Multiverse's Ghost Rider

"What... Belle, you—!" Gaston stared at Belle in disbelief.

"Now you finally see what kind of woman she really is," Jon said coldly, stepping toward her.

BANG—!

Another gunshot rang out. Gaston had picked up his rifle and fired at Jon's back. His hands were still trembling. He didn't even know why he did it—just that when he saw Jon move to harm Belle, he acted on instinct.

Jon sighed slightly. The shot didn't hurt him at all, his body had long since become impervious to such attacks, so he wasn't angry.

"Gaston, I always thought you were a decent man," Jon said with a note of pity. "But when it comes to matters like this, why are you still so blind?"

Gaston raised his gun again. "Don't hurt Belle!"

Jon's expression darkened. In a flash, he was upon Gaston, effortlessly dodging the rifle and landing a palm strike squarely on Gaston's chest.

Strangely, Gaston didn't feel any pain. Instead, he felt... weightless. As if he were floating. Looking down, he saw his own lifeless body lying on the ground. His current form was translucent.

Jon had knocked his soul out of his body.

The Darkhold Jon had mastered was the antithesis of the Book of Vishanti. While the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj derived their magic from Vishanti's teachings, Jon had unlocked power from its darker counterpart. The Ancient One and Doctor Strange could project souls with a single touch, and now Jon could do the same.

Hovering in the air, Gaston muttered, "What the hell...?"

"Just a friendly warning, Gaston," Jon said, glancing at the floating spirit. "What's about to happen might be a bit... bloody. It could traumatize you for life. I suggest floating outside—or staying to witness it all. Your choice."

"Why are you doing this?!" Gaston shouted. "Why won't you just let her go? If someone you loved was treated like this, would you be able to just stand there and watch?!"

"Of course not. I'd fight to the death," Jon replied calmly. He glanced at Belle. "But I'd never fall for a woman like her."

With that, Jon raised his hand. The chains split into four and bound the Beast in place. Then he grabbed Belle by the collar and dangled her in front of the monster's eyes.

"Didn't you say only human flesh could soothe your raging mind?" Jon said coldly. "Then I'll cast a Hunger Curse on you and place your beloved right before you. Let's see if, in your starving madness, you'll eat her."

"What are you doing?! Stop!" Belle screamed, her voice trembling with panic.

Jon ignored her pleas. He cast the curse.

The Beast immediately felt the hunger take hold. Whenever it struck, his mind would fade, and the animal instinct would take over.

Then Jon turned to Belle. "Didn't you say you'd sacrifice anything to save the one you love? Well, would you sacrifice yourself?"

He slashed her wrist with a small knife. Blood dripped freely from her coarse skin. Jon grasped her bleeding hand and held it close to the Beast's face.

The Beast tasted the blood.

He shuddered.

A primal craving surged through him. He licked the blood greedily, then raised his eyes to Belle.

"No! Adam! You can't!" Belle backed away in terror. "I'm your love—Belle! Don't you remember me?!"

Her voice stirred something in the Beast. He clutched his head, trembling. "No... what am I doing?!"

Belle breathed a sigh of relief. A small sense of pride even bloomed within her, only she could calm him. That was her special power, her proof that she alone could tame the Beast and turn him back into the perfect prince.

But both she and the Beast underestimated the Hunger Curse. It only grew stronger with time.

The Beast's stomach growled louder. His breathing turned shallow. Reason faded as hunger clawed at his soul. He looked at Belle again, and this time, there was no love in his eyes.

Only hunger.

"Forgive me... my dear," he whispered, stepping toward her again.

"No! What are you doing?!" Belle retreated in panic.

His movements were slow, deliberate. There was still a flicker of reason in him, but he wasn't resisting the urge anymore. The pain of starving was too much. And Belle, in his mind, simply wasn't worth the suffering.

"Do you remember, Belle?" the Beast said, closing in. "The first human you gave me... was your own father. He was bedridden. You told me eating him would be an act of mercy. But I can never forget his fear, his struggle... and his disappointment in you."

"Not long after, the hunger returned. And again, you gave me more. You offered the villagers to me, without hesitation."

"You gave me everything, Belle. Now... give me yourself."

Step by step, he approached.

Belle stumbled backward, face twisted in rage and despair. "You... monster! Do you know how much I sacrificed for you?! I fed you my father! I gave you our people! I let them curse me, all for you! I thought once your curse lifted, we'd have our happy ending. I thought you'd make me your princess!"

Tears of bitterness streamed down her face.

"But every night, you whisper her name—that witch! The one who cursed you in the first place! I gave you everything, and I still can't compare to the woman who made you this way?!"

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