Chapter 286 The Spirit of Vengeance Reborn

"Please, come in."

Johnny opened the door wide, inviting the man standing before him to enter as a guest.

"I was feeling utterly hopeless."

After sitting down, he sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere and decided to initiate a conversation, reflecting on his day with a wry smile, "I thought Anton had abandoned me."

"You should feel hopeless. If I hadn't come, you would already be a minion of the demons."

Constantine shrugged.

Seeing that Johnny seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, Constantine continued with a mischievously grim tone,

"Of course, even my coming doesn't guarantee your freedom from demonic entanglements. However, I can assure you that I have the ability to make your death quicker, with less struggle."

With a swish, Johnny face turned pale as he looked at Constantine: "So, you're saying you can't really help me?"

"The only one who can help you is yourself."

Constantine said calmly, "Do you know why Mephisto wants your soul?"

"Mephisto?"

Johnny was taken aback, "Who is he?"

"The demon who made a pact with you. He called Mephisto, a lord of Hell, one of the rulers of the underworld, a very powerful demon."

Constantine explained, "His avatars roam the human world year-round, absorbing the souls of the fallen.

He makes deals, manipulates hearts, and takes joy in claiming the most precious possessions of his bargainers."

"So, why does he want my soul?" Johnny asked.

"Because of the Spirit of Vengeance, Zarathos."

Constantine continued, "Zarathos was an angel with a soul of justice who, due to various reasons, became a curse upon your family. In this world, you are unique to Mephisto."

"I've never heard of this name, Zarathos?"

Johnny murmured.

"This is the curse your biological father, and your family lineage, brought upon you."

Constantine explained, "Zarathos was originally an angel of justice, who descended to protect the human world.

But he was deceived, captured, and taken to Hell. Tempted repeatedly by demons, he lost his faith.

His soul was tainted, and his mission to protect humanity turned into a desire for punishing the wicked.

He became the Spirit of Vengeance. That the origin of the Spirit of Vengeance."

"So, Zarathos, the Spirit of Vengeance, is a curse that my family has been enduring all this time?"

Johnny murmured to himself, "So, that why Mephisto wants to possess my soul."

"Correct, it seems you understand."

Constantine nodded, "Each firstborn of the Kale family is cursed in this way you can communicate with the Spirit of Vengeance and harness his power.

That also the biggest reason why Mephisto is trying to control you. On Earth, his power isn't very strong, so he needs the Ghost Rider to work for him."

"the Kale family..."

Images flashed through Johnny mind.

At this moment, with reminders from the blond man before him, he began to recall brief scenes from his childhood.

"The Spirit of Vengeance, the curse of the Kale family... Ghost Rider."

As he spoke, a surge of power welled up within him.

This was the result of Johnny subconscious desire for the existence of the Ghost Rider during his contemplation.

Constantine narrowed his eyes slightly.

He could feel a tremendously powerful demonic force intertwining with Johnny, like a vast net woven together.

"Ah..."

The memories flashing back in Johnny mind finally settled on a skull-like face.

He suddenly fell to his knees, clutching his head and showing an expression of extreme pain, "What happening to me? Get out! Get out of me!"

At that moment, it seemed as if flames were igniting behind him.

The skin on his face and hands, exposed to the air, began to peel away, revealing stark white bones.

Demonization!

Johnny was beginning to tap into the power of the Spirit of Vengeance, Zarathos.

In other words, if Johnny wished, he could transform into the Ghost Rider immediately.

However, an uncontrolled Ghost Rider would just rampage around, punishing criminals.

This method of punishment was hardly different from "murder."

Seeing this, Constantine across from Johnny sighed, stood up, and walked over to Johnny, placing his hand on his head to chant a spell.

Moments later, with the aid of the incantation, the not yet fully awakened Spirit of Vengeance was gradually suppressed.

Johnny slowly came to his senses.

Although still suffering from a splitting headache, he no longer showed signs of losing control.

"What happened to me?"

Johnny, vividly remembering what had just occurred, looked at Constantine with a shocked and fearful expression.

He swallowed, "What happened to me?"

"That was the Spirit of Vengeance you just awakened him."

Constantine explained, "However, even if you didn't awaken him now, you would have encountered him eventually in the days to come.

I estimate that you have no more than a month... which means you don't have much time."

"My time... isn't much?"

Johnny sat on the floor, exhausted from the struggle, with large beads of sweat rolling down his cheeks, showing a hint of confusion.

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying you're about to die."

Constantine explained, "What I mean is that the Spirit of Vengeance is about to awaken, and your days of peace are numbered.

Once the Spirit of Vengeance fully awakens, you'll possess the ability to transform into the Ghost Rider.

At that point, Mephisto will come for you, attempting to control you and use the Ghost Rider for his purposes.

This is probably his most obsessive goal on Earth... after all, you've signed a contract with him, and your soul already belongs to him."

"What should I do? You must have a way, right?"

Johnny fell silent for a moment, as if he had forgotten the first thing Constantine said when he entered.

He realized his predicament, like being on a cable stretched between cliffs, where both advancing and retreating are risky, with no clear choice.

Since Constantine had come, even without any guarantees, at least it proved that he was capable of proposing a solution.

"I certainly suggest you accept the reality."

Constantine said, "Your only option now is to control the power of the Spirit of Vengeance, rather than letting it control you... and that why I'm here."

"To master the power of the Spirit of Vengeance?"

Johnny breathed heavily, settled back into his chair, and stretched out his hands, looking at them with a still puzzled expression.

"Like those superheroes?"

He seemed to understand something, "I can control the Spirit of Vengeance and become like those superheroes, possessing special powers?"

"Uh, you're not wrong."

Constantine thought for a moment and nodded, "Exactly like that."