Chapter Ninety-One: Awakening

With the addition of the Bone Cowboy, a large portion of the attacks was instantly fended off.

The two generations of Ghost Riders—Carter Slade and Johnny Blaze—burst forth with similar yet distinctly different fighting styles. The blazing iron chain was hard and swift, while the flaming lasso was agile and ever-changing, as if two burning giant serpents clashed and battled, colliding with each other relentlessly. Shotguns and revolvers—modern and traditional—collided just as fiercely. Steel motorcycle and skeletal nightmare, two raging fires of vengeance intertwined madly, erupting spark after dazzling spark against the night sky.

Su Yan, transformed into the Child of the Weather, commanded hurricanes, torrential rain, thunder, and hail. Under his control, these extreme weather phenomena became surges of overwhelming power, unleashing themselves furiously upon Johnny. In Gu Zhongyan’s hand, the dragon bone wand glittered, casting countless complex and shifting spells with each movement.

The combined might of the three instantly suppressed the rampaging Ghost Rider. The bone-dry throat grated out an uneasy, furious screech.

They had managed to subdue the Ghost Rider, but Gu Zhongyan’s expression did not improve. Although both were Ghost Riders, Carter and Johnny did not possess equal strength. After more than a hundred and fifty years of wear, Carter’s power was greatly diminished. The result of their combined suppression would not last long.

He could, in this brief window, attempt to finish off the opponent for good. But the problem was, Johnny Blaze was no evildoer. From the way he kept repeating the same phrase, it was clear that the one fighting them now was not the true Johnny, but a body and puppet controlled by Mephisto.

Unless left with no choice, Gu Zhongyan did not wish to strike a fatal blow.

In the Marvel Universe, being mind-controlled, having one's body seized, was not at all uncommon for protagonists. Yet, similarly, they were often able to break free in particular circumstances, the so-called hero’s halo shining through.

Suppressing the Ghost Rider and listening to his furious roars, Gu Zhongyan opened his mind, reaching out with his psychic power to attempt contact with the true Johnny Blaze, buried deep within the Spirit of Vengeance.

“Johnny, can you hear me? We’re not your enemies. All of this is Mephisto’s plot. Wake up—please, wake up!”

In response to Gu Zhongyan’s call, the Ghost Rider only howled more furiously, the hellfire burning on his body flaring even more violently.

“Contract. Kill the sorcerer!”

Cold flames ignited within the Ghost Rider’s hollow eye sockets as he roared like a demon, his chain transforming into a fire dragon that seemed to devour the sky. With the clatter of iron, it broke through their three-way blockade and lashed fiercely toward Gu Zhongyan.

Gu Zhongyan was not surprised that a single phrase could not awaken Johnny Blaze. Flicking his wand to cast a powerful Protego, he blocked the Ghost Rider’s assault once again, and continued:

“Barton Blaze—Blazing Barton, do you remember? Your father. Mephisto tempted you with his cancer, remember that? You were California’s best stunt riders, the Blazing Father and Son.”

Unfortunately, the Ghost Rider still showed no response. The attacks of hellfire grew only fiercer.

At that moment, the Bone Cowboy’s ancient, eerie voice rasped out, bones grinding together.

“All right, boys, if you’ve got any trump cards left, I suggest you use them soon. I’m old—I can’t hold on much longer.”

Hearing this, Gu Zhongyan frowned, a trace of hesitation in his eyes, then raised his voice:

“Mr. Slade, please hold on a little longer. Let me try one last time. If it fails, I’ll subdue him.”

He took a deep breath, eyes turning white as his psychic power surged to its maximum.

“Hey Johnny, do you remember your girlfriend? What was her name? Susan, Anna, Leslie, Emma…”

Gu Zhongyan reeled off names as if he were a living name dictionary.

But the Ghost Rider remained unmoved.

In fact, his growing power made the hellfire on the Bone Cowboy flicker dangerously, clearly no longer able to suppress him as easily as before.

Gu Zhongyan refused to give up, continuing to alternate through names.

“Laura, Rosanne, Roy… Wait, was it Rosanne?”

Suddenly, when Gu Zhongyan mentioned Rosanne, the cold flame in the Ghost Rider’s empty sockets flickered faintly.

Gu Zhongyan’s spirits soared—he had finally found an opening to Johnny’s heart. Even as excitement surged through him, he couldn’t help but silently complain about the Marvel Universe’s quirks. Hearing his parents’ names while mind-controlled did nothing, but mentioning an ex-girlfriend got such a reaction—was this the mark of a true romantic, or just a “model son”?

“It’s Rosanne, isn’t it? Rosanne—do you remember her? Your former girlfriend, the one you planned to elope with, to run away and see the world together. Who stopped it? Who forced you and Rosanne apart, do you remember? Johnny?”

Gu Zhongyan spoke urgently.

With every repetition of “Rosanne,” the Ghost Rider’s reaction grew stronger. For the first time, hesitation appeared on that skeletal face.

“Ro… Rosanne?”

“Yes, Rosanne!” Gu Zhongyan replied quickly. “Rosanne, your first love. You’d give anything for her, wouldn’t you? Rosanne, Johnny’s beloved Rosanne—remember, Johnny, remember!”

“Rosanne… Johnny? Rosanne? Johnny…”

The Ghost Rider murmured, his attacks ceasing. The flames burning on his body gradually died down, and on that hollow face of bone, it seemed as if flesh was about to grow.

Seeing this, the Bone Cowboy and Su Yan both withdrew their attacks, landing beside Gu Zhongyan, watching the bewildered, weakening Ghost Rider with wary eyes.

“Expecto Patronum!”

Gu Zhongyan waved his wand, unleashing the sea of his mind. A silver sapling swayed joyfully in the vast ocean, its light radiating encouragement.

Bathed in that glow, the confusion in the Ghost Rider’s eyes faded, as if sunlight was dispelling the mist, and clarity began to shine through.

At last, the flames on his body extinguished completely, and on the bare white bones grew an impossibly handsome face that could make thousands swoon.

Johnny Blaze collapsed, drained, onto the scorched earth. As he looked at his restored hand and the motorcycle beside him, confusion filled his eyes once more.

He looked instinctively at the three before him and asked, “What in the world happened? What just happened to me?”

“That’s exactly what I want to ask you, Johnny Blaze,” Gu Zhongyan said sternly, “What happened between you and Mephisto?”