บท 148: Chapter 147: Thousands of years? -2 (Edited!)

"Wait, thousands of years?" I raise an eyebrow, catching her slip.

Elsa freezes, her blue eyes locking onto mine as she realizes what she has just revealed. "Ah, fuck it… but first, promise me you won't go blabbing this to anyone!" She looks at me seriously.

"I already have an inkling of what you are going to say, but fine. I promise." I kiss her hair gently.

"My father, Ulysses, isn't just any monster hunter. He is the Immortal Monster Hunter," Elsa says, her voice full of gravity.

"Immortal? Like a god?" I ask, intrigued.

"No, not a god, but he has been alive for thousands of years. And for all those years, he has done nothing but hunt," Elsa says with a touch of pride.

"Well, he also had you, didn't he?" I joke with a chuckle, though Elsa shoots me an unimpressed look.

"But wow, that explains all the wild legends about your father. I take it he is 'Immortal' thanks to the Bloodgem?" I ask curiously.

"Yes, but don't go getting any funny ideas," she warns, her eyes narrowing at me. "Even if it's you, I can't let you near it. I had to complete countless hunts before my father allowed me to have one of my own. And if he finds out you have got a piece of a Bloodgem on you, he will hunt you down. Trust me—he will find out. So don't even think about it," she says with absolute seriousness, her gaze steady on me.

"Fine, fine. I won't touch your gem." I raise my hands in mock surrender. "So how long has your dad been around, then? And does that make you an Immortal as well?" I ask with a grin.

"Even Father doesn't know exactly when he was born, but I am fairly certain he has been around since humans were living in caves—so, over 10,000 years!" Elsa says, though there is a touch of uncertainty in her voice.

"That… is an absurd amount of time," I say, a bit overwhelmed. "I can't even imagine living for that long." I have always known Ulysses has been alive for over ten millennia, but only now is the weight of that sentence from my past life truly hitting me.

It is starting to sink in—this world, though eerily similar to my previous one, is still the Marvel Universe. A place where beings have lived for thousands, if not millions, of years. For them, ten millennia might feel like the blink of an eye.

I realize that in this world, it is entirely possible for me to achieve such longevity too.

Pushing down the growing anxiety, I pull Elsa's warm body closer into my embrace. "And what about you, babe? Are you also the Immortal Monster Hunter, Elsa?" I ask with a smile, hiding my swirling thoughts.

"I don't know… most of the Bloodstone children don't live long. I have checked the records and hardly any of them have reached 30. In fact, most have died before turning 20," Elsa says quietly.

"… Because of your father's training?" I ask, taking a deep breath.

"Whether they were a year old or a grown adult, all the Bloodstones died honourably on hunts. Whether it was because of Father's training or something else, it doesn't matter." Elsa's voice takes on a stoic tone.

"That's… that's so cruel," I say, burying my face in her neck.

"I know." Elsa's voice cracks slightly. "I barely survived my own childhood. Luck had a lot to do with it. Mum was terrified that the same fate would befall her unborn child. That's why she left my father, and now they are living separately. And I can't help but feel anxious for my sibling who hasn't even been born yet. Part of me is relieved Father's missing…" Elsa says, hugging me tighter.

"You don't have to keep hunting, you know. You could stay with your mum, away from your father, away from all this Bloodstone drama," I suggest softly.

"Hunting is all I have ever known. It's my life," Elsa replies with unwavering conviction. "Without it, what would I even do?"

"You could build a snowman," I blurt out.

"… A snowman?" Elsa looks at me, confused.

"Uh, sorry, wrong Elsa," I say sheepishly.

Her eyes narrow. "Are you saying you know another Elsa?"

"Just forget I said anything! … Besides, haven't we already decided? You are going to be joining me at college! We will be the Monster-Hunter Couple," I say, grinning to cover my slip-up.

"Were you serious about that?" Elsa's cheeks flush a shade to match her red hair. "But what about my hunting time? And my school certificate? And what would I even study?"

"Don't worry your pretty head about it. Leave it all to me," I say with a smirk. I have been donating so much money to my college for years. It is time to put that money to use—and if I get stuck, D.A.I.S.Y. can pick up the slack.

"I don't know if I can even fit in with girls my age. I never had mates growing up, and I don't know the first thing about what's popular with kids these days," Elsa says with an awkward smile.

I smile at her warmly, reassuring her. The two of us talk about the future, our voices trailing off as we drift off to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms.

---

I am stirred awake by the sound of Elsa talking on the phone. She is speaking in low tones, but the content of the talk keeps me from dozing off again.

"…yes, Mom, I am fine. You should worry more about yourself. Are the staff and nurse doing their jobs properly? You know you can be a bit stricter with them... Yes, I know they are working people too... Mom, I told you I will let you know as soon as I hear anything about him… I have told you countless times—Father's fine. Nothing's going to happen to him."

As I sit up, Elsa notices me. She finishes the call, saying, "I have to go now Mom … Yeah, love you too, Mum." She looks at me with a bright smile, "Hey, morning, sleepyhead. Sorry to wake you."

"Yep, it's definitely a pleasant morning," I say, eyeing her sexy figure. "Was that your mom?" I ask as I move closer.

"Yeah, just checking up on me. But if you are up, we have got to get ready. We have a lot of places to visit today," she says, narrowing her eyes at my approaching paws.

"What's the hurry? Why don't you first say good morning to Sir Long Dickenstein?" I tease, pulling her closer by her waist.

"There's no time; we are already behind schedule."

"Ugh, don't remove my bra, Luke!"

"Ah, bloody hell, okay! Let's be fast, then!"

After a very 'pleasant' morning workout, Elsa and I are speeding towards the northern outskirts of the city in the sports car.

I have already disguised myself into the persona I adopted last night. With vampires being able to bypass D.A.I.S.Y., who is arguably my strongest asset, I can't take any chances. Elsa is not in a disguise but she is wearing her Bloodgem choker.

Soon we arrive at the abandoned Factory where I have seen Blade's car go in. "Isn't it weird that we are visiting him in broad daylight?" I ask Elsa as I park the car nearby.

"He is the Daywalker; he shouldn't be worried about the sun. And this will make him let his guard down, thinking we are not vampires," Elsa says with a shrug as she steps out of the car.

"But we met yesterday, and we even fought together against vampires. Surely he wouldn't doubt us?" I ask, feeling a bit strange.

"Hunters are paranoid. It is best if we go in prepared for anything," she replies with a smirk, grabbing the guitar case from the backseat.

I sigh and follow her inside the rundown factory. The outer area looks abandoned, with scrap metal scattered everywhere, but as we move further in, there are signs of someone tidying up the place. However, the deeper we go, the more chaotic it becomes.

"This place has been trashed," Elsa mutters, clutching her guitar case tightly.

"Yeah, looks like there was a big fight here," I reply as Focus scans the area, detecting multiple bullet casings scattered across the floor.

The two of us advance cautiously, weaving through the wreckage of what appears to have been a crude workshop. Ruined computers and dismantled machines litter the rooms.

"Do you think someone raided this place?" Elsa asks, doubt creeping into her voice.

"Looks like it," I say, scanning for any remaining signs of life. Focus picks up a weak heat signature, alerting me to a nearby presence.

I gesture for Elsa to follow, and with weapons drawn, we enter the room. What we find shocks me: an old man, bloodied and barely alive, slumped in a chair.

I scan the room, noting the absence of anyone else before turning my attention back to the old man. The Focus scans him and identifies him as 'Abraham Whistler', a name I recognize from the Blade movies as Blade's mentor.

A deeper scan reveals multiple bite and claw marks on his body, extensive bleeding, and a missing eye. His leg is damaged, bearing the scars of a very old injury.

"It is a miracle that this guy isn't dead," I whisper to Elsa, pulling out my medical kit from my Utility Belt. As I scan him further, it confirms the worst—shredded organs and massive blood loss. Normal medical treatment won't help him.

I reach into my connection with Phoenix Magic, channeling blue flames into his heart. Almost immediately, his body jerks as he begins coughing violently, one bloodied eye flickering open.

"W-who... cough... are you guys?" he asks in a raspy, strained voice as dried blood starts to leave his body.

"We are Blade's friends. You shouldn't try to talk or move—you are already losing too much blood," I say, focusing my magic to stabilize his dying heart.

"Bl-Blade…" Whistler chokes out between coughs. "They took him… Those fuckers took Blade!"

He coughs up more blood, grabbing my hand weakly. "You... have to... cough... save him... please... save Blade!"

His voice is desperate, filled with anguish, as he pleads for our help.

***

Updated Summary:

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Vampire Physiology (From Racquel) (NEW!)

[Tier 1]

Abilities:

Enhanced Strength and Speed: Above human levels, but not superhuman. These vampires can easily overpower regular humans.

Regeneration: Slow healing from minor injuries. Non-fatal wounds, such as shallow cuts, heal within hours.

Fangs and Claws: Basic natural weapons for close combat and feeding.

Vampire Senses: Improved night vision and heightened hearing/smell to track prey.

Undead Physique: Do not breathe, eat, or drink, but must consume blood to survive.

Supernatural Invisibility: Invisible to most forms of technology, such as cameras, sensors, and mirrors.

Weaknesses:

Sunlight Vulnerability: Direct exposure can cause severe burns and eventual death.

Thirst: Daily feeding on blood is necessary to maintain strength and powers.

Common Weaknesses: Vulnerable to silver, garlic, holy symbols, and wooden stakes.

Regeneration Dependency: Healing requires significant amounts of blood.

[Tier 2]

Abilities:

Enhanced Strength and Speed: Able to overpower or outrun most humans and low-tier superheroes.

Regeneration: Can recover quickly from non-lethal injuries like cuts or bullet wounds.

Minor Hypnosis: Able to influence weak-willed humans to follow commands or ignore their presence.

Vampiric Conversion: Can turn others into vampires by biting them; the victim will rise as a lower-tier vampire is dead within three days.

Weaknesses:

Same as Tier 1.

[Tier 3]

Abilities:

Superior Strength and Speed: Capable of competing with street-level superheroes.

Advanced Regeneration: Rapid healing from most injuries, though severe wounds take longer.

Mesmerism: Can control the minds or alter the memories of weak-willed individuals.

Shapeshifting: Ability to transform into mist, bats, or even other human forms. [Only Bat form Available in Racquel's Bloodline]

Darkness Manipulation: Control over shadows for stealth or minor attacks. [Not Available in Racquel's Bloodline]

Flight: Some mid-tier vampires can levitate or fly. [Not Available in Racquel's Bloodline]

Weaknesses:

Same as Tier 1.

Evolution Not Possible

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Phoenix Magic (from Gacha)

[Tier 1]:

Small Flame Manipulation: Can produce small, flickering flames reminiscent of a phoenix's fire. These flames provide light and warmth, suitable for basic survival situations.

Minor Healing Fire: Flames possess basic healing properties, accelerating the healing of minor cuts and bruises.

Phoenix Empathy: Establish a basic empathic connection with phoenixes, sensing their emotions and general state.

[Tier 2]:

Moderate Flame Manipulation: Can conjure larger, more intense flames with greater control. Flames can be used defensively or offensively in street-level confrontations.

Healing Fire: Enhanced healing properties, capable of treating moderate injuries and ailments.

Phoenix Telepathy: Develop telepathic communication with phoenixes, enabling mental conversations and commands.

[Tier 3]: (NEW!)

Grand Flame Manipulation: The user's control over Phoenix fire increases, allowing him to shape and direct large quantities of phoenix flames. These flames are hotter and more intense, suitable for mid-tier superhuman conflicts.

Phoenix Companion: Summon a small phoenix familiar to aid in combat or tasks. The companion can share its flames and healing abilities.

Phoenix Physiology (Basic): Gain temporary traits of a phoenix, such as enhanced vision and the ability to withstand high temperatures.

Evolution Possible at Tier 6

***

Chi Manipulation(from Colleen Wing)

[Tier 1]: Chi Sensitivity

The user gain the ability to sense and perceive Chi energy in your surroundings. This sensitivity allows him to detect fluctuations in Chi flow, providing heightened awareness and insight into the energetic aspects of the world around him.

[Tier 2]: Enhanced Chi Flow

The usercan manipulate and enhance the flow of Chi energy within your own body, increasing Strength, Intelligence, Agility and Endurance by 1, only if the respective stat is under 10. The user can also temporarily increase his Endurance to 10.

[Tier 3]: Healing Chi

The user gains the ability to harness Chi energy for healing purposes, accelerating the body's natural healing processes and promoting physical recovery. He can also heal minor wounds, injuries, and ailments with focused Chi manipulation.

[Tier 4]: Chi Channeling (NEW!)

The user can now channel and direct Chi energy with precision. This allows him to imbue objects or weapons with Chi energy, enhancing their effectiveness and granting additional properties such as increased durability or cutting power.

Evolution Possible at Tier 6

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