Marvel: Death Knight

"The Blood God's power..." murmured Damascus, the leader of the Vampire Empire, as he stood on a platform gazing at the distant horizon. "What news from our spies among the Elders of the Thirteen Clans? Have they sent any updates?"

Assad, one of his subordinates, replied, "Leader, we've lost communication with them. The last report mentioned a battle between Fess, the newly turned Blood Clan Elder, and the mutant academy's headmaster, Garus. Their current status is unknown."

The Vampire Empire was an independent faction, separate from the Thirteen Clans. While it had some parallels to Wakanda in its secrecy, its power was significantly weaker, and the nation itself was small and known to only a handful of outsiders.

"Send someone to investigate immediately," Damascus ordered, his tone sharp. "That fool Fess is unlikely to amount to much. But if the Blood God is destroyed, a Blood God Crystal will manifest—and I must have it."

Damascus had little interest in global domination, understanding the futility of such dreams. His concerns were far more personal: after over two thousand years of life, his body was deteriorating. Recently, he had enlisted scientists to research vampire genetics in the hopes of enhancing his physical state.

His desperation ran so deep that he used his son, Chadnoma, as a test subject, reasoning that their shared genetic makeup minimized the risks of the experiments before they could be applied to himself. The success of this project was his last hope; if it failed, he would stop at nothing to obtain the Blood God Crystal to stave off death.

After passing through multiple layers of security, Damascus arrived at an underground laboratory. The facility housed numerous genetically altered vampire embryos.

At its center stood a silver-white alloy tank filled with nutrient solution, in which floated his son, Chadnoma.

"How is the experiment progressing?" Damascus asked.

A vampire scientist in a white lab coat glanced nervously at him. "The results are promising. The subject has lost most of the traditional vampire weaknesses, though sunlight exposure remains an issue. However, there might be unforeseen side effects... I need more time to..."

"You've had enough time." Damascus cut him off, his frailty making even standing a challenge. Frustrated, he longed to drain the scientist dry but restrained himself; he still needed the researcher's expertise.

Shortly after Damascus left, the figure in the tank stirred. Chadnoma's eyes snapped open, but his memories were fragmented. All that remained was a primal, animalistic instinct.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Inside the tank, Chadnoma slammed his fists against the walls, enraged by his confinement. Cracks formed on the alloy, and the nutrient solution began to leak.

"Quick! Administer a sedative!" The scientists scrambled to stabilize the situation, hastily flipping switches to release calming agents.

But Chadnoma's enhanced strength overwhelmed the containment tank, tearing it open. The fluid poured out as he emerged.

"Sound the alarm! Call the security forces!" The lead scientist fled in terror, unwilling to die at the hands of his creation.

"Roar!"

Chadnoma let out a feral growl before pouncing on the panicked vampires. In an instant, his jaw split open to reveal an inner, alien-like appendage that plunged into a victim's neck, draining their blood with terrifying efficiency.

As the cold blood coursed through him, Chadnoma felt his strength returning. He scanned the fleeing vampires and realized he craved more.

A security team arrived, weapons drawn. The chaos in the lab was apparent as they aimed at Chadnoma and opened fire.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Bullets riddled his body, causing pain but no real harm. Snarling, Chadnoma abandoned his latest victim and charged toward the exit with unstoppable force.

"Stop him!"

Damascus had just reached his blood pool when the commotion reached his ears. Frowning, he asked, "What's going on?"

A trembling security officer reported, "Leader, an experimental subject has escaped from the lab."

"Chadnoma?" Damascus felt a chill.

The officer hesitated before nodding. "Yes."

"Bang!" Damascus shattered the goblet in his hand, fury etched on his face. "Mobilize more troops! Bring him back to me!"

Chadnoma's strength was monstrous. A single punch could tear through steel plates, and no door could halt his escape. His regenerative abilities were equally astounding; even when half his body was blown apart, he continued his relentless march upward, leaving a trail of dismembered vampires in his wake.

Bloodied and helpless, the security chief watched as Chadnoma disappeared into the nearby forest.

Alone in the wilderness, Chadnoma's fragmented memories began to coalesce. He remembered who he was: the prince of the Vampire Empire and Damascus's son.

And he remembered the betrayal.

His father had turned him into a test subject, leaving him in this monstrous state. Anger and sorrow welled within him. He would return to confront Damascus, to demand answers—and revenge.

But first, he needed allies. Chadnoma knew he could transform other vampires into creatures like himself, creating a new legion under his control.

He cast a final glance at the distant silhouette of a towering building before vanishing into the forest.

Back at the Vampire Empire's base, chaos reigned.

"The situation is critical," a subordinate reported to Damascus, whose fury had yet to subside.

A cleanup crew rushed over. "Leader, all vampires bitten by Chadnoma have mutated. They're attacking our people."

Damascus turned to the head scientist, who explained, "Chadnoma's venomous fangs secrete a toxin that transforms other vampires into mutants like him."

"We don't have time, Leader," Assad urged. "We must evacuate immediately."

Hearing the screams outside, Damascus swallowed his rage. Prioritizing survival, he fled to the surface under heavy guard.

As Damascus escaped, he activated the explosives planted throughout the base. A series of deafening blasts reduced the facility to a fiery inferno. Even the mutants' regenerative powers couldn't save them from total annihilation.

Watching his life's work consumed by flames, Damascus turned to Assad.

"We must obtain the Blood God Crystal."

-----------------------

Want to read ahead of schedule?

Join here for advance chapters: PATREON.COM / PRIMALDEMON