Russell and the Ancient One sat side by side, watching the events unfold on a mystical TV screen.
On the screen, Dr. Pym was seen reluctantly watching his daughter's image fade away. With a grimace, he donned the Ant-Man suit and grabbed the Pym particles, preparing to leave for Stark Tower.
He couldn't bring himself to face Russell again, but Tony Stark—well, Tony Stark was a playboy billionaire, someone he could easily manipulate.
Dr. Pym would use Pym particles to send Stark into the Quantum Realm and trade him for his daughter. His mind was set, a cruel smile forming on his face.
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