Mark's POV
Mark cradled his lukewarm friend's dying body, knowing it was his by the way it slowly disintegrated. The blood moon had passed, and everything had returned to normal, but Mark didn't feel the happiness he had expected. He had always imagined yelling and berating his dying friend, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he felt somber, conflicted with a mix of grief and hatred.
On the other hand, Jackson was calm and accepting, his dark purple skin returning to a normal complexion. His eyes regained their original pigment, and his hair returned to raven black. At the sight, Mark couldn't help but tear up. He felt immense sadness and didn't know why. He questioned whether he should even be sad. Shouldn't he feel happy, even glee, that Jackson was dead? But he didn't, and he hated himself for it.
"This isn't how I expected our meeting and heart-to-heart to go, right, friend?" Jackson spoke, breaking the tense silence.
"Why? Tell me why. Why do you have that look on your face, like you're accepting this outcome? You should be angry that you lost, petty!" Mark yelled, anger flashing in his eyes.
"That's just me," Jackson chuckled weakly. "That's why I like you, Mark. You're always more expressive than I was. You could always say what was on your mind, feel any emotion. The truth is, this is it. I lived such a great—" He paused, "life," he finally said.
"So what? You're saying you lived a great life? You killed innocent people and did nothing but evil. A great life to you, maybe, but to the others you hurt, it was probably the worst life," Mark yelled, gripping Jackson harder.
"You always go off on the most trivial things. But maybe you're right. Maybe I didn't live such a great life after all," Jackson admitted. "But Mark, the reason I'm so calm and collected is because I'm accepting how these events have to be. This is fate. It's funny how fate works, right? I saved your life, and now you end mine. It's like I shot myself in the foot."
Jackson started wheezing in pain, coughing as his body continued to disintegrate, now down to his waist.
"You're saying it's fate, like I was always meant to kill you? Is that why you came back after Naruto incinerated you? Was that because of fate?" Mark demanded, running out of time and feeling a mix of anger and sadness, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm afraid yes, it was fate. But it also wasn't. The reason Naruto couldn't kill me during the dairy was because, other than silver or garlic, only man can kill me and people like me. You see, Mark, there are more dangerous things than me, more powerful. I am an ant in a bigger pool of tigers and rhinos. That's how insignificant I am compared to them," Jackson explained.
"What are these other vampires called? And tell me, what other monsters exist?" Mark asked, desperate for answers.
"One question at a time, Mark," Jackson said. "But I guess I'll answer both. For how many monsters I can name, I couldn't list them all, but I can show you through my memories. As for the vampire hierarchy, I am merely a vampire slave, the lowest tier. Above me are the Squire vampires, ten times stronger than me. Then come the Ascendant vampires, a thousand times stronger, followed by Elders, a million times stronger. Beyond them are the High Elders, and above them, a god whose existence is uncertain. Our skin color reflects our rank—some Elders are pure black, representing their evil and monstrous nature. Compared to them, I was a more lawful vampire, which is why I couldn't ascend."
"Do you know where these vampires or any other monsters are?" Mark asked.
"So, you're on the warpath. You want to exterminate us all. It's a tall task, but it could be done. I don't know where the Elders are, but I can tell you where some Squires and an Ascendant are. Maybe they can tell you more about the Elders. If you defeat them all, maybe you'll take down the High Elders. Before I die, I'll transfer my memories and experiences to you. This isn't me helping you; it's my revenge. I might not go to heaven, but I'll see those other vampires in hell and torment them."
"Don't stop, Jackson. Get to the point. I can't have you miss your chance," Mark said, gritting his teeth.
"Alright, alright. Look into my eyes," Jackson said seriously.
Mark did as he was told, locking eyes with Jackson. Suddenly, a flood of memories overwhelmed Mark, causing his head to throb and making him scream. He fell to the ground, clutching his head in agony
Doug POV
Doug's eyes snapped open. He knew he shouldn't be sleeping right now. He got up, every muscle screaming for unconsciousness, but he needed to check on Mark. When he found him, Mark was clutching the dying Jackson, which confused Doug. His attention quickly shifted to another dying person on the battlefield—Larry. Larry leaned against a tree off the side, and Doug hurried to his aid. He saw three old holes near Larry's guts, each one vital, with the biggest wound where his heart should be.
Doug panicked. He had never been in such a situation before. If Carly were here, she would know what to do, Doug tried to rationalize to himself.
"Lad, why are you panicking?" Larry asked, his voice strained as he coughed up blood.
"Don't try to speak right now. I'm going to try to save you," Doug said, determination masking his fear. Larry saw through his facade.
"You don't have to put on a front for me, boy. I know I'm done for. My heart is gone. There's no saving me," Larry said, accepting his fate and looking up at the sky, specifically at the sun.
"No, I can't let you die, Mr. Larry! Lily still needs you, the group needs your guidance more than ever," Doug yelled, trying to cover the wounds with his shirt, making Larry wince in pain.
"Lad, listen to me. My heart is literally gone. You can't save me," Larry said, coughing up more blood, his eyes drooping. He didn't have much time left. Doug tried to think, but his mind was blank. He started crying, feeling helpless.
"Doug, don't be sorry about my demise. I had it coming. I've been an a****** to everyone. I even punched Lee because I thought he was a psychopathic murderer, but he's a nice guy with a little girl. I was so filled with hate because of my wife's death that I just wanted to see everything burn. But after the dairy, seeing how Lee was always nice to me, even when I was an a******, I realized I couldn't forgive myself. If I have to die to atone for my sins, then so be it. That's what it means to be alive," Larry said true acceptance in his tone and body language.
"You guys are boring me with all this drama for no reason," Hades said, walking into the scene as if the battle and the situation didn't matter to him. And to be honest, it didn't.
"It's not your time to die, old man. There's a bigger role you will play in the future. You were always fated to be near death but not truly dead. That's why I was fated to be here," Hades said nonchalantly, his arrogance palpable.
"What the f*** are you saying? What are you talking about fate?" Doug yelled, anger and hope mixed in his voice. Larry also had a confused expression.
Hades squatted down, placing his hand on Larry's chest cavity. He then poured his godly power into Larry's body. Doug watched in disbelief as Larry's heart regrew, his rib cage reformed, followed by flesh and skin. Even the blood disappeared. Larry was completely healed and, if Doug's eyes weren't deceiving him, looked ten years younger.
"Well, you're completely fine now, so both of you stop crying. You have a bigger fate awaiting you," Hades said.
Larry looked at his hands and chest, feeling his restored body. "You truly are a god. Thank you. I also feel more youthful than before. Is that your doing as well?" Larry asked, full of questions but starting with the most pressing one.
"Quite accepting, aren't you? Yes, I made you ten years younger. Hopefully, this gives you more time to fulfill your destiny. We can't have you dying of old age now, can we?" Hades explained.
"What exactly are our destinies? What do you mean by fate? Does fate actually exist?" Doug asked, both curious and grateful.
Hades smiled, satisfied with the question. "Sorry, you two. I do know your fates, but I can't tell you. If I did, it would change the course of your fate, and we can't let that happen. It could lead to chaos that we can't allow upstairs, if you get my drift."
"Can you tell us anything about our destiny so we can try to complete it the best we can?" Larry asked, very interested in his fate.
"Nope, I can't tell you that either. You will need to figure that out for yourselves. It was only fate that allowed me to interfere this much," Hades said. "If it were that easy to tell you, do you think I would allow this apocalypse to even happen? I'm the god of the dead, but I'm not an evil being. I love you humans—you guys are fun and cool. But this is just how fate rules it."
"So, I'm guessing that's why you were able to physically touch Jackson but didn't harm him either, because that's not what fate wanted, right? And I'm also assuming fate is a god as well?" Larry asked.
"Bingo on the first one. You're very perceptive. On your other question, you're quite off. Fate is not a god like I am. It's an entity altogether beyond us gods. But it's not beyond the one who is enlightened—you could say that's Fate's boss in simple terms," Hades explained.
"I see. So is it fate allowing us to know of its existence? I have to assume this information will help us in our journey," Doug figured out.
"For a human, you're quite intelligent. And you're exactly right. Fate is even allowing this conversation, our entire meeting, all the people you have met—it's all been Fate's doing. And all the people you'll meet along the way will be Fate's will—to a certain point, though," Hades said, his expression grim.
"What do you mean 'to a certain point'?" Doug asked, unnerved.
"There will come a point in time where fate will emerge, and the entire concept of fate won't exist in that moment. That moment will decide the future of reality as we know it. You need to understand that," Hades said seriously.
Both Doug and Larry nodded, deep in thought. They were snapped out of their reverie by a yell. It was Mark, gripping his face as Jackson's body disintegrated into nothing. Both Doug and Larry ran to Mark's aid, wanting to see what was wrong.
mark POV
Mark was gripping his face in pain, but as quickly as it began, it ended. He let go of his face and found himself in a completely different place—a snowy mountain peak. In front of him, he saw a man who looked familiar, appearing to be in his twenties, chopping wood near a tiny hut made for probably three people. Mark noticed they were the only people up there. As he got closer, he recognized the man—it was a young version of Jackson.
"I wondered how long it would take you to figure out that was me. Your reaction was priceless, my friend," Jackson said from behind him. Startled, Mark fell on his ass.
"Man, you can be a real ******," Mark said, getting up. He realized he couldn't feel anything, even when gripping the snow. It was as if the entire place didn't exist in normal reality.
"Where are we, Jackson?" Mark asked, already having a guess but wanting Jackson to confirm it.
"We're in the plane of memories, specifically mine. You said you wanted to know what made me who I am. What better way than experiencing my memories firsthand?" Jackson said with a cocky grin.
Mark saw someone else approaching the young Jackson—a pregnant woman. He was very interested in where this was going. "I'm assuming that was your wife?" Mark asked.
Jackson nodded. "Yep, and look how beautiful she was. She was the light of my life. These were the happiest days of my life. Before I met her, I was just a shell of my former self. She built me back up when I was at my lowest point."
Mark watched as the young Jackson touched his wife's stomach. "You were going to have a child, right? I'm going to assume it didn't work out," Mark said, feeling a tinge of sadness.
"Yep, it certainly didn't work out. You'll see soon," Jackson replied as time sped up.
Mark was confused, but before he could ask, Jackson anticipated his question. "I don't want to keep you waiting too long. I know how impatient you can be. Plus, we have a strict time limit. I want to keep it brief so I can get to the more crucial parts. Happy and sad moments come and go. There's no reason to be hung up on those moments," Jackson said.
Time returned to normal, and now it was night. Both Jackson and Mark were looking through a window as it snowed. Inside, the young couple was having dinner—stew, and bread.
"You guys weren't that wealthy," Mark observed.
"Of course we weren't, but we didn't care. We had each other, and that was enough," Jackson said, tears welling up in his eyes.
A loud knock on the door interrupted the scene. Mark quickly moved to the front door and saw a man who was bloodied, with three claw gashes bleeding profusely. The younger Jackson opened the door.
"My word, sir, what happened to you? Marina, get me the fire poker. We're going to need to cauterize some wounds," young Jackson said, displaying his orderly nature even back then.
"No, don't bother. I need to warn you guys. That's why I came up here. A beast is coming, maybe in 30 to 10 seconds. I need to get out of here—" A huge explosion in the middle of the room cut the man off. It came from the roof, and dust was everywhere.
Mark couldn't believe what he was seeing. The beast that came through was unlike anything he had ever seen. It had white snow fur and looked like an ape. "Is that Bigfoot?" Mark asked, amazed and confused.
Jackson laughed. "No, that's his cousin. This is a Yeti, and in my experience, they're way more ferocious than Bigfoots."
The wounded man's injuries healed in less than three seconds. He then yelled, "God's armor!" A golden aura of armor encompassed him. "Shield of Fate, repel this evil beast!" the man commanded. The young Jackson was confused and horrified. A huge blast from the man's shield hit the yeti, sending it out of the house.
"Marina, we need to get out of here! The house is going to collapse!" young Jackson shouted, grabbing his wife's bridal style and jumping out of the window.
Mark watched as young Jackson carried his wife through the window, passing right through Mark and present-day Jackson, who of course, couldn't be seen by their past selves. The present Jackson began to narrate as they followed his younger self.
"This is where I made the gravest mistake of my entire life, the event that set me on this path," Jackson said somber tone. "Marina, I want you to run without me. I can't let the man who warned us die against that monster," young Jackson said, trying to run back.
Marina stopped him. "What do you think you're doing? You have no combat experience, let alone the abilities that guy has. You'll just get yourself killed," she said, terrified.
"That may be so, but I have to try. If I ran away and let him die to save our own skins, how could I call myself a father? Would we just leave our child if the same beast attacked it? Not on my dead body. You know why I have to do this, Marina, more than anyone," young Jackson said.
Mark wasn't sure if young Jackson was brave or foolish, but his resolve had a sort of admirable quality. They followed young Jackson back to the battlefield. The man seemed to have the situation under control, with the Yeti's arms sliced off, but the beast was regenerating slowly. It rammed the man, but he blasted back when it hit his chest plate of armor.
Young Jackson grabbed an axe and tried to kill the Yeti, but the older man shouted, "No, don't!" as Jackson attempted to slice its head off. The axe broke on contact with the Yeti's neck.
"Axes weren't silver back then, and even if they were, Yetis have incredibly thick necks. The only way to kill one effectively is to pierce it through the anal area. Gross, but it works," present-day Jackson explained.
The Yeti's arm regenerated fully and grabbed young Jackson, about to smash his head in with its other arm. The man in armor pierced the Yeti's stomach, making it roar in pain and throw Jackson. The beast then smacked the old man, almost sending him off the mountain, but he stopped himself at the last moment. Young Jackson did the same, albeit less gracefully, falling on his face.
"You were really inexperienced back then," Mark said, chuckling despite himself.
The Yeti went for the old man again, but Marina, watching in horror, was smashed off the mountain. She was certainly dead. Something snapped in young Jackson.
"This is where I snapped. This is where I awakened Mana for the first time, along with a burning rage," Jackson said. "The ember turned into a towering tornado of flame."
Out of pure instinct, young Jackson created two axes from the ground and ran toward the beast, decapitating it with a swift slice.
"That's pretty impressive, right?" Mark asked though he was more saddened by what happened.
Jackson said nothing, continuing to slice up the beast until it was mush, covered in blood. His younger self was then knocked out by the old man, and everything went black. The entire world disappeared.
"I'm sorry for your loss, but that doesn't justify killing and slaughtering others out of malice, hate, and rage. Do you know how many people I've lost, especially during the wars we've fought together?" Mark said, now angry, understanding the context of Jackson's actions.
"Exactly. That's why I don't want you to repeat my mistakes. Even if you lose someone dear to you, never do what I have done," Jackson replied.
Jackson showed more examples of his career as a monster hunter, or what he called a monster hunter, as he was more brutal than the monsters he hunted. Mark also learned that the old man trying to kill the Yeti was Van Helsing St. John, likely Emily's grandfather from generations ago. It made sense why Jackson would be lenient with the St. Johns.
"You're finally connecting the dots. You're very intelligent, Mark. That's what makes you so dangerous," Jackson praised.
"So are we done here, or is there something else you want to show me?" Mark asked, fed up. He wanted to leave but didn't hate Jackson. Forgiveness would come in time, but now he needed knowledge and information.
"Don't worry, just one more thing. Humans are so impatient, but I don't blame you. I was impatient too. We've always been impatient creatures," Jackson said.
Suddenly, both Jackson and Mark appeared in front of a castle. Van Helsing and young Jackson, now looking about ten years older, were gazing up at a tower in some unknown location.
"This is where it all culminates," Jackson said. "Watch closely."
Young Jackson's POV
"It's another rainy day," Jackson thought to himself, gripping his axe made of pure silver and other enhancements. Despite his years of training, he had never formed a mana ability—he could only boost his stats. "How ironic is that?" he mused.
"Boy, pay attention. We're going into a castle with an Elder. You have to be focused and on your guard. Elders are strong, probably stronger than both of us combined," Helsing said, a trace of fear in his voice. Jackson called him "master," even though he couldn't see why he deserved the title. Helsing was just an old man, while Jackson was at his peak. Nothing could stop him, right? Not even this Elder.
Determined, Jackson broke the door in half with his axe, storming inside. The interior looked more like a church than a castle. A man stood before a stained glass window depicting Jesus' crucifixion, a bored expression on his face, which infuriated Jackson.
"Do you think we're not worth your time, monster?" Jackson yelled, raising his axe.
The man, appearing both ancient and youthful, smiled confidently. "You youngsters can't even hope to harm me," he said.
"Robert Goss is my name. As a St. John, I vow we will take you down tonight. You won't harm anyone or make any more of your kind ever again," Helsing declared, activating his knight armor form. Jackson, too, activated his mana, channeling it through his body and blades.
Helsing removed his massive cloak, revealing a fit, muscular body despite his age. He rushed forward, but before either could strike, they were slashed across their chests. Helsing managed to tank the hit, but Jackson, lacking armor, relied on his advanced healing factor and fell to the ground, flabbergasted.
Helsing used his Blade of Truth, creating energy slashes toward Robert, who effortlessly dodged and kicked Helsing, unaffected by his mana. He then grabbed Helsing and slammed him through an inner wall in a swift motion. Helsing, recovering quickly, tried to punch Robert, but was countered and flung through the forest miles away.
"Damn it, how is this guy so strong?" Helsing muttered, regaining his composure. Fueled by blind rage, Jackson kicked Robert, the first to land a blow. Robert blocked it easily, grabbed Jackson's leg, and slammed him into the ground. Spitting blood, Jackson saw Helsing pierced through the chest, presumably dead.
Jackson continued fighting, but Robert blocked all his hits, breaking his axes, and then his arms. Jackson kept using his legs, torso, and head until his entire body was broken, leaving him paralyzed. Still, he glared daggers at Robert, who smiled.
"How about I make you an offer?" Robert proposed.
"Go to hell. I've already died once, and I want to see you dead by my feet," Jackson thought, his jaw too broken to speak aloud.
"What about your friend? Are you angry for him?" Robert asked, curious.
"That weakling deserved to die. If he couldn't survive against you, then he didn't deserve pity. The dead aren't strong enough to live," Jackson replied, consumed by rage and madness.
"That's all the answer I need," Robert said. He cut a vein in his arm and sprayed his blood into Jackson's mouth, causing immense pain. Jackson fell unconscious.
When he woke up, the castle was destroyed. Helsing's body lay among the ruins. Jackson, realizing he was now a vampire, buried Helsing in a ditch. Consumed by rage and madness, he vowed to kill every being on the planet, human or monster, until he was the last one left.
"Humans, monsters—they'll all die by my hand. That will be my reason for living," Jackson yelled, laughing psychotically, tears of joy and sorrow streaming down his face.
Doug's POV
Doug caught Mark as he fell, thrashing in pain, but as quickly as it started, it ended, and Mark fell into a deep slumber. This baffled Doug and Larry, but Hades looked amused.
"You know something, don't you?" Doug asked.
"Bingo, buckaroo. I do know what's going on. Your little enemy decided to give your friend his memories, which was already determined by Fate, as I told you," Hades said.
"Can you shut up for a moment, please?" Larry said, breathing heavily. Doug could tell Larry was exhausted. He turned his attention back to Mark's body. After a few minutes, Mark appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Doug decided to pick him up and take him back to the destroyed Motor Inn, the only familiar place he knew, and better than the forest.
Larry, though exhausted, quickly helped Doug with Mark while Hades followed them, showing no concern for their struggle. The Motor Inn was in ruins—nothing but rubble remained. They laid Mark at the front entrance, or what used to be the entrance.
"I'm not sure why we brought him here, but I guess I won't question your methods," Larry said, making Doug feel flattered for a moment.
"Don't sell yourself short, old man. If it wasn't for you and your ability, we wouldn't have made it out unscathed. We both would probably be dead right now," Doug said, humbling himself.
"You guys really need to get stronger. In your future, you'll face foes far stronger than Jackson. He's quite weak in comparison to an Elder, for example. Even when he was human, he couldn't defeat an Elder, even with help," Hades said, a tense expression crossing his face. Before Doug could ask why, Mark started waking up. Doug noticed something else too—Mark's hair was turning a silvery white, and his body had grown buffer, resembling a young Arnold Schwarzenegger from the first Predator movie.
"My boy, are you all right?" Larry asked, concerned.
"Yeah, don't worry, Larry. I'll be fine. I actually feel better than I did before," Mark said, smiling.
"Sorry to break the mood, but I need to get going. In about five minutes, I'll be gone. There's one more thing I have to say," Hades said.
"Who the f*** is this?" Mark asked, confused.
"A long story. I'll tell you later. We should really listen to what he has to say," Doug said, trying to prevent angering the all-powerful underworld god.
"You three have a role to play in the upcoming future. You aren't the only ones being visited by gods like me. There are others around the world—the chosen ones. Seek them out, because they will be generals in the army that the enlightened one, the Avatar, will create. Of course, you might be generals one day too. Or maybe not. Who knows? Maybe you can change Fate, but I'm going to assume you'll play fairly," Hades explained.
"Okay, if we have this big destiny, when will it all converge? When should we use this army?" Mark asked, still skeptical.
"Seven years from now. That's when everything should be formed. If it doesn't go as planned, then that's how Fate goes," Hades replied.
Doug couldn't believe what he was hearing. Him, a general? He had been one of those who didn't want to get drafted during the Iraq War. Becoming something grand seemed impossible. He also noticed Hades' aura flickering away, signaling his time was running out.
"That's all I have to say. Good thing too, my time's almost up. Do good, and I hope you guys do what you're told. Or don't die, and I hope to fight alongside you when the time comes," Hades said, smiling.
Doug couldn't help but smile too. It wasn't every day you got to grin with the god of the underworld. Hades' aura disappeared, and the boy he had possessed fell to the ground, but Mark quickly caught him. It seemed the possession hadn't harmed the boy, which was one of Doug's concerns.
"Looks like everything worked out," Mark said, hoisting the boy on his back.
The three of them looked at each other, unsure of what to do next.
"So, what should we do, guys? I know I want to find my girlfriend, but she could be anywhere. Where do we even look?" Doug asked, tearing up. He felt angry at himself for not leaving with her, but also glad because without his help, Mark and Larry would have died.
"It doesn't matter if they're on the other side of the world. We'll find them, and that's a fact," Mark said, determined.
Doug had nothing to say to that. He watched Mark walk toward the middle of the road, staring down the path. Doug joined him, as did Larry, and they started walking down the road, leaving the Motor Inn and their old lives behind. They were stepping into a new era, full of uncertainty but also hope.
character bios
Name: Larry
Occupation: Retired Military (Former War Veteran)
Personality: Larry is a tough, stubborn, and sometimes abrasive individual. He often takes on a protective role, particularly towards his daughter, Lilly, which can make him seem harsh or aggressive. His military background makes him a natural leader in high-pressure situations, but his authoritarian style can clash with others. Despite his gruff exterior, Larry has a deep sense of loyalty and will go to great lengths to protect those he cares about.
Background: Larry grew up in northeastern France during World War II. His family was tragically attacked by an unknown force, killing his parents and the parents of his childhood friend, who remains unnamed. Seeking purpose, Larry joined the military and fought in the Vietnam War, but he struggled to find meaning even in his service. After the war, he settled down with a family. However, with the onset of the apocalypse, Larry realized he had to adapt to protect his loved ones.
Role in the Group: Initially, Larry struggled to contribute to the group due to his heart condition. However, Larry had an epiphany after the harrowing dairy incident: he couldn't stay angry at the world and everyone in it. Over the past two weeks, he has been striving to right his wrongs within the group. He has taken a special interest in a boy named Naruto, whom he sees as a grandson. Larry's current role is that of a mentor, though he still has much to learn before becoming the mentor Naruto needs to succeed.
Relationships:
Lilly: Larry's daughter, whom he fiercely protects. His relationship with her is a driving force behind many of his actions.
Kenny: Larry often clashes with Kenny due to their differing viewpoints on leadership and decision-making, leading to several heated confrontations.
Lee: Larry's relationship with Lee is complicated. While Larry is initially distrustful and antagonistic towards Lee, they develop grudging respect over time, especially as Lee proves his worth to the group.
Naruto: Larry sees Naruto as a grandson and, like with his daughter, he'll do anything to protect him and the other children who can't protect themselves.
Notable Moments:
Heart Problems: Larry had a heart condition, but strangely, after a near-death experience, his heart problems ceased. This baffled everyone, especially Larry himself.
Conflict with Kenny: Larry and Kenny have several notable clashes, particularly regarding decisions about survival and group leadership.
Fate: Alive and determined to find the group.
Legacy: Not yet known.
mana ability: multiplication using his Aura he's able to replicate any objects that he touches or comes the contact with it doesn't matter if it's nonliving or living.