"I found you."

A courageous, golden-haired vampire hunter stood before the dark force that cast its dreadful shadow on his mortal figure. Despite the embodiment of terror that loomed over him, he stared head-on without a single doubt in his abilities.

Leon grasped the whip fastened securely against his hip, and proceeded forward, one brave step at a time. With his chin high, shoulders back, and a wide stride to accompany him, he traversed into the scarcely guarded domain. If this was the exact location his mole gave him, surely his enemy would be within, plotting his exact revenge on the rest of humanity.

"So, this is where he resides?" Leon thought aloud to himself, peering around at the abandoned chapel, whose rotting beams split from the ceiling, ready to cave inwards at the slightest interference. Nature didn't waste any time consuming the holy ruins, as vines grew up the decrepit pillars, keeping the pieces held together like tendons. Where rain could enter the building, mold took form against the untouched furniture. The veins of Earth poured over the floorboards greedily, causing the ground to become warped with the growth of tree roots.

Pale light streamed through the corridors of the corroded edifice, dust particles mingling within the rays. Without peeling his eyes from the doorway at the end of the elongated hallway, Leon focused his spirit to the bottom of his feet. Holy flames instantly engulfed his steps, leaving a blazing trail extending behind him. This enchantment brought light to Leon's path, allowing him to see nearby obstacles.

There was a blood curdling screech, snapping Leon's head in the sound's direction. A stone-cast creature with claws and wings lunged towards him from atop a pillar. Without blinking, Leon flicked his wrist, sending a powerful blast from his whip through the creature's body. There was a violet flash, and pieces of bloody stone fell to the floor in a dusted heap.

"Like a walk through the meadow." Leon admired his own abilities and the newfound power he had in his grasp. Nothing could stop him in his tracks, not even the wrath of a measly gargoyle. Once again, with eyes locked onto his destination, Leon took his final, flaming steps towards the tall door that stretched all the way to the ceiling, with ominous etchings on the wood. Before he touched the surface, he noticed a strange amber light leaking out from beneath the doors. Without giving much thought to his next actions, Leon shoved open the doors, allowing the enchanting golden light to pour into the hallway.

Casting away the flames from his feet, Leon entered the room with a slow stride, preparing himself for the unexpected. The room was fashioned as a theater, with seats layering down towards the middle stage, which funneled lower into the earth than the rest of the chapel. At the very center of the stage, the source of the light could barely be seen through its rays, but this only accented the formidable figure that stood before it.

Leon crept closer, taking in the details of the surrounding area, keeping his sights locked onto the figure. As the distance between himself and the target shortened, Leon was able to identify the offending stranger. Once he was at a safe distance, he could hear that the man was whispering tomes in an ancient language.

Leon could feel the hatred and rage bubbling within himself, the willingness to hold it back growing thinner. This man, the one who promised him everlasting friendship and loyalty, was now standing before him with these wretched powers, manipulating an orb of light to bend to his will. He didn't question what the object may have been, but rather what the man holding it was about to do.

Detaching his whip from the clasp on his belt, Leon unraveled the weapon, allowing it to hit the floor in a loose coil. Once the leather made contact with the marble, the figure became silent, and began to turn around slowly.

The orb of light in his possession revealed a face that Leon would never forget. It was the face of his old friend, Mathias Cronqvist, but more weathered and pale, iris now the vibrant hue of fresh blood. The ears that peaked from behind curtains of black hair were pointed like that of an apex predator. His body was adorned in pitch black garbs, a crimson cape consuming his shape, turning him into a mass of darkness. But what Leon couldn't take his eyes from, were the blanched fangs attached to a disgruntled expression.

This was Mathias Cronqvist no more.

"Dracula." Leon spoke condescendingly. "Dra… cu… la… Interesting alias you've chosen for yourself." He circled around the vampire, locking his eyes on those greedy fangs.

Dracula realized who this young man was, and turned to face him, sneering with sick pleasure. "Leon..." His voice was raspier, regal, and contained more bass than before. "How did you find this place?"

"I have my sources." Leon answered wittingly. "How did you find this place? Oh! Let me guess; you cleared out an arena of innocent Christians with those dirty knives of yours."

"What do you want, Leon?" Dracula's voice lowered, his pitch becoming threatening.

"You realize you've left behind more than just a name," Leon confronted, "You've broken many hearts in your conquest, including mine. And now you're going to pay the ultimate price for your atrocities." He accented his rage by jolting his arm, causing the whip to react to his movements.

Dracula grinned, lowering his head to hide his amusement. "You petty humans… always hungry for revenge." The ever-intensifying light behind Dracula had cast a threatening silhouette, a gold lining bordering his unnaturally massive frame. The closer he approached Leon, the taller he seemed to appear. Leon found himself having to tilt his head upwards to meet the vampire's gaze, but didn't stand down or take a single step back. He gripped his weapon, and grit his teeth.

"I'm taking you down," he proclaimed, "right here, right now ." He cracked the whip before him, striking the ground as an initiation of battle. "Just you and me. No one to interfere, not even your divine guardian, Death!"

"You talk too much." Dracula scoffed. "Words like these hold no weight in my mind."

"Then let's shut up and fight ." Leon growled, gripping the magic weapon within his hands.

Dracula chuckled. "I don't think so."

Within half a second, Leon was thrown across the room with Dracula's telekinetic powers. The vampire's hand swung one way, forcing the hunter to collide with a nearby pillar. Upon impact, Leon fell to the ground, grasping his chest in an attempt to regain his breath. A crater had formed on the marble structure.

"Nh..." Leon arose, knees buckling beneath him. He picked up his whip, and with rocking vision, focused his eyes back onto his enemy.

Dracula put his hand down and quickly turned back to the orb of light, whose rays were growing more powerful by the second. He raised his hands, palms to the sky, and continued to chant the ancient tome. Leon placed a hand over his eyes as a visor, and tried to make out the shape of this object through the blinding rays.

This relic, one he had never seen before, contained several shifting gears, and within the rays, he could see faint constellations and planetary bodies shifting. The gears were beginning to spin faster, celestial imagery rapidly changing. Leon was almost hypnotized by this, but got his bearings straight. He looked around for a way to divert Dracula's attention, but there was no structure in this room weak enough to land a perfect blow on the vampire.

"I have no choice." Leon grunted. "I need to attack while he's distracted..." He collected his whip, and lunged towards the powerful vampire.

" Grant me the ability to traverse time and space, " Dracula finished, " so that I can extend Eternal Night across the Earth!"

"NO!" Leon raised his arm, swinging the elongated weapon towards the vampire, the woven material lighting up with violet rage. As the whip connected with Dracula, there was a pale flash, followed by an incapacitating darkness.

Numbness and stars; those were the first things that existed in Leon's mind and body as he regained consciousness.

The various sensations returned with pins and needles, the same feeling one would get when a limb falls asleep. The stars faded, and fleeting auras of color moved through his vision. His eyelids twitched, and soon opened, only for him to make out the inside of a darkened tunnel. Peeling himself from the cold, flat ground, Leon arose to his feet without hesitation. Once the initial haze disappeared, he traced all directions for essential clues.

He felt weak in the knees, but forced himself to traverse the narrow, blackened path. The further he ventured, the lighter the tunnel became. He squinted as the brightened sights poured in, pupils dilating rapidly. The closer he came to the exit, even more unfamiliar senses were discovered. The expectation of waking up inside the chapel suddenly disappeared, and in place of those expectations grew a swelling sense of confusion. This level of mystery didn't bring forth a burst of confidence within the vampire hunter, but rather a resurfacing feeling he had suppressed for as long as he'd been alive.

Fear.

Leon could feel the accursed sensation spread down his limbs, causing him to freeze in place. There was a moment of wordless, breathless dread, as he pulled himself out of the trench.

"I need to keep going…" Leon spoke to himself, "nothing can stop me now. I can take whatever this world throws at me."

What he didn't expect was the exposure, followed by immediate reactions brought on by him stepping out of the tunnel. Dozens of eyes fell on him, one at a time, right as he had straightened his bearings. His eyes darted between the curious stares, and noticed something strange and clone-like about the people sharing him down. Clothing dominated by earthy, neutral colors adorned the bodies of passing individuals. Flat-brimmed headwear was a common mark between these citizens, including the men. Most of them had identified themselves with a strip of silk tied around their necks, the end extending down their torsos, oftentimes held in place by a clip or a vest. These silken pieces came in different colors and patterns, fashioned together with unique knots.

He trekked on, pardoning himself as he navigated the crowd of judgment. One bystander pointed out Leon's extravagantly conflicting appearance. Part way through his escape from the crowded area, he heard a voice call out. "Fuckin' weirdo!" A cold rush traveled through his spine. He wanted to turn and shout to the voice who dared to insult him.

"Who do these people think I am…?" Leon furrowed his brow. "I'm saving their entire species from Dracula's hell. Such disgusting ignorance." A self-conscious force choked him from trying to find the offending voice. There was no way of knowing if this was his pride, or his instinct to be safe in an environment that outed him for his differences.

"Where did he come from…?" another voice uttered, sounding much like a child. "Why is he dressed like that?"

"Probably just another insane foreigner…" their parents would respond.

His senses were high, taking in all the gossip forming around his existence in this space. The core of Leon's confidence had been shaken, as the inability to blend in made him a target in this unfamiliar world. He involuntarily placed his hand over the Vampire Killer attached to his side. There was no tension to be felt from the whip, making it impossible for vampires to be around.

However, there was no doubt in his mind that Dracula's presence was lingering in this new world. It wasn't the knowledge of the vampire being here that shook Leon to his core, but rather not knowing his whereabouts. He could be anywhere, prepared to strike at any given moment.

Haunting chills crept up his spine, but he straightened his back to rid the vulnerable posture. If there was one thing Leon had learned from his years in the crusades, it was to never let his guard down in an unknown location. Enemies always lurked within every crowd.

He escaped the crowd of intimidating eyes finally, but another surprise appeared. These large, metallic beasts with lightened eyes sped through the town, blaring a loud noise when he stepped out into the road. Leon flinched and covered his ears, not knowing what these creatures were and how they could emit such a ghastly sound. Immediately, he traversed from the road and started to run. The panic entered his heart, and he found himself sprinting through lines of people walking alongside compressed buildings. The adrenaline increased, causing his vision to blur and pulse.

"Hey!"

"Excuse you!"

"Watch it!"

"Dumb motherfucker!"

Were several of the phrases Leon heard as he rushed through the crowd defensively. There had to be some way out of the city, and the only way to find it was to run as far away as he could.