American Comics: Tales of Cultivator

Chapter 164: Ghost Rider's Past

There were many small bars in the Motels along the Federation Interstate Highway that served as rest stops for Passengers.

Calling it a Bar was generous; it was more of a small tavern with a simple Bar Counter, a busy bartender who also mixed drinks, and seven or eight tables. Passengers who didn't know each other squeezed together at tables, sharing stories from their journeys after downing a few large beers.

The sounds of drinking, finger-guessing games, and boisterous arm wrestling bets added to the lively atmosphere inside the small tavern.

Tony Stark glanced around the bar. The tables throughout the small bar were already full of people.

He quickly spotted his target person drinking alone in the Corner, but he didn't immediately walk over to strike up a conversation.

Instead, he took off his sunglasses, tucked them into his suit pocket, walked up to the Bar Counter, placed his briefcase at his feet, and tapped the counter in front of the old bartender.

"A bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Whiskey! And two glasses!"

The old bartender recognized the man in a suit before him. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, a little excited and a little flustered, saying, "I'm very sorry, Mr. Stark, it's a pleasure to have you visit us. This is just a small bar, we don't have that kind of drink!"

"How about Black Label then?" Tony Stark said, settling for the next best thing.

The old bartender regretfully replied, "We don't have that either!"

"Alright, what's your best-selling drink here?"

Tony Stark looked at the labels on the bottles on the liquor rack behind the bartender. He didn't recognize most of them.

"My own brewed beer, the Passengers traveling on this Highway love it. Would you like to try some?" The old bartender looked at Tony Stark expectantly, introducing it excitedly. In the decades since his small bar opened, he had never had a celebrity like Tony Stark visit.

Tony Stark glanced at the oak beer barrel behind the old bartender, pulled a US dollar bill from his wallet, and placed it on the Bar Counter.

"I'll have one!"

A large, clear beer glass held golden beer with a few white bubbles. Tony Stark had never really drunk this kind of cheap civilian homebrew beer before.

He took a sip.

It had a faint bitterness with a strong malt aroma, and the taste was surprisingly good.

"It tastes good!" Tony Stark commented under the old bartender's expectant gaze.

Seeing that Tony Stark was satisfied with the drink, the old bartender rubbed his hands together and awkwardly spoke:

"Mr. Stark, could I possibly take a photo with you? My grandson is a big fan of yours! He's always admired you—"

Tony Stark sat on the seat at the Bar Counter, holding the beer glass in his hand. After taking a large gulp, he looked at the somewhat nervous old bartender and said with a smile:

"If you don't mind, you might have to wait a bit. I need to take care of some matters first!"

"No problem, no problem, you go ahead and take care of your business, I won't bother you!"

The old bartender said hurriedly, walked to the oak beer barrel, took a beer glass he had wiped repeatedly, filled it up with beer again, and brought it to the Bar Counter in front of Tony Stark.

Then he moved aside, sat in the Corner of the Bar Counter, and continued wiping the steamed beer glasses with a hot towel.

Tony Stark sat at the Bar Counter, drinking beer and observing the man drinking alone and sullenly in the Corner of the bar.

He took out his mobile phone and swiped his finger.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., find data on Johnny Blaze!"

"Yes, Sir!" came the voice of the artificial intelligence J.A.R.V.I.S. from the mobile phone.

Soon, J.A.R.V.I.S. found a large amount of information about Johnny Blaze.

The most outstanding motorcycle stunt performer, a wandering motorcycle traveler... Tony Stark looked at the pictures J.A.R.V.I.S. found, the performance videos, and the youthful face of Johnny Blaze riding a motorcycle in the photos.

Then he looked at the man nearby, full of the ravages of time. Tony Stark found it hard to believe they were the same person.

"Is that all?"

Tony Stark sifted through the data but didn't find anything extraordinary about this former motorcycle stunt performer.

"Sir, some of the data has been encrypted!"

"Access the S.H.I.E.L.D. database. I recall we have Agent Phil's clearance!"

Back on the plane from Afghanistan to New York, Tony Stark had borrowed Phil Coulson's computer.

Out of distrust and curiosity towards this kind of Agent Organization, Tony Stark had installed some backdoor programs on Phil Coulson's computer.

J.A.R.V.I.S. had previously stolen his clearance through this.

With an order from Tony Stark, his mobile phone, after a brief connection, quickly accessed an encrypted webpage.

A webpage interface with a black and white eagle as the background image. J.A.R.V.I.S. logged in using Phil Coulson's clearance password.

He entered Johnny Blaze's name into the search page.

A line of review information appeared on the page: "Data Access Clearance Level 4 or higher required. Clearance Review in progress. Review Approved!

Welcome, Agent Phil!"

The page loaded and jumped. A Knight riding a motorcycle appeared on the page, a cool motorcycle burning with fierce flames, and a Knight with a flaming skull for a head.

Tony Stark subconsciously turned his head to look at the downcast man in the Corner, then lowered his head to look at the photos on his mobile phone.

Apart from the black trench coat, he couldn't see any resemblance between this flaming skull Knight and Johnny Blaze.

Johnny Blaze, Codename: Ghost Rider! Suspected Superhuman who acquired Hellfire. Sample collection results show 90% similarity in the essence of his strength to Carter Slade.

According to preliminary investigation, he possesses the Eye of Judgment and is suspected of being involved in multiple Federation Gang annihilation cases.

Danger Level A+.

Tony Stark clicked on a video in the interface below.

The video was a piece of surveillance footage. The quality was very blurry, but he could vaguely make things out.

The location was a bar. A Knight with a flaming skull for a head, holding a chain wrapped in flames, was carrying out a massacre against a group of Gang Gunmen armed with firearms.

The fight was over quickly. The guy with the flaming skull head didn't fear the weapons in the hands of these Gang thugs. Bullets hitting his body didn't even break his leather jacket.

Instead, with a swing of the chain in his hand, he would bind a Gunman, and the flames burning on the chain could instantly turn the person into a pile of ash.

The more Tony Stark watched, the more serious his complexion became. He didn't think his Iron Suit could withstand the force of these flames.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., note down these flames. We need to conduct spectroscopic analysis when we get back. It looks like we need to make a few Anti-Ghost Rider Suits!"

Tony Stark instructed J.A.R.V.I.S. while watching the video.

"Stop!"

When he saw the flaming skull figure lift a Big Beard into the air, he subconsciously told J.A.R.V.I.S. to pause the video.

"What is he saying?"

"Sir, he's telling this person to look into his eyes!"

J.A.R.V.I.S. was lip-reading for Tony Stark, interpreting what the Ghost Rider was saying.

Although the Ghost Rider was just a skull wrapped in flames, the artificial intelligence's precise comparison allowed J.A.R.V.I.S. to still interpret his words.

"Eye of Judgment?!"

Tony Stark scrolled up, looking at the introduction for Johnny Blaze and the name Carter Slade.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., search for Carter Slade and Eye of Judgment!"

"Carter Slade

Data Access Clearance Level 5 or higher required.

Clearance Review in progress. Review Approved!

Welcome, Agent Phil!"

"Carter Slade! A member of the Sacred Shield Brotherhood, the second generation Ghost Rider, possesses the strength of Hellfire.

Danger Level: A. Suspected deceased.

Eye of Judgment: A Supernatural Power wielded by the Ghost Rider.

The Eye of Judgment causes the target to recall all the crimes they have committed in their life, and based on the severity of the crimes, their soul experiences intense pain!"

"So, the reason Nick Fury, this Spy Chief, doesn't dare to meet this Ghost Rider is because he's afraid of the Eye of Judgment?!"

Tony Stark looked at the description of the Eye of Judgment and suddenly realized.

Immediately, he lowered his head and looked at his open hands. Two Agents didn't dare to meet the Ghost Rider who possessed the Eye of Judgment.

What about himself? An arms dealer with hands stained with blood.

Tony Stark gave a self-mocking smile and handed the briefcase by his feet to the old bartender for safekeeping.

He picked up the two glasses of beer from the Bar Counter and walked towards Johnny Blaze, who was drinking alone and sullenly in the Corner of the bar.

Johnny Blaze gulped down the beer in his beer glass, staring blankly at the table in front of him, his empty, lifeless eyes filled with confusion.

Clang! Just then, a large beer glass filled with beer was placed in front of him.

Johnny Blaze drunkenly raised his head and looked at the man in a suit before him. Perhaps thinking he was joining the table, he didn't react much, just moved his beer glass aside.

"Johnny Blaze!"

Johnny Blaze heard the person in front of him mention his name and finally woke up from his sleepy-eyed state, carefully sizing up the person before him.

"Tony Stark!?"

Looking at the familiar face that appeared daily on television media, Johnny Blaze was a little surprised!

"Interested in a drink and a chat?" Tony Stark pushed a glass of beer towards Johnny Blaze, extending an invitation.

"What does a tycoon like you have to talk about with a drifter like me!"

Johnny Blaze swirled the remaining beer in his beer glass and tilted his head back to finish the rest.

Then he picked up the beer glass Tony Stark had pushed in front of him and downed a third of it in one gulp.

"Hic!" Johnny Blaze let out a heavy hiccup, put down the beer glass, and wiped his mouth. "Tycoon, are you looking for me to perform motorcycle stunts? I haven't performed in many years!"

"But for the sake of this drink, I might make an exception for you!"

Tony Stark took a sip of his drink, looked at Johnny Blaze, whose hands were trembling slightly, put down his beer glass, and stared at him, saying, "I've heard of you, Ghost Rider!"

Johnny Blaze, who was about to pick up his beer glass, trembled, and the beer in the glass spilled onto the table.

He raised his head, his gaze clear as he looked at Tony Stark, scrutinizing the person before him.

Thinking of the information he had just found about the Eye of Judgment, Tony Stark subconsciously avoided Johnny Blaze's gaze. "It seems you really know me!" Johnny Blaze gave a bitter smile. "Don't worry, the Eye of Judgment only appears when I transform!"

Tony Stark awkwardly raised his beer glass. "I've just seen some data on you!"

"Do you have time to hear my story?!"

Johnny Blaze seemed to have been bottling things up for a long time and wanted to find someone to confide in.

So Tony Stark became his listening ear, hearing Johnny Blaze recount his experience.

When he was young, Johnny Blaze and his Father made a living doing stunt riding at an amusement park.

By the time he was nearly seventeen, Johnny Blaze's motorcycle stunts were already somewhat famous, even surpassing his Father's, making him the star of the amusement park.

But his Father had always been his role model.

But one day, his Father was diagnosed with a sudden terminal illness, which made Johnny very sad and depressed.

Until one day, an old man in a suit appeared before him. He promised to cure Johnny's Father, but Johnny had to sign a contract, selling his soul to him.

"Sell your soul?" Hearing Johnny Blaze say this, Tony Stark interrupted him in surprise.

"Later I found out that old man was Mephisto, a Devil from Hell. I accepted his conditions back then and signed that contract."

Johnny Blaze picked up the beer glass in front of him and took a big gulp. "The very next day, my Father's body really did recover immediately!"

Tony Stark looked at Johnny Blaze's sorrowful and indignant gaze. Clearly, there was more to the matters.

Sure enough, Johnny Blaze slammed the beer glass heavily onto the table.

"But during a performance that very day, my Father left this world because of an accident. That damned old Devil played a trick on the contract!"

"Mephisto, the legendary Hell-Lord. Do Devils really exist in this world?" Tony Stark muttered, looking at Johnny Blaze, whose eyes were red. As someone always obsessed with science, he was perplexed.

"I didn't believe it either, if it weren't for the Spirit of Vengeance still existing in my body!"

Johnny Blaze touched his chest.

"Spirit of Vengeance?" Tony Stark was a little curious.

"It's the strength Mephisto deposited in my body. It's also the key that allows me to transform into the Ghost Rider!" Johnny Blaze explained. "The Spirit of Vengeance is like a seed; it allows me to wield the strength of Hellfire!"

"What's the image of this Mephisto you're talking about? Can he withstand bullets? If not bullets, how about sonic attacks, infrasonic attacks? If he's a soul, can solar focus and energy shockwaves deal with him!?"

The unfamiliar domain of Devils and souls made Tony Stark somewhat forget the purpose of his visit, focusing entirely on extracting information about Mephisto and Hell from Johnny Blaze.

It seemed he wanted to build a set of Iron Suits specifically for Hell.

"Mephisto's image is that of an old white gentleman, wearing a suit, and fond of carrying a cane. Bullets probably can't hurt him. After I transform, bullet attacks have no effect on me!"

"A soul, it's hard to describe like you would. It's just a mass of energy with consciousness..."

Johnny Blaze racked his brain, answering Tony Stark's questions.

Tony Stark listened to Johnny Blaze while having J.A.R.V.I.S. record that he liked wearing suits and carrying a cane. If it was a white suit, he was quite similar to someone in his memory.

Listening to Johnny Blaze's description of Mephisto's image, Tony Stark thought of someone.

At the bar entrance at this moment, a slightly balding middle-aged Agent was peering inside through the glass.

"Sir, Mr. Coulson is calling—"

Tony Stark, who was listening to Johnny Blaze talk about the Eye of Judgment, was interrupted by the sound of a call. He looked at the caller ID and finally remembered the purpose of his trip.

"A bald guy asked me to ask you something. He wants to form an Organization of super boys to fight the end of the world, alien invasion, and he wants to recruit you. Are you interested?"

Tony Stark hung up Phil Coulson's call and asked Johnny Blaze perfunctorily.

"An Organization?!" Johnny Blaze shook his head with a bitter smile. "These past years, I haven't been able to go home, just drifting Outside, waiting for Mephisto to come back for me..."

"I want to get my revenge on him. Dealing with this old Devil is too dangerous. I can't involve others, and besides—"

Johnny Blaze pointed to his eyes. "I don't think you'll like these eyes. Once I transform and face evil, I can't even control these Eyes of Judgment myself!"

"Furthermore, the definition of the Eye of Judgment is very broad. Everyone has Sins, everyone has Original Sin. No one can withstand its Judgment!"

Tony Stark had already anticipated this result. Two Agents who didn't even dare to meet him face-to-face wanted to recruit the Ghost Rider.

"This is my private contact information. If you encounter Mephisto and need help, give me a call at this phone number!"

Tony Stark took out a pen, tore off a sticky note from a pad on the bar wall, wrote down his phone number, and handed it to Johnny Blaze.

Johnny Blaze didn't reach out to take the sticky note from Tony Stark's hand.

He knew the cruelty and cunning of Mephisto, that old Devil, and he didn't want to involve others.

"I'm very interested in Mephisto, this mythical Devil. If Hell truly exists, then it should be another Parallel World, or perhaps another Dimension!

Theoretically, no matter what kind of creature, they are nothing more than the difference between physical form and energy. In this material world, nothing is absolutely powerful. Even a Devil, given enough time, perhaps I can develop weapons capable of killing Devils..."

Tony Stark said confidently to Johnny Blaze.

"If you truly want revenge, to get rid of, or kill that Devil, I think you'll need help!"

Johnny Blaze hesitated for a moment, looked at Tony Stark's confident expression, took the note from his hand, and put it into his pocket.

"There's one more matter I need your help with!"

Tony Stark looked at Johnny Blaze with slight excitement! Johnny Blaze looked at Tony Stark with doubt.

"I need to collect data from you when you transform into the Ghost Rider, so I can visually evaluate Mephisto's strength!"

Tony Stark stated his idea.

"That's dangerous. The strength of the Eye of Judgment is not something I can control freely!"

Johnny Blaze shook his head, not agreeing with Tony Stark's idea.

"My Iron Suit can fly tens of thousands of feet high. Your ability doesn't seem to include flight. Don't worry, I'll maintain a safe distance!"

Tony Stark insisted on his idea.

"Alright then! If you see things going wrong, immediately fly your Iron Suit into the air!"

Johnny Blaze had also seen Tony Stark's Iron Suit on television. After thinking about it, and confirming there was no danger, he reluctantly nodded in agreement.

...

Tony Stark retrieved his briefcase containing the Iron Suit from the bartender, and he and Johnny Blaze walked out of the bar one after the other.

When they saw Johnny Blaze come out, Phil Coulson and Nick Fury hid in the car.

"We need to find an open place!"

Johnny Blaze got on his motorcycle and turned his head to look at Tony Stark.

Tony Stark placed the briefcase in his hand flat on the ground and stepped onto it with both feet.

Click, click, click, click, click...

The briefcase quickly transformed. Metal parts wrapped around Tony Stark's feet and rapidly spread upwards. Soon, Tony Stark was encased in a gold and red Iron Armor.

Johnny Blaze gave Tony Stark a thumbs-up, then started his motorcycle, twisting the accelerator all the way.

The motorcycle roared and sped off into the distance along the Interstate Highway.

Whoosh! Tony Stark's Iron Suit's palms and soles simultaneously sprayed light blue energy flames, and the gold and red Iron Suit carried Tony Stark soaring into the sky!

"Officer!"

Phil Coulson, sitting in the driver's seat, turned his head to look at Nick Fury!

"Follow them and see!" Nick Fury ordered.

Phil Coulson shifted the car, which he hadn't turned off, into gear, stepped on the accelerator, and chased after them in the direction Johnny Blaze's motorcycle had gone.

How fast could a motorcycle go at its fastest?

The fastest motorcycle in the world was the Dodge Tomahawk produced by Chrysler Car Company, sharing its name with the Tomahawk Missile, which was enough to indicate its speed was extremely fast, reaching a maximum speed of six hundred seventy-six kilometers per hour.

Of course, no one in the world dared to ride a motorcycle that fast, except for lunatics and those not afraid of death.

Johnny Blaze was someone not afraid of death, because he couldn't die.

Over the years, it wasn't that he hadn't tried to commit suicide, but the Spirit of Vengeance inside his body seemed to have granted him an undying body.

When he encountered danger, he would transform into the immortal and indestructible Ghost Rider.

It was ironic; death had even become a luxury for him, as if constantly reminding him.

That his soul already had an owner, pre-booked by a Devil.

Johnny Blaze floored the accelerator. The motorcycle, modified by Hellfire, surged to a speed of over five hundred kilometers per hour.

On the Interstate Highway, where the road conditions weren't great, it seemed even the wind was left behind by Johnny Blaze.

Also left behind by him were Agent Phil Coulson, driving the car, and his Black Person Officer.

If it weren't for the fact that this Interstate Highway had no forks in the road, Phil Coulson would have had some suspicion that Johnny Blaze had turned onto a side road.

You know, he had the accelerator floored, and his speed was already over two hundred fifty mph.

How fast could a motorcycle be?

There were fewer and fewer vehicles on the road, and a large expanse of empty open field appeared on both sides of the Highway.

Johnny Blaze twisted the handlebars, and the motorcycle leaped, flying directly off the Highway into the air.

Tony Stark high in the air thought Johnny Blaze's high-speed motorcycle had gotten into an accident, and was about to dive down to save him.

The flying motorcycle was suddenly enveloped by a ball of flames in mid-air with a whoosh.

Flames surged, enveloping the motorcycle beneath Johnny Blaze. The motorcycle was like it was undergoing quenching; the handlebars elongated in the flames, a cool skull decoration appeared in the middle, the body became more ornate, and the enveloping flames were like rising, cool, three-dimensional flame patterns.

Riding what looked like a Hell Soul Battle Vehicle, Johnny Blaze also underwent a great change in image at this moment.

His head, the flesh and blood, had completely vanished, revealing a skull wrapped in flames. He turned his head to look up, and two balls of fire seemed to be burning in the eye sockets of the flaming skull.

He extended his black gloves wrapped in flames, beckoned to Tony Stark high in the air, twisted the accelerator, and rode towards the open field.

A scorched black trail of flame tire tracks extended from his motorcycle all the way into the open field.

Going home tomorrow, I'll be able to see my son, haha.

(End of chapter)