Chapter 2: Forest Of Fury

  Alucard and Melody stand at the top of a hill, looking down upon an expansive forest with two large mountains at its sides.

  Al: The snow-covered mountain rests at our left side. Remember this, for it is quite easy to become lost in this forest.

  Melody: I think I can handle some wood. Been in forests before.

  Al: Forests occupied by Demons?

  Melody: Me and me crew survived the poisoned swampland around Niflheim. Took the Frozen Flame from the heart of the mist guardian just for some gold. Couple of Demons is nothing.

  Al: The Frozen Flame? I thought such a thing only existed in myth. That Dwarf would make a weapon on par with the Masamune with such a relic.

  Melody: No chance. Sold it to Astral Dreemurr.

  Al: The Queen of Asgard? A shame.

  They start their journey through the forest.

  Melody: Tell me more about this Zeus bloke.

  Al: Zeus was a man, given tremendous power, who decided to protect these lands. He sought out those with the will of a hero and gave them parts of his power. Before long, there was an entire pantheon of super-powered citizens occupying mount Olympus. However, Zeus's own power had been spread too thin for the battle that would soon face them.

  Melody: And, that would be?

  A massive fireball comes out of nowhere and destroys some trees next to them.

  Melody: That can wait!

  Al: It came from that direction!

  Melody: After Me!

  They run towards the direction the fireball came from and past opposite sides of a tree and Alucard disappears. Melody stops running and looks all around.

  Melody: I've no clue where this is. Birch. Spruce. Cedar... The Mountain!

  Melody uses the snowy mountain for orientation and runs forward, weaving past the trees. She then runs into Alucard in a large and shallow lake.

  Melody: There You Are! You were right. This place is bloody confusing.

  She walks closer to Alucard.

  Al: Stop!

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  She stops as another Alucard jumps out of nowhere and slices the first in two. He then steps back.

  Al: This illusion could only have been made by a Demon. Prepare yourself.

  Melody: I'm always prepared.

  The illusion of Alucard turns into a massive Chimera with a snake for a tail, goat horns, and the face and body of a lion.

  Chimera: Young Demons! For The Crime Of High Treason, Dracula Will Have Your Heads!

  Al: Perhaps so. However, his servant shall not.

  Chimera: Very Well! Face Your Doom!

  The Chimera starts channeling electricity with its horns and the snake quickly lunges towards Alucard. He dodges the snake and shoots the lion head. The head then turns to Alucard.

  Al: Keep The Tail Occupied!

  Melody: Gotcha!

  As Melody runs to the back of the Chimera and Alucard climbs atop the head, it tries to shake him off. The snake swipes at Melody and she stabs it through the bottom of the head and then it falls limp as Alucard tries to stab through its hard skull.

  Melody: I'll Show You!

  Melody cuts off the tail.

  Al: NO!

  The Chimera stands up and punches Melody away. She stabs her sword through the ground to slow herself down.

  Melody: Oh, ho ho! You'll regret that.

  The Chimera opens its mouth and launches a fireball at Melody, but she dodges it and shoots the beast. It roars and shoots lightning into the sky and down upon Melody. She then falls to the ground, electrified.

  Al: You've done well, hunter.

  The Chimera roars again and shoots lightning into the sky. Alucard jumps up, catches the lightning with his sword, and strikes down through the beast's skull. The Chimera roars one last time in an explosion of electricity before it falls to the ground, dead. Alucard then sheaths his blade.

  Al: What will I do now?... I must avenge thee, mother. However, my strength alone is not enough.

  Melody gets up.

  Melody: Don't count me out yet!

  Al: You are fine?

  Melody: Made of stone, I am.

  The illusion falls away, revealing the clearing they're in and a blacksmith's stand with the same smith as before.

  ? Hey, guys. Say, could you get me those horns over there?

  Al: You made it here before us? How?

  ? Just a little trick of my people. The horns?

  Alucard and Melody cut off the Chimera's horns and put them on the smith's table.

  ? I'm Sindri, by the way.

  Melody: Sindri? That Dwarf from Svartalfheim mentioned you, I think.

  Sindri: I'm not surprised. We Are brothers after all. Anyway, I think I'll be able to imbue one of your swords with electricity. Wanna flip a coin?

  Melody: I've had enough of that stuff for one day. Buff him up.

  Alucard gives Sindri his sword and he starts working on it.

  Al: It said “Demons.” Which type are you?

  Melody: Caught me. Just don't tell anyone what I am.

  Al: Alright.

  Melody: I'm a Succubus... Pretty embarrassing huh?

  Al: You are not a Harpy.

  Melody: Heh. Yeah, that's true.

  Sindri: There!

  Sindri gives Alucard his sword, electricity now emanating from its blade.

  Al: This shall do well against the Demons.

  Sindri: Be sure to tell me how well it works the next time you see me.

  Melody: Will do. Let's get out of this bloody forest.

  Al: Agreed.

  Dracula looks upon the forest as the Harpy from before flies up to him.

  Harpy: Th-They-

  Dracula: My Chimera is dead. No matter. The Reaper shall weaken them.

  Harpy: Yes, Sir!

  The Harpy flies away and Dracula grins.