Chapter 33: Hold a Funeral for Lynn?
Rising from the bed, Lynn gestured with a casual, summoning hand.
The next second, the spirits of more than thirty young women materialized before him.
The spirits, all shimmering with the deep purple aura of their obsession, circled him several times. Then, as one, they bowed.
The tears of blood streaming from their eyes evaporated, and the tortured expressions on their faces dissolved, replaced by the innocent, radiant smiles of their lives before.
A column of light materialized in the room. In an instant, the death energy contained within the spirits surged from them and flooded into Lynn, a rushing, powerful tide.
On his system panel, the [Emissary of Death] progress bar shot upward at a frantic pace.
A profound, soul-deep satisfaction washed over him, as if he were floating in the most tranquil ocean imaginable
As the last of the energy transferred, the spirits' eyes became clear, their obsessions fulfilled. They turned, one by one, and floated into the light, vanishing.
When the room was empty again, Lynn waved his hand, and the Blood-Gem materialized in his palm.
He could feel the raw death energy thrumming within it, and he began to draw it out.
A thick, blood-red mist erupted from the gem, swirling around him as the power poured into his body.
He felt his bones crackle and pop like roasting beans, and his muscles, skin, and organs seemed to compress, becoming denser and stronger.
After several minutes, the gem's energy was spent, fading to a common jewel. Lynn casually tossed it into a box.
He pulled up his system panel, a flash of pure elation in his eyes.
'Jackpot. I absolutely hit the jackpot this time.'
'This was even a bigger score than the resonator from that abandoned villa.'
[Host: Lynn Hall]
[Age: Twenty-two]
[Identity: Emissary of Death (33%)]
[Supernatural Abilities: Physical fitness at five times peak human potential, Mystic Potion Crafting (LV3), Phantasm (LV3), Super-Sense (LV3), Bone Shield (LV3), Heat Vision (LV1), Immortality.]
[Note: Emissary of Death progress has reached 30%. New skill unlocked: Heat Vision.]
Not only was his Emissary of Death status at 33%, but his physical fitness had leaped from three to five times peak human, and all his existing skills had leveled up.
And, on top of it all, he'd unlocked Heat Vision.
He casually grabbed a mirror. With a mere thought, he felt the power focus, a scorching energy gathering behind his eyes.
He knew, instinctively, that all he had to do was will it, and the beams would fire.
He pulled the energy back and let out a long, satisfying stretch.
'Finally. A new offensive weapon.'
'Pushing the Emissary of Death progress was the right move. Heat vision at 30%.'
'What happens at 60%? Or 100%?'
'A body of steel? A Silver Superman? Or something even stronger?'
Lying back on the bed, Lynn closed his eyes and let his imagination run wild.
'Yeah... this anticipation for the unknown is the most addictive part.'
'It's just like opening a mystery box.'
'Wait!'
His eyes snapped open. Lynn had the nagging feeling he was forgetting something.
He thought for a few seconds, then just shrugged.
'Whatever. Why overthink it? It's late, and I've got work in the morning.'
***
At that very same moment, back at the New York estate...
"Holy shit. Vampires are actually real."
Tony landed in the armor, stepping out of the suit to join Steve and Natasha as they watched SHIELD personnel excavate the underground castle.
He turned to them. "You guys run into this, and you don't call me? Come on, we're a team!"
"I wanted to see what they could do. Find out if they're as ugly as the stories say."
Hearing his light tone, Natasha crouched and picked up a clump of dirt. "Tony... we just lost a friend. Someone we hadn't known long, but... someone Steve and I really clicked with."
"He was a lot like you, actually."
Her gaze met Tony's. "The same irreverence. The same love for the good life. The same... tendency to date a lot of beautiful women."
"But under all that, he had a good, kind, soft heart. He was willing to fight for strangers who were suffering... and he just gave his life for them."
The smile vanished from Tony Stark's face.
"I'm sorry, Nat. Steve. Honestly... if he were still alive, I feel like we would've been great friends."
"But... damn."
He shook his head and fell silent.
Steve, who had been quiet, spoke up. "His sacrifice meant something. Tony... did JARVIS scan for any tissue fragments after the blast? Anything at all?"
"Sorry."
Tony shook his head again.
"Then we'll set a stone for him."
Steve watched the SHIELD agents carrying evidence bags. "Lynn didn't have any family left in this world."
"So this falls to us. He made a glorious sacrifice, and we owe it to him to leave a final mark in this world."
Natasha and Tony both nodded.
"I'll handle the plot and the headstone."
Tony said, his voice now serious. "I never got to meet your friend, but I want to do my part for a hero like him."
Just as he spoke, SHIELD agents began to carry body bags up from the fortress, one after another.
They were so young. The oldest looked maybe sixteen. Their faces were frozen in masks of pure terror.
Tony Stark's eyes went red at the edges.
He clenched his fists, his voice tight with a rage he didn't try to hide. "Steve. Natasha. I think it's time we do something."
"I don't care if it's to honor Lynn's memory or for these girls who were slaughtered."
"I think it's time the Avengers assembled again."
Steve, his face grim, tightened his grip on his shield. "I agree. I'll report to Nick Fury. SHIELD can hunt down every last vampire nest in North America."
"I'll contact the hunters."
Natasha said, her voice quiet. "I know two. One is in Europe, but the other... the other can be here in an instant, through a portal."
With their roles set, Tony took charge. "Alright. I'll prep the gear and contact Banner. Too bad Asgard doesn't have phones or email, or I'd hit up Thor."
"I'd love to be able to just shoot him a text for this."
Their missions clear, Steve gave the final word. "Then it's settled. We move... right after we hold Lynn's funeral."
----
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I added some Jennifer character images to Chapter 2, so you can check them out there.
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