Death Reaper's Leader

'Huh?! Where... where am I?'

Blaze gradually opened her eyes as she regained little bits of her consciousness, seeing blurry figures standing on either side of her groggy vision. Frantically, she tried to sit herself up to identify the few individuals that surrounded her.

'Heaven? Hell? Where is this place? Who are they?' she asked herself, her thoughts running in her mind as she didn't have the strength to speak out loud.

As her vision returned, she found herself inside a dark, murky cave, others staring down at her uncannily. She scanned them one by one, from the muscular man to the short little guy to the pretty woman to the next, but she couldn't identify any of them. But…

'…Winter?' Her eyes grew larger, certain that the one kneeling on one knee and head bowed could be none other than he. 'What's going on? Why-' Her thoughts were cut off as she came to recognize another familiar person.

'Jarak?! And…A- Alistein?! He's alive?!' She may not know who the others were but she knew they were up to something, something that in no way was good. What happened? Wasn't she supposed to be dead?

But before she could continue to think, a man's voice from above called her name, a voice that sounded neither kind nor commanding. Yet somehow, it was soothing, tickling her ears so, it began to make her feel drowsy.

"Blaze Estereon... remember that you're tired."

Who…was that man on top of the boulder? Why did he know her name?

Before she could come up with an answer, her arms weakened, letting her upper body gently fell back to the ground, and she fell asleep again.

~

'That's the Authority of the Sloth?!' Winter was left unnerved as he stole a glance at Blaze, unconscious. In his short stay in Death Reaper, he learned many things, including how to cultivate his dragon power. He came to know and studied the background of each member when they revealed their faces after he became an official member, but…he still knew nothing about their leader, Jargus Nightwood.

The little information he managed to gather about Jargus was from Malileah, who was being a relentless flirt around him every chance she got. He learned their leader was an unstoppable man who came from a faraway place, mysteries floating about him. Anyone could be left wondering how he came to lead people like them, but if they wanted to know how powerful Jargus is, they would get an answer.

And the Authority of Sloth he used to lull Blaze to sleep was just one of the many things he could do. Just earlier, the way he reconstructed Blaze's body to its best condition without touching it was unfathomable! Casually, he had pulled a shimmering marble somewhere from his coat and utilized it, letting Winter witness in surprise the formation of a complex, magical circle of sigils and ancient symbols via prismatic lights in the air.

And just like that, Blaze's body slowly returned to perfect condition as if nothing happened to her! How could a single person wield such power and accomplish such a feat? It was beyond Winter's comprehension. If Malileah didn't accidentally bring up such a possibility, he could've forever lost Blaze.

"Alistein, bring her out," Jargus ordered with a wave of his hand.

"Wait!" Winter shot up to his feet without a thought. "I'll take care of her!"

Jargus turned his head towards him, and Winter froze, feeling his menacing eyes land on him even in the dark. "Don't you think you're asking for too much, Winter Ashkin? I healed the woman as you wished, and I will now entrust her to your brother's care."

"But-"

"Sit. Your. Ass. Down."

Boom!

The dungeon as a whole seemed to shake as Winter helplessly collapsed onto the cold, hard ground from just pure pressure, his head and eyes forced to look down with no way up. Jargus' draconic eyes gleamed dangerously in the dark, implicating the activation of his dragon's will.

Everyone in the dungeon was sent into a silent panic. The endless supply of draconic energy filled the entire dungeon in an instant, trapping the occupants below under its suffocating burden. Even Alistein couldn't take a step forward. Everyone inch of their body told them, Jargus could easily mop the floor with them all if they made a mistake now. Who knew what stage his dragon's will was in already? They didn't even know how many stages the dragon's will has! But what they know was, their current levels were far, far, far from their leader's. How fearsome of a character their leader was!

"Proceed with your tasks and collect dragons for me. Only Alistein has permission to carry along with his matters, and Malileah will accompany him as his partner. If there are no more questions, leave this place," Jargus ordered with such authority, his voice thundering through the dungeon.

He waited for a response, but the area was scared silent. With no more interruptions to settle, he stood up atop the boulder and turned around, his cloak swishing at his feet as he left to tend to his own business.

But he paused, stopping before he completely disappeared and peered over his shoulder at Winter, who was frozen still after what happened. No, all of them were just as petrified. "And Winter…don't you ever pull another stupid stunt like that unannounced. In case you're still not aware, I can and will wipe you from the face of this universe at any moment. Heed my warning."

Despite the apparent difference in power, Winter's raging eyes looked up straight into the leader's eyes as he was finally relieved from the weight of Jargus' pressure, clenching his jaw tight as he knew he was powerless against him. Jargus only chuckled in response.

"Good… We can use that unfaltering will of yours in many ways, Winter. Keep that attitude," he said.

And with that, he vanished, finally letting everyone take a proper breath.

Sergei burst out laughing as if he wasn't scared sh*tless just seconds earlier. "HAHAHAHAHAHA! That's our leader for ya!"

Indigo gave him a playful nudge to his head and said, "Quit acting tough! You almost pissed your pants there." Sergei bared his teeth and tried to reach Indigo's head too, but his height barely allowed him to stand to Indigo's shoulders. Indigo dodged the swing of his arms in her face and pressed her hand against his forehead to keep their distance.

"I thought you were different, but you're just an idiot like your woman!" Jarak condemned, but Winter only stared forward as if he didn't even hear him. "You almost killed us all with your dumb move!"

"Hey, Jarak! Bring your shouting somewhere else! You don't belong here! You know why? Because Winter is strong like me. We are favored here, unlike a weakling like you!" Sergei turned to Jarak, laughing at him nonstop.

"What the f*ck did you just say?!" Jarak thundered, his face turning red with rage. He advanced in Sergei's direction. "Do you wanna know who's weaker between us, shorty? Huh?!"

Sergei locked eyes with his target, his grin growing with crazed joy. "HAHAHAHAHAHA! Bring it on! I'll take you on any time you want, weakling!"

Heated sparks sizzled between the two, clashing, before a figure arose between them, menacing eyes glowing with extreme irritation. "You. Two. Are F*cking. LOUD!"

Malileah punched them both with all her might, sending the two flying and crashing back into opposite walls.