New York, Midtown Financial Building
Since the last demonic invasion, this location had been strictly controlled. The entire building stood abandoned, surrounded by high metal barriers. In the first-floor lobby, several guards passed the time, bored out of their minds.
Suddenly, several dark shapes flashed past. When they turned to check on their fellow guards, they discovered each had an arrow protruding from their necks.
One guard stumbled toward the alarm panel, only to collapse as an arrow pierced his knee. Throughout the hall, every guard had fallen to their knees, clutching their throats in terror, trying to speak but producing no sound.
With their final breath, they witnessed two figures materialize in the dim lobby.
"Your accuracy is improving."
"Previously, I aimed with my eyes. Now, I aim with my heart!"
The two figures descended to the second basement tier via the stairwell, where the Snakeroot Priests had performed their demonic ritual.
One figure closed his eyes, sensing the environment, before announcing with satisfaction: "The dimensional barrier here is significantly weaker than elsewhere. This requires far less energy than anticipated."
"Then let's begin."
Edge of New York City, Frost's Blood Demon Altar
In the center of the underground altar stood a figure cloaked in black. To everyone's astonishment, the surrounding bleachers were packed with... vampires to be precise.
Even more shocking was that all these vampires knelt in defeat—clearly prisoners of war! Behind them stood a row of grotesque yet terrifying... demons!
The cloaked figure raised his arms and bellowed, "Execute them!"
Instantly, the demons raised their blades and began decapitating vampires one by one. Rivers of blood flowed across the altar as dark magical energy surged.
The figure laughed maniacally. "Come forth, forces of hell! I've prepared a magnificent feast for you!"
Avengers Base, Hudson River
A spider-like mechanical construct burst from the water's surface. Atop the metallic creature, a slender pole extended, supporting a surveillance camera. After confirming the area was clear, the mechanical spider traversed to relatively solid ground.
Its back panels suddenly opened, assembling into large platforms. Upon the surface, an intricate hexagram pattern manifested.
The hexagram blazed with light as a small platform rose from its center, bearing crystalline white sand.
"Poof!"
The sand scattered into the air, creating a pale mist. Within the haze, faint blue luminescence flickered sporadically.
San Vanganza
As Blackheart spoke the final incantation: "All souls, come to me!"
A violent black tempest erupted around them. Throughout the crumbling ruins, countless malevolent spirits coiled within dense obsidian fog, circling above the church. Their wails and howls seemed to embody all earthly evil in solid form.
Jason and his team felt an existential dread wash over them at the sight. They finally comprehended the true meaning of hell on earth.
Professor X released the slightest probe of his power before breaking into cold sweat. "They... they're... Oh, God!"
Wolverine unsheathed his adamantium claws with a metallic snikt, eyes narrowing as he watched the swirling evil spirits. He sneered, voice low and rough.
"Save the prayers, Professor. No point lettin' God watch the mess He made finally do its job."
Evil spirits soared through the air, some diving directly into Blackheart, merging with his essence.
Jason sighed and mused aloud, "Why not me? I also possess a powerful and attractive body."
At that moment, Jean spoke up. "Their howling... seems repetitive..."
The Professor furrowed his brow, closed his eyes in concentration, then suddenly opened them.
"I could only decipher fragments. They seem to be pleading for... absolution... the flesh... agony... and... devils."
Wolverine shook his head grimly. "They're begging God for forgiveness. Tragically, they don't realize that God Himself played a role in their torment, so how can He absolve them?"
Professor X frowned deeply. "What exactly are you insinuating about God?"
Wolverine took a steadying breath. "You can read my thoughts."
The Professor hesitated before nodding reluctantly. Those privy to the tale exchanged knowing glances but remained silent. Jason watched the Professor, anticipating his reaction.
Sure enough, the Professor's complexion drained of color as he coughed violently. "Logan!"
At that instant, the airborne evil spirits began streaming collectively into Blackheart's form. He cackled with delight as he felt his power surge.
"Hahaha, magnificent, so magnificent! Father! You could never have foreseen that I would acquire such tremendous power! This is enough to dethrone you, and now it's mine! Just wait—I'll dominate Hell, and even you will have to bow before me!"
After howling triumphantly at the sky, Blackheart regarded the heroes before him with dismissive amusement.
A contemptuous smirk crossed his features. "You truly believe you can defeat me? You don't even qualify to serve as my underlings!"
Jason blinked in surprise. Have you always been this delusional?
Do you realize who you're facing?
The great savior of New York, the host of the Phoenix Force, humanity's most powerful telepath, and...
Several other exceptionally formidable beings!
Jason turned to Charles and Jean, pointed to his head, and commanded, "You two, restrain him mentally!"
With that declaration, he surged forward.
Blackheart formed a cruel smile, about to unleash his evil spirit power with a gesture...
But nothing happened! The evil spirits within him seemed frozen. How was this possible?
Before he could process this, a fist connected with his face, sending him flying backward.
Jason closed the distance in three strides, mounting Blackheart and pounding his face with clenched fists.
From behind, the Professor strained, "Hurry... the evil spirits are fighting back..."
Jean's eyes glowed crimson as if something threatened to emerge.
Hearing the warning, Jason clamped Blackheart's face with an iron grip. His eyes ignited as he activated the Eye of Judgment!
In that moment, Blackheart felt reality itself halt.
Every evil deed he'd committed, every life he'd taken, appeared before him sequentially. Each victim extended grasping arms as if to drag him to eternal damnation!
"No!"
He screamed in terror.
Only then did he realize the young man possessed Ghost Rider's Eye of Judgment too!
Having absorbed a thousand evil spirits, he now bore a thousand guilty souls within!
Just as death's shadow threatened to consume him, the judgment abruptly ceased!
"Hand them over to me—the damned don't escape judgment!"
Blackheart didn't understand why those words escaped him. But that phrase became a beacon in darkness, snapping him to action.
He directed every evil spirit within to assault the man!
I refuse!
Evil spirits filled the sky once more. But now, they had found a new host.
Seeing Jason about to be consumed by the spectral horde, Johnny, Wolverine, and the others instinctively moved forward—only for the Professor to halt them with an outstretched hand.
Though he couldn't access Jason's thoughts, the Professor sensed his emotions clearly: pure elation.
Jason was overjoyed. Because the system continuously chimed with notifications.
[The system has detected a gift from Blackheart. Do you wish to extract it?]
[Congratulations on receiving Blackheart's gift: Evil Spirit.]
[The system has detected a gift from Blackheart. Do you wish to extract it?] …
The system's notifications sang like a beautiful symphony.
When the chiming ceased, Jason had claimed all thousand evil spirits.
Blackheart stared in disbelief at the spectacle before him.
How could someone absorb a thousand evil spirits without being transformed at all?
Jason gazed down at the subdued demon. Despite absorbing the thousand evil spirits, the system only rated him as [Diamond] tier—failing to reach [King] tier.
Therefore, Jason had chosen the thousand evil spirits over a Diamond-tier gift.
Now Blackheart had degraded to [Platinum] status, equal to Abomination's tier.
Apparently, as Mephisto's son, he truly was rather underwhelming. No wonder his father always underestimated him.
Jason concentrated, channeling hellfire through his palm.
Sensing mortal danger, Blackheart immediately shouted, "Do you know who I am? I'm the son of the Hell Lord! If you dare eliminate me, you'll curse yourself with endless calamity! My father, Mephisto, will never forgive you..."
Jason looked down at him and smiled. "Hell's devils have no jurisdiction in the mortal realm. If he's foolish enough to pursue me here, I'll personally send him back where he belongs!"
Hellfire gradually spread, reducing Blackheart to ash amid his terrified screams!
Everything concluded, and the Avengers prepared to depart.
Jason and Johnny held a private discussion.
After thoughtful consideration, Johnny chose to relinquish this power. Recent events had completely shattered his worldview.
Whether serving the devil to spread chaos or serving God to uphold justice, neither path held true meaning anymore.
Moreover, he'd always resented this power obtained through infernal bargaining. It felt as though he'd sacrificed his father's life for it.
Every utilization reminded him of guilt and remorse.
Therefore, after Johnny transformed into Ghost Rider and directed hellfire at Jason without reservation, the system extracted the power from his essence.
Meanwhile, Jason's Spirit of Vengeance evolved.
[Spirit of Vengeance: Eyes of Judgment: Sinner's Execution, Hellfire: Wings of Infernal Flame, Immortality, Soul Resurrection.]
The Eye of Judgment and Hellfire both advanced, plus gaining a new ability: Soul Resurrection. This power could revive the recently deceased. However, conditions applied: First, the body must remain largely intact. Second, the soul must be destined for hell!
In essence, this skill could only steal from hell itself!
Well, this brings me one step closer to open war with hell.
The whole bombing-hell operation becomes increasingly viable.
Johnny departed on his motorcycle with Roxanne.
Jason approached the Blackbird. He was the final one to board as everyone awaited him. He suddenly paused.
According to the film's narrative, Blackheart had three lieutenants. Johnny had eliminated the Earth Demon, leaving only Wind and Water. Why hadn't they appeared?
"Beep!"
Wolverine materialized at the aircraft entrance. "Jason, New York's under attack!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more than 60 chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~