Chapter 20: Progenitors Will Fully Unleashed! Blood Baron — — What are you supposed to be?!
"Boom — —!"
The entire wall of the Villa turned into dust.
Debris splashed, dust rolled, and the entire three-story small building violently shook under this strike!
Wanda was blown away by the air wave, and her back heavily slammed against the stair railing — —
"Wanda!"
Li Heng's dark golden slit pupils suddenly constricted, his figure swept past like a ghost, and he caught her just before Wanda hit the ground!
"Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine — —" Wanda held her back, her face pale but her gaze resolute, "Who are they?!"
Li Heng slowly put Wanda down, turning to face the three figures walking out of the ruins — —
Blood Baron.
And the two black-robed guards behind him.
The three of them walked in stepping on the debris, with calm footsteps and arrogant postures, like inspecting their own territory.
Blood Baron's gaze swept across the living room — — the crude sofa, the old television, the two cups of coffee on the coffee table that hadn't been cleared away in time — — the corners of his mouth curled into an undisguised sneer of contempt.
"Is this the residence of the new Ancestor?"
He scoffed, that voice sounding like it was dug out from a grave, chilly and harsh.
"A dilapidated house, two cups, a pile of junk furniture — —"
"My Lord Dracula lives in a castle in the Carpathian Mountains, magnificent and resplendent, with clouds of servants. And you — —"
He looked at Li Heng, his crimson eyes filled with disdain.
"You are Dracula's substitute?"
"Wearing this wrinkled hoodie, living in a place like this slum — —"
"You bring shame to the entire vampire race."
[Ding! Enemy information scan — —]
[Leader: Blood Baron · John (Johann, Baron Blood)]
[Race: Orthodox vampire (Dracula's direct Embrace)]
[Rank: B+ Grade (Peak A Grade, bloodline link broken due to Dracula's death, strength receded)]
[Age: About 580 years old]
[Identity: Dracula's most loyal direct dependent, Chief Elder of the vampire Senate, actual manager of global vampire affairs]
[Special Ability — — 'Blood Pact': The Master-servant contract signed with Dracula grants him mandatory command rights over vampires below B Grade! This ability has a permission conflict with the host's 'Progenitors Will'!]
[Guard A: vampire Knight · Victor, B- Grade, Dracula's direct third-generation descendant]
[Guard B: vampire Knight · Herman, B- Grade, Dracula's direct third-generation descendant]
[Threat Assessment — — Three vampires above B Grade joining forces pose a substantial threat to the current host! Fighting any one person individually, the host's win rate is > 85%; but dealing with all three simultaneously, the win rate drops to 52%!]
[System Reminder — — Blood Baron's 'Blood Pact' permissions overlap with the host's 'Progenitors Will'! He has independent mental control over those two guards! Progenitors Will cannot directly suppress them — — the Blood Baron's contract link must be broken first!]
Li Heng finished looking at the system panel and sneered.
Fifty-two percentage points?
Enough.
He never fights a battle without certainty — — but he also doesn't refuse a battle with certainty.
"Blood Baron." Li Heng's voice was exceptionally calm, "You broke into my house, smashed my wall, and insulted my interior decoration taste — — I can let all these slide."
"But — —"
His gaze swept across the stair railing that Wanda had collided with just now, and deep within his dark golden slit pupils, a trace of cold light flashed.
"You hurt her."
"This — — I cannot let slide."
Blood Baron raised an eyebrow, seeming amused by Li Heng's reaction.
"Her? A human woman?" He glanced at Wanda, his nose twitching slightly, "Wait — — she has the aura of Chaos Magic on her? And... the blood pact ring?"
His expression changed.
From disdain to — — greed.
"Chaos Magic... blood pact ring... So that's how it is!"
"The new Ancestor actually concluded a blood pact with a Chaos Magic vessel — — Do you know what this means?"
He turned to the two guards behind him, his tone fanatical — —
"My Lord Chthon's Blood Moon prophecy! The condition is the soul fusion of the new Ancestor and the Chaos vessel — — If we bring all this to fruition — —"
"My Lord Chthon will return to the mortal world! And we, who assist in his return — — will gain endless power!"
"My Lord Dracula's resurrection will also be as easy as turning the hand — — because My Lord Chthon will personally grant him new life!"
[Ding! Important intelligence unlocked — — Blood Baron's true purpose is not simply to resurrect Dracula! But rather — — to facilitate the realization of the Blood Moon prophecy, welcome Chthon's return, and in exchange, trade for Dracula's resurrection!]
[He is not here for you — — he is here to capture Wanda!]
Li Heng's pupils suddenly contracted!
Blood Baron's target — — is Wanda?!
"Victor! Herman!" Blood Baron gave an order, "Catch that woman! Leave the new Ancestor to — —"
"Don't even think about it."
Li Heng's voice was cold to the extreme.
"Progenitors Will — —"
"Fully — — Unleashed!!!!!"
"Hum — — — —!!!!!!"
Dark golden light erupted from within his body like a nuclear bomb explosion, spreading out overwhelmingly!
That light was not ordinary light — — it was the purest mental power of the Progenitor Bloodline!
It penetrated the walls, penetrated the ground, penetrated the entire Villa — — taking Li Heng as the center, sweeping in all directions!
The suppression field of Progenitors Will — — released at full power!
At this moment — —
Thirty-seven vampire nodes across New York trembled simultaneously!
Morbius, far away in Manhattan, suddenly raised his head, pressing his hands against his temples — — he felt the fluctuation of Progenitors Will, an unquestionable absolute command originating from the source of the bloodline — —
"My Lord Ancestor... is fighting?"
The dark golden ear stud on the ear of Blade, who was patrolling, grew slightly warm — — he felt the signal — —
"It's started?"
Several low-level vampires in Queens shivering tightly shrank into their hiding places — — the coercion of Progenitors Will made them almost unable to stand!
And inside the Villa — —
"Ugh ah — —!"
The movements of the two black-robed guards suddenly froze!
The suppression field of Progenitors Will enveloped them, pressing down on their shoulders like two towering mountains! Their knees began to soften, and their bodies trembled involuntarily — —
This was an instinct engraved deep within their bloodline! No matter who they pledged allegiance to, their vampiregenes bore the exact same inviolable rule — —
The Ancestor's will is above all else!
"Kneel."
Li Heng only said two words.
The tone was flat, without threats, without roars — — as casual as saying "Good morning".
But the weight of these two words — — was enough to crush a mountain!
"Thud — —!"
"Thud — —!"
Victor and Herman — — two B-grade vampire knights — — simultaneously knelt on both knees!
Their foreheads heavily slammed against the gravel, their bodies trembling uncontrollably!
They wanted to stand up — — but their bodies simply wouldn't obey! The suppression of Progenitors Willdirectly overrode their motor nervous systems, welding the command "Kneel" into their muscle memory!
"This — —!" Blood Baron's expression changed abruptly! "Progenitors Will?! How is it possible — — your bloodline awakening degree is only 0.5% — — this shouldn't produce such strong suppression power!"
"My Lord Dracula's Progenitors Will wasn't even this strong when his awakening degree was 0.3% — — What kind of monster are you?!"
[Ding! Progenitors Will suppression effect — —]
[Target: vampire Knight · Victor (B- Grade) — — Suppression successful! Mental defense line collapsed! Completely obedient!]
[Target: vampire Knight · Herman (B- Grade) — — Suppression successful! Mental defense line collapsed! Completely obedient!]
[Blood Baron's 'Blood Pact' link has been overwritten by Progenitors Will! The two guards no longer follow Blood Baron's commands!]
[Remaining Target: Blood Baron · John (B+ Grade) — — Suppressing — — Opponent is resisting — — Suppression failed!]
[Reason — — The 'Blood Pact' between Blood Baron and Dracula is a direct Embrace-level mental bond, far stronger than ordinary descendant links! Progenitors Will can only play an interfering role and cannot directly suppress him!]
Li Heng looked at the Blood Baron still standing, his dark golden slit pupils narrowing slightly.
As expected — — the contract of a direct Embrace is not so easily broken.
Blood Baron forcefully resisted the interference of Progenitors Will, veins bulging on his forehead, his complexion ashen — — but he did not kneel.
"Good — — good — — good!"
He gritted his teeth, pronouncing every word separately — —
"As expected of the new Ancestor — — stronger than I imagined!"
"But — — do you think Progenitors Will can crush everything?!"
"I followed My Lord Dracula for five hundred years — — experienced countless wars, coups, assassinations — — mere mental suppression — —"
"Still — — not enough!"
He suddenly erupted with his vampire power!
Dark red energy gushed out from within his body, transforming into a layer of blood-colored shield, forcibly separating the interference field of Progenitors Will!
"Blood Pact — — Lift restrictions!"
He shouted at the two guards kneeling on the ground — — but it was useless.
Victor and Herman knelt in place, motionless. Their gazes were hollow and blank — — Progenitors Will had already overwritten their consciousness, and at this moment they only recognized one person.
That was — — Li Heng.
"You — —!" Blood Baron's complexion was ashen, "You stole all my guards away?!"
"They are not yours." Li Heng walked toward him step by step, "From the root of the bloodline — — they belong to the Ancestor. They belong to me."
"You only borrowed Dracula's authority to temporarily manage them — — and now, the true Master has returned."
"Merely returning things to their rightful owner."
"You — —!"
Blood Baron trembled all over with anger — — but he wasn't blinded by rage.
Five hundred years of life experience made him clearly realize a fact — —
Head-on confrontation, he could not beat Li Heng.
Although Progenitors Will could not directly suppress him, it caused serious interference to his combat power — — his reaction speed, power output, and energy manipulation all dropped by at least thirty percent!
Coupled with the two guards being subverted — —
He was now fighting three to one!
No — — it was four to one!
Because of that woman — —
Blood Baron's peripheral vision glanced at Wanda, his pupils suddenly contracting — —
Wanda stood by the stairs, her hands slightly raised, crimson energy sparks leaping between her ten fingers!
Chaos Magic!
And — — much more stable and controllable than he had expected!
"Damn it — —!"
Blood Baron made an extremely decisive decision — —
Retreat!
He was not a fool — — if you can't beat them, run, this was the most important survival rule he learned over living for more than five hundred years!
"Blood Mist Escape!"
Dark red blood mist exploded from within his body, transforming the whole person into a blood-colored cloud of smoke, flying toward outside the broken wall — —
Extremely fast!
But — —
"Do you think you can leave?"
Li Heng's voice sounded behind him — — close enough to make one's hair stand on end!
"Progenitor Bloodline — — Blood Domain!"
Dark golden light spread from beneath Li Heng's feet, instantly enveloping a space of thirty meters radius!
In this dark golden domain — —
All vampires' abilities were weakened by 50% — — except for the Ancestor himself!
"This is the domain skill of the Progenitor Bloodline — — In the Blood Domain, the Progenitor is the absolute king!"
"Cough — —!"
The Blood Baron's blood mist shrank drastically under the suppression of the Blood Domain, recondensing into human form — — but his face was already as pale as paper!
"This is — — the Blood Domain?! Lord Dracula needs to reach an awakening degree of 0.8% to use the Blood Domain — — You can do it at 0.5% — —!"
"I said — —" Li Heng stood in front of him, hands in his pockets, his dark golden slit pupils looking down at him condescendingly.
"I am not Dracula's successor — — I am his replacement."
"What he cannot do — — I can do."
"Now — —"
He reached out, pressing two fingers against the Blood Baron's forehead.
It was as light as flicking away a speck of dust.
"Kneel — — for me."
"Boom — —!"
The full power of the Progenitors Will condensed at that single point on his fingertips — — directly piercing through the Blood Baron's mental defense line!
"Ah — — — —!"
The Blood Baron let out a miserable screech!
His "Blood Contract" trembled violently under the Impactof the Progenitors Will — — cracks spreading outward from the core of the mental link — —
"Crack — —!"
The contract — — was shattered!
The mental link with Dracula — — was completely severed at this moment!
"Thud — —!"
The Blood Baron knelt on both knees!
His forehead slammed heavily against the gravel, making a dull thud!
He knelt in front of Li Heng — — trembling all over, his complexion ashen, the scarlet in his eyes rapidly fading under the dark golden light, turning into a dazed and hollow gray — —
That was the sign of his mental defense line collapsing.
Five hundred years of loyalty — — in front of the Progenitors Will — — was vulnerable to a single blow.
[Ding!!!! Progenitors Will suppression successful — — Epic breakthrough!!!!]
[Blood Baron John — — 'Blood Contract' has been completely shattered! The mental link with Dracula is permanently severed!]
[Current Status — — Mental defense line collapsed! Completely obeys the Progenitors Will!]
[Special Notice — — The Blood Baron's prostration has symbolic meaning! As Dracula's most loyal direct kinsman and the actual manager of global vampire affairs — — his submission means — —]
[The host has substantially replaced Dracula's status! The global vampires will no longer regard the host as the 'new progenitor' — — but instead as — —]
[The one and only Progenitor!]
[Dracula's era — — has officially come to an end!]
[Bloodline Awakening Degree increased — — 0.5% → 0.7%! All attributes increased by 150%! New ability unlocked — — 'Blood Domain' (Active): Can deploy a dark golden domain centered on oneself. Within the domain, all enemy vampires' attributes are reduced by 50%, and the host's attributes are increased by 30%! Duration 5 minutes, cooldown 24 hours!]
[Faction Rating jumped — — promoted from 'Team Level' to 'Faction Level'! Currently under jurisdiction: A-Class × 1 (Albion), B+-Class × 1 (Blood Baron), B--Class × 1 (Morbius), B--Class × 2 (former Blood Baron guards) — — as well as 37 vampire members across New York!]
[Wanda Maximoff Favorability — — 'Heartbeat' value + 2! Current: 94 / 100! Wanda witnessed the host crushing the entire scene firsthand, and both his determination and strength to protect her received the most intuitive proof — — her sense of security is maxed out!]
Li Heng looked at the series of system prompts and let out a long breath.
He won.
Clean and neat — — not a single person injured, not a single drop of blood shed — — and he took down the Blood Baron and his guards completely.
This was the power of the Progenitor.
Within the rules of the vampires — — the Progenitor is God.
No matter how loyal, how formidable, or how defiant you are — — bloodline suppression is carved into the genes and cannot be changed by sheer will.
Just like no matter how hard an ant tries — — it can never move an elephant.
This is not a gap in power — — it is a dimensional crushing.
"Get up." Li Heng retracted his hand and said to the Blood Baron kneeling on the ground.
The Blood Baron slowly raised his head — — his gaze had changed from the previous fanaticism and arrogance to hollowness and confusion, like an empty shell with its soul sucked out.
"I... betrayed Lord Dracula..."
His voice was hoarse, carrying a bitterness bordering on despair.
"Five hundred years... I fought for him for five hundred years... And now — —"
"You didn't betray him." Li Heng squatted down, making eye level with the Blood Baron, "His contract shattered — — your loyalty wasn't lost."
"These two things are not the same."
"The contract was imposed by external forces — — loyalty is your own choice."
"What the Progenitors Will destroyed was the contract, not your will. You can still choose to remain loyal to Dracula's memory — — but in reality, you must obey me."
"This is the rule of the bloodline — — no objections accepted."
The Blood Baron stared blankly at him — — in those dark golden slit pupils, there was no smugness, no mockery, only a calm bordering on mercy.
This person — —
is not Dracula.
Dracula would use violence to crush anyone who disobeyed him and rule the vampires with fear — — whereas the person in front of him — —
He was leaving dignity for the person kneeling.
"You... are different from Lord Dracula," the Blood Baronsaid in a low voice.
"Duh." Li Heng stood up, patted the dust off his knees, "If I were like him, you guys would be corpses right now instead of kneeling."
"Alright — — stop being so emotional. Get up, I have something to ask you."
The Blood Baron slowly stood up, his figure swaying slightly. Victor and Herman behind him also stood up — — at this moment, the three men's gazes toward Li Heng had changed from hostility to awe.
Not forced awe — — but true, heartfelt awe.
Because Li Heng used his strength to prove — —
he is stronger than Dracula.
And — — more merciful.
"You three — —" Li Heng pointed at the only remaining undamaged chair in the living room, "Sit down and talk."
Then he turned back to look at Wanda — —
"Are you okay?"
Wanda rubbed her back and flashed him a smile — —
"I'm fine. It's just that your 'Blood Domain' just now was so cool — — it almost stunned me."
"... The things you focus on are always so strange."
"That's a compliment!"
Li Heng's mouth twitched slightly, and he turned to pour a glass of water — — only to find that the kitchen had also been smashed.
"... The money to repair the house later will be deducted from your three salaries." He looked at the Blood Barontrio, his tone cold.
Blood Baron: "... We don't get paid salaries."
"Then you will. Counted from the moment I took you in as my underlings today. Monthly salary — —"
He thought about it — —
"Minimum wage standard. Brooklyn's."
Blood Baron: "..."
The two guards: "..."
Wanda laughed out loud beside him.
...
Ten minutes later.
Everyone sat around the remaining furniture in the living room — — the scene was rather comical: a sofa, two chairs, a half-blown-up coffee table, and five people (vampires) with different backgrounds.
Li Heng sat on the sofa, with Wanda leaning beside him.
Albion stood in the corner, silently watching the Blood Baron — — the two old guys who had lived for hundreds of years exchanged a glance, each nodding slightly as a greeting.
The Blood Baron sat on the chair, his posture having changed from the previous arrogance to respect. His two guards stood behind him with lowered heads, not daring to let out a loud breath.
"Speak." Li Heng cut straight to the point, "What is the true purpose of you issuing the Pilgrimage Decree? Don't tell me you came to pay homage to the new Progenitor — — you just said it yourself, you wanted to bring about the Blood Moon Prophecy."
The Blood Baron fell silent for a second, then spoke — —
"Yes, but not entirely."
"I do want Lord Chthon to return — — because only he can resurrect Lord Dracula. This is my only obsession after living for five hundred years."
"But on the way to New York — — I received another piece of news."
His tone changed — — shifting from respectful to solemn.
"Lord Dracula — — might not be dead."
"What?!" Li Heng and Albion's expressions changed simultaneously!
"Impossible!" Albion's emaciated body lunged forward abruptly, "Dracula's resurrection coordinates have been overwritten by the Progenitor's bloodline — — he cannot resurrect!"
"I am not talking about resurrection — —" the Blood Baronshook his head, "I am talking about — — he might never have truly died."
"Three days ago — — the exact same day the Progenitor's will was activated — — I received an encrypted letter. The letter was written in ancient Atlantis characters — — only Lord Dracula's direct kinsmen can read it."
"There was only one sentence on the letter — —"
He looked at Li Heng, pronouncing every word clearly — —
" 'He is in my seal.' "
"Signature — — 'V'."
V — —
Varna!
The first-generation vampire progenitor — — Varna!
"Varna?!" Albion's dark golden eyes widened abruptly, "That's impossible! Varna committed suicide in the sunlight — — I saw it with my own eyes!"
"You saw with your own eyes his body turn to ashes in the sunlight — — but are you sure that was his true body?" the Blood Baron asked rhetorically.
Albion opened his mouth — — unable to speak.
That scene from over two thousand years ago — — Varnastanding in the sunlight, his body gradually turning to ashes, his expression serene — —
He had indeed seen it.
But he didn't check the ashes.
No one would go check a progenitor's ashes — — that would be a desecration of the dead.
"If Varna didn't die — —" Li Heng's voice deepened, "Then Dracula is in his seal? What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure," the Blood Baron shook his head, "but my guess is — — before committing'suicide', Varna had already foreseen Dracula's corruption and the danger of the Blood Moon Prophecy. So he faked his death to escape — — and then, at some point, stuffed Dracula into the seal."
"This is also why Dracula could resurrect every time he was killed — — not because he has an immortal body — — but because the one who truly killed him was never an outsider!"
"It was Varna — — manipulating everything from the shadows!"
"Every 'death' of Dracula was a reset of Varna's seal — — and every 'resurrection' was a test allowed by Varna for his return!"
"He was observing — — observing whether Dracula still had any possibility of redemption!"
"Until the very last time — — when Blade killed Dracula — — Varna finally gave up."
"He no longer allowed Dracula to resurrect — — because he had waited for a better choice."
The Blood Baron looked at Li Heng, his eyes filled with complexity.
"He had waited for — — you."
"A new Progenitor who is stronger, more merciful, and more likely to stop the Blood Moon Prophecy than Dracula."
"And the meaning of that letter is — —"
"Dracula is still in Varna's seal, awaiting your disposal."
"Kill him, or forgive him — —"
"It's up to you."
The entire living room fell into a deathly silence.
Wanda gripped Li Heng's hand tightly — — she could feel the vibration within his heart.
Varna — — is still alive.
Dracula — — is not dead, but inside the seal.
Everything — — was more complicated than he had imagined.
"Where is that seal?" Li Heng asked.
"The letter didn't say," the Blood Baron shook his head, "but at the very end of the letter, there was a line of small print — —"
" 'If the new Progenitor wishes to see me — — bring the Chaos Vessel and come to Atlantis.' "
"Atlantis?!" Albion blurted out, "Atlantis has been submerged in the sea for ten thousand years! Right now, that place—"
"Is Namo's territory."
Li Heng took over the conversation.
Atlantis — the underwater kingdom in the Marvel Universe, ruled by the Mutant Namo MacKenzie.
Namo is one of Marvel's earliest Mutants, possessing underwater breathing, superhuman strength, and flight capabilities, and is also the King of Atlantis — a bad-tempered, wavering monarch.
He sometimes helps humans, and sometimes fights against humans — but one thing is certain —
He does not welcome land-dwellers into his territory.
Especially — vampires.
"Atlantis is at the bottom of the sea — a place where the sun cannot reach." Blood Baron said, "For vampires, that is an ideal sanctuary. But Namo —"
"He hates vampires."
"Because the sinking of Atlantis — is indirectly related to Varna. The magic of the darkhold accelerated the destruction of Atlantis — and Varna was the first person to use the darkhold."
"In Namo's eyes — vampires are the grave-diggers of Atlantis."
"If we want to enter Atlantis —"
"We must face Namo's fury."
Li Heng fell silent.
Things were getting bigger and bigger — first Chthon's chess game, then the vampire pilgrimage, and now Varnaand Atlantis had been added —
He just wanted to quietly slack off in Brooklyn — why wouldn't the whole world let him rest in peace?
"My Lord Ancestor." Albion's voice interrupted his thoughts, "I have a guess."
"Speak."
"The reason why Varna asked you to bring the Chaos Container — meaning Miss Wanda — is because deep within Atlantis, there is a special sealing array. That array requires the simultaneous use of Progenitor Bloodline and Chaos Magic to open."
"Varna used the Black Magic of the darkhold to create vampires back then — and the source of Chaos Magic is also the darkhold. These two powers are essentially homologous — but one is positive and one is negative, one is yin and one is yang."
"Only someone who holds both of these powers at the same time — can open the deepest seal left by Varna."
"And inside that seal —"
"There might not only be Dracula."
"What else?" Li Heng pressed on.
Albion's dark golden eyes stared directly at him —
"The manuscript of the darkhold."
"Not a copy, not a fragment — it is the manuscript personally written by Chthon."
"On the eve of Atlantis sinking, Varna not only tore off the final page — he also hid the entire manuscript."
"Because — what is recorded in the manuscript is not just Black Magic — but also —"
"White magic."
"Before Chthon fell — he was one of the greatest white magicians in the Universe. When he wrote the darkhold, he also embedded the foundation of white magic into the book — it was just covered by the surface layer of Black Magic."
"If we can acquire the white magic in the manuscript —"
"The reversal seal of the blood moon prophecy — the success rate will greatly increase!"
Li Heng's heart skipped a beat!
White magic — the root of the Vishanti lineage!
The white moon scroll previously mentioned by Albion is the supreme secret tome in the Vishanti library — and the white magic foundation in the darkhold manuscript is more primitive, purer, and more powerful than the white moon scroll!
If both can be acquired at the same time —
The success rate of the reversal seal —
Will be inestimable!
But —
"Going to Atlantis — is equivalent to declaring war on Namo." Li Heng calmly analyzed, "The military power of Atlantis cannot be underestimated — underwater combat is extremely disadvantageous for us. Moreover, S.H.I.E.L.D.and the Avengers will not sit back and watch an undersea conflict."
"This matter — cannot be rushed."
He looked at everyone —
"The top priority is two things —"
"First: Handle the problem of the global vampirepilgrimage. Blood Baron — your pilgrimage decree has already been sent out, can it be withdrawn now?"
"Yes." Blood Baron nodded, "I issue the withdrawal order in the name of the Senate's Chief Elder — most vampires will obey. But —"
"But?"
"But one branch will not." Blood Baron's expression became solemn, "Blood God Cult."
"Blood God Cult?"
"An extreme vampire organization — worshipping Chthonas the 'Blood God', firmly believing that the blood moon prophecy is the ultimate opportunity for the rise of vampires. Their numbers are not large — but every single one of them is a lunatic."
"Their leader —"
Blood Baron lowered his voice.
"Is called Lucian. An A-grade vampire. Dracula's rebellious descendant — he does not listen to anyone's orders, including the Master."
"Because he — is not a pure vampire."
"Inside his body — there is Chthon's direct blessing."
"Similar to — a demigod."
[Ding! New threat unlocked — Blood God Cult! Leader: Lucian, A-grade! Chthon's blessed one! Immune to 70% of the suppression effect of the Progenitors Will! It is the strongest single-target threat currently facing the host!]
[Blood God Cult scale: Approximately 120 vampiremembers, distributed in Europe and South America! Among them, individuals above B-grade are no less than 8!]
[System evaluation — Host, this Lucian is ten times harder to deal with than Blood Baron! Blood Baron is a loyal warrior, but Lucian is a fanatic — fanatics are not afraid of death! People who are not afraid of death are the hardest to fight!]
After listening, Li Heng's face sank.
A-grade — Chthon's blessing — immune to 70% Progenitors Will —
This was the strongest opponent he had encountered so far.
And he was a lunatic who was not afraid of death.
"The second question —" He looked at Albion, "Where was Varna's letter sent to? Can you trace the source?"
"Cannot. The letter was delivered by a blood bat — the blood bat self-destructed immediately after delivering the letter. There are no clues at all."
"But — there is a special mark on the letter."
Blood Baron took the letter from his embrace — sure enough, in the lower right corner of the letter paper, there was a tiny, almost invisible symbol —
A bat with open wings, surrounding a crescent Moon.
The direction of the Moon — facing downward.
"The Moon facing downward —" Albion's voice trembled slightly, "This is the symbol of the deep-sea area of Atlantis!"
"My Lord Varna — is really at the bottom of the sea!"
"And —"
He pointed to another detail of the symbol —
The bat's eyes — were open.
"The open-eyed bat — in Atlantis vampire runes represents 'I am waiting for you'."
"He — has been waiting for the appearance of the new Master."
"Waiting for — twenty thousand years."
Li Heng looked at the small symbol, and an indescribable, complex emotion surged in his heart —
Twenty thousand years of waiting.
A Progenitor who had lived for so long — waiting at the bottom of the sea for so long —
What was he waiting for?
Just to hand Dracula over to the new Master for disposal?
Or —
Is there a deeper purpose?
"Forget it." Li Heng put the letter back into his embrace, "We will talk about Atlantis later — the top priority is —"
"Solve the Blood God Cult first."
He looked at Blood Baron —
"Do you know where Lucian is right now?"
"Three days ago — he was in London." Blood Baron said, "But according to his rate of advance —"
His words suddenly stopped.
Because —
Progenitors Will transmitted a new signal!
Not coming from New York —
Nor coming from Europe —
But coming from —
Li Heng's own house's — roof!
"Hum —!"
An extremely powerful vampire energy reaction exploded directly above the Villa!
Grade — A-grade!
And —
The characteristics of this energy were different from any encountered before —
It was not the dark red orthodox vampire power —
But —
Purple-black!
Exactly the same as Chthon's dimensional energy — purple-black!
"Hahaha —!"
A wild laughter came from the roof —
"New Progenitor! I have finally seen you!"
"Lucian — Master of the Blood God Cult — My LordChthon's chosen one —"
"In the name of the Blood God —"
"Come to take your blood!"
A purple-black figure fell from the roof —
Bang —!
Gravel splashed!
A man wearing purple-black armor stood in the center of the ruins — tall, handsome yet distorted in face, with purple-black flames burning in his eyes —
On his chest was a glowing mark —
Chthon's dimensional mark — exactly the same as what he had seen in Wanda's dream before!
But —
This mark was already completed.
100%!
"Lucian —!" Blood Baron's expression changed drastically, "How did you get here so fast —!"
"Blood Baron — your pilgrimage decree helped a lot!" Lucian grinned, "All the vampires in the world are rushing to New York — in the chaos — who would notice me sneaking in alone?"
"My Lord Chthon said — the blood of the new Progenitor is the key to opening the blood moon —"
"Then I will offer the key to him!"
"And you —"
His purple-black flame eyes looked at Li Heng —
Then —
Slowly shifted toward —
Wanda.
"And you — Chaos Container —"
"My Lord Chthon said — you are the door."
"The key and the door — are both here —"
His smile became more and more crazy —
"Today —"
"The blood moon — will rise!"
Li Heng's dark golden slit pupils suddenly burst out with dazzling light —
He took a step forward, blocking in front of Wanda —
"If you want to touch her —"
"Get past me first!"
"Progenitor Bloodline — Blood Domain — fully open!!!!"
The dark golden light once again enveloped the entire Villa—
But this time —
Lucian did not kneel down.
He stood in the Blood Domain — the purple-black flames trembled slightly under the dark golden suppression —
But did not go out.
"Progenitors Will?" He sneered, "My Lord Chthon told me long ago —"
"His blessing — is higher than your bloodline!"
"You cannot suppress me —"
"Just like you cannot suppress —"
"Fate!"
He suddenly rushed toward Li Heng —
Purple-black energy condensed on his right fist —
That punch —
Was enough to shatter a mountain!
Li Heng also threw a punch —
The dark golden Ancestor Power and the purple-black dimensional power —
"Boom ————————!!!!"
The two fists collided —
Impact blew the remaining part of the entire Villa —
Completely —
Blown into the sky!!!
Over Brooklyn —
A pillar of light intertwined with dark gold and purple-black shot straight into the sky —
The entire New York —
Saw it.
Chapter 21: Soul Resonance! 1+1 > 3! Lucian — You chose the wrong opponent!
"Boom—————!!!!!"
A beam of dark golden and purple-black intertwined light shot up into the sky, piercing straight through the clouds!
Brooklyn's night sky was split in half by this beam of light — one half was the dark gold of the Progenitor Bloodline, and the other half was the eerie purple of Chthon's blessing — two forces were frantically tearing at each other inside the light beam, emitting a harsh, dimensional-tearing sound!
All the glass within a radius of one kilometer shattered simultaneously!
The streetlights went out, car alarms screamed in unison, and the entire neighborhood fell into unprecedented panic —
And at the center of the storm —
Li Heng's and Lucian's fists were pressed tightly against each other, their faces less than ten centimeters apart!
Dark golden vertical pupils met purple-black flaming eyes —
Both saw the exact same thing in each other's eyes —
An unyielding killing intent!
"Heh——!"
A Beast-like low growl escaped Lucian's throat as the purple-black energy on his right fist surged threefold — Chthon's blessing mark throbbed wildly on his chest, continuously pouring dimensional power into his limbs and bones!
"Boom——!"
Li Heng's body was pushed back half a step by this surging power — gouging a deep groove into the concrete ground beneath his feet!
"Progenitor Bloodline?" Lucian sneered, purple-black flames dancing between his teeth, "My Lord Chthon said — the source of the Progenitor Bloodline is him! The darkhold created all vampires — your power is essentially his gift as well!"
"Using his power to fight him — simply laughable!"
[Ding! Enemy combat power is skyrocketing — Lucian is over-extracting Chthon's blessed energy! Current instantaneous combat power is approaching the A-tier threshold!]
[System Reminder — The host is currently at a disadvantage in solo combat! Lucian's dimensional power belongs to an 'overdraft type' burst — he doesn't care how long his body can hold out — as long as he can kill the host in the shortest time possible!]
[A lunatic's fighting style like this is the most dangerous — because he leaves himself no way out at all!]
Li Heng gritted his teeth, the dark golden Ancestor Powergushing out from every pore — but Lucian's purple-black energy was like bone-gnawing maggots, not only astonishing in strength but also carrying a corrosive property — slowly eroding his protective golden glow of the progenitor!
That was Chthon's dimensional law — the pollution of the source of Black Magic!
The chronicles of the Marvel Universe record it very clearly — three billion years ago, before the Old God Chthonescaped the devourment of the sun God Atum, he left behind the darkhold bound by indestructible parchment. The Black Magic within this book created countless sins in history. And the first vampire, Varna, was transformed from an Atlantis grand wizard using the magic in the darkhold.
From the root — the power of the vampire race indeed originated from Chthon's Black Magic.
But —
"You are wrong."
Li Heng's voice remained clear amidst the roaring sound.
"My power — is not just Chthon's remnants!"
"The Progenitor Bloodline has already evolved — birthed from the Black Magic of the darkhold, undergoing Varna's transformation and Dracula's inheritance — up until now —"
His dark golden vertical pupils suddenly contracted —
"It is power belonging to me!"
"Not anyone's gift!"
"Blood Domain — Supercharge!"
"Hum————!"
The dark golden Blood Domain suddenly expanded — skyrocketing from thirty meters to fifty meters! The suppression effect within the domain surged from 50% to 60%!
Lucian's body stiffened slightly — the purple-black flames showed a trace of instability under the suppression of the Blood Domain!
But it was only for an instant —
"Hhahahaha——!" Lucian laughed wildly, the blessing mark on his chest bursting with dazzling purple light — "60%? Not enough! Far from enough! My Lord Chthon's blessing immunes 70% of the Progenitor suppression — you still have a 10% gap!"
"And this 10% —"
He suddenly withdrew his right fist, his figure winding around to Li Heng's left side like a ghost —
"Is your fatal weakness!"
The purple-black energy condensed into a three-foot-long dimensional Blade on his right hand — sparks of spatial rifts leaping across its edge, enough to cut through any matter!
"Go to hell——!"
The dimensional Blade slashed down toward Li Heng's neck —
This slash —
If it hit — even the Progenitor would be decapitated!
"Watch out——!"
Wanda's exclamations came from behind!
Li Heng's pupils reflected that purple-black Blade light — too late to parry —
But he didn't need to parry.
Because —
"Wanda!"
He shouted loudly!
Not for help — but —
A signal!
From the moment the Progenitor Will was activated, there existed a wordless tacit understanding between him and Wanda —
blood pact ring — Soul Resonance!
"Hum—————!!!!!"
The dark golden ring on Wanda's left ring finger suddenly erupted with unprecedented light!
At the same time — the blood pact mark on Li Heng's left chest also lit up simultaneously!
At this moment, their souls —
Completely linked!
[Ding!!!! Phase II ability of the blood pact ring — 'Soul Resonance' — Activated!!!!]
[Soul synchronization rate — 100%!]
[Synchronization effect — Deep fusion of the host's and the heroine's souls! Chaos Magic and Progenitor Bloodlineproduce a resonant reaction! Both sides' combat power stacks — 1+1 > 3!]
[Duration — 30 seconds! Cooldown — 24 hours!]
[System Screaming — Host! Within these 30 seconds, you are a god! Take him down!!!!]
"Boom—————!!!!!"
A terrifying power surged out from Wanda's body — through the blood pact ring — pouring into Li Heng's body!
The scarlet Chaos Magic and the dark golden Progenitor Bloodline intersected within Li Heng's meridians — the two forces did not conflict — instead, like two intertwined double helix DNAs, they perfectly fused together —
Forming an unprecedented —
Brand new power!
Scarlet patterns bloomed within the dark golden light — like molten lava flowing through blood vessels — or raging flames burning in the galaxy —
Li Heng's pupils —
Left eye dark gold, right eye scarlet!
His momentum at this moment —
"Boom——!"
Broke through the ceiling!
From B+ tier — directly leaped —
Approaching the threshold of A tier!
"Wh——?!"
Lucian's dimensional Blade stopped mid-air — he felt the surging power on Li Heng's body — that was neither purely the Progenitor Bloodline nor purely Chaos Magic —
But a perfect fusion of the two!
"This is impossible —!" Lucian's pupils shrank violently, "How can Chaos Magic and the Progenitor Bloodlinecoexist — their sources are both the darkhold — they should repel each other —!"
"You are wrong —" Li Heng's voice changed — not the voice of one person, but the superposition of two voices — his voice and Wanda's voice simultaneously emanated from his throat —
"Their source is not the darkhold —"
"It is man!"
"Varna used his own will to rewrite the laws of the darkhold — he created vampires, not the darkhold that created him!"
"Therefore, the essence of the Progenitor Bloodline — is not Black Magic — but will!"
"A free will — unwilling to be dominated by destiny!"
"And the essence of Chaos Magic is the same — not a curse — but Wanda's soul!"
"When free will resonates with a free soul —"
"There is nothing — that cannot be broken!"
He raised his right hand —
Light intertwined with dark gold and scarlet condensed in his palm —
"Progenitor Bloodline · Chaos Resonance —"
"Sky-Rending Fist!"
"Bang—————!!!!!"
A punch blasted out!
That was not an ordinary punch — that was a punch fusing the dimensional suppression of the Progenitor Bloodlineand the reality distortion of Chaos Magic —
Wherever the fist wind passed — space itself was cracking!
Like a mirror struck by a heavy hammer — spiderweb-like cracks spread in all directions from the position of the fist edge —
The instant Lucian's dimensional Blade came into contact with the fist wind —
"Crack——!"
Shattered!
The purple-black dimensional Blade shattered like glass, fragments scattering in the air —
And Li Heng's fist —
Without any hindrance —
Blasted onto Lucian's chest!
"Puff——!"
A large mouthful of purple-black blood spewed from Lucian's mouth — his entire body flew backward as if struck by a high-speed train —
"Boom—— Boom—— Boom—— Boom——!"
His body bounced continuously four times on the ground — every landing smashing a ten-meter-diameter giant crater on Brooklyn's streets — gravel splashing, dust filling the sky —
Finally —
He heavily crashed into the load-bearing wall of an abandoned apartment building —
"Rumble——!"
Half of the entire building collapsed under this impact force — fragments of reinforced concrete buried him in the ruins!
"Cough—— Cough-cough——!"
Violent coughing came from the ruins — purple-black blood seeped out from the gaps in the rubble —
Lucian wasn't dead yet — but he was heavily injured!
There was a fist-sized hole in his chest — piercing from front to back — energy intertwined with dark gold and scarlet burning at the edges of the wound, preventing his self-healing ability from taking effect!
"This — what kind of power is this —" He struggled to crawl out of the ruins, half-kneeling on the ground, fear appearing for the first time in his purple-black eyes, "The fusion of Chaos Magic and the Progenitor Bloodline — shouldn't exist — My Lord Chthon never said —"
"There are plenty of things Chthon didn't tell you." Li Hengwalked over step by step, his entire body shrouded in light intertwined with dark gold and scarlet, his aura as abyss-like and boundless as the sea.
"He has lived for billions of years — but when escaping Atum's pursuit, he couldn't even protect himself and had to hide in other dimensions — do you think he knows everything?"
"He only knows what he wants you to know — like sending you here to die."
"Se — Send me to die?" Lucian's pupils shrank violently.
"You think Chthon really cares about you?" Li Hengsneered, "You are nothing more than his chess piece — an abandoned piece used to test my strength. He wanted to know to what extent my and Wanda's powers have reached — that's why he sent you."
"You win — he gets the intelligence. You lose — he couldn't care less. Because mad dogs like you, he can cultivate another hundred."
"You — shut up —!" Lucian roared, trying to stand up — but the hole in his chest made it impossible for him to exert any force. The dark golden Ancestor Power continued to burn within the wound — just like the effect of sunlight on ordinary vampires — painful and fatal.
"I don't need you to shut up." Li Heng walked up to him, looking down at him condescendingly, "I only need you — to answer one question."
"Chthon's dimensional mark is on you — can you perceive his consciousness?"
Lucian gritted his teeth and remained silent —
"Not talking?" Li Heng squatted down, pressing his right hand, intertwined with dark gold and scarlet, onto the blessing mark on Lucian's chest —
"Then I'll look directly."
"Progenitor Will — Forced Reading!"
"Hum——!"
Dark golden light poured into Lucian's blessing mark —
"Ah————!"
Lucian let out a heart-wrenching scream —— Progenitors Will and Chthon's blessing collided violently within his consciousness —— two forces tore at his soul ——
But Li Heng held nothing back ——
He had to complete the extraction within the 30 seconds of Soul Resonance!
Five seconds ——
Ten seconds ——
Fifteen seconds ——
"Found it!"
Li Heng abruptly withdrew his hand —— deep within his mind, a piece of information stripped from Lucian's consciousness was emerging ——
That was a hidden command left by Chthon for Lucian ——
A command that even Lucian himself did not know about ——
The content of the command ——
"If Lucian's mission fails —— activate the backup plan —— Target: Scarlet Witch Wanda Maximoff —— Marking method —— through the eruption of Lucian's death, transform the blessing energy into a dimensional beacon —— lock onto Wanda's location ——"
"Provide precise coordinates —— for Chthon's next invasion ——"
Li Heng's pupils shrank violently!
So that was it ——
Lucian had been a "disposable beacon" right from the start!
No matter whether he won or lost —— as long as he died here —— his blessing energy would be released, locking onto Wanda's position like a GPS satellite!
From then on —— Wanda would not be able to escape Chthon's perception in any dimension or space ——
She would forever be the target of the Old Gods!
"Dammit ——!"
Li Heng's expression turned livid ——
He couldn't kill Lucian right now!
Killing him would mean walking straight into Chthon's trap!
But not killing him —— this madman would continue causing trouble!
"What should I do..." His mind raced ——
The countdown for Soul Resonance continued ——
Twenty seconds ——
Twenty-five seconds ——
"Li Heng ——"
Wanda's voice came from behind —— not through his ears —— but via the soul link —— ringing directly in the depths of his heart ——
"I saw it."
"What did you see?"
"I saw that command —— at the same time you read it, I also saw it through the resonance link."
"Wanda ——"
"Don't kill him." Wanda's voice was calm and firm, "Killing him means falling for the trap —— but we have another choice."
"What choice?"
"Transfer his blessing mark —— onto me."
"What ——!" Li Heng almost cracked his voice.
"Hear me out ——" Wanda walked quickly to his side, taking his hands in hers, her green eyes staring straight into his dark gold different-colored pupils, "Chthon's dimensional mark needs a carrier —— Lucian is the carrier, and I am the container. If I absorb the blessing mark into my own body —— I can rewrite its code using Chaos Magic!"
"Change the 'beacon' into a 'jammer' —— that way Chthonwill never be able to find me again!"
"But —— is your Chaos Magic enough? Rewriting a dimensional mark requires extremely precise control ——"
"Me alone is not enough —— but the two of us are enough." Wanda tightened her grip on his hands, "Soul Resonance —— 1+1 > 3 —— did you forget?"
Li Heng looked into her eyes —— in those green eyes, there was no hesitation, no fear ——
Only absolute trust in him.
Twenty-seven seconds ——
Twenty-eight seconds ——
"Alright ——!"
Li Heng took a deep breath, his right hand intertwined with dark gold and crimson pressing once more onto Lucian's chest ——
This time —— not reading ——
But ——
Extraction!
"Progenitor Bloodline · Chaos Resonance —— Blessing Stripping!"
"Hum ————————!"
The dark gold and crimson energies swirled like two twisting dragons, drilling into the blessing mark on Lucian's chest ——
That purplish-black mark shook violently —— struggling desperately as if it had a consciousness of its own ——
"No —— you can't ——! Lord Chthon ——!" Lucian howled in terror ——
But his resistance in the face of the power of Soul Resonance ——
Was completely meaningless!
"Come out ——!"
Li Heng let out a low shout ——
The purplish-black blessing mark was uprooted —— stripped from Lucian's chest —— like a venomous insect dragged out of its cave, twisting frantically in the air ——
"Wanda ——!"
"I caught it ——!"
Wanda extended her hands —— crimson Chaos Magiccondensed into a spinning vortex in her palms ——
The purplish-black blessing mark was sucked into the vortex ——
"Hum hum hum hum hum ——!"
The two forces collided violently in Wanda's palms —— the purplish-black dimensional power attempted to erode her consciousness ——
"I am Chthon —— your creator —— submit to me ——!" An aged and evil voice came out from the mark ——
That was a residual fragment of Chthon's will!
"Shut up ——!"
The crimson light in Wanda's eyes surged drastically ——
"You are not my creator —— you are merely a piece of code —— and I am the programmer ——"
"I will rewrite you ——!"
"Chaos Magic —— Dimensional Recompilation ——!"
"Boom boom boom boom boom ——!"
The crimson energy acted like a supercomputer, frantically deconstructing the dimensional code within the purplish-black mark —— every line, every frame, every single character ——
Chthon's residual will screamed —— struggled —— cursed ——
But under the dual suppression of Chaos Magic and Progenitor Bloodline ——
It —— was being —— rewritten!
Three seconds ——
Five seconds ——
Eight seconds ——
"Snap ——!"
A crisp shattering sound ——
The purplish-black mark exploded in Wanda's palms —— but instead of turning into a dimensional beacon, it transformed into a dark gold crystal!
The shape of the crystal ——
Was a bat with closed eyes!
Exactly identical to the symbol on Varna's letter —— but in the opposite direction ——
Moon facing up ——
Bat with closed eyes ——
In the Atlantean vampire runes ——
This represented "I was here"!
"Success ——!" Wanda held the dark gold crystal in both hands, her green eyes filled with surprise and exhaustion ——
"I did it —— Chthon's beacon was turned into a jammer by me —— from now on he will never be able to find ——"
Before she could finish speaking ——
Her body went limp ——
The consumption of Chaos Magic plus the mental load of dimensional recompilation had already pushed her to her limit ——
"Wanda ——!"
Li Heng caught her in a single motion —— holding her tightly in his arms —— the countdown of Soul Resonancehit zero at this moment ——
"Hum ——"
The dark gold and crimson lights dissipated simultaneously ——
Li Heng's combat power dropped from the threshold of A-grade back to B+-grade —— Wanda completely lost consciousness ——
But —— they won.
Lucian collapsed in the ruins —— the blessing mark on his chest had vanished —— without Chthon's blessing, his combat power plummeted from A-grade to C-grade —— and it was still continuously dropping ——
His eyes were filled with confusion and terror ——
"The blessing... is gone... Lord Chthon... has abandoned me..."
He muttered to himself —— like a child abandoned by his parents ——
"He didn't abandon you." Li Heng cradled the unconscious Wanda, glancing at him coldly, "He never cared about you in the first place."
"You were just a pawn to him —— now that the pawn is useless —— he threw you away."
"And I —— just accidentally saved your life."
"If that beacon had activated inside your body —— you would have been torn into atoms by dimensional power within 0.1 seconds —— not even leaving ashes behind."
"Therefore ——"
He turned to look at Lucian ——
"You owe me a life."
Lucian's lips trembled —— he couldn't refute it —— because the facts were as such ——
If Li Heng and Wanda hadn't stripped away the blessing mark —— he wouldn't exist right now.
"You —— what do you want me to do?"
"Very simple." Li Heng said, "Return to your Blood God Cult —— and then disband it."
"From now on —— you answer to me."
"Progenitors Will —— recalibrate!"
"Hum ——!"
Without the protection of Chthon's blessing —— the suppression effect of Progenitors Will skyrocketed from 30% to 100% ——
Under the drive of instinct, Lucian's body ——
"Thud ——!"
Dropped to both knees.
His forehead touched the ground.
Completely submitting.
[Ding! Enemy leader Lucian has surrendered! The Blood God Cult has been incorporated under the host's forces!]
[Faction rating upgraded —— from 'Faction Level' to 'Large Faction Level'! Currently subordinate ——]
[A-grade × 1 (Albion, combat power restricted)]
[B+-grade × 2 (Blood Baron John, Blade Eric - Alliance)]
[B-grade × 1 (Morbius)]
[C-grade × 1 (Lucian, demoted after stripping of blessing)]
[As well as 37 vampire members in New York + 120 globally!]
[Bloodline awakening degree increased —— 0.7% → 0.9%! All attributes surged by another 200%! New ability unlocked —— 'Dimension Perception': The host can perceive all dimensional fluctuations within a 100-meter radius! Any infiltration methods by Chthon will be detected in advance!]
[System Evaluation —— Host, your operation tonight was simply textbook-level! Not only did you defeat a powerful enemy, subdue the cult, and turn Chthon's beacon into a jammer —— killing three birds with one stone! Furthermore —— you protected Wanda the entire way —— so manly!]
[Wanda's favorability —— 'Heartbeat' value + 3! Current: 97 / 100! Only 3 points away from full score! Host —— you are almost completely winning her over!]
Li Heng looked at the "97" on the system panel —— the corners of his mouth hooked up slightly.
But soon —— his smile faded.
Because he heard ——
In the distance ——
The sound of helicopter propellers.
Not just one —— it was three —— no —— five!
The beams of searchlights swept over from all directions —— illuminating the entire ruins as bright as day!
"This is a notice from the Federal Aviation Administration —— you are surrounded —— drop your weapons immediately —— put your hands behind your head —— lie face down on the ground ——"
A cold mechanical voice came from the loudspeaker ——
Li Heng looked up ——
Five black helicopters hovered above the ruins —— an eye-catching logo printed on their fuselages ——
An eagle ——
An eagle on a shield.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Dammit ——" Li Heng cursed inwardly.
That pillar of light soaring into the sky just now —— had alerted the entire New York —— S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't possibly not come ——
And inside the cabin door of the lead helicopter ——
A one-eyed Black man was looking down at him coldly with his only good eye ——
Nick Fury.
Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
A report from someone was coming through his earpiece ——
"Officer —— the energy readings exceed the instrument's range —— at least a B-grade superhuman event —— possibly A-grade —— recommending the immediate invocation of the Avengers protocol ——"
Fury did not speak —— he merely stared intently at the young man in the ruins holding the red-haired girl in his arms ——
And beside him ——
A group of vampires.
"vampires..."
Fury's voice sounded like it crawled out of an ice cellar.
"Since when —— did New York have so many kinds of vampires?"
His hand ——
Slowly reached towards the communicator ——
"Calling Stark ——"
"We need to talk."