SONG LIST (For those that play the recommended music with the fanfic)

- Mastermind (Intro) [Fire Emblem Awakening OST]

- Mastermind [Fire Emblem Awakening OST]

- Sorrowful Stone [Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood OST]

- Priestess and Her Profound Mercy [Goblin Slayer OST]

- Birth of a God [Dragon Ball Super OST]

- Blue Saiyan [Dragon Ball Super OST]


DISCLAIMER: HELLSING IS OWNED BY KOUTA HIRANO. I DO NOT ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.

FIRE EMBLEM IS OWNED BY NINTENDO. I DON'T OWN IT'S CHARACTERS EITHER.

ITALICS=THOUGHTS, WRITING, EMPHASIS, AND SOUNDS

BOLD= DATES, PLACES, ECT.

BOLD ITALICS=WRITER


LOCATION UNKNOWN
TIME UNKNOWN

Walter stared at Alucard in shock. Of all people he had to see, it was Alucard. The crimson cloaked vampire looked just as he always did; as if the monster wasn't wiped from existence by the Major.

"What's wrong, Angel of Death? Surprised to see me?" Alucard grinned, revealing his razor-sharp canines.

"Surprised isn't the term I'd use…" Walter replied, not taking his eyes off the ancient vampire. "Last I remember; you were torn from existence; rendered non-existent. You weren't just killed, you were erased."

"Is that what happened?" Alucard chuckled as he stared down at the young butler. "Perhaps I was, perhaps I wasn't; perhaps I'm not even here. I suppose that I am both everywhere and nowhere."

"Oh wonderful, good to see that you've not lost any of your need to be cryptic…" the butler complained. "Yes… this must be hell: an eternity alone with you…"

Alucard laughed as he hovered over the butler like the bat he was.

"Seems like you've not lost any of your wit, either," Alucard's grin widened. Walter clicked his teeth as he began to meander away from the vampire.

"Well, as wonderful as this reunion's been, I really must be on my way…" Walter kept his back turned away from Alucard.

"Oh?" he heard the vampire hum. "On your way where? You're not going anywhere, Angel of Death. There's nowhere for you to run; nowhere for you to hide."

Walter scoffed.

"Well, anywhere away from you is an improvement…" the butler muttered under his breath. He was not four paces away from the vampire when he was stopped.

"You failed that girl, butler."

Walter glowered.

"What did you say…?" he murmured dangerously. Alucard snickered.

"That girl—Lucina—you failed her."

Walter turned on his heel, facing the vampire. He scowled, raising a threatening finger at the crimson cloaked vampire.

"You've no right to say her name…" he warned.

"Struck a nerve?" Alucard's toothy grin widened. "You're a failure, Angel of Death; you left that girl to die."

"Shut-"

"Not just her either," Alucard's crimson eyes narrowed. "That whole motley crew of yours is doomed; each and every single one."

"I'm warning you, one more word out of that mouth of yours, and I'll tear that-"

"The men will get off easy; that Mad King will probably just gut them after hours upon hours of torture," the vampire drawled. "The women—however—won't be so lucky," his cheshire grin widened.

"You know the fate that typically befalls those that catch a vampire's eyes, Angel of Death," Alucard smiled knowingly. "God forbid they aren't a virgin; they won't have the concession of vampirism. So perhaps… wait…" Alucard sneered.

"That Lucina girl is no virgin; couldn't resist yourselves, could you?" the vampire chuckled. "She'll be in for some hell—especially considering just how much that Mad King was lusting after her—and it's all…"

"…your…"

"…fault."

"ENOUGH!" Walter launched himself at the vampire. Somehow, the teenaged butler managed to tackle the bastard nosferatu to the ground.

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" Walter began slamming his fist into the vampire's face with all his might. "I DID WHAT I COULD! I TRIED!"

Walter's vision went red as he continuously pounded Alucard's face into the ground. With every blow, more and more of the vampire's head began to cave-in. Blood began to splatter across the floor; painting a crimson pattern around the duo—some soaking into the butler's clothing.

"I TRIED!"

With one final shout, Walter slammed both fists into Alucard; the beast's skull completely shattering with the impact—a sickening crack echoing through the abyss. Walter breathed heavily as he stared down at the stain of viscera, skull, and brain matter that was Alucard's head.

Getting to his feet, the butler flicked his wrists of the blood. Walter scoffed at the unsightly sight he caused. The vampire's 'corpse' was twitching slightly, and blood trickled out of the neck like a river. The butler rolled his eyes.

"Stand up already," Walter spat. "I'm not an idiot; that's nowhere near enough to kill you…"

(Play song ~ Mastermind (Intro) [Fire Emblem Awakening OST])

As if on cue, the pouring from the vampire's shattered skull slowed before stopping it's flow completely. Seconds later, as if time were moving in reverse, the blood began to retract back to whence it came; bits and pieces of viscera melding back together to reform Alucard's head. The moist sound of flesh mending itself together hardly made Walter wince, but he was certain it would've made anyone else's skin crawl.

With his head reformed, Alucard lurched upwards onto his feet unnaturally; akin to a marionette being strung up by a puppeteer

"Where was I before you rudely interrupted?" Alucard grinned.


Northern Plegia ~ The Border Wastes
November 5, Age 2609 (2:50 P.M.)

(Replace Song With ~ Mastermind [Fire Emblem Awakening OST])

"HRAH!"

Chrom swung at Gangrel with all his might, the blur of the Falchion hot orange. The overcast skies began to thunder and rumble as rain began to pour down from the heavens. As before, every droplet evaporated at the touch of the blazing Falchion. In the small cloud of steam that was forming, the Falchion clashed with Gangrel's Levin Sword.

"Tch…" the Mad King clicked his teeth as he felt his knee buckle slightly at the force of the strike. "When'd you get this strong…?"

Chrom retorted with another powerful slash, this one pushing Gangrel even further back. He struck again, and again, and again; each blow building off the momentum of the last.

Gangrel growled as he ducked out of the way of a strike, before slashing at the prince. His Levin Sword crackled as it just barely grazed the shoulder of Chrom. If the cut hurt the prince, it didn't show; the prince simply moving in to attack Gangrel once more.

The Mad King was taken off guard once more as the Ylissean prince batted his sword away with ease. Chrom took the opening and jammed the Falchion straight into the vampire's chest. Gangrel screeched, as his flesh seared and burned from the heat of the blade; the holy power of the Falchion was just the icing on the cake.

"Y- you little…" Gangrel seethed through his teeth. To his momentary shock, the cut he inflicted to the princling's shoulder glowed green before mending itself.

The vampire kicked the prince away. Chrom flinched backwards, dislodging Falchion from Gangrel.

"So…" Gangrel drawled. "That sword of yours heals wounds; minor ones at least…" the Mad King clicked his teeth in annoyance.

"That's just cheating…" the vampire growled as he raised the Levin Sword overhead.

Swinging his sword downward, a bolt of golden lightning shot out from the tip towards Chrom. The prince quickly rolled out of the way of the blast and was back on his feet in an instant. Already baring down on Gangrel once more, the prince swung at the vampiric king.

The duo exchanged several blows, blades clashing with excessive force. Searing heat met deadly lightning again and again as the two entered a deadly dance of swords. Chrom barely blocked many of the vampire's attacks, and Gangrel could barely stand his ground against the prince's blows. Somehow, to Gangrel's chagrin, Chrom—utilizing whatever power he was—was keeping up with him.

This prince is becoming a bigger thorn in my side than that damned butler… Gangrel thought as he met Chrom's blade with his own.

The two were winding and binding in the blade lock; both attempting to gain leverage over the other. Gangrel's rage manifested itself as his Levin Sword began to spark even more dangerously. Several stray bolts crackled dangerously close to Chrom's person, but none seemed to find their mark.

Lightning struck close the ground close to the duo. Like a battle between heaven and earth, lightning began to crackle and strike the area; some unfortunate men and women being hit and killed instantly. The thunder that rumbled above was only eclipsed by the continuous clashing of the two below.

Blade lock ended, and the two were back to exchanging strikes. The two armies of living and dead seemed to congregate around this single fight; hundreds upon thousands of people clashing around them, but not interrupting. Chrom and Gangrel became the epicenter of the battle; everything else a storm wall encapsulating them.

Far away, north at the furthest edge of the battlefield, Lucina was worriedly watching as Lissa, Maribelle, and Libra—the Shepherd's healers—hovered over the heavily injured Walter. She shivered as she watched the trio scramble to get the butler's wound—a fist-sized hole in his chest—closed. Every time the butler seethed in agony, Lucina felt her heart drop; even unconscious, Walter was in pain.

"We've gotta close the wound!" Lissa commanded her peers as she hovered her staff over the butler.

"Right," both Libra and Maribelle replied as they did the same as Lissa.

Staves over the butler—crossed at the center—the three began to focus their magic into healing the damage.

"Mend!" they all cried simultaneously.

A heavenly green glow emanated from the tips of each's staff and trickled down onto Walter. The wound on Walter's chest sizzled slightly before the energy from the three healers began to steadily seal the hole. Slowly the wound closed itself, leaving no evidence that it was even there.

Lucina breathed a sigh of relief. Walter was alright for now. She could now rejoin the battle without-

"What's happening!?"

Lissa's cry made Lucina wince. Taking a second at Walter, horror dawned upon the princess as she watched as the wound seemed to not just reopen but grow in size. Lucina froze as blood gushed out of the hole with even more vigor.

"Lissa, again!" Maribelle's usual collected demeanor fading away for panic.

They repeated the motion from earlier, crossing staves above the butler's injured form. As with before, the green glow from the trio healed Walter with ease. However, before any of them could even rest, the wound returned with a vengeance; worse was that it wasn't the only injury to appear.

"Naga above…" Libra murmured in horror as the butler's left arm seemed to rot off. The three seemed to panic as they tried to figure out what the hell was occurring. Lucina was having none of it. She immediately came their side and gave each a glare.

"Heal him again!" she demanded.

"We are!" Lissa replied, equally frustrated.

So, they healed him once more with the same result: Walter's injuries would heal before worsening. The butler now lay in an ever-growing pool of his own blood, his amputated arm rotting at an unnaturally fast rate.

"What's…?" Lucina was speechless. "Walter…"

"So, his body's finally reached its limit," Tharja suddenly chimed in.

"Huh? What does that even mean?" Lissa questioned the mage. Tharja rolled her eyes as she nudged the princess out of her way.

"The fool thought he could defeat Gangrel before his body started to decay," Tharja began. "I really did warn him against keeping the seal up, but he was too stubborn to listen; I guess you really do reap what you sow."

"Wait, this is the degeneration Walter mentioned," Lucina questioned. Tharja nodded solemnly.

"At this moment, Walter Dornez only has minutes left to live; perhaps less," the dark mage revealed. Lucina shook her head distressingly.

"No…" she murmured. The desperate princess suddenly roughly grabbed Tharja by the shoulders and glared at her. She didn't care about the looks of shock her aunt, Maribelle, and Libra were giving her.

"Do something," Lucina demanded. Tharja shrugged.

"Can't, it's already too late to do anything," Tharja drawled boringly.

"No!" Lucina snapped. "I won't accept that; there must be something that can be done!"

Tharja seemed to consider the princess for a second. The dark mage peered into the blunette's eyes; black meeting blue. The pale skinned sorceress raised a brow.

"So… that's how it is…" Tharja muttered quietly. "Alright, I'll do what I can."

"Thank-"

"But…" Tharja interrupted the princess. "…I'll only be buying him a few more minutes; nothing more, nothing less. It'll only be enough for him to give a couple parting words."

Lucina's grip on Tharja slackened.

That's it? she thought to herself. Just a few minutes, and that'll be it? I… I…

"Just do it."

Lucina craned her head to see Emmeryn had joined them.

"Anything is better than nothing…" the Exalt wandered over to Lucina's side and placed a gentle hand on her niece's shoulder. Lucina silently thanked her elder aunt.

"Alright," Tharja sighed as she pulled out an unfamiliar tome. "I'm going to need some help here; it's going to cost a lot of magic. Once he's gone, he's gone, so you better think of what it is you want to say to him; you aren't gonna get a second chance."

"Okay…" Lucina nodded as she watched Tharja gesture for Libra, Lissa, and Maribelle to join her.

"It's best if I lend my aid as well," Emmeryn joined the circle around Walter. The five surrounded the dying butler—Tharja leading them.

From the side, Lucina waited for the ritual to be done. The reality that the next few minutes would be the last she shared with Walter was… painful. Once again, Lucina was helpless to do anything…

…all she could do was silently sob.

(Song ends here…)


LOCATION UNKNOWN
TIME UNKNOWN

Walter was frustrated.

No, he was beyond frustrated.

He knew—no matter how many times he pounded Alucard's face into the abyssal floor—he'd never be rid of the pest. Normally, he'd have the patience to deal with the bastard vampire, but because the beast insisted on speaking about Lucina, Walter found himself irrationally angry.

"I just want to get out of this hell!" Walter snapped at the vampire. "Haven't I suffered enough!?"

Alucard laughed.

"I hardly think so," the vampire smiled. "After all you've done—after all the sins you committed—do you really think that being stuck with me is any less of a punishment than you deserve? Do you honestly think that you've paid for your crimes; that you've truly earned your redemption?"

"I know my sins better than anyone, Alucard; you don't need to remind me," Walter growled. "However—even if it was God that decided that I be locked in this hell before Gangrel was slain—my punishment can wait! There are countless lives on the line—innocent people that'll be killed if I'm not allowed to return and finish that bastard Mad King!"

"What would it matter anyway?" Alucard raised a brow in amusement. "What difference could you make facing Gangrel again? Twenty times, thirty times, one-hundred times; you could fight that Mad King for an eternity and be no closer to stopping him than you were before. Why waste your time, why put in that effort?"

"Because I need to," Walter sneered. "If I don't, Gangrel will doom everyone; Chrom, Lissa, Emmeryn, EVERYONE! I can't let that happen. I can't leave Lucina to face the future alone!"

"So, you did care…" Alucard hummed.

"OF COURSE, I CARE!" Walter snapped. Alucard shook his head in disagreement.

"Oh, Angel of Death…" the vampire sighed. "If only that were true…"

"What do you know!?" Walter balled his fists up at his sides. "I did everything I could; EVERYTHING I COULD!"

"QUIET!"

Walter was taken off guard by Alucard back fisting him across the face. The butler tumbled across the ground like a doll. He seethed through his teeth as he raised a hand to the struck cheek; it throbbed with pain.

"Did you really?" Alucard hovered over him. "Did you really do everything you could? Do you actually believe that there was nothing more you could've done?"

Walter spat out a small glob of blood as he struggled to his feet. He wiped his lip of the crimson liquid as he glared up at the vampire.

"I did…" he growled. Alucard shook his head as he let out a sigh.

"Hmph… such a foolish child, you are…" the vampire crossed his arms over his chest. "It doesn't matter; your time is almost up anyway…"

"Wait, what?" Walter raised a brow. "What the hell does that mean?" Alucard scoffed.

"Currently, you're between the planes of the living and the dead; neither alive nor dead. Like a spider strung up over a river, you're hanging onto life by a thread. The moment that lifeline snaps, you'll be forever doomed to an eternity in the afterlife," Alucard explained. "Although, those 'friends' of yours seem determined to revive you; although I'm not going to let them. I'm more than happy to keep you here until your time is up."

Walter scowled as realization dawned upon him.

"Wait, you're the one that's keeping me here!?"

Alucard nodded.

"Indeed, in a way, you've been pulled into your own mind until you expire," the vampire chuckled. "So long as I will it, you'll be trapped in your own head."

Walter seethed through clenched teeth. That was the game Alucard wanted to play, Walter was more than happy to abide by his rules.

"If that's how things are, I'll force you to release me," Walter growled.

"Oh…" Alucard's cheshire grin widened. "You're welcome to try…"

Walter didn't give it a second thought. He rushed the ancient vampire without hesitation. He had no weapons: no wires, no swords…

…just his fists.

As if the challenge had triggered something in the abyss, rain suddenly started to pour down from nowhere. The ground soon became a sloppy mud—soaked by the abyssal rainfall.

When their fists clashed, Walter felt his arm vibrate from the impact—his bones creaking. He didn't let that stop him, and he quickly moved in for another attack. Backhand, block, roundhouse kick, spinning kick, backhand, left hook, right hook, parry, uppercut, knee, block, chop, punch; he was determined to land a hit.

However, whatever strikes Walter launched were blocked by the ancient vampire with ease. Whenever Walter blocked a strike, he felt his body protest. Alucard's attacks were devastatingly powerful. He knew his earlier attempts at killing the vampire were flukes; as was the case currently, Alucard was no easy opponent.

Dodge, sidestep, duck, hop, lean back, dodge, sidestep, hop, sidestep, duck; the strikes were devastating to block and Alucard was too fast to counter. The force of the punches could be felt even when Walter dodged. Every time a fist or kick grazed him by millimeters, he'd feel the air give way from the power of the attacks.

Alucard was smiling his typical toothy grin as he pushed Walter back with a flurry of attacks.

"What's wrong, Angel of Death!? Am I too strong for you!?" Alucard cackled and hollered like the mad beast he was. "You said that you'd force me to release you! WHERE'S YOUR RESOLVE!? WHERE'S YOUR POWER!?" Alucard reeled back and launched his fist straight into Walter's left cheek.

The teenaged butler went flying. He rolled and tumbled across the rain soaked ground, his clothing smeared by the mud layer. Groaning, Walter steadily pushed himself off the ground. He spat out some blood before rubbing his cheek. A small trail of blood streamed down from his left eye, his vision blurring as a result.

Thunder rumbled, Alucard's demonic form being lit up by the lightning. He looked like the devil—dark tendrils snaking out of his crimson coat. His blood red eyes glowed as he stared down at Walter.

"Is that it? One punch and you're down?" Alucard chuckled. "Just as I thought; you're still just as weak as when you last fought me…"

"SHUT UP!" Walter threw himself at Alucard, only to be easily repelled. The vampire kneed the teenager in the gut before slamming him into the ground.

Walter felt the air in his lungs disappear and his bones crack at the impact. He squirmed and writhed as he attempted to push himself off the ground. The rain and mud soaked into his clothes and caked his skin.

"Pathetic…" Alucard spoke with clear disdain in his tone. "No matter how hard you try—no matter how much you deny it—you will NEVER progress beyond being the boy that was obsessed with killing me. That may not be what you want anymore—you may even repent for your betrayal—but that doesn't change who you are at your core." Alucard stepped on Walter, placing his boot firmly on his back. The pressure that the vampire put on his spine caused Walter to scream in agony.

"You're a weak and pathetic boy; not worthy of being the Angel of Death." Alucard continued. "You couldn't even defeat a lesser vampire like Gangrel; what hope do you have of defeating me? Only a man can defeat a monster, and you're nothing but a monster shamelessly putting on the guise of a man."

"No…" Walter attempted to push himself off the ground. "I… I am… I am not… a… a monster…." he clenched his teeth as he began to steadily lift himself off the floor. Alucard scoffed before he brutally stomped on Walter, instantly grounding him again.

"Really? What have you done to prove otherwise?" Alucard questioned. "You bathe in the blood of your enemies! You feel no remorse for those you kill! You even lie to those that trust you most!" the nosferatu kicked Walter so that he tumbled through the mud. "You betrayed Hellsing—you lied to Integra."

"That… that is the… past…" Walter finally managed to slowly force himself onto a knee. "I'm different…"

"Different!? You're different!?" Alucard burst into laughter. "How exactly are you different? You're still making empty promises; that may as well be a betrayal. You can't even save the woman you love!" Walter flinched at the mention of Lucina.

"You've left her to die! You left them all to die!" Alucard mocked.

"No… I haven't…" Walter panted as he rose to his feet. "If you'd just let me go, I could-"

"COULD WHAT!?" Alucard yelled. "WHAT COULD YOU DO!? YOU'RE BARELY ALIVE AS IS, WHAT WILL YOU DO IF I LET YOU LEAVE!?"

"AT LEAST LET ME TRY!" Walter snapped in rage. "AT LEAST GIVE ME A CHANCE TO FIX MY MISTAKE!"

The two became silent. Rain continued to pummel the abyssal floor, and thunder would rumble every so often, but the two remained quiet. For a moment, it seemed as if neither could speak; neither seemed willing at least.

"Fix your mistake?" Alucard broke the silence. The vampire was glowering when he suddenly kicked Walter across the face before grabbing him by the collar. He shook the dazed teenager, his piercing crimson eyes staring into Walter's dull-gray ones.

"How can you fix your mistake!? Don't you realize just how hopeless your situation is!? You're a dead man!" Alucard struck Walter in the face once more. "I'll ask you again, what can you do that you haven't already done? What do you have left to give?" A forlorn expression replaced Alucard's scowl as he awaited Walter's response.

"I…" Walter hesitated. "I don't know…" Alucard clicked his tongue.

"That's what I thought…" Alucard's voice was now void of malice and was now filled with what could only be described as melancholy. "You're no longer that same Angel of Death I once knew; you're nothing but a sorry shell of that man. I wasn't certain when I brought you here, but now you've confirmed my belief." Alucard let go of Walter, who then dropped down to his knee.

"You're pathetic…"

Walter could barely keep himself upright, even leaning on his own knee. He couldn't do anything but stare up at the vampire; the vampire that was no longer looking at him. Alucard had turned his back away.

"I've been watching you ever since you arrived in Ylisse, boy. From your vain attempts to redeem yourself of your sins, to your laughable attempts at being a human again; you've done nothing but disappoint. Honestly, I don't even know why I tried to help you. I should never have expected anything better from you; you, a spineless coward. You, a sniveling traitor." Alucard narrowed his eyes.

"You were doomed the moment a monster like Gangrel appeared. You were doomed when you could not see what had to be seen. You are a blind fool; a child playing make believe. You thought you could defeat monsters? You thought that you could change fate? As weak as you are, how could you ever hope to do either? If only a man can defeat monsters, how can something so much lesser hope to save the world? How can something so beneath that of even a monster ever hope to stand against time? Against fate?" Alucard looked down at Walter.

"The answer: become much more than a man," Alucard stared at the butler blankly. "You could never understand what that means; even though the solution was right in front of you…"

Walter hissed through his teeth. As soon as he was able, he'd stomp the vampire into the ground. He'd keep trying to defeat Alucard for as long as he could. He wasn't ready to die; he wasn't ready to leave Gangrel alive…

…to leave Lucina alone.

The answer is right in front of me… Walter thought to himself as he looked up at the vampire. He had no idea what the bastard meant; he was probably just being cryptic again just to annoy him.

"Your right hand, boy," Alucard suddenly said. "Look at your hand."

The butler—against his better judgement—looked down at his right hand. On its back—just as it was since he arrived in Ylisse—the sealing sigil to his vampiric power lay untouched.

"Release the seal," Alucard said simply. Walter stared up at the vampire.

"I… I can't…" the butler lowered his gaze.

"Why?"

"What?" the question caught him off guard.

"Why can't you release the seal?" Alucard asked. "You know how—you've known from the moment you first laid eyes upon it. You always had the ability to release it."

"And what would happen if I did?" Walter asked rhetorically. "Yes, I've always known how to release it, and I've always known what would happen if I did…" the butler sighed.

"And that is?" Alucard questioned. Walter clicked his teeth in annoyance.

"Of all people—you of all people should know what would happen to me…" the butler rolled his eyes. The vampire peering down at him hummed.

"I do," Alucard chuckled. "You'd become something more than human."

Walter did a double take. Alucard didn't say what he just said, did he?

"I'd turn into a vampire," Walter blurted out.

"Yes," Alucard nodded, his smile coy.

"If I became a vampire, I'd become a monster once again..." Walter murmured confusedly.

"Perhaps…" Alucard shrugged. "However, of all those who've ever had vampirism offered to them, you remain one of the few so vehement in their denial of it. More intriguing is the fact that you are the only one to have lost their vampirism and refuse it's pull."

"Is that so…?" Walter muttered disinterestedly. "I don't see the point to any of this…"

Alucard shook his head and sighed. Kneeling down so that he was at the butler's level, Alucard stared down at the seal on the back of Walter's hand.

"What is it that makes one a monster? Is it what they are? Is becoming a vampire that which makes one a monster? Did the 'police girl' become a monster when I turned her?"

Walter flinched at the mention of Seras. Yes, the former police officer turned vampire was certainly unique. She was as pure hearted as could be; especially when compared to the common vampire. Thinking about it, Alucard had a point: Seras—despite being a vampire—was no monster.

"That fat little major that led Millennium," Alucard continued. "He was hardly a man but was certainly not a vampire. However, is he not considered a monster?"

Alucard was correct again. The major of Millennium was a twisted evil being—a monster through and through—but he wasn't a vampire. He was simply… evil.

"That Mad King—Gangrel—he is a monster. However, was it the transformation into a vampire that made him one, or was he always one to begin with?" Alucard shook his head. "You've become blind to the truth, boy. What someone is does not determine who they are—a monster is not a monster by simply existing as such—but it is their actions that determine their being. The major, Gangrel, and even I—we were monsters even when we were human. We were lost to that sickness and forever doomed to an eternity of suffering. You, on the other hand, became a monster only to struggle back into becoming a human."

"Wait, I'm-"

"However," Alucard stopped Walter. "You became lesser than a monster when you refused to release the seal on your power. Knowing that you stood no chance otherwise—knowing what would happen if you failed to defeat him—you still faced Gangrel in a suicide match. You may as well have tied the noose around your neck and kicked the chair over; you'd have saved yourself the effort."

Walter swallowed. Had he really been so blind? Did his stubbornness doom Ylisse? Did his stubborn doom Lucina? Doom Chrom?

"I haven't done anything to earn it…" Walter muttered in defeat.

"Could you ever truly earn it on your own?" Alucard hummed. "Did any vampire that ever existed ever truly deserve the power they were given? Perhaps a better question is, did any vampire ever become one for as selfless a reason that you have currently? Did anyone ever turn for the sake of protecting that which they care for rather to destroy that which they detest?"

Walter felt like a damn fool. All this melodrama, all the death and destruction wrought by Gangrel; all of it could've been stopped. He could've stopped it a month ago.

(Play song ~ Sorrowful Stone [Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood OST])

"I've been quite the idiot, haven't I…?" Walter laughed halfheartedly.

"You have," Alucard chuckled.

Walter looked up at the vampire once again. He knew what had to be done. He had to return to the battlefield at once.

"Alucard…" Walter smirked bittersweetly. "Please… let me go. Let me fix my mistake."

Alucard smiled. It wasn't his usual toothy grin; it wasn't one of feigned amusement. It was a genuine one; one of the few Walter had ever witnessed the vampire ever express.

"What will you do if I let you go?" the vampire asked, although he already knew the answer. Walter laughed.

"Do what needs to be done," the butler closed his eyes. "I suppose—loath I am to admit it—I've let the conflict draw out for far too long. Lives were lost due to my mistake, and I need to rectify it."

"Yet another blunder that must be atoned for," Alucard sighed.

"Yes…" Walter nodded.

Alucard hummed. Much to Walter's momentary shock, the vampire offered him a hand. Hesitantly, the butler grasped the open palm of his friend turned former enemy turned… friend again. Alucard easily hefted the teenager onto his feet once more.

"You could just wait, you realize," Alucard suggested. "You could crossover into the afterlife; receive that rest you desired when you were still a butler for Hellsing."

"After all that fuss you made trying to convince me to release the seal on my vampirism, you make an attempt to convince me to let myself die?" Walter laughed. "I think I'm going to return to living world, thank you very much." Alucard scoffed, though his smile still present.

"I suppose that's to be expected…" the vampire grew serious. "Be warned, however, the life of vampire is a long one. That eternity walking the earth will be spent watching everything you've grown to care for fade and wither. Do you have the strength to carry on regardless of what you face?"

Walter hesitated for a moment. Did he have that strength within him? The answer was obvious.

"Yes," Walter said confidently. "Now send me back."

Alucard chuckled again at the butler's response.

"Very well…" Alucard closed his eyes. "When you awake, your body will be in a state of decay. You'll have several minutes to release the seal, but when you do all damage you've suffered should regenerate."

"That's a relief, last I remember is the gaping hole in my chest," Walter quipped. "I am curious though; are you actually here in my head, or are you just a figment of my imagination?"

Alucard snickered at the question.

"Perhaps I'll leave that decision up to you…" the vampire answered. "Perhaps I truly am nothing more than your mind playing tricks on you." Walter rolled his eyes.

"And if you're not?" he inquired.

"Well…" Alucard grinned. "Know that I'll be watching from nowhere if that's the case."

"Not from my head?" the butler questioned. Alucard shook his head.

"No, the moment you return to the living world, this space that I've been residing in will cease to be," the vampire sighed. "You'll no longer hear from me; I'll simply be nothing more."

"Oh…" Walter lowered his head. "That's a shame… part of me was hoping that you'd stay. Then again, you've the proclivity to return even when no one else believes it possible."

Alucard chuckled again.

"Indeed…" the vampire hummed. "Who knows, perhaps we'll see one another again when if I return."

"I'd like that," Walter smiled.

Immediately, Walter felt as if he were floating. The abyss around them began to fade into a bright white.

"It seems you're being called back to your body…" Alucard sighed, Walter slowly losing sight of the ancient nosferatu. "I'll be watching you with interest, Walter C. Dornez…"

"Walter C. Dornez… I never thought I'd see the day you called me by name again, Alucard," the butler smiled as the last of his vision faded into white; Alucard forever fading. "Thank you for everything, my old friend…"

"Good luck, 'Guardian Angel'…"

(Song ends here…)


Northern Plegia ~ The Border Wastes
November 5, Age 2609 (3:01 P.M.)

"His wounds have stopped returning."

"Yeah, but his arm's still gone…"

"Well, it's the best that you're going to get, so don't complain."

Walter felt like hell. He didn't know where he was, nor could he see where he was. All he knew was that he was in pain right now.

"Where-"

"Walter!"

The butler was taken off guard by the strong pair of arms that suddenly wrapped themselves around him. He blinked a couple times, his vision still focusing. Still, the person holding him felt familiar to the point where he didn't hesitate to return the embrace. As his vision returned to him, he was unsurprised at whom it was hugging him.

"Lucina…" he whispered. He was quiet, so no one else could hear.

"Walter…" the princess held him closer. The butler smiled as he returned the gesture. It was then that he realized that he was down an arm.

"Hey, you best say your good-byes now; he doesn't have any more than Twenty minutes to live." Tharja's familiar annoyed tone snapped the two lovebirds back into reality.

"Twenty minutes…" Walter repeated. "Twenty minutes to do what needs to be done…" the butler loosened his remaining arm from the princess.

(Play song ~ Priestess and Her Profound Mercy [Goblin Slayer OST])

"Marth," he said aloud; aware that Lissa, Emmeryn, Maribelle, Libra, and Tharja were watching them. The princess unwrapped her arms from around the butler and met his gaze.

"What is it?" she asked. Walter frowned.

"I need to get back to the battlefield."

"Oh no you don't!" Lissa objected. "In case you didn't realize, YOU. ARE. DYING."

"I did notice, Lissa, and that is exactly why I have to-"

"Absolutely not," Maribelle joined Lissa. "You're in shape to even stand."

"If I don't go now, Gangrel will never be defeated," Walter clicked his teeth.

"Actually, Chrom's fighting Gangrel right now, and he's doing pretty well from what I last saw," Lissa revealed. Walter felt his heart stop for a second.

"Chrom's what!?" Walter's jaw dropped.

"Indeed, the Falchion in Chrom's hand suddenly began to glow orange and the prince's strength seemed to increase several folds," Libra explained. "At the current pace both are fighting, prince Chrom just may overwhelm the vampire."

"No," Lucina said staunchly. "That power that the prince wields is temporary; it WILL fade soon. When it does, Chrom will be completely exhausted; due to his inexperience with the skill, he's likely to be rendered comatose if he continues."

"Wait, you know what the power Chrom's using is?" Lissa inquired. Lucina nodded.

"Yes, it's a powerful skill known as-"

"I don't have time for this!" Walter exclaimed. "I have to take to the battlefield before it's too late. We're all doomed if I drop dead now!"

Everyone went silent.

"Please, I've barely the strength to stand," Walter—as if to demonstrate—attempted to stand only to buckle down onto one knee. "Someone, help me walk."

Walter looked up at his allies expectantly, only for them to do absolutely nothing.

"Come on! I need you guys to-"

"Didn't you hear us? You're about to die, Walter," Lissa shook her head. "You can't do anything in this state."

"Trust me! I've-"

"If you go now, you'll only get in everyone else's way, Walter," Maribelle sighed.

"No, just listen to me for one second! I'm going to-"

"Please, just rest, Walter ," Libra closed his eyes.

The butler raised his hand up to his face in frustration. When he was through with Gangrel, he was going to smack all three of them upside the head.

"You have fifteen minutes," Tharja suddenly counted down, adding to the butler's distress.

Damn! Walter grit his teeth. I'm running out of time! I can't just release it here, either! That much power being released will shatter the fort!

"Walter…" Lucina snapped the butler out of his doldrums. Walter looked to the princess with desperate eyes.

"I…" Lucina began with hesitation. Walter smiled bittersweetly.

"Lucina," he whispered. "I know I've said this a hundred times already, but I need you to trust me…" Lucina swallowed.

"But… Walter, I…" she took a breath. "I thought that I was… that I could handle losing you," she admitted. Lucina raised a hand over her heart.

"I told myself that this was nothing new to me—that I could treat losing you like losing anyone else—but…" the princess shut her eyes tightly as she turned away. "When I… when I saw you lying on the ground—in a pool of your own blood—I… I just couldn't… I just couldn't handle it. I can't lose you, Walter… I just can't…." Lucina murmured in defeated.

Walter shook his head and sighed. He lifted his remaining hand to the bottom of her chin and raised her head. It was then that he noticed the tears running down her cheeks; her cheeks which seemed to have been caked in blood…

…his blood.

Taking in the princess' appearance, he realized that her clothing was crimson stained. Splotches of blood patterned her garb like a twisted painting. Her hands were caked red, her palms mostly.

She'd likely had been the one to carry him off the battlefield, and now he was asking her to take him back.

"Lucina, please…" Walter wiped a tear from her cheek. "Listen to me…"

The princess opened her eyes and looked at the butler with watery eyes. Walter caressed her bloody cheek.

"This time, I will defeat Gangrel," he said without doubt. "I just need you to take me to him, that's all I ask."

"Walter... I…" Lucina began to object but stopped herself short.

Stony gray… Lucina stared into his eyes. Ever since she rescued him from Gangrel's dungeon, Walter's eyes had lost their luster; looking duller by the day. However, after all that happened within the last hour, the butler's eyes hadn't lost color, but rather…

…they regained it.

Those eyes… Lucina thought to herself. Those are the same eyes he had when he promised he'd change the future with me.

That brave look of confidence, he had it once more.

There was little doubt in the princess' mind of what she would do.

(Song ends here…)

On the battlefield, Chrom and Gangrel's duel was slowly coming to its conclusion. Though Chrom was fighting hard, slowly that power he channeled through Falchion began to faze. Like a flame, it began to flicker and fade against the storm that was Gangrel.

Chrom yelled as he put in all his strength into a strike only for Gangrel to casually lift his blade to meet his. In contrast to before, Gangrel held his ground without so much as flinching. Chrom clicked his teeth as he attempted to push against the tyrant.

"Losing steam, are we?" Gangrel smirked as he easily maintained his dominance in the blade lock. Using only a single arm, the Mad King pushed the prince of Ylisse back.

"I must admit, you nearly had me worried there," Gangrel hummed with amusement as Chrom visibly struggled against his strength. "When you began healing with every bit of damage you dealt me, I thought—for the briefest moment—that this battle would be waged for hours. I felt a twinge of fear—just the smallest amount—when every slash would cut deeper than anyone ever managed before you. Still, it seems you are not but a man; nothing that could ever hope to stand against me."

Gangrel shoved the prince backwards. Chrom buckled as he was thrown off balance. Already struggling to maintain his footing, Chrom was completely thrown onto his back when Gangrel swung at him again.

Barely avoiding being beheaded, Chrom was quick to attempt to scramble to his feet, only to be stopped as Gangrel lifted his sword to his throat.

"No no no, I think you'll stay right there…" Gangrel said playfully. "This has been quite the bracing workout, but I believe this fight is finished."

Chrom looked up at the monster defiantly. He could feel the power completely fade from Falchion—the warm glow of the blade disappearing—and with it the last of his energy. Chrom felt his body aching from the sudden vacuum of power, but he wasn't about to let it hinder him. If he didn't do something soon, everything would be lost.

"Any last words, princeling?" Gangrel grinned.

"Yeah, go to hell," Chrom spat in the beast's face. Gangrel's face contorted in rage.

"You little…" Gangrel's Levin Sword sparked dangerously.

Chrom took a deep breath as he prepared for the worst when…

"GANGREL!"

All heads turned to the source of the voice.

"No… it can't be…" the Mad King of Plegia was nearly speechless.

"I'm not finished with you!" Walter stood against Gangrel defiantly. The butler was leaning against Marth and was—to Chrom's momentary shock—missing his left arm.

"You… you just don't know when to give up, do you?" Gangrel growled as he turned his attention away from Chrom. "You're like a cockroach; no matter how many times I stamp you into paste, you always manage to come back somehow!" Walter laughed.

"That's hilarious coming from you, Gangrel!" Walter grinned. "You of all people shouldn't be complaining about foes coming back from death's door."

"Heh…" Gangrel clicked his teeth. "I suppose you've a point there. However…" the Mad King raised his sword towards Walter.

"…this time I'm going to make sure you stay down for good."

Walter scoffed as he raised a fist to the monster.

"Right back at you, Gangrel," the butler glared at his foe. "This will be the last time the two of us clash; I'm finishing you here and now!"

"Ohohohoh!" Gangrel cackled. "Is that so!? Don't know if you've noticed, but you seem to be missing an arm! What can you do like that!?" Walter scoffed.

"Oh... you'll see…"

The butler lifted his hand to his mouth and pulled his glove off with his teeth. Revealing the sealing sigil on the back of his hand, he took one final look at the thing that had caused him so much grief.

"Lucina…" Walter murmured, eyes still staring down at the seal. "Leave now." Lucina glanced at the butler confusedly.

"I'm not leaving your side, Walter," she said staunchly. Walter let out a single chuckle.

"Lucina, you don't realize what's about to happen. If you stay standing next to me, you may get swept up," Walter began. "What I'm about to do will not be… quiet, so to speak. I-"

"I'm staying by your side," Lucina insisted.

Walter went silent. For a second, he considered the fact that what he was about to do might pull him through the proverbial wringer. With that thought in mind, Walter could only smile.

"Whatever happens, hold on to me and don't let go," Walter instructed as he slowly lifted his fist so that it's back was facing away from him.

"Alright…" Lucina obliged as she wrapped her arms tightly around the butler. Walter sighed in contentment as he felt her warmth wash over him.

Here goes nothing… Walter closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

A piercing wind seemed to dance around the battlefield, and there was a collective chill in the spines of both allies and enemies. It wasn't just the people either, but the Earth itself. The ground seemed to shiver at what was to come. The wind went around Walter and Lucina, repelled by his very being.

Walter, who had looked completely defeated, now looked filled with raw determination. Strength poured off him like a beacon, and no one could ignore the pressure he was exerting.

Lucina—who kept clinging to the butler like he instructed—felt her body shiver involuntarily. It wasn't born from fear, but from what she was feeling deep in her core. Beside the butler, his raw energy was almost palpable. She felt it flowing out of him—as if he were the epicenter of a storm that was about to form.

(Play song ~ Birth of a God [Dragon Ball Super OST])

Walter was nervous and afraid of what he was about to do. He knew that there would be no turning back, but deep in his heart he knew what had to be done. The butler looked over to his friends, people he would consider his family. What he was about to do, he was doing it to protect them.

"I do this for the good of those that I would call my allies." Walter closed his eyes and smiled a bittersweet smile.

Taking a deep breath, Walter concentrated. He concentrated on what he wanted, who he wanted to protect and who he wanted to defeat.

With his objective at the forefront of his mind, Walter opened his mouth and spoke.

"I answer to no man's will, but my own…" the voice that came out of Walter's mouth was no voice, but something else entirely. It was otherworldly… almost divine…

"…I am myself in mind, body, and soul…" Walter's voice froze the air around him, chilling the entire battlefield. The earth beneath him cracked under his presence.

Lucina flinched as molten energy flowed from out of the fissures, snaking along the ground like they had a mind of their own. It glowed like hot plasma—A river of light; the both of them being at the epicenter of it all.

Hold on tight, Lucina heard Walter's voice in her head. She took a deep breath to calm herself as she tightened her hold on the butler. She practically buried herself in him as she shut her eyes.

That molten energy began to envelop him, beginning at his ankles. It began to flow upwards, like a storm cloud was forming around the butler—not a single drop seeming to flow onto Lucina.

"I…" Walter voice sounded distorted, inhumane even, as the molten power soon encapsulated his form, pulsating like a heartbeat.

"…am Walter C. Dornez, a Guardian Angel…"

Sparks began to form around the veil of light, lighting white fire around him. The earth began to shake, as if it was now frightened by what was being unleashed.

"…as the dawn light cuts through the darkness…"

The shroud around Walter began to grow rapidly as it sparked even more violently. The flames created by the lightning that rolled off the storm cloud grew in intensity. The earth had split between Gangrel and the butler; hellfire pouring from the crevasse. The crevasse closed, but the fires danced through the air like a wyrm or dragon. The shroud suddenly imploded, and the white fires began to circle around Walter. They circled until they flew into the air and fused with the hellfire.

"…I will rid this earth of every monster that dares walk it."

A lion-like roar erupted as the two fires intermingled—a fusion of heaven and earth—and looped one final time before impacting the ground where Walter and Lucina stood. The blast blasted everyone off their feet and grounded anything that had been in the air.

Lucina felt herself being repelled, but she would not let go. She felt her heart beating in her chest—fear and apprehension taking her. She was scared, nothing else to it. The princess shook as the chaos seemed to reach its peak…

...only for everything to grow calm.

Lucina was shivering. She kept her eyes shut, and face buried into the butler. She didn't know what had happened, but she didn't want to open her eyes for fear it wasn't over. However, she felt her body warm up as she felt an arm wrap around her back and pull her in closer.

"Lucina…"

The princess hardly recognized the voice that spoke her name. It wasn't the adolescent voice of the teenaged Walter she'd become used to, nor was it the voice of the older—more sophisticated—tone of the Walter she'd first known. No, it was somewhat deeper; carrying a baritone to it. Lucina couldn't help but feel her heart flutter at the sound of the voice.

"…look at me," the man requested.

Hesitantly, Lucina opened her eyes. Her vision blurred—unfocused at first. She no longer felt rainfall, and she could tell that the sun had cut through the overcast sky. She blinked a couple of times to let her vision focus. The sight that greeted her made her heart skip a beat. Loosening her arms from around the butler slightly so she could get a better look at him, her throat went dry from shock.

(Replace Song with ~ Blue Saiyan [Dragon Ball Super OST])

The teenaged boy that she had found in Gangrel's dungeons was gone. Standing little over half a head taller than her was a man in his twenties; the prime of his life. His attire was the same: a black dress shirt with faint white pinstripes, and pants that were a shiny black leather that matched the waistcoat he wore over his shirt. Chains were attached to his belt and around his wrist, jingling loudly.

However, what had taken Lucina in the most was the man's face. No longer sporting a messy mop of hair, his long black locks tied back into a messy ponytail; countless strands hanging messily over his pale face. His juvenile features had melted away, replaced by a more mature sharpness that made Lucina blush. However, what entranced Lucina most was his eyes. A monocle had appeared—seemingly out of nowhere—and hung over his left eye as it did before his de-aging, but the eyes were different. No longer were they dull gray like the defeated teenager, nor were they the stony gray of the older—more withheld—man; no…

Instead, they were silver; glowing with a radiance and energy Lucina had never seen before. The seemed to glow with a determination and strength that was without peer. These eyes were the same eyes that were now staring into her own.

"How do I look?" the man smiled knowingly.

"Y- you look…" Lucina sputtered, struggling to voice her thoughts. "You look… you look… incredible…" she breathed. The man chuckled as he raised his right hand.

The sealing sigil had faded, disappeared for good. The man considered this for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"I hope I fight as good as I look…" the man quipped as he clenched his fist.

Without second thought, the man pulled out his black fingerless gloves. Slipping them on, he unwrapped his arm from around Lucina and strode forward confidently. Though she was hesitant, Lucina let him go.

As she stared at the man's retreating back, Lucina knew—she just knew—that what she saw was no trick. The man before her, the man striding towards Gangrel without fear, was still the man she loved…

…but he wasn't the same. He was something more…

He wasn't a man, he wasn't a vampire, and he certainly wasn't a monster.

He wasn't an Angel of Death anymore either.

Watching his wires flare to life around him, Lucina knew who he was.

He was Walter Dornez…

…a Guardian Angel.

(Song ends here…)


Writer's Notes

After nearly five years, thirty chapters (Table of Contents not included), and 235,757 words we've finally reached the moment in the story that I've had in my minds eye since the very beginning; the return of 'Dark' Walter. Now we've reached the climax of the arc, and possibly this story. Next time, Walter faces off against Gangrel one final time to determine the fate of not just Ylisse, but of the whole continent.


Behind the Keyboard

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What was already written - I've actually had sections of this chapter finished for quite some time. Walter's skirmish with Alucard and Walter's transformation have been written for several months now, with a few minor differences. For example, in the original version of Walter's transformation, Lucina wasn't present.

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Chrom's involvement - Originally, Chrom wasn't going to fight Gangrel at all. The original idea was to have Gangrel decimating the allied forces by himself while Walter was in limbo. I changed this after realizing that Chrom hadn't had a moment in the limelight like Walter or Lucina. As such, I decided to give the prince something to do.

It also let have Chrom use that 'power' of his again. If you know you're Fire Emblem Awakening, you've probably figured out what that 'power' is.

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Walter was never going to de-age - Now that we've reached this point in the story, I think I'm gonna finally admit something. Walter's progressive de-aging—that conflict that has driven most, if not all, of Walter's character development thus far—was not part of my original plan. When I started writing the story, I began with the intention of Walter NEVER de-aging until this moment here when he unleashes his vampirism.

Walter de-aging slightly at the end of Chapter 9, 'Twin Falchions', was thrown in on a whim. Even his dramatic transformation during his fight with Validar in Chapter 14, 'Loss of Humanity (Part II)', was done on a whim...

...okay, the second one was so that Walter and Lucina were made closer in age—at least physically—but you get the picture.

By the time we reached Chapter 21, 'The Fall', I'd committed to the de-aging and knew that Walter would HAVE TO be de-aged into his teenage self when he made his reappearance in Chapter 25 'An Angel Clipped of Wings'.

Either way, I just thought it was interesting that this core aspect to the story thus far—Walter's degenerating body—was thrown in on a whim. Isn't that crazy?

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Reviews

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Aergaia - Bet you weren't expecting this chapter to come out so soon either?

Eh, there's only so much you can do with bland faceless ghouls, so the 'fight' being bland isn't at all surprising.

Really, you haven't watched the actual series—just the abridged (speaking of TFS, it kinda sucks that they're done with DBZ Abridged, but what can ya do?)? Hellsing Ultimate is definitely one of those series that I more... cautiously recommend. It gets PRETTY crazy at points, so it's definitely not for the squeamish. Still, if you can handle a couple of dark moments, I'd say go ahead and watch it.

Well, the question is, 'was Alucard really in Walter's head to begin with, or was he just his imagination?' Knowing what we know of Aversa, where do you think she went? Sadly, Alucard isn't going to be fighting—let's face it, if he were allowed to, he'd snap every enemy in two like they were twigs.

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Starlight's Poet - The pun's a good one, even if it wasn't on purpose.

Well, Walter has gone 'fuck it', and released the seal. Next time, you're gonna be seeing some REAL 'fireworks'...

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Kerrowe(?) - Can't tell if it is actually you or not—the review wasn't posted through your account so I'm just a LITTLE bit skeptical as to if it is...

Either way, sorry for not replying to your review last chapter—I didn't notice it hadn't been approved until AFTER I posted last chapter.

Well, they didn't search for blessed equipment; Walter had it made instead. You're right though, the blessed weapons did come into play—though the only one to use one against Gangrel has been Walter; everyone else is using them against the ghouls. Falchion did come into play and was also 'powered up' during the fight, causing even more damage to Gangrel than normal.

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Alright, time to lay out the plan—seeing as how there are only two chapters left to be released.

The next chapter—'Walter C. Dornez'—is finished; I'll be proofreading it as soon as this is posted. That chapter will be released in two days, on the 12th.

The final chapter—'Onward Towards a New Dawn'—is still being written; I'm about a third of the way done at the time I'm writing this. If all goes to plan, the final chapter to the Gangrel Arc will be released on 'Valentines Day'—the 14th. Of course, since this chapter isn't finished yet, that's not set in stone; however, I'll update you guys next chapter.

Now, seeing as how we're almost finished, I've decided to let you know that I've come to a decision regarding the future of this fic; whether it will indeed be ending or not. After careful consideration, I've decided this fic...

...might be ending...

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...because I may or may not be starting a separate continuation fic instead.

Yeah, this story is continuing after this arc ends. The continued support really made it clear to me that people want to see this continue; you guys want the future children, Valm, and Grima and I think I've got TOO many ideas to leave things off here. So I'll either continue posting chapters to this fic, or I'll simply start posting the continuation to a new one. This story is already over 230K words—and at the current average length of my chapters, 7,605 words per chapter—this fic will probably end at one-million words...

That being said, I will be taking a short break from writing after the Gangrel Arc is finished. My college semester is beginning to pick up and I expect that my workload is going to start to increase; which is why I'm finishing this all off while everything is still relatively easy. I'm gonna take the time to plan out the next arc carefully—I already know what it's going to be about, but I need to solidify more aspects of the story. I don't know how long the break from writing will be, but rest assured: 'Walter Dornez of the Emblem' isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

With that being said, that's all for announcements.

I wanna thank you all again for the continued support, it really means a lot to know that there are a group of people reading this fic. If you guys didn't voice your desire to see more, I'd have ended this by now. Thanks to all of you, this story will be continuing.

I think I've rambled enough for one chapter, so I'll sign off here.

~WizardCantNameThings


Next time on Walter Dornez of the Emblem!

Walter C. Dornez