Chapter 245: The Power of Blackstone

Behind Snow White stood several hundred soldiers, completely sealing off the exit of the Iron Tower.

What puzzled Jon was that none of the soldiers carried traditional weapons. Instead, each held a shield etched with strange, glowing runes.

"You, and... dear Mother," Snow White said mockingly, her gaze landing on Grimhilde. "Where exactly do you think you're going?"

At the sight of Snow White, rage boiled in Grimhilde's chest. Her eight spider-like legs clattered forward, claws twitching, thirsting to shred the Queen into pieces.

Jon stepped in front of her. "Take the prisoners and leave. I'll handle her."

Grimhilde's fury subsided slightly as she nodded.

Snow White sneered. "And you really believe you'll be allowed to escape?"

As her words fell, dozens of mages stepped forward from the crowd. In unison, they began chanting incantations and waving their staff. The runes on the soldiers' shields glowed brilliantly.

Snow White herself murmured an ancient spell. The shield runes channeled their energy into her, an icy radiance gathering in her palms. A blinding beam of frost shot toward Jon and the fleeing prisoners.

Sensing the overwhelming power within it, Jon didn't hesitate. He immediately transformed into Ghost Rider form. Hellfire erupted around him, colliding with the freezing blast.

The formation these mages used was surprisingly potent, rivaling even Kaecilius's power. Though Jon had only briefly clashed with Kaecilius before, he had sensed how formidable the man was.

Snow White smirked. "You may have the strength to stand against us. But how will you protect all those prisoners behind you?"

Her taunt was swiftly silenced.

"Now, Mirror!" Grimhilde cried.

The pendant on her chest morphed, unfolding into a massive, ornate mirror, much larger than before, towering over two meters high.

The mirror's surface rippled with energy. The spectral face within blurred, and a vortex of dark magic swirled open on its surface.

"Everyone, inside!" Grimhilde shouted.

Without hesitation, the prisoners rushed into the swirling portal.

Snow White's already shadowed face flushed with rage. "Damn it!"

From the side, Ghost Rider smirked. "Huh. You're a bit more bearable when you're angry. Not as deathly pale."

"You bastard!" she howled, her face contorting in fury. Despite gathering mages and hundreds of shielded soldiers, she still couldn't push Jon back. If anything, she was on the defensive.

As the last of the prisoners disappeared through the mirror, Grimhilde turned. "They're all out. Time for us to leave."

Jon shook his head, smiling. "No. You go. I'm staying."

"What?! Are you insane?!" Grimhilde's voice rose in shock.

"Don't worry," Jon said calmly. "I've got a plan. They can't touch me. I left tracking marks on all the prisoners. I'll find you when this is over."

After a moment's hesitation, Grimhilde nodded. "Fine. Be careful."

She turned, scuttling through the mirror. The portal shimmered once more, and vanished.

With the others safe, Jon shifted back to human form and slowly raised his hands.

He stared straight at Snow White. "Alright, you got me. I surrender. Go ahead, arrest me."

The mages blinked in disbelief. Then, slowly, they exhaled in relief. Ghost Rider had been the most terrifying enemy they'd ever faced. Stronger than any witch, more relentless than any monster. If the standoff had dragged on, the outcome would've been unpredictable.

Snow White advanced, her face tense. "Since even the highest-level seal in the Iron Tower failed to contain you, we'll have to use this."

She flicked her blackened hand. A dark stone hovered into the air and flew toward Jon. The moment it touched him, a surge of chaotic darkness flooded his body, aiming to suppress his magic.

But to her dismay, Jon didn't collapse. Instead, he stood straighter.

Inside, he was reeling.

This power... it's that black stone. he thought.

From the beginning, he'd felt a connection to the black stone's energy, it resonated with his own. He'd tried for days to extract its power but had found it stubborn, almost sentient, refusing to yield.

Yet now, unleashed by Snow White herself, the energy flowed freely into him.

Jon realized something. The Ghost Rider's essence was born of darkness, and much of his magic came from the Darkhold, the forbidden Book of the Damned. The Black stone's power didn't resist him. It welcomed him. It felt... natural.

Snow White had unknowingly gifted him exactly what he'd wanted.

Still, he couldn't act. Not yet. The mages, the ritual circle, he'd have to wait for the perfect moment. Killing her now would be far too costly.

So Jon pretended to falter. He let his body sway, his breathing grow labored.

Snow White's sneer returned. "Restrain him! I'll carve the flesh from his bones myself and make soup from his remains!"

She snarled like a beast. One of the nearby mages hesitated, as if wanting to say something, but fell silent, sighing.

He knew better than to defy her.

***

Jon found himself back in the dungeon, but this time, he wasn't left to rot. Snow White was in a hurry. She wanted to carve him up personally.

Soon enough, the Queen herself appeared. But today, she wore a black gown, a small dagger glinting in her hand.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Jon," she said in a low, venomous voice.

Jon pretended to be startled. "Whoa—who's talking?!"

The Queen frowned. "I'm standing right in front of you. Can't you see me?"

He squinted, then acted as though realization had dawned. "Oh! Your Majesty, is that you? Sorry, the lighting down here's terrible. And you, in all black... well, let's just say you're not exactly standing out."

"You—!" The Queen's face twisted with rage. Clearly, Jon was toying with her. Even if he couldn't see her, he could surely spot the gleam of her dagger.

But Jon wasn't done. He started to hum. "Niiight so daaaark~ Can't see a thing... especially the Queen of Shadows."

"Bastard! I'll start with that foul mouth of yours!" she snapped, lunging forward.

But instead of fear, Jon replied calmly, "No, no, start with my eyes, please. They've finally adjusted to the dark. Just my luck, I can now see that hideous mug of yours. Do me a favor and stab my eyes out first, save me the pain of looking at you."

Her expression twisted in humiliation and fury. He was the prisoner—he should be groveling. But instead, he mocked her fearlessly.

"I'll carve you up," she hissed. "Bit by bit. Just like those cursed witches. I'll turn your meat into stew."

She slashed with her dagger.

Clink.

A strange sound rang out.

Something was off.

The Queen glanced down and saw sparks where the blade struck. Then, flames began to spread, fast.

Jon's flesh seemed to burn away, revealing the flaming skeleton of the Ghost Rider.

"You—you're not sealed?!" she gasped. "What are you?!"

"You said it yourself," he grinned, eyes glowing with fire. "A monster."

His voice deepened with infernal resonance. "You tried to use corrupted black magic to subdue me? That only works on beings of purity. You'd need a witch's magic to even stand a chance."

"Impossible!" the Queen barked. "The witches are the ones who used dark magic! Just like those cursed freaks! If Black stone can suppress them, it should work on you!"

Jon scoffed. "You've repeated that lie so often you almost believe it. Pathetic."

He reached into his dimensional space and pulled out his Black stone.

"Why do you have one too?!" the Queen stammered.

Ignoring her, Jon held the stone up. "Can't you feel it? The power inside... it's vile, yes, but immensely potent. And yet, it chose you. It accepts you. Even though it destroys witches."

He took a step closer.

Her eyes widened. "You... stay back!"

Even her two guards hesitated. They had seen what Jon could do in this form. Alone, he had held off nearly every top mage in the kingdom, while most of them were deployed at war.

The Queen had only taken two guards with her. Now, they faced the monster again.

"You two! What are you doing?! Protect me!" she shrieked.

Snapped out of their daze, the guards roared and charged.

But their courage was foolish. They were consumed by hellfire before they ever got close.

Jon turned to the Queen, one bony hand pointing at her. "Now, your turn."

The Queen collapsed, fainting from terror.

Jon stopped, letting the flames recede. He shifted back into human form.

"She fainted already?" he muttered, shaking his head. "Well, I never intended to kill her here anyway. Not yet."

Still, he needed to move her body. But Jon didn't want to touch her. Just looking at her was repulsive.

He summoned his wand and conjured a large cloth bag. Wrapping her up without laying a finger on her, he hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack of garbage.

Then, transforming into one of her guards, he walked confidently toward the exit.

At the gate, a sentry stepped in front of him.

"Hold on, what's in the bag?" the guard asked.

Jon didn't blink. "Some idiot who dared insult Her Majesty's beauty. She ordered him dragged outside for execution."

The guard knelt down to check. "I'll have a look."

But Jon kicked him squarely in the chest.

"You dare question the Queen's orders?!"

"N-No, of course not!" the guard said quickly, bowing.

"Thought so." Jon snorted, then added, "In fact, Her Majesty gave specific orders, anyone who encounters this prisoner must kick them as punishment."

He grinned darkly. "So go on. You. Kick her."

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