Lord of Cinder in American Comics

After treating his wounds and listening to the explanation about Ghost Rider, Johnny didn't stay any longer. He put his leather jacket back on and went outside.

Carter Slay chased after Johnny to the door and, watching him leave, asked, "Why did you sign the contract?"

Johnny turned around and said with a hint of helplessness, "I was just a child back then."

"So what did you get in return?"

Before I could even utter the answer 'heartbroken,' an uninvited guest interrupted from the side.

"He received Mephisto's promise to cure his father's cancer, and Mephisto fulfilled his promise, then let his father die in a performance accident..."

Geralt led Hill through the cemetery to the church entrance. This church, built by Carter Slade, possessed a unique protective power, much like Harry Potter's invisibility cloak. This church could make demons disappear in the face of evil, which was why Carter Slade had been able to evade Mephisto's pursuit for so many years.

Geralt finally turned his gaze to Catter Slay and said, "Catter Slay, the last Ghost Rider, I need to talk to you about something..."

Chapter 267: Negotiation

Carter Slade looked at the person in front of him, and the last bit of hellfire in his body fluctuated. It was filled with fear, as if it had encountered a being of a higher status than itself.

Geralt looked at Cat Slay's chest, where the flames at his heart were already on the verge of extinction. No wonder in the movie, after the Ghost Rider brought Johnny to San Venganza, he said that this was his last transformation.

Johnny, who was about to leave, looked at the two extra people in front of him and at Carter Slade's serious expression, and decided to stay and help.

Geralt looked at Carter Slay, who was blocking the doorway, and said, "What, aren't you going to invite me in?"

Suddenly, Geralt seemed to realize something, slapped his forehead, and said with a start, "This must be your sanctuary. Uninvited demons won't find it, nor can they enter..."

After saying that, Geralt went to Carter Slay's side, pushed him aside, and went inside.

Geralt walked around the small chapel, looking at the runes hidden in the bricks and stones. He felt that they were very similar to the arcane magic he had recently learned at the Dragon Academy, but much more advanced.

Geralt pulled up a chair and sat beneath the church icon, tilting his head back to look at the stained glass windows. "Can we talk, Carter Slay? Oh, and you too! Johnny, come in..."

Carter Slay's relief at Geralt's relaxed demeanor only made him feel heavier. He desperately wanted Johnny to leave, but Johnny, who hadn't fully mastered his powers, couldn't discern Geralt's immense strength.

Johnny walked into the church and even closed the door behind him, which nearly made Carter Slade spit out blood. This church only had this one wooden door as an entrance and exit; once the door was closed, no one outside would know if they were fighting to the death inside.

"Johnny, how is Mephisto now?"

Upon hearing Geralt's words, Johnny looked at Catter Slay, whom Geralt had described as another Ghost Rider. It was clear that Catter Slay had been telling Johnny's own story while stitching up his wounds.

Johnny still hopes to get Carter Slade's help in this conversation to avoid leaking any bad information.

Carter Slay didn't speak, but waited until he heard the sound of horses' hooves outside before he breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Carter Slay's state, Geralt shook his head and said, "Carter Slay, after all these years of hiding, can't you even recognize the footsteps of your own companions? Those aren't your horses outside..."

Carter Slay listened carefully, and sure enough, the sound of hooves was heavier and stronger than that of his old friend.

Johnny stood next to Carter Slade, looking at Carter Slade's wry smile, somewhat confused about the situation.

But Johnny still stood in front of Carter Slay, warning Geralt, "Sir, you'd better leave. After all, you don't want to run into two Ghost Riders, do you?"

To Geralt, Johnny's threat was nothing more than bluffing in front of Guan Yu. After looking around, Geralt drew a pistol from Hill's waist.

With a click, the pistol was cocked. Geralt placed the pistol on his lap and said to Johnny, "Who gave you the courage to threaten me? Even Mephisto wouldn't dare talk to me like that. If you interrupt again, I'll kill you every time you resurrect. Let's see when you go crazy like the vengeful spirit within you!"

The threat of the pistol was quite effective on the newly minted Ghost Rider; Johnny immediately shut his mouth, his eyes fixed on the pistol on Geralt's leg.

"who are you?"

Carter Slay finally spoke. He could sense that his old buddies outside had arrived. If anything went wrong, he could risk everything and transform into Ghost Rider once more at night.

"Me? Geralt from Fran, in charge of cleaning up anything that shouldn't exist. Haven't you seen the TV? There should be a report about me..."

Over a century of isolation in the cemetery has cut Carter Slay out of touch with the outside world, leaving him with only a few essential facts about the world’s changes.

When Johnny heard Geralt's name, he observed him carefully and then whispered it into Carter Slay's ear.

As Johnny spoke, Carter Slay scrutinized Geralt.

Suspicion had not subsided, and Carter Slay was not prepared to have much interaction with Geralt; he simply wanted to stall for time.

The chapel fell into silence, until Hill found a way to break the silence.

Hill found the video Geralt had filmed about Blackheart and played it for Carter Slay. Hearing Geralt's voice in the video and Blackheart's submissive demeanor, Carter Slay finally began to believe the person in front of him.

Carter Slay, just like Geralt, brought out a chair and sat down opposite Geralt.

Seeing Carter Slay's cooperation, Geralt nodded and said, "Very good, we have a way to communicate now. Who built this church for you? Ghost Rider doesn't have that kind of skill..."

The builder of the church? Carter Slye recalled the man, and even after hundreds of years, fear and unease lingered in his eyes.

Calming himself, Carter Slay said evasively, "She's a great mage. You'd better not inquire about her, or no one can protect you..."

Looking at Carter Slade's expression, Geralt understood; who else could it be...?

"Okay, I got it."

"You found out!?"

Carter Slay was somewhat surprised. That person was elusive and rarely seen. He himself had been dealt with badly back then. How could the person in front of him possibly know!

Geralt felt a little sorry for Carter Slay. He wondered what kind of beating the Ancient One had given him to be able to stay here peacefully for 150 years.

Johnny looked at the two of them cryptically, scratching his head in confusion.

Geralt tilted his head, looking at Hill who was also somewhat puzzled, and explained, "It should be the Ancient One, the Sorcerer Supreme, a bald woman in a monk's robe, the successor of Agamotto, and once the most powerful protector of Earth."

"Back then, he wielded two Vishanti swords, cutting his way from Midgard to Asgard, deceiving his way from Hell to the Dark Dimension without even blinking an eye..."

When Geralt uttered the name Ancient One, Carter Slay looked around in terror, as if the Ancient One might jump out from somewhere and beat him up again.

Pointing at Carter Slade's terrified behavior, Geralt raised an eyebrow and said to Hill, "See? The one who scared the Undying Ghost Rider is now retired at Dragon Academy. You might even see her again..."

Geralt held out his hand, snapping his fingers in front of Carter Slay to get his attention, and said, "Wake up, she's not here. If you want to see her, I have her phone number. You can call her..."

Shaking his head rapidly, Carter Slade rejected the suggestion, hurriedly saying, "No, no, no. Just tell me, what do you want to ask!"

Geralt asked Johnny, who was standing to the side, "Johnny, what did Mephisto look like when you saw him?"

Johnny, recalling what he'd seen Mephisto the previous night, replied, "Looks like him? An elderly man, probably in his fifties or sixties, moving slowly, using a cane..."

"Uh, to put it another way, how's his health? How much longer can he hold on? How bad are his dark circles? How strong is the smell of decay?"

"It's been about a week since I slept. As for the smell of decay, it's very faint, like the body odor of an elderly person..."

Johnny's answer gave Geralt a general understanding of Mephisto's current physical condition.

The heavier the eye sockets, the heavier the body, and the greater Old Mo's need for a new body. Decay represents the body's endurance; as soon as decay occurs, the body is on the verge of collapse.

No wonder that at the end of the movie, seeing Johnny's refusal, the old man gave up on his decision to extract the Soul of Vengeance from Johnny. The old man would not give up on Zatanos's soul; there was only one possibility: his current vessel could no longer withstand any power.

"Second question, Johnny, how many did you take down last night?"

“One of them could manipulate the soil and the earth. I set the chains on fire with hellfire and then trapped him. As he tried to break free, I burned him to death.”

Geralt was somewhat incredulous. You almost blew up half the factory, and you only killed one enemy? The young Ghost Rider still needs more practice.

Hearing Johnny's smugness, Carter Slade couldn't stand it anymore. He slapped Johnny to shut him up.

Geralt shook his head. It seemed there were still many enemies. He turned his gaze to Carter Slade and said, "Then let's talk about you, Carter Slade..."

"I don't understand what you mean..."

Carter Slade played dumb, trying to fool people, and had no intention of admitting what he had done.

Without beating around the bush, Geralt stated directly: "The San Venganza Pact! Do I need to elaborate?"

Carter Slay, speaking with the air of someone who'd been there all along, said, "That's not something you can get your hands on, and the contract isn't here. I hid it. Leave. This is Ghost Rider's business..."

"Where did you put your shovel?"

Geralt looked around, pretending to search, while Carter Slay gripped his shovel nervously, staring at Geralt.

“See, Carter Slay, you didn’t hide it properly at all. What I know, Mephisto definitely knows too. He just kept the contract a secret because he has a stupid son to fool…”

Geralt's words shattered Carter Slade's mental defenses. He had always thought he was hiding it well, but the person in front of him saw right through him.

Holding the shovel in his hand, Carter Slay stared at Geralt as if trying to read something from his eyes, and asked, "What do you want the contract for?"

"Of course, it's to cooperate with Mephisto to fool the Blackheart Demon!"

Upon hearing Geralt's words, Carter Slay pretended to hand the shovel to Geralt, then went to Geralt's side, only to swing the shovel directly at Geralt's head.

With a flash of sword light, Geralt used his longsword to cut the shovel in half, revealing the contract inside. Carter Slade stepped back, stuffed the contract into Johnny's arms, and pushed him to the door.

"Johnny, take the contract and leave this place, the farther the better. This old bone of mine can buy you some more time..."

Carter Shrew was in the shadows, his eyes beginning to turn slightly red, his Ghost Rider form about to erupt.

After Johnny went out, he retreated again under Carter Slade's surprised gaze.

Johnny quickly closed the door, leaned against it, and said, "They're all outside!"

Watching the two of them act out a scene from their own minds, Geralt asked with some confusion, "Have you misunderstood something?"

Chapter 268: The Pact of San Venganza

"Misunderstanding! You villain who made a deal with evil, God will not forgive you!"

Carter Slade spat fiercely at Geralt, gathering the last of his strength, preparing for a final, desperate fight in the shadows.

"I only said I was going to cooperate with Mephisto to fool the Darkheart Demon. I hadn't even finished speaking when you reacted so strongly? Besides, God has already been kicked off Earth by the Ancient One. No matter how much you pray, it won't help!"

Johnny and Carter Slay were both stunned, never expecting Geralt to say something like that.

Geralt watched as Carter Slay, hiding in the shadows and desperately gathering his power, remained seated in his chair, motionless. He gestured towards Carter Slay's chair and said, "Stop trying. You're only good for lighting a cigarette; you don't have the ability to fight to the death. Let's talk this over. I'll answer all your questions. And stop trying to cause trouble all the time, okay?"

Carter Slay, seeing Geralt's unwavering composure, stepped out of the shadows but still kept Johnny behind him, cautiously asking, "What do you want to do?"

"Kill the Blackheart Demon, seize the authority of Hell, then kill Mephisto's human form and force him back to Hell..."

Upon hearing Geralt's method, Carter Slade shook his head and said, "That's impossible. The Son of Hell is bound to Hell; he is an immortal being..."

"But who can blame Mephisto for being dissatisfied with this son of hell! Every day that the Blackheart Demon exists, it will take away a day's worth of hell's authority. Mephisto has been waiting for this opportunity. As long as we can kill him, Mephisto will provide you with all the help you need."

However, after hearing this, Carter Slay still shook his head and said, "You're too idealistic. The power is in Blackheart's hands. He's immune to Hellfire. Ghost Rider has no way to kill him; he can only banish him back to Hell..."

Pointing to the San Venganza Contract that Johnny was holding, Geralt said, "That's because Blackheart is attached to Hell. He doesn't have a soul of his own. If he absorbs the soul in the San Venganza Contract, he will be burned to death by Hellfire..."

Carter Slay shook his head and said, "You don't understand anything. The San Venganza Pact must never be touched. It contains the souls of fallen saints, enough for the Blackheart Demon to instantly create a hellish dimension..."

Carter Slay's explanation instantly brought Geralt to his senses. He had been relying too much on his memories of the movie, only thinking about how Darkheart absorbed souls and then suffered damage from Hellfire.