Matthias, like so very many gods, came attached with several titles. The most prevalent being “The Soul Eater”. His hatred of the undead was legendary throughout the multiverse and their various pantheons. Eventually dubbed as a generic god of war in some circles, though he much prefers the eating of souls, which can become incredibly literal for the most unfortunate to enter his grasp, as his eldritch maw can extend in a horrendous fashion and suck in an ethereal being… only for it to be dispersed and utterly destroyed.

He was celebrating another victory, as he has a hundred times before. His fleet was parked in the space above Earth itself, as most of it burned. Vampires had come out to the forefront of life and culture decades ago, but their corruption and greed consumed the economy and left thousands displaced or dead. Riots were prominent, and the 2100’s were a time of incredible instability.

Do not worry, Earth. Your savior has arrived, in tow was the Vanguard. The Vanguard of death’s end.

His large bodily visage stepped over to the teleporter, the weight of his very body as well as his advanced power armor caused a loud clunk for every step he took. He had no guards, no praetoria. He did not need them, not even his Templars went to announce his arrival.

In an instant, he was greeted with the most familiar of sights. Three of his mightiest Templars, flanking a dozen soldiers holding a few prolific vampires at gunpoint. The scenario was being recorded for the world to see. Buildings were already burned down, the smoke did not have time to settle yet, the sight of wa- no, not war. An extermination. Earth never had a chance against this godly being. A man who had travelled from timeline to timeline, stealing and absorbing technology beyond their years.

Two vampires were set apart from their group of compatriots, and without a single order from their lord, they were shot immediately. Their bodies hit the wartorn dirt before they even began to burn into ash, the green poison their weapons were made with killed them long before their ashen bloodline made that particular weakness relevant. Matthias nodded in approval as he began to address the two other vampire leaders. Husband and wife, they were. Nobles in their old life, filled their life with pleasure and decadent, now turned into rebels a mere year ago when a fleet spawned from space and destroyed their homes.

They were wriggling in their binds, attempting to speak to each other. Matthias, ever amused at vampires at his mercy, ordered their gags to be removed. His otherworldly teeth contorted into a wicked smile, allowed them to comfort each other in their final moments.

“Damian, be brave… we have this...”

“Emily, please don’t - “

Matthias’ deep, gritty voice interrupted them, “Listen.”

They continued to chatter, still attempting to writhe out of their cuffs. “Hun, hun, please don-”

His smile faded, her smoking red-orange eyes narrowing and peering at the married couple as he took two wide, strong steps towards them and beheaded the husband with little ceremony or pause. He tossed the head aside as the wife looked appalled, her words cut off alongside her mate’s head.

“There,” he said. “No more distractions, aye?” His grin returned, leaning down towards the woman. Then looking towards the recording device that was broadcasting to what remained of the planet.

“I do not expect any of you to understand this, of course. Alien invasion, so on, so forth. Wild, yes?” He chuckled, a tone from the deep depths of his stomach, he paused to let sink in the closest equivalent to humor. This had apparently been one of the first times he was personally recorded on camera, as he was certainly part of the slaughtering.

“This kind, here. They live to consume, and your planet was nearly done in by them. The years to come will be hard, but in the end you will all be thanking me. Allow me to get ahead of this and offer thus; You are all so, so very welcome.”

He bellows out a cackle once more as he sheathes the basic blade he used to murder the woman’s husband. He then proceeded to put his hands upon her cheeks and shove his thumbs into her eyes. Her fanged mouth screamed out in complete pain, as he watched on with his sharpened maw. He was absorbing the sound, looking back over to the recording, “This, Earth, is the sound vampires once forgot to feel. The fear they never felt before. Pain, never knowing what they were inflicting upon others. I am here to remind them.”

He removed his thumbs, forcing her mouth open and ripping out her fangs, tossing them against the concrete with a force to make sure it could be heard. The blood collected in her mouth, muffling her screams. He finished the job, putting his fingers back into her mouth and forcing down, disconnecting her entire lower jaw from her body. She had several moments of shock and agony, even her regenerative nature could not compensate for the damage. She bled out, and her corpse then was set ablaze and became nothing.

He wiped the blood on his armor dismissively, clasping his hands and mocking an english accent, “Right-o, madames and ‘gents. Job well done, onward!” He cackled again as he stepped back into the teleporter.

He went to his warroom to speak to his top general, Brian McGee. Other than his immortality, acquired through Matthias’ otherworldly sponsorship, he was a completely ordinary man. A soldier’s build with the styled buzzcut to pair with it. Caucasian, standard brown eyes. He was wearing ceremonial Vanguard armor, advanced and practical but still mostly for show if he was needed planet-side.

His expression was soured at his leader’s approach, “That was unnecessary.”

“I disagree. They have forgotten what fear feels like, and I will do nothing else if not remind them,” Matthias was quick to reply.

“Either way, their population has been culled to acceptable levels. I say we establish a culture preservation team and move on. We’ve won.”

Matthias growled like a child having a toy taken away from him. Still, he conceded to his general’s strategy. He was a general, after all.

“Fine, fine, for fuck’s sake. Ruining my fun is what you’re here for, haha!” His expression lightened up a bit as he shoulder-checked his boy before retreating to his quarters.

Brian sighed, shouting out some orders, “Tell everyone to move out, we’re done here. All combat units, return home.”

Culture Preservation was one of the Vanguard's more altruistic programs. They’ve always been a force to be reckoned with, and they have typically left timelines in complete shambles. However, before they retreat into the realms of time and space they do spend a few years to assist in rebuilding (whether the populace wants it or not). After all, it would not be practical to save a realm from the undead menace only to watch them starve to death soon afterward.

Matthias is not a complete lunatic after all, is he?