CHAPTER 3: SUDDEN CHANGES PART 2
Tatsuki kept running over the roofs following Spawn, she wasn't fully used with her new condition. "So, Vampires. Are they like in the fiction? With all powers?"
"Not really. Most Vampires suffered too many mutations due to years of evolution, now they only have a few powers, most are powerless. Nowadays it is rare to find a Vampire with all powers." Spawn answered.
"And are they all evil?"
"Humans don't lose their individuality when transformed into Vampires, so they are capable of good and evil like any other person. They are seen as evil monsters because humans are their food source. I'm sure if they could think at our level, gazelles would probably think that lions were evil as well. Humans have a big and real fear of being knocked off the top of the food chain."
"I see. So, some vampires live in peace in the middle of humans?"
"They are rare, but this is a possibility. There are some Vampires that drink blood of animals as alternative, and live peacefully with humans." And then they stopped. "There they are." Spawn said, pointing at an abandoned building.
"Do we have an attack plan?" Tatsuki said.
"Here is the plan: Attack." And then Spawn jumped, the flabbergasted Tatsuki followed Spawn and they crashed through the window. The building was more like a warehouse, with many boxes organized in lines. She instantly recognized Spawn's allies, they both were taking cover behind an improvised barricade made of broken boxes and other debris, one was a tall and muscular African-American man with shaved black hair, he wore a black trench coat over a black armor piece, black pants with a belt and matching boots. The other was a man who wore a black leather biker outfit with iron spikes in the shoulders and a flaming skull for a head. Spawn launched his chains at the thugs attacking his allies and tore apart all but two, Spawn grabbed one of them and ripped her head off, she burned into ashes.
"The fuck did you do to her?" The remaining thug said.
"Your boss, is he doing business with a certain Eli Damaskinos?" Spawn asked.
"Uh, yeah..."
"Well, congratulations, genius, Damaskinos put some of his Vampires infiltrated into your boss's gang as agents." He then shot the guy through the head. "Blade! Blaze! Are you okay?"
The two left the barricade. "No problem Al. But what took you so long?" The skull-faced man said. Tatsuki was a little scared and she moved behind Spawn. "Al, who is this girl?"
"This is , those are Blade and Johnny Blaze."
"Call me Ghost Rider! When transformed I am the Ghost Rider!"
"What?" Tatsuki said confused.
The Ghost Rider sighed. "My name is Zarathos, I am actually an Angel who was corrupted and tortured into insanity thousands of years ago during mankind's first years by a demon called Mephisto, the Devil, and since them, the Devil would make deals with some people, throwing me to posses them, turning them into his servants, Ghost Riders, it happens that my most recent host, Johnny Blaze, basically gave the Devil the middle finger and we became someone independent from Mephisto's manipulations, and decided to act as good-doers and continue with my original mission of protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty. So, babe, what is your story?"
"My...story is shorter, but it is more confusing. In short, I accidentally got some powers, and the troll jackass who was supposed to help me teleported and told me that I wouldn't return until I helped with the problem of the people going missing. The problem that is somehow linked to the Mafia and the Vampires."
"You guys found the Vampires kidnapping people?" Blade asked. "So, my suspects were right. What did see, exactly?"
"Uh...A group of Vampires was kidnapping a man, to someone called Damaskinos." Tatsuki said.
"And that is not all." Spawn said. "We found a truck filled with people." The trio didn't notice when Tatsuki crawled towards the last thug's corpse. "The Vampires are up to something. Eli Damaskinos is probably their leader. And the Mafia is involved. I just can't put the pieces together."
"Hey guys." The three vigilant turned to Tatsuki. "Listen to this." She showed them a walk-talkie she retrieved from the dead body.
"Bill?! Bill! Can you hear me?! I'm back with reinforcements!"They then started to hear a loud banging sound from the door.
The Ghost Rider chuckled sinisterly. "I needed some exercise, anyway." He then reached out to his back and grabbed a shotgun.
Spawn took his guns and his chains levitated. Blade drew a sword and a pistol. Tatsuki drew her own sword. Ghost Rider looked at her and noticed that she was scared. "Hey, babe." Tatsuki looked at him. "You are scared right? You are not used to this kind of thing." She turned her look away without responding "Stay behind me. Shit is about to get real." Spawn launched his chains upwards and he attached himself to the ceiling. Blade, Tatsuki and Ghost Rider hid behind the lines of crates.
A group of Mafia thugs broke through the door, and then three of them were immediately killed by Ghost Rider, Spawn and Blade followed suit. Tatsuki's body started to tremble, she dropped the sword and she crawled down with her hands covering her ears and tears streaming out of her closed eyes. Even with her ears covered she could hear everything, the sound of the shots, the sound of flesh being torn apart, the Ghost Rider's murderous cackle. "Stop it. Stop it! Please, make it stop!"
Two hands held her shoulders, and she shrieked and jumped backwards. "Hey, babe. What is the matter?" Ghost Rider asked.
"I can't do this. I can't do this!" She than ran away to a corner and she sat down, hugging her legs.
The Ghost Rider sighed. "Poor girl. She had a nervous breakdown." He looked at the window, the sun was coming up. He surrounded himself in flames and transformed back into the human Johnny Blaze. "What do we do?"
"We split up and discover more, during the night we regroup here." Spawn said and he walked towards the door, his cape shifted into a long coat to cover him.
"Wait! But what about the girl?" Blaze shouted. But Spawn had left the building. Blaze sighed and he walked out with Blade. "I still think that we should do something about the girl."
Spawn rolled his eyes and he shot eye beams at the building surrounding it with a force field. "I put an invisible force field around the building. No one will come in or out. She'll be safe until we return. Now go, alright?" Spawn said before he walked away. Blade shrugged before jumping to the top of a building and running away.
Johnny facepalmed and grunted in anger. "Jackass." He walked around the building and he hopped on his motorcycle and drove away.
Inside the building, Tatsuki was sobbing while remaining in fetal position. She then heard something near her. She looked up and saw the hologram of Loki. "You!" Tatsuki got up and fiercely stared into Loki's eyes. "You take me out of this place and bring me home right now!"
"So, you finished your test?" Loki asked.
"Test?! Is that all care about?! I was nearly killed by Vampires! Vampires, goddamn it! I saw a crapton of people being killed in front of me! How..."Tatsuk's eyes started to tear up, to Loki's shock. "How am I supposed to deal with a Valkyrie's responsibilities?!"
"Tatsuki..."
"The last night… I never been so scared in my entire life. I hate it! How am I supposed to be a warrior if I am too scared to even move?!" She then grabbed the sword. "Why did this stupid thing had to choose me of all people?!"
"Tatsuki, control yourself! I never said it was going to be an easy task. But, don't forget, I am here to teach you and to help you." Loki said. "So, are you sure that you were just scared the whole time? Didn't you fight back even once?"
"Well, there was a moment. I saw the Vampires kidnapping a man, I felt as if my mind was being clouded by pure fury, and my body was moving on its own, as if I was being controlled like a puppet." Tatsuki explained.
"*Hmm*. I think this was your first taste of Berserker Rage."
"Berserker Rage?" Tatsuki asked.
"If you lose control of your emotions, this is what happens. In this state of mind, you'll get stronger and faster and you'll feel no pain, but you'll also be reckless and even mindless. You went through a lot, you should rest a little."
Tasuki sighed and she sat down against the wall she closed her eyes while holding the sword tightly. Loki looked at Tatsuki for some seconds before his hologram disappeared.
LAST NIGHT AT SAME TIME, DARK DIMENSION
Dormammu was in a meditative position while looking at Ichigo, the chained teen had fully turned into a muscular lizard-like Hollow. "My son. Your destiny is traced, and there is nothing to help it. Either you succeed in your inner fight and I mold and break you into someone like me. Or you lose and I release you as a living weapon of devastation upon your world. In either way, I win." Dormammu looked around and contemplated the sky of the Dark Dimension. He noticed two beings who materialized near him, one resembled a winged red gargoyle with eyes with yellow sclera and the other was a red-skinned humanoid with short red hair and blank purple eyes who wore a red robe with a cape over his left shoulder. "Nastirth. Belasco. To what I owe the pleasure of your sudden appearance? Specially considering that you've been watching me and my son since we arrived at the canyon."
"We were curious to meet your heir, Lord Dormammu." Nastirth, the gargoyle like demon, said. He crawled down to the Hollowfied Ichigo and nearly had his face bitten off.
Belasco snorted in disdain, that didn't go unnoticed. "Is something wrong, Belasco?"
"As a matter of fact it is. Why did you choose a human, an inferior creature, to be your heir?" Belasco said.
"And you think that you could be a better heir?" Nastirth mocked.
"As a matter of fact I do." Belasco answered.
Dormammu laughed. "Lucky for you, Belasco, I am willing to give you a chance." He then destroyed the stakes in the chains. "If you are able to kill Ichigo before he succeeds in his test, Belasco, I'll make you my heir. Want to join in Nastirth?"
"Nah. I'll be fine in simply watching." Nastirth said and he flapped his wings and started to fly. "Maybe you should back away, my lord, so that the fight will be a one-to-one duel."
"Fair enough." Dormammu floated away with Nastirth, they both used magic to put a force field around the asteroid.
The Hollowfied Ichigo then broke free from the chains and he grabbed Tensa Zangetsu. Belasco grinned. "Do you really think that you are worthy of becoming Lord Dormammu's heir. I wont let an inferior creature such as yourself humiliate me a far superior being." Belasco drew hissword. Ichigo came dashing at Belasco who defended but crashed against a rock. Belasco disappeared and reappeared behind Ichigo who got cut in the chest, Ichigo fell down twitching, the wound healed and he got up as if nothing happened. "A healing factor?" Belasco dashed and he this time he stabbed Ichigo in the chest, but then a giant worm like creature crawled out of the wound and bit Belasco in the arm, throwing him away and chopping his arm off. "You bastard! I'll make sure your suffering lasts forever!"
INSIDE ICHIGO'S MIND
Dormammu's Avatar kept watching Ichigo clashing with his Hollow. "Bastard! Where did you learn Bankai?"
"Isn't it obvious?" The Hollow laughed. "I learned it the same time you did." And then they both released black and white energy and they backed away from each other.
"You know Ichigo, should you fail and lose to your Hollow, I think I'll release you on an orphanage or a retirement house."Dormammu said and he licked his lips. "Just for fun."
"Son of a bitch!" Ichigo said.
"I don't know about you, Ichigo, but I am starting to like this guy." The Hollow said. "Say Dormammu what if..."
"Silence, inferior creature. The only thing I want you to do is to give up and become Ichigo's servant."
"Yeah, sorry. Not gonna happen." The Hollow said and he tried to attack Dormammu who was protected by Ichigo.
"Trying to protect your Father, Ichigo? I am touched."
"Shut up! You are not my father!" Ichigo growled and he pushed the Hollow away. "Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo swung his sword, launching a black and red wave at the Hollow, who deflected with one hand. "What?! With one hand?"
Ichigo blocked an attack from the Hollow, who then put his hand against the sword. "Getsuga Tensho." The Hollow used his own Getsuga Tensho, that was more similar to a huge white and red explosion, wounding Ichigo. "I knew it. You are not good enough, Ichigo. And after I am done with you Ichigo, Dormammu is the next." Ichigo ignored his wounds and he held his word with both hands. "You don't understand. You are done for." The Hollow said and he grabbed Ichigo's sword that turned white and disintegrated. "What a waste." He said and stabbed Ichigo in the stomach. "It is over Ichigo. Soon I'll be the dominant one. And I'll kill everyone."
They both then noticed a loud and insane laughter behind the Hollow. The one laughing was Dormammu. "Idiots! You are all doomed! I think I should have told you. Right now, my General Belasco is fighting Ichigo outside on the material plane. Soon, I'll have someone stronger and truly worthy of being my heir, after he kills you both!"
"WHAT?!"
"Can't you understand Ichigo?! It is over for you! I'll dance over the corpses in Karakura Town! And I'll drink a goblet filled with your family's blood, all because you were too weak!" And after that he started to laugh maniacally.
Ichigo gritted his teeth. "You. Bastard!" He then grabbed the Hollow's sword and then a black substance turned the sword black and partially transformed the Hollow's hand before he dashed backwards. "Stay away from my family!"
Dormammu crossed his arms and he snorted. "If you want to protect your former-family, there is only one thing to do." He said directly into Ichigo's mind. The teen then turned to the Hollow and in a quick dash he stabbed the Hollow through the chest, a black substance turned the Hollows clothe white. "Good job, Ichigo. Really good, job." Dormammu said, slowly clapping his hands.
He then put his palms upwards and he launched chains at the Hollow, Ichigo backed away and the Hollow had the chains wrapped around him and they then started melting and the Hollow was being encased in a metal cocoon. "No. No! You can't do this to me!"
Dormammu chuckled. "Oh, I can, and I am. I hope you enjoyed your moments of freedom, because those were your last." In the end the Hollow was totally encased in a metal cocoon. A disgusted chigo looked at the cocoon. "You succeeded. You can go back, now."
OUTSIDE ICHIGO'S MIND
Belasco was easily overwhelmed by the Hollowfied Ichigo, the demon was down and bleeding profusely. Ichigo pointed his left finger at Belasco and he charged red energy. "A Cero." Belasco gritted his sharp teeth and he tried to get up. Ichigo was about to shot the Cero, but then cracks appeared on his left arm and he bleed profusely from them, surprising the three demons. More bleeding cracks appeared on Ichigo's body, Belasco smirked and he held his sword with both hands. "Now. Let's end this."
Belasco dashed and tried to attack Ichigo, but Dormammu held him. "If you value your life, don't do that."
"Lord Dormammu? You said that if I killed him..."
"I said that you killed him before he succeeded in the test you would become my heir, but it is too late now." Dormammu said, much to Belasco's despair. Ichigo's Hollowfied body cracked into pieces, and Ichigo returned to normal. The boy would have fallen on the ground if Dormammu didn't caught him with telekinesis. "He is already learning how to slave others." He then brought Ichigo to him and carried him in his arms. "You did well, my son."
"You both look tired, sir. Maybe you should go to your fortress to rest a little." Nastirth said.
"Yeah, that is good idea." Dormammu said, he then was engulfed in a burst flames and he disappeared with Ichigo.
"Are you okay, Belasco?" Nastirth asked.
Belasco winced a little while holding his right arm. "My wounds will heal. My pride, not so much."
"So take whatever is left of your pride and swallow it down." Nastirth said, earning a growl from Belasco. "Ichigo now forever belongs to LordDormammu, and this is something we'll have to deal with from now on."
KARAKURA TOWN, 10:46
Loki woke up with the sunlight that went through the window, he looked around the bedroom. "Oh, yeah. I forgot, I'm at Tatsuki's house." He said and he assumed Tatsuki's form. Loki cleared his throat. "Mi mi mi mi mi." He cleared his throat again and repeated the same thing. "Mi mi mi mi mi." But this time with Tatsuki's voice. "Great." He got up from the bed and he changed the clothes and walked towards the exit door. "Oops." He pointed backwards with his index finger, and with magic the bedroom was tided up. "There we go." Loki walked down the stairs, finding Tatsuki's mom.
"Good morning, honey. Are you okay? You were acting so weird last night."
"Oh, that? I was just tired mom, that is all." Loki said and he reached out to a fruit bowl and he grabbed an apple and took a bite out of it.
"Oh, before I forget, here. The mailman left this earlier." Tatsuki's mom handed Loki a plastic casing that he eyed curiously.
"Mortal Kombat X?" He opened it. "A weird round flat thing and, a manual." Loki looked at Tatsuki's mom. "Hey… Mom, what is this thing for?"
Mrs Arisawa blinked confused. "Darling, this is a video game, your father has bought this remember?" She said.
Loki looked back at the box, even more confused. "Video Game?" He looked around, he found a TV and a Xbox 360. "Uh. Mortal technology. This will be interesting." He turned to Tatsuki's mom. "Mom, do you mind if I…?"
"Oh, not at all. I'm sure that you must be excited to play this." She said with a smiled.
Loki walked at the TV, he turned it and the console, he opened the box and he took the CD and inserted it in the console. He saw the joystick and grabbed it curiously. "Yeah, this will be interesting."
A FEW MINUTES LATER, 11:09
Loki looked shocked at the violence that was happening in front of his eyes, as he played the video-game, or at least tried to. "By Odin's beard, I would never imagine that the mortals could enjoy this kind of violence, but it is surprisingly entertaining." The door bell than rung. "How do I stop this…?" He pressed all the buttons in the joystick, until he pressed the start button and the game stopped. "Oh, it is the start button. I'll have to take some notes on what these buttons do to each of these… What she called? Video-games..." He got up and he went at the door and he opened it, he was then hugged by a smiling Orihime.
"Hello Tatsuki, it is so good to see you!" Orihime said, cheerful as always.
Loki silently sighed. "Oh, yeah, the girl from yesterday, with a cooking so lethal that it can kill entire armies. What is her name? I have to pull it from my memory." He slowly hugged her back. "Orihime, it is good to see you too." He pulled himself away from her, and he smiled, even if in a slightly fake way. "But what are you doing here?"
"Come on, your friend can't simply come to visit you?" Orihime said and she pouted.
"Good point." Loki chuckled.
Orihime giggled. "Anyway, I wanted to ask if you would want to go at the mall with me?" Orihime said.
Loki scratched the back of his head. "Geez, I'll have to ask for my mom's permission." He gestured to Orihime to sit on the couch before he went to the kitchen. "Please say no. Please say no. Please say no." He thought as he entered the kitchen. "Hey mom, Orihime is asking me to go with her to the mall. Can I go?
Mrs Arisawa smiled. "Of course, dear. Have fun!"
Loki returned to the room, still smiling. "Let's go?" He said to Orihime with a smile. "Why me?!" He screamed inside his mind.
SOMEWHERE ELSE, 11:43
Rukia was inside Ichigo's house. "What? Ichigo has disappeared?" Rukia said.
Yuzu sniffed before speaking. "Yes. He didn't come home yesterday, I'm scared that something happened to him." She then started crying.
"Oh, Yuzu, don't cry, I'm sure Ichigo is fine. In his age I would always run away from home to have fun." Isshin said nonchalantly.
Yuzu kept crying and Karin knocked her father out with a punch to the face. "Are you out of your mind?! Your son has disappeared! How can you act so calm?!" She inquired.
"Guys, calm down, I'm sure Ichigo is fine, even if something happened Ichigo can take care of himself!" Rukia said desparate, trying to calm things down.
Outside was Shinji Hirako, who sighed and then used Shunpo to leave.
LATER, 11:51
Shinji Hirako entered an abandoned warehouse, or at least it looked abandoned, inside were more people like him, Shinigamis with Hollow powers. "So, did you discover anything?" Rose asked.
"Nothing. Even his family don't know where he is." Shinji responded. He was then hit in the head by Hyiori.
"Useless! Incompetent! You can't do anything right!" She angrily shouted right into Shinji's ear.
"So I take that you discovered where Ichigo is right?" Shinji said sardonically. Hyiori's silence was all the answer he needed. "Did any of you discover anything?" The others shook their heads negatively.
Shinji sighed and he took a cellphone and he typed on it. "Who you are calling?" Kensei asked.
"Calling an old friend of ours." Shinji put the cellphone against his ear. "Hey Stephen, it is Shinji Hirako. Remember that favour that you owe me? Yeah, I need your help with something."
IN THE DARK DIMENSION, 12:05
Dormammu looked at inside Ichigo's house through a mirror, with Nastirth and Belasco beside him. "Did you see that?"
"What do you plan to do, now, Lord Dormammu?" Belasco asked.
"I'll use this image of his dad disregarding Ichigo's disappearance as nothing will help warp him into someone like me." Dormammu said, the mirror disappeared with a wave of his hand, he got up from his throne and disappeared in a burst of flames and he appeared right in front of door Ichigo's bedroom. He then blasted the door open with a kick, to find Ichigo sat in front of a table, reading a pile of books. "Good morning, sonny! I see that you are already awaken and putting your brain to work!" Dormammu said jovially.
Ichigo snorted in disdain. "It is not like you left me with anything to do. You left all these books about magic."
"So you've been reading already, this will make things easier. Say, I have a gift for you."
Ichigo stopped reading, he looked at Dormammu, an eyebrow cocked up. "A… Gift? From you? Is it a knife to the back, or something of that sort?"
Dormammu laughed. "Oh, you have a great sense of humor. But no, I could never do that to you. You are my son, and I need you alive, no, what I have to you is this." He showed to Ichigo a metal object somewhat shaped as a slug covered in spikes.
Ichigo got up and he looked at the metal thing. "And what is this supposed…?" The thing then jumped off Dormammu's hand and it latched onto Ichigo's left arm, the spikes then sank through the slug and stabbed through Ichigo's arm, he clutched his arm, desperately trying to claw the thing off his arm as it stretched and covered his entire arm, his right arm was now metallic and had long claws in his fingers. "What the fuck is this thing?!"
"An amulet forged with mystic metals, it will help you with your training in magic, and don't worry, it obeys all your orders with a mere thought, it can shapeshift. Why don't you try?" Dormammu said.
Ichigo moved his left arm and he looked at it. The metal arm then liquefied and sunk inside his normal arm through the pores, he tried it again and the metal then seeped out through his pores and covered his arm in a metallic clawed gauntlet. "*Hmpf* I guess I can get used to it."
"Now enter your Shinigami form."
"Why?"
"Just do it, alright?!" Ichigo entered his Shinigami form, his body dropped on the ground. Dormammu phased through Ichigo intangible and he grabbed Ichigo's Shikai as he phased, and his clothes changed into a black long coat over a white undershirt, with his Shinigami Badge in his left chest, he did kept his Hakama Pants and the sandals. Dormammu conducted energy through Zangetsu, and its form shaped, the blade slightly curved inwards at its tip, giving it an appearance similar to a trench knife, it also got a hilt shaped like a horned demon with its open mouth at the blade, and a short length chain with a pentagram shaped pendant in the end of it and the blade had red lines all over it.
"But why did you do this, anyway?" Ichigo asked.
"No particular reason, these changes are just aesthetic." Dormammu said and he gave the Zanpakuto back to Ichigo. "So, before we leave, there is something I have to show you. I was watching over your family, and I found something really interesting."
Dormammu materialized a mirror in the air that showed Isshin. "Oh, Yuzu, don't cry, I'm sure Ichigo is fine. In his age I would always run away from home to have fun."
Ichigo snorted. "Typical behavior of my father. Crazy Old Asshole."
Dormammu felt like exploding in rage, but he kept a neutral expression. "So you are okay with that?"
Ichigo looked at Dormammu intrigued. It was as if the flame-faced creature actually cared. "My father is not that good. But he is still better than you."
"What did I do that was so bad?"
"Other than enslaving an entire dimension and threatening to kill my parents, my friends, and my entire to force me to come with you, manipulating me and not carrying that I could get me killed...?" Ichigo was saying in a deadpan tone.
"Alright, I'm not exactly a saint, but the way you talk about it, you make me look like some sort of Psychopathic monster. So, let's start your training in magic." Dormammu and Ichigo disappeared in a burst of flames and they reappeared in a large floating rock. "The basic concept of magic, is to yield the energy that exist in every world as a tool for you to turn the elements into your weapons, to transform matter, to reshape the world around you, to bend the very laws of the universe at your will. These are some of the things that magic can do." Dormammu shot a ball of crimson energy from his palm that exploded a large rock. "The Plasma Bolt is a basic spell. Now your gauntlet will make controlling the arcane energies more easy, since you are a rookie." Dormammu gestured to Ichigo try before he crossed his arms. Ichigo extended his right arm, the gauntlet started to conduct energy, he focused the energy into his palm, that then burst into his face. "No, no, Ichigo, you are doing something wrong. Magic is all about concentration. Mental. Focus. You have to clear your mind for this to work." Ichigo sighed, he closed his eyes and he deeply breathed in and out, he concentrated the energy in his palm, this time he created a ball of energy that he then shot at a rock. Dormammu grinned. "Good job, Ichigo. Now we'll move to more advanced lessons."
KARAKURA TOWN, 14:17
Loki and Orihime were at the shopping mall's food court, sat around a small table, eating Pizza. Orihime reached inside her purse, and she took a bottle of chocolate syrup and she covered her slice of Pizza with took a bite out of it and she hummed happy. "This is so good. Tatsuki, do you want some syrup in your Pizza?"
Loki's face got pale. "NOOOOO!" He stopped screaming when he realized that he was getting too much attention. "I...I mean… I don't want to at the moment, keep it to yourself, I promise I'll taste it some point." He forced himself to smile and he then took a bite out of his pizza. "The day Jottunheim unfreezes that is." He noticed that there were two guys approaching them.
"Oh, hey there sweat hearts, what are two doing here, cuties?" One of them said, looking directly at Orihime, even putting his hand on her shoulder, she giggled innocent.
"Waiting for the first idiot to ask." Loki muttered.
"Oh, ho ho. This one here is fierce, I like that in a chick." The other said, he sneak his hand down Loki's back and then grabbed his rear.
The teens were then launched and they landed in a fountain. "You barbarians! Animals! You dare lay your filthy hands upon me?! Next time you do something like that, I shall…!" Loki stopped his screaming when he noticed that everyone, Orihime included, were looking at him with wide eyes. "Way to go, Loki. Way to go..."
LATER, 18:54
Shinji and the others were still waiting inside the warehouse, when then a blue portal materialized, and from it walked out a black-haired man with blue eyes and two strands of white hair, he wore a blue robe and blue pants and boots, yellow gloves and a red cape. "Geez. What took you so long, Strange?" Hyiori said.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe my job as a surgeon?" Stephen said ironically.
"Be quiet, twerp." Shinji said, he slapped her in the back of her head. "Anyway, it is good to see you again, Stephen. And I'm glad that you were able to find some time to go help us."
"Anything to help a friend in need." Stephen said, shaking hands with Shinji. "Still, you didn't say your problem, you are actually pretty vague in your phone call."
"Oh, right. There is a person that disappeared, we need you to find him." Shinji said.
"Do you think you can do that, strange?" Love said.
"I am the Sorcerer Supreme, I daily fight gods and threats of cosmic level, doing something as simple as finding someone is like a child's play for me." Stephen boasted, his golden necklace started to shine and then an eye opened in the middle of the pendant.
"Freaky." Mashiro said amazed.
"Behold, the Eye of Agamotto will reveal the person you are looking for and the culprit responsible." Stephen said. The orb then projected an image of Ichigo, and then the image was surrounded by flames, and it warped into a demonic flame-covered head with a large evil grin. The Vizards widened their eyes, shocked and even a little horrified.
"Who is that?" Hacchi asked.
"That is the Dread Dark Lord Dormammu, Hacchi, the sovereign of the Dark Dimension, and my most dangerous nemesis. This boy you are looking for, Ichigo, was taken by Dormammu." Stephen did a gesture and a portal materialized. "We must hurry, Ichigo is still in the clutches of Dormammu, and I can only hope that isn't too late to save him."
"About time, I needed some action." Kensei said, slamming his fist against his left hand.
They all then crossed the portal, and they arrived at a canyon. Stephen was the first to speak. "Welcome to the Dark Dimension."
"Brrrr. Such a freaky place." Love said.
"It wasn't always like that. I heard that this place used to be a paradise, until the a great disaster happened." Stephen explained.
"What disaster?" Rose asked.
"Dormammu, he happened. You have no idea of the enemy we are facing, Dormammu is one of the most dangerous beings in existence, and here, in his domain, he is unstoppable, we can't just attack him without a plan. Once we find Ichigo, you must get to him, while I'll deal with Dormammu." Stephen explained.
"Too much nonsensical blah blah blah. Let's just go after this flame-faced freak." Hyiori said.
They then heard a loud laugh right inside their minds. "Doctor Stephen Strange, it has been so long since we last fought each other, dear enemy."
"Dormammu." Stephen muttered. Two fiery eyes and a mouth also made formed in the sky above them.
"You actually thought that you could enter my realm without being noticed? Arrogant human! I know why you are here, and I know that brought others with you. Fools! You want to take Ichigo from me?! I'm sorry for ruining it to you, but he is now mine, and I intend to keep what is mine, no matter what I have to do." The fire eyes and the mouth merged into a large fireball that then went at Strange and the Vizards.
Strange created a dome shield that protected them, but the resulting explosion destroyed the canyon and the terrain around, leaving them only in a floating rock. "You were not kidding. That guy is pretty strong." Kensei said.
"I told you, Dormammu must not be underestimated, however, he committed a mistake. I can now find him by following the trail of residual magic." Stephen said. His eyes glowed yellow, and he grinned. "I found him."
Not too far away, Dormammu was watching pleased as Ichigo swung his sword and continued practicing magic doing some combinations, he created orbs of energy around himself in the air, he shot the orbs and he then created a portal that absorbed the orbs and they then appeared above him and they hit the ground meters away from him. "To learn to create Missiles this fast, and even creating portals and combine with your magic. Ichigo, you truly are a prodigy."
"Well, it certainly helps that I was being helped by a powerful millennium-old demonic creature sure helped." Ichigo responded.
"I'm sure that you can learn any magic in record time." Dormammu chuckled. He then turned around, Nastirth and Belasco coming at him. "What do you two want?"
"Lord Dormammu, we sensed the barriers being tore." Nastirth said. "We think that the Dark Dimension is being invaded."
Dormammu snorted in disdain. "I'm already on par of these invaders. As a matter of fact, they are coming right where we are." Then a large blue orbcame flying and it landed, the orb dissipated, revealing Strange and the others.
Ichigo stopped his training, and he looked at those who came surprised. "Hirako?"
"Stephen, you should have told me that you were coming. I could have better prepared myself."
"That guy is Dormammu? Not impressed." Hyiori said.
Dormammu smiled. "I can say the same for you, save for Strange, you don't look that impressive, other than the fact that you are powerful half-breeds."
Most of the Vizards got angry after hearing that, and they would have lunged at Dormammu if Strange didn't hold them. "Don't worry, Ichigo, we are going to get you out of here." Shinji said.
Dormammu laughed. "And why would Ichigo want to leave, anyway? He came here willingly." Dormammu said to the others' shock. "And all I needed to do was threat his family." Dormammu then started to laugh.
"Unbelievable." Hacchi muttered.
"I don't know about you, but I'm going to put this flame-faced psycho is going down." Kensei said.
"And what do you plan to do?!" Dormammu said. "Ichigo could you please be a good son and take care of these scoundrels?" Ichigo took his Zanpakuto and swung it at Dormammu, but the attack was blocked by Belasco.
"I knew that we shouldn't have trusted you!" Belasco growled and he pushed Ichigo away.
Dormammu laughed humorously. "Ichigo, you naughty boy, so you were this whole time just waiting for the moment to strike me down? This actually makes me really proud, I don't know if I should give you a reward, or if I should spank you and ground you in your bedroom..."
"You talk too much!" Hiyori said, she materialized her Hollow Mask and she then opened her mouth and she fired a Cero.
Dormammu reached out with his palm and he stopped the Cero. "You shouldn't interrupt people when they are talking. That is simply rude." He then moved his arm to the side, and then he shot a powerful beam at Hyiori.
The beam was stopped by Strange who created a shied in front of her. "Dormammu, your problem is with me."
"Eh. Very well, I would rather face you over these losers at any day. Belasco. Nastirth. Kill the rest but leave Ichigo alive."
"I won't say for myself, Lord Dormammu." Belasco snarled, he rushed after Ichigo, who swung his Zanpakuto, launching the demon away.
"Uh. With all due respect, Lord Dormammu, I would rather stay out of this battle, to preserve myself." Nastirth said, he then dissolved into black dust and he vanished.
"Nastirth, you spineless worm." Belasco said. He then morphed into a huge and muscular red-skinned bestial-looking demon with large bat wings, goat legs, a snake tail, sharp teeth, blank yellow eyes and horns, his sword also became bigger. "Now boy, I'll teach you a lesson, on which one of us is superior!"
"Alright. Just to make it clear, the superior one you are talking about is Dormammu, right?" Ichigo said deadpan. Belasco let out a rage-filled scream and he ran after Ichigo. "I'll take care of him." Belasco swung his sword down, Ichigo used to Shunpo he then reappeared on Belasco's shoulder and kicked him in the head and launched him at another asteroid. Ichigo curled his right metallic and clawed hand into a claw like stance and he then moved it, he was surrounded by a black aura, and his face was covered by his Hollow Mask, and he then flew after Belasco.
"You know, I don't think he needs our help." Rose said.
Ichigo slammed his Zanpakuto at Belasco, the demon blocked with his own sword, and the ground under him shattered. "What tipped you exactly?" Kensei said sardonically.
"Oh, if you are feeling out of place, don't worry, here is something to break your boredom." Dormammu flicked his fingers, and then glowing orbs made of blue light started to float around him, for the shock of Strange and the Vizards.
"These are..." Lisa muttered.
"Human souls? Yes. They were going to Soul Society, you see, but I decided to put them to better use."
"Dormammu, you hold nothing sacred." Strange said angry.
"Could you be any more callous?" Shinji said.
"Well, to answer your statement Stephen, I hold myself as sacred. And for the question, how is this for an answer?" Dormammu's whole body was surrounded by a blue aura. The souls then were forcibly merged and the conjoined mass of souls went at an asteroid, that then broke into pieces and they then rearranged into a rock ten-armed and four-headed golem. "Kill them." Dormammu shot lightning at the golem, that roared and then went after the Vizards. With a scream, Stephen shot a ray of energy at Dormammu, who simply took, he didn't even bulge, but his body had a few cracks. "Finally decided to take action, Stephen. Good, I was starting to get bored." The cracks on Dormammu healed, and with blue electricity running through his body and leaking out of his eyes, and he then flew after Strange.
Belasco breathed a stream of fire at Ichigo, the teen stabbed the ground with his sword, and a shield made of rock rose from the ground and protected him. The rock then flew at Belasco's face, the demon grabbed the rock and broke it. "Why you…?!" The Demon lunged at Ichigo, who was defended by a dome field.
"You have to calm down, otherwise you'll lose." Ichigo said.
"And you need to shut up, and die!" Belasco slammed his sword again, this time, the shield was shattered. The demon then grabbed Ichigo. "You are finished!" Belasco then squeezed Ichigo's body turned into ice, and the demon's hand started to freeze. "What the…?" The ice clone of Ichigo then exploded, Belasco's arm was frozen and then it shattered. A portal then appeared above Belasco, Ichigo jumped out and he then dive kicked the demon in the back, knocking him down, Belasco tried to get up but Ichigo stomped on his head to keep him down. "Bastard! I know your trick! I know how you are so strong! You are drawing power from the Dark Dimension! Such a weakling as yourself does not deserve to be Lord Dormammu's heir!" Belasco growled, he then saw Ichigo putting the sword besides his head.
"I don't care about being Dormammu's heir." Ichigo then rose his Zanpakuto above his head, and the blade started to glow blue. "Getsuga..." Belasco started to sweat cold. "TENSHO!" And he swung the Zanpakuto down.
Dormammu evaded a series of fireballs. Strange then created various copies of himself that surrounded Dormammu and then shot lightnings at the Faltine. Dormammu shot red eye beams that disintegrated the replicas. "What? They were all Replicas?!" Dormammu grinned and he turned around, grabbing Strange's arm, who was holding an energy dagger. "Oh ho ho, Stephen, congratulations, you almost got me there. Almost." Dormammu broke Strange's arm. "Only now I noticed it. You learned to do spells without the need to speak them! So you evolved a level even above the Sorcerer Supreme? Congratulations, Stephen." Dormammu slammed Strange on the ground and then stomped on his neck. "Unfortunately, you won't live long enough to savor it."
"No! Stephen!" Shinji tried to go help Strange, but the Golem slammed him against the ground.
Dormammu stopped to see a large blue explosion far away, that was then followed by Ichigo, who appeared through Shunpo, dragging the corpse of Belasco, who had a large vertical gash coming from his head to his crotch. Dormammu whistled impressed, he looked around and he then snickered. "Alright. That is it. You can go." With a wave of his hand, the Golem dissipated into dust, and he the clicked his fingers and a portal materialized. "That portal will take you to Earth, you may leave." Dormammu stepped off Stephen's neck, he then started to cough heavily. Dormammu then grabbed Belasco's corpse by the leg and started to drag it away.
"Wait, what? Is that it? You are simply going to let us leave?" Ichigo inquired.
"*Hmpf* And what should I do? Force you to stay? You, uselessly, tried to get me killed. You are treacherous and rebellious. So you are useless to me, just leave." Dormammu said.
"And what about this thing?" Ichigo said, showing the metal gauntlet in his left arm.
"Eh. Keep it to yourself. Consider it a gift, you are, after all, my son." Dormammu turned and he winked at Ichigo while smiling, before continuing his way.
Ichigo shuddered. "I swear, he is scarier when he tries to be friendly and nice."
"We better go now, Ichigo." Shinji said.
"Are you sure that is a good idea? He could try something." Lisa said.
'He is up to something." Stepehen admitted. "But for now, we better go." They then went through the portal.
Dormammu chuckled, he kept walking for awhile, until he stopped on the edge of the asteroid. "Oh, Belasco. What a waste. To lose so quickly, and claimed to be superior to Ichigo." He snorted in disdain and then crawled besides the corpse. "I'll probably resurrect you later. I may need a meat shield." He then noticed something. "What is is this?" He put his hand inside the gash, and then he pulled out a string of orange hair. "Oh, look at this. Ah ha ha ha ha ha! You proved to be more useful in death to me, than in live, Belasco."
NEW YORK, 20:16
Tatsuki woke up, to find in front of her, Spawn, Blade and Ghost Rider. "Hey there babe. We thought that you could be hungry, so we brought you this." The Ghost Rider showed her a Hot Dog.
Tatsuki's stomach growled a little. "Oh, thank you." She then took the Hot Dog and started to eat it. "I'm sorry I didn't help you that much during the day."
"No problem, babe. You weren't the only one who slacked a little in the helping department." Ghost Rider said, he and Blade looking directly at Spawn.
"Anyway, we found the place vampires are using to keep the people they are capturing." Blade said.
A few seconds later, Tatsuki, Spawn, Ghost Rider and Blade were running across the roofs of New York. The three men jumped off and then started to climb a building, Spawn wrapped a chain around Tatsuki and he brought her to the top of the building. "That building over there belongs to Eli Damaskinos." Ghost Rider said, pointing at a taller building nearby. "And we know that old bat-face is involved in the disappearance of the beggars."
"Guys, there is someone on the roof, he looks like someone important..." Blade spoke, looking through a binocular, a man in a tuxedo with two guards near him. A helicopter flew above them. "We can't lose this opportunity. I'll go ahead, Spawn, you guys follow me." Blade then dissipated into a flock of bats that flew at the building.
"Excuse me?! How…?! How he did that?! Why didn't you tell me that Blade is a vampire?!" Tatsuki said.
"He is not, he is a Dhampir. A half human half vampire, all the powers of a vampire at the maximum level, and none of the weaknesses." Ghost Rider explained.
The helicopter landed on the roof, a soldier in black uniform and wearing nightvision goggles left the helicopter and walked to the man. "Dr. Edgar Vance. We are ready to take you to the facility." The soldier said.
"Mr. Damaskinos asked me to check on the facility, let's move fast and get this over with." Dr. Vance said. Then the flock of bats flew above their heads and then merged into a large, winged bat like monster that then screeched loudly.
"What the…?!" The monster pulled out a katana, and slashed the two guards and the soldier, the three then burned into ashes.
The pilot was about to fly the helicopter in panic, but he was distracted by a green glow behind him, he turned around, and he saw Spawn, Tatsuki and the Ghost Rider. "Do. Not. Move." Spawn said, his chains moving at the pilot like snakes.
The monster grabbed Dr Vance by the neck and then lifted him, and then it transformed into Blade. "So, this facility you were talking about. Why don't you bring us there?"
LATER, 20:24
The helicopter flew to the outskirts of New York, reaching a forest, and then it landed in an open field, besides a large building. Dr. Vance walked out of the helicopter. "Good night Dr. Vance." One of the soldiers guarding the door said. "The installations are ready for your…"
And then Blade, Spawn, Ghost Rider and Tatsuki walked out of the helicopter, the startled soldiers aimed their weapons at them. "No! Don't shoot! They took me as hostage! For now… Just go along with it." Vance said. The soldiers put their weapons down, they still were tense. "Now, open the door, and let us in." One of the soldiers typed in a panel, and the doors opened. Inside there were the beggars, strapped into metal beds and being surgically altered by various robotic limbs with many kinds of tools. Some of the people were altered into pale creatures with facial features similar to bats.
"Oh my god. Are these the kidnapped?" Tatsuki said.
"They were the kidnapped. The vampires are turning the people they are kidnapping into Ghouls. Probably a personal army, for Mr. Damaskinos. Isn't that right?" Spawn said looking at Dr. Vance.
Blade grabbed the man by the collar, and then raise him. "How can you sell your own species to those monsters?!"
"D-don't treat me as if I was some kind of monster… I'm just doing what I have to, to survive." Dr. Vance stammered.
"How nice of you." Ghost Rider said dryly. "These poor people can't be returned back to normal, but at least they should be given some mercy." Ghost Rider then blew a small cloud of embers, that then increased into massive blazes that consumed the inside of the building.
"My work..." The doctor whimpered.
"And guess who is next?" Blade said, moving to grab his gun.
One of the vampires soldiers, tackled Blade, knocking him down, and dropping Doctor Vance. "Doctor, run!" The soldier drawn a knife and he tried to stab Blade in the face.
The Doctor ran out into the helicopter. "Take me out of here, now!" He said to the pilot.
"He is getting away!" Tatsuki was about to leave when the other vampire soldier grabbed her by shoulder and then knocked her down with a punch to the face. Tatsuki turned to the vampire, her face twisted into an angry snarl, and her eyes were glowing blue.
Blade made short work of the vampire, with a shot to the head, the vampire burned into ashes. Tatsuki, however, didn't act so quickly. She started by cutting off the other vampire's hand off, and then stabbed him in the stomach, and disintegrated him with a blast of electricity, like a lightning, that pierced the ceiling, and roared into the sky. Spawn, Blade and Ghost Rider watched a little unsettled as Tatsuki breathed heavily, her fury dissipated, and her eyes came back to normal.
LATER, 20:38
Tatsuki was alone, resting against a tree. The Ghost Rider wanted to keep her company, but she insisted that she was fine. She sighed and then closed her eyes. "Loki. The job is finished."
A blue light appeared, and then it dissipated, showing Loki. She got up and tried to touch him, this time it was the real deal. "Yes, I am here." Loki chuckled. "So, what was the cause of the people disappearing?"
"Vampires. They were kidnapping people and turning them into monsters. The facility where they were being turned was destroyed, but… Loki I didn't help that much..." Tatsuki said.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. This was your first time. You are still a rookie, you'll have better chances." Loki said. "Well, I better get you home." He then created a portal. "And just for you to know, you may, or may not find yourself in trouble."
Tatsuki got a stern and serious look in her face. "What did you do?"
"First of all, you have to understand. It is not my fault." Loki said, raising his hands defensively. "You see, I went to the place you mortals call Shopping Mall with your friends Orihime… Some boys decided to harass us. And I may, or may not have thrown them at a fountain."
Loki was then knocked down by Tatsuki and she locked him in a headlock, and started to squeeze his neck. "Alright. Listen up you god wannabe! You want me to continue this job as Valkyrie? Fine, but you will have to teach me better in magic, combat and whatever. And I'll have to teach on how properly behave like me, so you won't cause a scene. Do you agree?" She said the last part with a particularly cold voice.
"Yes. Yes! Deal. I accept!" Loki whimpered.
HUECO MUNDO
The Red Skull walked down a series of stairways to reach the laboratory that was being used by Arnim Zola and Szayel. He looked that Szayel was talking to a blue-haired Arrancar. "Patros, tell, Aizen that the Arrancar will be…" Zola was saying when he then noticed the Red Skull. "Oh, Herr Schmidt. What are you doing here?"
"I came here to see what you were working on, doctor." Schmidt said as Patros walked besides him. He looked at a large Arrancar strapped to a metal table. "Another of those Imperfect Arrancars…"
"Oh, but this one is different. You see Herr Schmidt, we are altering him, just like that Menos Grande from the last mission, once we are done, this Arrancar here will get the ability to make clones of himself." Szayel explained.
"Hmm, nice job, doctors." The Red Skull said rubbing his chin. "I'm curious to see how he works on the field, tell me when he is ready, Dr. Zola."
"Yes, Herr Schmidt." Zola said.
The Skull heard a sound coming from his pocket, it was a cellphone. "Excuse me for a moment." He took the cellphone and he answered it. "Yes?"
"Her Schmidt! *cough* Something…Horrible happened in one of our facilities in Canada! All the… *cough* staff were killed, and… the X-23 *cough* *cough*… She escaped…"
"She what?! How did this happen?!" The Red Skull inquired.
"We were testing her against our new robot soldiers, when then she went berserk and went out of our control! *cough* *cough* *cough* She tore the robots to pieces and then started to slaughter *cough* everyone… I'm one of the few who survived *cough*."
"I'll take a guess that she already left, right?" The Red Skull said.
"Yes. After she was done, she took a fighter and flew away *cough*, I don't know where she is…"
"Alright. Alright. I'll send some of my personal to your base to discover more. And don't you dare die now, soldier." The Red Skull then turned the cellphone off and he grabbed a walkie-talkie. "Rumlow, this is Schmidt. Take Winter Soldier, Sabretooth, Living Laser, Blizzard, Titanium Man, Whiplash and Chemistro, and meet with me at the desert, also, bring an Arrancar, we'll need a Garganta. We have a mission on Canada."
TO BE CONTINUE
Author's Notes: Here is a new chapter, as always, review after reading, and I see you later, things will start to get fun! :)
