Chapter 93: The Invitation

Seeing Carter, who had reverted to his original, somewhat devastated state, Gu Chongyan quickly spoke up, “All of this is just my speculation. But whether it’s true or not, you’ve all underestimated Mephisto’s strength.”

“I’m not saying he can completely ignore the power of the San Venganza Contract, but for a demon or being of his level, gaining power is no longer something that can be achieved with ordinary souls, artifacts, or magical items.”

Of course, if it were something on the level of an Infinity Stone, the Heart of the Universe, or the Ultimate Nullifier, then that’s another story. But beings of that caliber are rare even across the multiverse, so they don’t really serve as a reference.

Though Gu Chongyan claimed it was only a guess, given his more than a century of life experience, Carter knew perfectly well how likely it was to be true.

To think that more than a hundred years of persistence was nothing but a play orchestrated by someone else left Carter disheartened and discouraged.

He glanced at the shovel on the black horse’s back and cast a complicated look at Gu Chongyan. “So, you know so much—does that mean you truly know where the San Venganza Contract is hidden?”

Gu Chongyan said nothing; his silence was his answer.

With a wry smile, Carter unfastened the shovel from the saddle and handed it to Gu Chongyan. “Here, take it. Whether this is truly important or just bait, I don’t think there’s any need for me to linger anymore.”

“The battle just now has drained nearly all my strength. From now on, the task of protecting Earth and humanity will have to fall to you young folks.”

He looked back at the graveyard behind him, half wistful and half at peace, a faint smile on his lips. “As for me, it’s time to enjoy the peace of my final days, just like this cemetery.”

Taking the shovel, Gu Chongyan hesitated as if wanting to speak, but in the end, all he said was “Thank you.”

“That’s enough. I’m tired, so I won’t stay with you any longer. Old friend, let’s go.” With that, Carter mounted his horse, nudged its flanks, and, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats, disappeared behind the church, vanishing from the sight of the three.

Watching Carter depart, a heavy silence fell over the group.

Su Yan quickly broke it, “Brother Gu, what should we do now? We’ve got the item—should we go home?”

At this, Gu Chongyan withdrew his gaze, broke the shovel in his hands, and drew out the San Venganza Contract hidden inside the handle, shaking his head. “No, not yet. This contract can only be used at the ruins of San Venganza. We still need to go there.”

“But before that—” Gu Chongyan suddenly turned to Johnny. “Mr. Blaze, what do you plan to do next?”

“Huh?” Johnny was stunned, looking at Gu Chongyan in confusion.

Gu Chongyan continued, “Perhaps you haven’t had time to process all this information, but I must remind you: ever since you signed the contract with Mephisto and were imbued with the Spirit of Vengeance, you’re no longer an ordinary human.”

“From now on, every night you’ll turn into a flaming skeleton, becoming Mephisto’s agent, a tool for him to siphon the Spirit of Vengeance’s power and harvest souls.”

“Though you’ve awakened within the Spirit of Vengeance, we both know Mephisto won’t let you go that easily. If he comes for you again, do you think you can resist him?”

“So what are you suggesting?” Johnny looked at Gu Chongyan, thoughtful.

Gu Chongyan smiled. “You signed a contract with Mephisto, and I killed his henchmen. Clearly, we’re both in the same boat now.”

“Since we share a common enemy, why not work together? The Spirit of Vengeance wields immense power—at its peak, even surpassing Mephisto.”

“Though after years of being drained and weakened, not much remains, but if you could fully unlock its potential, at least outside of Hell, you’d be able to stand against Mephisto.”

“You possess this power—you just can’t access or control it. My magic, however, can help you learn to master it.”

“If we join forces, even Mephisto wouldn’t be able to touch us.”

“So I hope you’ll join my team. Together, we can stand against Mephisto and defend our world and those we love. What do you say?”

“Your team?” Johnny glanced instinctively at Su Yan, frowning. “Some kind of teenage superhero group?”

Seeing the twitch in Johnny’s expression, Gu Chongyan hurriedly shook his head. “No, not at all. You misunderstand. Su Yan is just one of us, and he’s the only one that young.”

“In New York, we’ve formed a team called the Defenders Alliance—heroes united to fight threats lurking in the shadows, protecting Earth and its people.”

“Demons, vampires—creatures of darkness. In the future, we might face aliens, werewolves, power-hungry dark wizards, or even a return of Mephisto.”

“In short, we stand together, using our abilities to secretly safeguard this world.”

“And we’re not alone—you’ve heard of SHIELD, haven’t you?”

“It’s a special agency under the supervision of the United Nations Security Council. Even Captain America’s origins are tied to them. We often work with them, so in a way, we’re semi-official.”

“That’s why I sincerely invite you to join us. If you agree, you’ll be the strongest among the Defenders Alliance.”

Johnny shook his head, troubled. “I—I don’t know. It’s all too sudden. First the demon, then a superhero team—my head’s spinning.”

“I think I need to give it some serious thought.”

“Of course,” Gu Chongyan nodded. “Whatever you decide, I’ll respect your choice.”

“But I still hope you’ll join us—even if only for Roxanne’s sake. If something unexpected happens, it’s hard for someone alone to avoid putting those they care about in danger.”

At the mention of Roxanne, Johnny’s brow furrowed and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.

Gu Chongyan pretended not to notice and went on, “With a team, at least you’d have fewer worries. It’s better than going it alone.”

“I still need to head to San Venganza. When I get back, let’s talk again—I hope by then, I’ll get a satisfying answer. OK?”

Johnny was moved. He opened his mouth, then nodded faintly. “OK, I’ll think about it.”

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