Johnny finally chose the more balanced option.
He had waited so long for this chance. There was no way he could give it up easily.
Even knowing there was danger, he couldn't let go of the obsession in his heart. That obsession was exactly what allowed him to complete the world-record jump earlier.
What Johnny didn't know was that just seconds after he left the stage, that record was tied.
If the track had been a little longer, Morin might have broken it on the spot.
Morin didn't care about things like that.
With his strength, it was practically an adult bullying a child.
Still.
It felt good.
"The next performance?" Roxanne frowned. "Why not now?"
"Huh?" Johnny froze.
This wasn't right.
How was he supposed to follow that up?
If he agreed, there was danger.
If he refused, how was he supposed to explain it?
Johnny hesitated.
"Well... I have something very important to deal with soon," he finally said truthfully. "It'll take some time."
He couldn't say more.
All he could do was summarize it as "important matters."
"I was hoping that after I finish handling it, I could..."
"What matter?" Roxanne pressed. "Years ago, you left me because you hit the lowest point of your life. I could understand that."
"But now?"
"Why-"
"Roxanne!" Johnny interrupted her.
His eyes were filled with pain.
And pleading.
"Don't say it. I'm sorry, but I really can't tell you what this is about."
"I have to resolve this first."
"Only then can I do what I truly want to do."
"What do you mean by 'what you truly want to do'?" Roxanne frowned.
She caught too much from his words.
Years of journalistic instinct kicked in.
"Is someone restricting your freedom?"
"Is someone forcing you to do things you don't want to do?"
"You should've told me earlier!"
"I'm a journalist. I know influential people. I can help you!"
"Tell me-"
"Roxanne."
Johnny held her shoulders and looked straight into her eyes.
"Listen to me. Not even the President of the United States can solve this."
"You can't imagine what I've been through. Or what's happening."
"You wouldn't believe me."
"You'd think I was lying."
"When everything is over, I'll explain it."
"But for now... please trust me."
"Next time I perform, I'll tell you everything."
Because of what Morin had said earlier, Johnny wasn't blinded by emotion like in the original timeline.
He didn't rush to rekindle the relationship.
He chose to wait.
The devil not appearing for so many years had lowered his guard.
But Morin's reminder brought it all back.
He was still human.
And his soul still belonged to the devil.
"...Alright," Roxanne finally nodded.
"Great!" Johnny was so excited he almost jumped.
He pulled her close and kissed her wildly.
"This is the highway!" Roxanne snapped back to reality just in time.
She pushed him away and pointed at the long line of cars stuck behind them.
Some people had even gotten out to watch.
"Is today really not okay?"
"...I really want to," Johnny said seriously.
"But I can't."
"Alright," Roxanne said, getting into her car.
"I'll be at the next performance."
"Don't break your promise again."
"It won't happen," Johnny laughed.
Her car drove off.
Only then did the onlookers realize who he was.
They rushed over with pens and paper.
Johnny, in an excellent mood, signed for everyone.
He only left after traffic police arrived to clear the congestion.
A fine was inevitable.
Johnny didn't care.
He drove off the highway, gathered himself, and headed toward the address written on the ticket.
What he didn't notice-
From start to finish-
Someone had been watching him.
A balding old man with white hair.
Mephisto.
"My Rider..." Mephisto narrowed his eyes.
"Do you want to rebel against fate?"
"Do you want to escape my grasp?"
As a Lord of Hell, Mephisto wasn't helpless.
"In that case..."
"Prepare to face my fury."
He roared.
And vanished.
...
"Are you sure you can do this?"
Inside the small church, Carter Slade hesitated.
The plan Morin had laid out was extremely mature.
Carter couldn't find any loopholes.
That was exactly what worried him.
Too many steps relied entirely on Morin.
"Look at this," Morin said.
He directly injected memories of Blackheart's arrival into Carter's mind.
Facts spoke louder than words.
Carter immediately recognized Mephisto.
Then-
He saw what happened next.
Morin's absolute suppression of Blackheart and the three demons.
No movement.
No visible technique.
They simply collapsed.
If Mephisto hadn't arrived later to negotiate...
Morin could have killed them all alone.
Carter stood stunned.
"Why did you trade with Mephisto?" he asked after regaining himself.
"If they get the contract-"
"The Contract of San Venganza," Morin nodded.
"I know."
"It's part of the plan."
"Even if they get it, they won't beat me."
"I just want to use what Mephisto wants... against him."
"And make him pay."
"For everyone hurt."
"And for myself."
"I want to help," Carter smiled bitterly.
"But I can't do much."
"With your strength, you could finish this alone."
"I broke the contract. Mephisto took the Spirit of Vengeance back."
"I only have one transformation left."
"I can't help in battle."
"I know," Morin smiled.
"I didn't come for that."
"I need props."
"And nominal 'rewards.'"
"To satisfy the rules my master left behind."
"Only then can I act."
"Rules?" Carter didn't understand.
"Prerequisites," Morin said casually.
"More importantly..."
"I want to help you."
"Help me?" Carter looked up.
"Fulfill your final wish."
Morin glanced at the mural of Saint Michael.
"You've spent years repenting."
"I won't judge you."
"But I can make sure that when you die..."
"You die fighting the devil."
"...Thank you," Carter said after a long silence.
"It's nothing."
In Morin's eyes, Carter deserved this.
His only real mistake was signing a contract out of greed.
After that, he hunted only evil souls.
And he even dared to rebel.
No matter how you looked at it-
He deserved a proper ending.
One Mephisto would never forget.
A motorcycle's engine approached.
"He's here," Morin said.
"Convince him. Then start the plan."
"I'll tell him everything," Carter nodded.
"Good," Morin replied.
"I still need to handle something."
"To prevent Mephisto from pulling tricks."
A flash of teleportation light.
Morin vanished.
Stability always came first.
Especially when dealing with Mephisto.
Every opening had to be sealed.
This time-
The barrel would be airtight.
...
Johnny arrived at the cemetery.
He knew this place.
His father was buried here.
"You're here," an old man in cowboy clothes said, holding a shovel.
"I'm looking for-"
"I'm who you're looking for," Carter replied.
"He had other things to handle."
"Come with me."
"Everything you want to know-I know."
Inside the hut, Carter explained everything.
The Ghost Rider.
The contract.
And Morin's plan.
Elsewhere-
Roxanne returned to her hotel.
As she entered the lobby, an old man called out.
"Ma'am," Mephisto smiled.
"You might need some help."
"...What?" Roxanne stopped.
"About Johnny Blaze," Mephisto said softly.
"...Go on."
But before she could move, Mephisto placed papers on the table.
"These are confidential."
"Please sign here."
Roxanne picked one up.
The paper edge cut her finger.
Blood stained the page.
"That's enough..."
Mephisto smiled.
He vanished.
"Huh?"
Roxanne froze.
The cut was real.
But no one else saw anything.
Tired.
That was her conclusion.
She returned to her room.
Behind her-
An unseen shadow laughed.
As the elevator doors closed, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"There's a saying called 'repeating an old trick,'" Morin said, retracting his telepathy.
"The situation is decided."
From the very start, Morin's mental network had covered everyone around Johnny.
Mephisto's power on Earth was limited.
Likely by the Ancient One.
That gave Morin room to act.
Mephisto would watch Johnny closely.
That was exactly what Morin wanted.
The bait was intentional.
From here on-
Step by step.
When Mephisto believed victory was certain-
He would fall.
The conditions were perfect.
And with everything the Ancient One had prepared...
Failure was unacceptable.
Find Advance chapters
And for More Fan fiction
👇
👇
[Support link: pat reon.com/RioRaRyu]
------------
More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 250 power stones = Bonus Chapter
Give me more Power Stones
------------