Diablo's plans are deeper than humiliation of the FF. He must face a more powerful being while Sue and She Hulk deal with the heroes

Susan smiled evilly as she prepared herself for the upcoming meeting. She could not believe that she had doubted Diablo's wisdom, even for a second, based on something as foolish as morals or friendship. Thank heavens he cleared her mind with the blessed Mindsword. Now she sees the flawless genius of her true love. She could not believe the sheer joy of overcoming her weakness, not to mention the heady power of being able to snuff out the life of even as powerful a person as Dr Strange. Now, it was a gift to serve her love this way and she was grateful for the enlightenment.

When the evil couple arrived at the retreat, Diablo had Skulltwister already drawn and every soul felt the glory that is service to the great sorcerer. Soon the worthless rabble found themselves ready to aid Diablo's consort in her upcoming battle. Unfortunately, Diablo could not stay to witness his love's battle, but before he left to his true target, he gave Susan two swords of power to wield against the vile heroes. Soon they would feel her righteous fury in her lord's name!

*****

She Hulk had elected to stay behind and work with the authorities when the others each took off for their assigned missions. Since Iron Man had already turned over all the forensics he and Reed had gathered to the authorities, no one really questioned She Hulk when she removed the sword from the dead magician's chest. As the police moved the body to the waiting ambulance, the green giantess found a room to herself and began chanting as she turned faster and faster waving the Sword of vengeance over her head. Over and over she chanted "Farslayer howls across the world. For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!" Each time the dance grew quicker and soon it was as if the blade were spinning her around. As the song of vengeance reached a fever pitch, the blade broke free of hands that could topple a sky scrapper and sailed on through a wall to its next target.

*****

A dimensional portal opened and a lone man entered the realm of demons. Diablo surveyed the hellish landscape and he kept a wary hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. Even from its sheath, a drumming noise like a hammer beating on a metal shield sounded like the heart of a great giant. Diablo knew that meant attack was immanent, but what would one expect in the realm of Mephisto?

Soon a pack of four demons jumped out of the shadows and attacked the lone human. As if it had a mind of its own, Shieldbreaker effortlessly glide from its sheath and struck down the demons as the got within range. The first two were cleaved in two before the knew they were in danger and the other two barely had time to realize their fate before the blade slew them as well. Normally this would be a painful, but transient thing for a demon in this realm, but the power of Shieldbreaker snuffed out their malignant lives like a candle in a gale wind.

From behind him, the mage heard a booming voice "You are brave, if not bright to come here Diablo. Especially when that soul of yours belongs to me! You may have bested my minions for now, but they will rise and with their brethren's help I will claim what is rightfully mine!" Diablo turned to face Mephisto himself, but the hell lord was surprised to see disdain in the alchemist's eyes instead of fear. "I know not what tricks you have wrought little man, but it takes more to impress the Lord of Lies."

Diablo replied smugly "Oh I have no shortage of tricks, dark one, and before I leave you today you will relinquish your claim on my soul and grant me even further power. Of course, that is before I end your miserable existence!"

Mephisto roared in anger "Me give up my claim? No worm like you will coerce or condemn me, human!" The mighty hell lord raised his fist in anger "And you shall NEVER leave!" His fist came down like a ton of bricks, but thanks to Shieldbreaker, Diablo not only blocked the mighty blow, he cleaved the hand from the giant entity. Mephisto howled in anger and pain, but as he looked at his wound, for the first time he began to realize his danger. His disembodied hand melted into dust and no mater how hard he tried, the demon lord could not regenerate the lost limb. "What foul magic is this? How could you maim one as powerful as me?"

"You will find that my toy here has enough power to topple gods, dark one." Diablo gloated. "Even you are no match for it. But I believe you are about to get your next lesson now." As if on cue, a shrieking noise that accompanied something tearing the vale between dimensions echoed throughout the chamber. A rip in the fabric of reality erupted a rainbow of light before a fast moving object zipped through it like a missile. The object found its target in the demon's chest and the **** of the impact drove the giant to the floor. Mephisto tried to pull the blade out, but not even his strength could budge it. "Witness your destruction demon," Diablo declared. "The blade will not budge until it has taken your life. But do not despair. I would not allow you to suffer the long days this would normally take. Witness another of my toys."

From its extra dimensional armory, Diablo called Skulltwister. Mephisto was no human and he did try to resist, but even for him it was a fruitless battle. With the Sword of Vengeance eating away at his life, he could not muster even the power to move out of range. In a second, the Mindsword claimed another **** for its master. As the demon lord began proclaiming the villain's virtues, Diablo called to him "So dark one, do you now see that you will do as I ask? Release me of your debt without taking any of the power you have granted me!"

"Of course, great one. Of course. I will do it now," Mephisto stammered as he quickly cast the spell to please his master. Even Diablo could feel the feeling of a dire weight being lifted from him, but he could also see the hell lord lose a perceptible amount of life energies.

"Very good Mephisto, but tell me this," the villain quizzed. "Can you increase my power without putting me in your debt or fixing me to this hellish place?" The demon could only nod his answer. Smiling in victory Diablo said "Well then, we have a mutually beneficial transaction to conduct. Give me as much power as you can without indebting me or tying me to this or any other hell. Since the blade in your heart is killing you anyway, this will lessen your suffering. Best get to it while you have the strength."

Mephisto could only say one thing before he channeled all his remaining power into the sorcerer. The demon smiled in gratitude and said "Thank you." As the power filled Diablo his abilities soon rivaled those of any sorcerer supreme. His heart sang with the heady feeling of unimagined power. In a few minutes he was a supernatural **** to be reckoned with and the dark lord Mephisto was no more. Diablo reclaimed Farslayer and returned to his lair.