Crimson Code: Marvel's Vampire

Ethan awoke with a sharp inhale, the remnants of his nightmare still clinging to his mind. He sat up, his skin cold and damp with sweat, as he glanced at the crystal on his desk. It had shrunk further, now only a fragment of its former size. Its crimson glow pulsed with a slower, steadier rhythm, like the heartbeat of a slumbering beast.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, testing the weight of his own body. Everything felt sharper—the edges of the room, the faint hum of electricity through the walls, the whisper of air through the cracked window. His senses had always been heightened since gaining the Crimson Code, but now it was as if the world had shifted into perfect focus.

"Okay, let's see what's new."

Ethan dressed in his usual ensemble—black jeans, a dark t-shirt, and his leather jacket with the hood pulled low. The worn leather was comforting, a barrier between him and the world. He slipped into the shadows of the early morning, moving through the alleys of New York like a wraith. He needed space to test his limits, away from prying eyes.

In an abandoned construction site, Ethan began to push himself. His speed had increased—he dashed from one end of the lot to the other, leaving only a blur in his wake. His strength had grown, too; he crushed a steel rebar with his bare hands, the metal screeching as it twisted. His agility, boosted by his spider-enhanced reflexes, allowed him to climb the skeletal framework of the unfinished building with ease, his fingers finding holds in even the smallest cracks.

His blood sense, however, was the most intriguing change. As he focused, he could feel the pulse of life in the city around him—a distant thrum of heartbeats, each unique. He closed his eyes, and the world became a map of crimson threads, weaving through the streets and buildings. It was intoxicating.

A sudden heat prickled his skin, and Ethan opened his eyes to find his hand enveloped in a faint, red aura. He focused, and the heat intensified, a warmth spreading up his arm. He held his palm towards a pile of debris, and the metal within began to glow, tendrils of heat warping the air around it.

"Heat manipulation... not bad." He clenched his fist, and the glow vanished. It wasn't full control yet, but it was a start. He felt very good about it, after all, it was his first cool superpower

Experimenting further, Ethan drew a small knife and pricked his finger. Blood welled up, and as he focused, the droplet solidified into a tiny, crimson shard. He flicked it against a metal beam—it struck with enough force to leave a mark. His blood control wasn't just about sensing or absorbing; it could be weaponized. He pushed further, extending his control. Blood flowed from his palm, pooling in the air before hardening into a crimson blade. He swung it, slicing cleanly through a metal pipe, the cut smooth as glass. Ethan felt a surge of exhilaration. This was more than just a power; it was his first real taste of control. He almost jumped in excitement.

As he tested his powers, a part of him remained wary. The memory of Cyttorak's realm lingered—the crushing weight of the warlord's presence, the fear he had felt. And the figure who had saved him... The Crimson Code had said nothing about it, no explanations.

Meanwhile, across the city, Blade sat in the dim light of an underground armory. His expression was hard, his fingers methodically cleaning a blade with silver etchings along its edge. Around him, weapons lay in meticulous order—stakes, firearms with specialized ammunition, and vials of clear liquid that shimmered with a holy radiance.

The Daywalker's mind replayed the events of their encounter. Ethan's resilience to the holy water bullet gnawed at him. He had faced all kinds of vampires—purebloods, turned ones, hybrids—but none had shrugged off a direct hit like that. It wasn't just strength. There was something else at play, something darker.

He slid the silver-edged blade into its sheath and stood, his shadow stretching against the cold concrete walls. "Time to dig deeper," he muttered. Blade didn't like mysteries, and Ethan was quickly becoming one he intended to unravel.

As the sun began to set, Ethan moved through the city streets, heading home. His body still buzzed with the newfound power, the potential of what he could become. His crimson eyes, hidden beneath the shadow of his hood, reflected the dying light of the day.

As he passed through Harlem, the Crimson Code jolted to life within him, a sharp pulse that made him pause. A new notification unfurled in his vision:

[New Quest: The Green Inferno] [Objective: Investigate the chaos in Harlem.] [Reward: The Path to the Unknown (Details Hidden)][ Failure: ???]

Ethan's lips twisted into a smirk. "Well, that's not ominous at all."

He straightened his jacket, the leather creaking softly, and turned his steps toward the heart of Harlem. The night was young, and the game was just beginning.

As he walked, the air grew heavier, a distant rumble reaching his ears. Screams, the crash of concrete, the unmistakable roar of a battle. His blood sense pulsed, highlighting two massive presences clashing—a storm of raw, unbridled power.

"Is that... Hulk and Abomination?"

When Ethan arrived at the scene, the quest notification flashed again:

[UPDATED QUEST: The Green Inferno] [Objective: Survive!] [Reward: The Path to the Unknown (Details Hidden)][ Failure: Death]

The unexpected update made him pause, his eyes narrowing. "What the hell?"

But the chaos around him left no room for hesitation. Hulk and Abomination tore through the streets, concrete and metal flying as they exchanged blows. Civilians scrambled, and emergency vehicles formed a haphazard perimeter.

Ethan slipped into the shadows, observing. His instincts told him this wasn't a mere fight—it was an opportunity. But for what? The Crimson Code's silence only deepened his suspicion.

As the ground shook, he realized that the quest wasn't about winning or losing—it was about survival. And with two titans and a quest with hidden motives, Ethan knew he was walking into the eye of the storm.

A smile crept onto his face. "First few weeks on the job, and I'm already stuck between a rock and a green rage monster."