I'M IN MARVEL

As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s helicarrier loomed over the Palace of Eternal Night, the battle to annihilate the vampire threat began in earnest.

Equipped with advanced tech straight from Stark Industries and Kamar-Taj's knowledge, the helicarrier's deck bristled with ultraviolet (UV) floodlights. A volley of UV rays cascaded downward, bathing the palace and surrounding buildings.

The vampires, caught unaware, were obliterated in the thousands, turning to ash almost instantly. Only a handful of hybrid vampires and pure-blooded elders, resistant to UV light, managed to retreat into nearby structures.

Drones equipped with garlic-infused chemical sprayers activated, blanketing the area in a corrosive mist. Vampiric screams filled the air as the gas seeped into the crevices of their shelters. While the garlic mist didn't kill them outright, it incapacitated many, rendering them vulnerable.

A few vampires wearing protective suits and masks attempted to escape the chaos but were swiftly taken down by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents armed with silver-tipped bullets. Those lucky—or strong—enough to break through this initial defense met their fate at the hands of Hawkeye (Clint Barton).

Stationed on a nearby rooftop, Clint displayed the precision that earned him a spot among Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Arrows whizzed through the air, finding their marks with surgical accuracy. Special explosive-tipped arrows detonated within buildings, collapsing hideouts and further devastating the vampire ranks.

"Classic ADC behavior," Russell muttered, impressed by Clint's prowess.

Even so, the efficiency of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s assault frustrated him. "These vampires are pathetic. If they know they're weak to UV and garlic, why not use guerrilla tactics? Tunnels, at least."

As if on cue, Maria Hill's voice rang through the comms. "Tony, Gwen, Russell, we've identified potential tunnel exits in the vicinity. Jarvis has marked them on your HUDs. You're our fastest responders—cut them off."

"Roger that." x3.

Russell grinned. "Whack-a-mole time."

Activating his enhanced senses, Russell honed in on the faint vibrations of vampire footsteps beneath the surface. One by one, he intercepted escapees, coordinating with Gwen and Tony to plug the exits.

The tide of battle seemed to favor S.H.I.E.L.D. until a figure emerged from the Palace of Eternal Night—a man unharmed by UV light, garlic gas, or silver bullets.

Hawkeye raised his bow, but upon recognizing the individual, he lowered his weapon.

"Blade," Clint muttered.

The Daywalker sprinted to the blockade. "I have critical intel," he said, his voice grim.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Hill, and the heroes turned their attention to him.

"In the Palace of Eternal Night, Frost's ritual to summon the Blood God is nearly complete," Blade explained. "Hundreds of vampires have already transformed into Blood Vampires, and thousands more are undergoing the process. These Blood Vampires are stronger, faster, and nearly indestructible. Garlic, UV light, silver—all useless against them. They regenerate instantly unless completely obliterated."

"What about weaknesses?" Hill demanded.

"Anticoagulants," Blade replied. "It disrupts their ability to regenerate. That's their Achilles' heel."

Hill's face hardened. "Fury, I'm requesting fire support to destroy the palace and airdrop anticoagulants."

"Approved," Fury responded, his voice grim. The consequences of using such force near New York weren't lost on him, but the stakes left no room for hesitation.

The helicarrier launched a Jericho Missile, a relic from Stark Industries' pre-Iron Man days.

"Brace yourselves!" Tony shouted as the missile struck.

A deafening explosion rocked the area, reducing the Palace of Eternal Night to rubble. Dust and smoke filled the air, but the destruction revealed a chilling sight.

Under the harsh UV floodlights, thousands of untransformed vampires turned to ash. Yet among the wreckage, nearly a thousand transformed Blood Vampires stood, many gravely injured but regenerating rapidly. Severed limbs re-formed in seconds, blood foam solidifying into flesh and bone.

"Good news," Tony quipped darkly. "At least they don't recover from total disintegration."

Russell smirked. "It's something." Quietly, he tested his [Energy Absorption] ability. Even at a distance, he siphoned fragments of energy from the regenerating vampires, amassing strength for the battles ahead.

Emerging from the chaos, Deacon Frost stood unscathed. His voice boomed with unnatural resonance. "This is the power of the Blood God! Your weapons are meaningless!" He pointed toward New York City, his fangs gleaming. "Destroy them all. Then, we offer this city to my god!"

The Blood Vampires charged like a tidal wave. Bullets barely slowed them, their wounds healing faster than they could be inflicted.

Hill barked into the comms. "Helicarrier, lay down suppressing fire. Ground teams, retreat to defensive positions!"

Even as S.H.I.E.L.D. forces pulled back, Russell, Tony, and Gwen advanced.

Gwen swung overhead, her webbing ensnaring Blood Vampires by the dozens. To her surprise, the enhanced strands held longer than expected, their supernatural strength unable to break free instantly.

"Russell, Stark, let's trap these guys with a webbed perimeter!" Gwen suggested over comms.

"I'm on it!" Tony replied, activating his suit's web-spinning add-on, developed for just such emergencies.

But Russell had other plans.

"Where are you going?!" Gwen shouted as Russell sprinted toward the heart of the battlefield, ignoring their makeshift strategy.

"Don't worry about me," Russell called back. His eyes were locked on Deacon Frost, the source of the chaos.

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