Looking at Jason and Pepper standing in the hall, engaged in conversation as if no one else existed, Stark felt a chill creep into his heart.
I shouldn't be here.
Last night, after meeting the mysterious old man, Stark had experienced a sudden moment of clarity. He realized his true feelings and discovered that he had fallen in love with his secretary without even noticing it happening.
After spending the entire night in contemplation, he had decided to open up and tell Pepper everything. Even though he was facing imminent death from palladium poisoning, he didn't want to leave this world with regrets.
But he never expected this!
Seeing the two of them walking toward the exit with smiles on their faces, he quickly searched for a hiding place. Crouching behind a large decorative planter, watching them say goodbye and part ways, he suddenly had a mortifying realization: Damn, why am I acting like the other woman interfering in someone else's relationship?
Stark, who had only just regained his composure, collapsed emotionally once again. Forget it, I'll just be the sad clown crying in the corner.
This cruel and cold-blooded world has no room for true love, so I'll let my fragile existence fade away in this beautiful spring...
Back to the club!
Cue the music, time to dance!
What, no one's at the nightclub during daylight hours?
If I, Tony Stark, say there's someone there, then there's someone there!
In the early morning hours, Stark awakened in the middle of a tangle of naked bodies. He grabbed the nearest shirt and stumbled out of the nightclub.
As soon as he stepped through the doorway, a voice called out from behind him.
"Stark, want to make a deal?"
Looking back, he saw the same old man from before.
Last time, he had rejected the offer.
This time, he didn't refuse. "What do you want?"
"Your... soul!"
Stark flinched slightly.
The old man smiled and said, "Tomorrow morning, you'll be as healthy as a wild stallion, and this wonderful world will still be your playground! Make your decision, Stark."
He pulled an ancient-looking parchment from within his coat. "You just need to sign a contract with me."
Stark's eyes flickered with uncertainty before he took a deep breath. "I think I have nothing left to lose."
In the sky above, a bolt of lightning flashed dramatically.
Under the brilliant illumination, a human figure and a shadow with two horns protruding from its head merged into one.
"BOOM..."
Stark's sports car vanished around the corner at the end of the street.
The old man smiled, his eyes seeming to penetrate the city's towering buildings. "Let's see who the next soul marked by Wrath will be..."
In the backyard of Hopewell Sanctuary, Jason and Stark sat facing each other.
Stark had brought a box of strawberries.
Jason's expression froze momentarily before he couldn't help asking, "Did you just go see Pepper?"
Stark's gaze intensified. "It seems the relationship between you two is closer than I thought."
Jason rolled his eyes subtly and said, "If you've already been there, it means you're giving me the strawberries Pepper didn't want!"
Stark was thinking, I just visited Pepper, and you already know about it?
Bastard! You really are moving in on my territory!
Jason observed the slight changes in Stark's expression and a thought occurred to him.
This guy's aura seems drastically different?
Hasn't SHIELD told him how to solve the palladium poisoning yet?
Does Nick Fury want him to suffer both mentally and physically to improve his abilities?
"Stark, what do you want from me? Don't say you're here to repay a favor."
Stark remained silent for a moment. "I'm very interested in the Avengers you've formed."
Jason frowned slightly. Does Stark want to join the Avengers?
Something's off!
This guy is a second-generation prodigy with elite connections. Is Nick Fury trying to plant him as an undercover agent?
"Want to join?"
"No!"
Stark shook his head. "I quite agree with your philosophy. New York is my home, and we all need to protect it. I also want to contribute to my hometown, but not by joining you. You have all kinds of heroes here, with different abilities and different equipment needs. I'm willing to custom design a set of combat gear for every hero in the Avengers as a token of my support!"
Jason smiled and leaned back in his chair, saying with a hint of mockery, "Oh, the equipment you're talking about—isn't that the Iron Man Armor?"
Stark stared at him. "Want one?"
"Let me think."
"Sorry, that's not on offer."
Jason smiled and shook his head. "Forget it. Your weapons are too expensive, and my team is a bunch of rough fighters—they're not used to such sophisticated tech."
Stark shrugged without pressing the issue. "I'm just making a suggestion. It's entirely up to you whether you accept it or not."
He took out an elegantly crafted invitation and said, "Stark Industries is hosting a grand product launch in a few days. You're welcome to attend. There's a dance party after the presentation, and I've invited many ambitious young models and actress. You might enjoy it."
Stark smiled roguishly, put on the sunglasses from his chest pocket, stood up, and as he was about to leave, he suddenly paused.
"I saw the sapphire necklace you gave Pepper. It's beautiful. Strange that she and I have been together for so long, and I never thought to give her one. But I just ordered several—sapphires, rubies, emeralds—she can choose whatever she wants. They're much larger than yours."
Jason smiled helplessly and gave Stark a thumbs up. "Pepper is so lucky to have you!"
Jason didn't take Stark's visit too seriously.
He had been dealing with far more troublesome matters recently.
As everyone knows, things become exponentially more complicated once they involve government and politics.
Seeing the Avengers grow increasingly powerful and influential, certain individuals could no longer remain passive.
Representatives from the military, CIA, Senate, and House of Representatives made trips to the White House every few days, all attempting to gain control over the Avengers team.
Jason was forced to attend several interrogation sessions where groups of officials surrounded him, bombarding him with endless questions. The experience was beyond frustrating—truly infuriating.
His small notebook was nearly filled with names.
Every day was consumed with meeting people, remembering faces, and managing connections.
The Fraternity's mission list had grown into a substantial stack.
This superhero business was really not worth the trouble.
Fortunately, he was just playing a role.
This tedious existence continued uninterrupted until a skull wreathed in flames made its appearance.
Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider.
Another superhero with a tragic life story.
The reason Johnny had been awakened by Mephisto, fulfilled his contract, and transformed into the Ghost Rider was entirely because of Mephisto's disappointing son, Blackheart.
When the son matured, he sought to kill his father.
Johnny was unwillingly dragged into this supernatural family conflict.
But the most crucial element in this entire situation was the Saint Vanganza Contract.
And this contract was hidden in the cemetery where the previous Ghost Rider, Carter Slade, was buried.
The strategy was clear: find Johnny first, then locate the cemetery, and you would possess the key to resolving the entire situation.
Jason maintained a strong interest in the powers of hell, such as Old Mephisto or the Blackheart Demon.
He was even intrigued by the minor demons recruited by Blackheart—the Air Demon and the Water Demon.
These references helped him understand how much he could potentially gain from his plan to launch an assault on hell itself.
He quickly tracked down Johnny Blaze's whereabouts, finding him detained at a police station.
This part was simple.
One phone call and he dispatched someone directly.
Simultaneously, the cemetery's location was discovered. After all, Ghost Rider had visited there just the previous night, so his team merely needed to follow the trail.
That evening, Jason, along with Wolverine, Colossus, Storm, and other Avengers, extracted Johnny from police custody and set out for the cemetery together.
Johnny sat beside Jason, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. He had heard about the Avengers' reputation.
Jason studied him and said, "You've experienced the power residing within you, right? How does it feel?"
"Uh... not good. Pretty terrible, actually."
"It's normal to feel uncomfortable initially. But what matters is what kind of person you want to be. A hero or a coward."
Johnny was taken aback. Be a hero? This possibility had never crossed his mind.
Being a coward was a choice only fools would make.
Jason pressed on, his voice steady and firm.
"The power inside you is overwhelming—enough to judge every sinner and bring order to chaos. But have you ever heard the saying, 'With great power comes great responsibility'? If you choose the path of justice, that power won't set you free... it'll bind you. It won't be your wings—it'll be your shackles."
Johnny's heart jolted at these words. With great power comes great responsibility? power isn't wings, but shackles?
Seeing him deep in thought, Jason nodded. "If you decide to become a hero, my first piece of advice is to stay away from your girlfriend, Roxanne."
"Why... why would I do that?"
Johnny was shocked. The love of his youth, whom he had abandoned once before, and whom he had found again in middle age—now he was being told to give her up again?
"I've known many people like you, Johnny—individuals with extraordinary powers and the intention to save the world. But no matter how careful they are, they inevitably affect those closest to them. Want to know what happens? Some lose their uncles, some their aunts, some their lovers, and others their best friends. Destiny cannot be deceived. To be a hero means to also be a loner."
"I..."
Johnny retreated into silence.
So the first requirement for being a hero is the death of your entire family? He didn't want to be this kind of miserable guy!
"Mr. Jason, do you have any way to... remove this demonic power from me?"
Jason's mouth curved into a slight smile. "I believe... there should be a way, Johnny."
"Great, now we'll—"
"Don't rush, Johnny. The sun hasn't set yet. The power within you remains dormant. We need to wait a bit longer."
Johnny was startled but nodded in understanding.
"Screech!"
The car halted in front of the cemetery, and Johnny suddenly realized he had been here before.
Jason, Johnny, and the others located the old caretaker.
The first words Jason spoke upon meeting him were: "Old knight, please surrender the contract. After all, you wouldn't want Blackheart to claim it, would you?"
If Johnny Blaze hadn't been with them, Old Carter would have nearly transformed on the spot.
After a brief conversation, despite Jason's declaration that he represented the Avengers—superheroes who protected the world—Old Carter stubbornly refused to hand over the contract.
He insisted that this was a matter between hell and heaven, and earthly heroes had no business interfering.
Jason pulled Johnny forward and said, "Old Carter, this is the new Ghost Rider. Are you still hesitant to entrust the contract to him? He was carefully selected and approved by Mephisto himself. If you don't trust me, why not place your faith in him?"
Unfortunately, Old Carter remained resolute, pursing his lips and shaking his head.
Jason sighed in resignation. "Alright, alright, you can keep the contract. I have a small favor to ask—would you be willing to help me?"
Old Carter hesitated and asked, "What is it?"
"Where's your tool shed? I'd like to borrow a shovel!"
Old Carter's expression immediately transformed in alarm.
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