(AN: "for conversations" … 'for thoughts' … [for system notification])
New York, Brooklyn, a subway carriage brimming with passengers.
Jon occupied a seat in the front row, his gaze, like that of most passengers, was riveted on the news reports playing on the television mounted at the front of the carriage.
The reason a single news report could command the undivided attention of an entire carriage of passengers was due to its content. Not long ago, Tony Stark, the chairman of Stark Industries, had publicly declared, "I am Iron Man!"
This revelation had been a sensation, and in its wake, information about Iron Man had flooded the internet like a storm.
"It appears this world is on the brink of upheaval," Jon mused, a sense of helplessness creeping over him as he sat in the front row.
Jon had found himself reincarnated in this world following an accident a few months prior. Initially, he had assumed it was a parallel universe, identical to his previous world. It wasn't until he visited the renowned Captain America Exhibit that he realized he was in the perilous Marvel Cinematic Universe.
When he had seen Tony Stark announce his identity on television, he understood that his life here might be cut short at any time.
Even if he were to leave New York, a city teeming with superheroes and supervillains, he still faced a fifty percent chance of perishing under Thanos' snap in seven or eight years.
Jon bowed his head, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts about the future. He had recently graduated from a technical school and was currently unemployed. It was absurd that while he was grappling with his employment situation, he was also concerned about his survival in this dangerous world.
As Jon was lost in his thoughts, an odd, rhythmic sound began to permeate his ears.
"Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep..."
It wasn't particularly loud, but Jon could tell that the source of the sound was nearby.
"Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep..."
The tempo of the sound was increasing, and Jon, sensing something amiss, began to look around, his movements attracting the curious glances of nearby passengers.
"Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep..."
The sound was reminiscent of a bomb's countdown, and the escalating tempo sent a wave of anxiety through Jon.
Eventually, he located the source of the sound on a glass window that separated him from two seats.
It was a palm-sized, ring-shaped device, adhered to the exterior of the glass window. A blue light on the device pulsed in sync with the beeping sound.
"That's... a bomb!" Jon's heart clenched as he made the grim realization.
He had seen similar explosive devices in Marvel movies. In "Captain America 2", the Winter Soldier used such a device to blow up Nick Fury's car.
"Get down!"
BOMB!!
Jon's warning echoed through the carriage as he threw himself to the ground. An explosion followed, and flames engulfed the carriage.
"Ahh!"
"Oh god!!"
"Ahhhhhhh!!"
"Help…. Help me!!"
Jon felt the force of the explosion and the searing heat of the flames. His body was thrown into the air, and he felt a sharp pain as shards of glass embedded themselves in his flesh. The carriage was filled with screams, pain, and the specter of death.
"Is this... the end?! Am I to die again?!"
He had only been in this world for a few months, and he had hoped to witness the birth of superheroes, but he hadn't expected... to die again?
Why had the train exploded? Who had planted the explosive device? And why target an ordinary train?
Jon had no answers to these questions. All he knew was that he was unwilling to die again, especially without reason.
But what could he do now? Pray for a superhero to save him. Iron Man was not in New York, as the news had reported. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't arrive in time.
So who were the superheroes in Brooklyn? Captain America was originally from Brooklyn, but he was still encased in ice at this moment!
'So, is this the end? Damn it!' Jon thought bitterly.
[If I gave you a chance, would you want to live?]
Jon's body was pinned to the ground, surrounded by flames. Just as he felt his breath slipping away, he heard a deep, gravelly voice in his head.
'Am I finally losing my mind?'
The voice was unfamiliar, and it didn't seem to originate from anywhere, but it echoed in his mind, causing Jon to question his sanity.
However, he had nothing to lose. His life was spiraling out of control, so he mustered all his strength to say "yes".
But... he couldn't utter a word, as shards of glass were lodged in his mouth and throat.
[I have received your will.]
Before Jon could speak, the strange voice echoed again.
Suddenly, Jon heard the sound of a motorcycle engine, growing louder...
'Am I being saved?' he wondered
He thought that the motorcyclist was there to rescue people, but when he saw the motorcycle, he was taken aback.
It was a motorcycle engulfed in flames, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
Jon strained to see the rider, but instead of a person, he saw a skeleton wreathed in flames.
"That's...the Ghost Rider?" Jon exclaimed.
Jon, being familiar with Marvel movies, recognized Ghost Rider and his abilities.
He remembered that in the American TV series "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." by Marvel, a new generation of Ghost Rider had appeared.
Could it be that his presence had prompted the Ghost Rider to choose Jon as his successor?
The Ghost Rider dismounted and slowly approached Jon.
He squatted down, extended his flaming skeletal hand, and placed it on Jon's head.
After a moment, the flames on the Ghost Rider's body began to recede, and flesh and blood grew over his skeletal form, transforming him into an ordinary middle-aged man.
He had relinquished his power and bestowed it upon Jon, or rather, he had passed on his curse.
[Ding, the host has received the power of the 'Ghost Rider', and the legendary mission has started...]
[The door to another universe will open soon, and the host is about to be summoned there, please be prepared.]
[You have become the new generation of the Ghost Rider and successfully started the legendary mission: The Final Judgment.]
[Task: Traverse the multiverse, and judge a thousand sinful souls]
Jon was taken aback, what on earth was happening to him?! A terrorist attack had not only transformed him into the Ghost Rider but also activated a legendary system, like in the web novels?!
[Ding! The door has been opened. Teleportation is beginning…]
[Three!]
[Two!]
[One!]
Before Jon could react, an ethereal door materialized in his mind, its dazzling light obscuring what lay beyond.
Suddenly, Jon's consciousness was drawn towards the door, and he was swallowed by the light.