Harry Smith was running for his life, heart pounding in his chest as the vampire's screeching howl echoed in the dark alleyway. His breath came in ragged gasps as he sprinted down the narrow street, weaving in and out of shadows, desperate for an escape. "How did this happen?" The thought burned in his mind as he pushed himself harder, barely dodging the vampire's clawed reach.
The cold night air whipped around him as he turned a corner, but he could hear the creature closing in, its footsteps unnervingly fast, almost predatory. "Just two hours ago, I was fine... Just two hours..."
"Two Hours Ago"
The ambiance of the upscale restaurant was calm and serene, a sharp contrast to the chaos now unfolding in Harry's life. He sat across from Eren Salvacion, a Filipino business tycoon known for his vast wealth and connections in Asia. The table was set with crystal glasses and delicate plates as they discussed business, but underneath it all, there was a tension in the air.
Harry slid a folder across the table, filled with documents detailing billions of dollars worth of assets money that Eren could use to expand his empire in Asia. Eren's eyes glinted with interest as he leafed through the papers, a subtle smile forming on his lips.
"This is... a good deal, Harry," Eren said, his voice smooth, almost too smooth. "But it's a lot of power. You sure you're willing to give me all of this?"
Harry leaned back in his chair, nodding confidently. "You'll make the best use of it. Your company's on the rise. This expansion is going to be huge. Consider it a partnership."
Eren didn't immediately respond. Instead, his gaze turned cold for a brief moment, as if sizing Harry up. The atmosphere shifted slightly.
"You know, Harry," Eren said after a pause, his voice dropping to a more casual tone, "there's something I've always wondered. You remember the 2015 incident in Camarines Norte, don't you? 1,209 people... died in one night."
Harry furrowed his brow, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation. "Dude, it's 2025 now. That's just history at this point, man. Why bring that up?"
Eren's eyes never left him, unwavering and intense. "Do you believe in monsters, Harry? In devils? In vampires?"
Harry blinked, unsure if Eren was joking or serious. He leaned forward slightly, trying to get a read on the man. "What? No. Why?"
Eren's voice dropped even lower, like a whisper meant only for Harry's ears. "What if the people you trust... are the ones who betray you? What if there are monsters, disguised as people, hiding in plain sight?"
Harry laughed nervously, thinking it was just a strange joke. "Come on, Eren. We're talking about business here, not... not whatever this is. It's just a conspiracy theory. Let's stick to the deal, alright?"
But Eren didn't smile. His expression remained serious. "You'll see one day, Harry. And when you do... it won't be the deal that matters anymore."
Eren leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood table. Harry, feeling the tension still lingering between them, waited for Eren to speak, but instead, he took his phone out of his pocket with a deliberate motion.
"And also here," Eren said, sliding his phone number across the table on a napkin. His voice had taken on a more casual tone, yet something about it still sent a shiver down Harry's spine. "Call me when you've made your decision about the deal. But remember, I know you... money talks."
Harry glanced at the napkin, unsure of how to respond. The way Eren said it almost felt like a warning, and it made him uneasy.
"Alright, I'll call you," Harry muttered, reaching for the napkin. "But don't worry, I'll take care of it. The money's as good as yours."
Eren gave a small, knowing smile, one that felt almost too confident. As he stood up, he waved over the waitress, who had just delivered their coffees.
"Hey, sweetheart," Eren called out to her, a smirk spreading across his face. "You've been doing a great job, huh?"
The waitress smiled shyly, her cheeks flushing. She wasn't prepared for what happened next.
Before Harry could react, Eren's hand shot out, giving the waitress a playful, yet firm, smack on the rear. She jumped, startled, and looked at him wide-eyed, the color draining from her face as she hurried to leave the table.
Harry froze, watching the interaction. He wasn't sure if he should say something or if it was just a typical part of Eren's strange behavior. The situation left him feeling uneasy, and though he had seen many things in his life, this felt different. It was as if the man before him wasn't just a businessman he was something darker, something less predictable.
"Call me soon, Harry," Eren said, his tone now icy and detached as he straightened his jacket. "I've got more waiting for you. And you know... there's always more where that came from."
Harry could feel the weight of Eren's words, and for a moment, it was like the entire room had grown colder. He nodded, then watched as Eren walked out of the restaurant, his footsteps echoing in the now-silent space.
As the door closed behind him, Harry stood up, his mind racing. "What the hell was that?"
The waitress avoided eye contact as she moved swiftly past him, still visibly shaken by what had just happened. Harry stood there for a moment, unsure of what he had just witnessed. The business deal... the phone number... the strange encounter. It was all starting to feel like more than just a business transaction.
He quickly walked out of the restaurant, his thoughts now a whirlwind of doubts and questions. Eren had left him with more than just an offer he'd left him with a sense of dread.
The city stretched beneath Eren Salvacion like a network of veins, its lights flickering in the cool night air. He stood atop a tall building, watching Harry leave the restaurant far below. He didn't move; instead, his sharp eyes studied the horizon, his mind spinning with the details of their conversation, and the unsettling feeling that had followed him all day.
As the wind ruffled his dark suit, a strange energy began to stir in the air behind him. A ripple of heat seemed to twist the very atmosphere, distorting the air like a mirage. Eren turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as a swirling fire portal materialized out of thin air. The flames danced with an eerie, unnatural glow, and from within the inferno, a figure emerged.
The figure was tall, its features obscured by the flames, but one thing was clear—a jack-o'-lantern for a head, grinning ominously.
Eren's gaze darkened, but he stood still, acknowledging the presence of his old companion. "Jack," he said simply.
Jack o' Lantern gave a low chuckle, stepping forward as the portal closed behind him, leaving behind a lingering smell of smoke. His hollow eyes locked onto Eren's, and for a moment, it seemed as though the fire in his pumpkin-head flickered with knowledge.
"Ah, Eren, my old friend," Jack o' Lantern's voice echoed, strange and unsettling, like the sound of an old record crackling. "The prophecy... it's not far off."
Eren's expression hardened, but he didn't turn away from the view of the city. "What prophecy?"
Jack o' Lantern's grin widened beneath the flickering light of his pumpkin face. "The one foretold, of course. The one that ties your legacy to the next generation. It will be... two hours later today."
Eren's eyes flashed with curiosity, though he kept his voice neutral. "And what does that mean for me?"
Jack o' Lantern's fire-like eyes glinted with something resembling amusement. "It means, Eren, you need a new disciple. A new one to honor your legacy. A disciple who will carry the name... INCØGNITO."
Eren's lips tightened, and he ran a hand through his dark hair, contemplating the words. "Maybe. But not right now. I haven't found the right one yet. The perfect disciple... someone who fits the role. But there's something else that's been bothering me."
Jack o' Lantern tilted his head slightly, his eerie grin unwavering. "And what would that be?"
Eren's gaze hardened, and he turned fully to face the flaming figure. "It's the vampire king. Dracula. That bastard is still alive... and I can feel it."
Jack o' Lantern's expression darkened slightly as well, a flicker of recognition passing over his face. "I remember... It's been ten years since we fought against him. After that war, we tried to find Dracula, but we failed. It's been a decade, Eren. A decade of searching and failure."
Eren clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tightening. "But I'm still sensing him. I keep feeling his presence, like he's nearby. Or am I just... delusional?"
Jack o' Lantern's eyes shifted slightly, the flames of his pumpkin head casting an unsettling glow across his features. "Are you still grieving, Eren? Still sad about your wife's betrayal?"
The question hung in the air, heavier than any of the darkness that surrounded them. Eren's expression faltered for just a moment, and though he quickly masked it, the briefest flicker of pain crossed his features.
"What does my wife have to do with this?" Eren's voice was low, barely a whisper, yet there was a sharpness to it that even Jack o' Lantern could feel.
Jack o' Lantern tilted his head further, a knowing smirk in his voice. "Oh, I see. You haven't let it go, have you? The betrayal... the way she left you. It's still eating at you."
Eren's eyes narrowed, and for the briefest moment, the air between them crackled with an intensity that was both powerful and dangerous. "I don't need your pity, Jack. What I need is answers. Where is Dracula? Why do I still feel him closing in?"
Jack o' Lantern's grin flickered briefly before returning to its usual eerie sharpness. "You'll have your answers soon enough, Eren. But first, the prophecy... and your disciple. Don't forget that part of your future."
Eren didn't respond immediately, his mind consumed by the complex web of memories, betrayals, and the looming threat of Dracula. Jack o' Lantern's words lingered in his mind, as much a reminder of what he had lost as what was yet to come.
"Two hours, then," Eren said, his voice steady, though his mind raced with possibilities. "I'll deal with the prophecy, Jack. But Dracula... he's my focus. Always has been."
Jack o' Lantern's fire flickered as he gave a slow nod, his voice a haunting whisper that echoed in the night air. "We shall see, Eren... we shall see."
Eren's patience snapped, his temper flaring as he stepped closer to Jack o' Lantern, his voice sharp. "Shut up! Let's talk about the prophecy you've been talking about!" His eyes were wild, burning with the need for answers. "Kasi gusto ko malaman! I need to know what the true purpose of the prophecy is!"
Jack o' Lantern sighed heavily, his pumpkin-head flickering momentarily as if he were fighting the urge to roll his eyes. His voice was softer this time, though no less ominous. "All the urban legends will be unleashed once the solar eclipse comes, Eren. All the urban monsters, the ones you've heard about in stories, they'll start hunting the man who once defeated them... and that man... is you."
Eren's brow furrowed, the weight of Jack's words sinking in. "You mean... I'm going to be hunted?"
Jack o' Lantern nodded solemnly, his flickering smile fading slightly. "Yes... Just like me. The last time, I was hunted for 24 hours once every 10 years. It's your turn now, Eren. To fight... or hide... against all the urban legends that will be released."
Eren's expression hardened, eyes narrowing as he processed the grim reality. "How about Kuchisake-Onna? She won't fight me, right?"
Jack o' Lantern turned his head away, a brief flicker of unease passing over him. "I don't know, Eren... All I know is that she... loves you." He paused, his voice dropping into a low, almost mournful tone. "Which also includes Dracula, in the eclipse. That means the vampire army will rise again."
Eren's lips curled into a half-smile, the dark amusement never leaving his eyes. "That's good to hear, because I can smell it. Devil and angel, once again... fighting each other."
Before Jack o' Lantern could respond, the air around them shifted with a sudden rush of energy too fast, too intense. Eren instinctively grabbed Jack o' Lantern by the arm, yanking him out of the way just as a blinding light pierced through the night, illuminating the darkened city skyline.
"Move!" Eren shouted, dragging Jack o' Lantern behind him.
The blast of light faded, revealing a figure descending from above, bathed in golden light. She was tall, with pristine white wings and an aura that practically crackled with divine power. Khalissa. The angel who had been after him for years, and the one he had never been able to escape.
"Hello, Incognito," Khalissa's voice was laced with mock sweetness as she landed softly before them, her wings folding behind her. "It's been ten years. Still not worthy of my hand in marriage?"
Eren narrowed his eyes at her, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he stepped forward. "When was the last time I rejected you, ugly angel?"
Khalissa's eyes flashed with a glimmer of anger, her hand reaching for the sword at her side. "You always did have a sharp tongue, Eren. But that won't save you this time."
Eren chuckled darkly, his stance ready for whatever might come next. "We'll see about that, Khalissa. You know better than anyone how little I care about your 'hand of marriage'."
Jack o' Lantern stepped aside, watching the exchange with quiet interest, knowing all too well that this was only the beginning. As the tension between the two old enemies thickened, the city seemed to hold its breath. The solar eclipse was near, and with it, the chaos that would soon follow.
"Looks like your past is catching up with you, Eren," Jack o' Lantern murmured, almost to himself, his fiery eyes flickering as he watched the confrontation unfold.
Eren didn't respond, his attention entirely on Khalissa now, his eyes gleaming with a mix of defiance and determination.
Eren's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, his lips curling into a grin. "Lumabas ka, garrote…" The words were like a command, a signal to the weapon hidden beneath his cloak. His fingers twitched as a subtle shift in the atmosphere signaled the appearance of his dual Arnis sticks, now firmly gripped in each hand.
With a fluid motion, Eren swung the weapons toward Khalissa, the sharp edges of the sticks slicing through the air with deadly precision. His movement was swift and calculated, designed for close-range bleeding damage with one strike, and long-range damage with a follow-up swing that would keep her at bay. The attack was a dance of deadly strikes, a style he had perfected over years of combat.
But Khalissa was fast too fast. With an elegant, almost ethereal motion, she twisted her body to avoid the attack, the deadly Arnis sticks narrowly missing her. She smirked, her golden wings unfurling behind her as she floated slightly above the ground, maintaining her graceful stance. "Too slow, Eren," she taunted, her voice dripping with condescension. "But what I want is the prophecy. Not your weapons."
Eren's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening around the Arnis sticks. "Yeah? So what?" He didn't give an inch, his stance solidifying into one of pure confidence, as if the notion of a prophecy meant little to him compared to the confrontation they were having in that moment.
Khalissa's eyes sparkled with an unsettling gleam as she began her tirade, her voice rising with the conviction of one who believes in a higher purpose. "The gods, the creation, everything we are all of it depends on you, Eren! The INCØGNITO your legacy must be theirs to wield! You've been chosen, and you don't even know it! The prophecy demands that you join us, that you help us bring balance to the worlds. Without you, everything will crumble!"
Her words fell like a heavy weight on the air, a reminder of the high stakes and the forces at play beyond the mortal world. But Eren wasn't interested in her gods or her creation. He wasn't here to play by anyone's rules but his own.
Before she could say more, Eren's patience snapped. With a fluid motion, he lunged forward, his Arnis sticks moving with precision to strike. He smacked her sharply in the stomach with the blunt end of one of the weapons, the force of the hit sending her stumbling back slightly, a gasp escaping her lips.
"Shut up, Khalissa," Eren growled, his voice low and threatening. "I don't give a damn about your gods or your prophecy. What I want is for you to leave me the hell alone."
Khalissa coughed, momentarily winded from the blow, but her anger flared, her golden eyes flashing. She regained her composure quickly, her wings flapping once to regain altitude. "You're a fool, Eren," she hissed, her tone filled with venom. "You can't outrun this forever. You think you're in control, but the prophecy... it's already unfolding."
Eren's expression was one of determination, his hands steady as he raised his Arnis in a defensive posture. "I don't care about your prophecy. I care about surviving. And if you're here to stop that, then we'll see who's the fool."
Suddenly, Khalissa's eyes glowed with an intense, almost fiery light. She took a deep breath and then shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice filled with fury and something darker something that felt ancient. "Because one day... YOU WILL DIE!"
Eren froze, his eyes widening in disbelief at the sudden declaration. "Huh?!"
Before he could react further, the air around them shimmered, and with a blinding flash, Khalissa vanished. In an instant, she was gone, leaving no trace behind. The light that had surrounded her faded, leaving only the cold night air.
Eren blinked, his eyes scanning the area rapidly, trying to make sense of what had just happened. "Where did she go?" His voice was laced with confusion, his heart still racing from the sudden intensity of the moment.
Jack o' Lantern, who had been watching the entire exchange from the shadows, stepped forward. His glowing pumpkin head flickered with a slow, deliberate pulse as he looked around, his fiery eyes scanning the now-empty space where Khalissa had been moments before. "I don't know either," he said, his tone grim. "She disappeared just as quickly as she appeared."
Eren's expression darkened. "This isn't over, Jack. It feels like she left a warning, not just a threat." His eyes flicked toward the horizon, the weight of her words pressing against his mind. You will die it was as if she was laying the groundwork for something far worse than just a simple fight. But why now? And why leave so abruptly?
Jack o' Lantern's voice broke through his thoughts. "Khalissa... she's not just an angel, Eren. You know that. There's something more at play here. The prophecy... the things she said, they're connected to you whether you like it or not."
Eren gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting. "I don't have time for her games, Jack. I've got bigger things to worry about." He looked around, making sure there were no other threats lurking in the shadows. "But if she wants me to die, she'll have to try harder than that."
Jack o' Lantern gave a slow nod, his gaze unreadable. "Maybe... but whatever this is, it's just the beginning. And you, Eren... you're the one they want."
Eren didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned his eyes back to the empty space where Khalissa had stood moments ago. Something in her words lingered an unsettling truth that he couldn't quite shake off. "One day you will die".