The air inside the hideout was heavy with anticipation. Shadows danced across the cold stone walls as the resistance gathered around the large, weathered table, their faces illuminated by the flickering torches. Alucard stood at the head, his presence commanding and formidable. His once vibrant blue eyes were now darkened with the weight of his quest for vengeance. Dressed entirely in black, his cloak brushed the floor, and his armor gleamed ominously under the dim light. The only color on him was the deep crimson of his boots, a symbol of the blood he had spilled and the blood yet to be spilled.
Selene stood by his side, her silver hair cascading down her back, glowing faintly even in the gloom. She wore a sleek, black leather suit that fit her like a second skin, her violet eyes sharp and focused. This mission was everything. Around the table were the remaining members of Selene's team: Nico, Ava, Jade, Iris, and Rafael. Each had their reasons for being there, scars from past battles etched into their faces, and a fire in their hearts fueled by the loss of loved ones.
Alucard's voice was calm, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside him. "Our objective tonight is critical. We must weaken Dr. Forge by eliminating his earthly allies within the Citadel. Without them, his control over Earth will falter, forcing him to confront us."
Selene nodded, her gaze sweeping over the map of the Citadel laid out on the table. "The Citadel's force field has a weakness in the western quadrant. We'll breach it and split into two teams. My group will target the communications hub to disable their network. Alucard's team will strike the command center, where Forge's key allies are stationed."
She traced her finger along the map, her expression grim. "Once the force field is down, they'll know we're there. We'll need to move fast."
Nico, his white hair a stark contrast against his dark outfit, voiced the concern lingering in everyone's mind. "And what if Forge returns before we finish?"
Alucard's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. "He's off-world, overseeing his conquests. By the time he realizes what's happening, it'll be too late."
The room fell silent, the gravity of their mission settling heavily on their shoulders. Failure was not an option. This was their best chance to strike at the heart of their enemy.
The night was unnaturally dark as they approached the Citadel, its towering spires piercing the sky like the claws of a malevolent beast. Thick clouds blocked out the moon and stars, casting the fortress in an ominous shadow. The ground beneath their feet was barren, cracked, and lifeless—a reflection of the evil that radiated from the Citadel.
As they neared the western quadrant, Selene knelt and activated a small device that emitted a soft blue glow. The force field shimmered and then vanished, leaving the path open. Without hesitation, the teams slipped through the breach and into the Citadel's dark, oppressive halls.
The interior of the Citadel was a twisted maze of polished obsidian walls, their black surfaces reflecting distorted images of the intruders. The air was thick, stifling, and filled with the faint scent of incense mixed with something more sinister—an undercurrent of decay that clung to their senses.
Alucard and his group moved swiftly, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence as they made their way to the command center. The Citadel seemed to close in around them, the torches lining the walls flickering as if they might go out at any moment, plunging them into total darkness.
Selene's team encountered minimal resistance at first, swiftly dispatching the few soldiers who crossed their path. But as they reached the communications hub, Selene felt an unsettling presence—a dark, malevolent energy that sent a shiver down her spine. Something was wrong.
Before she could voice her concern, a thunderous roar shook the Citadel, followed by the sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps. The ground trembled beneath them, and the air grew colder, the temperature dropping rapidly as the presence drew nearer.
Dr. Forge had returned.
He had not been aware of the attack when he landed his ship on the Citadel's rooftop. His towering figure emerged from the shadows, clad in dark, battle-worn armor that seemed to absorb the very light around him. His crimson eyes burned with rage as he surveyed the scene before him—his fortress under siege.
Descending through the Citadel, Forge's fury grew with every step. The walls seemed to bend and twist to his will, the shadows deepening and warping in his presence. The heavenly beasts under his control stirred, their low growls echoing through the fortress as they sensed their master's anger.
Selene and her team had no time to react as the doors to the communications hub were blasted open, and Forge strode in like a vengeful god. His eyes locked onto Selene, and a cruel smile curled his lips. Before they could raise their weapons, Forge unleashed a devastating wave of energy that sent them crashing into the walls.
Selene struggled to rise, her vision swimming as pain radiated through her body. But Forge was relentless. He moved with terrifying speed, dispatching her team one by one with brutal efficiency. Jade was thrown across the room like a ragdoll, her body crumpling on impact. Nico was lifted off the ground, his throat crushed in Forge's iron grip. Ava's desperate scream was cut short as Forge crushed her from within, her blood staining the floor.
Selene, battered and barely able to stand, watched in horror as her friends were slaughtered. Her violet eyes met Forge's, filled with a mixture of fear and defiance. But Forge wasn't done. He approached her slowly, savoring the terror in her gaze.
"You've caused me a great deal of trouble, Selene," he hissed, his voice dripping with malice.
He grabbed her by the hair, yanking her off the ground with brutal force. Selene bit back a scream as pain shot through her skull. Forge's eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure as he dragged her to the center of the room, dark chains materializing from the shadows to wrap around her body, tightening until they cut into her flesh.
Forge took his time, methodically breaking her mind and spirit, reveling in her agony. Her screams echoed through the Citadel, but no one came to her aid. In her final moments, as her strength waned and her vision dimmed, Forge whispered into her ear, "You will die knowing that you failed."
With a cold, cruel laugh, he ended her life, leaving her lifeless body hanging in the chains, a macabre testament to his power.
Alucard's group arrived at the command center to find the aftermath of Forge's wrath. The sight of Selene's broken body, suspended in the air like a grotesque puppet, sent a wave of sorrow and rage crashing over him. His heart twisted painfully at the sight of his fallen comrade, and he vowed silently that Forge would pay.
But before he could even draw his weapon, Forge appeared, his crimson eyes locking onto Alucard with a look of dark satisfaction. The Citadel fell deathly silent as the two men faced each other, the air crackling with tension.
Forge moved first, a blur of motion as he closed the distance between them. Alucard barely had time to react before Forge's fist connected with his chest, the force of the blow sending him crashing through the walls of the Citadel. The impact shattered stone and bone alike, but Alucard gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet, refusing to go down so easily.
But Forge was relentless. He descended upon Alucard with the fury of a storm, each strike more devastating than the last. Alucard fought back with everything he had, drawing on the power of the Stygian Method, but Forge was too strong, too fast.
Finally, Forge caught Alucard by the throat, lifting him off the ground as he had done with Nico. "You were always a fool, Kyle," he sneered, using Alucard's true name as a final insult. "Your resistance was doomed from the start."
With a final, crushing blow, Forge drove his hand through Alucard's chest, the force of the attack obliterating his heart. Alucard's vision darkened, his body growing cold as he felt his life slipping away.
But in his last moments, as the darkness closed in, Alucard felt a strange sense of peace. He had fought for what he believed in, and though he had failed, he knew that death was not the end.
As his body fell limp in Forge's grip, a faint smile crossed his lips, and the last thing he saw was the crimson light of Forge's eyes fading into darkness.
Forge dropped Alucard's lifeless body to the ground, his expression one of cold triumph. The Citadel was silent once more, the only sound the faint crackling of the torches on the walls.
But in the depths of the fortress, something stirred. Something dark and powerful, waiting to be unleashed.
And Dr. Forge in his arrogance became unware of what was coming.