An explosion erupted from the confrontation, shaking the area.
At the site of the crystalline bed, a sharp silver-black energy clashed against a torrent of dark magic. The silver energy seemed to have the upper hand momentarily, but it soon dissipated, leaving only the enemy's energy behind.
Not just one, but two streams of energy were launched—one heading toward me and the other toward Blade.
Seeing the incoming attack, I raised my wand, casting a protective spell.
A vibrant shield of multiple colors formed, a strong Protego spell enveloping me. Yet, it felt insufficient.
Frowning, I used the wind to propel myself sideways, letting the energy strike harmlessly behind me.
My eyes darted to Blade. He stood firm, using his sword to parry and face the energy attack alone, clearing his path.
Through his dark glasses, I could still sense his gaze fixed on Dracula. His intense killing intent and animosity toward the vampire were undeniable. I couldn't help but suspect there was more to this story.
"Bam!"
Another powerful energy explosion brought my attention back to the vampire.
The Vampire Lord Awakens, in the end.
Winds swirled protectively around me, shielding me from stray magical energies.
Before me stood a muscular figure, his white hair giving no sign of age but rather adding a mature charm. His handsome, almost ethereal face radiated allure.
Even I found myself momentarily captivated, almost drooling. But a burst of mental clarity and the image of a certain jealous spider snapped me back to focus.
Around the vampire, dark magic and blood formed a unique domain.
"It has been decades… no, perhaps centuries since I last awakened," his ancient voice echoed, filled with dignity and power befitting a Vampire Lord.
"Now that I am here, the era of our race shall return."
His crimson eyes surveyed the carnage, the remains of his kin scattered around, including one I had recently bisected with my energy blade.
Suddenly, a wave of malicious mental power swept through the area, spreading beyond the base's confines.
His mental energy briefly probed me and Blade, an act that filled me with irritation and disgust.
A Test of Wills
When his energy tried to invade my mind and soul, I retaliated.
My divine power, Vision of a Leaf, surged, shrouding my consciousness and denying him access.
My mental sea roared, and an aura of dominance emanated from me, filling the room.
As a former Dragon Slayer with divine beast-enhanced abilities, I met his probing with sheer willpower, clashing against his mental onslaught.
Our gazes locked—his icy and predatory, mine cold and piercing. A phantom crown materialized above me, matching the Vampire Lord's grandeur.
Then something unexpected happened.
Reacting to his dark magic, influenced by energies I had absorbed in earlier battles, my phantom lineage activated.
Behind me, a black lotus manifested, emanating a peculiar gray and dark energy.
The lotus grew stronger, its energy intensifying.
I closed my eyes, focusing on the transformation. Fragments of knowledge seeped into my consciousness.
"This…" I whispered, my eyes snapping open with a wicked smile.
A Counterattack
My fingers traced intricate seals in the air as my aura surged.
A ghostly, black energy emanated from me, spectral projections of lotus petals dancing in the air. They devoured the Vampire Lord's dark energy, draining his strength.
By the end, I had overpowered him, feeling my soul grow stronger and my energy replenished.
Sensing the danger, Dracula retreated, his wary eyes fixed on me.
I paid him no mind, immersing myself in the newfound knowledge—a deeper understanding of my lineage and ways to harness and enhance it.
"Blade, hold him off for a while," I instructed, retreating to a meditative corner without waiting for his response.
Beside me appeared a large dog with slightly beige and red hair and a gigantic black robot with red eyes and holding an energy rifle appeared.
"Arcanine and Stormtrooper protect me."
"Woff!!"
"Understood, master."
Both agreed and got into a defensive position.
Blade didn't mind, eager to take the fight.
His energy surged, far exceeding its earlier level, and he appeared before Dracula in a flash.
The Vampire Lord, still cautious of me, calmly parried Blade's sword with his claws. With a subtle push, he sent Blade crashing to the ground.
And so, their battle began.
....
Dominó POV
My pistol fired silver bullets at the vampires nearby, their effectiveness apparent. I also used my sword to strike down an enemy at my side.
At that moment, a vampire I hadn't noticed rushed toward me, intending to attack. But, with the luck I always seem to have, he tripped and fell directly onto my sword.
"Please be more careful. My sword is clean," I said, swiftly finishing him off with a single motion.
I advanced cautiously through the corridor. One of the ice eagles perched on my shoulder while others swooped down to attack. Nearby, Deadpool seemed to be enjoying himself, fighting alongside a massive ice tiger.
"Hey, Domino, what do you think about these guys and the possibility of joining the team the boss mentioned?" I heard Deadpool ask, his tone light but curious.
I paused to consider his question for a few moments before responding.
"At the very least, it sounds like hard work and pretty dangerous. The strength of the Immortal is undeniable—what he's managed to accomplish on his own is staggering. But that also means potential danger. Though, I don't think he'd force us into anything."
After voicing my thoughts, I stopped for a moment.
"But I'm leaning toward joining... I'd say my instincts and luck are pushing me to follow this group. It might sound foolish, but they've always guided me well and have saved me from countless situations… and pain," I said, memories of past missions flashing through my mind, particularly of a certain orphanage where I grew up.
Shaking my head, I dismissed the thoughts and turned back to Deadpool.
"And you?"
Hearing my question, he stopped fooling around. His voice became more serious.
"I don't know. I don't like being tied down to groups or organizations—not anymore. My freedom means everything to me. But…" He hesitated. "There's someone I care about, and I feel like if I keep going the way I am, I'll eventually put her in a dangerous position, one I won't be able to protect her from alone."
"But I'm still not sure. I'll have to think about it," he finished, his tone ambiguous.
I didn't press further. I had my own thoughts to contend with, and the mission remained our priority.
Suddenly, my entire body shivered, and the item left by the Immortal began to glow with a unique light.
Though I couldn't see anything visually, I felt as if some kind of energy—perhaps several kinds—had passed through me. It reminded me, vaguely, of dating a psychic mutant, but this was different. It felt like someone was trying to investigate me.
"Did you feel that?" I asked Deadpool. He nodded.
"Yeah, it was strange. But let's stay focused on the mission," he replied, and I agreed. Worrying about it wouldn't help us now, especially since it didn't seem to affect us directly.
...
Deeper into the facility, we came upon the first prison, and what we saw was horrifying.
Though we'd encountered countless grim scenarios as mercenaries, this still shook us.
The stench of waste mingled with a heavy metallic scent assaulted our noses. Inside, bodies of all ages—from children to the elderly—lay scattered across the area. Their emaciated forms bore signs of illness and countless wounds.
Disgusted, I kicked a nearby vampire hard, unable to contain my revulsion at the sight. Taking a deep breath, I began helping the prisoners out.
The ice constructs, surprisingly gentle, assisted in evacuating the people. Outside, a massive ice gorilla carefully carried them to a safe spot at the edge of the forest.
We continued this effort for what felt like an eternity, all while trying to ignore the distant explosions and tremors shaking the facility.
After what seemed like hours, we finally finished evacuating the prisoners. The sound of police cars, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles reached our ears.
Deadpool and I exchanged a glance before mounting the ice tigers, which raced out of the area.
Behind us, unnoticed by me, the remaining ice constructs dissolved into snowflakes. Rescue teams flooded the scene to take over.
In other locations, around the same time this rescue operation was taking place,
other bases were being raided, and all the vampires were defeated. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, only injuries.
All members of the Guardian Sword were already returning to their base, while Storm and Wolverine headed back to the mansion.
Only one individual had yet to return.
Clearly exhausted and breathing heavily, he sat in a corner of the building, his gaze fixed on the distance with worry.
"Love... I hope you're okay," he murmured softly, silently praying for his boyfriend's safety.
The urge to sprint at full speed and help him was strong, but he remembered the instructions: charging into a battlefield without organization, communication, or planning could be dangerous.
"Anturian, can you give me any updates?"
He spoke to a high-tech metal device that, outwardly, seemed ordinary.
"You have clearance, Spider-Man," the AI responded.
"The situation at the enemy's main base is progressing successfully. The master is safe, so relax."
Hearing the AI's reassurance, he sighed in relief and allowed himself to rest with greater ease.