Ghost Rider

"You'll find out soon enough."

Wang Nanxuan Activated the power of the pact. A dim, lightless figure resembling an Angel made of flames flew out of Carter Slade's body. It was the Spirit of Vengeance.

The Spirit of Vengeance had originally been God's Angels, sent to Earth at God's command to Clean Up sin. Later, they and the Demons were both Severely Injured in battle. Mephisto stole some of the wounded Vengeance Angels and turned them into fallen Spirits of Vengeance.

With the Spirit of Vengeance leaving his body, Old Cowboy fell into extreme weakness. Looking at the Spirit of Vengeance that had plagued him for half his life, he cursed, "So this is what you look like. Ugly as hell."

The Spirit of Vengeance was thoroughly Annoyed and tried to struggle, but it could not break free from Wang Nanxuan's control.

Wang Nanxuan did not waste time. He absorbed the Spirit of Vengeance into his body, then used the power of a Hell Lord to forcibly erase its consciousness.

Wang Nanxuan closed his eyes, then opened them moments later. His eyes blazed with Hellfire, which swiftly spread over his entire body, making him look like the Human Torch.

However, Wang Nanxuan did not turn into a Skull like the Ghost Riders. Unlike them, he controlled the Spirit of Vengeance.

"Very good."

Wang Nanxuan withdrew the flames and took out Blackheart's statue again. With a wave of his hand, a beam of black light flew from the statue and entered Slade's body. The Old Cowboy, who had been on the verge of death, immediately regained his health.

Blackheart was so furious he nearly went berserk. "Using my power again?"

"Old Cowboy, cherish your last year of life. Don't get involved in too much."

Wang Nanxuan snapped his fingers, and Slade passed out. Wind Demon said coldly, "Lord, shall I kill him? That wouldn't violate the pact."

"I don't make a habit of breaking promises. Besides, keeping him alive isn't a bad thing. He can help us stall the Ghost Rider."

Wang Nanxuan gave Wind Demon a cold glance. Wind Demon smiled awkwardly and did not dare say anything further.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Nanxuan took out two clusters of flames and handed them to Earth Demon and Water Demon. "Earth Demon, take this flame and go as far away as possible. Water Demon, go to the television station in the city and find a woman named Roxanne. Don't hurt her. Wait for my orders."

Wang Nanxuan was leaving himself a way out. If the coming battle ended in failure, these two clusters of flames would allow him to rise again. No matter what, he could not be driven back into Hell completely.

"Yes, Lord."

Though Earth Demon and Water Demon did not understand why, they quickly departed with the flames. Then Wang Nanxuan said to Wind Demon, "Wind Demon, take me to San Venganza Village."

San Venganza Village had been a village that worshipped God for generations. Every villager had been a devout believer in God. Later, Mephisto promised them immortality and incited them to slaughter one another. In the end, more than a thousand people died, including the elderly and children.

Those souls, filled with Corruption Power, had remained trapped in San Venganza Village. Whoever held the San Venganza Pact could collect their souls and construct a Lesser Hell on Earth.

Mephisto had nearly succeeded, but Carter Slade, whom he had sent to collect the souls, betrayed him and fled with the pact. That was why so much had happened now.

"Yes, Lord."

Wind Demon answered respectfully. His earlier respect had come from fear, but now it carried a measure of genuine admiration. This lord's methods were truly extraordinary.

Wind Demon then transformed into a raging gale and led the way, with Wang Nanxuan Follow Closely behind.

Meanwhile, in nearby Rocket City, a Harley motorcycle engulfed in blazing fire and cool beyond belief was speeding along, leaving a straight, dazzling trail of flame behind it.

The motorcycle's owner was a flaming Skeleton clad in leather and wrapped in chains. He was Johnny Blaze. In his youth, Mephisto had deceived him into signing a pact and becoming Mephisto's Ghost Rider—Mephisto had promised to cure his father, yet his father died in an accident the very next day.

"Get to San Venganza Village now. Blackheart has the pact."

Mephisto's urgent voice rang in Johnny's mind. Without Michael's holy power suppressing it, the location of the San Venganza Pact could no longer be hidden from him.

To Tell the Truth, Mephisto was baffled. How had that idiot gotten the pact so quickly? Had his stupid son finally figured things out? Should he feel gratified, or should he curse at the top of his lungs?

It was Johnny's first transformation, and his reason was completely controlled by the Spirit of Vengeance. The Spirit of Vengeance let out a roar, accelerated at full speed, and sent the police cars trying to intercept him exploding amid the flames.

Even more outrageously, when he reached an artificial lake, Ghost Rider did not go around it at all. He drove straight across the water. Newton was probably about to burst out of his coffin.

San Venganza Village had long since become ruins. As Wang Nanxuan walked through them, his ears were filled with wails and shrieks of Ghosts.

"A bunch of greedy fools. Still, I have your greed to thank, or I'd never have had a chance to escape my predicament."

Wang Nanxuan muttered to himself. He had not seized the San Venganza Pact to become some ruler. He wanted to enter Earth without restrictions. He had endured enough of this year of loneliness, not to mention that Earth possessed an enormous number of souls.

Wang Nanxuan did not waste time. He took out the pact and prepared to collect the souls. Just then, accompanied by the roar of a motorcycle engine, Ghost Rider made his official entrance.

Seeing Wang Nanxuan about to open the pact, Ghost Rider immediately hurled a blazing fireball at him. Wang Nanxuan sidestepped it. As he forcibly Activated the pact, he complained, "Does it really have to be this perfect?"

Mephisto appeared out of thin air. Staring at Wang Nanxuan, he asked in shock, "You're not Blackheart. Which layer of Hell are you the lord of? Why does your aura feel so unfamiliar?"

Wang Nanxuan did not answer. As the pact Activated, densely packed Ghosts emerged around them. Letting out strange cries that sounded both excited and relieved, they rushed toward Wang Nanxuan.

"Stop him!"

Mephisto screamed. Ghost Rider was about to charge forward on his motorcycle when a mass of raging wind slammed into him, knocking him off the bike and onto the ground.

Ghost Rider immediately climbed up and swung his Flame Chains at Wind Demon, who had transformed into a gale. Yet the Flame Chains swept through Wind Demon without harming him at all.

"Ha ha ha, you can't hurt me."

Wind Demon laughed smugly and rushed forward, sending Ghost Rider flying once more. At the same time, a voice rode the wind into Ghost Rider's ears. "Ghost Rider, do you remember Roxanne from Rocket City? Water Demon has gone to find her."

"You dare?"

Ghost Rider roared furiously. Johnny Blaze's consciousness awakened and fought desperately against the Spirit of Vengeance's will—Roxanne was his ex-girlfriend, the one he was filled with guilt over.

At the same time, vast numbers of souls Poured Into Wang Nanxuan's body. He used them to construct a Minor Hell. Once it succeeded, that Minor Hell would connect to his own Hell, and Kamar-Taj's formation would no longer be able to stop him.

Seeing Ghost Rider tied up, Mephisto grew frantic. After some thought, he decided to call the police!

That was right, call the police—but not ordinary police. He was reporting it to Kamar-Taj.

"Ancient One, someone is building a Minor Hell on Earth. Are you going to do something about it or not?"

Mephisto shouted at the sky. Everyone present, including Wang Nanxuan, stared at Mephisto in stunned disbelief. A Hell Lord was actually calling Kamar-Taj for help? Did he have any shame at all?