"Have there been any recent sightings of vampires?" Merlin asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes," Sol replied after a brief pause, scanning the network. "A mission has been issued. In a black underground bar in Brooklyn, some of the Green Men were sold off."
Merlin raised his eyebrows as he read through the mission details. "Seems like these vampires are craving some new flavors."
Brooklyn was notorious for being a hotspot for vampire activity. With its chaotic gang scene and a diverse population of immigrants, people disappeared without raising too much concern. It was the perfect hunting ground for creatures of the night.
"Good. This will be a great chance to test the new armor," Merlin said to himself. After locking in on the location, he grabbed a sleek black-and-white suitcase and headed out from Stark Tower.
Brooklyn—The Hood.
As one of the areas with the highest concentration of immigrants, Brooklyn was a melting pot of cultures. Over time, various ethnic groups formed gangs to protect their communities and carve out their territories. The Italian mob, Russian mafia, Mexican cartels, and Black gangs ruled different sections of the borough. Among these communities, the strength of Chinatown stood out, a relic of a bygone era.
In front of Hell Bar.
On a dimly lit and cluttered street, Eric Brooks—better known as Blade—leaned against a brick wall. Dressed in his signature black leather jacket and sunglasses, a cigarette dangling from his lips, he waited quietly.
"Hey! Are you the Sunlighter?"
The voice came from the shadows—a composite electronic sound. Eric glanced in its direction. Emerging from the darkness was a figure draped in a black robe, its features mostly concealed except for two piercing scarlet electronic eyes beneath the hood. The figure's whole aura screamed mystery.
"Sunlighter?" Eric scoffed. "I take it you're the 'Sun-Mooner' then?" His tone dripped with sarcasm. It felt as if this new teammate was mocking him. He called himself Sunlighter, and now this stranger introduced themselves with a moniker that clearly mirrored his own.
"Yes, my mission is to capture a few pure-blood vampires. I'll be relying on your help," the cloaked figure said as they extended a metal-gloved hand, the polished black metal reflecting faintly in the moonlight.
Eric glanced at the hand but didn't bother shaking it. "Follow me," he said curtly, turning toward the bar's entrance. He wasn't interested in building any camaraderie with this new teammate. As long as they didn't interfere with his hunt, that was all that mattered.
Merlin, beneath the robe, shrugged and retracted his hand. He didn't mind the cold reception. "There'll be more alien vampires in the future," he mused to himself. After all, he'd made sure to introduce new elements to the game to keep it from becoming too predictable for players. "I'm doing them a favor."
The two descended into a dark, graffitied basement, the air growing colder and more unsettling with each step. The dim lights overhead flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls as they approached the bar.
It was time for the hunt.
After entering a corner, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. It felt as though they had stepped into an icehouse. A conveyor belt slowly rotated, carrying food items, while iron hooks above held cold, frost-covered objects. Beneath the frozen surface were pairs of terrified eyes—humans, strung up like livestock awaiting their fate.
"These vampires sure have a refined palate. They drink their blood ice cold," Eric remarked, pausing briefly to glance back at Merlin, surprised by the grotesque display. Without waiting for a response, he continued forward, unphased by the scene.
Meanwhile, in another part of the underground, a dark-skinned Green Man walked with his arm around Malik's shoulders, speaking in a friendly, comforting tone.
"Malik, this is the first time I've brought someone to a party. Don't worry, no one will discriminate against us here," he reassured. "Our protest is gaining traction. There are already talks about including Green Man characters in movies. Things are going to get better!"
Despite his friend's optimism, Malik glanced around at the dingy and dark underground passageways with a sense of unease. His heart felt heavy, but he forced a smile, trying to ignore the discomfort creeping in. Though he was grateful that his arms had recovered from past injuries, the greenish hue left on his skin still led to discrimination.
"By the way, where's my brother?" Malik asked, his voice tinged with concern. Some time ago, his brother, who had been in the same hospital ward, had joined this group at the invitation of the dark-skinned man. However, he hadn't seen him in the past few days.
"He got here early. Ever since I brought him to the bar once, he's been coming back every day," his companion responded. "Come on, man, relax!"
Sensing Malik's nervousness, the Green Man gave him a hard pat on the back. "We're already here!"
As they reached the entrance of the bar, the dirty black cloth covering the doorway was pulled aside. In an instant, they were hit by a wave of deafening noise—a wild carnival in full swing.
Seeing the scene before him, Malik felt a bit more at ease. In his current state, he'd be kicked out of most bars, and finding a place to drink and indulge wasn't easy.
"Come on! Let's welcome our new friends!!!" Malte shouted into a makeshift microphone, his voice booming over the crowd. Instantly, the rowdy revelers fell silent and turned their attention to the door.
At first, Malik thought Malte's enthusiasm was a bit over the top. But when he saw the expressions on the faces of the partygoers, his heart skipped a beat. Their eyes gleamed with something unsettling—cold, bloodthirsty stares, like butchers eyeing fresh meat.
What kind of look is that? Malik thought, panic creeping into his chest. They're looking at me like I'm...prey.
Suddenly, a woman in the crowd opened her mouth, revealing sharp, elongated vampire fangs.
"Hiss!" The sound of snarling and hissing filled the room as the entire crowd revealed their bloodthirsty fangs, one after another. The party had transformed into a den of predators.
"Ahhhh!!!" A scream tore through the chaos.
Eric had just reached the entrance when a panicked Green Man barreled into him.
"Monsters! They're all vampires! Run!" The terrified man shouted, his face filled with horror. Without waiting for a response, he bolted out of the bar, not looking back.
----
Ladies and Gentleman
I am back
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