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Chapter 47 - The Ancient One

The night carried an eerie tension, thickened by the unsettling sound of thousands of vampires marching like an army possessed. Their faces, twisted by fury and hunger, reflected an unrelenting need. They moved eastward, bodies contorting as they climbed over barriers, ignoring the dangers that lay ahead. Garlic-infused air—a poison to their kind—filled the night, yet they pressed on, seemingly immune to the pain.

"Idiots!" roared Dicken, a seasoned vampire who had seen centuries of wars and bloodshed. His sharp fangs gleamed under the pale moonlight. "Do you have a death wish? Garlic essence will reduce you all to dust!"

But his voice fell on deaf ears. His fellow vampires, overtaken by some unnatural frenzy, continued their charge. Dicken's eyes flicked between the frantic mob and the darkened horizon. The air was suffused with an odd energy, something he hadn't encountered in decades.

Grimacing, Dicken cursed under his breath. "They're not normal anymore..."

It wasn't just their fearlessness; something fundamental had shifted. The vampires who stumbled and fell into the garlic-infused zones didn't crumble into ash. Their bodies smoked and hissed, yet they rose again—stronger, faster, more monstrous. Dicken's centuries-old instincts screamed at him to leave. Whatever had twisted these vampires into something so primal was no natural force.

Miles away, chaos erupted at a U.S. military encampment stationed near the ruins of an ancient vampire temple. Floodlights cut through the night, illuminating the monstrous horde barreling toward the perimeter.

"Contact! Contact! We've got hostile entities approaching!" yelled a soldier, clutching his rifle.

The camp, designed to deal with traditional vampire threats, wasn't prepared for what came next. Bullets, even silver-tipped ones, barely slowed the creatures. Their speed and ferocity overwhelmed the defenses. Soldiers screamed as vampires tore through their ranks, feeding just enough to heal wounds before moving on.

"What are these things?" a young officer gasped, his voice trembling.

General Ross stood in the command tent, his face pale but resolute. "They've evolved," he muttered grimly, watching the carnage unfold on the surveillance feeds. "These aren't the same vampires we've dealt with before."

Ross clenched his fists. "Call Fury. He needs to know what we're dealing with."

S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters

Nick Fury stood in his office, his trademark scowl deepening as he listened to General Ross's report.

"They're unstoppable," Ross spat. "Your agency gave us silver rounds, UV grenades, and holy water canisters—none of it worked. These things shrugged it all off like mosquito bites!"

"Anything else I should know?" Fury asked, his tone cold.

Ross hesitated. "They're heading east. Fast. We don't know why."

Fury leaned back in his chair, processing the information. If vampires had found a way to overcome their weaknesses, it could tip the scales of power globally. He needed answers, and he needed them fast.

High above the temple ruins, the Ancient One observed the scene with a calm yet resolute demeanor. She floated cross-legged, her yellow robes glowing faintly in the moonlight. Before her, a shimmering portal pulsed with dark energy, threatening to burst open. On the other side, a figure loomed—the Blood God.

"You've meddled enough in this realm," the Ancient One said, her voice echoing with authority.

The Blood God's crimson eyes glowed with malice. "Your protection of this world is... admirable, but misplaced. Step aside, sorceress. My time here is not yet finished."

The Ancient One shook her head. "Your actions disrupt the balance. I cannot allow you to continue."

Raising her hand, she activated the Time Stone, its green glow enveloping her. Instantly, dozens of versions of herself appeared, forming a protective barrier around the portal.

The Blood God hissed in frustration, her claws scraping against the fabric of reality. "Do you truly believe your tricks can stop me?"

With a flick of her wrist, the Ancient One summoned two more Infinity Stones—the Space Stone and the Power Stone—into her grasp. The combined energy radiating from the trio of stones caused the portal to shudder violently.

"You'll find I'm not as easy to break as others you've encountered," the Ancient One replied calmly.

The Blood God snarled but knew she was outmatched. With a final glare, she withdrew into the darkness.

In the bustling heart of the city, Noah walked alongside Camilla, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. For a moment, the chaos felt distant, like an unrelated storm brewing miles away.

But the peace shattered as a distant roar reached their ears—a sound too unnatural to belong to humans.

Noah froze, his senses on high alert. "That can't be good."

Camilla's brow furrowed. "It's them. The ones who've... changed."

The streets trembled as the horde of vampires surged into view, their numbers staggering. Their glowing eyes locked onto Noah, their collective thoughts screaming:

"Him! That's him! Catch him! Turn him!"

Noah's lips curled into a smirk, though irritation flashed in his eyes. "Of course, they're after me. Why wouldn't they be?"

Grabbing Camilla, he leapt onto the rooftop of a nearby building, hoping to put some distance between them and the mob. But the move only confirmed the vampires' target.

Camilla, her voice edged with panic, whispered, "They're not stopping."

"Yeah, I noticed," Noah deadpanned.

The vampires climbed the walls with inhuman agility, their claws raking against the brick. The rooftop filled with their snarls as they closed in.

"Stay back," Noah instructed Camilla, his tone sharp. "This is going to get messy."

The first vampire lunged at him, its claws aiming for his throat. Noah's fist shot out, connecting with its chest. The creature disintegrated instantly, reduced to ash by the force of the blow.

Noah didn't pause. His movements were a blur as he tore through the horde, each strike precise and devastating. Vampires exploded around him, their remains scattering like dust in the wind.

Camilla watched in awe and mild horror. "You're... enjoying this, aren't you?"

Noah grinned mid-fight. "What gave it away?"

Despite the overwhelming odds, he remained calm, his confidence unshaken. One vampire managed to sneak behind him, only to be met with a spinning kick that sent it flying off the roof.

As the last of the vampires fell, Noah stood amidst the carnage, brushing ash off his shoulders.

Turning to Camilla, he smirked. "So, what were you saying about a quiet evening?"

Camilla rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile.

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Bring me the Power Stones! ৻( •̀ ᗜ •́ ৻)

Suppose I were to start a Patreon. What should be the price for 30 extra chapters? I am thinking of 5 dollars. I mean, would people even buy it? (probably not now or ever)

It will mainly help to finance my life. So, I can continue writing besides studying. I am writing fanfics now to gain experience, and then after I feel confident, I will work on an original novel.