Just as Hawk took off in the same spot, transformed into a stream of light, and hurried toward New York City with a longing to return home.
Accompanied by a burst of eerie laughter, riding a motorcycle engulfed in ghostly flames, with a flaming skull head, Ghost Rider, who was now fully merged voluntarily with the Spirit of Vengeance, came to a stop with a roar at the spot where Hawk had disappeared.
The next second.
Ghost Rider slowly lifted his head following the lingering aura here, finally locking his skull's gaze in the direction of New York City.
At this moment.
The flames in his skull eyes faltered slightly.
A small head, a big expression of bewilderment.
Wait a minute.
Where is the person?
In the exposed eye sockets of Ghost Rider, the flames flickered on and off repeatedly.
Then—
Bang!
Ghost Rider sharply twisted the throttle of the motorcycle, then, accompanied by the roar of the engine, he once again, with the sound of eerie laughter and a trail of fire left behind, turned in the direction of New York City, laughing wildly and racing with flames all the way.
Just when Ghost Rider, riding his flaming motorcycle, hadn't gone fifty kilometers yet.
Hawk had already arrived home.
With a thud.
Gwen, who was sitting with legs crossed, dressed in lounge wear, the whole person curled up on the sofa before the fireplace in the living room, quietly reading a book in her hand, instinctively looked up, turned her head toward the backyard, listening to the noise coming from there.
The next second.
Gwen smiled, got up barefoot from the sofa, quickly ran to Hawk, and embraced him tightly.
She was a little happy, but also a bit curious.
"Why are you back so soon?"
"Got everything done, missed you, so I decided to come back early."
Hawk said while hugging his fiancée, who clung to him like a koala, and after closing the sliding glass door to the backyard, he walked back to the fireplace in the living room.
Gwen, sitting back on the sofa, blinked and looked at Hawk, who sat next to her.
"Got everything done?"
"Yeah."
"And did Mephisto..."
"No idea."
Hawk smiled slightly, looking at Gwen: "Apparently, I'm too fast, he's too slow, but I'm sure that old ghost has some designs on me."
The testimony from the Witch Heart Demon also confirmed something once again.
That old guy Mephisto really doesn't have a single honest word in him.
What Netherworld Helheim.
It was all nonsense, the Witch Heart Demon simply didn't want to be the eternal Crown Prince of Hell, so he decided to unite with the Four Elemental Demons of Creation and try to start anew with a coup at the Black Tortoise Gate.
But in the end.
Mephisto, in order to trick him into Texas, even dragged the Goddess of Death, Hel, from the World Tree Parallel Cosmos into it.
Good heavens.
Aren't you afraid that when Hel gets unsealed and hears how you slandered her, she'll come after you before going to get Asgard?
Hawk thought, a bit speechless, to himself.
The next second.
He snapped back to reality, seeing Gwen nudging him lightly with an elbow, looking like she was still listening. He smiled and described the rough process of Mephisto pulling the Goddess of Death, Hel, into his trap to draw him to Texas, but his speed was too quick that he was back in New York City without even seeing what Mephisto's trap looked like.
After hearing this, Gwen was somewhat stunned.
She couldn't tell whether to marvel at her fiancé's efficiency or mourn for Mephisto's slowness.
But there was one thing she was sure of.
"So, Mephisto didn't hurt you, but how come you've changed into an S.H.I.E.L.D. T-shirt again?" Gwen said, noticing the S.H.I.E.L.D. T-shirt Hawk was wearing.
There were already two of those at home.
One was brought back by Hawk from Africa.
And another from London City.
And now there was another one.
Gwen seemed to realize something, and teased Hawk: "Not bad, the more trips you make, the less I need to buy you T-shirts when we go shopping."
Still, the quality of S.H.I.E.L.D. T-shirts is indeed quite decent.
Gwen had thought last time about asking Sharon if S.H.I.E.L.D. had any women's T-shirts next time she saw her.
If possible, she'd like to get one for herself, to match with Hawk's as a couple's set.
Hawk, following Gwen's teasing words, glanced at the T-shirt on him and laughed.
"Ran into Sharon on the plane to Texas."
"Sharon?"
Gwen was momentarily stunned: "She was worried about you and followed along?"
Hawk shook his head.
"No, she was there on vacation, said she wanted to see some motorcycle stunt..."
"Johnny Blaze?"
Before Hawk could finish, Gwen had already answered.
Hawk curiously looked at Gwen.
Gwen laughed, grabbed her phone from beside her, and opened the chat group of Midtown High School that she hadn't exited from: "Look, the group was just talking about it, quite a few classmates went to Texas too, planning to watch Johnny Blaze's match, but this afternoon, Johnny Blaze suddenly canceled his performance, not sure when it'll resume."
Canceled the show.
This afternoon?
Hawk raised his eyebrows.
So...
Was Mephisto's trap actually Ghost Rider?
It's just what the old thing was thinking.
Although the Spirit of Vengeance is indeed a terrifyingly powerful demon, especially with its pair of Eyes of Judgment, he wasn't sure if he could ensure that he wouldn't be judged under those eyes.
But damn it, I just won't look into its eyes.
At most, I block my own sight, and without sight, can the Ghost Rider withstand him for ten moves?
Hawk seriously doubted this question.
But!
Even if he couldn't figure it out, it's already confirmed now that the surprise Mephisto prepared for him was the Ghost Rider who was well prepared for his whereabouts.
But he hadn't prepared his gift for Mephisto yet.
Thinking this, Hawk came back to his senses and smiled at Gwen, who was sitting curled up on the sofa leaning on his shoulder, and said, "How about we go climb the snow mountain tomorrow?"
Gwen tilted her head, looking curiously at Hawk.
"Snow mountain?"
"Yeah."
"..."
Gwen shifted from leaning on Hawk's shoulder to sitting upright, looking at Hawk with curiosity: "Why did you suddenly think of climbing a snow mountain? How many days can we play, and don't forget, once the holiday is over, we have to go to City Hall to confirm your last name again. Dad already spoke with a friend in City Hall."
Hawk actually has a last name.
Saint Paul.
In the records of City Hall, both he and his sister Anya have the last name Saint Paul.
Because they were picked up at Saint Paul's Cathedral by the priest at the time, and the hospital had no related files or explanations of them, so like all orphans without a surname, they used the name of the church of the time as their surname.
After all, in the Federation, just having a first name without a surname is not acceptable whether legally or in daily life; a surname is required.
But this last name was not an official surname, so in daily life, no matter when others asked, Hawk always just said his name was Hawk.
Hawk had never thought about this matter for a long time.
But not anymore.
This year he was already eighteen years old, and in a few days, he'd be nineteen. According to New York's law, he could find time to go to City Hall after turning eighteen to change this unofficial surname of his.
Of course.
If you think this unofficial surname is okay and don't want to change it, you must also go to City Hall to sign a form and make a statement.
Hawk actually thought the surname Saint Paul was quite nice.
And he was too lazy to make a trip to City Hall for it.
But Gwen considered it a big deal, saying that Saint Paul recorded Hawk's past, but now he needs a surname of his own to record his future.
Hawk thought about it and felt Gwen was right.
So…
Gwen asked her dad George, who contacted a friend in City Hall, to help Hawk with this matter on the first day back to work after the holiday.
Then, after discussing with Gwen for an afternoon, they successfully selected the final surname from five candidates.
Gwen had to be involved, and her reason was quite sufficient.
Because after marriage, Gwen Stacy can no longer be Stacy; she has to take on Hawk's last name.
So compared to the indifferent Hawk, Gwen was more attentive to Hawk's surname.
After all, other women have no choice when they marry, but she does, so she was serious about Hawk's new surname.
Then…
Phoenix!
It stood out.
Phoenix means Phoenix, directly corresponding to the mythical creature, and from a certain perspective, it accurately explained the source of Hawk's energy.
Hawk also thought this new surname was quite nice.
Simple, straightforward.
And it sounded good too.
Hawk, hearing Gwen mention the surname change, smiled and said: "Don't worry, we can go to the Great Snow Mountain and come back in time."
The surname change can be put aside for now.
Visiting the Supreme Mage must be scheduled.
Because without the help of the Supreme Mage, the surprise he's preparing for Mephisto couldn't be brought out.
Most importantly.
He's already got the qualification to confront Mephisto.
The St. Peter's Basilica Contract.
This contract, sealing hundreds of evil spirits of fallen saints, will be his bargaining chip to negotiate with Mephisto and reclaim his sister's soul.
But although he had the bargaining chip, he didn't have the qualification to sit at the table yet.
After all, even Thor, if he went to Hell now, could be kept there by Mephisto forever if he was not careful.
This was why Hawk wanted to quickly awaken the Eighth Sense and step into the Divine Domain.
Only by awakening the Eighth Sense of the Little Cosmos can he freely walk between life and death.
But the emerging Netherworld gave him an early opportunity to sit at the table and negotiate with Mephisto.
So…
This matter is more important than changing the surname.
Gwen, seeing that Hawk considered this very urgent, blinked but didn't ask much and thought for a while.
"Then when do we go?"
"Tomorrow!"
"So urgent, which snow mountain are we going to?"
"The Great Snow Mountain!"
"Himalayas!!"
"Kamar-Taj!!!"
"..."