The True Universe was one huge place. Although it was populated by many, there were still places left unexplored. 7 Heavens and countless galaxies meant that the True Universe was much grander than any other. And this also meant that it was impossible to learn everything about it. Even if the Dark Realm was excluded, there were several other realms that remained unexplored. And each day an eager spirit full of life and exuberance set out on a quest to discover the unknown. At times the quests were completely voluntary, with the explorers fully keen of finding out the unknown. There were also those who embarked on such quests through no fault of theirs. If they had their way, they wouldn't want to leave their places of comfort. But one couldn't always have their way now, could they?
There were many races that populated the Universe. And each race was unique in its own way. Even for races that shared very similar looks and characteristics, they had their own differences. And with differences came the classification of talent. And with talent came status. For there were some races that had a major edge over others. They were born with the blessing of the Universe Will, having power and talent that trumped the best of most species. Such races were feared, and even god clans thought things over before offending them. But this also meant that there were going to be fools born into such races; people who thought their race invincible because of the respect they received from the gods. And when such fools breached lines they weren't supposed to cross in the first place; when they foolishly performed acts too silly to brand grandly as stupidity; they paid the price. For some members of these races had offended gods, and it was after such offenses that they learned that the gods didn't fear them. They only respected them. But finding this out after the destruction of your entire race meant very little. And this meant that there were several instances where powerful races had been wiped off the face of the Universe, sometimes along with their worlds, just because of the mistake of one. And when that one person survived the destruction, the guilt weighed upon him or her for all eternity.
Vlad the Impaler was such a man. Born to the race of blood, Vampires, he was a man full of loyalty and blind faith in his King – Dracula. And his faith had led to the collapse of their race. So when the chance came to redeem himself, he took it. What a rare chance it was too. Serve the Young Master of Asgard and you will have your people returned to you. However, Vlad wasn't alone in his quest. With him were the last vestiges of his people.
His Master and King, Dracula.
His Young Lord and Prince Alucard
And the Blood Succubus Lilith
Each was blessed with such fine looks that it was difficult to qualify their appearance simply as handsome or beautiful. They could have lived like royalty by just relying on their looks but right now each sought to complete the task they had been given. Yet there were a few beasts that sought to hinder their progression.
"This should be the place," Alucard's palm traveled through the air and landed on the temple of the Stone Beast that tried to get close to him. His red eyes flashed with nonchalance as his left leg whipped past the air and caught another Stone Beast on the neck. With a loud crack the Noble Stone Beast was decapitated with a single strike.
"It should be," Dracula, who was so similar in looks to Alucard that were it not for the fact that he was slimmer than his son they would have easily been mistaken as the same person, was quick to agree. As he spoke a Stone Beast approached him from behind. But Dracula didn't pay it any heed. And when Vlad appeared behind him to violently twist the head of the beast off its body, Dracula's nonchalance finally made sense.
"What is the essence of this mission anyway?" Lilith, a gorgeous woman with a devilishly bewitching figure frowned and said. Unlike the others she didn't bother to engage the Stone Beasts. And it seemed that they couldn't be bothered with her either. For they avoided her like she was a plague. It was a strange sight. However, the red glow that engulfed her frame suggested that she was using a skill to avoid their detection. To them, she wasn't even here.
"I don't know," Alucard shrugged whilst avoided the palm of a large Bear Stone Beast. Then he struck out a palm and turned it to dust.
"Did they just want to get rid of us?" Vlad frowned and asked. He was right to think in this way. For Asgard had sent them out on what was considered a fool's errand. They had no idea what they were looking for, and how they were to find what it was they had no idea they were looking for! So Vlad was right to think that they were being played.
"I don't know. Lady Freya was confident however, that we will find something of value here. I heard her intuition is legendary." Dracula smiled and said. Although he too had his doubts about this entire ordeal, he didn't see the point of Asgard deceiving them. If Asgard wasn't interested in helping them, why agree to do so when they could have easily killed the four?
Suddenly a bright light descended right in front of them. The light was made of pure energy. Its energy was so rich and clean that the four vampires couldn't help but want to get away from it. For it was a stark contrast to their blood energy, which was filled with darkness and bloodlust.
"What is that?" Lilith asked, her voice laced with anxiety and her retracting steps displaying her degree of caution towards the new development. Not only was the pillar of light before them made out of pure light energy, it was vastly more superior to anyone here! It contained such power that Lilith didn't doubt for one second that whatever was in that light was several times more powerful than they. Not her master, nor her young master, nor the one known as the Impaler, nor herself had that level of power. Even in the days of their glory, there was none with this level of strength or ability.
"This aura…" Dracula furrowed his brows in confusion as he sniffed like a dog. He knew this aura. The pillar of light before them contained a power he had sensed before. It was a power he knew. Yet at the moment he couldn't quite place the source of this power with anyone. However, that confusion faded quickly. For his identity as an Ascender made it so that his memory was as robust as the heavens themselves. And soon he recalled what this power was.
"The Allfather, Odin," Dracula was greatly surprised by his own revelation. He had met Odin once. Not directly, but in passing. He had been lucky to catch a glimpse of the god king once, and the man's aura of life had stuck with Dracula. For though this man ruled over an entire heaven, his aura was unlike a ruler's. It was that of an explorer; of one hungry for information; of one eager to learn everything the Universe had to offer. Even stranger was that in the current circumstances, it was strange for Odin to be here.
The 1st Heaven was at war. But their King was nowhere to be found. They had sent out scouts to find him. Yet there had been no positive news so far. Dracula, Alucard, Lilith and Vlad were amongst those tasked with finding the vagabond king. Freya had sent them to this desolate land, much to their disgruntlement. For they assumed she only sought to get rid of them. However, they had still come, mainly because they had no choice but to. Dracula wished though, that Freya's so called hunch was right. And it seemed that it was. For right before them was a light that contained Odin's aura. And even if the Allfather wasn't here, this was a massive lead.
"I am going to check it out," Dracula stood up and said.
"No my Lord. Let me be the one to do such a thing. Your life is too precious to forfeit." Vlad immediately opposed his Master's decision. Lilith nodded her head in response to Vlad's words. For she agreed with him. In case her master was wrong – a highly likely possibility since he had only seen Odin once, from afar – it would be dangerous to have him risk his life for an unknown; especially when that pillar of light contained such a rich light aura.
"And in case it is indeed the Allfather?" Alucard asked, and Vlad grew silent. "Father must be the one to go," Alucard insisted. He was connected to his father, so he knew just what his father was thinking when he decided to go. A King could only be welcomed by another King. A servant had no place in such meetings. For even a fallen king was higher than the greatest servant.
"Don't worry. He'd be fine." Alucard smiled slightly seeing Vlad's clenched fists and jaw. It was nice that his father had someone this loyal to him. Alucard turned his head away from Vlad and gazed at the departing Dracula. Although he looked calm, he was actually a bit anxious inside. But for the sake of Lilith and Vlad, he tried not to expose this weakness. If he had his way, he would have replaced his father – happily. But that wasn't meant to be. Soon, Dracula's figure was absorbed fully by the light.