Time's Up, Joker.

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-Michael's POV-

The first glimmers of dawn stretched across the horizon as I forced myself upright.

Muscles groaning, I rolled out of bed, grabbed the Cuffs of Thor from the corner table, and locked them around my wrists and ankles.

Heavy, failed relics, they weren't much to look at, but Strange had been keen to hand them over, when I traded him a detailed memory of how I shaped constructs with my Lantern Ring.

I smirked, amused at the thought.

Even if Strange knew the theory, he didn't have a Ring. All he got from the deal was knowledge.

In return, I got the cuffs—and the gravity of a small planet pressing down on my limbs. 10× the gravity of Earth to be exact. Each of the cuffs held an enchantment 2.5×.

I headed out the door, already feeling the tenfold increase in weight.

My boots ground into the stone as I jogged through the compound, feeling every drop of sweat already dotting my forehead.

Despite the early hour, I passed a handful of sorcerers heading to their morning rituals, and they looked at me with a mix of curiosity and caution.

Master Yu, the gatekeeper, nodded as I passed through, his usual watchful gaze fixed on me.

Outside, the air was sharp and biting.

Perfect.

Taking the winding trail up the mountain, I set into a rhythm, one foot pounding after the other, breathing steady but heavy.

A shadow appeared over me and I glanced up to find a green falcon circling above, a familiar flash of feathers against the dawn sky.

("Morning, J'onn. You're up early,") I said mentally.

("I'm always up early,") he replied in my mind, his dry tone cutting through the usual mental chatter. ("I can already see the sheen of sweat on your forehead.")

("Anyone would sweat under ten times Earth's gravity,") I retorted, pushing myself harder up the incline.

The cuffs dragged against my limbs, every step like trudging through quicksand.

("Feel that burn?")I added, chuckling to myself.

The Cuffs of Thor had been an essential tool. I'd steadily increased the resistance over the past 3 weeks, forcing my body beyond its limits, tearing and rebuilding muscles with the help of Hellfire regeneration.

Just a week ago, I'd launched Wong across the courtyard with a kick that could have sent a normal man into a pine box.

Now? If I didn't hold back, I'd send Wong flying out of Kamar-Taj entirely—or explode him apart.

Jogging around the mountain's rough, uneven terrain, I vaulted over rocks and downed branches, picking up speed until I was running faster than a cheetah.

At some point, my body finally adapted to 10× gravity.

'Tch. This is easy. I'll need to see if Strange has a way to increase the gravity enchantment.'

The path I took was about 20 miles. And in 20 minutes, I had circled the whole Mountain. With less effort than yesterday to boot!

Now, even with the Cuffs on, I could sustain my current speed all fucking day and still have endless Stamina left.

How much stronger and faster will I be when I eventually take them off? A part of me was excited at the thought.

By that time, the sun was a peeking an edge over the horizon, casting dim shadows across Kamar-Taj below.

Instead of going back, I deviated from the main path. There was one last stop to make before returning.

It was a stream flowing through the sparse forest, a cool, clear ribbon winding toward a waterfall that plunged into a rocky pool.

The chill of the water welcomed me as I settled into a meditation pose on a rock at the base of the falls, letting the spray cover me.

Though freezing, I felt the temperature barely prick my skin.

A thin layer of Hellfire insulated me, an almost invisible barrier of warmth that shielded me from the biting cold.

Even with everything going on, I never forgot to practice controlling the Rider's Powers.

But Despite the mastery with which I was handling the flames, I could feel an infernal ocean rage within me. One I didn't have full command of.

And it frustrated me.

[Ghost Rider Template Progress: 89%]

I sighed.

Sharing my Power with Jimmy, had a consequence. My progress had dropped by a full 10%. To be specific, from 80% to 70%.

My brutal regimen had pushed me back to where I was—and beyond.

Every morning, every spar, every ounce of pressure I put on myself brought me closer to 100%.

Then it stopped. I had hit a cap.

To be fair, 89% of the Rider's power was nothing to scoff at. And yet, that last 11% had eluded me for an entire week.

"Zadkiel," I muttered, reaching inward, feeling the Rider's presence in the dark recesses of my mind,"You got any advice for me?"

My words echoed in the silence of my thoughts, but the Spirit's usual emptiness greeted me.

"You really won't say anything? Are you that shy, or just that stubborn? Look I need to get stronger. WE need to get stronger. Come on, help me out, you don't want a weak Host right?"

Silence.

"Fine. You're not the only expert in all things Ghost Rider."

Pulling myself back to focus, I reached for the Lantern Ring on my finger, channeling its power.

A Hope-Killer formed before me and my mind dove into it's stomach, bridging into the pocket dimension where I'd trapped Mephisto.

My surroundings changed to an inky darkness. I glanced about and found him.

The Hell-Lord sat on his throne, an insufferable smirk plastered across his face, surrounded by a harem of succubi lounging at his feet.

Despite the confinement, his presence warped reality in a small localized area of about 30 meters in diamater around him, exerting his authority to remind me that his power wasn't diminished, only contained.

I wisely kept my distance.

"Ah, my jailer graces me with his presence," he sneered, leaning forward, red eyes flashing with amusement.

I held my ground, arms crossed. "I'm here to make a deal Mephisto. Tell me how to unlock more of the Ghost Rider's powers. In exchange, I'll give you whatever you want—aside from your freedom."

If free, he would definitely seek revenge.

A laugh rumbled from his chest, deep and mocking. He threw his head back, letting the laughter fill the space before finally settling his gaze on me, eyes sharp.

"You've got nerve, boy. First, you invade my realm. Then you cage me like a common beast, and now you come to beg for my help?" He leaned forward, grin widening. "It's almost as funny as it is insulting. But no—I don't want your deal. Not for my freedom, not for anything."

I clenched my fists, heat simmering beneath my skin, dangerously close to erupting.

Mephisto's sneer only deepened. "I am immortal, boy. I can wait. Time means nothing to me, not in here or anywhere. And like all mortals you'll die some day, or the Rider will consume you first. Either way, I win."

With a low growl, I severed the connection, snapping back to reality.

Rage twisted inside me, the Rider's influence swelling in response.

I felt my skin peel away as my skull ignited, flames licking up my cheek. On the screen of descending water to my front, half of my head was on fire.

Gritting my teeth, I forced the rage down, snuffing the fire, wrestling the Rider's power back under control.

Between Zadkiel's stubbornness and Mephisto's dismissal, I'd had enough.

"Alright," I muttered to myself, fists tightening. "You both want to play games? Fine. I'll show you whose game this is."

---

Back at my quarters, I took another cold shower to cool off, though it did little for the lingering anger pulsing through my veins.

Drying myself with Hellfire, I constructed a mirror with the Yellow Ring, and, using the Hellfire as a sort of needle, wove my training gi into place as another bit of practice. One meant to synergize both powers.

A flicker of movement caught my eye, and I turned to see a small green butterfly flitting in through the open window.

It shimmered, wings catching the light before settling on the edge of the mirror.

("We have an issue,") J'onn's voice pressed into my mind, sharp and serious.

"What kind of issue?" I asked, brows knitting.

The response came almost instantly with a memory pour, filling me with surprise, then an odd, dark excitement.

"Just as I was looking for someone to vent on, the perfect target to release my frustrations on appears. Good Job J'onn."

("Always at your service Sir. What are you going to do, if I may ask?")

I closed the door behind me as we stepped out.

"I don't know. Last time someone schemed against me, I underestimated them and fell for the trap, remember?"

("I do. It was a terrible experience.")

Came his answer, butterfly landing on my shoulder.

"And I agree. So it's clear what my response should be right?"

I told him, moving through the hallways. The noise of the crowd growing louder.

("Respond before they can attack.")

J'onn replied.

And that would be the right answer. However, two reasons made me consider a different approach.

First, the Ancient One warned me not to interfere with the timeline. Which meant not killing/punishing important characters.

And secondly, I kinda wanted to see what kind of Trap they were setting for me. Not out of arrogance mind you, but confidence. Confidence in my abilities, in the results of my training.

"J'onn, I'm about to suggest something very very dumb."

I told my butler.

"If it's alright with you, I want to face their Traps and Schemes head on. And when they ultimately prove useless against me, we'll have a solid argument for the Ancient One to justify killing them."

("I understand Michael. And do not worry, this time I will not fail to back you in case things go wrong.")

J'onn dutifully responded.

"Nice. Let's not keep them waiting."

By the time I strode into the packed training courtyard, the sun was casting its golden glow across the assembled sorcerers.

They turned to watch me, expressions a mix of anticipation and wariness.

Mordo stepped forward from the crowd, crossing his arms.

He regarded me with a challenging glint, an arrogant smirk hovering on his lips. "Today, Demon, your first opponent will be me. Karl Mordo."

I felt my pulse quicken, a dark anticipation gripping me.

Over the weeks, I'd faced masters, apprentices, and everything in between, but none of them had dared to approach me with the reckless confidence Mordo wore now.

He had seen my strength, felt the brunt of it, and still—he was here, unflinching.

Oh this is gonna be carthatic.

"Master Mordo," I greeted, my voice steady and amused,

"I'm happy to accept your challenge. Just don't expect me to go easy on you like last time."

Mordo became angry, but he calmed himself down with a breath.

"I'll wipe away that stain on my reputation by teaching you your place. And once I'm done, you will never set foot in Kamar-Taj ever again. I Swear it on my very soul."

("This man really hates you.")

J'onn commented, sending memories on the positions of the other players.

And sure enough, I could see Kaecilius' people among the crowd, moving to box me in.

As for the Mastermind himself, he was watching from the roof, cloaked under an invisibility spell but not hidden from J'onn's telepathy.

Now then, let's see what this Trap looks like.