22 Alistein

"I'm going to check out what happened myself," Colleen boldly announced, taking a step towards the dungeon. After all that happened today, being attacked left and right by such monstrous creatures and all, it didn't stop Colleen to act out of her worriedness for her best friend. She couldn't stand waiting any longer. She felt small compared to these dragons, but not totally powerless. If there was something she could do, she would definitely do it for Blaze.

Not long after she began walking, alone, a figure hastily arose from the enlarged dungeon entrance, holding a motionless woman in his arms.

Colleen halted in her tracks, surprised to find Winter appearing before her eyes, his entire body covered the same tattoos they've all seen on Jarak's body, holding Blaze tightly in his arms. Kingsley and Kaiser's eyes widened in alarm, taken aback at what they saw. Even from their distance, they could see Blaze's body as limp as a withering plant. The three were frozen in horror, hearts beating fast as they waited for Winter to explain what happened.

"She's in critical condition. The factions' Shamans won't be able to heal her," Winter said briefly. But he didn't seem to have any intention in handing Blaze over to their care, his stance unyielding as a prince protecting his princess. "…I'm going to bring her to someone who can."

Without another word, he wasted no time and leaped towards the trees, landing atop a steady branch as Colleen frantically called after him. "Wait!"

But he was already gone, vanishing from their sight as he moved deeper into the woods.

~

"He's here…" Jarak tilted his head towards the entrance of the abandoned dungeon, taking a glimpse at the arriving man who carried the woman he clashed with earlier in his arms.

This time, all members of Death Reaper were present, faces exposed with no masks, veils, and whatnots in sight, unlike the day when Winter first met them back in the other lair they had met up in. Behind them all, the lifeless body of the Earth Wyrm Quindragon rested on the sidelines.

Each member showed different reactions as they confirmed what Jarak had just told them was true. As Winter walked forward, they kept their eyes trained on their leader, Jargus Nightwood, waiting to see what kind of reaction he would have towards this unexpected happening.

But he only looked down on them, silent as he sat casually on top of another giant boulder he found and liked.

"So, the Betrayer lives up to his name," a distinguishably small, blue-haired man jeered, flashing Winter a devilish grin as the latter's expression remained quite grim. He was Sergei Echovinsky, a former justice enforcer of the United Factions, now more known to the public as the Little Devil. "Kek! He betrays everyone but not that woman!"

A tall, purple-haired woman playfully squeezed the small guy's head, ruffling up his hair. "If worse comes to worst, aren't you going to do the same, Sergei? You'd betray everyone for your brother," Indigo Razbright gently chided. "Cut Winter some slack, you little midget. He might've just forgotten the rules. He's been focused on cultivating his dragon's will for the past few weeks since he came, it's easy to forget." This tender-looking woman was the Enchantress, a former dragon-slayer of the West Crescentgard Faction.

"Bah! Who cares?" Sergei crossed his arms and sulked childishly, though he wasn't annoyed at Indigo, who told him off. It wasn't even two seconds before he brightened again, a wild spark glinting in his eyes as he gave Winter an excited, challenging stare. "But if we kill him, can I do it, Jargus?" he piped. "Jarak said Winter can stand toe to toe with him even though Winter's only in the Blissful stage-!"

Indigo clamped a hand over Sergei's loud mouth, smiling kindly with a slight bow as Winter passed them. "Forgive my partner, Winter. He looks and sounds crazy but he's actually delighted to know a strong and talented person like you," she clarified patiently, though Winter wasn't even paying them the slightest attention. Still, she smiled after him.

"Oi!" a voice called from inside the dungeon, sounding a bit ticked off. With a flick of her wrist, Malileah Starasis trickily pulled a dagger somewhere from her uniform and pointed it at the seemingly harmless woman. "I'll kill you if you try to flirt with Winter, Indigo. Must I remind you…" A foxy look flashed in her cat-like eyes, and she licked her lips, coated with a deep red lipstick. "…he's mine."

Malileah's little stunt caught another's attention, and he grabbed her wrist, forcefully bringing it down. "Put down that pointy thing, Lunatic," a deep voice boomed. "Enchantress was simply doing her job and keeping the Little Devil at bay. If you have a problem with that, go talk to our leader." The one who spoke was Augustus Starkov, a.k.a. the Juggernaut, a man who stood about two meters tall with his humongous frame, towering over all members like a buffed giant.

"Tsk." Malileah rolled her eyes and began fidgeting with her long pink hair, clicking her tongue from time to time as she was constantly unhappy about the fact that Indigo was prettier than her. But what annoyed her even more, was that Winter carried Blaze with him into their hideout. What the hell is he thinking?

"Don't sweat it, Malileah," Lory Londynee whispered as she examined her nails. She was the infamous Butcher, an incredibly gorgeous dark-skinned woman who enhanced her death reaper uniform with countless pieces of pins and jewelry. She turned her head, her large hoop earrings that complemented her attractive face glinting in the dark. "If Indigo wants to steal Winter from you, she could do that anytime. But don't antagonize her, befriend her. Indigo's good nature wouldn't allow her to steal a friend's man."

Winter knelt down on one knee and bowed his head in front of Jargus Nightwood, who remained hidden in the shadows above them on the boulder. "Please, heal her, Leader," he begged.

"Winter…you're aware that you're breaking the rules, right?" Jargus calmly stated, staring down from the shadows with a raise of his eyebrow.

"Yes," Winter answering, cold sweat breaking out across his body under the leader's pressuring presence. He was too focused on bringing Blaze to their new hideout that he forgot to think about what he should say to convince Jargus to heal her.

Everyone went silent, waiting suspensefully to see what Jargus would do about Winter and Blaze.

'I thought he was smart,' Jarak thought to himself. 'Even I know how things would end if I brought someone here. What a waste of talent…' He didn't know if he should feel bad for Winter or rejoice in his downfall, his emotions clashing against each other as he observed what would happen to his partner.

"Leader, please allow me to speak." A man's voice suddenly resonated inside the dungeon, his firm, imposing tone prompting Winter to look up, searching for the one who spoke. He didn't give a f*ck about what everyone else said earlier, but this individual's voice sounded too familiar for Winter not to care.

Jargus nodded and beckoned with his hand, letting the one who spoke continue.

Winter's eyes widened as a familiar figure emerged from the shadows beside him, and the green-haired man looked down at him through his glasses, his sharp, unwavering eyes cold.

"As the first member of this organization, I hereby suggest Leader to heal the woman in exchange for Winter's loyalty. He's too good to end up a waste," Alistein said.

Alistein Rahnggabat.

Alistein Rahnggabat was the son of Azaron Rahnggabat, the current Emperor of the Lunargard Faction. The same Alistein who was presumed dead by his father, but was now standing right beside Winter, alive and well.