87 Chapter 85: The Magical Suitcase

The world seemed to hold its breath as Jon, in his Ghost Rider form, stood at the precipice of the dark swamp. His skeletal visage, wreathed in ethereal flames, cast an eerie glow on the murky waters. He was about to step forward when the ground beneath him shifted, morphing into a dark, viscous swamp. Withered hands, as old as the earth itself, reached out from the depths, their skeletal fingers wrapping around Jon's ankles and pulling him into the abyss.

In the original plot, Tanjiro had faced this Swamp Demon, a demon with three clones. Only by destroying all three could the demon be truly vanquished for good. The Ghost Rider had already incinerated one, but the task was far from complete. Two more clones lurked in the shadows, waiting for their moment to strike.

As Jon was dragged into the turbid depths, he found himself surrounded by a macabre sight. Countless clothes and rags floated around him, remnants of lives lost. Each piece of fabric was a chilling testament to the demon's victims, all women, their lives cruelly snuffed out and discarded in the swamp.

Without warning, another clone of the Swamp Demon materialized before Jon. Its sharp claws wrapped around his neck, squeezing with a ferocity that would have been lethal to a mortal man. "You bastard," it hissed, its voice echoing in the underwater cavern. "You like to play with fire, huh? Let's see how well you play with fire under the water!"

Jon's feet kicked wildly, his body thrashing in a desperate struggle for freedom. But as the demon tightened its grip, a spark ignited in Jon's eyes. "Surprise," he rasped, his voice barely more than a whisper.

In the next moment, hellfire erupted from his body, the skeletal figure of the Ghost Rider blazing once more in the underwater gloom. The Swamp Demon's triumphant grin faltered, replaced by a look of pure terror. Then, a ball of hellfire ignited in the water, engulfing the demon's body.

Aaaaaaaah!

A guttural scream echoed through the swamp as the demon was consumed by the flames. The water around them boiled and hissed, steam rising in thick plumes. The demon writhed in agony, its form disintegrating until all that was left was a pile of ashes sinking slowly to the bottom of the swamp.

The silence that followed was deafening. Jon, once again the Ghost Rider, floated in the water, the glow from his flames casting long shadows. He knew his task was not yet complete. One more clone remained, lurking somewhere in the darkness.

***

Meanwhile, on the surface, the final clone of the Swamp Demon emerged from the swamp, its grotesque form casting a monstrous shadow over Kazumi and Shinoko. Half-submerged, its upper body rose from the swamp, its eyes gleaming with a ferocious hunger as it stared at the two humans.

Without warning, it lunged, its sharp claws slicing through the air towards them. But before it could reach them, a clear, sweet chirp echoed through the air. A ball of flame materialized in front of Kazumi and Shinoko, transforming into a magnificent, bright red bird.

This was the phoenix Jon had acquired in the Harry Potter world, a creature of fire and rebirth. It had been a long time since Jon had summoned it, but its presence now was a beacon of hope for the to humans.

"What is that?" The Swamp Demon recoiled, its instinctual fear of the firebird evident in its wide, terrified eyes. As it retreated, the phoenix let out a piercing cry. With a powerful flap of its wings, it sent a wave of flames towards the demon. The Swamp Demon's screams echoed through the night as it was consumed by the fire, its form disintegrating into ashes.

[Ding! Side mission updated. Eliminate at least ten ordinary demons. Current progress: (1/10)]

[Ding! Legendary mission updated. Judge a thousand sinful souls throughout the multiverse. Current progress: (63/1000)]

***

Back in the swamp, Jon heard the system prompt in his ears. The phoenix had succeeded in eliminating the final clone of the Swamp Demon. But he wasn't in a rush to surface. He had made a promise to Kazumi to rescue his fiancé, Satoko. He had initially feared that she had been consumed by the demon, but upon entering the swamp, he had sensed the faint pulse of human life somewhere in the swamp.

He had learned a simple spell from the Darkhold that allowed him to sense life around him. And now, that spell was telling him that there were still living people in the swamp.

Jon plunged deeper into the swamp, his eyes scanning the murky depths. His heart clenched as he spotted a figure entwined in vines at the bottom of the swamp. It was a girl, no older than sixteen, her body limp and her eyes closed. Her left hand and foot were missing fingers, a horrifying testament to the demon's cruel intentions. It seemed they had been savoring her, consuming her bit by bit.

Suddenly, her eyes fluttered open. Panic set in as she realized her predicament, and she began to thrash wildly. Spotting Jon, she stretched out her hand, pleading for help.

She was encased in a bloody bubble, a Blood Demon Art used by the Swamp Demon to keep their prey alive and fresh underwater. But with the demon now vanquished, the bubble was beginning to dissipate. Jon swam over, slicing through the vines with a swift motion. He wrapped an arm around the girl and kicked off the swamp floor, propelling them towards the surface.

Aaagh~!

Moments later, Jon broke the surface, gasping for air. Kazumi and Shinoko rushed forward, helping him onto the solid ground. But their attention was quickly drawn to the unconscious girl in Jon's arms.

"Satoko!" Kazumi cried out, his voice choked with relief and fear. He gently took her from Jon, cradling her in his arms.

Jon wiped the water from his face, his voice steady as he said, "You're lucky. Not many survive an encounter with a demon. She lost her fingers. It seems the Swamp Demon intended to keep her alive for a while, to savor her."

Kazumi fell to his knees, his body wracked with sobs. "Thank you," he managed to choke out between tears. "Thank you so much."

"Be careful when you take her out at night next time," Jon advised, turning to leave.

"Wait, where are you going at this late hour?!" Shinoko called out, her cheeks flushed.

"To the next demon," Jon replied without turning back, his voice echoing in the still night.

Shinoko's voice was soft, a hint of blush coloring her cheeks as she spoke. "But do you still have to go on your way so late? Why don't you come to my house and let me and my father repay your kindness? You saved my life!"

Jon offered her a gentle smile. "I appreciate your kindness, but I have a place to stay."

As he turned to leave, Shinoko called out again. "Onii-San, what is your name?"

Jon paused, considering her question. "My name is Jotaro Kuj."

Shinoko nodded, her eyes bright. "Then, Jotaro Onii-San, there's a village to the southeast called Yinyu Village. It's about thirty or forty miles from here. The village is very closed off and conservative. They worship a god and engage in human sacrifices. I think it may be a demon there. If you're looking for demons, maybe you can go there and have a look!"

Jon's interest was piqued. "Yinyu Village, right? Thank you for the reminder, I'll go take a look."

With that, he turned and headed southeast. But instead of heading straight to Yinyu Village, he found a secluded spot under the root of a tree. From his system's space pocket, he pulled out a suitcase.

He opened the suitcase to reveal another world within. He stepped inside, the suitcase swallowing him whole. This was a purchase from the Harry Potter universe's store, a replica of the suitcase from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". It had cost him 8,000 penalty points, but it was worth every point.

Unlike Newt Scamander's suitcase, which was filled with magical creatures and plants, Jon's suitcase was relatively empty. It contained a simple room where he lived, and a few magical creatures from the Harry Potter world, including Igris, a phoenix, and a Niffler.

"But it doesn't matter, I will make it even a better place by then!" Jon thought excitedly. He had the ability to travel through the multiverse. He could collect materials from various worlds and use them to decorate his suitcase world. It was like playing "Minecraft", and he was excited to see how this place would evolve.

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A/N: 👋 Hey, fans of the Multiverse's Ghost Rider! I'm delighted to announce the launch of our Discord page, dedicated to all things related to our thrilling story. This platform will serve as a central hub for exciting announcements, engaging discussions, and a place for fans to connect with one another. Feel free to share your thoughts, theories, and fan art here. Let's come together and delve deeper into the captivating world of our Multiverse's Ghost Rider. Enjoy your time on the Discord page! 

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