But after several generations, the church had changed hands.
The new priest knew nothing about the secret—
and even renovated the entire building.
The Contract of San Venganza was exposed once again.
Its presence resurfaced—
and Mephisto sensed it immediately.
The old Ghost Rider retrieved it before Mephisto could arrive, hiding it inside his shovel—the one used for digging graves.
Protective exorcism sigils etched into the metal blocked the contract's aura, preventing Mephisto and Blackheart from detecting it.
Lucas returned to his apartment at dawn, exhausted.
He didn't even bother washing up before collapsing into bed.
For the next three days, he remained alone in the office.
Skye and Wanda called to say they were staying in Boston to have fun for a few days.
Telling him not to worry.
Lucas had no choice but to play the lonely caretaker again—
passing time by brushing Moguri's fur with growing resentment.
The office door suddenly swung open.
Johnny rushed in, drenched in sweat and looking utterly frantic.
"Back from the cemetery?" Lucas asked.
Johnny nodded.
"That guy told me it was you who saved me after I passed out. Thanks."
Lucas waved it off casually.
"What's the rush? Something happen?"
He poured Johnny a glass of water.
"Yes. I need your help."
Johnny downed the water in one breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"My girlfriend—Roxanne—Blackheart kidnapped her. He wants to trade her for the Contract of San Venganza.
I'm worried I can't handle this alone. So… I'm asking you to come with me."
The Contract of San Venganza was already in Johnny's possession.
The previous Ghost Rider, Carter Slade, had handed it to him—
and even agreed to guide him to San Venganza itself.
The contract could only be used there, in the ruins of the old town, to summon the souls within it.
Lucas accepted immediately.
He was more than ready to stop spending his days brushing Moguri like a bored old man.
Johnny waited at the office until nightfall, after which the two headed to Carter Slade's graveyard in the outskirts.
When they arrived, Carter was already waiting.
His shovel—broken in half—exposed the true form of the contract hidden within.
Meanwhile, in a villa in New York, the elderly man possessed by Mephisto sensed the contract's awakening.
"So it finally appears…
I've been waiting a very long time."
His eyes glowed red as he gazed toward the outskirts.
Back at the graveyard, Carter handed the contract to Johnny, then entered his stable and brought out his black horse.
He mounted it effortlessly.
"Can your bike keep up with my pace?" he asked.
Johnny stepped on the throttle—
the engine roared to life, and in a burst of hellfire he transformed into the Ghost Rider.
"You've got a long way to go, boy."
Carter placed his cowboy hat on his head.
The moment it touched, flames erupted—
his entire body ignited in searing hellfire, transforming into a skeletal rider clad in a bullet-ridden duster.
The horse beneath him also ignited, becoming a blazing steed from Hell.
Its presence made Johnny's flaming chopper look like a toy in comparison.
Lucas's eyes widened.
Now that was a mount.
Stylish, intimidating—everything his current ride wasn't.
He glanced at Onion.
Witheringly.
Onion, noticing the stare, flipped over with a huff—throwing Lucas off before turning its head away in indignation.
The bird stared at the hell-steed with blazing battle intent.
Lucas sighed.
Great. The oversized chicken is jealous.
"Alright, alright… how could that horse compare to you?"
Lucas stroked Onion's neck soothingly.
"I was just looking. That thing's probably scorching hot to sit on.
You're way more comfortable to ride. Right?"
Onion calmed instantly, pressing its big head against Lucas.
Once the bird stopped sulking, Lucas climbed back onto its back.
"Let's move."
Carter checked the sky.
Midnight was still three hours away—enough time to reach the ruins of San Venganza.
The three riders shot across the land, flames and light streaking through the night, leaving New York behind as they sped west.
After two hours, they reached the outskirts of a forest—
the remnants of the town lay hidden atop the hill at its center.
"This is as far as I go," Carter said.
His flames were flickering, weak.
His mount was breathing hard.
Lucas knew why.
Carter Slade should have died long ago.
Only the fragment of the Spirit of Vengeance lingering in him had kept him alive—
and now that remnant was spent.
"Remember," Carter said, turning toward Johnny,
"don't believe a single word Mephisto says.
Believe in yourself."
"Thank you," Johnny murmured.
The fire on his skull dimmed in sorrow.
"I'm off, boy.
And make sure you save your gir—ahh—"
Carter's voice faded as his body dissolved into fire.
The breeze scattered it into the night.
Nothing remained.
"We're on our own now," Lucas said softly.
He cast one final glance toward the place Carter had vanished, then stepped into the forest.
Johnny followed.
The forest felt dead.
Rotting trees, stagnant marshes—
everything decayed, lifeless.
"Stay alert.
The Wind Demon and Water Demon will be waiting."
Lucas warned.
The Earth Demon was gone, but the other two had escaped.
Blackheart would certainly send them to ambush—or steal the contract.
The deeper they walked, the darker the forest became.
A sudden wind howled.
Rotten leaves rustled.
Ghastly wailing resounded through the trees.
"They're here," Lucas said quietly.
Johnny reached for his chain—
A streak tore through the air.
The Wind Demon appeared, passing straight through Johnny's body, dragging him into the sky—
then dropping him.
Johnny transformed midair, plummeting like a meteor wreathed in fire.
He crashed into the ground—
BOOM—
a crater opened instantly.
The Wind Demon glided down, peering in.
WHOOM—
A burst of hellfire erupted from the hole.
A blazing chain shot out, wrapping around the Wind Demon and slamming him violently into a tree—
then another—
then another.
He crashed through several trunks before regaining form.
Lucas stepped forward—
and instantly something seized his ankle.
A transparent hand rose from a shallow puddle, yanking him into a nearby swamp.
"Lucas!"
The Ghost Rider surged forward, swinging his chain toward the mire—
SHH—
The Wind Demon reappeared in front of him, landing a heavy blow that sent him flying.
Wind blades materialized all around—
dozens of them.
They rained down on the Ghost Rider like detonating bombs—
explosions bursting across his body—
even scattering the hellfire burning across his bones.
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