(A/N): Guys, sorry for the late update.
I was unable to upload new chapters due to a network problem which left me unable to use my Airtel X-stream fiber for the past 15 days.
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Mikaelson's compound...
While inside the Mikaelson compound, Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol are the direct vessels for the Hollow's spirit, each carrying a part of the Hollow's spirit within them.
They are fully aware that being near each other could lead to the Hollow's reassembly and return, which is very dangerous to them and New Orleans, so they choose to go their separate ways to stop the Hollow from getting any chance.
But now there is a chance that they could eliminate the threat of the Hollow once and for all.
They took the risk after careful consideration and witnessing the pet cemetery case, and their sister Freya, Hayley, and Hope's belief in Jojo convinced them to take the risk.
They have taken several precautionary steps, and the current ritual is to try to help Jojo when it goes out of control, which will give enough time for others to escape from the Hollow.
Even though Jojo insisted he could deal with the Hollow without any problem, the Mikaelsons didn't agree and took many precautions to stop the outbreak for some time.
Inside the room where the ritual is being performed, Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol were in the ritual, each in their assigned place, while Freya was performing the ritual standing beside Jojo.
The Cullens, Marcel, Hope, and Hayley were outside the Mikaelson compound to prevent anybody from interfering with the ritual.
Even though Hope insisted on helping Freya, Klaus rejected it outright without giving any room for negotiation.
Seeing her father reject her idea of helping her aunt Freya, she turned to Jojo to get his help, but Jojo shook his head, indicating he was not going to help her.
The sky started to turn dark, and an erratic chill aura began to emit from inside the Mikaelson compound.
"It seems like they've started."
Jasper looked at the Mikaelson compound with a disturbed expression visible on his face.
"Are you alright, Jasper?"
Looking at Jasper, who was disturbed after the sudden atmosphere changes, Edythe asked him worriedly.
Swoosh~
"The emotion emitting from inside is very raw and intense."
With a swoosh, Jasper moved away from the Mikaelson compound and maintained his distance from it.
Seeing this, the other Cullens nodded their heads in understanding, and Edythe followed after Jasper to lend him a helping hand.
Swoosh~
"____"
After a few seconds, Sofya Voronova arrived at the scene and looked at the Mikaelson compound, which was emitting a chilling aura, with wide eyes and clear fear visible on her face.
"Who are you people? Hayley... what is happening here? Why do I feel the Hollow's presence increasing severalfold with each passing second?"
Sofya's face changed, and she looked at the Cullens with narrowed eyes; she had never met this unknown group of people standing before her.
When her eyes landed on Hayley and Hope standing with these people, she couldn't help but question Hayley loudly.
Her face turned pale, feeling the Hollow's presence growing stronger.
Sigh~
"Don't be agitated, Sofya... we are going to deal with the Hollow once and for all."
With a sigh, Hayley came forward and chose her words carefully to ease Sofya, who looked like she was having a panic attack.
"____"
Sofya paused momentarily, disgusted by what she heard, with a blank expression.
"What!!!"
Snapping out of her shock, Sofya exclaimed loudly.
"You've got to be kidding me, Hayley! Don't tell me Klaus and the others are intending to release the Hollow!"
With fear gripping her, heavy words fell from her mouth, her disbelief evident.
"Calm down, Sofya... don't worry, this time..."
Swoosh~
When Hayley was about to explain, she was interrupted halfway by the arrival of Vincent Griffith.
"What is happening here, Hayley? Did you guys forget the Mikaelsons were forbidden from gathering in one place?"
Looking at the situation spiralling out of control, Vincent asked Hayley with a solemn face, eyeing the Cullens who stood beside Hayley and Hope.
"They're from the DMC... they came here to solve the Hollow once and for all. So, you don't need to worry."
Seeing Vincent eyeing the Cullens with hostility, Hayley introduced them to him.
"____"
"You mean... the Mikaelsons are going to release the Hollow in the middle of New Orleans, to get rid of it, with these people from something called the DMC?"
Massaging his forehead, clear irritation visible in his voice, Vincent sneered at Hayley.
"That's right, buddy... after Jojo kills the Hollow, you can meet with them, but you can't go inside until the matter is resolved. Leave it to the experts."
Emmett, with a confident wide grin plastered on his face, walked forward with arms spread wide.
"____"
"Emmett, he's thinking about blasting your face with some spell."
Edward sneered at Vincent and informed everyone present of what was in Vincent's mind.
Seeing Vincent's cold attitude toward them, Edward couldn't help but sneer back at him.
"____"
"____"
Did he just read my mind?
With clear shock visible on his face, Vincent looked at Edward with wide eyes.
Inside the Mikaelson compound...
Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol were on their knees, breathing heavily, looking exhausted.
Meanwhile, Freya was maintaining the strong barrier she had cast using the ritual, gritting her teeth.
Black mist, emitting from all four of them, began to reach one another, forming a large cluster.
Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol's eyes turned blue, clear pain evident on their faces.
Jojo, observing the black mist, which emitted the scent of death and corrosion, narrowed his eyes.
Poof~
With a poof of flame all over his body, Jojo transformed into his Ghost Rider form.
After transforming, he was astonished to see the power source of the Hollow, which emitted a strong scent of death, and surprised to smell the scent of life within it.
Freya might not have been able to see it, but Ghost Rider was different. He could see and sense it. Nothing could escape his hollow eyes, which represented the depths of the abyss.
The pure black essence he saw represented death.
While the pure white essence represented life.
The grey essence was the result of corrosion on both death and life power.
He felt strong disgust sensing corrosion on the power source, which was actively corroding the life essence and also the death essence in the black mist that was gathering together.
After nearly half an hour of waiting, the black mist that had been coming out of Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol stopped, and they fell unconscious, releasing the Hollow and exhausting all their strength.
Huff~ huff~
"It's up to you now, Jojo."
Freya moved out of the room, still maintaining the barrier. After she exited, she increased its defences severalfold.
Even outside the barrier, she could vaguely hear the Hollow's whispers trying to enchant her into lowering the barrier.
The black mist that had joined together began swirling rapidly and started to take the shape of a female.
"You did a good job releasing me. Now open the barrier."
A female voice, with a slight echo, came from the black mist as the Hollow's spirit finally revealed its appearance.
"WHAT WILL YOU DO AFTER I RELEASE THE BARRIER?"
Looking at the Hollow, arms folded, Ghost Rider asked while leaning his back against the wall.
"I will destroy New Orleans and complete my revenge."
With killing intent dripping from her voice, the Hollow glared at Ghost Rider, her disgust clear.
"IF THAT'S THE CASE, I WILL STOP YOU."
Saying that Ghost Rider removed the iron chain draped over his shoulder and threw it at the Hollow's spirit, binding her spirit body.
Seeing her spirit bound, the Hollow's eyes widened in shock as she struggled to break free.
No matter how much effort she put in, she couldn't escape.
She had let her guard down, underestimating the Ghost Rider's capabilities.
Even Jojo was shocked by the noticeable increase in his power after he had fainted at the pet cemetery.
CLANK~ CLANK~
CLANK~ CLANK~
Ghost Rider slowly pulled the Hollow toward him with one hand, rolling the iron chain in his fist inch by inch.
"WHY AM I FEELING PITY FOR YOU? IT'S VERY UNREASONABLE, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO PUNISHES SINNERS WHO DO NOT REPENT."
Moving the Hollow's face close to his, who was glaring at him with gritted teeth and hostility, Ghost Rider studied her with clear interest and confusion in his voice.
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(Author's POV)
Thanks for reading the chapter!
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