"I have point." Seras ran for the castle, Matthew and Alexander hot on her
heels. He heard Seras cry out, "We're coming, Master!" The three fought
through the corridors of the castle. Seras and Matthew took out ghouls
with their pistols as Alexander sliced ghouls apart with his blades. Soon,
they arrived at the center of the castle where Alucard and Shalrik still
fought. Alucard's body could still be seen, though some parts had become a
black blob covered with red eyes. His arms had become long black
appendages which ended in the head and forelimbs of a pair of hellhounds.
Alucard danced around Shalrik, his hellhound familiars striking fiercely at
the well armored dragon. Shalrik's red dragon form stood on its haunches,
lashing out with fore limbs and biting attacks and letting loose fireballs
now and then. Matthew saw figures patrolling the sidelines, vampires and
ghouls ensuring no one interfered with their master's battle. He had no
doubt that Alucard would win the day, but maybe the three of them could
still help.
Matthew turned to the others. "I've got an idea." Seras looked at him, still in her own 'combat mode'. She nodded for him to continue. Even Alexander looked interested. "Seras, find a nice high firing position. Shoot at Shalrik with everything you've got whenever Alucard is out of the way. Displace when needed." She considered the plan and nodded. "Alexander, you get to have a little fun. Run around the perimeter of the area and take out any enemy forces." Alexander smiled; a predatory smile too similar to Shalrik's for Matthew's liking. "While you two are busy, I'm gonna stay on this level and take potshots at Shalrik."
"Why do you get to stay down here when I have to go up?" Seras asked.
Matthew pulled out a shot shell from his Valkyrie. "I've got more of these then slugs. Used a fair number on the way in. I've gotta get up close for the shot rounds to work. Better chance of that if I'm down here." He pressed the round against its dispenser until it popped back in. "So, I'll stay here. You go up."
"All right. Be careful, Matthew."
"You too, Seras." He gave a sideways glance to the Paladin. "And you, Alexander. I may not want to have to fight you one of these days, but that doesn't mean I want to eliminate the chance."
Alexander considered them both, gave a slight now, and started off. After a last look at Matthew, Seras started to climb. Matthew grabbed a slug round from his backpack, brought the Valkyrie into position at his left shoulder and loaded it. He waited behind a column for Seras to get into position.
'On three,' he said to Seras telepathically.
'One...' Seras started.
'Two...' Matthew replied.
In unison, they shouted, 'Three!' Matthew came out from cover, aimed at Shalrik's head, and fired with Seras. Their shots hit Shalrik in unison, sending the dragon to the ground. He quickly got back to his feet and screeched out a command to his minions. Ghouls and vampires started for Matthew and Seras's positions. Alexander struck fast and strong, cutting through the enemy ranks and giving them something more immediate to think about. Matthew reloaded as Seras fired her second round. The Valkyrie spat out its next round and Matthew reached back for another round. His hand found nothing but air.
Matthew whipped his head around, and saw no ammo waiting in the dispenser. 'Shit.' He'd used more of them that he'd thought. From the weight of the pack, he still had some shot rounds left. He looked at Shalrik and Alucard's battle, trying to see how it ebbed and flowed. Alucard would stay in one spot long enough for Shalrik to strike, then would flip over the dragon, hellhound striking at anything they could reach. Looking at Alucard's face, Matthew was surprised to see his features displayed an insane glee. He heard Alucard's cackle, and his yell that he had not had that much fun in centuries. Matthew grabbed two shot rounds. He loaded one into the Valkyrie and held the other in his hand. Peaking around the column a couple times, he planned his route. 'If this doesn't kill me, Seras will.'
Matthew gathered his nerves and launched himself into the fray. He sprinted directly at Shalrik. 'Matthew! What are you doing?!' Seras called to his mind. He had to ignore her. He needed to concentrate. He rank up to point-blank range, aimed the Valkyrie, and fired. The silver shot tore into Shalrik, but caused little damage due to the dragon's armor. Matthew quickly reloaded the Valkyrie, fired again, then backed off. He drew his right browning and thumbed back its hammer, using the pistol to cover his retreat. He heard Seras yell out, "Look out!"
From the corner of his eye, Matthew saw the incoming danger. He jumped back, trying to get away, but it was too late. Shalrik's forelimb swept through the air, trying to strike him. Matthew's leap got him away from being hit, but Shalrik's claw extended at the last moment. The claw sliced through the flesh of Matthew's gut, sending him flying across the room. He hit the ground hard, rolling to the wall. His waist felt as if on fire. He made a quick assessment of the situation. The Valkyrie was gone. It had broken off its mount in the roll. He still had his right browning, and it still had ammo in it. His waist had been cut open, but not so badly as to let his guts hang out. He was bleeding badly. Matthew brought his left arm up to the wound and pressed on it, trying to stem the tide of blood.
He was mostly successful. The bleeding was held back so the wound could heal. Figuring more pressure would help more, he leaned against a nearby column. His free right arm was kept busy shooting random shots at Shalrik or some minion. As he fired his last round from the browning and its slide locked back, his mind drifted back to his gut. The pain had faded almost completely. Carefully, he stepped back and pulled his arm away. The bleeding had stopped and the wound was mostly healed. His flesh was still a little weak, so he would have to make sure he wasn't hit in the stomach for a while longer. He hit the magazine release, allowing the browning's empty magazine to slide out and fall to the floor. He pressed it against a magazine holder, and a moment after the magazine was launched into the gun. Hitting the slide release and lowering the hammer, he slid the pistol back in its holster.
Next, he checked on the others. Seras had moved a ways around the center, but was still firing her Harkonnen whenever she got the chance. Even then he witnessed her fire off an explosive round, hitting Shalrik in the chest and making him flinch from a strike directed at Andersen. Andersen threw a couple swords into Shalrik's face, then grabbed a sword out of the wall and with a horizontal slide chopped off an enemy vampire's head, dropping it in a pile of ash. A stab with two swords dropped a pair of ghouls moments after.
Matthew examined his position. As he'd noted before, the Valkyrie was gone. It was lying near the middle of the room. It was intact, but there was no way for him to get to it. He took off his backpack and set it on the floor. Opening its top, he pulled out two shot rounds and stuffed them in his pockets, just in case he was wrong about getting to the Valkyrie. Matthew pulled the Spitfire from its mounts, stuffed in a magazine, and loaded five shotgun shells into it. He leaned out to see the battle. Seras's fire had caused serious injury to Shalrik's left forelimb and Alucard's attacks had injured a lot of Shalrik's body. Alucard seemed to be waiting for the right moment to strike.
Matthew would give him that opportunity. He stepped out and aimed at Shalrik's head. "Alucard! Go now!" Matthew walked forward and opened fire, peppering Shalrik with solid silver .223 bullets. The dragon was phased, and Alucard rushed in to make several devastating strikes. The Spitfire stopped shooting: Matthew was out of ammo.
"Matthew! To your right!"
Matthew turned at Seras's warning. Shalrik's clawed left forelimb was sweeping toward him. This time, however, he wasn't defenseless. Matthew dropped to a knee, brought up the Spitfire, cycled the slide, and pressed the shotgun firing button. The Spitfire's lower barrel launched silver shot at Shalrik's arm. The already injured forearm recoiled in pain. Matthew cycled the slide and fired again, this time aiming at the wrist. It armor was damaged, giving the shot a chance of affecting Shalrik. He pumped his last shotgun rounds into that wrist, and watched with a mix of horror and relief as the now severed hand dropped to the ground. If given time, Shalrik would regain the hand, so Matthew had to act quickly. He reloaded the Spitfire's rifle and shotgun parts, and again aimed at Shalrik's head. He let loose another thirty rounds of silver ammunition, followed by five shells of shot into one hind limb. Again empty, Matthew dropped the Spitfire and drew his brownings.
Shalrik was starting to slow, the combination of attacks from Alucard, Seras, and Matthew proving to be too much for him. Alexander continued to deal with Shalrik's minions, and the ever decreasing number of them was a testament to his efforts. Alucard started another attack run, but Shalrik started to move too, bringing his mouth down to bite Alucard. Matthew provided cover, peppering Shalrik's head with twenty-six anti-vampire bullets. He even saw Andersen throw several of his swords into the dragon's right leg, trying to immobilize the creature.
Apparently, Shalrik had had enough of Matthew. Shalrik attacked Matthew from behind, smacking Matthew with his tail. Matthew was sent flying, his just reloaded brownings parting from his hands. He twisted in the air and landed on his back, sliding about ten feet across the floor. Matthew tried to stand, but he had lost all the feeling in his left leg. It was intact, but would no longer support him. Shalrik ignored all other attacks, heading straight at Matthew. The dragon's head started for Matthew, preparing to bite him in half.
Matthew looked despirately for a weapon, and his hopes were answered when he looked upward across the floor. There, still intact, was the Valkyrie. He reached for it and pulled it to him. From his pocket, he grabbed one of his two shot rounds and loaded it. Shalrik was almost upon him. He brought the Valkyrie tight into his shoulder and aimed right into the dragon's mouth. "Time to pay, bastard." He fired, his shot tearing through the inside of Shalrik's skull. The dragon started to recoil, but Matthew already had his last shot loaded. He fired again, and the dragon fell over backwards. Shalrik dissolved, reverting to his human form. Shalrik stood, his wounds slowly closing.
Shalrik turned to face Matthew. "Even after all that, you still can't beat me." With another predatory smile, Shalrik started towards Matthew. Matthew tried to move, but his left leg still refused to obey his commands and his right leg could only push so quickly.
Then, suddenly, a figure stepped between Matthew and Shalrik. It was Alucard, back in his human form. But with one notable exception: his hair was now white... and glowing... and floating... Matthew felt someone grab his arms. He looked back to see Seras, now more her usual self, dragging him to the wall and behind cover. Neither spoke, entranced with what Alucard was doing. Matthew saw something fly past him. His backpack leapt to the center of the room. Alucard spoke. "It is time for our battles to end, Shalrik. Now you shall see my true power!" What happened next was astounding.
He held his arms straight out, and they again dissolved into long blobs. The time, though, each blob split into four smaller ones, ended with a smaller hellhound. All eight leapt forward and latched onto Shalrik; his arms, legs, torso, head. Shalrik tried to keep fear and confusion from his face, but failed. Alucard again had an insane smile on his face, but his eyes hardened. Suddenly, the last ten shot rounds for Matthew's Valkyrie leapt from his backpack. They broke apart in mid air, their silver shot melting together. The liquefied silver was absorbed into Alucard's back. If it had caused him any pain, Alucard simply smiled bigger. Then, Shalrik started to convulse. Splits opened in his flesh, liquefied silver running out.
Matthew flinched. Alucard had injected the liquid silver into Shalrik through his familiars. This level of power was probably what allowed him to touch silver without it affecting him. Alucard twisted, his familiars sending Shalrik flying. With his newly reformed right arm he drew his Jackal and brought it to aim, but its slide was locked back. He was out of ammunition. Seras reached into her ammo box and produced a black magazine. "Master! Here!" She threw it.
As if grabbed with an invisible force, the magazine changed its flight path and went right into the gun. More molten silver flowed out of Alucard's chest and into the gun through the still open slide and down its barrel. When most of it was in, the slide locked closed, and Alucard fired.
Matthew turned to the others. "I've got an idea." Seras looked at him, still in her own 'combat mode'. She nodded for him to continue. Even Alexander looked interested. "Seras, find a nice high firing position. Shoot at Shalrik with everything you've got whenever Alucard is out of the way. Displace when needed." She considered the plan and nodded. "Alexander, you get to have a little fun. Run around the perimeter of the area and take out any enemy forces." Alexander smiled; a predatory smile too similar to Shalrik's for Matthew's liking. "While you two are busy, I'm gonna stay on this level and take potshots at Shalrik."
"Why do you get to stay down here when I have to go up?" Seras asked.
Matthew pulled out a shot shell from his Valkyrie. "I've got more of these then slugs. Used a fair number on the way in. I've gotta get up close for the shot rounds to work. Better chance of that if I'm down here." He pressed the round against its dispenser until it popped back in. "So, I'll stay here. You go up."
"All right. Be careful, Matthew."
"You too, Seras." He gave a sideways glance to the Paladin. "And you, Alexander. I may not want to have to fight you one of these days, but that doesn't mean I want to eliminate the chance."
Alexander considered them both, gave a slight now, and started off. After a last look at Matthew, Seras started to climb. Matthew grabbed a slug round from his backpack, brought the Valkyrie into position at his left shoulder and loaded it. He waited behind a column for Seras to get into position.
'On three,' he said to Seras telepathically.
'One...' Seras started.
'Two...' Matthew replied.
In unison, they shouted, 'Three!' Matthew came out from cover, aimed at Shalrik's head, and fired with Seras. Their shots hit Shalrik in unison, sending the dragon to the ground. He quickly got back to his feet and screeched out a command to his minions. Ghouls and vampires started for Matthew and Seras's positions. Alexander struck fast and strong, cutting through the enemy ranks and giving them something more immediate to think about. Matthew reloaded as Seras fired her second round. The Valkyrie spat out its next round and Matthew reached back for another round. His hand found nothing but air.
Matthew whipped his head around, and saw no ammo waiting in the dispenser. 'Shit.' He'd used more of them that he'd thought. From the weight of the pack, he still had some shot rounds left. He looked at Shalrik and Alucard's battle, trying to see how it ebbed and flowed. Alucard would stay in one spot long enough for Shalrik to strike, then would flip over the dragon, hellhound striking at anything they could reach. Looking at Alucard's face, Matthew was surprised to see his features displayed an insane glee. He heard Alucard's cackle, and his yell that he had not had that much fun in centuries. Matthew grabbed two shot rounds. He loaded one into the Valkyrie and held the other in his hand. Peaking around the column a couple times, he planned his route. 'If this doesn't kill me, Seras will.'
Matthew gathered his nerves and launched himself into the fray. He sprinted directly at Shalrik. 'Matthew! What are you doing?!' Seras called to his mind. He had to ignore her. He needed to concentrate. He rank up to point-blank range, aimed the Valkyrie, and fired. The silver shot tore into Shalrik, but caused little damage due to the dragon's armor. Matthew quickly reloaded the Valkyrie, fired again, then backed off. He drew his right browning and thumbed back its hammer, using the pistol to cover his retreat. He heard Seras yell out, "Look out!"
From the corner of his eye, Matthew saw the incoming danger. He jumped back, trying to get away, but it was too late. Shalrik's forelimb swept through the air, trying to strike him. Matthew's leap got him away from being hit, but Shalrik's claw extended at the last moment. The claw sliced through the flesh of Matthew's gut, sending him flying across the room. He hit the ground hard, rolling to the wall. His waist felt as if on fire. He made a quick assessment of the situation. The Valkyrie was gone. It had broken off its mount in the roll. He still had his right browning, and it still had ammo in it. His waist had been cut open, but not so badly as to let his guts hang out. He was bleeding badly. Matthew brought his left arm up to the wound and pressed on it, trying to stem the tide of blood.
He was mostly successful. The bleeding was held back so the wound could heal. Figuring more pressure would help more, he leaned against a nearby column. His free right arm was kept busy shooting random shots at Shalrik or some minion. As he fired his last round from the browning and its slide locked back, his mind drifted back to his gut. The pain had faded almost completely. Carefully, he stepped back and pulled his arm away. The bleeding had stopped and the wound was mostly healed. His flesh was still a little weak, so he would have to make sure he wasn't hit in the stomach for a while longer. He hit the magazine release, allowing the browning's empty magazine to slide out and fall to the floor. He pressed it against a magazine holder, and a moment after the magazine was launched into the gun. Hitting the slide release and lowering the hammer, he slid the pistol back in its holster.
Next, he checked on the others. Seras had moved a ways around the center, but was still firing her Harkonnen whenever she got the chance. Even then he witnessed her fire off an explosive round, hitting Shalrik in the chest and making him flinch from a strike directed at Andersen. Andersen threw a couple swords into Shalrik's face, then grabbed a sword out of the wall and with a horizontal slide chopped off an enemy vampire's head, dropping it in a pile of ash. A stab with two swords dropped a pair of ghouls moments after.
Matthew examined his position. As he'd noted before, the Valkyrie was gone. It was lying near the middle of the room. It was intact, but there was no way for him to get to it. He took off his backpack and set it on the floor. Opening its top, he pulled out two shot rounds and stuffed them in his pockets, just in case he was wrong about getting to the Valkyrie. Matthew pulled the Spitfire from its mounts, stuffed in a magazine, and loaded five shotgun shells into it. He leaned out to see the battle. Seras's fire had caused serious injury to Shalrik's left forelimb and Alucard's attacks had injured a lot of Shalrik's body. Alucard seemed to be waiting for the right moment to strike.
Matthew would give him that opportunity. He stepped out and aimed at Shalrik's head. "Alucard! Go now!" Matthew walked forward and opened fire, peppering Shalrik with solid silver .223 bullets. The dragon was phased, and Alucard rushed in to make several devastating strikes. The Spitfire stopped shooting: Matthew was out of ammo.
"Matthew! To your right!"
Matthew turned at Seras's warning. Shalrik's clawed left forelimb was sweeping toward him. This time, however, he wasn't defenseless. Matthew dropped to a knee, brought up the Spitfire, cycled the slide, and pressed the shotgun firing button. The Spitfire's lower barrel launched silver shot at Shalrik's arm. The already injured forearm recoiled in pain. Matthew cycled the slide and fired again, this time aiming at the wrist. It armor was damaged, giving the shot a chance of affecting Shalrik. He pumped his last shotgun rounds into that wrist, and watched with a mix of horror and relief as the now severed hand dropped to the ground. If given time, Shalrik would regain the hand, so Matthew had to act quickly. He reloaded the Spitfire's rifle and shotgun parts, and again aimed at Shalrik's head. He let loose another thirty rounds of silver ammunition, followed by five shells of shot into one hind limb. Again empty, Matthew dropped the Spitfire and drew his brownings.
Shalrik was starting to slow, the combination of attacks from Alucard, Seras, and Matthew proving to be too much for him. Alexander continued to deal with Shalrik's minions, and the ever decreasing number of them was a testament to his efforts. Alucard started another attack run, but Shalrik started to move too, bringing his mouth down to bite Alucard. Matthew provided cover, peppering Shalrik's head with twenty-six anti-vampire bullets. He even saw Andersen throw several of his swords into the dragon's right leg, trying to immobilize the creature.
Apparently, Shalrik had had enough of Matthew. Shalrik attacked Matthew from behind, smacking Matthew with his tail. Matthew was sent flying, his just reloaded brownings parting from his hands. He twisted in the air and landed on his back, sliding about ten feet across the floor. Matthew tried to stand, but he had lost all the feeling in his left leg. It was intact, but would no longer support him. Shalrik ignored all other attacks, heading straight at Matthew. The dragon's head started for Matthew, preparing to bite him in half.
Matthew looked despirately for a weapon, and his hopes were answered when he looked upward across the floor. There, still intact, was the Valkyrie. He reached for it and pulled it to him. From his pocket, he grabbed one of his two shot rounds and loaded it. Shalrik was almost upon him. He brought the Valkyrie tight into his shoulder and aimed right into the dragon's mouth. "Time to pay, bastard." He fired, his shot tearing through the inside of Shalrik's skull. The dragon started to recoil, but Matthew already had his last shot loaded. He fired again, and the dragon fell over backwards. Shalrik dissolved, reverting to his human form. Shalrik stood, his wounds slowly closing.
Shalrik turned to face Matthew. "Even after all that, you still can't beat me." With another predatory smile, Shalrik started towards Matthew. Matthew tried to move, but his left leg still refused to obey his commands and his right leg could only push so quickly.
Then, suddenly, a figure stepped between Matthew and Shalrik. It was Alucard, back in his human form. But with one notable exception: his hair was now white... and glowing... and floating... Matthew felt someone grab his arms. He looked back to see Seras, now more her usual self, dragging him to the wall and behind cover. Neither spoke, entranced with what Alucard was doing. Matthew saw something fly past him. His backpack leapt to the center of the room. Alucard spoke. "It is time for our battles to end, Shalrik. Now you shall see my true power!" What happened next was astounding.
He held his arms straight out, and they again dissolved into long blobs. The time, though, each blob split into four smaller ones, ended with a smaller hellhound. All eight leapt forward and latched onto Shalrik; his arms, legs, torso, head. Shalrik tried to keep fear and confusion from his face, but failed. Alucard again had an insane smile on his face, but his eyes hardened. Suddenly, the last ten shot rounds for Matthew's Valkyrie leapt from his backpack. They broke apart in mid air, their silver shot melting together. The liquefied silver was absorbed into Alucard's back. If it had caused him any pain, Alucard simply smiled bigger. Then, Shalrik started to convulse. Splits opened in his flesh, liquefied silver running out.
Matthew flinched. Alucard had injected the liquid silver into Shalrik through his familiars. This level of power was probably what allowed him to touch silver without it affecting him. Alucard twisted, his familiars sending Shalrik flying. With his newly reformed right arm he drew his Jackal and brought it to aim, but its slide was locked back. He was out of ammunition. Seras reached into her ammo box and produced a black magazine. "Master! Here!" She threw it.
As if grabbed with an invisible force, the magazine changed its flight path and went right into the gun. More molten silver flowed out of Alucard's chest and into the gun through the still open slide and down its barrel. When most of it was in, the slide locked closed, and Alucard fired.
