Chapter 43: Nice Jacket!
The world swam into focus as Chris blinked his eyes open, the harsh reality of his predicament sinking in. He was trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey in the back of a truck, his mouth sealed with a strip of unforgiving tape. His heart pounded in his chest, a wild drumbeat of fear and anger. He thrashed around, his movements muffled by the confines of the truck.
Up front, Fireman Johnny heard the commotion. He rapped his knuckles against the partition separating them, his voice a gravelly bark. "Stay still, you bastard!" His words echoed in the confined space, a harsh reminder of their current situation.
He exhaled, a long, drawn-out sigh that spoke volumes about his frustration. Turning to his companion, he grumbled, "It's an overkill to assign us this kind of errand, isn't it, Barracuda?"
Barracuda, the driver, was a formidable figure. His bald head gleamed under the harsh overhead light, his leather jacket creaking as he shifted in his seat. His body was a roadmap of scars, each one a testament to a battle fought and survived. His left eye was a glassy prosthetic, a chilling reminder of a past encounter, and his right hand was a mechanical marvel of steel and wires.
"Parker Robbins has his reasons, Johnny," Barracuda replied, his voice a low rumble. His prosthetic eye glinted ominously as he mentioned their boss's name. "Remember?" His face twisted into a grimace, the memory clearly leaving a sour taste in his mouth.
Johnny's face lit up at the mention of the incident, a spark of excitement igniting in his eyes. "Oh, whatever!" His words were filled with a morbid fascination, a stark contrast to Barracuda's apprehension.
His excitement was short-lived, however, as his gaze fell on the rearview mirror. A figure clad in a black leather jacket was rapidly approaching them on a motorcycle. The Punisher.
"Hello, old friend!" Johnny's voice was laced with a perverse delight as he recognized their pursuer.
"Don't get excited, Johnny!" Barracuda snapped, his voice a sharp rebuke. "As much as I'd love to kill him myself, the boss has other plans. We have our orders. We stick to the mission!"
Their shared history with the Punisher was a twisted web of violence and vengeance. Barracuda, Fireman Johnny, and their boss, Parker Robbins, were all on the Punisher's hit list. Barracuda's injuries were a testament to their previous encounters, a painful reminder of the Punisher's ruthless efficiency.
As the Punisher drew closer, the tension in the truck was palpable. Chris could hear the roar of the motorcycle, the sound growing louder with each passing second. He could feel the fear radiating off Johnny and Barracuda, their bravado crumbling under the relentless pursuit of the Punisher.
The chase was on, a deadly game of cat and mouse on the deserted highway. The Punisher was relentless, his motorcycle a black specter in the rearview mirror. Barracuda's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, his prosthetic hand creaking under the strain.
The truck swerved and skidded, Barracuda's expert driving barely keeping them on the road. Johnny was a silent figure beside him, his eyes glued to the rearview mirror, watching as the Punisher steadily closed the gap between them.
The Punisher was a force of nature, his presence a looming threat that sent shivers down their spines. His black leather jacket was a symbol of his relentless pursuit of justice, a beacon of fear for those who found themselves in his crosshairs.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Punisher, a figure of relentless determination, was a one-man army. He drove his motorcycle with one hand, the other hand wielding an M16, strafing the truck with a hail of bullets.
Barracuda, his face set in a grim line, pulled out a walkie-talkie. "Your time, Mad Jim!" His voice echoed in the confined space, a harbinger of the chaos to come.
Suddenly, a black car that had been tailing the truck swerved, cutting across the path between the Punisher's motorcycle and the truck. The Punisher was forced to a screeching halt, his motorcycle skidding on the asphalt.
The black car came to a stop, and a man emerged. His appearance was the stuff of nightmares. His skin was a dark, angry red, his body a patchwork of scars stitched together haphazardly. From his arms to his face to his head, every inch of exposed skin was marred by the brutal reminders of past battles.
The Punisher's shock was evident as he recognized the man. His voice was a low growl, disbelief coloring his words. "Mad Jim? That's impossible. You're dead. I killed you myself!"
Mad Jim's response was a chilling cackle, his voice a discordant symphony of madness. "That's right... Now, it's my ghost who came to take revenge!"
Johnny watched the confrontation with a sigh of disappointment. Barracuda's voice was a comforting presence beside him. "Don't worry, Johnny. That lunatic Jim can't beat Castle. He'll be killed by the Punisher again, and then it's our turn to kill the Punisher!"
"What the*******?!"
Suddenly, Barracuda's face paled, his eyes widening in shock. He slammed on the brakes, the sudden stop sending Johnny lurching forward, his face inches away from the windshield.
"Barracuda, what are you doing?!" Johnny's voice was a mix of surprise and annoyance.
Barracuda was staring straight ahead, his face a mask of horror and disbelief. Johnny followed his gaze, his reaction a stark contrast to Barracuda's. His face lit up with excitement, his words a breathless exclamation. "Oh, my God! What is that? It's... it's simply beautiful!"
In front of the truck, a sight of mythical proportions unfolded. A massive dragon, its skeletal form wreathed in flames, descended from the sky. Astride the fiery beast was a figure that seemed to have stepped straight out of a nightmare. A skeleton, its bones ablaze, its eyes glowing with an unholy light.
Jon, in his Spirit of Vengeance form, dismounted from Igris's back and turned his gaze towards the truck. His presence was a terrifying spectacle, a testament to the raw power he wielded.
"Oh my god, that must be the god of the hell! Have you seen it, Barracuda? That's a god!" Fireman Johnny's voice was filled with awe and excitement. His fascination with flames, coupled with his psychopathic tendencies, made him see beauty where others saw terror.
Ordinary people would have been paralyzed with fear at the sight of Jon, but to Fireman Johnny, the flames that danced on Jon's body were a divine masterpiece. He couldn't contain his excitement, his feet carrying him towards Jon as if drawn by a magnetic force.
"You must be the god of hell, please take me away with you!" Johnny's words were a fervent plea, his voice filled with the reverence of a devout believer.
Jon paused, turning his gaze towards Johnny. His voice was a deep, guttural growl, "As you wish!" As he spoke, the chains that adorned his body sprang to life, piercing Johnny's chest. In an instant, Johnny was reduced to ashes.
[The legendary mission has been updated, adjudicating a thousand sinful souls, the current progress is 54/1000]
"Activate the Soul Sacrifice function automatically in this universe!" Jon commanded, heeding the system's prompt, and swiftly initiated the soul sacrifice feature.
[The Soul Sacrifice function has been successfully activated, the soul has been traded, and 150 penalty points have been accrued.]
Barracuda watched the scene unfold from the safety of the truck, his face a mask of disbelief. "What kind of creature is that?!" His words were a whisper, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames.
Jon, having dispatched Fireman Johnny, turned his attention towards Barracuda. Barracuda scrambled out of the truck, his fear propelling him towards the other side. But Jon was faster. His chain shot out, catching Barracuda's left calf and severing it. Barracuda's screams echoed in the night as he fell to the ground.
Jon approached the fallen man, his flaming gaze fixed on the leather jacket that Barracuda wore. "Nice Jacket!" His words were a chilling promise of what was to come. He dispatched Barracuda with the Penance Stare, his lifeless body collapsing to the ground. Jon removed the leather jacket from Barracuda's body, the flames that enveloped him spreading to the jacket. The rivets on the jacket transformed into sharp steel thorns, adding to his terrifying appearance.
[The legendary mission has been updated, adjudicating a thousand sinful souls, the current progress is 55/1000]
[The Soul Sacrifice function has been successfully activated, the soul has been traded, and 150 penalty points have been accrued.]
Meanwhile, the Punisher had dealt with Mad Jim, a bullet to the head ending the madman's life. He turned his attention towards Jon, his gaze taking in the sight of the two men who had been formidable opponents for him, now lifeless at the hands of the fiery monster.
The Punisher's voice was a cold, emotionless monotone as he asked, "Who are you?"
"A devil!" Jon's response was simple, his voice devoid of emotion. He turned away from the Punisher, mounting Igris and taking to the skies.
The Punisher watched as Jon disappeared into the night, his words a solemn vow. "If you are a devil, then I will no longer believe in God!" His faith had been shattered years ago when God failed to protect his family. Now, a self-proclaimed devil was doing what God had failed to do - dispensing justice to those who deserved it.
***
Two hours later, Annie emerged from the police station, her face etched with despair. Trailing behind her were the remaining members of the Diamond Band, their faces mirroring her grief. The loss of their fellow band member, Alberton, hung over them like a dark cloud.
They had relayed the events to the police, but their concerns were dismissed with a few cursory questions. The police had chalked it up to a copyright dispute gone awry, a common occurrence in the cutthroat music industry. They had promised to station police units near their bar and Chris's home, but their nonchalance was a bitter pill to swallow.
"Annie!"
The sound of a familiar voice cut through the heavy silence. Annie's head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief. Standing before her was a handsome young man with blond hair. His face was flushed with embarrassment, but his eyes were warm as he looked at her.
"Oh my god, Chris!" The members of the Diamond Band exclaimed in unison, their faces lighting up with joy.
"Chris~!" Annie's voice was a mix of relief and joy as she sprinted towards him. She threw herself into his arms, her heart pounding with the realization that her boyfriend was alive. The relief was palpable, a balm to the grief that had threatened to consume her.
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A/N: I know this work is still very new, but your opinions matter a lot to my progress, please write a review 🙏.
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