Old Carter's eyes widened. "How do you know about that?"
Jason smiled slightly. "What, no one told you I'm a priest?"
He gestured toward the angel statue in the cemetery. "You are protected by angels, and I am guided by God!"
Old Carter looked skeptical at best.
Jason snapped his fingers, and the Avengers immediately surrounded the old man. "Clang~" Wolverine's adamantium claws extended with a metallic ring.
Johnny Blaze's expression shifted to something between disbelief and concern. Damn, is this guy actually a superhero or just a career criminal? Are you seriously planning to intimidate an old man with a whole team?
"Old Carter, first of all, I have nothing against you personally. I just believe you can't protect the contract. For the safety of the entire world, I'm convinced that only I can ensure it doesn't fall into demonic hands. As long as you surrender the contract, we won't lay a finger on you!"
Old Carter's beard quivered with indignation.
Just then, the sun completely set behind the horizon, and darkness began to claim the sky.
Suddenly, a bone-chilling wind swept through the cemetery.
"He's here!"
"He's coming!"
Jason and Old Carter spoke almost simultaneously.
Who's here? Johnny looked around in confusion.
At that moment, a pale-faced man materialized in the shadows beneath a massive oak tree beyond the cemetery's iron gates.
Seeing the gathering before him, uncertainty flickered in his eyes, but he still addressed Johnny directly: "Johnny Blaze, if you want to save your woman, exchange her for the Saint Vanganza Contract!"
Having delivered his ultimatum, he vanished like smoke.
Johnny stood frozen for a beat, eyes blazing with fury before he snapped. "You son of a bitch! Damn it! You didn't even say where the damn drop's supposed to be! You wanna play games?! Fine—then tell me where the hell I can find you!"
"Alright, calm down. He just crawled up from hell and isn't experienced with kidnapping SOP (Standard of Operation). It's understandable," Jason said, frowning slightly.
The plot point involving Roxanne's abduction had come early. Originally, Blackheart was supposed to capture Roxanne after Johnny kills the Wind Demon tonight.
Jason had planned to secure the contract first, then manipulate Johnny into surrendering the Spirit of Vengeance voluntarily to enhance his own powers, before figuring out how to deal with the contract.
Now it seemed they had to go to San Vanganza.
With this in mind, Jason turned to Old Carter. "Tell me, why do Mephisto and Blackheart covet this contract so desperately?"
Old Carter's lips moved as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.
Jason shook his head. "If you remain silent, you're essentially signing both Johnny and his girlfriend's death warrants."
Old Carter glared at him, then sighed heavily. "Using this contract, one can command the thousand powerful evil spirits entrenched in Saint Vanganza."
"A thousand evil spirits? What's their purpose?"
"In the human world, they're merely malevolent entities, but in hell, they can be transformed into a thousand mighty battle demons under the command of the Demon King! With this army of war demons, Mephisto can expand his dominion, invade the human realm, and subjugate rival lords. If Blackheart gains control of these battle demons and uses them as a foundation to recruit more, he'll possess a formidable army of hell. He'll immediately ascend to power in the infernal hierarchy!"
Jason nodded with sudden understanding. "No wonder they value this contract so highly."
Johnny furrowed his brow, visibly perplexed. "How can a thousand human souls possess such immense power?"
Old Carter shook his head solemnly. "A thousand evil spirits doesn't mean merely a thousand souls. At its height, San Vanganza hosted twenty-seven thousand of the most devoted believers!"
Jason's eyes widened in shock. "Why are there only a thousand remaining?"
"San Vanganza, once a holy sanctuary, has fallen from grace."
"What happened?"
A distant look crossed Old Carter's eyes, mingled with profound fear.
"In its golden age, San Vanganza was a place of miracles. All believers felt honored to be baptized and pray to God within its walls. One year, a plague swept across the land, and people flocked to the holy city seeking sanctuary. But what they brought wasn't just disease—they brought deceit, theft, murder, conspiracy, rape, avarice, and envy!
The bishop at the time prayed to God for deliverance. But who answered his prayers..."
"Was it Mephisto?" Jason interjected.
Old Carter paused before confirming, "Yes. He gave the bishop a perverse oracle, which the bishop foolishly believed. A witch hunt for devils commenced throughout the city. Following the bishop's edicts, some were forced to murder their wives and daughters with their own hands, others had to kill their parents, and some slew their beloved. People descended into madness.
The bishop realized his catastrophic error and confessed to God for three days and nights. He sought not forgiveness but salvation for his lost flock. However, the corruption and degradation in the city exceeded even his imagination. Because the plague never existed. It was always Mephisto."
Jason's brow furrowed deeply. "Why didn't God respond?"
"I don't know," Old Carter admitted, shaking his head. He hesitated before adding, "Perhaps... He simply doesn't care."
"God doesn't care?"
"God doesn't care," Old Carter repeated with finality.
Jason nodded, intrigued despite himself. "Continue, please."
"The bishop eventually realized prayer was futile. So he performed a blasphemous ritual against God. Suddenly, divine wrath was unleashed."
Jason remained silent.
Johnny fell silent, and all the Avengers stood in somber quiet.
Wolverine suddenly spoke up, "Father Jason, what's your take on this?" Jason opened his mouth and shot daggers at him with his eyes.
"God dispatched an angel to assess whether the place deserved salvation."
Hearing this, Jason breathed slightly easier. "See? God didn't immediately start massacring innocent people!"
"The angel assumed mortal form. Upon arriving at San Vanganza, he was horrified by the depravity he witnessed. But immediately, he was seized by the residents and imprisoned. Mephisto had already exposed his arrival!
An angel, even in mortal guise, possesses tremendous power. His pure soul manifested in a perfect physical form—the most beautiful voice, the most flawless body. His blood could cure any ailment, his touch could pacify tormented souls, his... every aspect was mesmerizing.
But greed is the original sin.
They began to crave more.
The angel screamed, wailed, moaned, fought, and pleaded for mercy... All the vilest and most debased acts occurred there, in the hellish San Vanganza!"
Jason swallowed hard, suddenly regretting having heard this tale.
"When the angel failed to return, God sensed something was amiss. He sent forth a war angel with orders to locate the first angel and let him conduct judgment. San Vanganza's fate would rest on a single verdict."
Old Carter sighed deeply. "Mephisto again informed the residents of this.
When the war angel arrived at San Vanganza, he searched every corner but found nothing. Yet the essence of angels permeated every part of the city. Even... on every person!"
Old Carter's expression turned ghastly. "Worthy of being a holy city indeed. Divine radiance touched every soul!"
"Gulp!"
Wolverine swallowed audibly.
"God's fury was unprecedented. He pronounced the most severe punishment: He would abandon this city! Thus, San Vanganza transformed into a literal hell on earth. Countless demons reveled in it, while endless evil proliferated. Even the demons of actual hell couldn't bear to witness the atrocities.
Within just one month, mere thousands survived... while twenty thousand tormented, deranged souls remained! Heaven rejected them, and Hell took sadistic pleasure in their suffering. Then, these souls began consuming one another. Until finally, all of San Vanganza lay in ruins, with only a thousand evil spirits enduring eternal torment!"
After hearing the complete account, everyone remained silent.
Jason cleared his throat. "Well, I should confess—I lied about being a priest. The credentials are fraudulent. I'm not actually acquainted with God..."
Wolverine raised his middle finger at him. "You're a Knight of God, quit bullshitting!"
Damn it, I never expected that before I could embarrass God, He'd deliver such an epic face-plant first!
At this point, Carter turned to Johnny. "I understand that woman might mean everything to you. However, under no circumstances can this contract fall into Mephisto and Blackheart's possession. I hope you comprehend this!"
"Come on, old man, it's not your girlfriend trapped in limbo, is it? Just hand over the contract and mind your own business. I'm the Avenger specializing in supernatural threats. I'll handle this situation! Wolverine, make the call!"
Jason's confidence wasn't unfounded. Considering these evil spirits—what was their most formidable characteristic? Existing in intangible soul form, making physical damage nearly ineffective. But fortunately, the two most powerful telepaths in the world both belonged to his Avengers. Plus, his and Johnny's Hellfire possessed the ability to directly judge souls, so this shouldn't be too challenging. After all, this was Earth, not hell!
Several hours later, complete darkness had fallen.
Jason and his team arrived at San Vanganza.
The group included Jason, Johnny, Professor X, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, and several others.
As Charles stepped into the devastated city, a wave of psychic agony struck him. He staggered slightly, his voice grim and heavy.
"So many fractured minds... the anguish, the madness—it's overwhelming. My God... such darkness festers here."
Wolverine gave him a sidelong glance, eyes cold with bitter understanding—a look that said loud and clear, "Yeah, Chuck... if there's a God, He's got one hell of a mean streak."
Charles: ?
Jason shook his head. "Don't ask. I'd rather have never heard that story!"
Soon, everyone reached a partially collapsed structure. From its architecture, it appeared to be an abandoned church.
Jason led the way inside.
Blackheart stood with his back to the entrance. Hearing footsteps, he didn't turn around. Instead, he gazed at the shattered cross before him and spoke calmly: "I've been expecting you for quite some time, Johnny Blaze."
He turned, his face distorting with surprise. "Do you actually believe you can prevail through sheer numbers? And... you brought an elderly cripple?"
Johnny's expression remained stoic. "Where is Roxanne?"
"Where is the contract?"
Johnny produced a yellowed parchment scroll, and avarice immediately gleamed in Blackheart's eyes.
He dragged a woman from behind the rubble. "Simultaneous exchange. One hand for the person, the other for the goods."
Johnny glanced at Jason, who gave him a subtle nod.
Johnny stepped forward cautiously, extending the contract while pulling Roxanne into his protective embrace.
After completing the transaction, he quickly retreated.
Blackheart unleashed a maniacal laugh, unfurled the scroll, and chanted an incomprehensible incantation. The surroundings transformed instantly.
Debris whirled through the air, and darkness consumed everything!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~