Over time, more and more of the required individuals arrived.
Once everyone was present, I clapped my hands gently to start the meeting.
"As you can see, there are numerous locations, and it's unlikely we'll be able to fight and stop all these vampires simultaneously."
As I said this, I pointed to the main mansion.
It was teeming with vampires, including the strongest ones.
The illustration of this location showed Blade, myself, and a question mark symbol.
At two other key locations, one was marked with an image of Luke, while another featured Daredevil and Iron Fist. A third location had an image of Peter.
Personally, I wanted to accompany my boyfriend, but I knew it would be illogical. He is one of the strongest among us, brimming with potential and versatility. Reluctantly, I assigned him to handle one of the sites.
At another site, there was an image of a woman and a man unfamiliar to the others, prompting the first question.
"Who are they?" Blade asked, intrigued, especially since they weren't present.
"They're not part of the Guardian Sword, but they're important allies. I've already briefed them about my request and the vampires' characteristics."
The individuals in question were mutants. I had asked my aunt for a favor to have her and Wolverine assist us. In truth, the professor was intrigued by the mystical nature of this situation and promised to provide minor support at other locations, sending some mutants. However, he admitted he wasn't entirely sure if he could spare them, so I didn't include them in the projection.
Hearing my explanation, Blade furrowed his brows slightly, hesitant about relying on unknowns. To ease his concerns, I added,
"I trust them completely. Besides, they are high-level mutants with extensive experience."
The mention of trust didn't seem to comfort him much, but hearing about their skills and rank visibly reassured him.
After all, the concept of mutants was relatively widespread in society, and Blade understood their potential power and danger levels.
Next, Peter raised a question, pointing at the question mark.
"Who's this, Immortal?"
Seeing his curiosity, I smiled.
"This is a wildcard, someone who will be crucial to the plan. Since this location will host the majority of vampires—and the strongest among them—I decided to include additional support. This aid couldn't be too powerful but also couldn't be close allies, as they are needed elsewhere. With that in mind, I sought mercenaries. With Blade and me present, we'll maintain control over them, and they'll serve as test subjects—err, I mean, extra reinforcements."
I caught myself before slipping, quickly correcting my words.
Blade was already aware of this since he had accompanied me to recruit these "allies," but the rest of the group didn't know about them.
Thinking about the mercenaries reminded me of what had happened yesterday…
One Day Earlier
I teleported in front of a building hidden in the shadows of the night and the alleys of the streets.
The place bore a neon sign reading "Hellhouse," with a strong scent of alcohol and drugs permeating the air.
Dangerous-looking individuals armed to the teeth were coming and going through its doors.
Wearing a seemingly ordinary hood and a fox mask over my face, I stood shrouded in a faint mist, blending into the darkness. I used my divine power, Zetsu, and assassin techniques to completely conceal my presence.
Leaning against the wall, I waited for Blade to arrive. Within minutes, I heard footsteps I immediately recognized.
Opening my eyes, I saw him approaching, dressed in slightly more discreet attire. He stopped in front of me and spoke.
"This is the most common place to recruit mercenaries: Hellhouse. Are you sure you want to work with them? Mercenaries can be difficult to handle. Sometimes, they're selfish and might abandon the job if it gets too dangerous. Most have some ethics and won't tarnish their reputation by leaving mid-mission, but in the end, they're not truly reliable."
Hearing his concerns, I nodded calmly.
"That's fine. Even if they leave during combat, their initial assistance will suffice."
I replied with composure. I could've considered asking Mr. Stark for help, but I still didn't trust him entirely.
Besides, I had always wanted to experience a mercenary hub, making this an interesting adventure for me.
Blade didn't comment further, and we entered the establishment together.
As soon as we opened the doors, countless eyes turned toward us. I released a small wave of bloodlust and mental domination, making them all look away.
After this brief intimidation, we sat at a table with two chairs and began observing the people in the bar.
Using my Haki of Vision and enhanced perception, I analyzed the energies, behaviors, and characteristics of everyone present, searching for potential candidates.
A few minutes later, I had chosen my targets. I approached the first one.
"Hey, jerk. Get lost—I don't want a job."
Ignoring him, I sat down. His glare told me to vanish, but I stared back unfazed.
The man's outfit was a mix of red and black, with a mask covering his entire face. Two swords were strapped to his back, pistols on both hips, and an absurd number of concealed weapons in his clothes.
What intrigued me most was his energy—a strange vitality. His aura resembled a mutant's but carried an odd sensation, like someone who didn't entirely belong to the living. Perhaps he had defied death or been blessed by it.
These were mere speculations, partly suggested by the divine turtle residing in my mental sea. Ultimately, his aura and constitution were undeniably human and mutant.
"I have a proposal—a contract for you."
"Not interested. Keep your money."
He replied, taking a large swig from a yellow drink.
"I'm not paying with money," I said with a smile, noting the disfigurement of the skin around his lips—much like the rest of his body.
He looked at me and said,
"I can't see your face or body, but even if you're sexy, I don't need it. I have a lovely girlfriend, thanks! But if you're ever up for fun, let me know."
His tone was teasing and provocative. A vein bulged on my forehead, and I briefly considered slicing him in half with my sword.
However, using Jedi-like mental techniques, I restored my composure and tossed a piece of paper his way.
He picked it up curiously, but as he read the small contract—or more specifically, the reward—he stood abruptly and unsheathed his sword.
In a swift motion, the blade hovered over my neck as if he were ready to strike.
I smiled calmly. Blade, standing beside me, furrowed his brows but refrained from acting, though I noticed his hand resting near his weapon.
"Is this true?! Don't mess with me, you bastard!"
He seemed angry and shouted loudly, drawing the attention of everyone around us. Curious onlookers were already gripping their weapons.
"Yes, it's true. But you won't be allowed to abandon the mission, and depending on the circumstances, you might have to join our organization. Of course, as stated in the contract, I won't force you to do anything immoral or against your principles, but be warned—the fight will be difficult."
Hearing my explanation, he took a deep breath and sheathed his sword.
"Alright, what do I need to do? And what's this about fighting vampires? What are you all on, exactly?"
"We'll discuss that soon. We still have more recruits to meet. What should I call you?"
"Call me Deadpool."
I nodded and shook his hand after introducing ourselves.
"Everyone here has weird names... we should start a club for strange nicknames," he joked.
I didn't comment and ignored the fact that there were four others back at the base with similarly peculiar names.
The next person was a woman with a large afro, exuding an aura of confidence and capability.
At first glance, she didn't seem particularly remarkable and carried the aura of a mutant, though not an especially powerful one. However, something unique about her caught my attention—a distinct energy, unlike anything I'd felt before. It wasn't similar to Deadpool's but seemed to connect to something deeper and more extraordinary in the world. I couldn't quite discern it.
Strangely, I also felt an inexplicable pull, as though something about her compelled me to approach her. This was unusual, given my lineage of a unique and powerful soul as well as my complex and robust mental abilities.
Ultimately, I decided to approach her and sat across from her.
As I sat, now accompanied by the other two, she spoke.
"Well, you took your time. I was getting bored."
Raising an eyebrow, I responded with curiosity.
"You knew I was coming?"
"Something told me you would. You know, I'm pretty lucky."
"Lucky?"
Her comment piqued my interest, though I shifted the conversation.
"You're a mutant. What exactly is your power?"
"Luck," she replied without hesitation.
"Luck? Care to elaborate?" I asked, refraining from outright skepticism. After all, powers rooted in luck weren't impossible—whether from a devil fruit, divine items, or analogous abilities.
"It's exactly what it sounds like—I'm lucky, and lucky things happen to me. Just like being here today; it's bound to bring me luck."
"Luck? That's not a power," Deadpool interjected skeptically.
"Yes, it is."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"No, it's not."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"See? I told you I'm lucky," the woman said confidently, leaving Deadpool momentarily speechless. I couldn't help but chuckle at their banter.
At the same time, I noticed traces of energy radiating from her. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but my keen senses, bolstered by internal energy and mental prowess, detected something emanating from her body for a fraction of a second.
"You're in. What's your name?"
With that impression—and the honesty I sensed in her—I didn't hesitate to invite her. Neither Deadpool, as a temporary recruit, nor Blade, who had left the decision to me, objected.
"Domino," she said calmly.
"Pleasure to meet you, Domino. I'm Immortal. Let's talk more outside."
I gestured for the group to follow me as we stepped outside.
Back to the Present
Returning to the current moment, I began outlining additional strategies and plans.
The session wasn't lengthy since much would have to be adjusted on-site and in real time.
I emphasized the team divisions, general characteristics of vampires, and necessary precautions for fighting them. I also informed them that Anturian would be providing battlefield intelligence and support through the Guardian Sword items and special communicators I'd distributed to everyone.
Additionally, I handed out some silver items I had prepared in advance.
The briefing lasted about 40 minutes.
With everything clarified, I bid them farewell and teleported to another location, as I had another mission to complete that day.