Late at night in Manhattan, a centuries-old stone building stood silent, its exterior bathed in an eerie moonlight. Inside, two figures faced each other. One was tall, pale, and predatory, eyes gleaming with a cold satisfaction. The other was a man with dark skin, bound tightly in steel chains, his muscular frame looking barely contained within his black trench coat. His expression, however, was defiant, eyes burning with a warrior's rage. This was Blade, the Daywalker.
"Well, well, Blade," sneered the pale figure, leaning in with an unsettling grin. "Imagine, here we are. The mighty vampire hunter, kneeling before me."
Blade's glare was fierce. He didn't answer, instead staring his captor down with disdain.
The vampire, Deacon Frost, continued, his voice oozing a sickly-sweet charm. "I offered you a place at my side once, you know. You could have joined us, given just a couple of liters of your unique blood, and in return, we'd have transformed the world together. The vampire race, restored to greatness, with the power of the Blood God."
Blade spat in his direction, barely able to hold back his contempt. "You really think a few souped-up vampires are going to take over the world?"
"Vampires aren't the same anymore, Blade," Deacon chuckled, his gaze narrowing. "The Blood God's power isn't just talk. We'll bring the mutants under our control. The Daywalkers and all of humanity will bow to us. The full moon is almost here, and with your blood, we'll summon him — the true Blood God!"
"Mutants?" Blade scoffed. "You really think they're going to side with you?"
Deacon smirked. "I've already made one — a mutant vampire. The fusion was risky, sure, but I've proved it can work. Soon, the whole mutant race will kneel, and humans will be nothing more than cattle."
Blade's silence spoke volumes, but his mind raced. The full moon was only hours away, and if Deacon succeeded, the Blood God would indeed be summoned. This wasn't just another vampire scheme; the threat was real.
Deacon gave a mock bow before calling to his followers. "Lock him up. He's got a little time left to consider my offer, although," he added with a smirk, "I wouldn't bet on it."
The guards dragged Blade down a dark hallway, chaining him up in a damp, stone cell. But as the iron door clanged shut, Blade's mind was already working on his escape.
Meanwhile, Noah was starting his day with his usual morning training. His strength and stamina had increased so rapidly that he could feel his muscles healing almost instantly after his grueling sessions. Each movement felt like power waiting to be unleashed, and his endurance was practically off the charts.\
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Stat Panel
Name: Noah
Lifespan: 18/500
Strength: 1.9
Endurance: 1.8
Spirit: 1.7 Unused Stat Points: 0.3
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As Noah practiced, he couldn't help but notice how quickly his body adapted. His recent sessions have even boosted his recovery rate. Bruises healed in hours, cuts closed almost immediately, and sore muscles were a thing of the past.
"Physical progress has really sped up," he thought, taking a moment to stretch. "It's almost like my body resets itself after each training session." Noah's regimen had gone from hours to full days of uninterrupted conditioning, a pace no one else could keep up with.
Just then, he heard a knock at his door. Smith, his coach and occasional partner, had arrived, looking especially eager.
"Ready for another day of martial arts training?" Noah asked, giving him a nod toward a notebook sitting in the corner.
Smith's eyes lit up. He'd stayed up half the night, excited about his new training regime.
Noah gestured toward the notebook. "That's the 'Purple Cloud Divine Art,' a martial art technique that builds internal strength. Master that, and we'll talk about what's next."
Smith approached the notebook cautiously, realizing as he picked it up that the "ancient tome" was actually a simple brand-name notebook, like something a high schooler might carry. Nevertheless, he flipped it open, immediately engrossed in the detailed notes inside. Diagrams and careful annotations filled each page, offering step-by-step instructions, complete with sketches of each form and motion.
"Don't just stand there gawking," Noah urged. "Dive into it. Internal strength takes time, and the sooner you start, the sooner you'll feel its effects."
Smith took a spot in the corner, trying to absorb the material as best as he could. As he worked, he couldn't help but find the concepts of "internal force," "dantian," and "meridians" strange, almost unscientific. He chuckled to himself at the thought. "This seems like something out of a comic book."
Time passed, with Noah occasionally pausing his own workout to answer Smith's questions. Smith struggled through the basics, spending hours with little to show for it, but eventually, a flicker of something genuine happened. Smith felt the faintest spark of what he believed to be "internal energy" circulating through his body.
"It's real!" he shouted, half in disbelief, only to watch the tiny bit of energy dissipate as he moved. But the experience had been enough; he was hooked.
He looked up, exhilarated. "It works, Noah! I felt it. I really did!"
Noah gave him a calm nod, as if he'd been expecting it all along. "Good, but stay focused. This takes patience."
Smith nodded, determined. He settled back in to meditate, eagerly awaiting the next surge of internal power.
Noah turned back to his own training, musing over how different people from different worlds adapted to these techniques. Smith's body seemed to be taking to the Purple Cloud Divine Art in a way Noah hadn't entirely expected. For all he knew, people in this world didn't possess meridians or Dantian centers like characters in martial arts worlds. But here Smith was, defying the odds.
The range of power sources between worlds was staggering. Noah had heard of countless forms: mutants with genetic enhancements, chakra wielders, martial artists with inner strength, even those who could bend reality with sheer will. Each world had its own set of rules, and blending them was a recipe for chaotic potential.
Noah grinned to himself, amused by the prospect. What if each type of power—mutant abilities, chakra, ki—could somehow coexist? It would be wild, maybe even dangerous, but the possibilities were endless.
His musings were interrupted by the arrival of Peter, who had just finished school and was looking somewhat skeptical as he eyed Smith, deep in meditation.
"Uh, Noah?" Peter asked, "Who's the guy in the corner, and why is he sitting like that?"
Noah chuckled. "He's practicing martial arts. Interested in joining?"
Peter gave a nervous laugh. "Martial arts? Like from the movies?"
"Yeah, something like that. It's worth trying. Won't hurt your body, but it could teach you a thing or two about focus."
Noah then paused, catching sight of a shadow outside the gym's door. Someone was lurking just beyond, their silhouette barely visible. He nodded to Peter, signaling for silence, and the two exchanged a look, understanding that this wasn't just a curious passerby.
Quietly, Noah approached the door, signaling Peter to stay put. He took a deep breath, ready for whatever lay on the other side.
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Welp, starting from 20th November, my exams are going to start. So pray for me! Pray that I can get A+ in all subjects, or else I'm going to get a 2-3 month dosage of emotional damage and potentially not be able to write anymore. SO PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!! And don't worry about the chapter. I'm stockpiling them for y'all until I'm back.
So, this is my first time doing this. I hope you guys can help me improve by providing your feedback. Some stones would be nice. (づ ◕_◕ )づ