Alucard drifted in the dark void, the remnants of his battle and his crushing defeat fading into a distant haze. His mind clung to the last memories before everything went black: the desperate struggle, the overwhelming power of Dr. Forge, and the faces of those he failed to protect. But one image refused to fade, a memory that anchored him to the last vestiges of his humanity—a face, delicate and serene, with eyes that once shone with love and warmth. Her name slipped from his lips as he stirred from unconsciousness, his voice a mere whisper, "Elena…"
The name echoed in the cold emptiness that surrounded him, and for a fleeting moment, Alucard could almost feel her presence, her comforting warmth beside him. But as his senses sharpened, he realized the bitter truth—he was alone. The comforting touch of his wife was gone, replaced by an unforgiving cold that seeped into his very bones.
Alucard's eyes fluttered open, his vision gradually adjusting to the dim, crimson glow that illuminated the space around him. He found himself lying on a smooth, obsidian floor, the cold surface a stark contrast to the warmth of the bed he had shared with his family. His heart twisted in his chest as the reality of his situation set in. He had been ripped from his life, from his family, and thrown into this bleak, desolate place.
Slowly, Alucard pushed himself to his feet, his body aching from the toll of his previous battle. As he stood, he took in his surroundings. The air was thick with the scent of sulfur and something far more ancient and malevolent. The sky above was a swirling mass of crimson and black, and the landscape was dotted with jagged mountains and rivers of molten lava that snaked through the dark terrain like veins of fire.
A voice, deep and resonant, cut through the silence, sending a chill down Alucard's spine. "Elena… That name has no power here, Alucard."
Alucard turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he searched for the source of the voice. Standing before him, emerging from the shadows like a wraith, was a figure unlike any he had encountered before. Tall and imposing, the figure's form was skeletal, its bones black as night, glistening like polished onyx. It was draped in a cloak of tattered shadows that seemed to writhe and shift as if alive, and in place of eyes, it had twin orbs of cold, blue fire that burned with an eerie intensity.
This was not the Lucifer he had known—no, this was something far more ancient, far more terrifying.
The figure's bony hand reached out, and the shadows around it seemed to grow darker, more oppressive. "I am Mortem Rex," the being declared, its voice echoing with the finality of a tombstone's inscription. "I am the new ruler of this domain, the King of the Underworld."
Alucard's breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding in his chest as he absorbed the presence of this entity. Mortem Rex was a name that sent ripples of fear through the deepest pits of Hell—a name synonymous with Death itself. This was the entity that had risen to power after Lucifer's fall at the hands of Dr. Forge. The thought of Lucifer, once the most feared being in the cosmos, being struck down so easily, only served to emphasize the power that Mortem Rex now wielded.
"Why am I here?" Alucard's voice was cold, the anger and frustration from his defeat still simmering beneath the surface. "What do you want from me?"
Mortem Rex moved closer, the sound of bones creaking and the rustle of his shadowy cloak filling the silence. "You have been brought here, Alucard, because your fate is intertwined with the darkness that I command. You are not just a victim of Dr. Forge's machinations; you are something far more significant."
Alucard remained silent, his expression unreadable, but his eyes burned with curiosity and a flicker of hope. Mortem Rex continued, his voice softer now, almost conspiratorial. "When God died, His essence did not merely dissipate into the ether. It fractured, splitting into two opposing forces—the light and the dark. Those touched by the light were granted powers that aligned with life and creation. But you, Alucard, were touched by the dark, by the negative essence that represents death, destruction, and the void."
The words hung heavy in the air, and Alucard felt a cold shiver run down his spine. The darkness that had always seemed to cling to him, that had manifested as the Stygian Method, was not just a random mutation—it was a direct consequence of God's death, a fragment of the divine essence twisted by the forces of entropy.
Mortem Rex watched Alucard's reaction closely, the fire in his eye sockets flaring with a knowing intensity. "This is why you possess the Stygian Method, why your powers are so closely linked to shadows and death. You are, in essence, the living embodiment of God's wrath, the darkness that even the light could not extinguish."
Alucard clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he processed the revelation. The power that had always felt more like a curse now made sense in the grander scheme of things. It was not just a tool—it was a part of him, a part of something much greater and far more terrifying.
Mortem Rex began to circle Alucard, his skeletal form moving with a grace that belied his appearance. "But this is not where your journey ends, Alucard. Your power is immense, yes, but it is far from complete."
Alucard's gaze followed the King of Hell, suspicion flaring within him. "What do you mean, 'incomplete'?"
Mortem Rex paused, his skeletal face inches from Alucard's, the cold blue fire in his eyes reflecting off Alucard's own dark orbs. "The dark essence you possess is but a fraction of what remains. Scattered across the realms are other fragments, pieces of that same darkness that have corrupted creatures, objects, even entire landscapes. By absorbing these fragments, you can grow your power exponentially, become something far greater than what you are now."
Alucard's heart raced as the implications of Mortem Rex's words sunk in. The idea of becoming more powerful, of turning the curse of his existence into a weapon of unimaginable power, was intoxicating. He could feel the hunger within him, the desire to take control of his fate, to crush Dr. Forge and anyone else who stood in his way. But there was a small part of him that remained wary, cautious of the entity before him and the potential dangers that lay in wait.
"What do you gain from this?" Alucard's voice was steady, but there was a hard edge to it. "Why help me?"
Mortem Rex's bony grin widened, the fire in his eyes burning brighter. "I am the ruler of this realm, but my power is limited to this domain. The mortal world, the realms beyond, are places where my influence wanes. But you, Alucard, you are a bridge between the darkness of this world and the mortal realm. Your rise to power would benefit us both—you by fulfilling your vengeance, and me by expanding my influence through your actions."
Alucard studied Mortem Rex, his mind churning with thoughts and possibilities. The offer was tempting, incredibly so, but there was a darkness to it, a danger that Mortem Rex wasn't revealing. Still, the allure of power, the possibility of becoming strong enough to finally destroy Dr. Forge, was too great to ignore.
Finally, Alucard nodded, his decision made. "I'll do it," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "I'll absorb these essences, and I'll use them to destroy Dr. Forge and anyone else who stands in my way."
Mortem Rex's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, the fire within them dancing with anticipation. "Good. Very good. But remember, Alucard, the path you walk is one of power, but it is also one of sacrifice. The more you seek out this dark essence, the further you will be drawn into the abyss. But perhaps, that is your true destiny."
Without another word, Mortem Rex raised his skeletal hand, and a swirling portal of shadows and fire materialized before Alucard. The vortex crackled with dark energy, a doorway leading back to the mortal realm. "Go now, Alucard," Mortem Rex intoned, his voice a whisper in the wind. "Your journey has only just begun.
Alucard hesitated for only a moment, his thoughts drifting back to his family, to Elena. He would find his way back to them, but first, he had to become stronger. He had to finish what he started, and this was the only way.
Steeling himself, Alucard stepped into the portal, the shadows closing around him like a shroud. As he was pulled through the vortex, he could feel the dark essence within him resonating with the chaotic power of the Underworld. It was as if the very darkness he had been cursed with was growing, expanding, readying itself for the battles to come.
When he emerged on the other side, he was no longer the same man who had fallen in battle. He was something more—something far more powerful and far more dangerous.