[Vamp in Marvel] Ch: 2 [NY Invasion]

Two figures stood at opposite ends of the street, each radiating an aura of terrifying power. The towering skyscrapers around them cast long shadows over them as the city lights flickered. Rai used his mind control authority to clear out the civilians from the area to avoid unnecessary deaths.

Cadis Etrama di Raizel’s crimson eyes glowed faintly as he studied the figure before him. His senses were sharp, every detail in his immediate surroundings picked up with perfect clarity, yet it was the man in red who held his focus. The vampire’s presence felt wrong—dark, suffocating, yet inconsistent. The overwhelming bloodlust rolling off the figure did not match the actual power Rai could sense. Something about this creature didn’t add up.

Opposite him, Alucard grinned, his wide-brimmed hat casting a deep shadow over his eyes. He could feel the weight of the stranger’s gaze upon him. Interesting, he mused. This one was different from the countless prey he had encountered over his centuries of existence. The Noblesse stood there, exuding calm yet unmistakable authority, a being not bound by the mundane world.

“Now, what kind of vamp are you? Well, it doesn’t matter,” Alucard’s voice slithered through the silence, his grin widening. “You’ll make a fine addition to my collection of souls.”

Rai’s expression remained impassive, his voice calm but firm. “You’re an ancient vampire, yet not one of the Nobles. I sense no purpose in your existence other than chaos.”

Alucard chuckled, a low, guttural sound. “Chaos is what makes life interesting. Now, let’s see what kind of fight you can offer before I devour you.”

Without warning, Alucard’s body dissolved into a swarm of black shadows and bats, shooting forward with terrifying speed. The air buzzed as his monstrous form closed in on Rai, the swarm threatening to engulf him completely. Rai, however, remained motionless, his crimson eyes tracking every movement with precision.

Just as the shadowy mass reached him, Rai raised his hand, and a wave of invisible energy exploded outward. The force hit Alucard’s swarm, halting its advance and scattering the bats like leaves in a windstorm. Alucard reformed a few feet away, his grin never faltering.

“Impressive,” he hissed, his red eyes gleaming with a predatory glow. “But let’s see how you handle this.”

Alucard’s form flickered, shifting faster than the human eye could follow. He appeared directly in front of Rai, his massive gun drawn, and fired a round point-blank. The bullet, infused with dark energy, screamed through the air.

In an instant, Rai moved, his body flowing like water. The bullet passed through the empty space where he had stood a moment before. Without wasting a second, Rai’s fingers flicked outward, and an unseen force slammed into Alucard, sending him crashing into the side of a building with a massive impact. Concrete shattered, raining down around the vampire.

From within the rubble, Alucard’s laughter echoed. “Yes! This is more like it!” His voice was manic, laced with twisted glee. “You’re strong, but are you strong enough?”

Alucard emerged from the debris, unharmed, his blood-red eyes blazing with intensity. His body pulsed with dark energy as he stretched his arms wide. Shadowy tendrils erupted from his form, snaking across the ground, reaching out to ensnare Rai. The shadows coiled like serpents, alive and writhing with hunger.

Rai’s gaze remained steady. He could feel the malevolent energy in Alucard’s attacks, but something was off. The bloodlust Alucard radiated was enormous, yet the power behind his blows—while significant—didn’t match the overwhelming presence. It was as if Alucard was holding back, or worse, diminished.

The tendrils surged toward Rai, but with a single gesture, he unleashed his own power. The air around him distorted, and the shadows were cut down by an invisible force before they could touch him. Rai glided forward, his movements elegant and precise. In a heartbeat, he was upon Alucard, his hand aimed directly at the vampire’s chest.

But before Rai could strike, Alucard’s form shifted again, dissolving into a blur of darkness. He reappeared behind Rai, his fanged grin hovering just above Rai’s shoulder.

“Too slow,” Alucard whispered, lunging forward to sink his teeth into Rai’s neck.

Rai’s eyes flicked to the side, and with a pulse of his power, he blasted Alucard back once more. The vampire tumbled through the air but landed on his feet, his boots skidding across the pavement as he came to a stop. The grin never left his face, but now, there was a flicker of something behind his eyes. Recognition.

“You fight well, stranger,” Alucard said, his voice quieter now. “But I can tell you’ve noticed it by now, haven’t you?”

Rai straightened, his gaze sharp. “Your power doesn’t match your bloodlust. You should be stronger.”

Alucard’s grin faltered for a moment before returning, though with less bravado. “You’re not wrong. I crossed paths with a hunter… something different. A half-Vamp. He drained me—sucked out eighty percent of the souls I’ve collected.”

Rai’s eyes narrowed. “A hunter?”

Alucard nodded, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. “He took nearly everything, leaving me with just enough to have some fun. But I’m recovering. Slowly.” His gaze turned serious for a moment. “And when I’m back to full strength, I’ll come for him.”

Before Rai could respond, the sky above them began to ripple. Both combatants looked up as a massive wormhole tore open over a massive tower-like building. The air vibrated with energy as swirling clouds of dark matter churned within the portal. It was as if reality itself had been torn apart.

From the wormhole emerged the unmistakable forms of alien ships—Chitauri, sleek and deadly, descending upon the city like a swarm of locusts. The invasion had begun.

Rai’s eyes flashed as he assessed the new threat. The balance of this world was crumbling before his eyes just when he woke up. He could sense the overwhelming danger, the disturbance in the natural order. His mission was clear: he had to stop this before the chaos consumed everything.

Alucard, however, was less concerned. His grin widened as he watched the invasion unfold. “Well, well. Looks like this world has some fun left in it after all.” His eyes flicked to Rai, gleaming with mischief. “Care to join me in thinning the herd?”

Rai ignored the vampire’s taunt. His focus was on the Chitauri descending from the sky. This was no mere coincidence. Starting from waking up in this new world, followed by meeting an ancient vampire, and now this. Rai was sure that something or someone had orchestrated this. But right now, unknown enemies are coming out from the sky and there was no time to think but act.

“I don’t care for your games, vampire,” Rai said coldly. “But this invasion cannot be allowed to continue.”

Alucard laughed, his form shifting into shadows once more. “Oh, I agree. But don’t think I’ve forgotten about you. Once we deal with these insects, I’ll be adding you to my collection of souls.”

Rai’s eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, the first wave of Chitauri ships descended on the city, unleashing a barrage of energy blasts. Explosions rocked the streets as buildings crumbled under the assault.

The battle for New York had begun.

Without hesitation, Rai shot forward, a blur of motion as he leaped into action. His power flared, and the Chitauri soldiers fell before him, their bodies disintegrating under the force of his attacks. Alucard was not far behind, his laughter echoing through the chaos as he tore through the invaders with his dual gun. He was adding the dead souls to his collection, regaining his soul supply slowly.

As Rai and Alucard tore through the Chitauri forces, their paths converged toward the heart of the city, where the heaviest fighting was taking place. Explosions filled the air, and alien ships swarmed overhead like vultures. The streets were a war zone, littered with debris and fallen soldiers—both human and Chitauri.

A flash of green caught Rai’s attention. A monstrous figure of raw power, crashed through an alien ship, sending it spiraling into a nearby building. His roar of fury echoed as he slammed into another wave of invaders, smashing them into the ground like ragdolls. Nearby, a human in a blue costume, shield in hand, led a group of soldiers through the chaos. His voice rang out over the noise of battle, commanding and coordinating the defense.

Another one descended from the sky with lightning crackling around him. His hammer tore through Chitauri ships with ease, reducing them to flaming wrecks as he bellowed a battle cry. Not far behind, another man perched on a ledge, firing arrow after arrow with pinpoint accuracy, each one finding its mark in an alien skull.

Rai didn’t hesitate. With a single, fluid motion, he sent a wave of telekinetic force toward a cluster of Chitauri soldiers, obliterating them instantly. Alucard, still laughing manically, joined the chaos, his twin pistols flashing as he shot down ship after ship, savoring the carnage.

The man with the shield turned, noticing the newcomers. His eyes briefly locked onto Rai’s imposing figure. “Who the hell are these guys?”

The guy with the hammer landed beside him, eyes narrowing at the sight of Alucard. “Not sure, but they seem to be on our side… for now.”