An aircraft carrier sat anchored in the English Channel. Its massive, gray bulk cut a dark silhouette against the turbulent Atlantic waters. The air was cold, smelling of salt and jet fuel, and the wind howled across the flight deck.
Commander Volley Roche strode through the carrier's narrow, brightly lit corridors, his boots ringing on the metal decking. His uniform was crisp, his posture military-perfect. He reached a sealed briefing room, knocked twice, and entered when the electronic lock buzzed open.
Inside, the room was high-tech and sterile. Alexander Corvinus stood studying a wall-mounted digital map of greater London, his hands clasped behind his back. He turned as Roche entered, his ancient eyes clear and sharp.
Roche snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir."
Alexander's gaze settled on him. "Report. What have you learned?"
Roche pulled out a tablet, its screen glowing in the dim room. "The recent war between vampires and werewolves had two primary causes, sir."
He swiped a finger across the screen. "First, the werewolves located your descendant, Michael. Their leader, Lucian, studied him extensively. His goal was to create a hybrid species, combining werewolf and vampire traits while eliminating both races' weaknesses."
He paused. "Lucian wanted to use this breakthrough to end the centuries-old war."
"The results were mixed. Victor killed Lucian, but Michael successfully became a stable hybrid. Half werewolf, half vampire."
Alexander's expression remained neutral, a carefully maintained mask, but his fingers tightened on the edge of the briefing table.
Roche continued. "As for the vampires, they've been searching for an object called a Dragon Ball. They believed the werewolves possessed it, which escalated tensions into open warfare."
"However, the situation changed when the Fraternity discovered certain actions Victor had taken. Actions that violated their code. They executed him on sight."
He scrolled down the screen. "During this period, a woman named Xu Xialing from the Hong Kong Golden Daggers attempted to purchase a Dragon Ball from Selene. The deal fell through, resulting in armed conflict."
Roche set down the tablet, the briefing concluded. "That's everything we've confirmed about the incident, sir."
Alexander Corvinus turned back to the map, his reflection staring back at him from the dark screen. His jaw was tight. As the father of both vampire and werewolf progenitors, he'd spent centuries cleaning up after his sons' bloody legacies. Marcus and William had been human once, his beloved children. Now one spawned vampires, the other werewolves, and their descendants had been locked in a bitter blood feud for over a millennium.
The fact that werewolves and vampires could operate in London at all was entirely due to Alexander's protection. He'd built a vast network over the centuries, rising to the rank of Vice Admiral through a combination of longevity, intelligence, and strategic marriages into powerful families.
The werewolf clan hid underground with minimal influence. The vampires had nurtured relationships with nobility and politicians, but even they relied on Alexander's shield. His forces monitored every communication channel in England. Any mention of vampires or werewolves triggered an immediate investigation. If the threat was real, Alexander's soldiers paid a visit and ensured silence.
In this corner of the world, his power exceeded even S.H.I.E.L.D's British branch.
But he was tired. He let out a slow, quiet breath. Tired of the endless, predictable cycle of violence between the two races. Tired of hiding his sons' mistakes from the world.
The emergence of beings like God and Iron Man had changed everything. The world was shifting again, just as it had during the first and second industrial revolutions. Secrets couldn't stay hidden forever.
"Investigate these Dragon Balls thoroughly," Alexander ordered, his voice quiet but absolute. "I want to know why vampires are collecting them and what they actually do."
He turned to face Roche directly. "Also, invite the two Fraternity operatives currently in London. Tell them I wish to discuss a matter of mutual interest."
Roche saluted crisply. "Yes, sir."
Back at the vampire castle, the main hall was cold and silent. Marcus stood in the center of the room, his massive leathery wings folded against his back, casting a monstrous shadow in the torchlight. He studied Selene with an unreadable expression.
"Victor passed his position to you?"
Selene met his gaze without flinching, her posture rigid. "Several Death Dealers witnessed it."
Marcus waved a hand dismissively, his ancient voice dry as paper. "I don't care about Victor's last wishes. But tradition matters. This century, I am meant to lead the vampire clan."
He stepped closer, his presence a palpable weight in the room. "Since you've assumed Victor's position, you should prepare to sleep after the succession ceremony. Once the clan has been properly informed, of course."
Selene's jaw tightened. She'd expected this, but that didn't make it easier to counter. The three elders had maintained their rule for centuries through a rotation system. One awake, two asleep. It prevented power struggles and ensured continuity.
But she couldn't afford to sleep. Not now.
"Elder Amelia is dead," Selene said carefully. "Killed by werewolves."
"Now only two elders remain. And Lucian is permanently dead this time. Victor killed him personally."
Marcus barely reacted to the news. He'd never cared much about Lucian. The werewolf leader had been a constant irritation, nothing more. As the first vampire, Marcus's brother William had been the first werewolf. Marcus had transformed Victor over fifteen hundred years ago specifically to use his military power to build a prison for William, to protect his brother from himself.
It hadn't worked.
William had been different from Marcus. After transforming into a werewolf, he'd lost all ability to return to human form. He'd become a permanent beast, driven mad by bloodlust. The humans he'd bitten had become equally monstrous werewolves, and they'd rampaged across the countryside. Victor, then a human warlord, had led his armies to exterminate them.
"It's rare that Victor did something useful before dying," Marcus said dryly. "But even with only two elders remaining, we must uphold the rules we established."
Selene had prepared for this argument. She'd been present when Michael became a hybrid, witnessed by numerous Death Dealers. She'd also seen Lucian's research. Creating more hybrids without new source blood was impossible. That left only one option.
"I apologize, Elder Marcus, but I cannot sleep."
His ancient eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I need to participate in the Dragon Ball competition," Selene continued, her voice steady. "If an elder must sleep, it will be after the battle concludes."
She paused, letting the statement land. "Also, Elder Victor was killed by the organizers of the Dragon Ball tournament."
Marcus had absorbed all of Kraven's memories. He knew about the Fraternity, about the man called GOD, about Tony Stark's Iron Man armor, and about the strange devices called scouters that measured combat power. But Kraven had known nothing about Dragon Balls or any tournament.
"Perhaps," Marcus said, his voice a low hiss, "you should explain what happened after Kraven died."
Selene took a breath and laid out everything. The Dragon Ball's discovery, her paln with it, the Fraternity's judgment and execution, and the announcement of a coming battle for all seven balls.
She left out one crucial detail. She told Marcus the Dragon Balls could eliminate the vampire weakness to sunlight, but said nothing about their true power to grant any wish.
Marcus considered this. "I can cure my own weakness to sunlight. My bloodline is stronger than ordinary vampires." He fixed her with a penetrating stare. "Are you certain that if you win, you can eliminate the weakness for our entire species?"
Selene nodded firmly. "If I win, I can do it."
"Does it have to be you?" Marcus spread his wings slightly, a subtle, intimidating display of dominance. "You may be an elder now, but the gap between us is like comparing a firefly to the sun."
"Even Victor was no match for me."
He gestured to the scouter still mounted on her face. "Perhaps you should use that device to see my strength. I'm curious about this 'combat power' measurement."
Selene nodded, her hand rising to tap the scouter's control. She aimed it at Marcus and activated the scanner. A quiet beep echoed in the hall.
The numbers on her display began climbing. Ten. Twenty. Thirty.
They kept rising, climbing past Victor's peak.
Forty.
Forty-five.
The display flickered and then settled, locking on a final number. Fifty points of combat power.
Selene's breath caught in her throat. Fifty points. That was the same level as Alexei, the Fraternity Judge. Victor, in his monstrous form, had been around thirty-five. Marcus was in a completely different league.
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