105: Steve Rogers has been found!

Hearing Green Goblin's pleas to Mephisto, Andrew's eyes narrowed with excitement, not worry. He had yet to face a worthy foe to fully exert the Emperor's Armor. Mephisto could prove good training.

Approaching, Green Goblin recoiled, revealing the deep trauma Andrew had inflicted. Swallowing fearfully, he warned, "Emperor, my master Mephisto comes soon."

"You'll pay for your soul's enslavement," he threatened desperately. To Green Goblin, Mephisto was still an almighty god. If he feared Andrew, others would cower before Mephisto. News of his arrival would make anyone kneel and beg for mercy.

Andrew indifferently asked how long until Mephisto arrived. Seeing the Emperor's disrespect, Green Goblin hissed, "Arrogance before my master's might will be punished!" 

Though he wanted to boast Mephisto's imminent arrival, no response came to his soul's cries. "How...why doesn't he answer?" Green Goblin muttered in disbelief.

"It seems Mephisto won't come after all," Andrew concluded, palm gathering golden energy. "Then you have no further use."

Seeing Andrew prepare a final blow, Green Goblin's terror peaked. He sensed the Emperor had endless means to inflict fates worse than death. "No...I don't want..."

Just then, Norman's voice came - "Give me control, I can get us out." With no alternatives left, Green Goblin agreed desperately. Andrew observed the change in Green Goblin's aura as Norman took over.

"Cooperation between personas, interesting," he remarked. Norman glanced resentfully at the police station. His original goal tonight had been assassination, not this disaster. 

"I said be subtle, not brazenly attack," Norman admonished Green Goblin inwardly. After the night's ordeal, Green Goblin now deeply regretted ignoring Norman's advice.

With recriminations pointless, Norman focused on escaping. The brewing golden energy filled him with profound unease. He pulled out all remaining bombs, changing Andrew's intent to seal him.

"Hmm?" Andrew wondered at Norman's next actions. For an undying foe, he had means of containment.

He crammed the bombs into his mouth, distending his belly before smiling at Andrew. "We'll meet again, Emperor!" Detonating the bombs within himself, Norman erupted in flames, blasting his body to pieces.

Too late to contain the blast, Andrew erected a radiant barrier to shield the others, weathering the explosion as Norman's shredded remains scattered. 

"Clever, weaponizing his regeneration to escape," Andrew recognized Norman's plan - the scattered bits of flesh would eventually regenerate him. The blackening chunks confirmed Norman's getaway.

With the threat passed, Gwen and Tony hurried over. Tony's one working palm cannon tracked the dissipating smoke. "It's over?"

"Did he vaporize himself?" Gwen wondered. But Andrew shook his head. "More precisely, he utilized his immortality to flee." 

Tony was awed. "Such power exists in this world?" Like Gwen, only the Emperor could explain such mysteries.

Andrew casually likened it to sudden mutation, more relatable than delving into Mephisto. Mutation's myriad powers were common knowledge, unlike demonic pacts.

Tony lowered his cannon and looked to Andrew. "Emperor, thank you again for aiding my father's legacy."

Gwen was surprised to learn they had some deeper connection. But Andrew deflected, "Even without me, the truth was yours eventually."

Seeing the police approach, Andrew took his leave - "I dislike dealing with the law." Gwen quickly added her thanks as well before Andrew rocketed away.

Tony told Gwen, "I don't like cops either." She considered, "Me neither." They too slipped off before the police arrived, leaving only a wryly smiling George. "Not even a thanks..." 

He ordered the scene cleaned and contained, but an officer noted several news vans incoming, attracted by the battle's light and noise. George sighed, the media responded too swiftly.

At the station entrance, Anna guessed their reason for coming and decided to first take refuge with Luo Feng to avoid trouble. Slipping away unseen, she headed for his nearby house.

In Hell, Mephisto raged at Ancient One, "How much power have you drawn from the dark dimension?!" 

Ancient One simply stated, "Enough to protect Earth." Mephisto seethed - this was no small amount!

Grinding his teeth, Mephisto conceded, "Fine, I vow no harm to Earth by my hands, but I won't be constrained outside it!" 

Ancient One accepted the terms and stepped through a mystic portal that sealed itself behind her, leaving Mephisto fuming in disbelief. 

"That old Odin never saw you intervene during his ravages of Earth! Each century I return, you dare criticize me?!" The more he pondered, the angrier Mephisto became until he faded into the darkness...

In Asgard, Heimdall finished recounting the battle to a smiling Odin, "Thor won't dominate Earth alone it seems." 

He had assumed Thor with Mjolnir would reign invincible over the fragile humans. But Earth was greater than anticipated.

"Mephisto did nothing?" Odin doubted the passive evil lord. Heimdall shook his head - Mephisto never responded to his contractor's pleas. But he could not see into Hell.

A thought struck Odin, "Could she have stopped Mephisto...?" The queen asked who he meant. But Odin remained silent, telling Heimdall, "Return, Thor and Loki will finish soon..."

The next morning at S.H.I.E.L.D., Fury reviewed files including the stamped 'Avengers Initiative'. Today he would push the project forward regardless of approval.

Just then Hill entered without knocking, drawing Fury's ire until her next words jolted him upright. "Steve Rogers has been found!"

To be continued...