"I have point." Seras ran, not waiting for the others. Matthew and Anderson followed. The stone corridors of the castle, lit by torches hung on the walls, were very tight and filled with ghouls. Seras and Matthew struck back with their pistols as Anderson sliced them apart with his blades. It seemed the tight quarters forced him to forget who he was fighting beside, at least for the moment. It wasn't long before they arrived at the castle's center, when Alucard and Shalrik fought.

Alucard's body was intact, but his arms had become long, black tendrils covered with red eyes, each ending with the head and forelimbs of a hellhound. Alucard danced around Shalrik, his hellhound familiars striking fiercely at the well armored dragon. Shalrik stood on his haunches, lashing out with forelimbs and biting attacks, letting loose fireballs now and then. But all his power was useless against targets just too fast to hit. Around the courtyard were a score of ghouls. Vampires probably waited in the shadows, tasked with ensuring their master wasn't disturbed.

Matthew had no doubts Alucard would be the victor. But perhaps the three of them could make that win come a little easier?

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. Anderson looked over, but Matthew figured he was going to do his own things anyway. "Seras, you could 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. "Anderson…"

"Don't bother, vampire," he interrupted.

"Fine," Matthew replied. "Do whatever. 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 could see the hint of a smirk escape her armor.

Matthew pulled out a shot shell from his backpack. "I've got more of these than 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 looked over to Anderson… or rather where he had been. He was charging the nearest collection of ghouls. "So much for stealth." He turned back to Seras, who was already starting to climb. Matthew simply sighed, shook his head, and started over to a column after loading a slug round into Valkyrie.

'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. Shalrik quickly got back to his feet and screeched out a command to his minions. Ghouls and vampires started for Matthew and Seras's positions. Anderson 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. 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 slug 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. 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 ran up to point-blank range, aimed Valkyrie, and fired. The silver shot tore into Shalrik, but caused little damage. Matthew quickly reloaded 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 sprung 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 directly, but Shalrik's extended claw sliced through the flesh of Matthew's gut and sent 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. 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 freed the spent magazine and let the belt shoot a fresh one in. Hitting the slide release and lowering the hammer, he slid the pistol back in its holster.

Matthew examined his position. Valkyrie was lying in the middle of the room. It was intact, but getting to it would be tough. He took off the backpack. In case he actually got to the cannon, he grabbed a couple shot rounds and stuffed them in his pockets. Matthew pulled Spitfire from its mounts, stuffed in a magazine, and loaded five shotgun shells. There were still a number of reloads on the belts strapped to him. 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. 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 again. This time, however, he wasn't defenseless. Matthew dropped to a knee, brought up the Spitfire, cycled the slide, and fired the shotgun. 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. 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. Gven time, Shalrik would regain the hand, so Matthew had to act quickly. He reloaded 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 pitfire 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. Anderson 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.

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 his left leg would no longer support him. It was still attached, but there was a large gash in the back of his thigh. It would be a few minutes before it would work again. 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 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 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 sideways. The dragon dissolved into a blob, reverting to 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 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!" Alucard's arms raised, and from the backpack Matthew's last ten shot rounds for his Valkyrie leapt out. What happened next was astounding.

The shot rounds broke open, their silver shot melting and forming a ball above Alucard. His arms again dissolved into hellhound familiars, this time each arm splitting in two. The now four familiars lanced ahead with lightning speed, latching onto Shalrik at his shoulders and flanks. Shalrik was lifted into the air, struggling against the hold Alucard had on him. Alucard's back seemed to open up, and the ball of silver flowed into him. As it disappeared, his back closed. In moments, Shalrik was convulsing. Alucard was actually INJECTING the silver INTO Shalrik THROUGH his familiars. It was like a train wreck. Matthew couldn't look away.

From the center of Alucard's chest, another arm appeared. It held Jackal before him. Alucard fired his last bullet.