Reading settings
Chapter 51: The Fear of a Heaven's Favored Son
The balaclava was violently ripped off, nearly twisting Tony Stark's neck.
Under the blinding light, Tony struggled to keep his eyes open, finding it hard to adjust. He tried hard to open his eyes to clearly see the faces of his kidnappers.
Who exactly were they? How many people in all of America, or even the whole world, would dare to kidnap him? He, Tony Stark, was the world's favored son of heaven, countless people revered him. Who would brazenly lay hands on him?
As the sole heir of the Stark Family, and controller of the multi-trillion-dollar Stark Industries, Tony had grown up with the title of genius, accustomed to a life of privilege. Even when researching weapons and missiles, he had a multitude of employees and his Artificial Intelligence to handle the arduous work. When had this proud Playboy ever suffered such a great loss as he did today?
He had actually been kidnapped! He had finally managed to escape and indulge himself completely, only for something like this to happen!
Over the years, it wasn't as if no one had tried to target him, but each time it had been a close call without true danger. A situation like today was utterly unprecedented in his life.
Tony was very proud. Even if kidnapped, the other party would merely be after money or technology, nothing else. He was just a titan of the arms industry.
Before his eyes could fully adjust, he spoke up, "What do you want? Money? I'm just an ordinary person, you've definitely kidnapped the wrong person. In fact, I think this is more of a misunderstanding..."
Before he could finish, a heavy punch slammed into his stomach. How could Tony endure this? He immediately crumpled to his knees in pain, his entire body feeling as if it would fall apart, his stomach losing all sensation.
Under the dim light, Deacon grabbed Tony by the hair, lifting his head to face him, looking disdainfully at this "favored son of heaven" in human eyes.
What good were these so-called 'superior men'? They still fell into his hands like ants. If he wished, he could easily crush this frail human at any moment.
But Deacon wouldn't do that; it didn't align with his objective. This fool, Tony Stark, had practically delivered himself to them, swaggering onto his territory. Didn't this idiot bother to investigate the local situation before going out normally?
Tony delivering himself was a pleasant surprise. Deacon was originally waiting here for Blade and Tony, but unexpectedly saw Tony first, so he spontaneously ordered his subordinates to bring him over.
"Tony Stark, you recklessly sell all sorts of high-tech weapons, causing many Vampires to be killed by your armaments. You are a genius, but even more so, an idiot. How should we settle this account?"
Deacon smoked, looking at Tony with eyes that regarded him as livestock.
"Actually, people often praise me as being wise yet appearing foolish," Tony said, before Deacon brutally punched him to the ground again, leaving him unable to get up for a long while. He coughed painfully, nearly suffocating. The punches were too heavy; after just two, he felt like he was on the verge of death.
Tony had spent years cavorting with various women, his body long since hollowed out. It was impossible for him to withstand the fists of Vampires.
A nearby Vampire stepped forward to persuade Deacon, arguing that Tony's status was too noble. Rashly killing him would undoubtedly provoke a furious retaliation from the Human Faction. Tony Stark was like a symbolic calling card for humanity, a synonym for human genius and wealth. Tony could be harmed by others, but he absolutely could not die at the hands of Vampires; that would undeniably be a declaration of war.
Deacon exhaled a plume of smoke, watching it dissipate into the air, and took another deep drag. The aroma of the smoke intoxicated him, but tormenting a human elite like Tony fascinated him even more deeply. This was the crushing dominance and contempt of the upper echelons of the food chain over the lower.
Tony lay on the ground, silently gasping for breath. He truly felt he was going to die.
A member of the Ghoul Tribe approached and whispered into Deacon's ear, "Boss, our people have apprehended the Council Members from the other twelve Clans, but we've also suffered many casualties. Once the news spreads, the entire Vampire Kingdom will be thrown into turmoil, and it might even alarm the King."
Deacon's eyelids twitched instinctively. The Vampire King... that fellow, who knew how many years he had lived, completely ignored state affairs, delegating all authority to the Council. He hid himself away, researching who knew what.
Deacon had never seen the Vampire King, only heard fragmented rumors. He was said to be a deeply calculating individual, but old and frail, merely holding the title of King, never interfering with the Vampire Council's decisions.
But in reality, the Council harbored a great deal of apprehension towards this irresponsible King, though no one knew why.
"Then escort those twelve noble Purebloods to the Altar. We'll sacrifice them there as offerings for my Deification."
Deacon gave the command, savagely tossing aside his half-smoked cigarette, a grim smile on his face. He had waited a long time for this opportunity; today, his wish was finally fulfilled.
As for why it was twelve Clans, and what about the Speaker? Heh heh heh... that Speaker, Deacon had thrown him to the seaside not long ago, where he was burned alive by the rising Sunlight.
The entire Council, along with countless large and small families he led, had been purged. From today onwards, there would be no more ridiculous, corrupt institutions like the Council. Only he, Deacon Frost, would be the sole de facto ruler of the current Vampire World.
As for that King... Deacon frowned, ultimately deciding not to poke that hornets' nest. The Council hadn't dared to act for so many years, so he didn't need to stir up trouble. Once he became a Blood God, he could walk freely under the Sunlight, the entire world would be his. Why would he care about a King on the verge of death from old age?
Tony finally recovered somewhat. He had barely managed to overhear some of Deacon's conversation with his subordinates. He finally knew who had kidnapped him.
It was Vampires, it was actually Vampires.
Tony shivered violently. At this moment, an uncontrollable fear rose in his heart. His entire body began to tremble slightly, and the tremors grew increasingly intense.
If bitten by a Vampire, without a timely injection of Antidote Serum, one would permanently transform into a Vampire, with no turning back. Where would he get an Antidote Serum now? Aside from some Vampire Hunters, who would carry such a thing with them?
He was bitten, what would he do now? Live as a lowly Vampire, unable to face Sunlight or eat garlic, and regularly feed on human blood? A tragic joke!
He, Tony Stark, the favored son of heaven for all humanity, actually becoming a human-eating Vampire! How would his friend Rhodey view him? How would Pepper view him? How would his most revered uncle, and closest elder, Obadiah, view him?
He might as well just die.
"This idiotic genius, keep him alive for now. Send someone to negotiate with Obadiah. Tell him if he wants Tony Stark back, he must immediately transfer one hundred billion US dollars and a large shipment of the most advanced weapons. Let's see what that fellow chooses."
Deacon looked at the terrified Tony, gave a contemptuous smile, opened his mouth, and bit down hard.
Tony let out a desperate shriek, like a final lament. His vibrant pupils slowly turned numb, his mind buzzed, a complete blank. He was bitten, bitten by these Vampire creatures. Everything was over. He would never be human again. He would be infected, turn into a Vampire dwelling in darkness, and all light would forever abandon him.
At this moment, Tony truly wanted to die.
Deacon was wildly arrogant. Soon to become a Blood God, he regarded all humans as mere food. He cared for nothing, treating this as a casual game; how could he truly take it to heart?
Suddenly, faint, harrowing screams echoed from above. The cries were distinctly unusual, piercing through the floors and reaching underground, causing many Vampires to instinctively look up at the ceiling.
Tony twitched. Something called hope reappeared in Tony's eyes. Vampire Hunters! It must be Vampire Hunters! They specialize in killing Vampires, they must carry Antidote Serum with them! Hold on, there might still be a chance!
Deacon calmly put on his outer garment. If there were no surprises, the attackers were either Blade or Tony. Perhaps the two had even teamed up, as both were due to arrive in Atlantic City around this time.
He needed these two. His Deification into a Blood God required certain sacrifices and Rituals. While he needed the Daywalker's blood, he needed Tony's even more!
"That incredible Mutant, finally delivered himself to me..." Deacon muttered somewhat greedily.
(end of chapter)
The balaclava was violently ripped off, nearly twisting Tony Stark's neck.
Under the blinding light, Tony struggled to keep his eyes open, finding it hard to adjust. He tried hard to open his eyes to clearly see the faces of his kidnappers.
Who exactly were they? How many people in all of America, or even the whole world, would dare to kidnap him? He, Tony Stark, was the world's favored son of heaven, countless people revered him. Who would brazenly lay hands on him?
As the sole heir of the Stark Family, and controller of the multi-trillion-dollar Stark Industries, Tony had grown up with the title of genius, accustomed to a life of privilege. Even when researching weapons and missiles, he had a multitude of employees and his Artificial Intelligence to handle the arduous work. When had this proud Playboy ever suffered such a great loss as he did today?
He had actually been kidnapped! He had finally managed to escape and indulge himself completely, only for something like this to happen!
Over the years, it wasn't as if no one had tried to target him, but each time it had been a close call without true danger. A situation like today was utterly unprecedented in his life.
Tony was very proud. Even if kidnapped, the other party would merely be after money or technology, nothing else. He was just a titan of the arms industry.
Before his eyes could fully adjust, he spoke up, "What do you want? Money? I'm just an ordinary person, you've definitely kidnapped the wrong person. In fact, I think this is more of a misunderstanding..."
Before he could finish, a heavy punch slammed into his stomach. How could Tony endure this? He immediately crumpled to his knees in pain, his entire body feeling as if it would fall apart, his stomach losing all sensation.
Under the dim light, Deacon grabbed Tony by the hair, lifting his head to face him, looking disdainfully at this "favored son of heaven" in human eyes.
What good were these so-called 'superior men'? They still fell into his hands like ants. If he wished, he could easily crush this frail human at any moment.
But Deacon wouldn't do that; it didn't align with his objective. This fool, Tony Stark, had practically delivered himself to them, swaggering onto his territory. Didn't this idiot bother to investigate the local situation before going out normally?
Tony delivering himself was a pleasant surprise. Deacon was originally waiting here for Blade and Tony, but unexpectedly saw Tony first, so he spontaneously ordered his subordinates to bring him over.
"Tony Stark, you recklessly sell all sorts of high-tech weapons, causing many Vampires to be killed by your armaments. You are a genius, but even more so, an idiot. How should we settle this account?"
Deacon smoked, looking at Tony with eyes that regarded him as livestock.
"Actually, people often praise me as being wise yet appearing foolish," Tony said, before Deacon brutally punched him to the ground again, leaving him unable to get up for a long while. He coughed painfully, nearly suffocating. The punches were too heavy; after just two, he felt like he was on the verge of death.
Tony had spent years cavorting with various women, his body long since hollowed out. It was impossible for him to withstand the fists of Vampires.
A nearby Vampire stepped forward to persuade Deacon, arguing that Tony's status was too noble. Rashly killing him would undoubtedly provoke a furious retaliation from the Human Faction. Tony Stark was like a symbolic calling card for humanity, a synonym for human genius and wealth. Tony could be harmed by others, but he absolutely could not die at the hands of Vampires; that would undeniably be a declaration of war.
Deacon exhaled a plume of smoke, watching it dissipate into the air, and took another deep drag. The aroma of the smoke intoxicated him, but tormenting a human elite like Tony fascinated him even more deeply. This was the crushing dominance and contempt of the upper echelons of the food chain over the lower.
Tony lay on the ground, silently gasping for breath. He truly felt he was going to die.
A member of the Ghoul Tribe approached and whispered into Deacon's ear, "Boss, our people have apprehended the Council Members from the other twelve Clans, but we've also suffered many casualties. Once the news spreads, the entire Vampire Kingdom will be thrown into turmoil, and it might even alarm the King."
Deacon's eyelids twitched instinctively. The Vampire King... that fellow, who knew how many years he had lived, completely ignored state affairs, delegating all authority to the Council. He hid himself away, researching who knew what.
Deacon had never seen the Vampire King, only heard fragmented rumors. He was said to be a deeply calculating individual, but old and frail, merely holding the title of King, never interfering with the Vampire Council's decisions.
But in reality, the Council harbored a great deal of apprehension towards this irresponsible King, though no one knew why.
"Then escort those twelve noble Purebloods to the Altar. We'll sacrifice them there as offerings for my Deification."
Deacon gave the command, savagely tossing aside his half-smoked cigarette, a grim smile on his face. He had waited a long time for this opportunity; today, his wish was finally fulfilled.
As for why it was twelve Clans, and what about the Speaker? Heh heh heh... that Speaker, Deacon had thrown him to the seaside not long ago, where he was burned alive by the rising Sunlight.
The entire Council, along with countless large and small families he led, had been purged. From today onwards, there would be no more ridiculous, corrupt institutions like the Council. Only he, Deacon Frost, would be the sole de facto ruler of the current Vampire World.
As for that King... Deacon frowned, ultimately deciding not to poke that hornets' nest. The Council hadn't dared to act for so many years, so he didn't need to stir up trouble. Once he became a Blood God, he could walk freely under the Sunlight, the entire world would be his. Why would he care about a King on the verge of death from old age?
Tony finally recovered somewhat. He had barely managed to overhear some of Deacon's conversation with his subordinates. He finally knew who had kidnapped him.
It was Vampires, it was actually Vampires.
Tony shivered violently. At this moment, an uncontrollable fear rose in his heart. His entire body began to tremble slightly, and the tremors grew increasingly intense.
If bitten by a Vampire, without a timely injection of Antidote Serum, one would permanently transform into a Vampire, with no turning back. Where would he get an Antidote Serum now? Aside from some Vampire Hunters, who would carry such a thing with them?
He was bitten, what would he do now? Live as a lowly Vampire, unable to face Sunlight or eat garlic, and regularly feed on human blood? A tragic joke!
He, Tony Stark, the favored son of heaven for all humanity, actually becoming a human-eating Vampire! How would his friend Rhodey view him? How would Pepper view him? How would his most revered uncle, and closest elder, Obadiah, view him?
He might as well just die.
"This idiotic genius, keep him alive for now. Send someone to negotiate with Obadiah. Tell him if he wants Tony Stark back, he must immediately transfer one hundred billion US dollars and a large shipment of the most advanced weapons. Let's see what that fellow chooses."
Deacon looked at the terrified Tony, gave a contemptuous smile, opened his mouth, and bit down hard.
Tony let out a desperate shriek, like a final lament. His vibrant pupils slowly turned numb, his mind buzzed, a complete blank. He was bitten, bitten by these Vampire creatures. Everything was over. He would never be human again. He would be infected, turn into a Vampire dwelling in darkness, and all light would forever abandon him.
At this moment, Tony truly wanted to die.
Deacon was wildly arrogant. Soon to become a Blood God, he regarded all humans as mere food. He cared for nothing, treating this as a casual game; how could he truly take it to heart?
Suddenly, faint, harrowing screams echoed from above. The cries were distinctly unusual, piercing through the floors and reaching underground, causing many Vampires to instinctively look up at the ceiling.
Tony twitched. Something called hope reappeared in Tony's eyes. Vampire Hunters! It must be Vampire Hunters! They specialize in killing Vampires, they must carry Antidote Serum with them! Hold on, there might still be a chance!
Deacon calmly put on his outer garment. If there were no surprises, the attackers were either Blade or Tony. Perhaps the two had even teamed up, as both were due to arrive in Atlantic City around this time.
He needed these two. His Deification into a Blood God required certain sacrifices and Rituals. While he needed the Daywalker's blood, he needed Tony's even more!
"That incredible Mutant, finally delivered himself to me..." Deacon muttered somewhat greedily.
(end of chapter)
