< 3D: 12H: 43M: 24S>

  Reiji was desperate, sleepless nights hauled over the table, staring into an open hand. Bargaining with his inner voices, as they debated what , the pressure had mouo nearly unbearable levels.

  *Knock* Knock*

  "e in." Hiro and Shiered, each a silent bow.

  "Boss. He has arrived just as you requested. Do you truly wish to have an outsider interfere with our operations?" Hiro questioned.

  "There won't be a guild to operate Hiro, unless drastic measures are taken."

  "...e in." Hiro called, A t figure entered, long bck hair grazing the head of the door. Built like a lumbering ox, muscles stacked and bulky. A tank top that hugged his strong frame, long bck tattoos snaked up and down his arms. Eyes nearly hidden by a bck fringe. Hands that could engulf another man’s head.

  Not another word uttered. An unsung gre, fixated upon the crimson bandit.

  "Panic; the blood juggernaut himself. Who better to cateone of his pedigree." Pani infamous ranker from the mothernd of Russia. Silent and deadly, words often fone in pce of a.

  "Have you been informed of our problem?"

  "Да, is in paper." Produg his tract to work uhe crimson bandits.

  "Good... good." Reiji massaged his head.

  "Shinya. Show him our prime suspect." Panic read slowly, one hand holding the suspect photo and the other raised above to block the gre. Reiji waited; eager in anticipation, every moment before aion filled him with dread.

  "Да." Panic affirmed. A grim sigh washed over Reiji. The weight lifted ever so slightly, but the burden of his future only kept at bay momentarily.

  "This one we believe is either the Reaper himself or at the very least ected to him. Later tonight we will go and visit him. Hopefully ending our torment ond for all."

  Panic returned a vat gaze. Perhaps nothing was going behind those eyes; a great unfeeling warrior. More muscle than brain.

  "You're dismissed. Hiro escort uest to the barracks, get him fortable."

  A deep bow, Hiro left with their fn ally. "Shinya. I need you to do o thing for me. Go into the underworld of Eosar; hire them."

  "Reiji, you’re sure? Our coffers will run dry if we tio throw around our wealth." Shinya dissented.

  "Shinya, my friend. I have always trusted your keen insights, especially in regards to our funds. However, they are always focused on our long-term iments. They aren't of any use to us now if we're all dead by the end of this week."

  "Then why are we going after Jun Jiao? Why the double security of Panid this roup."

  "Not for a sed do I believe that someone such as Jun could even pull off these massacres. This is to kill two birds with oone. If not our prime suspect, then we will at the very least draw him out. For that, I want the pack."

  "... It will be done, Reiji." Shinya ceded, departing the office. Respect for his leader, like the tdown, dwindling by the hour. A leader at his wits end was a liability, which if persisted, would lead to ruin. Now however was not the time to act rashly; After all is cleared away then it would be his time to act.

  ***

  < 3D: 8H: 22M: 19S>

  Eosar:

  The world of Eosar; much like Earth was a vibrant ecosystem. A tral interected hub that serviced many gates; eg many worlds beyond. Everything one could ever want was for sale. All could be bought with or trade. Lusty eyes to exotic species. Adveo goblins ton-humanoid hybrids. Seemingly a city of endless fantasy.

  Eosar was one giant plex of towers reag into the sky, built like a byrinth. Maze of inner ws, dead ends, shops, guilds. Eaew level gave its ow of ws, governed by powerful guilds.

  However, like all societies. Eosar had its own underworld. A mass of criminal guilds, the foundation of Eosar. Dark markets littered its walls; both open aive.

  'I hate this pce...' Shinya couldn't stand the stench of rot. Bae it smelt of tobacd alcohol. Eosar's underworld however, fn smells that couldn't be described to its disgusting ins. Lingering within every er; festering until the aroma melded into the walls.

  Home there was a food ; a natural order where in humans towered over all others. Here there was no order, no structure, not a hierarchy. Lamias, goblins, orcs, beastkin, all watg the hooded figure navigate the abyss with esurient eyes.

  Shinya finally came across his destination, hidden within the walls. It looked like an abandoned bar, however ihe establishment was a bustling crowd. People of all species came to drink together; the king of gsses and yelling patrons. It was far deeper thaside fa?ade.

  In the back was his goal. Shinya proceeded cautiously through the mass of bodies. Eyes covered beh his cloak.

  *Sniff* *Sniff*

  "That st..." A guttural whisper. Shinya walked swiftly to the voice.

  "Ahh, wele seaster. So good to see you once more. How may I help you?" A rge wolf, hooded obsg all features save for his snout, red fur poking through. Like a werewolf, tall, stocky build; a beast to give pause to any brave warrior.

  "I am in need of your services once more." Shinya gave the wolf a light bow. A dark smirk iurn.

  "Sit, we are always happy to be of service to such a valued er."

  A case ut onto the rickety table, golden light reflected under wolfs cowl. His sharp paws trag over the golden currency.

  "You need someone dead of great value to you?" Asked the wolf, eyes returo Shinya.

  "uild has angered a figure. Yet we do not know why or who he is."

  "And you want us too..."

  "I need your pack to track this individual down. Kill him."

  "Hmmmm, and this is all you have brought."

  "Excuse me?" Shinya questioned.

  "Seaster, as you sit before me, I see in your heart, fear has taken you. We could smell it as you desded the steps to our world."

  Shinya was annoyed by the wolf’s observation, though n. Many within the guild fear the tdown, including Shinya himself. However, he came prepared for the wolves’ ing.

  "Half. This is your upfront payment. If you successfully plete this request then another payment will arrive."

  "Ahhh, well. We do appreciate a dising t. Very well-"

  "With one dition; after your tract is plete. You will execute the CEO of the guild Reiji Kikuchi."

  The wolf paused; then a wicked smile curved on his toothy lips. "ing, you would do well as a Ly, seaster... Or master. I expect more payment for this?"

  "Yes, thrice the price upoion."

  Just like that a bargain had been struck. Two souls had been o death. What came Shinya wasn't fond of. The wolf split its paw open with a slice, turning to Shinya for the same.

  A blood pact was formed and sealed. "A pleasure doing business with you. Let us begin." He stood, t all in the bar.

  *AWOOOOOOOOOOO*

  A howl pierced through Eosar. Howls joined from all dires, within the bar even some patrons joined in chorus.

  "Soon, all of your home will be filled with our songs."

  Wolves of all shapes and sizes desded. Taking off to the gate of their target, blood red their unifying factor. Bck wolves, white wolves, grey. All sprinted after oarget. Swift and smooth, rag on all fours.

  ***

  <3D: 3H: 8M: 53s.>

  Within Eren's home:

  Eren y awake, night swept over him yet dreams escaped him. Pguing him since he returned home, never getting more than three hours of rest a night. A blessing and a curse; starting at the roof was not an appealing activity.

  *Shuffle* *Shuffle*

  Movement outside; quiet, light steps. ing from above. Hair raising on his neck, something was wrong. Someone or something lurked on the roof.

  "Are you sure?" "Yes. The st ends here." "There is nothing here, the alpha said the huma would lead us."

  Three wolves argued, eaose glued to the ground, sniffiically.

  "Wait, someone's ing." Ears twitg at the light steps of footsteps approag.

  The reaper nded softly. Masked, whip armed. The wolfs salivated at the sight, their swords readied for a fight.

  "He is here... quickly alert the alpha-"

  *Ssh*

  One fell, throat gashed.

  "Awo-"

  *Stab *

  A knights thrust from behind muzzling the other, dropping them too.

  *Gurgle* *Gurgle *

  The Lys ood a ce, long shadows of sombre silence allowed the knights to crawl out from their void. Three bodies slumped, whilst oruggled for life.

  "What are you doing here?" The reaper spoke.

  "*Gurgle* H-hired... by S-sed...master *gurgle* Kill - Reaper... F-find and *Hack* *gurgle*" Blood pooled as it sputtered.

  “Where?”

  Weakly, pointing to the sky, "F-follow the... *Gurgle gurgle* Moon."

  *Gurgle, Gurgle* *Stab*

  Eren put the wolf down. 'Three wolves, a scouting party, hired by the guild. They are getting desperate, slipping up, giving themselves away.'

  Eren stood, dev the scouts remains. Shadows engulfing their forms until they fell into the dark.

  The s revealed.

  'That's different. It must like variety rather than quantity.' The reaper watched the ring glow.

  Time to go wolf hunting.

  SpoilerPanic: Status

  Level: 143

  Rank: A

  Css: Juggernaut

  Subcss: Hemokinesis

  Guild: N/A

  Current jobs: Kill the Reaper

  Status: Normal

  Blood juggernaut description: Hemokinesis is the ability to manipute blood. One use the blood of either oneself or others for various purposes. If desired, one even onize one’s own blood. Coupled with the juggernaut ability; providing superior body strength and stamina. As well as, bolstered defences. bined Pani hit hard with both blood and his martial arts training.

  [colpse]

  MaskedManNull