Marvel - The Blood God

"It's tough enough living in the Marvel world, but to also be a vampire? How unlucky can I get?"

In a dimly lit room with the windows closed, Maverick stared at a poster of Tony Stark's smirking face on the wall. His head ached slightly.

Although he really liked Marvel movies, he didn't want to be transported into this dangerous world—especially not as a low-level vampire!

Vampires are afraid of sunlight, garlic, and silver. Even being an ordinary person would be a hundred times better than being a vampire. At least regular people can go to the beach and enjoy the sun, beautiful women, and bikinis!

As for immortality, what's the point if you're living like a mouse?

"I have to find a way to change all this. I don't want to be a mouse all my life."

Maverick's eyes sharpened as he looked at the poster on the wall, deep in thought.

"Tony Stark looks just like he does in the movies. This must be the movie-based Marvel world. The only vampires in the Marvel movies are in 'Blade,' but it's 2008 now, and 'Blade' came out earlier!"

After Marvel movies became popular, Maverick re-watched the "Blade" trilogy, so he remembered it a bit. If he recalled correctly, the second film even had that action star, Donnie Yen.

At that moment, a voice suddenly came from the door: "Maverick, you keep staring at Tony Stark's poster. Do you like men?"

Maverick turned his head to see a pale red-haired woman in a T-shirt and shorts standing at the door, sneering at him.

Next to her was a tall man about six foot three. Seeing Maverick look over, the man glared fiercely. Maverick pretended to be intimidated and looked away.

This man and woman were also vampires. The woman, named Jenny, was the one who had bitten Maverick (before he was transported here). Simply put, it was like this: Maverick coveted Jenny's body, and Jenny coveted Maverick's blood and money!

As for the man, his name was John, a thug. Maverick had been beaten by him many times before and didn't dare to resist.

Maverick asked in annoyance, "Why are you here again?"

"What, got a problem with us coming over?"

John said irritably, "Don't forget, we turned you into a noble bloodline!"

"That's right. Do you know how many people would kill to become vampires?"

Jenny added. Turning someone into a vampire wasn't just about biting; it required sharing one's own blood.

"Who in their right mind would want to become a vampire? Wait, are vampires even considered ghosts?"

Maverick secretly complained. He sighed, "Being a vampire is nothing like I imagined. I thought vampires would be elegant and noble, like aristocrats in the movies!"

After speaking, Maverick glanced at John and Jenny with a disappointed look. The two of them immediately became angry. Was he implying they weren't noble or elegant? It's true, but he didn't have to say it!

"How can you be noble and elegant without money? We're not purebloods!"

Jenny walked in and snorted, "Those pureblood vampires are even better than the ones in the movies. They have endless wealth, limitless blood, and keep many handsome men and beautiful women as blood slaves. We have to buy expensive blood bags just to drink."

"If it weren't for those cowardly purebloods signing a treaty with humans, forbidding us from sucking human blood casually, we wouldn't be stuck like this!"

John complained unhappily, "Working hard every day just to afford blood bags. It's not even as good as being human. By the way, I heard the money from the blood bags gets split between the purebloods and humans."

"Purebloods? Mixed bloods?"

Maverick's eyes flashed as he asked, "Since there's a treaty, why did you dare to turn me into a vampire?"

John walked over, grabbed Maverick by the collar, lifted him off the ground, and said menacingly, "Kid, what did you say? Say it again! I didn't hear you!"

"I didn't say anything! I didn't say anything!"

Maverick turned his head away, pretending to be scared. Actually, he couldn't stand John's breath—it stank!

John snorted, threw Maverick to the ground, and said impatiently, "Stop talking nonsense. Give me $20,000!"

"Twenty thousand dollars? You spent the last money that fast?"

Maverick got up reluctantly. The parents of this body had left him a lot of assets before their car accident. He'd always worried about being targeted by bad guys, but instead, vampires had come!

Jenny giggled and said, "Don't worry. When your money runs out, we'll help you find the next rich guy and use your blood to create more offspring!"

"A sustainable business model, huh?"

Maverick secretly complained. He sighed, picked up his checkbook, and started signing—it wasn't a small amount.

John nodded with satisfaction and said, "Don't be so stingy. When Boss Deacon Frost leads us to overthrow the purebloods, all humans will become our food, and we'll truly become nobles!"

"That's right! Vampire aristocrats! Endless blood, endless money, all humans will be our slaves!"

Jenny shouted excitedly. In the hearts of mixed-blood vampires, Deacon Frost was their savior.

"Deacon Frost?"

Maverick's heart skipped a beat. If he remembered correctly, Deacon Frost was the villain in the "Blade" movie. In the film, he led the mixed-blood vampires to overthrow the purebloods and used the Daywalker Blade and the blood of twelve pureblood elders to turn himself into the Blood God.

The Blood God was incredibly strong—not afraid of sunlight, garlic, or silver. He could even recover after being cut in half, though it seemed to lower his IQ.

"So the story of Blade hasn't started yet? That's good news. The Blood God—immense power, endless wealth, and authority!"

Maverick's eyes flashed with ambition. He handed the check to John and asked about Deacon Frost.

"Boss Deacon holds blood feasts every so often. I'll take you next time. It's hard for us mixed-blood vampires to survive alone; we need to stick together!"

John took the check, patted Maverick on the shoulder, and said with a grin. Maverick snorted, "Stick together? More like exploitation! Purebloods exploit mixed bloods, and you exploit me!"

After getting the money, John and Jenny left happily. They'd spend it all quickly and then come back to Maverick for more. This was their get-rich scheme!

"I still need you to help me integrate into the vampire community. I'll spare you for now!"

Maverick stood by the window watching them leave and sneered inwardly. They were just two vampires; if he wanted to, he could easily get rid of them with some ultraviolet light.

"Feels kind of pathetic. Are vampires really this weak?"

Maverick couldn't help but complain. He thought for a moment, grabbed his coat, and headed to a gun shop in Chinatown. If he wanted to carry out his plans, he had to strengthen himself first!

The gun shop owner had a scarred face. After listening to Maverick's request, he said in amazement, "You want to find an instructor to train you in combat? What kind of trouble are you in? If it's serious, I'd suggest calling the police or paying someone off."

Maverick shook his head, "No, I just suddenly wanted some excitement!"

The scar-faced shopkeeper looked at Maverick and said, "Then you can go to a formal training company. I have a shooting range here but no instructors—just a place for people to test guns."

"That's too slow. I don't have that much time. You're well-connected; you must know some private instructors—preferably ones who've been on the battlefield."

Maverick said, "I can pay you a referral fee or buy some extra merchandise."

Hearing there was money to be made, the shopkeeper smiled and said, "In this country, money can get you anything. But private instructors aren't cheap!"

"A good instructor is worth a good price!"

Maverick laughed. He'd heard that the owner was a retired soldier and could pull some strings.

As for money, it was useless if he couldn't solve his vampire problem. Besides, it wasn't really his money, so he might as well use it.

"Alright."

The shopkeeper didn't waste time. He closed the gun shop, took out a notebook from a drawer, and placed it on the table. "These are the trainers I can contact. You'll have to discuss the specifics yourself. I'll just make the introductions."

"Let me take a look."

Maverick picked up the notebook and flipped through it. The information was detailed—names, resumes—but no photos.

"Hmm?"

Maverick turned a few pages and saw a name that stunned him. The shopkeeper glanced over and said, "He's a real tough guy. Won the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor. He's currently a trainer for the military. Of course, he charges the most!"

"A real badass!"

Maverick nodded and thought to himself, "No wonder he's tough; it's the Punisher, Frank Castle. Who knew he'd take private gigs?"

The Punisher—an anti-hero who uses violence against criminals. His targets usually end up dead. He was ruthless.

But Frank's family hadn't been killed yet; he was still a retired trainer and hadn't gone dark.

"I'll go with him! I want to talk to him!"

Maverick closed the notebook. The shopkeeper smiled and said, "I hope you have the proper paperwork to buy what you need!"

Although it's easy to buy guns in the U.S., you need a license. It's easier to buy rifles than pistols, but Maverick didn't have any of these documents.

Maverick smiled, "I can buy some souvenirs—the expensive kind!"

The next night, Maverick met Frank Castle—a tall, strong man with a rugged, no-nonsense aura—in a café. Maybe because he was a vampire, Maverick could almost smell the scent of blood and death emanating from Frank. There was no doubt this was a dangerous man.

Frank looked at the pale Maverick and frowned slightly. To be honest, he didn't like him much. Maverick was too thin, and his presence was unsettling.

However, thinking of his buddies who needed money, Frank sat down and got straight to business.

After some brief introductions, Maverick smiled and said, "Mr. Castle, I respect your abilities, but I have a few requirements."

Seeing they were talking business, Frank relaxed a bit. He hated small talk. "Go ahead."

"First, training can only be at night. I'm not available during the day."

"No problem. I'm busy during the day too."

"Second, I want to gain combat abilities in the shortest time possible—both in fighting and firearms. Also, I'd like you to arrange access to a shooting range. I'll cover all costs."

Frank glanced at Maverick and said bluntly, "It's not impossible, but the training will be intense. You might even end up in the hospital."

"I have strong resilience, so that's not a problem!"

Maverick smiled, "Mr. Castle, you can train me however you see fit, as long as it improves my abilities."

Frank gave Maverick another look. Did this guy have some kind of masochistic tendency?

"As for the third requirement, it might be a bit much."

Maverick looked a bit embarrassed. Frank frowned but waited. Maverick continued, "I hope you can protect me during the training."

Frank was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Maverick explained, "I plan to find some violent criminals on the street to fight. You protect me."

"That's all?"

Frank didn't actually mind this request. When he was in the military, he often had recruits do similar exercises. He pretended to hesitate, "It'll cost extra."

Maverick laughed, "No problem, Instructor Castle. I'll be counting on you!"

"Don't worry, but I have one condition."

Frank waved his hand, "You pay upfront. Whether you quit the training or not, I won't refund the money."

"Agreed!"

Maverick nodded. If it were someone else, they might torture him on purpose to make him quit, but the upright Punisher wouldn't—though after just 24 hours, he realized how naive he was!

"Damn it, this guy is definitely torturing me on purpose and then running off with my money!"

Maverick covered his aching jaw, feeling like his teeth were about to fall out.

"Didn't you say you wanted combat abilities in the shortest time? Then we'll go straight to actual combat. And if you want to fight, the most important thing is to learn how to take a hit, endure pain, and stay calm."

Frank, wearing gloves, shouted as he swung a punch. His aura was as fierce as a hunting tiger, intimidating anyone!

Maverick backed away in fear, trying to block with his arms. But after just a few punches, his arms hurt so much he couldn't lift them. Then, of course, he got punched in the face again and fell to the ground with a thud!

"I'm not trying to cheat you. If you give up, I'll give you a month of regular training. But if you want it fast, you have to endure this pain—or rather, this torture."

Frank said, "Actually, this isn't as bad as my training for recruits. At least I haven't started yelling insults."

"Who are you underestimating? Bring it on!"

Maverick grinned despite the pain. He didn't want to be a vampire hiding in the shadows forever. Since he was in the Marvel world, he wanted to live an extraordinary life!

That way, his coming here would be worthwhile!

"Life is as splendid as summer flowers, and death as tranquil as autumn leaves!"

A hint of admiration flashed in Frank's eyes. He shouted, "Then get up! Don't lie there like a coward!"

Maverick gritted his teeth, struggled to his feet, and said seriously, "Instructor, your words might be considered discriminatory!"

"You still have time to joke? Looks like the training isn't tough enough!"

Frank snorted and intensified the training. Soon, Maverick was nearly hospitalized—Frank wanted him to go to the hospital, but Maverick refused. He just patched himself up and went home to drink blood.

Yes, blood. Being a vampire wasn't all bad; his healing abilities were much stronger than a normal person's.

The only problem was that blood tasted awful. Maverick wondered if he could make it into dishes for the same effect, like blood sausage or blood pudding!

"Am I overtraining him? His physique is much worse than the recruits."

Frank hesitated. He tended to get carried away during training. He'd sent recruits to the hospital before—a lot, actually.

"Tomorrow—no, the day after tomorrow—I'll ease up a bit. He probably won't show up tomorrow anyway."

Frank thought. But to his surprise, the next night, Maverick showed up as energetic as ever and asked eagerly, "What are we training today?"

Frank was speechless. He confirmed two things: first, this guy's recovery was incredible—almost inhuman. Second, he might actually enjoy the pain!

Frank yelled, "Rookie! Why are you standing there? Get outside and start running—20 laps today!"

"Yes, Instructor!"

Maverick responded loudly. And so, for the next month or so, he trained with Frank at night and learned about this strange world online during the day.

There were many differences between this world and the movies. For example, this world had the Oscorp Group, which was quite large.

"Oscorp is a villain breeding ground, but that doesn't matter. I'm no saint anyway. Luckily, there are no mutants in this world; otherwise, things would get complicated."

Maverick thought. If mutant movies were included, the world would be even more chaotic.

That night, Jenny visited again. She looked at Maverick at the door and was surprised, "Why do you look completely different, like a new person?"

A month ago, Maverick had been thin and frail, his whole demeanor cold. Now, he was obviously stronger, and the coldness around him had lessened.

"Got into some fights and bulked up!"

Maverick said casually, "Why are you here again? Spent that $20,000 already?"

Jenny said indignantly, "Am I the kind of woman who only comes to you for money?"

Maverick nodded seriously, "Yes!"

"You really get me!"

Jenny laughed, "Don't worry; I won't ask for your money this time. I'm taking you to a blood feast hosted by Boss Deacon. There'll be plenty of blood and even live humans for us to enjoy. Hey, maybe you'll catch the eye of some beauties—blood feasts always get wild!"

"Blood feast?"

Maverick's eyes lit up, "Didn't you say we have a treaty with humans and can't hunt them?"

"Boss Deacon doesn't care about treaties. Of course, he doesn't go too far. Usually, he sends beautiful women to lure in men who can't think straight when they see a pretty face—like you!"

Jenny giggled, "Of course, they won't be lucky enough to become vampires; they'll just be food. Maverick, see how good I am to you?"

"I'd feel better if you didn't want money!"

Maverick snorted, "When do we leave?"

"Right now! John's waiting downstairs. We'll go as soon as you're ready!"

"Alright!"

Maverick went back inside and grabbed everything he needed: a Glock 17 (illegally purchased in Hell's Kitchen), special silver-plated throwing knives, homemade smoke bombs, and so on. This month's intense training had made him much stronger. He wasn't a master yet, but he was no longer helpless!

Soon, Maverick got into John's car, and they set off. While driving, John bragged to Maverick, "This time, we might even see Quinn, Boss Deacon's right-hand man. If it weren't for me, a newbie vampire like you wouldn't get this chance!"

"Quinn?"

Maverick asked, "John, what's the strength of Quinn and Deacon? Are they like us, similar to ordinary people?"

"Of course not! They're elite vampires!"

"Elite?"

"Yeah, elites. They're super fast. Unless you stab their hearts or heads with silver, they won't die easily."

John said admiringly, "Pureblood vampires reach elite status when they become adults. For us mixed-bloods, only exceptional ones like Deacon and Quinn become elites!"

Maverick asked, "How can I become an elite vampire?"

"You? Become an elite?"

John looked at him disdainfully, and Jenny laughed like she'd heard a great joke.

Maverick said, "I'm just asking!"

"There are only two ways. One is to consume a lot of live human blood."

John said, "The other is to drink the blood of high-ranking vampires, like purebloods. But no one dares to do that—offending purebloods is a death sentence."

"Every day you shout about overthrowing purebloods, but in reality..."

Maverick secretly scoffed. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of a meat locker in Brooklyn.

John pointed to a symbol made of three bars and some patterns on the wall and said, "That's Boss Deacon's mark. In our vampire community, only purebloods have a mark, but Boss Deacon is an exception!"

Jenny said admiringly, "Boss Deacon is special. Even purebloods work for him!"

Maverick thought, "In the eyes of mixed-bloods, Deacon Frost is really esteemed. But where does he get so much blood for these feasts?"

Then, the three of them got out of the car and walked toward the meat locker. Since Maverick was a newcomer, he had to show his fangs to be allowed in. The club where the blood feast was held was hidden behind the locker; most people wouldn't find it.

Looking at the hanging pig carcasses, Maverick frowned slightly. Didn't the "Blade" movie start in a place like this? Could it really be that coincidental?