I'M IN MARVEL

C12 : The Arrival of the Blood God

"Fixing matches… just as I thought."

Nick Fury's voice was calm, but his mind raced as he watched Russell pummel Deacon Frost through the surveillance feed aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. Fury leaned forward slightly, observing the raw power on display.

But why was Russell toying with Frost? What was his real plan?

"Is the secondary blockade operational?" Fury asked without looking away from the screen.

"Yes, sir. It's been fully deployed," Coulson confirmed before adding, "According to Gwen Stacy's intel, this line of defense relies heavily on intercepting ropes and specialized capture nets. Additionally, we've verified that injecting vampires with large doses of anticoagulant triggers their self-destruction."

"Good," Fury replied, his one good eye narrowing as he examined the tactical map. He gestured to a projected trajectory of Frost's movements. "Frost seems desperate to reach his army. He's up to something big, and we can't let him succeed."

Switching channels, Fury barked his next orders: "Tony, Gwen, get to Russell's position immediately. Intercept Deacon Frost. Hill will handle the defensive perimeter."

"Is something wrong with Russell?" Gwen asked, her tone laced with worry.

"That wisecracking boy explicitly told us not to interfere," Tony quipped, already engaging his Iron Man suit's flight systems. Despite his banter, Tony was taking the situation seriously.

It didn't take long for Tony to see the truth.

Russell had just caught up with Frost again, delivering a bone-crushing blow to the vampire leader's back. The impact sent Frost hurtling forward like a ragdoll. Frost used the momentum to widen the gap, refusing to turn and counterattack—he knew from experience that trading blows would only leave him vulnerable.

But this time, his escape was blocked. A red-and-gold armored figure descended in his path.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Tony Stark unleashed a volley of micro-missiles at Frost. Using the explosion as cover, Tony launched himself forward with a powered kick, knocking Frost sideways.

"It's football time," Tony quipped to himself. He envisioned punting the vampire leader back toward Russell.

Unfortunately, reality hit hard.

"Get out of my way!" Frost roared, twisting mid-air to absorb the blow. Grabbing Tony's ankle before he could pull back, Frost hurled him toward Russell like a projectile.

"Whoosh!"

Before Tony could make contact, thick strands of webbing latched onto Frost's limbs. Gwen Stacy, swinging in just in time, had immobilized him.

Russell sidestepped Tony's trajectory effortlessly. "You're on your own for landing, Stark," he muttered. Catching Tony mid-flight would've risked injury to both of them.

The distraction gave Gwen the chance to engage Frost directly. Her enhanced reflexes and Spider-Sense allowed her to dodge Frost's strikes, but it was clear she was outmatched in raw power. Frost's Blood God enhancements had pushed his physicality far beyond hers.

Russell wasn't about to let that stand. He sprinted forward, energy coalescing around his fist like crackling lightning.

"Boom!"

The sonic boom from Russell's punch reverberated through the battlefield as his fist smashed into Frost's back, shattering bone and sending intangible energy tearing through his internal systems.

"Bang!"

The first sound was Frost's chest imploding. The second was his body slamming into the ground.

"Whoosh!"

Tony reentered the fray, his repulsors at full power. Now, Russell, Gwen, and Tony surrounded Frost from three sides, cutting off every possible escape route.

"It's over. Surrender," Russell said, his tone authoritative.

Frost grinned wickedly. "Do you think you've won?" he hissed. "Wherever the Blood God passes, all become part of the blood race."

"Careful!" Gwen shouted as her Spider-Sense flared. She leapt backward instinctively.

Russell didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, delivering a powerful kick that sent Frost hurtling away.

"Boom!"

Blood-red energy erupted from Frost's body like a tidal wave, staining the ground and saturating the air.

"What the hell is that?!" Tony exclaimed, horrified.

"The Blood God's pure energy," Russell explained grimly. "It's contagious. Anything exposed risks transformation into a vampire."

Tony's face paled beneath his helmet. "So, I was almost—"

"Yes," Russell interrupted. "You would've been turned into one of them."

A deep, otherworldly voice emerged from Frost's throat. His body convulsed as the Blood God fully possessed him. "My power doesn't stop there," the Blood God proclaimed. "I can elevate my children to their ultimate forms."

As if on cue, the vampires who had been attacking the defensive lines abandoned their positions, flocking to the Blood God. Their auras began to grow exponentially stronger.

"This body is mediocre," the Blood God sneered, referring to Frost. "Even at its peak, it can't match you. But what about seven hundred vampires pushed to their limits? Each one an extraordinary being."

The Blood God's tone was icy, devoid of emotion. "Leave now. When my task is complete, I will leave your universe. Interfere, and I will strengthen my army to crush you before finishing my work."

The battlefield fell silent. Even Nick Fury, watching from above, had no immediate response.

Russell, however, remained analytical. He focused on the energy flows emanating from the Blood God. "Seven hundred vampires absorbing 9,000 units of energy per second," he muttered. "But… the Blood God isn't controlling it effectively."

Testing a theory, Russell charged into the fray, targeting one of the vampires. His punch exploded the creature into a mist. A notification flickered in his mind: **+184 Energy Points**.

"The coefficient is 0.2," Russell calculated. "Each unit of the Blood God's energy absorbed by a vampire gives me 0.2 units."

Gu Yi's (the Ancient One's) voice echoed in his ears. "Delay him. Draw this out. There's more to gain here."

Nick Fury's voice cut through the chatter: "Russell, can you get close enough to disrupt the Blood God's forces?"

Russell frowned. He didn't answer immediately. He was already strategizing, weighing the risks against the potential rewards.

How could he maximize his gains while dismantling the Blood God's plans?

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