Chronicle VIII: Domination

Two months has passed since Johnny Blaze interrupted the fight between the two teenagers and took Daniel to train. The educational building had no problem with this and when Blaze explained the situation to them, obviously lying, they didn´t think twice and accepted it.

As for the Johnsons, convincing them was a bit more difficult than expected. Rex wanted to accompany his brother, unlike his parents , who did not trust Johnny Blaze even though he was a famous figure. However, after Dante's intervention in the conversation and a long time, both adults accepted the trip.

And now, in the present, Dante was lying on the ground, his jacket slightly burned and breathing heavily.

The reason? As soon as he faced his sudden teacher, he received the beating of his life. According to the man, at the time of the battle Zarathos was the one fighting, preventing quick and rational decision making as he was blinded for his thirst for revenge and punishment.

The goal of the training was to reinforce three simple points:

First, the boy had to learn to defend himself, learning Muay Boran and the basics of other martial arts, handling of weapons and improving his mastery of chains.

Second, to learn to handle the magic, so to speak, that the spirit gave him. Hellfire was not something to be taken as a joke.

And finally, the most difficult thing was to create a perfect bond between himself and Zarathos, leaving the consciousness and actions of the Ghost Rider to the boy.

In this span of time, he achieved the vast majority of the first point and completed the second, yet he was stuck in the last.

Johnny Blaze was an excellent teacher. His mastery over the Ghost Rider's powers far exceeded the experience of the likes of Stephen Strange or Danny Ketch, even Robbie Reyes. It was thanks to this experience that Daniel had made great progress in such a short time.

His teacher-student relationship also improved with the passing of the days. When they were resting, the biker narrated his adventures to the boy, telling him about the fights he had gone through with supernatural beings, heroes, villains, anti-heroes and even with the Avengers.

Right now, they were both resting, sitting around a campfire warming up their dinner.

While the teenager recounted something that happened to him a long time ago, Johnny listened attentively with a smile, laughing at the occurrences that the boy had at the time.

Sadly, the smile faded immediately as his demonic perception of him and his instincts jumped on alert. Likewise, the boy noticed it too, and they both paid attention to their surroundings.

- What's going on?

- Stay here -he ordered-. Don't even think about following me.

- What? Oh, come on!

- You're not ready yet -added the adult with a serious and firm tone-. Stay here.

Ignoring Dante's plaintive babbling, Johnny headed off into the woods.

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I ran to where I felt that demonic presence. I don't want to leave the kid, but if I'm correct and the presence is who I think it is, he would only get in the way.

He's not prepared to face an enemy like this, not when it comes to...

- Long time no see, Blaze...-I heard.

I stopped and turned... Damn it. I was right...

Sitting on a log, cross-legged and grinning, there he was.

- Blackheart.

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You're not ready yet. Come on!

I swear he sometimes thinks that I still don't have the strength to even kick a single demon's ass.

But, if a single presence like this is enough to put him on his guard, it's a dangerous thing... I don't think he needs help, but on the other hand, maybe he does...

Fuck, what do I do? His power far exceeds mine, but no matter how small the help, after all it is help... But the demon that gives off this power releases an impressive evil. I better go to-

Before I knew it, I involuntarily threw myself to the ground narrowly dodging something sharp that cut off some of my hair.

- Shit!

I looked at what crashed into the tree only to find that that piece of forest was shattered, with weak embers forming around it. In the middle of it all, there was a bright white spear that slowly faded away.

What the fuck ? That was a spear made of light? What is this, Star Wars?

- Tsk, he's just a boy...- I heard- Good reflexes, but it will be of little use to you for the next one!

He was a muscular guy... I would say too much, I think someone uses steroids... Wait, those are black wings?

- Tch...! - I threw myself aside avoiding another spear of light, but I quickly got up- A Fallen Angel?

-That's right...- from his tone, I don't think he expected me to deduce it so quickly- My name is Baatral, one of the lords of-

Rule number one of tv shows, anime and video games: if the enemy is distracted, attack him with everything you have!

I formed a huge ball of fire between my hands and threw it at him with all my strength... which he quickly dodged.

Well, shit.

In the blink of an eye, I received a terribly strong blow to the face that propelled me towards the sky... I wanted to transform or concentrate on doing it, but the blows I receive were fast and do not give me a second to breathe...!

- Grah!

He grabbed my face and soared even higher into the sky... The air is getting low, my sight is blurring...

I can't... breathe...

- Get... The fuck... 𝙊𝙛𝙛!!

I finally transformed and threw a flamethrower right in the face, to which Baatral howled in pain. He let go of me and we fought hand to hand while we were in free fall, but he again rose to the sky taking my arms, reaching the highest point next to the clouds.

He hurtled toward the ground, and I couldn't free myself. I felt stabs around my body that hurt like fucking hell, discovering that they were little angelic daggers.

Shit, I'm starting to feel dizzy...

We fall at breakneck speed, until he finally lets go of me, slamming me to the ground.

The impact hurts ... a lot ... The pain in my torso gets worse, I think I'm losing blood ... Damn, this is pathetic!

I'm not going to let a Fallen Angel defeat me!

ℍ𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕤 𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖!!

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Baatral's clash with the boy was brutal. The previous impact caused a crater in the ground, and this shock enlarged it.

The Fallen Angel watched his enemy. His flames died down, and only an empty skull remained; he seemed unconscious.

Giggling arrogantly, Baatral rests his foot against Zarathos's skull, exerting force to crush him.

- And this was the being that influences terror in the legends of Heaven? -He said, mocking- Goodbye, Exorus Az-

He felt a hand grab his foot with a force that made his bones crack. Alarmed, his eyes shifted from his feet to the empty sockets of his enemy, which slowly lit up.

But this time, instead of the natural color of fire, the light they emanated was other.

It was red.

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At the same time, the meeting of Blackheart and Johnny Blaze continued.

- You look good. How does it feel to be free from my father's contract?- asked Blackheart, still smiling.

- 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞?- asked Blaze- 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝. 𝐈 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

- Ah ah- Blackheart shakes his index finger, denying it- .I asked first. You better answer, Johnny. You don't want something to happen to the kid, do you?

In an instant, the Ghost Rider took his shotgun and opened fire on the blue demon.

-Woah!- Blackheart dodges the shot with great agility-No thanks, I'd rather keep my new life a little longer... But seriously, Johnny, is that how you welcome old acquaintances?

- Stop playing around, Blackheart.

A new voice was present, and out of nowhere another demon appeared. Blue hair and his calm expression were his most distinctive features.

- ...My apologies, Lord Leaviathan.

- 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣?- the Rider repeated in his thoughts

Leaviathan, one of the Seven Demon Lords, the most powerful demons and representative of the Sin of Envy. His true form is that of a huge tentacled sea serpent that devours whoever crosses its path.

- So this is the famous Ghost Rider...- spoke the demon, with a calm voice- You are only a shadow of what Zarathos once was... But I must say, your power goes beyond my expectations.

-𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐝! - the Rider replied mockingly and defiantly. As soon as the words left his mouth, he lashed out with his chains, trapping Leviathan in them.

However, with minimal effort, the Demon Lord broke them, freeing himself. Looking at him without expression, Leviathan reveals one of his tentacles and attacks his enemy with it, who dodges it and rushes back on the offensive.

With one leap, he lands in front of the Lord of the Oceans and punches him on the cheek, dislodging his jaw; but he did not stop there, but continued with strong and accurate attacks, relentlessly striking Leviathan.

Prepared to deliver the final blow, a tentacle impacts him and takes him away from his opponent.The Ghost Rider blocks it without problem, only to see Leviathan adjust his jaw, putting it in his place and showing a forced smile.

-Not bad.

- 𝐈 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭- he admits, brushing the dust off his jacket- 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧.

His chains are bathed in hellfire, while the flames on his head brighten. Blackheart takes a step back, instinctively on guard, and Leaviathan, for the first time, shows a serious expression.

But before the battle even started, a sudden and huge flare of crimson color attracts the attention of the 3 individuals. The fire reached the height of the sky, and after a few moments, it vanished.

Nobody said anything for a few seconds. However, when that time lapse passed, Leviathan transformed into his super sea serpent form, occupying a gigantic size.

- 𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙙! - Johnny thought- 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞?!- he exclaimed, attacking both demons.

With a swift movement, the Lord of the Oceans attacked the Ghost Rider with his tentacles. The first attacks missed, but the last one hit Blaze completely and sent him flying away from his location.

- Now ... Let's go for what we came in the first place...- declared the snake.

Blackheart and Leviathan headed quickly towards their goal:

Daniel Williams.