Marvel: Death Knight

"Director Fury!" Coulson had to interrupt Fury, stepping quickly to his side.

Fury turned to him and asked, "What is it?"

Coulson replied, "A vampire nest is under attack. The situation on-site seems severe, and the agents we planted there are missing in action."

"Is it a vampire hunter?" Fury knew New York had its share of vampire hunters who often infiltrated vampire gatherings. Sometimes, the hunters came out victorious; other times, they were wiped out entirely.

Before Coulson could respond, Blade interjected from the other side of the room. "It's mutated vampires, Director Fury. They're terrifying creatures. I initially thought their ability to destroy vampires was a good thing and left them alone. But their numbers are growing, and now they're attacking humans as well."

"I'll take care of them," Johnny Blaze said, standing up. He felt the Spirit of Vengeance stirring within him, intrigued by these creatures—especially their souls.

The more carnage, the greater the sins. Yet Johnny's real target was Garus' soul, though he knew he wasn't strong enough to face him yet.

Tony Stark got to his feet as well. "If that's all, I'll head back. If those aliens show up, I'll do my best."

"Uh, I've got to get to class," Peter Parker added.

Both Tony and Peter detested dealing with dark creatures. Peter, scarred by horror movies as a child, found these scenarios especially unsettling. Still, he trusted Fury to handle it.

"Alright." Fury had said all he needed to. He didn't want further distractions at a time like this. The issue had to be resolved quickly.

With Ghost Rider's formidable power—one of the strongest among the current Avengers—he was the ideal candidate for handling such threats.

"Mr. Garus." Fury looked at him, hoping Garus would also join the mission. The Chitauri invasion was imminent, and they couldn't afford to waste time.

"Fine, no problem." Garus, bored, decided to tag along. He was curious about these creatures. Plus, Dr. Connors, a biologist recently recruited by Azeroth Technologies, might find studying one of them useful.

With Garus' help, Blade felt confident they could annihilate the mutated vampires. He had already witnessed Garus' strength in a previous battle against the Blood God.

It was now 3 a.m., and the streets were eerily quiet.

Garus, Blade, and Johnny prepared to infiltrate a known vampire gathering site. It was their best chance to encounter the mutated creatures.

They arrived at a hidden slaughterhouse, its gates locked and silent.

Garus reached out and yanked the sturdy iron chain off the gate, snapping it effortlessly in his hands.

As they stepped inside, a heavy, metallic stench of blood hit them. Blade could distinguish the scent of human blood among it—a grim reminder of a nest he had tried to purge before being detained by the FBI.

The interior was eerily quiet, but Garus sensed movement—a presence stealthily advancing toward a specific area.

"This way," Garus said, leading them toward an open, concealed freezer. Beyond it lay a long, dark passage.

These vampires were meticulous about hiding their lairs.

Blade drew his longsword and took the lead.

Soon, distant noises broke the silence—chaotic sounds mixed with screams. The mutated vampires were attacking.

With a roar, Johnny's head ignited in orange flames, transforming into a fearsome skull. Vampires unfortunate enough to cross his path were reduced to ash by his flaming chains, a weapon even more effective than Blade's silver longsword.

Emerging from the passage, they found themselves in a ransacked nightclub. Several mutated vampires were feasting on others of their kind, draining their blood.

Chadnoma, their leader, noticed the trio at the entrance. His beast-like orange eyes narrowed as he recognized Blade.

"Blade! You're here to deal with these vampires too?" he sneered.

"No. I'm here to deal with you and your lackeys. The others are just collateral," Blade retorted, pulling out his silver stake gun and firing at Chadnoma.

The bullet pierced Chadnoma's body, but he didn't disintegrate into dust.

With a mocking expression, Chadnoma pulled the silver stake out of his wound, which healed within seconds. "We're not vampires. We don't share their weaknesses—"

Before he could finish, Ghost Rider's flaming chain lashed out, striking his arm. Though Chadnoma dodged most of the attack, his arm was nearly severed, leaving a charred gash.

"What the hell are you?" Chadnoma growled. He didn't recognize Ghost Rider but felt the searing power radiating from his flames—a force capable of killing him with ease.

He retreated warily, ordering his minions to surround the intruders. Dismissing Garus as an ordinary vampire hunter, he underestimated the real threat.

Dozens of mutated creatures swarmed toward them. Blade, overwhelmed by their lack of traditional vampire vulnerabilities, struggled against just two of them.

Meanwhile, Ghost Rider fought effortlessly. The creatures couldn't harm him—his fiery skull lacked the arteries they sought to sever. He grabbed one, glaring into its soul with his blazing eye sockets. Moments later, it crumbled to ash.

"A deliciously sinful soul!" Ghost Rider growled. His Penance Stare was a weapon these abominations couldn't withstand.

Garus, standing back, bided his time, planning to capture the strongest mutated vampire for study.

Realizing his forces were being decimated, Chadnoma emitted an ultrasonic cry, inaudible to humans. Dozens of his underlings burst forth from the sewers, their numbers far exceeding what the trio had expected.

Awoken by the commotion, citizens peered out from their windows, bewildered by the bizarre figures sprinting through the streets. Some shouted curses at the chaos below.

Meanwhile, in the Vampire Empire, Damascus brooded over his inability to seize the Blood God Crystal. The mutant school's defenses and their floating city had become significant obstacles.

"Leader," Arthas said, entering the hall. "They've entered a vampire nest in New York City. Blade and two others are fighting mutated vampires there. They're outnumbered and surrounded."

Damascus grinned. "Perfect. Send our forces. Don't engage yet—wait until they've worn each other out. This time, we'll claim the Blood God Crystal. Send our elite troops. All of them."

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