Chapter 3: One Step From Hades

  Alucard and Melody continue to walk through the forest.

  Al: You were interested in the last fight of Olympus?

  Melody: Can't just leave a girl hanging.

  Al: One day on the mount, the Angel of death, Thanatos, was set upon destroying the world with the power within Pandora's box. Zeus and his pantheon kept this chest safe, for the power inside was said to destroy Olympus one day.

  Melody: Did it?

  Al: In a way, yes. Thanatos proved himself too powerful for the pantheon and swiftly cut them down, one by one. However, parts of Zeus' power returned to him as each member of the pantheon was vanquished. Zeus was able to slay Thanatos with the full extent of his power. However, all that remained was Zeus and Pandora's box. He placed a magic seal on the chest so that no man would seek to open it again, for it would be impossible.

  Melody: How'd the bloke kill an Angel?

  Al: Facts about Angels are not well known.

  Melody: Why'd the Angel go nuts?

  Al: There are many decisions made by Angels that some would see as evil. The universe is meant to be destroyed one day. Would that be considered evil?

  Melody: Guess good's relative. I, for one, don't wanna see this world go.

  Al: I stand for the world as well. However, our next foe does not.

  Melody: That is?

  Al: Within the Undead Sanctuary rests the Reaper. It is his role to steal innocent souls so Dracula may convert them into Demons.

  Melody: Wait. These Demons we hunt are Human?

  Al: They were. Slaying a Demon frees the souls within. Thus, the reason as to why their bodies vanish after an amount of time determined by their power.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Melody: Never noticed. I'll pay more attention next time.

  Al: … What was your life like before last night?

  Melody: I was the fiercest pirate the sea's have ever seen. Got tired of sailing around Norse, so we took the old sails to get some new land. Kraken took me gold and me crew. Got nothing but me rage now. Gotta save it for later, though... Why're you after your old man?

  Al: My mother was but one of many things Dracula pillaged in his awakening. This sin shall bring his vanquishing.

  Melody: … He really did that?

  Al: I am not one to spread falsehood.

  Melody: I'll hold him down. You, cut his throat.

  Al: He is no fragile elder. Dracula shall be our greatest opposition.

  They walk out of the woods and onto a field filled with bones and a gray fog. Whatever ground isn't covered in bones is covered with gray ash. The crunching bones underneath their feet unsettle them.

  Al: The Reaper utilizes this fog to conceal himself. Be cautious.

  They ready their weapons.

  Melody: Thought you said this was a sanctuary.

  Al: The Undead Sanctuary is a sanctuary for the undead.

  Melody: Oh...

  Beyond the fog, bones, a scythe, and a black robe come together as the Reaper. The blade of his scythe is made of red magic. It matches Alucard's footsteps as it sneaks up to him. The Reaper then grabs the back of Alucard's head, shoves it to the ground, and latches onto his soul with the scythe. However, the soul doesn't give in so easily.

  Al: AAAH!!!

  Melody shoots the scythe in two and Alucard's soul is put back. Alucard then stands up and the Reaper laughs at them as he pulls out bone daggers with red magic blades.

  Melody: Laugh It Up, Boner! The Only Reaped Soul Here Will Be Yours!

  The Reaper gets furious as he gains two more arms and starts fighting both of them at the same time.

  Melody: This Ain't Working! Hold Him Off!

  Melody runs back as Alucard fends off the Reaper. She then jumps out of the fog and slices the Reaper's skull off. The body tries to grab the skull, but Melody stabs through it. The light in the skull's eyes fades as the body falls to the ground.

  Melody: You're getting better.

  Al: Good.

  The fog clears as the Reaper's bones vanish. A large, stone set of stairs rests at the end of the Undead Sanctuary.

  Al: Interesting...

  Melody: What's interesting?

  Al: The Reaper vanished rather quickly. Perhaps, although he collected souls, he took none for his own? This might tell of why the Reaper had no skin.

  Melody: Well, dead now. Want the skull?

  Al: Perhaps the Dwarf will make something useful with it.

  Melody tosses the skull to Alucard and he puts it in his coat pocket.

  Al: The gates to Olympus are at the top of these steps.

  Melody: Let's get on with it.

  They start walking up the stairs.