Soren was wiping the last traces of abyssal energy from his gloves when the familiar chime echoed through his mind.
[Congratulations. Host has treated an A+-rank entity: Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze.]
[Reward obtained: Penance Stare Lv 9.]
Soren paused.
Then an unmistakable grin spread across his face as the new power surged into him.
A strange energy threaded through his nerves like molten silver, carrying with it flashes of knowledge, how the Eye worked, how to wield it, how to burn a soul from the inside out.
A gaze that ignited sin itself.
Once the soul caught fire… nothing could put it out.
It was a terrifying power.
A beautiful one.
But Soren wasn't the only one changing.
Inside the treatment chamber, Johnny Blaze suddenly erupted into bright, searing flame. His leather jacket burned to cinders, and his body snapped into its Ghost Rider form… but this time, it wasn't night.
It was broad daylight.
Johnny looked down at his own flaming skeletal hands, stunned.
He could feel something was gone.
Something that had chained him his entire life.
And something else… remained.
Mephisto's grip.
The curse that had turned him into Ghost Rider.
All of it had been severed cleanly.
Yet the power the hellfire, the transformation, the strength still flowed through his body like an unshackled river.
He was Ghost Rider by choice now.
"Soren," Johnny said, his skull's jaw clacking open and shut, yet somehow speaking in his own voice, not the hollow demonic rasp of before. "Thank you."
Soren's smile turned sly.
Happy to cooperate.
Just then, the operating room door swung open. Nadya entered, supporting Danny as he walked, looking healthier than he had since long before the ritual.
She blinked in shock at Johnny's form, at a Ghost Rider standing in daylight but sensed something different immediately.
Danny, however… Danny's reaction was different.
He stared at Johnny with a strange fascination. A flicker of blackness rippled through his pupils, spreading outward like ink in water. A thin wave of demonic aura rose off him…
Johnny felt it instantly.
Two demonic essences in the same room always recognized each other. The space between them tightened.
Nadya didn't understand it. Soren did.
He stepped forward, and with a single breath, let the weight of his spiritual pressure drop like a hammer. The tension shattered instantly, the demonic surge smothered before it could flare.
"Danny," Soren said, his voice deep, "Control yourself. Do not let the demon consciousness reach for the steering wheel."
The words struck the boy's mind like a bell.
Danny's eyes small shoulders relaxed. The darkness faded away, leaving him bewildered.
Even Johnny flinched slightly, impressed. For Soren's pressure alone to force a devil-spawned instinct back into its cage… wasn't normal.
Johnny blinked and just like that, the flames receded. He stood in his human form again, breathing hard.
Nadya watched them both in confusion, but Soren knew exactly what had happened.
Danny was too young.
The demonic blood in him was awakening, and without guidance, it would rise instinctively in moments of stress. Soren had expected this and prepared for it.
His goal wasn't to suppress Danny's demonic nature.
It was to teach him how to balance it with his humanity.
Nadya turned Danny toward him. "Danny… Soren saved your life. You wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for him."
Danny lifted his gaze.
He could sense the Penance stare within Soren, the way a small flame recognizes a roaring blaze. It pulled at him, equal parts terrifying and fascinating.
He swallowed. "…Thanks,"
Soren smiled softly, saying nothing at first. He simply studied Danny for a long moment…
"Danny, you already understand most of what's been happening, right? The devil blood running through you… it's a double-edged sword. That nature inside you can drag you down a dark path."
"But the abilities you carry? They're not good or evil by themselves. Do you get what I'm saying?"
Danny nodded without hesitation, surprising Soren with how steady he was.
"Mom already explained everything. She told me to follow you, learn from you. And… I want to."
Off to the side, Nadya's expression shifted, complicated. Pride, fear, relief… and a little worry.
But Danny wasn't finished.
"But," he added quietly, "I want to stay with my mom."
"That's fine. I said I'd teach you, make you my disciple, but I never said you'd lose your freedom."
His smile widened a bit. "Besides, I'm out of the hospital all the time."
"I can't babysit you. So I'll arrange a place for both of you nearby. When I'm here, you'll come in, help out, learn… but your life is still yours. Whatever you grow into later… that's up to you."
Both Nadya and Danny lit up at that. They had been wandering for years, never staying anywhere long, always looking over their shoulders. The promise of stability, of safety felt unreal.
Danny straightened his back, eyes firm and bright. "I won't disappoint you. I promise!"
"Good," Soren chuckled. "Then show me."
He glanced over at Johnny. "So? What do you think of my disciple?"
Johnny back in his human form but still faintly glowing with Hellfire, grinned. The weight of Mephisto's contract was gone, and he was still adjusting to the strange feeling of freedom.
"He's great. Reminds me of myself when I was younger. Except, you know… less stupid."
Soren's eyes warmed with an idea. "Johnny, I've got a proposal."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice just a bit. "Danny is the son of the devil."
"Whether he likes it or not, he's going to end up incredibly powerful. But I can't watch over him all the time. He needs someone strong at his side. Someone who can guide him… and protect him."
"If you're willing," Soren continued, "You could become his guardian knight."
"Trust me… following the son of the devil is far better than serving Mephisto. And besides your flames, your power, they can feed off Danny's demonic aura. You'll only grow stronger."