"What's with that look?"
Bul-Kathos sat squarely on a large rock atop Mount Arreat, looking at Integra and Tony Stark before him, speaking with a bit of perplexity.
The previous events had concluded. Aside from Luke and Jessica suffering some psychological blows, the other Barbarian recruits were fine.
With health potions available, even if they were injured, they would recover quickly.
However, what was giving Bul-Kathos a headache right now wasn't that, but the two people in front of him: Tony and Integra.
Bul-Kathos wasn't surprised that he had been found. Because he was tired of those brainless idiots constantly harassing him, he had already asked Luke to watch the shop.
Luke had agreed long ago to work as a shop clerk for a while, so this was the perfect time for him to start.
Besides, the smithy was right next to the residence S.H.I.E.L.D. had built for Frank, so there was no need to worry about Jill.
Having a father watch over her was ultimately better than staying at someone else's house.
Since they were neighbors, any problems could be dealt with promptly.
And at worst, Luke and Jessica were there too. Babysitting could serve as advance practice for life with kids.
"I want news of Alucard. You should have seen him."
Integra lit a cigar, her expression stoic as she spoke.
The Hellsing Organization was, after all, an institution affiliated with the state. Checking information through the Security Council was not a problem.
The meeting between Dracula and Bul-Kathos hadn't taken place in a hidden location, so it wasn't strange for them to track him down.
"The one I saw wasn't your Alucard. It was Dracula. How should I put this to you?"
Bul-Kathos hesitated. Should he tell Integra that her "servant" had now turned into a vampire filled with hatred? That even Death herself couldn't deal with that guy?
Or should he tell Integra that Dracula was currently chasing Weeping Angels all over the world, just to secure Bul-Kathos's protection for her?
That was too troublesome.
"I just want to meet the Sorcerer Supreme. Regarding the topic of 'learning magic' from before, I have questions I want to ask her."
Tony brushed the snow off his shoulders. He had come to Mount Arreat specifically after asking his "aunt" and getting the information.
"Alright, why is there so much trouble? I'm already staying on the Sacred Mountain, yet I still can't hide."
Bul-Kathos scratched his head in annoyance.
He should have been in his smithy, but for the past few days, inexplicable people kept coming to visit.
It was exhausting to deal with.
Especially after he slapped that general named Ross senseless last time; the trouble had multiplied exponentially.
That guy did bad things with a heart full of noble intentions. He wasn't completely evil, but he was far from good.
S.H.I.E.L.D. really had a way with suppressing information. No one knew how those guys convinced the world that London was just a movie set where equipment misuse led to an explosion.
But ordinary people didn't have the right to choose whether to believe it or not, did they?
On the other hand, Rorschach had gathered quite a few people around him. Because he had been walking around with that "THE END IS NIGH" sign for ages, he seemed to have attracted quite a few "likeminded" partners.
Rorschach had tried more than once to tell the public the truth, but S.H.I.E.L.D. always found a way to make people believe Rorschach was just a madman.
"How noble and how pathetic you are, having become a hero. Bul-Kathos!"
"Exactly! Exactly!"
Azmodan spoke with a mocking tone, and Andariel echoed him like a yes-man, seemingly having lost her own thoughts.
The two Prime Evils chattered annoyingly in Bul-Kathos's mind, irritating as mosquitoes in summer.
"Fine. You want to find the Sorcerer Supreme?"
Bul-Kathos stroked his beard, then impatiently opened a portal.
"What is it, Bul-Kathos? I was just discussing his son's education with Odin."
The Ancient One walked out directly, looking slightly surprised.
This was the first time Bul-Kathos had sought her out on his own initiative.
"This kid wants to see you, probably about magic."
Bul-Kathos pointed at Tony and answered casually.
Then he turned his gaze to Integra and said:
"Listen, little girl! Alucard no longer exists. Now, there is only Dracula in this world! I advise you not to look for him for the time being. At least until I deal with the threat of the Prime Evils, stay put."
Although Bul-Kathos's tone wasn't polite, the warning was clearly conveyed to Integra.
"Has he encountered a problem? And he can't protect me?"
"Yes, yes! Now go back. Once things calm down on Harrogath, I'll send someone to find you."
Bul-Kathos was getting agitated. He picked up the bone fragment of Mina Harker that Crossbones (Rumlow) had brought him.
The bone in his hand reminded him of Vorusk's suggestion. Awakening the Skeleton King seemed quite feasible.
Although that guy was mad, Bul-Kathos, who could barely use some of the Devour Rule, felt he could swallow Leoric's madness.
It just so happened that the two bored Prime Evils in the Black Soulstone needed something to keep them busy.
The swallowed madness could be sent in for them to experience the vengeance of the Mad King of Khanduras.
That would be more comfortable than listening to those two nag every day.
"I'm leaving. What a hassle! Now the Sacred Mountain has become a mecca for tourists. What are those headless flies buzzing around looking for!?"
Bul-Kathos grumbled, then leaped into the air. With a Leap Attack, he headed towards the Elder Sanctum.
Now, guys seeking power could be seen everywhere on Mount Arreat, making it noisy.
Integra took a deep drag of her cigar, then looked towards the gate of the Sacred Mountain.
Anderson, who had become an angel, was standing guard there.
Imperius hadn't brought the High Heavens over yet, so there was no need for Anderson to do anything as an angel.
So, he sent Anderson directly to guard the gate of Mount Arreat, considering it an advance adaptation to his duties.
"Hey, Bul-Kathos. How are you feeling?"
Vorusk leaned lazily on his throne, shouting at Bul-Kathos.
"Not bad. At least with one more prisoner, I'm slightly more relaxed."
Bul-Kathos replied grumpily.
Since gaining a Prime Evil who was relatively adept at deception, at least he didn't have to listen to Andariel's headache-inducing noise anymore.
"Are you planning to revive the Skeleton King?"
Vorusk laughed dryly, his eyes a bit nervous.
When it came to Prime Evils, one could never be too cautious. No one could say for sure how long Bul-Kathos could hold out against their corruption.
Although using the Black Soulstone to split off his weaker soul and memories along with the evils was a clever trick, this was the first time anyone had attempted such a thing.
Vorusk didn't want to be attacked by a mad Bul-Kathos without knowing anything.
No one on the entire Sacred Mountain could withstand Bul-Kathos's power, not even him.
"Instead of counting on Leoric, it would be better for Rorschach to gain power faster. At least then you wouldn't look at me with guarded eyes."
Bul-Kathos waved Mina Harker's bone in his hand, somewhat irritable.
"At least you thought about it, didn't you?"
Vorusk glanced at the bone and said, wiping his Stone Breaker with one hand.
Everyone knew Barbarians rarely cleaned their weapons because battles in Sanctuary came one after another.
There was simply no time to wipe off demon blood. Besides, their weapons were top-quality and wouldn't be corroded by mere demon flesh.
But Vorusk had been incredibly bored lately. He could hardly remember the last time he fought.
"What can Leoric bring? Combat power? Although his strength can be called powerful, what can he do against Malthael?"
Bul-Kathos's tone was somewhat low. Awakening the Skeleton King might just result in Leoric being crushed again by Malthael, who was already half a Creation God.
The effect might not be as great as imagined.
"The Templars! Leoric holds the legacy of the Templar Order. Don't you trust Kormac? He can ensure that the people of this world are no longer powerless against the Prime Evils."
Vorusk leaned back on the armrest of his throne, speaking casually.
"You mean the Relic? That thing can only be used by a true Templar. To this day, I've only seen Kormac use a Relic."
Bul-Kathos frowned as he spoke. Azmodan and Andariel in his mind chose to shut up at this moment.
The Templar Relic, specifically the "Enchanting Favor," could grant a Templar invulnerability. If a group of true Templars appeared in this world, it would be the most terrifying news for the Prime Evils.
Although those Templars had a limit to their strength, the strongest among them possessed the power to harm a Prime Evil.
A pack of unkillable hyenas was not news anyone would accept easily.
"I'm just thinking out loud. Relics aren't something easily given."
Vorusk seemed to feel there was a problem with his idea, so his tone softened a lot.
The only way to defeat a guy like Kormac with a Relic was to exhaust his lifespan.
A Templar's lifespan was no different from an ordinary person's; the Nephalem blood in their bodies turned into strength.
Their lifespan was merely a hundred years.
This was one of the reasons the Templars eventually vanished.
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