In ‘Silver Surfer’ (1968) #3, Silver Surfer is reunited with Shalla Bal only to lose her again. At the beginning of the issue, Silver Surfer attempts to heal with his Power Cosmic a girl that was a victim of an alien abduction by the Badoon. However, the hospital staff and the police interfere. With one blast of cosmic shock, Silver Surfer heals the girl.

The police reacts with a blast but the Surfer’s invulnerability protects him. At that moment, the girl begins to move and one of the police officers notes that maybe the Surfer healed the girl. Surfer melts the police officers’ weapons with a cosmic wave. However, angered at humanity’s aggression, the Silver Surfer vows revenge. In a series of cosmic bursts, the Silver Surfer brings civilization to a standstill: all machines fail to run and humanity is enshrouded in darkness.

In order to conquer the Silver Surfer, Mephisto departs for Zenn-La. In her quarters on Zenn-La, Shalla recalls the glorious sacrifice of Norrin Radd, who became Silver Surfer and served Galactus that Zenn-La be spared. She mourns him and pledges her love to him, as he pledged his love to her. As she reminisces on the couch, she is overtaken by a strange cold. Mephisto is here! Mephisto says he has come to claim Shalla Bal. He tells her he has the power to reunite her with the Silver Surfer. Shalla Bal makes a deal with Mephisto and accepts his offer.

Deviously, Mephisto transports Shalla Bal to a Zenn-Lavian space ship. They are headed for Earth. Soon, they see the Silver Surfer who has relented from his revenge. At that moment, the space ship approaches its speedy descent towards Earth which activates nuclear defenses. The Silver Surfer attacks the bases and destroys their missiles. But it is too late. The space ship is downed and Mephisto departs as Shalla Bal lays on the ground. The space ship hurtles towards Earth. Silver Surfer races to the Zenn-Lavian space ship, only to find his beloved. With a cosmic balm, he heals her. Now, Mephisto’s devious plan unravels.

Since the dawn of time, Mephisto has not sensed the purity he senses in the Silver Surfer and which he loathes. In order to have the final victory on the day of Armageddon, the Silver Surfer must die.

Mephisto must destroy the Silver Surfer but on his own terms and at a place of his choosing. The Prince of Lies transports Shalla Bal to the stygian depths. Silver Surfer tracks Mephisto to the stygian depths. In order to save Shalla Bal, Silver Surfer must battle Mephisto.

In an attempt to claim the Silver Surfer’s soul in bondage, Mephisto turns the Silver Surfer into a thought. Then, he implants the Surfer into his satanic brain. Mephisto seeks to bend the Silver Surfer to his will and claim his soul. However, the Silver Surfer’s purity hurts Mephisto and the Surfer is freed.

In a last effort, Mephisto asks the Silver Surfer to pledge his soul or else, he will send Shalla Bal to Zenn-La and the Silver Surfer will be separated from Shalla Bal forever. Shalla Bal explains to Silver Surfer that this is their victory: For their love to be true, it must be free of Mephisto’s bondage. In a last ditch effort, Silver Surfer attempts to touch Shalla Bal’s right hand but Mephisto does not grant even that. Silver Surfer’s love for Shalla Bal wins the battle, but he is heartbroken. And Mephisto has eternity to plan.