American Horror Story: A Tale of Terror from Silent Hill

Chapter 186 Contract
"Please don't blame him, Johnny is still a child." Carter Slay couldn't help but plead for Johnny.

Having prepared to complete the final leg of his journey, Carter Slade appeared relaxed and relieved.

Baling placed his hand on Carter Slade's shoulder and said calmly:

"Don't worry, I won't kill him. I know he didn't want to do it, but he had no choice."

"That's good. I'm ready, let's go."

Carter Slade had long been prepared to go, and in the blink of an eye, the final Hellfire was unleashed.

However, it is not a transformation, but rather giving up resistance.

The greedy devouring began instantly; Baling never resisted the snacks offered to her.

The hellfire was instantly drawn from the old cowboy into Baling's palm, flowing into an invisible, black hole-like vortex deep within his soul.

"I am about to grasp the secrets of Hellfire. Carter Slade, you can go to Heaven. Once you're there, if you encounter any difficulties, just call my name, and it will surely help."

Baling is giving farewell messages.

"May Heaven guide you and me." Carter Slade gently removed his cowboy hat, bowed slightly, and turned to walk into the invisible void.

A strong horse was already waiting for him, and the two figures gradually became transparent until they disappeared.

gone.

Carter Slade is in heaven.

After watching him leave, Baling devoted all his energy to refining the newly devoured hellfire.

Carter Slade's Hellfire, though small in quantity, was pure enough, and some of his personal insights were also passed on.

Baling was completed in a short time.

Compared to forcibly plundering, giving voluntarily is much more efficient.

"Uu——!"

A sharp whistle blew, and the clattering of hooves drew closer.

"Boss, Little Pearl is here!" The pure white horse galloped over.

With the old man's death clearly imminent, Baling provided end-of-life care and ultimately chose this method of farewell, allowing Baling to carry this hellfire and burn it once more.

Therefore, Baling summoned Little Ma Pearl in advance, in preparation for today.

A knight without a horse cannot be considered a qualified knight.

Baling: "Are you ready? It might get a little hot."

Little Horse: "I'm ready. I'm not afraid of the heat, boss, please mold me."

The hellfire belonging to Baling has begun.

Hellfire erupted from the inside out, and flesh and blood, under the intense heat, quickly melted into fuel, making the fire even more ferocious.

At this moment, a pain that seemed to burn deep into the soul surged forth like a tide, wave after wave of agony.

Baling's unwavering will, as steadfast as a rock, instantly overcame the pain and completed the transformation.

Ghost Rider, activate!
The pale skull was engulfed in burning hellfire; after the flesh and blood were burned away, only the white skeleton remained.

This form is the perfect fit for the power of Hellfire.

Flames spread from the body to the pony beneath him, turning the pale sculpture red-hot, like burning charcoal, with flickering flames.

Spiderweb-like cracks covered the entire body, and the surface of the white horse's body broke off, sculpted into a tall horse-shaped skeleton as the hellfire flowed—the Skull Horse.

"Whoosh! Such powerful strength! I have become the best among horses, a true fighting emperor among horses!" Little Pony Pearl's eyes blazed with hellfire, and her whole body was filled with inexhaustible energy.

"Stop showing off, let's get going!"

"Order!"

Hooves reared up, and Pearl's hooves moved swiftly, each step a fiery trail of tracks. The direction of her gallop—San Van González.

……

San Van González town.

This is a land forgotten by God. A hundred years ago, a group of residents who killed each other out of greed gathered here after death and were trapped by a contract.

The place was deserted and eerily cold; the narrow path and withered branches and roots presented an atmosphere of decay and death.

Just like this lifeless little town.

The buildings here have an ancient architectural style, and houses are built with bricks and stones everywhere.

There is no moonlight tonight, but Johnny has already arrived here, carrying a century-old contract.

Mephisto had been waiting for some time, leaning on his cane.

Why wait? Because he needs to face Johnny, the Ghost Rider he created, closer to dawn.

Mephistopheles's body, which walks among mortals, is already very old. If a real fight were to break, his old bones would fall apart after just a few bumps.

Therefore, we must use our wits, rather than relying solely on brute force like hot-blooded young people.

Fighting is not suitable for him at this stage.

He was only there to retrieve the contract and, incidentally, the Spirit of Vengeance, and to choose new knights to work for him.

Rumble!
The roar of motorcycles was getting closer, and the firelight in the night illuminated the dark town.

Johnny, he's here.

"Mephisto, I'm here." Johnny, sporting a skull head, looked fierce.

“Johnny, you’ve come at the right time. Hand over the contract. As agreed, I will reclaim Ghost Rider’s power and return your soul,” Mephisto said calmly, gazing at the dawning sky.

Time is on his side.

Johnny reached into his jacket, took out the contract, and tossed it into the air.

As Mephisto's gaze shifted to the contract, Johnny suddenly launched a sneak attack, violently swinging the chains at him.

The flaming chains pierced through a burst of black mist, and Mephisto soared into the sky, catching the contract. His body, now transformed into black mist, immediately moved away from Johnny's attack range.

“Johnny, my finest knight, why have you done this?” Mephisto questioned Johnny’s actions with his aged eyes. “Don’t you want to reclaim your soul and live a peaceful life?”

"Answer me!" Mephisto roared.

Johnny responded by continuously throwing small fireballs from hell with his hands, his face resolute, as if he were going to fight with all his might.

"Old man, don't even think about controlling me. This power no longer belongs to you. I will use fire to fight you and thwart your schemes. You are the one who deserves to go to hell!"

Five or six small fireballs flew in one after another.

Mephisto's movements were unpredictable, always managing to easily evade Johnny's attacks.

“It seems you’ve made the most irrational decision,” Mephisto said, raising his cane and pointing the end at Johnny.

At this moment, a large amount of sunlight shone on the dilapidated town.

Once removed from the protection of darkness, Johnny's hellfire melted away quickly in the sunlight, like spring snow melting away.

Ghost Rider, shut it down!
Johnny, having exited his transformed form, lost his immense power.

But don't panic, there's still hope. Johnny slipped into the shadows.

Ghost Rider, activate!
Huddled in a dark corner, Johnny continued to launch fireballs remotely with cunning intent.

Mephisto, an old man, dared not risk rushing into the shadows for close combat, and his physical body also did not allow him to unleash his full power.

The situation reached a stalemate for a time.

(End of this chapter)