1907, china
In the heart of China, a secretive and well-funded research facility known as The Crimson Lotus Institute stood at the forefront of biological experimentation. Hidden from the public eye, its purpose was far from noble—its scientists, under government orders, worked tirelessly to uncover the secrets of life itself, not to heal the sick, but to create an unstoppable army. An army immune to disease, impervious to aging, and undying on the battlefield.
At the center of this relentless pursuit was Dr. Huang Zhen, a brilliant but ruthless scientist, whose fascination with immortality had consumed him for years. His work revolved around animal experimentation, testing the limits of regeneration and longevity. Yet, despite all his efforts, true immortality remained elusive.
As he stood in his dimly lit laboratory, poring over notes filled with failed experiments, the doors suddenly burst open. A panting assistant, Dr. Wei Jian, rushed in, clutching a newspaper with trembling hands.
"Dr. Huang! Have you seen this?" Wei Jian exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency.
Dr. Huang snatched the paper and unfolded it with deliberate care. His eyes scanned the bold headline:
"Dr. Elias Montgomery Returns—Bringing a Miracle Beyond Science!"
Dr. Huang's brow furrowed. Elias Montgomery. A name he knew all too well. A man he had long considered his greatest rival. Unlike the fools in his field, Montgomery's work had always been ahead of its time—pioneering, precise, almost supernatural in its effectiveness. His studies in human biology were nothing short of groundbreaking, his theories years ahead of what others could comprehend.
But what truly caught Dr. Huang's attention was the claim beneath the headline:
A Fruit Said to Grant Immortality.
A fruit capable of curing all illnesses. A fruit that could cheat death itself.
Dr. Huang felt his pulse quicken. If Montgomery had truly discovered such a thing, then everything he had worked for, everything he had sacrificed, was on the verge of being overshadowed.
He placed the newspaper down slowly, his mind already formulating a plan.
"Find out everything about this fruit," he ordered coldly, his eyes gleaming with dark determination. "If Elias Montgomery truly has it... then I will take it for myself."
New Jersey
Brantford Place
"Follow me," Victor said, leading Sophia and Tony through the dimly lit streets.
"You're looking for Dracula? That won't be an easy task. He's nearly impossible to track."
"Which means he can be tracked," Sophia shot back. "So can you do it or not? Don't waste my time. This is urgent. The fate of the world depends on him. There's a great danger ahead for humanity."
Victor let out a cold laugh. "Dracula doesn't care about humanity."
Sophia's eyes narrowed. "What happens if all humans die? If all livestock disappear? No blood left for you to drink. You need us."
Victor moved in a blur, his claws stopping just before Sophia's face. His expression darkened, his fangs bared.
"Insult Dracula one more time," he growled, his voice dangerously low, "and I will rip out your throat where you stand. I don't care if you're human, monster, or something beyond either. Speak his name with respect, or you won't live to say it again."
Sophia met his glare, her expression unreadable. The tension between them crackled like a storm waiting to break.
"Dracula doesn't need blood to survive; he's the first of all vampires," Victor said as they approached a grand yet desolate mansion. The once-majestic structure loomed over them, its gothic architecture whispering of a past filled with power, fear, and bloodshed. The air was thick with the scent of old stone and forgotten history.
Victor stopped at the entrance, running his clawed fingers along the aged wooden door. "This was one of Dracula's," he continued. "But he no longer has any use for it. It has become my home now."
Sophia glanced up at the towering estate, her expression unreadable.
Victor smirked. "You're welcome to stay. Let's chat for a while," he said, his gaze settling on Sophia with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
As they went into the mansion
Sophia stepped inside, followed closely by Tony. The air inside the mansion was heavy, thick with the scent of old parchment, dust, and something else—something ancient. The library stretched high, its towering shelves filled with books that hadn't been touched for centuries. Dim candlelight flickered against the towering spines, casting eerie shadows across the room.
Her fingers traced along the bindings of countless forgotten texts until one, in particular, caught her eye —a red book, its leather cover embedded with what appeared to be... teeth. An unsettling presence radiated from it, as if the book itself was alive.
Curiosity overpowered caution. Sophia reached for it, her fingertips grazing its unnatural surface. The moment she touched it, the teeth clamped down, piercing her skin. She gasped, pulling her hand back as drops of her blood dripped onto the cover.
The room trembled. A deep, guttural whisper echoed through the air as the book absorbed her blood. Its pages began to shift, as though unraveling a hidden truth long buried in time. Symbols glowed across the parchment, revealing the secrets of Abaddon's existence—secrets that had been sealed away for eternity.
Henderson Hotel
New Jersey
The cleaner hesitated at the door before stepping into Dr. Elias Montgomery's lavish yet eerily dim room. The scent of old books, chemicals, and something metallic lingered in the air. She adjusted the cleaning rag in her trembling hands, trying to focus on the task rather than the unsettling presence of the man behind her.
"Sir," she started cautiously while dusting the shelves, "is it true? The fruit... does it really grant immortality? What good is it for humans to live forever?"
Dr. Elias Montgomery barely glanced at her, his fingers idly flipping through an old, weathered book. "Curiosity can be a dangerous thing," he murmured.
She forced a small laugh, stepping toward the mirror to clean its dust-covered surface. As she wiped, her reflection remained the same—but Montgomery's did not.
Her breath hitched in her throat. The reflection of the doctor was not human. His skin was stretched too tightly over his skull, his eyes hollow voids of darkness, his mouth elongated into something grotesque, filled with jagged, inhuman teeth. His elongated fingers twitched, like talons waiting to strike.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips. Her body froze, and an uncontrollable warmth spread down her legs. She had wet herself. The rag slipped from her hand as she turned, paralyzed horror.
Dr. Elias Montgomery, had stopped pretending. He grinned—if it could be called a grin—and before she could even scream, his body twisted unnaturally, closing the distance between them in a single, unnatural motion.
The room filled with a sickening crack as he seized her throat with one hand, lifting her off the ground effortlessly. Her feet kicked wildly, her urine pooling beneath her, her nails clawing at his impossibly strong grip.
"You shouldn't have seen that," he whispered, his voice layered with something far older and crueler than mere man.
Then, with a grotesque rip, his other hand plunged into her stomach, fingers digging through skin and muscle with unnatural ease. He pulled out her intestines as though unraveling a spool of thread, watching as her body convulsed. Blood splattered across the floor, thick and warm.
She tried to scream, but all that came out was a strangled gurgle, her eyes wide with pure terror. Her body twitched violently before falling limp in his grasp.
Dr. Elias Montgomery no Abaddon—sighed, letting her lifeless body drop onto the cold, blood-slicked floor. He tilted his head, examining his reflection in the mirror once more.
Sloppy.
With a snap of his fingers, her corpse ignited into black flames, leaving behind nothing but a scorch mark on the pristine wooden floor.
No evidence. No witnesses.
With another snap of his fingers, the mirror's surface shimmered before settling into a flawless reflection, once again showing only the image of Dr. Elias Montgomery as the world perceived him—a distinguished scientist, not the ancient horror lurking beneath his skin.
He exhaled, smoothing his coat as if nothing had happened. The stench of blood and charred flesh was already fading, erased as effortlessly as the life he had just taken.
Turning back as he reached for his coat he muttered, "Curiosity truly is a dangerous thing."
Then, as if no horror had just unfolded, he sat back on the chair
The news of Dr. Elias Montgomery's discovery spread like wildfire through the highest ranks of the Chinese government. A fruit capable of granting immortality— it was more than just a scientific breakthrough; it was a key to ultimate power. They saw it as their birthright, a treasure that must never leave New Jersey.
Then, as if no horror had just unfolded, he sat back on the chair
The news of Dr. Elias Montgomery's discovery spread like wildfire through the highest ranks of the Chinese government. A fruit capable of granting immortality— it was more than just a scientific breakthrough; it was a key to ultimate power. They saw it as their birthright, a treasure that must never leave new Jersey.
In an emergency meeting, the most powerful officials gathered in a dimly lit chamber, their expressions grim. "This fruit must not fall into foreign hands," one of them declared. "Dr. Montgomery cannot be allowed to reach New York."
With the urgency of the mission clear, they turned to a man who had been operating in the shadows for years—Dr. Huang Zhen.
A brilliant yet controversial scientist, Dr. Huang had long abandoned the ethics of traditional research. In secret laboratories hidden deep within the mountains, he had been conducting grotesque experiments, merging human subjects with animal DNA in a bid to create the perfect soldier. His creations—twisted hybrids of man and beast—were unlike anything the world had ever seen. Stronger, faster, and impervious to pain, they were built for war.
Summoned before the council, Dr. Huang bowed slightly, a thin smile playing on his lips. "You need results, and I have just the specimens for the job," he said, his voice laced with pride.
"Send your best prototypes," an official ordered. "Test them in the field. Dr. Elias Montgomery must not leave new Jersey alive."
Dr. Huang nodded. Soon, the world would witness the terrifying power of his work.
In an emergency meeting, the most powerful officials gathered in a dimly lit chamber, their expressions grim. "This fruit must not fall into foreign hands," one of them declared. "Dr. Montgomery cannot be allowed to reach New York."
With the urgency of the mission clear, they turned to a man who had been operating in the shadows for years—Dr. Huang Zhen.
A brilliant yet controversial scientist, Dr. Huang had long abandoned the ethics of traditional research. In secret laboratories hidden deep within the mountains, he had been conducting grotesque experiments, merging human subjects with animal DNA in a bid to create the perfect soldier. His creations—twisted hybrids of man and beast—were unlike anything the world had ever seen. Stronger, faster, and impervious to pain, they were built for war.
Summoned before the council, Dr. Huang bowed slightly, a thin smile playing on his lips. "You need results, and I have just the specimens for the job," he said, his voice laced with pride.
"Send your best prototypes," an official ordered. "Test them in the field. Dr. Elias Montgomery must not leave new Jersey alive."
Dr. Huang nodded. Soon, the world would witness the terrifying power of his work.