As Raizer and everyone are busy continuing their feast, a huge crash disturbed them. There was silence as everyone looked over where the sound came from. The wall surrounding the base was blasted open as rubble crashed at the people, disrupting the feast.

“WHERE IS THE ‘GIFTED’ BASTARD?” a shout of a madman echoed throughout the base.

Everyone picked themselves up from the ground, withdrawing their swords. As the dust began clearing, a man covered in dry blood was standing on the giant hole of the wall.

Raizer stepped forward, followed by Eren.

“I’m the ‘gifted’. Who are you to destroy my wall and kill some of my men?

The rubble that had just flew to them had killed at least five people. Of course, they still had a lot of people. 150 people to be exact whom all had withdrawn their weapons, ready to fight.

Dread stared at Raizer and smiled.

“Five minutes.”

Raizer was confused.

“Huh?”

“I’m telling you that you’ll last five minutes. No longer than that.”

Raizer furrowed his brows as he gazed at Dread.

“Are you looking down on me? Do you really think I’ll last five minutes?” asked Raizer as a flame spear emerged from his hand.

“I’m sorry but I didn’t mean you. I meant all of you.” said Dread as he grinned.

Enraged, Raizer commanded the 150 men behind him. “KILL HIM!”

Everyone roared as they all charged at him. Raizer and Eren remained and watched from behind. Dread tore off his shirt that was dirtied from blood as his bulging muscles shimmered from the moon’s glow. He clenched his fist as a smile appeared from his face.

The people who were in front were the first to attack. They all swung their swords, axes and spears at him. With the momentum they were carrying, they felt like victory was at hand. But they were all wrong. All that was needed to break their momentum was for a single person to die.

A head was blown off by Dread’s mighty punch. Blood splatted to the people from behind. Realising that the person who was leading the charge was now dead on the ground, fear slowed their charge. Dread thrusted his fist as he blew another person’s head off.

Swords from all around reached his bulging muscles as they all shattered like glass. Dread smiled as he swept his leg at them, cleaving 6 people in half with a single kick. Guts flew in the air as their lifeless, mutilated bodies thudded the ground.

Their charge was shaken. Despair slowly creeped in their hearts. Dread grinned as he watched the many of his prey quiver in fear. He didn’t give them any time to think. He charged at them at breath-taking speed as he bulldozed through them like a bull seeing red. He grabbed the one closest to him by his head and crushed it.

Another came from behind but a hole was blown through his chest. Screams echoed through the base as Raizer and Eren froze in fear.

Raizer pulled himself back and tapped Eren on the shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

Eren pulled himself together and unsheathed his sword. Raizer clenched the flame spear that had emerged from his hand tightly. He charged at the slaughter with Eren. Using his flames to boost his speed, he appeared behind Dread. Dread’s eyes twitched as he smiled.

“Oh, it seems you’ve decided to face me. I thought you would have been paralyzed by fear but I guess I misjudged you.”

Raizer thrusted his flame spear at Dread who grabbed it by his bare hand, crushing it. A temporarily look of shock dawned on Raizer’s face but it disappeared the moment a punch came hurtling towards him.

Eren showed up and blocked the punch with his sword but he was sent flying by the impact. Raizer stretched his arm once again as another flame spear appeared on his hand. He thrusted it towards Dread’s face. Recognizing the power of the attack, Dread veered his head to the left as the flame spear trailed past him.

Not giving him a chance for a breather, Eren jumped from behind as he swung his sword imbued with mana at Dread. The sword didn’t break. In fact, it left a mark on Dread’s chest. Dread receded a little. He touched his chest as he licked the tiny amount of blood from his fingers.

“You managed to hurt me. I’m impressed by the two of you. I guess I should use mana then.”

Raizer’s eyes opened wide, shocked.

Wait a minute, are you telling me he wasn’t using mana all this time? If so, then how was he able to kill all of these people like they were nothing but paper?

Raizer thought as he looked around him. Dozens bodies laid there. Some were obviously dead while others were either injured or frozen in fear.

A red aura lifted from Dread’s body. The moment it did, the two felt it. An overwhelming bloodlust that should not be possible for a human to emit. Instinct told them to run. Especially Eren, as he had never felt such fear. He looked over at Raizer who was resisting that overwhelming bloodlust with everything he had.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

A spark appeared on Eren’s heart as he also tried by all his might to resist the bloodlust.

Even though in the past, Eren hated Raizer, he had grown fond of him. His power and mindset were what was needed in the gang that he grew up in. And so, he had grown to admire the person he once hated.

“I commend you both. The fact that you’re still conscious and not running away is an admirable feat. Now show me more of your resolve.” Said Dread as he grinned.

***

Back at Naomi’s inn.

Naomi managed to drag Jasper’s enormous body on top of the table as the pair stared at her.

“You must be Naomi. You have no idea how long I’ve been longing to meet you.” said Zeke as he walked towards Naomi.

“Well, some people send a letter.”

“I’m not some people.”

Naomi moved back as she started to realise the man who was in front of her.

“You are Zeke, aren’t you?”

“Oh, you know me?” asked Zeke as a look of shock appeared on his face.

“Yes, I do know you. I also know that you work for the Bandit Society. You are Zeke, the Analyst.”

“OH, I’m shocked that you know so much.” Said Zeke, unfaced by the revelation. “But I would like it if you didn’t use the term ‘bandit’. I hate it.”

What’s with him? He says he is shocked that I know about their group but I don’t see a hint of that in his face. Is he playing with me? This is the information I managed to get this past month from my contacts outside the city.

“You don’t seem shocked though.” Said Naomi.

“I don’t? Huh, I wonder why that is?”

What’s with this guy? I can’t read him at all.

“So, what do you want with me, Zeke the Analyst?” asked Naomi.

Zeke strolled around towards the counter. He went behind it and glossed over.

“Why is it that you guys never have wine or juice? It’s always rum or beer or some strong alcohol.” Said Zeke with a look of disappointment.

“You spoke of a negotiation earlier. What is it?”

“Straight to the point, aren’t you? Fine, ohh.” Said Zeke as he noticed a fruit under the counter. He grabbed it and a knife. “I love this. What was it called again? A tropical bramble.”

The fruit Zeke was talking about was green in colour and resembled an apple. Of course, it wasn’t an apple. It was a fruit that wasn’t sweet but sour, like a lemon. Its sourness, however, was delightful. It had a hint of peach in its taste that complimented the sourness. This type of fruit was one of the ingredients used to make one of the most expensive, one of the most delicious of wines, the Golden Crystal.

The Golden Crystal was a wine only the royals, nobles and the rich commoners could indulge in its sweetness. Its golden colour allured many people to spend their savings. Tales were told about how if one were to drink it, they wouldn’t drink anything else besides it. That was just how delicious it was.

The thought of the Golden Crystal made Zeke drool as he reminisced about the time, he got his hands on that precious wine.

“Spending one thousand gold was worth it.”

Naomi stared dumbfounded at Zeke as he dreamed of his precious wine. Maeve cleared her throat to snap Zeke out of his daydream which it worked.

“Ah, sorry about that. Where were we?”

“Negotiations.” Answered Naomi.

“Oh, yeah. I want you to work for me.”

“Work ‘for’ you? Not work ‘under’ you?”

“Yes. You’ll work ‘for’ me. This city will be under Dread’s control. I’ll commission you to watch this place behind the scenes and report anything that is suspicious that Dread or his men do.”

Naomi paused and thought about this proposal.

“And if I refuse?”

That was a good question that Naomi was asking. After all, she was planning on leaving this city. Watching over this city would mean she’d have to stay which wasn’t part of her plans.

“Then you’ll die.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Oh, no don’t get me wrong. That wasn’t a threat but reality.”

“So, you mean if I don’t work for you then you’ll kill me?” asked Naomi as she looked at Maeve.

“I wasn’t talking about me. To tell you the truth, I don’t really care if you live or die, though I’d prefer you to live. The thing is though, you messed up Dread’s mission and not mine so I don’t really have a grudge against you. I can’t say that about Dread though.”

“Isn’t it better for me to run though if Dread will be out for my head?”

“Not if I protect you. You see, even if you run, it’s only a matter of time till he finds you. If you were planning to run alone then there is no doubt that you’d escape successfully but you have your brother and people under you who will be a burden to you. I doubt you’d cut them off since you’d be feeding them to the wolves. I guess I should say wolf. Yep, one gigantic, bloodthirsty wolf.”

Naomi paused again.

“But if you agree to work for me then I’ll provide protection for you from Dread. The only thing you need to do is watch this city from the shadows and report anything that’s out of the ordinary. What do you say?”

So, this is Zeke the Analyst. What he just said makes a lot of sense. I don’t really have a choice but to work for him.

“Fine. I accept.”

“Good job. Then I’ll be going. Until we meet again.”

“Wait. My brother, Raizer. Can you please spare him?”

“You don’t need to worry. Your brother will be left alive. After all, we need someone to manage this city. He’ll watch over the slave trade that will be created here.”

“Slave trade?!” said Naomi as she gaped her mouth open.

Zeke kept quiet. He wasn’t thrilled about that kind of business but he couldn’t ignore ‘his’ orders.

“Isn’t there someone else you have to manage that?” asked Naomi as desperation sank on her face. “I’ll do anything. I’ll serve ‘under’ you so please, let someone else do it.”

“Don’t go selling yourself now. I can have someone else take the job but that’ll depend on Raizer’s decision. See ya.”

***

Outside Naomi’s inn.

“Aren’t you worried by the fact that she knows about you and the Society?”

“Nope. After all, I was the one who gave her that information.”

“Why?”

“Because I need her?”

“What do you mean you need her? You have a lot of people who have long infiltrated this place and have been spying for you. Why do you need someone who doesn’t have much quality to her?”

“See. That’s the thing. I don’t need her to watch Dread’s men for me. I need her as an insurance.”

“Insurance? Ah, I see. So, you don’t have much confidence in this Society?”

“It’s not that. It’s better safe than sorry, right.”

***

Back at the West Alley Base.

Bodies were lying on the ground. Some of them were dismembered while some were unconscious. Raizer and Eren were all bloodied as they laid on the ground huffing and puffing, still breathing.

Next to them stood Dread as he looked down on them.

“Hahaha, be proud of yourselves. You managed to go against the strongest man in the world. Now, those who are still breathing, hear me. From now on you work under me. You’ll do whatever I say and if you don’t, then I’ll kill you the worst possible way I know.” Said Dread as he walked out of the base.

Raizer’s bloodshot eyes stared at the figure of Dread is he disappeared through the darkness. Rage boiled within his body. This rage however wasn’t directed at Dread. No, it was directed at his sister who was willing to abandon him.

Thoughts and emotions ran rampant on Raizer’s head. Naomi walked away knowing that they would die. If only she had tried a bit harder to convince Raizer, then there was no doubt that he would have eventually believed her. But she decided to leave him to die.

At that moment, Raizer no longer had a sister. Naomi was dead in his eyes and in his heart.