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The Strength and Conviction of Phillip Coulson
In a dark room, Phil Coulson, formerly an Agent of SHIELD and also formerly dead, holds a gun in his hand. 'I idolized them. All of them. Even the ones you've never heard of. To such an obsessive degree' Phil states, revealing that when he was a kid, he used to make little note cards charting their powers and his educated guesses at their origins. He spent so much money over the years on vintage Captain America trading cards. 'So embarrassing' he mutters. 'I'm only telling you this now because I know you'll never tell anyone else. And besides... I don't idolize super heroes anymore. I grew up... about five seconds before I died'.
Phil declares that all the adoration bled right out of him, through the gaping bullet wound in his chest. 'He even murdered my car. What a sick little man' Phil remarks, 'Wherever you are, Deadpool, I owe you for Lola' Phil mutters, deciding that he should be thankful, too, because if he hadn't died as part of some ridiculous super hero war, he wouldn't have seen the light.
Phil continues, explaining that he  wouldn't be where he is today, with the strength and conviction to do what needs to be done to protect this country. 'Though I suppose that doesn't answer your question, does it? What you really want to know is... why am I holding this gun? And why am I about to point it at your face and pull this trigger? The answer is simple. Because of the Avengers'.
Meanwhile, at Avengers Mountain:'So you're saying you've never once changed the oil in this thing?' Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel asks Robbie Reyes the Ghost Rider as she checks under the hood of his mysterious car. Robbie sits nearby and informs Carol that he tried to one time and the car nearly bit his arm off. 'I really wouldn't go poking under that hood if I were you, Ms Carol' Robbie warns her. 'I sleep in the same mountain as this thing. If your Hell Charger's exhaust is poison or its glove compartment is a gateway to hell, I'd really like to know' Carol replies, to which Robbie informs her that the trunk is the gateway to hell. 'Okay, see now you're being a helpful Avenger, Robbie Reyes, you never know when a working hell portal might come in handy' Carol tells Robbie, who remarks that he could use one right about now, as he never knew being an Avenger would come with so much homework, as he looks up from a electronic device.
Carol tells Robbie that she remembers Steve's super villain quizzes. 'Stilt Man. His battle suit's telescopic legs contain powerful hydaulic rams. Weakness: he's on stilts' Carol tells Robbie, adding that those quizzes have probably saved her hide more than once, and suggests to him that he study like his life depends on it – because it does. Carol notices some tentacles among the machine parts of the engine, 'Is that a carburetor or an egg sack? Or maybe both?' she asks. 'Yeah, but I already...' Robbie begins, to which Carol tells him not to say it – she doesn't want to hear again about how he single-handedly defeated the Final Host. 'You saved the world one time, kid. Congratulations. I bet even Spider-Man has saved the world more than you' Carol declares, before telling Robbie that if he wants to be excellent – really excellent – at what he does, then he needs to be excellent every day in every part of his life – that's how the great ones do it. 'You think Captain America ever complained about homework?' Carol asks.
Robbie turns back to the device in his hands, 'Mephisto. Why does that name sound so familiar?' he asks, before muttering 'Why can't we just go fight the fish people again? Where is everybody else anyway?' Carol turns to Robbie and informs him that Black Panther is having a big important meeting upstairs, and warns him not to disturb the meeting, while their house-guest Blade is recuperaring in the infirmary. 'He's a vampire. I wouldn't disturb him, either' Carol remarks, adding that if Tony was here, she would gladly let him disturb Tony, but he and Steve are off handling personal business. Carol then tells Robbie that she is going to have a conference call with eight different intergalactic leaders, so he can't disturb her, either. 'Wasn't there a talking Gorilla swinging around here the other day? Or hey, what about Thor and Hulk?' Robbie asks. 'Uh, yeah, they're off on a... super-secret mission' Carol replies, suggesting to Robbie that he hit the books while he can, and not to worry, as the next major disaster will be coming along any second now. Carol then flies off out a hatch.
On their super-secret “mission” Jennifer Walters the She-Hulk and Thor sit in the Savage Land and look out as two dinosaurs fight. 'More mead?' Thor asks. 'Uh, no. No, I'm good on mead' Jen replies, frowning, her cup still full. Jen then asks Thor if this is where he brings all the girls he asks out. Munching on a drumstick, Thor tells Jennifer that he doesn't understand, and asks her if this isn't pleasing to her. 'No, it's great, I mean...who doesn't wanna go on a date in the Savage Land?' Jen replies. Referring to the dinosaurs, Thor asks Jen if there aren't enough battle dragons and tells her that he can have Ka-Zar summon more if she likes. 'No, it's a fine amount of battle dragons just fine' Jen assures Thor. Resting her head in her hands, Jen remarks 'Turkey legs, mead and dinosaurs. Suppose I should've known that's what a date with Thor would be like'. She quietly adds that she is starting to see why Thor has been single for so many centuries. 'Ha! Thor has a grand idea! Let us give mead to the dragons!' Thor shouts, grinning. 'Final Host… please come back' Jen mumbles.
Back at Avengers Mansion, in the lush landscape of the Eden Room, several Iron Man type robots act as servants as T'Challa the Blakc Panther stands before a long table, where several heroes are seated. Fresh fruit and vegetables are laid out before them. T'Challa begins by telling his guests that he doesn't need to remind them that these are times of unparalleled danger and division for their planet – they know that better than anyone. He explains that is why he has gathered them here – as they are the greatest heroes the world has to offer. He thanks them for accepting his invitation to this international super-summit and tells them that he sincerely hopes that today can be the beginning of a new age of cooperation between them all. Seated around the table are the Collective Man from China, Brian Braddock a.k.a. Captain Britain of the United Kingdom, Dr Michael Twoyoungmen a.k.a. Shaman from Canada, Japan's Shiro Yoshida a.k.a. Sunfire, Ruth Bat-Seraph known as Sabra from Israel, and Navid Hashim a.k.a. Arabian Knight, of no fixed country but operating out of Saudi Arabia.
As the Iron Man robots pour drinks for the guests, Shaman asks T'Challa to start by telling them how he convinced Stark to provide the waitstaff. 'No convincing required, Shaman. Tony should not leave his laundry laying around if he does not wish me to put it to use' He then asks his guests to eat and drink, remarking that this need not be a formal affair, and that they are all colleagues here.
T'Challa smiles as he tells his companions that if they are going to continue in their chosen profession of saving this world from those who would do it harm, or oftentimes from itself, then it is his humble opinion that they they must all make a more concerted effort to reach beyond their countries' borders and work together – and that begins with him. He states that as King of Wakanda and newly elected Chairman of the Avengers, he wanted to promise them all here today that his resources will always be available to his allies. Sunfire is wearing a white suit and his traditional make over his face as he points out that those are quite considerable resources – from the vibranium mines of Wakanda to this impressive new headquarters they see around them, teeming with Celestial technology – not to mention the clandestine network of special agents they have heard he has been building. 'So please, do tell us, what does it take to be an ally of the newly anointed King of the Avengers?' Sunfire enquires.
T'Challa reminds the heroes that for years they all relied, one way or another, on the sprawling, global infrastructure of SHIELD, and for better or worse, that infrastructure has been dismantled. He assures the heoes that he is not trying to re-create SHIELD but merely to build a support network for the Avengers and for all heroes who fight the same fight, like Sunfire in Japan. Captain Britain remarks that he thinks cooperation is the key word here, and tells the others that they all know T'Challa hasn't been known for his openness over the years. 'No offense' he tells the Black Panther, before suggesting to the others that if T'Challa is willing to put aside the past so they can all build a bettre future together, he for one doesn't want to be left out. 'Please, no Brexit jokes' Cap mutters. Arabian Knight tells the others that their very oceans have become conteted, and that Namor has truly lost his waterclogged mind this time, so if they can't all work together, then there is a chance they will drown alone. Sabra announces that she agrees with the Arabian Knight and tells the men that they cannot do Namor's work for him by tearing each other apart. She acknowledges that they will never all agree on everything, but that there must be a mutual respect between them and sharing of information.
'Haaa! Look at Sabra and the Arabian Knight! Even the Jew and the Muslim are agreeing! How touching!' a voice calls out. Everyone turns to the other end of the table, where Major Mikhail Ursus a.k.a. Ursa Major sits in his bear form, a mess of fruits and vegetables in front of him. 'How damned pathetic' Ursa Major snarls. 'The Panther dangles his shiny toys in front of you lot and you all start lining up to kiss his vibranium ring. Come put your hand near my mouth, kitty cat, and see what happens to it' Ursa Major mutters, before boasting that the Winter Guard doesn't need his help or his intel, and they sure aren't about to give anyone theirs. 'Be wary. The bear is quite drunk' the Collective Man whispers, while the Black Panther tells Ursa Major that this is exactly the sort of territorial thinking that led to the Avengers and the Winter Guard clashing during the fight to save Hydropolis. He adds that he fails to see how an ongoing adversarial relationship would be beneficial to either the Winter Guard or the Avengers, especially as Namor's attacks continue.
The Black Panther reports that details are sketchy, but three days ago there was yet another incident off the coast of Alaska. 'Ahaa! So now  we finaly come to it! You didn't bring us here just to bask in your coronation and eat a few scraps from your table! You need something from us!' Ursa Major remarks. 'Major Ursus, haven't you been listening? We all need each other' Shaman remarks. 'No, he doesn't' Ursa Major replies. 'He's the Black Panther! He never needs anyone or anything! Until now!' One of the heroes tells Ursus that he is out of line and to stand down, but Ursa Major asks T'Challa to tell him he is wrong. 'You don't know what happened in Alaska, do you?' Ursa Major remarks. Calmly, the Black Panther admits that he does not, and asks Ursa Major if he does. 'Heh, I know there's a very conspicuous absence from this all-inclusive “summit” of yours. Why is there no one here from the United States? The country with more super heroes than I've got ringworms. Yet not a one of them is sitting at your table' Ursa Major points out. S
The Black Panther frowns but continues to listen as Ursa Major notes that not even Captain America is here, and he hears he is not so popular with his own government these days. 'You have a problem, Lord Avenger. A very big star-spangled problem. You just don't know how big yet, do you? And you want us to help solve it for you' Ursa Major points out, before telling T'Challa, on behalf of the Winter Guard and the good people of Mother Russia, to kiss his furry ass. 'This is why you never invite a bear to a dinner party' Arabian Knight comments. Sabra covers her face and mutters that she had hoped they would at least make it through the appetizer course before the first fight. 'At least it's not us' Arabian Knight tells her. Sabra agrees and suggests there might be hope for the world after all. 'Not looking like it' Arabian Knight replies, while Ursa Major just laughs, and the Black Panther stares at him.
Back in the Savage Land, Jennifer sits with her arms folded, looking at the ground, while Thor looks away from her. They sit in silence, before Thor tells her 'That boulder looks quite imposing. Would you like me to lift it?' he enquires. Jen ignores that comment and asks him if he meant to ask out the Hulk. They both turn and look at each other, to which Thor announces that he senses this is not going well. 'I'm teleporting home' Jen tells him as she gets to her feet.
Back in the mysterious darkened room, Phil Coulson holds up a small photo of Captain America which he has set on fire. The figure sitting in the shadows tells Coulson that he doesn't understand, as he doen't work for the Avengers. 'I work for the same people you do' they remark. 'Don't die with a lie on your lips, son' Coulson responds, adding that he knows that hasn't been their normal way of life for a very long time, it is certainly not what SHIELD trained them to do. 'But try telling the truth for a chance. I'm finding it quite exhiliarating' Coulson remarks, declaring that Tony Stark is a loudmouthed jerk and Captain America is a traitor. 'See how easy that was?' he asks. The unseen figure tells Coulson that the truth is, he was hired by General Thunderbolt Ross, the same as he was. 'I am on your side, I swear to you. I believe in this project in every way, but you know the thing Ross says about Captain Rogers and the rest of the Avengers can't be true' they add.
Coulson tells them that the truth can be hard to swallow sometimes, he has nearly choked on it himself a few  times. 'Including the truth about you my friend. And your employer, the Black Panther' Coulson reveals. 'Agent Coulson. Phil. We've known each other a long time and worked together for years.  Please believe me. I have no idea what you're talking about -' the unseen figure tells Coulson, who interrupts by announcing that he is going to shoot them in the leg now.
'ENOUGH DAMN TALK!' Ursa Major roars as he stands up, asking what the hell problems talking has ever solved. 'You're way out of line, Ursus' Captain Britain declares, while the Collective Man warns him to sit down, or else he will make him sit down. 'You bunch of blundering half-wits want peace on Earth? Then let's make it happen right here. I maul every last damn one of you! And then you stay the hell out of the Winter Guard's way! There's your peace!' Ursa Major shouts as he starts to run across the table, 'I'm starting with you, your highness! What do you say to that?' Ursa Major asks. Calmly, and without moving, the Black Panther utters 'Transport one to Siberia' and before Ursa can strike the Black Panther, the angry bear vanishes. Black Panther apologizes to his guests for the disturbance and tells them that they shouldn't allow this unfortunate business to detail their summit, as they have much to discuss. He then instructs the Iron Man drones to clean up the mess. As the drones begin to clean up the spilled food, the heroes gather their chairs and Arabian Knight tells Black Panther that he should have at least punched Ursus, as he has never seen a bear fight a panther. 'He definitely had it coming' Sabra remarks.
Captain Britain remarks that Ursus was KGB, and points out that he is no drunken buffoon, meaning that was quite intentional, he was goading T'Challa. 'Good on you for not taking the bait' he adds. The Black Panther explains that when he extended an invitation to the Winter Guard he had hoped Crimson Dynamo would attend, but he imagines they sent Ursa Major very much on purpose, and that it appears they will find no allies in Moscow. The Collective Man reveals that he hears this new Red Widow is calling the shots. 'Damn Red Room. Every monster they turn out is somehow always worse than the last' Arabian Knight comments. Sabra points out that that corner of the globe is in a fair bit of chaos now, and asks the others if they have heard about what is happening in Romania with these new vampire insurgents. Captain Britain suggests that it is Atlantis where they need to be focused, as every ocean in the world has become a battleground. 'Something must be done about Namor and his -' Captain Britain adds, while Sunfire remarks that the bear asked an important question before he was sent off to Siberia. 'What did happen in Alaska?' he enquires.
The Black Panther stands up and walks away from the table as he reports that Namor's forces attacked a Roxxon oil drilling platform and apparently were very quickly and efficiently repelled – but not by the Avengers and not by the Winter Guard – not by anyone in this room. 'Then by whom?' someone asks. 'I am not used to saying what I am about to say...but I have absolutely no idea' the Black Panther admits.
'Lady Jennifer, wait!' Thor calls out back in the Savage Land as Jen strides away from him. 'This is not what I intended' Thor tells her. Jen turns back to him and tells him clearly he intended to ask She-Hulk out, but unfortunately, they are kind of a package deal, and right now, they both want to smash his face in. 'So for your sake, Thor, I'm leaving' Jen declares. 'It was you' Thor tells her. He swears by his father's eye that it was Jennifer with whom he wished to spend this time. He admits that Thor is sadly better versed in the art of hurling his mighty hammer than of hurling words from his mouth. 'But I... I only wish to better know you, my lady' Thor reveals. Thor tells Jen that he knows why she smashes, but not why she smiles, or that which makes her spark and burn on the inside, other than the gamma radiation, of course. He tells her that he wants to know where in all the heavens she longs to visit, what grand cosmic wonders she has yet to behold – and he wants to take her there, and sit in the shadow of that awe-inspiring wonder, and still not be able to take his eyes off her.
'Am I enamored with your Hulk? With a hade giantess who could seemingly tear me asunder with her bare hands if she so desired? Aye, most verily. But you are speaking to a god who considers the greatest day of his immortal life to be the first one he ever lived as a mortal man. 'Tis the she inside the She-Hulk who truly fascinates me. Tis you I long to...' Thor begins, before Jen, now transformed  into She-Hulk, touches his face and tells him to stop talking, as they embrace and kiss, while the dinosaurs continue to fight behind them.
Back at the summit, the Black Panther tells his guests that their world today is rife with powder kegs, you can see them in every corner of the globe, waiting to explode. He remarks that he can deal with powder kegs – that is the job. But what worries him the most is the explosions that he cannot see coming. Black Panther assures the others that he does not know what happened in Alaska or what it means, nor does he know what is transpiring in the halls of Washington DC – he just knows that some within the United States government no longer consider their nation an ally of the Avengers – beyond that, all he has are questions. 'Together, we must find some answers, my friends – for all our sakes. Or the explosion that ignites all the powder kegs around the globe...may come from where we least expect it'.
Back in the dark room, Coulson stands over his hostage, who is tied to a chair and now has a gunshot wound in their leg. Coulson, please...' the unseen figure calls out. 'When SHIELD folded, you went to work for the Panther. You're a spy for the Avengers. They sent you to infiltrate Ross' team. To infiltrate the United States government and report back. How am I doing?' Coulson asks. 'No. No, I...' the mysterious figure begins, but Coulson tells them not to bother lying, as they have telepaths on staff and they know everything – everything the Panther doesn't. Coulson asks his captive if he should just come right out and tell them what he sent him here to find out – 'Would you like to know what happened in Alaska?' he asks, boasting that the Squadron Supreme of America happened – it was their trial run – and they passed with flying colors – bloody colors, mostly' Coulson announces, remembering how Hyperion chained Orka up with his own anchor.
Coulson continues, reporting that the Avengers will know all about the Squadron Supreme of America soon enough, but on his terms. 'Phil, please... I don't know what's happened to you... if you really did die, or how you came back, but...' the captive begins, telling Phil that they know this isn't him, this isn't the sort of man that he is. 'The sort who would tie you up and shoot you, you mean? Because why? Because I always seemed like a nice guy? Remembered your birthday? Never raised my voice? Because I'm from Ohio? I was an agent of SHIELD for years. Don't be naive' Phil declares, before deciding that his captive isn't – because they worked for SHIELD International Review, he has seen their file. 'You know exactly who I am' Phil tells them, realizing that they are just stalling him. 'Until what? You can wiggle your way out of those ropes?' Phil asks.
The mysterious figure informs Phil that they did that ten minutes ago, 'I've just been hoping I wouldn't have to kill you' they remark. Phil raises his gun to his captive and tells them that they don't get to be the hopeful one here, that's his job. 'Lights' he calls out, and suddenly the already dark room is plunged into darkness. There are some crashing noises, a scuffle, then several gunshots and a thud. The lights turn back on and Phil stands over the unmoving body of a man in a suit, and Phil utters 'God bless America'.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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The Fall of Castle Dracula
The Carpathian Mountains in Romania, where under the night sky, a sprawling castle is ablaze. The attack was sudden and brutally efficient, and as swarms of bats rain napalm on the parapets, rats fitted with sunburst grenades scurry through the castle's labyrinthine corridors, reducing its inhabitants to wailing husks – every man, woman and murderous child. The sentries outside the main sepulchre have been standing guard since the 15th Century, fighting off armies of Turks and Knights Templar and generations of Van Helsings. But they have never faced anything quite like the rotary cannon currently firing 2,000 wooden stakes a minute into their undead hearts. The most fearsome castle ever raised is engulfed in flames, and before the night is through, will be reduced to smoldering rubble. But that is not enough to sate the fury of the squad of heavily armed invaders who now find themselves standing over an empty coffin, with one question on theier minds.
'Where is he? Where's the coward hiding? Where's Dracula!?' demands the masked, armored Shadow Colonel, who searches the castle with his Legion of the Unliving. Boy Thing clings to Shadow Colonel's shoulder, while Lily Cromwell a.k.a. Baroness Blood stands ready with a cross-bow. The mysterious warrior called Snowsnake stands behind her, swords held in each hand, while the giant bat creature, Carpathian, clings to the tunnel above them. The Rat Bomber crouches nearby, dozens of rats running over his body, as the skull-headed dog, Sarge, scurries at the Shadow Colonel's feet. They have just slaughtered the most devoted vampire disciples of the Lord of the Damned. This Legion of the Unliving are vampires themselves – vampires at war with vampires.
There is someone else who knows a thing or two about this sort of conflict. His name is Blade, and at this moment, he shoves a stake into a blue-skinned vampire's chest. He looks behind him and sees several other vampires, one of them who hisses at him and snarls 'You miserable daywalker! Your blood's not even worth drinking' and warns him that they will flush it down the toilet when they are done tearing him to pieces. 'Yeah, wouldn't go in there for a while if I was you' Blade jokes as he steps from the airplane toilet. Suddenly, a voice announces over the intercom 'Attention, passengers! Those of you who are not vampires, please move to the rear of the plane in an orderly fashion and strap yourselves in!' The plane' pilot is slumped over in the cockpit, while Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel has found herself piloting the plane. A vampire attempts to grab her, but Captain Marvel chokes the vampire, while remarking that there may be a bit of turbulence, but they will have them on the ground safe and as soon as possible. 'You have my word as an Avenger! This is your captain speaking!'
The flight that Captain Marvel pilots across a night sky is Roxxon Air Flight 959, currently somewhere over Symkaria, the outside of the plane swarmed with vampires who latch onto it. Vampires hijacked the flight ten minutes ago. 'If we stop running, we're all dead!' one of the vampires exclaims as several of them lunge at Blade, knocking him back. 'Don't you know what's coming for us? What's been unleashed? There's no safe place anymore! The castle has fallen and nobody has any sun-damned idea where Dracula -' a second vampire begins, before Blade kicks it in the face, knocking the vampire backwards. 'You don't gotta worry your pretty vamp head about what's coming. Because whatever the hell it is...you bloodsuckers ain't gonna live that long' Blade warns them as he pulls out a deadly weapon with harpoon-like spikes on both ends.
Captain Marvel can be heard over the intercom again, asking Blade how it is coming back there. 'Silver nunchucks. That's how it's coming' Blade replies, before telling Captain Marvel to leave him alone, as it is time to murder the doughnuts. 'Not really how that expression goes, but okay' Carol responds. Carol tells Blade that she just wanted to make sure he was feeling up to this, that T'Challa wasn't happy about him leaving the infirmary at Avengers Mountain so soon. 'Since when is he ever happy about anything? Broodiest damn rich man I ever met' Blade replies as he slashes two vampires with the silver nunchuck weapon. Blade then kicks another vampire in the face and reminds Captain Marvel that there is a vampire war going on, and that if the Black Panther things for one second that he is about to sit that out – then he doesn't know $%#& about him. Blade shoves the sharp silver nunchuck through the chest of one vampire, before turning to the others and remarking 'C'mon, suckhead. Time to return your seat to its upright position'.
Meanwhile, in the Great Mound, within Wakanda: T'Challa the Black Panther and Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man examine the cavernous surroundings as the Black Panther reports that the mines are clear of workers, and the Hatut Zeraze are standing by to hold the perimeter aboveground. 'Great. So that means that down here it's just you, me...and a crazed horde of our closest friends' Iron Man mutters, before asking how this many vampires ever got past Wakanda's defenses. T'Challa explains that they turned into snakes and slithered through the sewers. 'damn. They must want that vibranium bad' Iron Man repplies. T'Challa informs him that the fall of Castle Dracul has created chaos and upheaval in every corner of vampire society – and now the different factions are turning on one another, so getting their hands on vibranium would no doubt put this particular sect ahead in the undead arms race.
The Black Panther slams his fist to the ground which creates a shockwave that knocks back dozens of vampires skulking in the cavern shadows. He tells them that as King of Wakanda, they have his word that he can help them – maybe even cure them someday, if they just stand down. Iron Man flies forward and tells the Black Panther that he doesn't think they are listening – he's pretty sure the only thing these guys hear right now is the dinner bell. Iron Man announces that his solar cells are good and charged. 'How about you, your Pantherness?' Iron Man asks. 'So be it. May their souls at last find peace on the ancestral plane' the Black Panther replies, before Iron Man and the Black Panther release energies that create a massive explosion that washes through the caverns. Tony Stark tells himself that the vampires aren't human, as his solar-irradiated repulsor beams turn the faces around him to blackened chunks of ash that are somehow still screaming. They're not human – they're vampires. Monsters who live by murder. They may smell human when they're burning, but they're definitely not human – definitely not. But T'Challa thinks to himself that these are human – corrupted and deformed, but they were men once, like him. Each one he successfully kills he counts as a failure because he could not save them – the King of Wakanda will have many more failures before the day is through.
Meantime, in Central Romania, specifically the region once known as Transylvania, where  Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America is leading civilians to safety. 'This way! Inside the church! Everyone!' he calls out, while a youngster clings to him. He raises his shield and points to the church, as the flames of the castle still flicker in the distance – for hours now, the night has been alive with screams. But, this is Transylvania, and everyone here has known their entire lives that the darkness holds danger. 'Aahh! They're coming from the sky!' a local calls out, pointing up to a flaming vampire. 'That one we don't have to worry about. Truly God is watching over us' another replies. 'Yes, Ma'am' Captain America tells the woman. 'He is' Cap agrees, as the Mighty Thor appears in the sky, blasting dozens of vampires with lightning bolts. But some vampires make it to the ground and the civilians run in panic. Never have these people seen so many dangers all at once. 'Where do you think you're going, meat?' a winged vampire asks, pushing a man to the ground. 'They're going with me!' Captain America exclaims, standing in front of the church.
Captain America introduces himself to the vampires and tells them that he understands they are dealing with the effects of a civil war. He remarks that he has dealt with a few of those himself, before offering to help the vampires, informing them that the Avengers can relocate them and provide them with medical care and synthetic blood supplies. 'All the blood we need's right inside that God shack!' one of the vampires calls out. 'The old country's gone to Hell! And Count Vlad's in the wind!' another vampire exclaims. A third tells Captain America that if they are going to fly themselves out of here before sunup, they are gonna need an awfully big dinner first. 'So bring out the villagers!' the vampire snarls, warning Captain America that, otherwise, they will burn this place to the ground and suck the blood outta their deep-fried skins.
Captain America can't remember the last time he was in a church, and frowns as he tells the priest nearby to keep everyone inside – no matter what he hears. 'I hope you won't mind if I borrow a little something' Cap adds, while supposing that the last time he was in a church was probably a funeral for an old army buddy, or one of those super hero weddings that always ends in a big fight – either way, he most likely left early. Suddenly, the vampires look scared, as Captain America steps out of the church and calls out 'You fellas came looking for a free meal, and I'm all for feeding those in need, but these good people aren't on the menu'. One of the vampries hisses, as Captain America holds up a massive cross in one hand, his shield in the other, 'I am!' he exclaims. 'So come take a big bite! If you've got the stomach for it!' It isn't the Steve Rogers doesn't care for church – some men are just too busy standing to ever stop and kneel.
Deep beneath the streets of Manhattan lies the Monster Metropolis, where Jennifer Walters the She-Hulk and Robbie Reyes the newest Ghost Rider are dealing to an influx of vampires. Robbie drags one of them to his flaming car, 'A city of monsters, right underneath New York. My geography teacher is gonna crap his pants when he hears about this' Robbie jokes. 'Vampires fight Hulk! Or go to Hell!' She-Hulk snarls as she grabs two vampires by their heads. 'Hell doesn't sound so bad' one vampire mutters. Robbie opens up the trunk on his car and shoves a vampire into its flames. He thinks that sending rowdy vampires to Hell through his trunk is crazy, but that it is starting to seem like he actually might belong on this team. 'You don't' a voice calls out. Robbie turns to see a small child with red skin and horns standing nearby. 'Could you just hear my...' Robbie begins, as the strange child tells Robbie that he is not an Avenger, that he is Vengeance itself – the fires of Hell in human form. 'What? Who are you, kid? How do you know my name?' Robbie asks. The boy smirks as he boasts that he knows all the Riders' names – going back to the very first, the little ghost in the snow.
'Here in the Monster Metropolis, we know our own kind when we see them. And soon the Avengers will see you as well. For all that you are. You're a monster, Robbie. You're the biggest Hell-damned monster there ever was or will be' the strange boy declares. 'I'm not a monster. I saved the world. I'm not a -' Robbie begins, before She-Hulk puts a hand on his shoulder, 'Who Rider Man talk to? Vampires smashing city. Time for other plan' she tells him. Robbie turns from She-Hulk back to the kid – but the kid has vanished. 'Where'd the kid go? The creepy kid with the...' Robbie's voice trails off, while She-Hulk shoves him into the driver's seat of his car, 'Just way we practice. Hulk plus Rider Man plus Hell Car equal... FIREBALL SPECIAL' She-Hulk exclaims as she hurls the flaming car towards some vampires who are flying nearby. 'I'm not a monster!' Ghost Rider screams to himself. He swears that he can hear the faintest laughter bubbling up from somewhere deep inside... his own burning skull!
Back in Central Romania, blood sprays upwards as Captain America shoves his shield into one vampire. 'So... you boys ready to listen to reason? Or would you like dessert?' Cap asks. 'That... smell' one horrified vampire suddenly utters, wide-eyed. 'It's him! He's here! Run! Run for your undead lives!' the vampire encourages the others, some of whom take flight. Thor drops down near Cap and reports that the skies have been cleared, and that the last few beasts have suddenly fled in terror before the wrath of the Mighty Thor. 'Sorry, big guy, but I don't think it's you they're afraid of' Cap tells his teammate. 'Yeah. That would be me' a voice calls out. Cap and Thor turn to see the mysterious Shadow Colonel walking towards them, the skull-faced dog at his side. Shadow Colonel passes burning buildings, and introduces his dog, Sarge, before remarking 'The world is in chaos and I suppose you might think it's my fault. But I can settle all of our problems, gentlemen, yours and mine both, right here and now without us ever having to see each other again. All you Avengers gotta do is answer one simple question for me... where do I find Dracula?'
Later, the moon shines down over Avengers Mountain, where inside the detention facility, located at the intestinal level, Captains America and Marvel stand with the Black Panther and look down into a room where Shadow Colonel sits at a table, his wrists shackled. 'That's all he said' Captain America reports. 'And he came along peacefully?' T'Challa asks. 'Well, Thor didn't really give him much choice' Cap replies, before Carol asks if they have no idea who this guy is. T'Challa informs her that all their scanners are able to determine is that the Shadow Colonel is a vampire, and any attempt to remove his mask would trigger explosives that are hard-wired to his body. 'Tough customer' Carol replies, before announcing that it is interrogation time. She clasps her hands and asks Captain America how he wants to handle this. 'The old good Cap, bad Cap routine?' but Captain America reports that he thinks they have someone better suited for this particular job.
A door in the interrogation room opens behind the Shadow Colonel, and Blade appears. 'Ah, at last I get to meet the world's greatest vampire hunter' the Shadow Colonel calls out. The Shadow Colonel laughs and points out that Blade had to be rescued from Dracula's dungeons by his new masters, the Avengers – the same dungeons that he just burned to the ground. 'Did you come to say thank you, Blade? Or to ask for advice? Since my team and I just did more in one night than you've accomplished in your entire life' the Shadow Colonel declares. 'You killed a buncha vamps. Congratulations. I've been doing that every night since I was 12' Blade mutters, before remarking that the Shadow Colonel didn't get the big guy, and turned the entire world into a war zone. 'Ha. For them maybe. For our kind, a little war will do us some good' the Shadow Colonel responds, before asking 'Tell me the truth now. Just between us Fangers. You don't really give a damn about the humans, do you?'
'I'm asking the questions here' Blade responds. 'Oh Hell, you do. That is so very sad' the Shadow Colonel mutters. Blade leans in and smiles as he announces that he kills vampires because they are monsters who would murder every living soul on the face of the Earth if left unchecked, before remarking that something tells him the “Colonel” has a different motivation. The Shadow Colonel just laughs at this, and tells Blade that he knows the stories about him – born in a whorehouse to a dead woman, that some Fanger made a meal of his mother while he was still inside her, and he came out half boy, half vamp – a Dhampir, a Daywalker, a cheap, watered-down copy. 'You've hated all vampires ever since, right? With a burning, murderous passion. But I think who you really hate most of all but just can't bring yourself to put out of their stinking misery...is you, Blade'. The Shadow Colonel declares that Blade isn't a man, not a vampire – he isn't sure he is a damn Avenger. 'So just what the hell are you?' the Shadow Colonel asks.
Blade angrily shoves the Shadow Colonel backwards, up against a wall. Hand around the Shadow Colonel's throat, Blade tells him to keep talking, and he will be the last thing he ever sees. The Shadow Colonel laughs, and asks Blade if he wants him to shut up – he thought that this was supposed to be an interrogation. 'You haven't even asked me why I'm here yet' the Shadow Colonel points out. Watching from outside the room, Captain America tells T'Challa and Carol that he doesn't like how this is going. The Black Panther decides that the Shadow Colonel is far too confident – as if he wanted to be brought here, before Carol asks 'What happened to his dog?'
Elsewhere within Avengers Mountain, Robbie Reyes kicks his car, 'Talk, dammit, you stupid car! Tell me what the hell I am!' he exclaims. 'How did that kid know so much about me? And is it true what he said, that I'm a...' his voice trails off when he hears Tony Star's voice over the intercomm, announcing that he is up in the Brainbary, and that he just saw a dog that growled at him and disappeared into the walls. 'Is Ghost Dog a thing we're supposed to have now and nobody told me?' Tony asks, adding that the other day he saw a talking gorilla taking a shower. Suddenly, the intercomm cuts out, and as Robbie slumps down next to his car, the large chamber they are in falls dark. 'Guys, this is Robbie in the boat dock. Can anybody hear me?' Robbie calls out. 'Ghost Rider' a voice responds. Robbie's eyes flash orange, as he turns and asks 'What? Who's there?' The voice responds with 'In the name of Mephisto' and suddenly, Robbie is ablaze, while realizing that it hurt more than usual. 'What's...' he begins, as the voice utters 'In the name of Lord Marduk, the Morningstar. In the name of  Zarathos and Zadkiel'.
Back in the interrogation room, 'Who are you? Why are you -' Blade begins, before the Shadow Colonel knocks him backwards, and suddenly breaks the shackles restraining his hands. The Shadow Colonel boasts that he is the new Lord of the Vampires – and warns Blade that either he is with him, or hi isn't. 'Let me save you the trouble of deciding, Daywalker. You and your friends the Avengers can go to Hell... and I know just the way to get you there'.
At that moment in the boat dock, Ghost Rider is now fully engulfed in flames, and moves away from his car, as the voice calls out to him 'In the name of Eli Morrow and whatever other masters you might be serving, above or below'. Robbie calls out to his car to help him, while the voice adds 'In the name of Vengeance, I invoke you'. It's the Shadow Colonel's dog, Sarge, who steps out of the shadows and as Robbie completely transforms into Ghost rider, fully ablaze, a skull-like head and spiked costume, he screams, while Sarge tells him to get in and start the damn car.
Meantime, on the Russian/Ukrainian Border, Nicolai Krylenko a.k.a. Vanguard leans against border-control booth wearing his Red Guardian costume and mutters 'I tell you, when we re-formed the Winter Guard, I didn't imagine...we'd actually wind up standing guard'. The glamorous Laynia Petrovna a.k.a. Darkstar looks through some binoculars and tells her brother to stay sharpp, as it will be dawn soon, and that Ursa Major and the Red Widow just caught another pack of vampires trying to sneak across the border. 'If that crazy, drunk bear gets himself bitten, then we'll really have some trouble on our -' Vanguard begins, before Darkstar sees something on the infra-red scanner of her binoculars. Darkstar takes flight, and Vanguard runs after his sister, who calls out 'Stop right there! Identify yourself or I will open fire' she warns the approaching figure.
'I mean you no harm' the figure calls back to her. The mutant twins suddenly look shocked, 'Holy Hell... is that...' Vanguard utters. Darkstar tells him to call for backup, while the new arrival announces that he wishes to speak to someone in a position of authority in Moscow. The sky grows dark and lightning crackles, as the elderly man standing before Darkstar and Vanguard claims that her is a royal refugee fleeing the troubles in Romania, seeking political asylum in Russia. He introduces himself as Vlad Tepes, Prince of Wallachia – Count Dracula of Transylvania! He reports that he has lost his ancestral home, he has lost everything – and just wishes to know peace in the humble twilight of his life....


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The Battle for the Throne of the Damned
Avengers Mountain, where Roberto “Robbie” Reyes is screaming. Screaming and screaming and screaming. So much screaming that it feels like his throat is on fire. But for some reason – no one can hear him. He wonders why he is screaming – he can't seem to remember anymore. He just remembers burning and melting and someone yelling weird names at him – suddenly, he remembers. There was a talking dog. The dog's words made him scream, made him lose himself in fire – lose himself more than usual. He isn't sure where he is right now, just that it hurts like hell.
At the same moment, in the interrogation room, the mysterious Shadow Colonel slams a fist into Blade, telling him that this has been fun, but that he will be leaving now. 'Only question is... am I killing you before I go?' the Shadow Colonel asks.
'Stand down, Colonel! Or I'll make you wish to hell you -' Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel calls out as she flies into the interrogation room. The Shadow Colonel turns to her – and slams her to the floor with ease. Carol gets up, and blade grabs a large stake. Mist begins to fill the interrogation room, and Blade reminds Carol that vampires can turn into mist. 'Oh, I'm gonna turn him into mist all right. A big, red one!' Carol boasts. Suddenly, T'Challa the Black Panther and Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America rush into the interrogation room, and the Black Panther orders Avengers Mountain to initiate gut check protocols, to lock down all intestinal levels, while Captain America uses his communicator to alert the Avengers that there is a situation in the detainment facility.
Suddenly, the Colonel's flaming skull-headed dog, Sarge, lunges at Cap, who blocks the dog with his shield, while Thor's voice is heard over the communicator, 'Ah, this is Thor. Where are these intestines you speak of? Are those near the buttocks?' he asks. 'The guts! All Avengers to the -' Cap begins, while fending off the flaming dog. Sarge looks over to the Colonel and tells him that they have what they came for, 'Do we have time for me to eat this one? He smells like pharmaceuticals' Sarge remarks, referring to Captain America, who suddenly kicks the hellhound away. 'You tell me, Sarge. Where the hell is our ride?' the Colonel asks, firing a beam of energy from his eyes, which Captain Marvel dodges, telling him that he is in Avengers Mountain, and is going to need a lot more than a dog to break out of here.
As if on cue, there is an explosion, which knocks the Avengers and vampires alike backwards. A flaming car drives into the interrogation room, and a transformed Robbie Reyes, Ghost Rider, steps out of the car. His body is ablaze, jagged spikes stick out from him. 'Robbie?' Carol gasps. 'Robbie? God, what happened to you?' she calls out. T'Challa, Cap and Blade gather nearby, while the Colonel tells the Rider to be a good boy and show his friends what he is now – what he was always meant to be. 'Robbie, don't listen to them, they're -' Carol begins, before Ghost Rider knocks her backwards with a surge of energy – so hard that she slams through one side of the internal part of the mountain all the way through to the other. 'Thor is guessing the guts are this way!' the Asgardian God of Thunder declares as he drops down near where Captain Marvel. Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man is with him, and he calls out to Carol, asking her what happened and who they are fighting.
'The car! Don't let them get -' Carol begins, but too late, as Ghost Rider speeds away in his car, with the Shadow Colonel and Sarge inside. Robbie feels like he is being born again, tearing his way out of his mother's belly, screaming and bawling and spitting up hellfire. They speed down the side of Avengers Mountain and out into open space. 'God help me, the worst part is...even through all of the agony... it feels so damn good' Robbie thinks to himself.
Later, Cap, Carol, T'Challa, Blade and Jennifer Walters a.k.a. She-Hulk, in her human form, gather at the opening of Avengers Mountain and look out to the emptiness beyond. Cap reports that Thor and Stark chased the Hell Charger for miles, but had to stop to save a cruise liner caught in the flames. 'In other words...we've lost the Ghost Rider' he announces. 'Oh, Robbie. That poor kid' Carol remarks, while Blade reminds her that that kid is the Spirit of Vengeance, powerful enough to set the whole damn world on fire. 'Yeah, well, so are most of us around here' Jennifer points out. T'Challa reports that while Avengers Mountain repairs itself, it is also scanning the globe, searching for any traces of Hellfire energy. He adds that he has dispatched some of the Agents of Wakanda to Los Angeles to look after Roberto's younger brother, in case the Rider should resurface there.
But Blade announces that Ghost Rider won't go there, as the Shadow Colonel will want to turn his new toy loose where he can do the most damage to the vampire leadership. 'Which means if you wanna locate your missing Ghost Rider...all we've got to do is find Dracula' Blade reports. Black Panther turns to the other Avengers and tells them that on that front they have some good news – good, but still highly alarming.
Meanwhile, in Sol-Iletsk, in Russia, at the Federal Penal Colony No 9, a stark, imposing old building that sits on a hill behind a secure fence. 'What's the matter, pal? Surprised to have a visitor?' a figure asks, standing in an open space before a window that looks into a cell. 'We are deep within the bowels of what I can only imagine is the most frightfully secure prison in all of Russia. No, I am not surprised to see that an Avenger has wormed his way inside. I am only surprised...that it is you, Iron Man' the figure in the cell responds. Still standing outside the cell, Iron Man declares that the Black Panther isn't the only Avenger who can go stealth, and reports that he has also taken control of the prison's security systems, so they should be able to speak freely for a minute. The prisoner responds by stating that they have always spoken freely, and that they see his Lordship T'Challa did nto ave the courage in his veins to face him.
Iron Man explains that the Chairman is a bit bust right now, cleaning up this mess. 'You know, the one you ran and hid from' Iron Man  explains. 'So the man in the full suit of metal armor wishes to accuse me of hiding? How very rich' the prisoner replies, claiming that they never wore a mask when they came to assassinate someone. 'Not even to murder a helpless old man' the prisoner – Count Dracula himself – adds, encased in some sort of full-body restraint behind the cell, his arms stretched outwards and his mouth restrained behind a large metal brace. 'I'm pretty sure the Panther said specifically not to kill you. But he also sent me, knowing full well I'm super lousy at following anybody's orders but my own' Iron Man responds. 'And you, helpless? I don't give a damn how many chains the Russians wrap you in, you're about as helpless as I am humble, Drac' Iron Man declares. 'If only that were the case' Dracula mutters.
Dracula states that there was a time when he would have already sank his fangs through this fancy metal, deep into the tender flesh of Tony Stark's pompous neck – but those days are long gone, and, as he has told the Russians, he is no longer that Dracula. Dracula explains that he has lost everything except the last few fading wisps of his life, and he wishes to enjoy those in peace and solitude. Tony laughs at this, his Iron Man faceplate retracted. 'You laugh at a dying man. Not even your horrible excuse for a father was monstrous enough to do that' Dracula remarks. 'What did you say?' Tony demands, slamming his hands against the window between he and Dracula. 'Oh, did you really think you were the first Stark to ever visit me?' Dracula asks, claiming that it was many years ago, in his castle, but he can still see Howard Stark on his knees, blubbering and pleading – offering him anything he wanted anything in the world, including the promising young child he'd adopted  if he would grant his greatest wish. 'And give him a sip of my blood' Dracula announces.
Tony listens as Dracula tells him that, if he has learned anything over the years, it is that the proudest man will do the most abominable thing for eternal life, once he is staring down the barrel of his own mortality. 'You think you can rile me by talking mean about Howard? Believe me, I'm way better at bad-mouthing my dad than you could ever be' Stark replies. 'Rile you? No' Dracula responds, grinning as he tells Stark that he thinks he will be in tears when he leaves this place, and that someday, on his deathbed, not nearly as many years from now as he would like, he will remember this conversation and weep all the more. 'And on that day, know that I'll be the one who's laughing down in the depths of Hell' Dracula adds. Tony asks Dracula what he is after here, and what he is offering the Russians.
Dracula's long hair falls over his face as he explains that he isa very old aristocrat who has seen and heard many interesting things over the centuries. He reveals that Howard Stark was certainly not the first person of wealth and power to grovel before his throne, looking to barter treasured secrets for eternal life – but that throne is gone now, turned to ash along with the rest of his ancestral castle. Dracula explains that in this weakened, fading state, all he has to offer is wisdom in exchange for sanctuary. 'And what if I could offer you that?' Stark asks. 'Help us  end this vampire civil war, and the Avengers will protect you' he offers. 'Behind bars, of course. But it's a better deal than whatever Moscow is offering' Tony claims, adding that Dracula has to know the Russians will only bleed him dry and betray him, just as soon as he is no longer useful.
'The Avengers? Protect me? You mean the group that just welcomed the world's deadliest vampire hunter into its ranks? Do you take me for a fool, Stark?' Dracula replies. 'I don't know. Maybe. I couldn't say yet' Stark responds, adding, 'Also, hey, “take you” that's not a bad idea. I could also just do that, whether you really wanna come with me or not'. But Dracula tells Iron Man that he won't be doing that. 'Oh, and why won't I, Count Chocula?' Stark jokes. 'Because you're going to be preoccupied' Dracula explains. 'Yeah? With what?' Tony asks. 'Supressing the riot' Dracula announces, as Tony turns in horror when he hears the sounds of cell doors opening throughout the prison.
'This is Crimson Dynamo in cell block three! What the hell just happened?' Dimitri Bukharin inside the Crimson Dynamo armor asks as a dozen inmates leap at him, while many more, free from their cells, gather around. The Crimson Dynamo declares that the whole prison is losing its mind, that the inmates are rabid animals. 'Somebody tell me they've got eyes on Dracula?' he asks. 'He never left his cell. But this is definitely his doing!' Iron Man declares as he flies into the cell block, where a dozen inmates leap at him. 'Stark? You sonuva... you are under arrest for breaking and -' the Crimson Dynamo begins, but as he blasts serveral inmates, Stark asks Bukharin if he really wants him behind bars right now. 'Damn it! I told Moscow we should've put a stake through that monster's heart! How is he doing this? Is this his plan to escape?' Crimson Dynamo asks as he fires a blast that keeps several inmates at bay. 'He's Dracula, that's how he's doing it. And no, Dimitri, the scariest part is...I don't think he wants to go anywhere' Stark announces, while still imprisoned, Dracula grins.
Madripoor, where Roberto Reyes still hears screams – only now it is worse than before – because now, he is not the one who is screaming. As brilliant lights glow from the sprawling city, several well-dressed vampires are on their knees, on the floor of a high-rise building. 'We are peaceful vampires. We only feed on the blood of the wicked. Please...show mercy' a woman pleads. Several rats are sitting before the vampires, one of them squeaks, before the vampire rats explode thanks to bombs strapped to their backs – and the Madripoor vampires are caught up in the explosion. 'Dining room is clear. As usual, my little beauties will hold the perimeter' a pale-skinned vampire in a suit of armor, with several rats scurrying over his shoulders smiles as he walks away from the explosion. 'The Rat Bomber is always the first wave of attack, and what his rodent-delivered sunburst grenades don't obliterate...the second wave deals with most efficiently' the Shadow Colonel announces as he, Sarge and Ghost Rider look on.
A woman with slicked back blonde hair stands amongst the carnage, blades in her hands, while the large bat creature whom Shadow Colonel calls Carpathian grabs several local vampires, and a woman in a mask with deadly swords slices her way through the vampires, blood spraying everywhere, she is called Snowsnake by the Shadow Colonel, who tells Ghost Rider that they have been killing things for about as long as there have been things around to kill, and so long as he keeps them fed, they generally agree not to try and kill him. The woman with the slicked back hair turns to the Shadow Colonel and informs him that these ones fought hard to protect their safe room at the end of the hall, so there must be something rather important inside. 'We figured you'd wish to do the honors' she adds. Shadow Colonel calls her Lady Cromwell and tells her that she figured right.
With the Boy-Thing clinging to his shoulders, Sarge at his feet, and Ghost Rider behind him, the Shadow Colonel walks across the blood-drenched floor, littered with bodies, as he approaches the safe room. He calls Lady Cromwell “Baroness Blood” and remarks that she is here because she thinks they are going to help her bring about the Fourth Reich. He adds that Sarge is the only one he really trusts – as much as you can trust a giant, murderous Hellhound. 'And then there is my little traveling companion here...time to lock and load, Boy-Thing' the Shadow Colonel declares. They gather in front of the safe room and Shadow Colonel reveals that he grew Boy-Thing from a trimming he stole off a swamp monster in the Everglades. 'If you want to wage war on vampires, you need a good supply of wooden stakes. Which he generously provides'.
The Shadow Colonel opens fire at the safe room, burning a huge gaping hole in the wall. He informs Ghost Rider that he once had other names but now, the Shadow Colonel is all that he is, and that with his Legion of the Unliving, he is weeding out the weakness from the vampire race, so that he can finally claim their true fate – at the top of the food chain. Inside the safe room, dozens of vampire children look back at the Shadow Colonel, who tells Ghost Rider that this is where  he comes in – he needs him to help him strike real fear into all the suckheads and fangers out there. 'This will be the way you prove yourself'. The children look scared, anxious, some of them are angry, as the Shadow Colonel tells Ghost Rider to prove he is the monster that he needs him to be. 'Get to burning, Ghost Rider' he declares. Everything falls quiet – so quiet that Robbie can hear his own skull sizzling. There is so much fire inside him right now, burning him from the inside – so much that he has no choice – but to let it out. And with that, he releases a huge surge of flaming energy that races towards the vampire children.
Back in the Russian prison, Iron Man and the Crimson Dynamo are joined by Dynamo's teammates in the Winter Guard, Laynia Petrovna a.k.a. Darkstar and Nicolai Krylenko a.k.a. Vaguard, mutant twins. The four of them look at a screen which shows Dracula, still restrained in his cell, while the Crimson Dynamo reports that all the prisoners are back in their cells. He admits that Stark was right – through the whole riot, Dracula never once tried to break free. 'So why did he do it?' Dynamo asks. 'Maybe just to show us that he could' Darkstar suggests. 'Or to prove he's being truthful about what he says. That he really doesn't want to fight anymore' Vanguard remarks. Iron Man folds his arms and tells the Winter Guard that he means no offense, but that their masters in Moscow are a bunch of borscht-gurgling idiots if they believe that.
'Speaking of idiots – you know we have to arrest you now, Avenger' Vanguard tells Stark as he and Darkstar clench their fists, ready for a fight. 'I know you feel like you have to try. But don't you people have enough enemies as it is?' Iron Man replies. 'Stark...' the Crimson Dynamo begins, before he slams his fist into Iron Man's stomach, causing Iron Man to collapse in a heap on the floor. Dynamo, Vanguard and Darkstar walk out of the room as Dynamo tells Stark to be glad Ursa Major or the Red Widow aren't here, or that would just be the beginning. He tells Iron Man to get out and leave their business to them – or else Dracula will gain a new cellmate. Dracula can be heard on the screen remarking 'Ha. No, Howard, I don't want your boy. I don't take hand-me-downs from Starks'. Iron Man then blasts up through the prison roof, and contacts the Black Panther, reporting that they are not getting Dracula without going to war with the Winter Guard, and offers to give a full report when he returns. 'Copy that, Tony. Are you all right. You sound as if you've been...' T'Challa begins, before Iron Man interrupts him, ending the communication.
Back in Madripoor, 'I am the Ghost Rider. I am a monster from hell. But even monsters have their limits' Robbie thinks to himself, as he stops releasing the flames – which only surround the vampire children – he hasn't slain them. 'You missed, Rider' Shadow Colonel points out. 'Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. The children. I need you to wipe out this entire pack of vampire children. Now' Shadow Colonel snaps. 'No' Ghost Rider replies, defiantly. Shadow Colonel points a finger at Ghost Rider and tells him that he can fight against the bit all he wants, but that it isn't going anywhere – and neither is he. 'Zarathos Zakkarum Invictus' the Shadow Colonel utters, and Ghost Rider finds himself hurled backwards, before there is an explosion that knocks the Shadow Colonel and Sarge over. 'Hands in the air, Colonel!' a voice calls out. 'Change of plans, Rider. You don't want to murder a bunch of vampire children? Fine. Mephistopheles Vindicata!' the Shadow Colonel exclaims, and Ghost Rider growls, getting to his feet, as Captain America, Thor, Captain Marvel and Blade stand before him, ready for battle – and the Shadow Colonel tells Ghost Rider that he can kill the Avengers instead!


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A Fistful of Blood
Robbie Reyes remembers when he first started turning into the Ghost Rider, it was like he was a whole different person. He couldn't control Ghost Rider's actions, couldn't spit his words through his flaming mouth – when the Rider came, it was like Robbie Reyes went away. Went away to a very dark and lonely place – a place he soon came to realize was some kind of hell. Or at least his version of it. 'C'mon, move! Let's go! Somebody! Anybody!' Robbie would call out, stuck in a never-ending traffic jam inside his Hell car, on a rotten road that twisted its way through a dank realm. Robbie was born and raised in Los Angeles, so for him, hell is this freeway – going nowhere at all. 'Move! Please move!' he called out. And going nowhere at all is exactly where Robbie Reyes is headed.
He slumps over, resting his head on the wheel of his car. It has been a while since he ended up trapped here – he had gotten to where he could control the Rider more. He thought he was actually starting to get a handle on whatever this thing is that he has become. 'Oh God, or Thor. Oh anybody. Please get me out of here' Robbie utters. Unfortunately, a talking dog and his vampire friends walked into his life, spouting magical gibberish that made him lose whatever mind he has left in this burned-out skull he calls a head. 'The Devil. Any devil. Whoever the hell is listening' Robbie mumbles as a flame races to his car. He is here again, back on Hell's gridlocked highway, while the Rider runs free doing God knows what. A few weeks ago, Robbie remembers that he was strong enough to punch out a Celestial. The mysterious flame moves closer to Robbie's car, and a voice among the flame calls out 'Better be careful. Saying stuff like that down here, boy'. Robbie glances sideways and thinks that now he is just some weak little kid who is in way over his stupid head. 'You don't wanna go making any deals you can't live up to' the voice warns him. 'What...? What the hell are you doing here?' Robbie gasps.
At the moment, Robbie Reyes, transformed into the Spirit of Vengeance, is also in Madripoor, where he battles his teammate, the Mighty Thor. 'Yeah, I'm definitely the weakest Avenger you've ever seen. No doubt about it' Robbie thinks to himself sarcastically as he stands his ground against Thor, their hands locked against each other's. 'His arms are nothing but bone. How can he be this strong?' Thor calls out. 'Don't forget...the fire!' Ghost Rider exclaims as he releases a powerful flare of flame from his skull-like head, which strikes Thor, knocking the Thunder God backwards. 'I'll take uru and thunder over bone and flame any day!' Thor retorts as he slams his mighty hammer into Ghost Rider, knocking him backwards. Suddenly, Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel calls out to Thor, asking him to stop, and pointing out that Robbie doesn't know what he is doing, that he isn't himself. 'The boy is a Spirit of Vengeance. I fear he is more himself than ever before' Thor replies. But Carol tells him that she doesn't believe that, and that Robbie is a good kid, so they have to take him down without hurting him.
Carol screams when a streak of flame is hurled at her, she steps back from it just in time. The Spirit of Vengeance moves back towards the Avengers, as Thor tells Carol that they are halfway there – they have definitely not hurt him. Carol calls out to Robbie, encouraging him to fight this, telling him that he is not a monster, and that he doesn't have to make them treat him like one. Thor tells Captain Marvel that Robbie cannot hear her, that Roberto is deep in the throes of warrior madness. 'And as I know all too well, there is only one cure for such a state' Thor states as he raises his hammer and swings it towards Ghost Rider: 'The shock of pain!' he calls out as he slams Ghost Rider to the ground. Carol and Thor close in on Ghost Rider, 'Thor. What did you do? His arms...' Carol begins as they look down at Ghost Rider who is slumped backwards on the ground. 'Ah, t'would appear...I made him angry' Thor replies, as Ghost Rider's flaming arms suddenly reach up and unleash a furious stream of fire against the two Avengers, knocking them both back to the ground.
Ghost Rider stands up and looms over his teammates, while Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America calls out to him, telling him that is enough, and that they are not his enemies. Ghost Rider turns his attention on Captain America, who blocks Ghost Rider's attack with his shield. 'We're your fellow Avengers! And we're here to help you win the fight of your life – against these monsters who want to make you one of them!' Captain America reminds Ghost Rider, looking over at several vampires who watch the battle from across the floor, in a high rise building within Madripoor. 'What I want, Herr Rogers, is to tear your wretched throat out!' Lily Cromwell a.k.a. Baroness Blood calls out. Shadow Colonel, with the Boy-Thing clinging to his neck, tells the Baroness not now, before pointing out that the vampire kids have fled. He instructs her to tell the others to be ready to mist out of here before this entire building blows. 'Blows? Shall I fetch the Rat Bomber?' Baroness Blood enquires. With the flaming dog, Sarge, at his feet, Shadow Colonel tells Baroness Blood that it has already been taken care of.
As Ghost Rider swings a flaming chain towards Captain America, Blade, Vampire Hunter, appears and fires a gun at Sarge, knocking the large dog to the ground. Shadow Colonel calls out to his dog, and looks over to see that Blade is aiming the gun at him. 'Hey, Colonel, I just shot your dog. Still feel like running away?' Blade asks. 'I think you're the one who had better start running, Blade' the Shadow Colonel responds. 'Because my dog shoots back' he warns Blade as the large dog suddenly lunges at Blade, 'Ah, $#%&^! Hell!' Blade calls out as he is pushed backwards. Baroness Blood flies down to another level of the building as Shadow Colonel drops down alongside her. The Baroness reports that she is having a problem raising Snowsnake and the Carpathian. 'You know those two. Not exactly the mouthy types. Except when ity comes to sinking fangs into something' Shadow Colonel replies, adding that he is sure whatever they are dealing with will be a smear on their chins before too long.
At that moment, the mysterious Snowsnake rakes her blade across T'Challa the Black Panther, whose armor protects him from the attack, as he tells the white-haired woman that he understands her desire for freedom from the yoke of Dracula, but that war is not the answer for her people. As Jen Walters a.k.a. She-Hulk slams a fist into the monstrous bat-creature called the Carpathian, she tells the Black Panther not to waste his time, as she doesn't think these two talk much – she doesn't think they fight good, either, as the Carpathian screeches when She-Hulk's powerful fist strikes its face again.
Flaming chains clang against Captain America's shield, as Cap tells Robbie to fight this, and that he is not a monster. He struggles against the much more powerful Ghost Rider, until Captain Marvel flies towards Ghost Rider, 'Dammit. I'm sorry, kid, but we've gotta get you under control' she tells him as she fires a powerful blast of energy at close impact, which pushes Ghost Rider away from Captain America. Ghost Rider cries out in pain, as Carol tells Robbie that if he is still in there, she is gonna drag him out – one way or the other. 'Penance. Know the power of the penance stare. For the sins of your people. Kree half-breed' Ghost Rider responds, as he stares Captain Marvel down. 'Oh, super. Thor! A little help over here!' Carol calls out to Thor, who is busy fighting the Ghost Rider's flaming car. 'Thor! Will not be bested! By a car!' the Asgardian declares, slamming his hammer against the front of the car. Carol clutches her head and falls back, screaming, while Ghost Rider boasts that all will know penance, that all Avengers will burn in the fire of vengeance.
Meanwhile, in an undisclosed facility somewhere in Russia, Major Mikhail Ursus a.k.a. Ursa Major and his Winter Guard teammate Vostok lead Dracula himself towards the mysterious Red Widow, who stands in a large chamber, the floor littered with bodies. 'So. Here we are. This is the meeting you requested, Count Dracula. You have proposal you wish to make?' the Red Widow remarks, before telling Dracula to make them now. 'I did not request a meeting with the Red Widow' Dracula, restrained in a medival contraption, with a large brace across his mouth, remarks, adding that he is the Lord of Transylvania, and that he will only speak with the man in charge. A panel slides open, and dozens of vampires surge into the large chamber. 'Were the Lord of Transylvania. You deal with me' the Red Widow declares, before informing Dracula that these vampire followers of his also came to Russia seeking asylum, and she is giving it to them. 'Tell me, old man... why do you deserve anything different?' the Red Widow asks.
'Because the contents of my head are worth far more intact than spilled upon the floor' Dracula replies, to which the Red Widow tells him to prove it. 'Where would you like me to begin?' Dracula asks, before claiming that he has senators and lords in his pocket, sultans and bishops – as people of great wealth and power are always the quickest to cell their souls for a chance at eternal life. 'Perhaps you'd like to know the ones within your own government who claim allegiance to me?' he asks. The Red Widow knocks back a vampire that lunges at her, and tells Dracula that they already have spymasters. 'What else?' she asks. 'I know what your master truly desires. I can give you that as well. I can give you the Avengers' Dracula boasts. The Red Widow walks past a pile of vampire bodies and approaches Dracula, restrained in his wheelchair, as Ursa Major and Vostok stand behind him. 'And for this, I suppose you will expect to be rewarded. You would have the Winter Guard crush your enemies. This pesky Shadow Colonel and his Legion of the Unliving. You would have us put you back in your castle, I presume, as Lord of the Vampires?' the Red Widow asks.
'No' Dracula responds. Dracula claims that he has no interest in that throne anymore, that he carried an entire people on his back for over a century, and in the end, all it left him was tired. He announces that he only wants a place for himself, somewhere he will be left alone, for however many days he has left. 'I see. A fair proposal' the Red Widow responds, before presenting Moscow's counter offer. She raises a hand, and some guards standing near a door open the door, where a dozen or so shackled vampires can be seen. 'These were your consorts, yes?' the Red Widow asks. 'This... is unnecessary. I've already offered you everything I know' Dracula replies. 'We'll get to what you know' the Red Widow snarls, before holding a blade to the throat of a young-adult-looking male vampire.
'I imagine there were many nights you spent enveloped in the naked embrace of these splendid specimens. Exploring every inch of their smooth, undead bodies. Or so you thought' the Red Widow remarks, as she slits the throat of the vampire, spraying blood all over the horrified Dracula as she tells him that she will show him parts of them he has never seen. 'No' Dracula gasps. 'Tell me everything you know, Count. Every dark secret. Everything of possible value. Now. Without hesitation' the Red Widow declares as another vampire screams. Tears begin to form in Dracula's eyes, as the Red Widow offers to kill his consorts quickly, and then they will talk about the rest of his reward.
In Madripoor, Sarge chomps his way through a weapon, while T'Challa reports over the communicators that the vampires are turning to mist and escaping. He then asks Blade what his status is. 'The dog ate my sword' Blade responds. 'And my gun! Now it's standing on the ceiling, laughing at me! My status is I hate this dog!' Blade declares, as he leaps upwards and kicks Sarge, while T'Challa's voice can be heard saying 'Copy that. Sending the Hulk'. But Blade tells the Black Panther that he and his Hulk can go to Hell – the day he needs help against a dog, they should feel free to put him down like one. 'Gladly, Blade. We'll hang your carcass on the banks of paradise, so you can look upon the promised land you denied yourself' Sarge tells Blade, as it drops to the ground. 'Promised land? What the Hell are you barking about?' Blade asks. 'Heh. The Kingdrom' Sarge replies. 'The Kingdom and the bloody glory'.
Nerarby, Captain Marvel groans as Ghost Rider continues to hold her stare. After thiis sinner's face turns to fire, all of you will join her in penance' Ghost Rider declares. 'I'm gonna take... a hard pass on that' Carol utters, as she breaks free of the penance stare, surprising Ghost Rider, who exclaims that no mortal can withstand the penance stare. 'Whoever said...I was mortal?' Carol asks, before telling Ghost Rider to believe her that she has done penance her whole damn life. 'And I'm sick and tired of being punished for existing!' Carol shouts as she knocks Ghost Rider back with a powerful surge of cosmic energy. Captain America rushes over to Carol, but she tells him not to mind her, and to help Robbie.
'You think you know punishment? You don't. But the Spirit will show you' Ghost Rider announces. 'Like I punished the pharisees and the harlots of Salem! The Wendigo and the Luftwaffe! Blackheart and the angel Zadkiel! Now it's your turn, Avengers. And if you don't like the stare...you can try the penance bomb!' Ghost Rider shouts as fiery energy surges around him. Cap realizes that Ghost Rider is going to blow, and calls out to Thor to take him down. Inside the Spirit of Vengeance, Robbie Reyes screams, he doesn't understand what is happening to him, and feels like he is about to explode. 'That's because you are, Robbie. You want a word of advice from somebody who knows? Let the Avengers kill you. It'll be easier that way' the voice calls out.
As Captain America and Captain Marvel struggle against Ghost Rider, Thor flies towards them, carrying Robbie's flaming car. 'Last chance, Roberto! End this madness! Or I send you to Hel with your own car!' Thor calls out. Carol remembers that the trunk is a portal to Hell, and suggests they put Ghost Rider in the trunk – but before they can do so, Blade appears behind Ghost Rider and down on his neck. He then spits something out of his mouth and utters 'That oughta do it'. Ghost Rider drops to his knees, seemingly powered down, while Carol asks Blade what he just did. 'I'm a vampire. Sorta. I did what vampires do. The Rider had a sickness in his veins. So I...sucked it out. Anbody who makes a joke gets nunchucked to death' Blade responds, before reporting that he had to let the dog go, though. Black Panther and She-Hulk join up with the others, and the Black Panther reports that the Colonel and his Legion have escaped, but that his agents have taken the vampire children into protective custody, and they will be taken to Wakanda for treatment. 'Right. I got all the “treatment” they need right here' Blade snarls.
No one acknowledges Blade's comment, instead the Black Panther reports that the Colonel's list of targets has been all but eliminated, and they he will be focussing solely on Dracula now. 'We're fighting vampires who kill other vampires, alongside a vampire who kills other vampires' Carol remarks, adding that she is still not entirely clear on why they are even bothering to get involved in this. 'Because they won't stop with killing each other. They'll keep going until every one of you is dead' Blade warns his teammates as he, Thor, Carol and She-Hulk gather around the Black Panther, while Captain America turns to Robbie Reyes and asks him if he is okay. 'Cap? It wasn't me, I swear. I wouldn't...I wouldn't hurt you guys' Robbie utters, looking Cap in the eyes. 'I'm sorry, everyone. I'm so sorry' Robbie calls out, as Cap hugs him and tells him that it is okay, and that they have all been there.
'They're gonna send me home' Robbie remarks a short time later, sitting in his car, as Blade leans against the car next to him, while they watch Cap, Carol and T'Challa who are deep in conversation. 'Don't you think that's a good idea?' Blade asks. Robbie admits that he doesn't know what to think anymore, before asking what those vampires did to him to make him into such a monster. Blade laughs, to which Robbie asks him what is so funny. 'Rider never picks the geniuses for hosts, does it?' Blade asks. 'What's that supposed to mean?' Robbie exclaims. Blade asks him if he has someone he cares about – someone normal, someone still breathing. 'Yeah. I do' Robbie replies, running a hand through his hair. 'Then get out now. No matter what it takes if you want 'em to stay that way' Blade suggests.
Meanwhile, in Sol-Iletsk, Russia, inside the Federal Penal Colony No 9. Dimitri Bukharin a.k.a. Crismon Dynamo, Laynia Petrovna a.k.a. Darkstar and Nicolai Krylenko a.k.a. Vangaurd, three members of the Winter Guard follow the prison warden past some dank cells, as Dynamo informs the Warden that the rioters are all back in their cells, and Dracula is now in the Red Widow's custody, so his prison should be back to normal. He adds that the Winter Guard should be getting back to Moscow. 'Right, well, normal in this place still means we're surrounded by the most vicious murderers Russia's ever seen' the warden remarks, offering to take it from here. 'Don't worry, after the beating we put on these guys today...I don't think anybody will be stirring tonight' the warden remarks, not seeing a rat with vials of blood strapped to its back scurry past his feet.
Outside the prison, someone is watching from a hillside nearby and reports that the Winter Guard just flew away, and the rats are in position, so they can take the prison any time they want. 'We came all this wway to blow up a prison full of humans? How does that accomplish our objective?' Baroness Blood asks as she, the Carpathian, Snowsnake, the Rat Bomber, Sarge, Shadow Colonel and Boy-Thing stand in the snow. The Shadow Colonel reveals that the rats are not fitted with grenades this time – not the usual kind, at least. As a rat scurries into a cell, a muscular prisoner sits up in his bed, 'Huh? What the hell...' he begins, as the Shadow Colonel reveals that they are blood bombs – filled with the blood of dead vampires. 'So you mean...?' Baroness Blood utters, wide-eyed. Shadow Colonel tells his Legion that they have thinned the herd plenty, weeded out the weak and the bloated old gentry – they have killed enough vampires, so now it is time that some new ones were made. The prisoner screams as the rat explodes, splashing him with blood – that suddenly transforms him into a winged vampire.
In Madripoor, the Black Panther announces that he has received word from Stark, who is heading back to Russia, where they will meet him ASAP. 'He found Dracula?' Cap asks. 'No. He found big trouble' the Black Panther replies.
Robbie Reyes looks up at the Madripoor sky as the Avengers depart in a Quinjet. He has been told to go home, that he is not fit for duty. 'Hell. Was I ever?' he wonders. He realizes that he didn't even tell the Avengers who he saw when he was trapped on the burned-out Hell Highway. He wonders if it was all in his head, he keeps telling himself, but either way, it scares him to death. The worst part of it was how the figure smiled when he knew that Robbie was leaving. Robbie looks down at his hands that are suddenly ablaze, and he wonders if he is regaining control, that he can finally get off this damned highway. 'Heh. Sure you are. For now. But believe me, kid...you'll be back' Johnny Blaze a.k.a. Ghost Rider exclaims as he rides into view, shocking Robbie.
Johnny tells Robbie that the King of Hell wil be waiting, and that next time he sees him, Ghost Rider, the two of them, are gonna do a bit more than just talk – they're gonna have a little ride. Robbie knows that Johnny Blaze was a good guy, once, and the greatest Ghost Rider who ever lived. But now, he is something that chills Robbie's bones – maybe because he knows...he is already more of a monster than Blaze ever was!