Bab 48: Ch. 47: The Ancient One's Request
In the beginning, there was the Darkhold, the Book of Sins. A testament to the darkest corners of magic, it was a compilation of the most horrifying spells, transcribed onto indestructible parchment by the Elder God Chthon. This ancient deity, one of the earliest life forms on Earth, was a wellspring of power that even dimensional lords like Mephisto and Dormammu had tapped into.
The Ghost Rider, a being of hellfire and vengeance, was a conduit for Mephisto's power. Agatha, the current holder of the Darkhold, could sense this power, recognize it. But it was not the Ghost Rider's power that intrigued her. There was another, more potent force that she coveted.
"The lord of the crimson dimension, Cyttorak, is one of the powerful gods," the Ancient One explained, her voice echoing in the silent repair shop. "What Agatha desires is the power hidden within the Crimson Gem. The Darkhold contains only a few records about it, but it's enough to drive her to madness."
"Crimson Gem," Jon murmured, the words resonating within him. The Crimson Gem was tied to another formidable adversary, Cain Marko, also known as the Juggernaut. Jon wasn't sure if this world, a parallel universe of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, had its own Juggernaut. He hadn't heard anything about mutants or the X-Men here. But he knew one fact, that the Juggernaut was the stepbrother of Professor Charles Xavier. Unlike Charles, Cain wasn't a mutant. His powers came from the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, granting him immense strength, near invulnerability, and a helmet that shielded him from psychic attacks.
If the Ancient One was correct, and the Crimson Gem existed in this world, then a red behemoth could emerge at any moment. And if Agatha managed to absorb the energy of the Crimson Gem, she would become an even greater threat.
"But what does this have to do with me?" Jon asked, cutting to the heart of the matter.
"The Gem was originally stored in the Temple of Cyttorak in South Korea," the Ancient One began, her voice taking on a grave tone. "But it was stolen. After changing hands several times, it ended up in New York a month ago. There, the Gem sensed the presence of a worthy recipient and released its energy. Agatha sensed this energy, just as she sensed your Ghost Rider power."
Jon listened to the Ancient One's explanation, a sense of dread settling in his heart. He sighed, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. The Crimson Gem, Agatha, the potential emergence of the Juggernaut - it was a lot to take in. But he knew he couldn't afford to back down. The stakes were too high, and he was in the middle of it all, whether he liked it or not.
The intricate web of events was now clear to Jon. His actions, from the moment he had used the Penance Stare on the Times Square attacker, to his unleashing of the Ghost Rider's power on the gang in the forest, had set off a chain reaction. His power had drawn Agatha to New York, and her arrival had coincided with the awakening of the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. Now, she was after the Gem, and the potential consequences were dire.
"Your intervention altered the fate of Parker Robbins," the Ancient One continued, her voice echoing in the vast emptiness of the astral plane. "He would have died in a few weeks, his existence washed away by the river of time. But now, everything has changed. Agatha has formed an alliance with Hood's gang. If she acquires the power of the Gem, it could lead to catastrophic consequences."
Jon pondered her words, then asked, "Why don't you handle this yourself? You could easily deal with Agatha and the Crimson Gem."
Indeed, the Ancient One was more than capable of handling the situation. Agatha, despite her power, was nothing more than an ant in the Ancient One's eyes. And the Crimson Gem could be destroyed with a mere flick of her wrist.
The Ancient One touched the necklace around her neck, the Eye of Agamotto. It was the Time Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones in the Marvel Universe, and it allowed her to observe the future and protect the Earth.
"This situation interferes with a certain plan of mine," she explained. "I've observed many futures, and the best outcome is achieved if you handle this."
She looked at Jon, her gaze steady. "You set these events in motion. It's only fitting that you should be the one to resolve them."
"Wait!" Jon interrupted, raising his hand. "So, you're saying that because of my actions, I have to clean up the mess caused by Agatha and Hood's gang? I don't accept that. If we're talking about the butterfly effect, then should the butterfly that flaps its wings in the Amazon and causes a tornado in Texas two weeks later be blamed for the destruction? No, the butterfly is just following its instincts, just as I was when I protected Chris. He's my friend, my cousin's boyfriend. I was just doing what came naturally to me. I refuse to be dragged into this mess because of something I did without thinking."
"What if I told you that this matter could affect your family?" The Ancient One's words hung in the air, a sudden chill descending upon the astral plane.
Jon's face hardened, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
"Hood's gang rules Brooklyn," the Ancient One explained, her voice as cold as the void around them. "In his quest for vengeance, he won't hesitate to ignore Agatha's warnings and continue his investigation. He might even harm Chris again. If you confront the gang directly, you'll disrupt Agatha's plans, and she'll retaliate. Either way, you'll have to face her."
Jon's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles turning white. After a moment of tense silence, he said, "They better not lay a finger on them. If they do, I'll burn them to ashes."
The Ancient One's words had struck a nerve. If she didn't intervene and let events unfold naturally, Jon's family could be in danger. By informing him, she was not only protecting her own plans but also ensuring the safety of his loved ones.
Seeing Jon's resolve, the Ancient One nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. She had known that once she laid out the situation, Jon would step up. He might not care about the fate of strangers, but he would move heaven and earth to protect his family.
In one of the futures she had seen through the Time Stone, Jon had defeated Agatha, but at a terrible cost. Annie and Ayla had been killed by Hood's gang. A heartbroken Jon was left behind, leaving a void that led to a series of disasters and the loss of countless innocent lives.
So, the Ancient One wasn't asking Jon to solve the problem. She was asking him to protect his family. Only then would he be able to play his part in the events to come, saving countless lives in the process.
--------------------
A/N: I know this work is still very new, but your opinions matter a lot to my progress, please write a review 🙏.
-----------------------
(A/N: If you want to see more chapters, go to my Patreon to see more chapters ahead.
patreon.com/TheMightyZeus
______________
Bab 49: Ch. 48: Confrontation with the Punisher
Somewhere in NYC in a grocery store, the grocery store was a nondescript establishment, nestled between a laundromat and a liquor store. Its owner, a man of dubious morals, was engaged in a transaction with a customer. The customer was a man with a receding hairline, his clothes disheveled and his eyes glazed over, a clear indication of his addiction.
"Look at these mobile phones, they're all the latest models!" The man's voice was shaky, his hands trembling as he held out a mobile phone and a package. His desperation was palpable, a common sight in this store where thieves often traded stolen goods for cash, cash they would then use to feed their addictions.
The store owner, a man with a cruel smile and cold eyes, laughed at the man's desperation. "Idiot!" He snatched the package from the man's hands, his eyes scanning the contents. Mobile phones, a few trinkets, and then his gaze landed on a worn-out necklace.
"Oh, is this for sale too?" The owner held up the necklace, his tone dripping with mockery.
"Leave the necklace!" The man's voice was sharp, a hint of anger seeping through his desperation.
The owner ignored him, continuing to rummage through the package. "Just one hundred dollars, please, sir!" The man pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper.
The owner shook his head, his attention still on the package. Suddenly, the jingling of a bell echoed through the store, signaling the arrival of a new customer.
A burly figure stepped into the store, his presence immediately commanding attention. The owner glanced at the newcomer, quickly stashing the contents of the package. He pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and tossed it at the man. "Take this, get out!"
The man grabbed the money, his movements unsteady as he stumbled out of the store. The owner watched him leave, his attention then shifting to the new customer. A muscular man with a ferocious face, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.
The owner's instincts kicked in, his hand subtly reaching for the shotgun hidden under the counter. "Do I know you?" His voice was cautious, the man's imposing presence triggering his survival instincts.
The man's response was simple, his deep voice echoing through the store. "I need an NYPD's walkie-talkie device!" He paused, his gaze never leaving the owner. "It should receive encrypted tactical frequencies."
The owner's heart pounded in his chest, his grip on the shotgun tightening. This was no ordinary customer. The owner knew he was in for a confrontation he might not walk away from.
"Don't you see this is a grocery store?!" The owner's voice was laced with incredulity, his face contorting into a grimace. "You're in the wrong place!"
The man, unperturbed, took a slow sip of his coffee before placing his wallet on the counter. The owner hesitated, his eyes darting between the wallet and the man's impassive face.
"Aren't you really a policeman?" The owner's voice was tentative, his fear palpable. The man remained silent, his gaze steady on the owner. "I don't want to cause that kind of trouble!" The owner's voice was desperate now, his fear of the man overriding his greed.
The man's patience seemed to be wearing thin. He grabbed his wallet and turned to leave. "Oh~! Wait a minute, I just need to confirm!" The owner's hand shot out, stopping the man in his tracks.
"Wait here!" The owner instructed, turning to open a cabinet. He rummaged through it before pulling out a heavy black package. He placed it on the counter, unzipping it to reveal a collection of stolen police equipment.
"Pried off from a detective's dashboard!" The owner patted the equipment, a hint of pride in his voice. "It can receive tactical frequencies and monitoring signals. Hell, it might even pick up Mayor Gan and his girlfriend's conversations!" His attempt at humor fell flat, the man merely nodding in response.
"One thousand dollars!" The owner named his price, his eyes gleaming with greed. "This is one of the best things I've got!"
The man wordlessly pulled out a stack of bills from his wallet, counting them meticulously before placing them on the counter. The owner eagerly collected the money, his fear momentarily forgotten in the face of his greed.
The man's gaze then shifted to the area behind the owner. "The camera in the corner!" His voice was commanding, his eyes scanning the counter. The owner waved his hand dismissively, grabbing the money. "Don't worry, it's not working at all!"
He pulled out the broken cable from under the counter and placed it on the table. "There's also a double-barreled gun under the counter!" The man's voice was steady, his hand pulling out another stack of money.
The owner froze, his eyes wide. He shrugged, his greed once again overriding his fear. He handed over his only means of self-defense, his hands shaking slightly.
The man collected his purchases, zipping up the black package. He weighed it in his hand, his gaze lingering on the owner for a moment before he turned to leave.
"Wait, don't you need anything else?" The owner's voice was desperate, his greed pushing him to retain this lucrative customer. He pulled out a variety of stolen stuff from under the counter, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The man, who was about to exit the store, paused. He placed the package on the ground, his actions causing the owner to break into a triumphant grin. "Aha~! Looks like you like these, right? Five hundred dollars, and they're all yours!"
The man moved towards the glass door, flipping the sign to indicate the store was now closed. The owner's laughter echoed through the store, his joy at the prospect of a big sale evident.
The man turned around, taking a final sip of his coffee before setting it aside. His expression was grim as he moved towards the owner, his hand reaching out to pick up a baseball bat.
"What the hell are you doing?!" The owner's voice was panicked, his joy quickly replaced by fear.
The man examined the baseball bat, his gaze then shifting back to the owner. "Put an end to your miserable life!" The owner's voice was shaky, his hand instinctively reaching out in a futile attempt to protect himself. He realized too late that he had given away his only means of defense.
The man advanced, the baseball bat held firmly in his grip. "I just want to make some money!" The owner's voice was desperate, his pleas falling on deaf ears.
With a swift movement, the man swung the baseball bat, the impact echoing through the store. The owner's life was extinguished in an instant, his body slumping to the floor.
The sound of applause filled the store, a slow, deliberate clapping. "Nice job, Frank Castle, or should I call you... The Punisher?"
The man, Frank Castle, turned around, his gaze landing on a young man who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "Who are you?" His voice was indifferent, his gaze never leaving the newcomer.
The young man, Jon, merely smiled. "Take it easy, man!" His hands opened, a ball of flame appeared in his palm.
"Obviously, you didn't recognize me!" Jon's voice was filled with amusement. Frank's eyes narrowed at the sight of the flame, a flicker of recognition in his gaze. "Are you that... flaming devil from that day?"
Jon's smile widened. "I prefer others to call me...Ghost Rider."
Frank couldn't help but smirk, his gaze never leaving Jon. "Then, what do you want from me, Ghost Rider?"
"I need your help." Jon's voice was serious, his gaze meeting Frank's. Frank's response was immediate, his voice steady. "At any time."
--------------------
A/N: I know this work is still very new, but your opinions matter a lot to my progress, please write a review 🙏.
-----------------------
(A/N: If you want to see more chapters, go to my Patreon to see more chapters ahead.
patreon.com/TheMightyZeus
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
5 Power
stone Anda mungkin juga menyukai
Komentar Paragraf