Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, Cynder made clear her plan to try and communicate with Johnny Blaze by using the link between the Spirits of Vengeance in himself and Ghost Rider. With a little help from Doctor Strange's Cuffs of Cyttorak and Caretaker's Mirror Table, the plan worked, and contact was made. And only then did they discover that HYDRA was already on Blaze's tail. Blaze insisted he can handle this himself, but as soon as the call ended, Cynder, Ghost Rider, and Wolverine set off to give him a hand anyways. So, will these three be able to stop HYDRA from securing the Parchment of Power? Read on to discover...

(Our scene picks up on a road in the middle of the Southwest, where Johnny Blaze is fleeing HYDRA troops led by Fallen Sabretooth and Crossbones on his motorcycle.)

Johnny Blaze: (Seeing they're right on his tail) Perfect.

(As Johnny Blaze continues to accelerate, Crossbones pulls up, sniper rifle in hand, scope set on Johnny Blaze's back)

Crossbones: Perfect.

(But just before Crossbones can pull the trigger, a flaming 1969 Dodge Charger flies, literally, into the scene, knocking the HYDRA vehicles to the side. And within the vehicle, Cynder in the back, Wolverine riding shotgun, and Ghost Rider behind the wheel. As HYDRA gets back on the road, the trio catches up to Johnny Blaze)

Johnny Blaze: You're all a pack of fools.

(With that, Johnny Blaze accelerates and passes the trio, with Ghost Rider realizing exactly where he's going)

Ghost Rider: No way. He's really going to!

Cynder: Going to what?!

(Soon enough, Cynder's question is answered as Ghost Rider hits the gas and both Spirits of Vengeance head towards a spot marked on a nearby billboard as Devil's Canyon. With their unearthly acceleration, both the motorcycle and Charger get into the air, leaving HYDRA in the dust, but before Johnny Blaze can make it to the other end, he's grabbed in midair by flaming green chains, pulling him down and out of sight. But the scene reopens from his perspective, where Johnny Blaze is bound to some kind of altar, with one of Lilith's puppets watching over him)

Johnny Blaze: Another meat puppet, lady? If you and the purple bastard want that page so badly, why don't you just come and get it yourselves.

Lilith: (Through the puppet) That's the thing you don't understand, Spirit of Vengeance. I don't want Malefor to get the Parchment of Power. I have to keep it from him, even if it means ripping it from your soul.

Johnny Blaze: (Confused, but trying to act tough) What soul?

(However, in that moment, the rev of an engine can be heard in the distance, as the Ghost Rider's car can be seen, with Cynder standing on the hood. Ghost Rider guns the engine and drives right through Lilith's demon protection before grinding to a halt as the trio stands ready to confront her)

Cynder: We meet again, Lilith. Where's your friend, Malefor?

Lilith: Malefor is no friend of mine.

(Now the battle begins. Lilith may be strong, even through this puppet, but soon enough, the trio of Ghost Rider, Cynder, and Wolverine have it beaten, allowing Johnny Blaze to break the chains binding him)

Ghost Rider: (In awe that his predecessor is in front of him) I can't believe it. It's really you!

Johnny Blaze: (Sarcastically) In the flesh, or what's left of it.

Cynder: Enough fooling around, Blaze. We have to get that page.

(Johnny Blaze is about to say something, when he spies something over Cynder's shoulder)

Johnny Blaze: Shit. Soulless. The bastards must smell the page on me.

(And sure enough, coming up the same way the heroes entered, a small army of those same black and violet creatures Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and Spyro fought at the beginning)

Wolverine: Lilith's got some real strange troops.

Johnny Blaze: These things don't give a rat's ass about Lilith, or Chthon for that matter.

Cynder: Based on their purple color scheme, I'd say this is Malefor's doing.

Ghost Rider: Wait, aren't Lilith and Malefor bonded?

Johnny Blaze: Good question. But I've got a better one.

(With that, Johnny Blaze literally pulls something out of his soul, a page from a book)

Johnny Blaze: You want this? Come and get it! (Starts reciting something) Tenebris ignis, Lux Tenebris, In Virtute...

Caretaker: (Over an earpiece) Wait, is he reading the page?!

Ghost Rider: It sure looks like it!

Cynder: We need to get back. If what The Hunter is telling me is accurate things are about to get crazy!

Johnny Blaze: (Finishing the incantation) Quae Sparsa Relucet!

(With that, a wall of flame erupts around everyone, incinerating the Soulless. But soon, more show up, prompting Ghost Rider to suit up for action)

Spirit of Vengeance: YES, THEY ARE.

(The battle here is raging, but quick. The Soulless are apparently no match for the trio of heroes within the flames, which subside once the last one falls)

Johnny Blaze: You survived. Isn't that something. (Gets back on his motorcycle) I'll be in touch. (To Cynder specifically) Your hunch isn't that far off.

Cynder: What are you talking about?

(And with that, Johnny Blaze rides off into the night sky, literally riding upwards)

Ghost Rider: Got to give him this, Johnny Blaze knows how to make an exit.

Cynder: And how to be a solid pain in the ass.

(And as Cynder watches Johnny Blaze's trail of fire fade, our scene ends for today)

Well that looks like a solid place to end for today. So, Johnny Blaze still retains the Parchment of Power, but we gain a solid bit of lore. Lilith is actually working against Malefor now, trying to get the Parchment of Power before he can. But... why? What has brought these two into conflict? More on that as things go on. For now, we've got more planning to do. So, what awaits after this night? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!