"Whoa, these guys really pack a punch!"
Luke exclaimed loudly, swinging his Fell Cleaver with an air of excitement. His body was already stained red with blood. The monsters in the Team Rift were vastly different from those he had encountered before; even the walking corpses, which previously could barely scratch his skin, could now tear off a chunk of his flesh. Fortunately, he had a healing potion, so the red was merely external blood.
"I'm telling you, when is this Rift going to end? Didn't Madawc say Rifts usually don't last very long?" Matthew shouted, breathing heavily. In addition to his axe, he now held a glowing blue Mace. If not for Rumlow's reminder, he would have missed the equipment drop again.
"Just shut up. We haven't even seen the Rift Guardian yet. You'd better conserve some energy." Rumlow lay on the ground, panting. His calf had been smashed into pulp. Even so, he spared a glance for Luke, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction. He fumbled and picked up a white Longbow nearby, carelessly pulling the string twice. Not being a Demon Hunter, Rumlow couldn't use the bow normally, even if he could draw it.
"Normal use" here meant being able to shoot arrows without needing a quiver, as this equipment could provide infinite ranged firepower without arrows. If equipped with arrows, anyone who could draw the bow could deal significant damage.
"I never thought I'd spend a day fighting this many demons. How did you defeat that Sledge Demon alone back then?" Luke clapped off the shattered rock pieces on his shoulder, speaking to Rumlow with lingering fear. They had just encountered a giant Sledge Demon, whose immense attacks gave Luke a frightening close call with being crushed. If Rumlow hadn't sacrificed a calf to pull him away, Luke would be struggling even to breathe right now. The destructive power of the Sledge Demon left all three of them shaken.
"The demons in this Rift are much stronger than the ones the Ancestors first encountered." Matthew seized the moment, seeing no demons in his sensory range. He picked up the potion at his waist and poured it into Rumlow's mouth. Several of Rumlow's wounds quickly began to heal. Rumlow had used his Bottomless Potion of Fear when they were surrounded by a small group of Fallen Lunatics. It was the random teleportation power that allowed him to deal with the Fallen Shaman hiding in the corner; otherwise, those constantly reviving monsters would have driven the team insane. Then they met the Sledge Demon, and that battle, lasting only a dozen seconds, felt as long as a century.
"The Ancestor said the monsters in the Rift will appear according to our limits. If it weren't for that Sledge Demon, I wouldn't have known I had this much power." Rumlow tossed the bow aside and pulled his massive Two-Handed Maul closer for inspection. "Get up, guys, it's time to fight again."
Matthew faced the distant shadow, from which a chorus of squeaking rats mixed with the sound of dense fur rubbing together irritated him immensely. It was just like the apartment he used to live in, where he always heard rats in the walls.
"I think the ground seems to be shaking?" Rumlow, who had just climbed to his feet, sounded puzzled. Even the Sledge Demon's massive hammer blows hadn't produced this continuous tremor.
"I see it. I've never seen a creature this size before." Luke picked up his Fell Cleaver, on guard.
Matthew had lowered his head, his weapon held forward, the blade pointed toward the giant figure concealed in the shadows.
"Hmph~"
A subtle exhale sounded. A figure seated in a soft chair surveyed the area ahead. Platinum blonde hair, parted in the middle, fell neatly on both sides of her face. Round spectacles rested on her slender nose bridge without making her look severe. Her neat business suit gave her an aura of strength, highlighting a sense of androgynous charm. She leaned slightly, resting her body on one armrest.
Her crossed legs and placid expression spoke of elegance, and a lady's cigarette held between her fingers dispersed smoke.
Standing about two steps behind her was an elderly man in all black, head slightly bowed. The man wore a monocle over his left eye, and his black hair was tightly pulled back into a ponytail. A white silk scarf was draped over his left arm, which was held across his chest, and he wore pure white gloves.
"So, S.H.I.E.L.D. has come to us specifically to deal with vampires?" The lady spoke with a strong, unwavering cadence. Her voice was not loud, but resolute. It would be a waste to regard her merely as a figurehead relying on her subordinates; this was a woman of immense fortitude, and the word "powerful" fit her perfectly.
"Lady Integra, your family has been fighting vampires for countless years. You are the professionals in this field." Agent Coulson sat calmly across from Integra, speaking in his usual composed tone.
After he and Captain America had "resolved" the situation in that base, he had barely stepped into S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters before being dispatched to England by his superior. He hadn't even been given time to rest.
Nick Fury was never one to wait; seizing all initiative was his primary goal. The visit to the blacksmith shop was merely to send a message; the operation had already been launched.
The Hellsing Organization is a semi-official entity specializing in dealing with non-human monsters like vampires and werewolves. The woman before him, Integra, was the current head of the Hellsing family.
"We are currently preoccupied with local vampire issues and may not have the time or resources to help you clear out some vampire trash."
In the eyes of the Hellsing Organization, the vampires appearing in the US—that beautiful land—were nothing more than scraps, far from deserving the name "vampire."
"The ones who appeared this time are not the kind you're thinking of. They are completely different from the vile creatures with monstrous maws." Coulson described the vampires, adapting to Integra's terminology.
"We have reason to believe that if left unchecked, they could lead to unpredictable consequences."
Coulson maintained his genuine-looking smile, trying his best to convey sincerity.
"Doesn't the BPRD usually handle matters in that region? Why would you seek out our… irregular organization?" Integra emphasized the word "irregular" before turning her head to flick her cigarette ash into an ashtray.
Her attitude was full of disdain.
"Because the BPRD is currently tied up, and when it comes to the problem of vampires, you are the most professional." Coulson ignored the contempt and spoke placidly.
"Then where is the target located?"
Integra uncrossed her legs and pressed for information, her slightly raised head showing arrogance. It seemed she intended to accept the commission.
(End of Chapter)
--------------------------------
I've uploaded the early access chapters to Patreon—about 30 to 40 more.
If you're curious to know what happens next, you can
read them here: [pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you for your support.