Chapter 1: Preparations

  Alucard waits outside of the small house, which rests on the grassy edge of a beach with some large chunks of wood to the right of it. There's a dirt road on the left side of the house. Melody exits the house in her pirate gear.

  Melody: Alright! Let's get him dead!

  Al: Our endgames are quite far away. First, we must obtain weaponry.

  They start walking down the dirt road.

  Melody: Thanks, but I'm gonna trust the old Dwarves.

  Al: I must too fight.

  Melody: Can't you just use some of your Vampire abilities? Suck blood? Turn into a bat?

  Al: The existence of Vampires is a most preposterous tale. Although, Demons Are known to feast upon the life force of Humans.

  Melody: Well, got the cash for a mighty weapon?

  Al: I have amassed a sizable treasury. I have too found the greatest blacksmith in Sparta.

  Melody: Sparta?

  Al: One of four lands of Aldrich. Have you heard tale of such beings as Zeus, Aries, Hercules, or perhaps Thanatos?

  Melody: Never heard of them.

  Al: It is written that Zeus and his pantheon of heroes took home of mount Olympus and protected this land. Today, the mount is where Dracula's castle stands.

  Melody: What happened to the blokes?

  Al: If the written word is correct, we shall see.

  They soon come across a small village with a short blacksmith in golden armor in his workshop on the streets. They walk up to him.

  ? Well, you're quite the odd two. Can I help you out somehow?

  Al: I require weaponry on par with her cutlass and blunderbuss.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  ? Oh... Brok made those, didn't he?

  Melody: Name rings a bell.

  ? Alright. Hand them over.

  Melody gives her weapons to the blacksmith. He chisels Nordic runes into them, sharpens the blade, buffs them, and cleans them. He then gives the weapons back to Melody.

  ? There you go. For free. Always glad to fix Brok's mistakes. Anyway, your weapons. Give me a few minutes, sir.

  The blacksmith gets to work making a gun. Just then, a fowl, naked Harpy lands on a nearby roof.

  Melody: The bloody heck is that?

  Al: A Harpy. A Demon with the form of a woman and a bird.

  Harpy: Haw! I thought I smelled an odd power. Dracula must know of this!

  The Harpy starts to fly away when Melody shoots it, knocking it to the ground.

  Melody: You said “Demon?”

  Al: Yes.

  Melody: Then, let's get this show on the Road!

  Melody runs to the Harpy, stabs through its chest and into the ground, slashes through it twice, and slices its head off. She then cuts open the Harpy's chest and pulls out its stone heart. She puts the heart on the blacksmith's table.

  Melody: Use that. Better than metal.

  ? Um... Alright.

  The blacksmith makes a straight sword with the Demon heart. He then gives the sword and blunderbuss to Alucard.

  ? You were right. If you find anymore Demon parts like that, bring them to me. I might be able to make even better weapons.

  Al: Thank you. As for payment...

  Alucard drops a large sack of money on the table.

  ? That's a bit much.

  Al: We shall require your services again. Keep it for then.

  ? If you say so. Oh! Looks like more Harpies are coming this way!

  Al: Prepared to fight again?

  Melody: I could do this all day.

  Seven more Harpies land in the village. As Melody stylishly slays away the fowl creatures, Alucard throws simple swings and stabs through their skulls and hearts. The small hoard is soon vanquished.

  Al: Fine work.

  Melody: I did bloody great! You need some work.

  Alucard looks around.

  Al: How many Harpies did you kill?

  Melody: Three. You?

  Al: We are missing one.

  They look up and see a Harpy flying away in the distance.

  Melody: Ah, crap.

  Al: Our journey may be more difficult, now that Dracula will know of our presence. We must make haste.

  Melody: Agreed.

  Meanwhile, in Dracula's throne room, he stands upon his balcony, looking out on the land. The Harpy that got away lands near him.

  Harpy: My Liege! My whole squadron was taken out by some Demon couple!

  Dracula: You dare defile my fine home with your filth?

  The Harpy hovers above the balcony.

  Dracula: You have strong survival instincts. Tell the Chimera to ready itself.

  Harpy: Yes, Sir!

  The Harpy flies away and Dracula looks toward the hunters.

  Dracula: At last, you come back to me. The reunion shall be rather eventful.