The blade glanced at Lin Mei, a flicker of admiration flashing in his eyes before his attention snapped back to the battlefield. He moved like a specter in the night, weaving effortlessly between the vampires. With a fluidity that seemed almost supernatural, he alternated between his twin swords and shotgun, each strike and shot followed by the agonized wails of his undead foes. His presence on the battlefield was akin to that of a god of death, a silent predator culling the night's creatures with swift, decisive movements.
"Kid, stay close and don't lag behind," Blade barked over his shoulder. Though his tone was cold and clipped, there was an undeniable note of concern beneath the hardened exterior.
Lin Mei nodded, her eyes sharp with determination. She knew that Blade's acknowledgment meant something—her skills in countering and eliminating vampires had earned his notice. She followed closely, her hands glowing with the raw power of her magic, ready to assist Blade while keeping an eye out for her primary target: Bob. Only by eliminating him could she ensure that the threat was completely neutralized.
As the battle raged on, the vampires' numbers dwindled, but their desperation only grew, their attacks becoming increasingly reckless and frenzied. The stench of blood thickened the air, mingling with the acrid scent of gunpowder and the burnt flesh of fallen vampires. Blade and Lin Mei fought with unwavering resolve, refusing to yield an inch to their foes.
Then, amidst the chaos, Lin Mei's gaze locked onto Bob. He lurked in the shadows, cowardly concealed behind a horde of lesser vampires, hoping to slip away unnoticed in the midst of battle.
"Got you," Lin Mei murmured under her breath. Her fingers crackled with energy as she channeled her magic, invoking the power of dragon-destroying magic. A bolt of lightning, thick and pulsating with destructive energy, arced through the air, surging straight toward Bob.
Bob's eyes widened in horror. He attempted to dodge, but it was too late. The lightning enveloped him, crackling violently as it seared through his body. He barely had time to scream before the magic consumed him.
Lin Mei's eyes darkened with intent. She was not finished yet.
"The Roar of the Light Dragon!" she intoned, her voice a mix of command and fury. A brilliant surge of light coalesced in her throat before erupting outward in a torrent of devastation. The magic, pure and overwhelming, struck Bob with relentless force, engulfing him entirely.
A shrill, piercing scream rang out before being abruptly cut off. When the light faded, only a faint wisp of blue smoke remained where Bob had stood. The charred scent of finality lingered in the air.
Blade whistled low, taking a moment to survey the destruction Lin Mei had unleashed. "Damn, kid. That was a bit overkill."
His sharp gaze flicked toward the gaping hole in the basement's foundation, blasted clean through by the sheer force of her attack. He grimaced. That kind of power wouldn't go unnoticed. They needed to get out of here—fast.
The remaining vampires, having witnessed their leader's obliteration, faltered. Panic took hold, and the remaining stragglers scrambled to escape. Blade and Lin Mei wasted no time, pressing their advantage until the last of the vampires were eradicated. When the dust settled, Blade sheathed his swords and exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Not bad," he admitted, offering Lin Mei a nod of respect.
Lin Mei smirked faintly. "I wouldn't have pulled it off without your backup."
A distant wail of sirens shattered the moment of reprieve. Red and blue lights flickered in the distance, signaling that law enforcement—or something worse—was closing in. They had lingered too long.
Blade and Lin Mei exchanged a knowing look. There was no need for words. In silent agreement, they turned and vanished into the shadows, parting ways without hesitation. To each other, they were nothing more than strangers, temporary allies brought together by a shared enemy. Whatever camaraderie they had forged in battle would not extend beyond this night.
Half an hour later, the basement lay in eerie silence, the air still thick with the remnants of battle. Then, the quiet was disrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. A man clad in a leather jacket, much like Blade's, stepped into the scene. Unlike Blade, however, this man wore an eyepatch over his left eye—Nick Fury, the formidable director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
If Lin Mei had been there, she would have made some quip about how these guys had a thing for leather jackets.
Fury surveyed the bloodstained wreckage, his expression unreadable. The walls bore the scars of combat—bullet holes, scorch marks, and deep gouges from Blade's swords. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of charred remains.
"Hell of a mess," Fury muttered to himself before turning to the agent beside him. "Colson, this place looks like a damn war zone. Were vampires responsible for this?"
Agent Phil Colson, always composed, nodded as he flipped through his notes. "Yes, sir. This was one of their strongholds. A large one. But it seems they had an unexpected visit from Blade—and someone else."
Fury raised an eyebrow. "Someone else?"
Colson held up a small device displaying energy readings. "We picked up an unknown energy signature here. It's not Blade's usual arsenal. Whatever caused this—" he gestured toward the massive hole blasted into the basement's foundation, "—was something else entirely."
Fury crouched beside the scorched ground, running his fingers over the remnants of supernatural energy still lingering in the air. He frowned. "Do you think this energy came from Blade, or was it something the vampires cooked up?"
Colson hesitated before responding. "Hard to say. But one thing's for sure—whoever did this was powerful."
Fury stood, his gaze darkening with thought. "Find out who they are."
With that, he turned on his heel, already calculating the next move in the ever-expanding game of supernatural warfare.
Colson placed the booklet down on the table, his expression serious. "I believe this destruction was caused by a third party who was present."
Nick Fury's brows furrowed. "Another person? You're saying someone else worked with Blade to take out the vampires here?"
Colson nodded. "Yes. The individual was careful to remain hidden, but some surveillance cameras managed to capture glimpses of them."
Fury leaned forward, intrigued. "Do we know who they are?"
Colson shook his head. "Not yet. Agent Hill is currently tracking their whereabouts, but it will take some time."
Fury sighed in mild frustration. He was in the early stages of forming the Avengers, and the sheer level of destruction at this site convinced him that whoever this mystery person was, they were someone worth recruiting. Unfortunately, what he didn't realize was that the individual he sought was, in fact, just a child.
After a brief silence, Colson hesitated before asking, "Given the scale of damage, should we bring Blade in for questioning?"
Fury shook his head. "Vampires are a real problem. Better to let Blade keep hunting them. He's doing us a favor."
Meanwhile, at a shopping mall not far from the battle site, Agent Maria Hill was busy tracking the unknown individual. Based on limited surveillance data, she discovered that Lin Mei had recently purchased a cloak. Cross-referencing this with mall security footage, she quickly zeroed in on him.
She frowned as she studied the footage. "This kid… isn't he the one Tony Stark brought back from Afghanistan?"
Lin Mei remained blissfully unaware that S.H.I.E.L.D. had already uncovered most of his identity. Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared. As long as he kept a low profile, he was confident that S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't interfere just yet. After all, he wasn't just any child—he was someone they wouldn't want to mess with.
After leaving the vampire hideout, Lin Mei swiftly made his way home, hoping to avoid drawing suspicion. The moment he stepped inside, his mother, Melissa, rushed toward him, her face a mixture of worry and relief.
"Oh, baby! Where have you been tonight? I know you have magical abilities like your father, but you can't just disappear like that! You had me worried sick!"
Melissa's voice carried the weight of a mother's deep concern, but as she saw her son return home unharmed, her fear softened into relief. She gently ran her fingers through Lin Mei's hair, as if trying to dispel any lingering traces of danger.
Lin Mei offered a small, reassuring smile, trying to make his tone sound as casual as possible. "Mom, I'm fine. I just had to take care of some… special matters. Nothing too dangerous, I promise."
His words were deliberately vague—he didn't want to burden his mother with the knowledge of the supernatural battles he was involved in.
Melissa sighed, a mix of exasperation and understanding in her eyes. "Alright, baby, but promise me one thing. Next time, tell me beforehand. I don't want to spend another night worrying about you like this."
Lin Mei nodded. "I promise."
For now, the night's battles were over, but he knew this was only the beginning. With S.H.I.E.L.D. already closing in on him and the vampire threat still looming, his journey was far from finished.