Marvel: Death Knight

In an underground fortress, a group of people gathered, their expressions tense.

"The sorcerers of the Ancient Order have sent us a warning. What do you all make of it?" asked the man seated at the head of the table. "For thousands of years, we've upheld a peace treaty with humanity and maintained a stable relationship with the sorcerers of the Ancient Order. I can't imagine what has prompted this."

Another man seated below him asked, "Elder Gotenor, did those sorcerers give you any specific reason?"

"They did not," Gotenor replied, shaking his head.

Turning to a younger man, Gotenor asked, "Fess, do you know anything about this?"

The group consisted of the leaders of the thirteen vampire clans, and Fess was the head of the recently turned vampires.

Fess replied nonchalantly, "What's there to fear? They're just a bunch of trick-playing humans."

Hearing the young vampire's naive remark, the elder vampires chuckled dismissively.

Gotenor mocked, "Deacon Fess, do you think you're powerful enough to face an ancient guardian organization that's existed for millennia? One of their members alone could wipe you out."

"No, it's you who are too old," Fess retorted, his confidence unwavering despite being the youngest there. "Humans are merely our prey, and we should be their rulers."

The elders couldn't tolerate his arrogance any longer. "You're out of line, Fess! How dare you criticize us this way?"

"This world is ours, Gotenor. You can wait for your extinction," Fess declared, storming out of the meeting.

Watching him leave, Gotenor's face darkened with anger. "If Fess were merely abducting a few humans to drink their blood, the Ancient Order wouldn't have approached me. Someone needs to investigate what he's up to."

An elder of the Gangrel Clan spoke up, "I'll send someone. But I also suggest contacting the Sorcerer Supreme."

Back at his hideout, Fess was in a foul mood. Watching his subordinates still reveling in their carousing, he called over his trusted aide. "Do you know what kind of organization the Ancient Order is?"

As another turned vampire, the aide was equally ignorant of such secretive groups. "Boss, as long as you obtain the Blood God's power, why bother worrying about the Ancient Order?"

Fess pondered this and found the argument convincing. The old elders were likely just overreacting after too much time spent in complacency. They wouldn't live long enough to stop him; they would all become sacrifices for his summoning of the Blood God's power.

Setting aside his unease, he asked, "Where is the Daywalker?"

"Boss, we've set a trap. We captured his woman. He'll come for her." The aide smirked sinisterly.

"Oh? Where is she?" Fess asked, intrigued by the prospect of Blade's companion.

Following his subordinate to a room, Fess saw an angry Black woman glaring at them.

Walking over, Fess grabbed her by the head, inspecting the bite marks on her neck. "What a beauty. Welcome to the fold. I'm sure you'll gladly help us against Blade."

"Never!" Jacqueline spat in defiance, her saliva narrowly missing Fess, who dodged skillfully. "Blade will destroy all of you!"

Fess, showing no mercy, punched her in the stomach, causing her to double over in pain. "We'll see about that."

"Blade, you want our help against the vampires? I remember you've always refused our assistance before. What changed your mind?"

Blade, the Punisher Frank Castle, and Daredevil Matt Murdock had crossed paths before. Kindred spirits, they quickly became trusted allies.

After investigating Fess's sinister plans with Abraham Whistler, Blade had uncovered the vampire's plot to summon the Blood God and transform the entire human world into a vampire's dominion.

Hearing this, the Punisher and Daredevil immediately grasped the gravity of the situation.

"But," Matt questioned, "aren't vampires sustained by human blood? If they turn everyone, what will they feed on?"

Blade hesitated. "Let's not dwell on that. The point is, we have to stop them."

Arriving at Blade's home, they found the place eerily silent. Tables and chairs lay overturned, and blood stained the floor.

"Was your home attacked by vampires?" Frank asked, surveying the scene. The damage seemed minimal, suggesting a swift battle.

Blade's expression darkened as he pulled a note off a table, reading the taunting message scrawled on it.

Nearby, Frank noticed something covered with a white cloth. The stench of blood emanated from it. Pulling back the cloth, he revealed the bloodied body of Abraham Whistler. Twin bite marks marred his neck.

Suddenly, Whistler stirred, grabbing Blade's hand. "Don't go after Fess. It's a trap."

"You know I can't do that," Blade replied, his calm facade barely masking his seething fury. Whistler had raised him from his teenage years, a father figure in all but blood. And Jacqueline was an innocent caught in the crossfire.

Whistler turned to Frank and Matt. "You're Blade's friends. Don't let the vampires capture him. If the Blood God descends, humanity is doomed."

Then, gripping Blade's hand tightly, he said, "Give me your gun."

Blade hesitated, shaking his head. "We can take you to a hospital."

"You know I don't have much time," Whistler said with resignation. His terminal cancer would have claimed him soon even without Fess's attack.

Blade gazed at Whistler deeply before handing him the silver spike gun at his waist.

"Let's go," Blade said, turning away with Frank and Matt. He couldn't bear to witness Whistler's final moments.

On the streets outside, night had fallen, and streetlights illuminated the quiet roads.

A memory surfaced in Matt's mind—Garus, the man who had once saved them all with his sky fortress and defeated an alien threat. The power he'd witnessed in their first encounter was unmatched.

"Maybe we can find someone else to help us. If he's willing, those vampires won't stand a chance."

"Who?"

Blade and Frank turned to Matt. As dark vigilantes working outside the law, they seldom found allies.

"Garus, the headmaster of the Mutant Academy," Matt said.

"Big names like that don't care about people like us," Blade replied. "We don't have time to waste."

"I've met him before, and I know where to find him. I believe he'll help us," Matt insisted.

Frank nodded. "Then let's give it a shot."

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