The Stacy family dinner ended, and Gwen took the initiative to offer to walk Gaia out.
The two walked out of the Stacy home under George Stacy’s glare, which looked like he was ready to flare up and draw his gun at any moment.
Under the dim streetlights outside the apartment building, Gaia glanced at the time.
It was 19:24.
“Alright, walking me this far is enough.
Go on back.
Thank you for the hospitality tonight; your cooking is excellent.
Though, it might just be my personal taste, but aside from soft bread, chocolate, and milk tea, I don’t really like sweet things.”
Hearing Gaia praise her cooking, Gwen felt a sweet sensation in her heart.
She looked up at Gaia standing under the streetlight.
Her gaze grew a bit dazed.
*Damn it, how can someone look so incredibly attractive?*
Gwen quickly turned her head away, not daring to look at Gaia.
She was surprised to find that the longer she stayed with Gaia, the more attracted she was to him, and the more uncontrollable her inner restlessness became.
More importantly, this state would not reset when they separated; it would only intensify.
Little Gaia smirked, jumped onto Gaia’s shoulder, and nudged Gaia twice with his elbow:
“Hey brother, with such a great atmosphere and opportunity, hurry up and show off your manly power.
Go up and kiss her!”
*Huo Family Lost Track Fist!*
*Go to hell!
If I actually did that, what would happen to this book?*
*Gaia Parker reminds you: protecting minors starts with you and me.* (Of course, excluding special circumstances, like naturally evil brats).
Punching Little Gaia away, Gaia opened the car door:
“Watch your abilities.
Remember to practice when you have time.
Goodbye.”
With that, Gaia stepped one leg into the car, preparing to leave.
Seeing that Gaia was about to go, Gwen turned her head.
For some reason, she felt a sudden pang of discomfort in her heart, an empty feeling.
In an instant, her body reacted faster than her brain.
Gwen quickly stepped forward and hugged Gaia tightly from behind.
Gaia was thrown off balance for a moment.
Before he could even process the sensation, Gwen’s brain caught up.
Blushing instantly from her neck to her forehead, she suddenly pushed Gaia away, covered her face, and ran back into the apartment, leaving behind only a shy, “Goodbye!”
Gaia stood on the spot, watching Gwen’s retreating figure.
Looking down at the time, it was less than five hours until midnight.
He raised an eyebrow and muttered in his heart:
*Hiss, this feeling is unexpectedly good.
It seems being bitten by a spider isn’t entirely a bad thing.
In that case, I won’t curse the Spider Goddess and the Master Weaver today.*
Straightening his clothes that had been messied by Gwen, Gaia drove toward the Parker house in Queens.
Driving back home and looking at the empty house, Gaia said nothing.
He went straight back to his room, lay down on the bed, and closed his eyes.
He was finally home.
He needed to get some good rest.
Within five minutes, Gaia’s long, steady breathing could be heard coming from the room.
…
Inside the Quiet Place deep within Gaia’s soul.
Ray: “Which of you two is going out today?”
Cassius raised his hand.
“Let me go.
I suspect the Iron Monger’s mutation has something to do with Hell.”
Blake said nothing, only nodding.
Seeing this, Ray agreed, “Alright.
In that case, we’ll let Cassius go out tonight.”
Cassius stood up and stretched his body.
“Leave it to me.”
…
“Gaia,” lying on the bed, suddenly snapped his eyes open and did a kip-up to get to his feet.
Walking over to the wardrobe, he opened it and took out a black leather motorcycle jacket.
Almost at the exact moment Cassius—for that was who he was now—finished putting on the clothes, orange-red flames erupted from his body.
In the blink of an eye, the human skin was burned away completely, and Cassius transformed into a skeleton with fire for flesh.
The magical fire transformed the clothes, covering them in scorch marks and charcoal patterns.
“Good…”
Cassius, who hadn’t controlled the body in a long time, cracked his spine, making a series of popping noises.
Raising a flaming skeletal hand, he slowly swiped it through the air.
The space in front of Cassius was instantly set ablaze, melting open a large hole.
Looking at Hell on the other side of the spatial rift, and the Hellcycle parked less than two meters away from him, Cassius let out a cackling laugh and stepped into the spatial portal.
Miraculously, once Cassius stepped through, the portal connecting Hell and the physical dimension instantly closed up.
It didn’t leave a single trace in Gaia’s room, as if it had never existed.
*Vroom!
Vroom!
Vroom!*
The roar of the motorcycle echoed throughout Manhattan.
Every citizen of New York who saw Cassius raised their arms and cheered:
“Ghost Rider!”
“Ghost Rider!”
…
“Oh…
the people of New York are as enthusiastic as ever.”
Enjoying the cheers of the crowd, Cassius rode his motorcycle all the way toward Stark Tower.
At this time, Tony was in his private laboratory inside Stark Tower, using high-tech equipment to examine the Iron Monger’s heart.
“Jarvis, how are the results?”
“Not ideal, sir.
This heart contains an energy that I cannot comprehend.
If I had to describe it, based on Obadiah Stane’s behavior and performance, it could be called magical energy.”
“Magical energy?
Jarvis, do you think I’m still a child who reads fairy tales?”
Tony couldn’t help but complain as he looked at the data panel.
But as he spoke, he thought of Wanda.
After a brief silence, Tony raised his eyebrows and said, “Create a file.
For now, let’s name it ‘dark magical energy.'”
“Yes, sir.”
Turning to look at the night sky of New York, Tony walked to the window and stared out in a daze.
“Jarvis?”
“I’m here, sir.”
“Do you feel that?
The window in front of me is vibrating.”
“Sir, according to newly updated reports, the Ghost Rider is currently riding up the wall of Stark Tower.”
Tony looked down at the flaming skeleton getting closer and closer.
Thinking for a fraction of a second, he hurriedly ran backward.
“Thanks for the heads-up, Jarvis.
I see him.”
*Crash!*
The flaming skeleton, riding his burning motorcycle, crashed through the glass and landed right in front of Tony.
Looking at the flaming skeleton before him, Tony swallowed hard.
Previously, he had dismissed such things, but after surviving his near-death experience and returning, Tony had been harboring a constant fear that he would be targeted by this judge who had been active in New York for a solid seven or eight years.
“Hey, I don’t think my sins are worthy of death, right?”
Cassius scanned his surroundings, and upon spotting the Iron Monger’s heart, he raised his hand, conjured a chain, looped it around the Iron Monger’s heart, and yanked it toward himself.
“That’s my trophy, buddy.”
Seeing that Cassius ignored him the entire time, Tony felt a little annoyed.
Cassius held the heart in one hand and looked at Tony:
“You do not yet have the strength to keep this heart.
It will only bring you harm.”
With that, Cassius revved the throttle, did a 180-degree turn on the spot, and departed from the way he came.
With a dark face, Tony walked to the shattered French window.
Watching the flaming skeleton ride away, Tony exhaled a long sigh and said, “Jarvis!”
“I’m here, sir.”
“Pull up all the footage of the battle with the Iron Monger for analysis.
I need to upgrade my armor.”
“Yes, sir.”