West pumped relentlessly, flooding the corpse even as legs curled inward while the headless form spasd one final ti.
Overflow jetted out in pressurized bursts, splattering the red sands, black pillars, and distant wreckage with blood and cum, painting abstract streaks everywhere.
West yanked his soaked cocked free while it started to shrink as the enhancent faded.
He hurled the severed head into the horizon causing it slam against a distant monolith.
•••
•••
Daybreak spread over Misty High City, staining the tropolis in streaks of pale orange and gold.
At the southside, the Shadow Reapers base stood proudly.
The massive futuristic structure no longer looked like the abandoned shell it once started. The black tallic walls reflected the early morning sunlight with silver trims running along the edges of the architecture.
Glowing neon insignias of the Shadow Reapers symbol rested across different sections of the base while ard security systems rotated quietly atop the outer walls.
Inside, the atmosphere was lively and victorious.
The main lounge area of the base had turned noisy after both expedition teams returned successfully.
Music played softly from hidden speakers.
Several opened crates of loot rested around the room while gang mbers sorted through glowing crystals, monster materials, strange relic fragnts and artifacts gathered from the ruins.
Hart was seated on one of the couches with his feet up on a table while animatedly retelling the story for what was probably the sixth ti.
"I’m telling you guys that thing was HUGE. Like actually gigantic."
Vanya rolled her eyes while sipping from a bottle. "You’ve exaggerated the size three tis already."
"I have not."
"You absolutely have."
Hart pointed dramatically toward Jax. "Back up."
Jax imdiately slamd his drink down. "Nah nah nah, he’s right this ti. That thing was horrifying. You should’ve seen the mirror dinsion. It was like so nightmare acid trip."
Nina leaned back lazily beside West’s chair while drawing little doodles absentmindedly into existence above her fingers.
"And then this idiot," she pointed toward Jax, "decides the best possible solution is to get ALL of us dragged into the death dinsion."
"It worked though."
"You nearly got us killed."
"But did we die?"
"Yes, almost!"
Everyone burst into laughter again and even Gor’thala allowed a tiny smile to appear.
The giant mage sat elegantly near the corner with one leg crossed over the other while slowly sipping tea from a cup that looked comically tiny in her hands.
One of the Verdant Pyre Behemoths rested behind her like a giant loyal wolf.
anwhile Seraphyra lounged shalessly across the couch opposite West.
Her erald eyes kept drifting toward him with teasing amusent.
Unfortunately, West avoided eye contact entirely... because every single ti he looked at her, mories resurfaced of unhinged monts in the red desert ruin...
The way she had wrapped herself around him while the sounds of monsters dying echoed around them.
"Master..." Seraphyra suddenly purred softly while dragging her tongue across her lower lip.
West nearly choked on his drink causing Jax to narrow his eyes suspiciously.
"...Why are you acting weird?"
"I’m not."
"You are."
"No I’m not."
"You absolutely are."
Everyone looked toward causing West to instantly frown. "Don’t start."
Seraphyra imdiately smiled wickedly. "Many things happened."
West almost launched out of his seat.
"SERAPHYRA."
The entire room exploded into noise instantly.
Jax slamd the table while laughing hysterically. "I KNEW IT."
Nina’s eyes widened. "NO WONDER YOU BOTH CA BACK LOOKING LIKE YOU LOST A FIGHT WITH A SHOWER."
Hart pointed accusingly. "BRO YOU HAD DIFFERENT CLOTHES."
Vanya covered her mouth trying not to laugh while Gor’thala slowly turned her suspicious gaze toward Seraphyra now.
Through the summon bond, she could tell sothing indeed happened but the details remained fuzzy.
Seraphyra leaned back smugly while crossing her legs.
West imdiately stood up. "ANYWAYS."
The room kept laughing as West rubbed his face tiredly. "The ruin was fine. We cleared it. End of story."
"That’s all you’re saying?" Jax grinned wickedly.
"Yes."
"Boring."
"Very boring."
Seraphyra snorted loudly from behind him but West ignored her.
The atmosphere eventually settled back into celebration afterward.
Aria arrived soti later carrying a tablet while already organizing the logistics side of things as usual.
"The inventory haul this week is insane," she announced while scanning figures. "Especially the fiery crystals from the lava ruin and the reflective cores from the mirror ruin."
"Good money?" Hart asked.
"Very."
The newer mbers still looked sowhat shocked whenever Aria discussed percentages because Shadow Reapers genuinely operated differently.
West had kept his promise making sure every mber involved in ruin clears received twenty percent dividends from loot profits.
Twenty percent... when most gangs only gave one percent... maybe five if they were generous.
Shadow Reapers was quickly gaining attention because of things like that.
Because despite their rapid rise, people inside the gang genuinely felt valued and respected... and this made loyalty solidify naturally.
"We’re officially at eight successful ruin clears within the last two weeks," Aria continued. "The rankings update tomorrow morning. We’re definitely climbing again."
West leaned back quietly while listening.
Eight clears for a brand-new gangwas monstrous progress, especially considering most of the clears were perford by extrely small teams.
Eventually the celebration began dying down and everyone dispersed.
So headed to sleep while others continued chatting.
Jax eventually stood while stretching dramatically.
"I’m crashing. If anyone wakes up before evening, I’m freezing your organs."
"You can’t even freeze properly in hot ruins," Nina shot back.
"Shut up."
West finally decided to leave too since his body honestly felt exhausted... for reasons almost completely oblivious to everyone in the gang.
The past three weeks had been nonstop ruins, fights, gang matters, frankincense and even Renzhi...
Too many things were happening all at once.
For once, he actually wanted rest.
So after leaving the base, he headed back toward his apartnt building while the city slowly awakened around him.
Morning traffic had already begun and hover vehicles drifted through aerial highways.
Massive advertisents lit up surrounding skyscrapers while crowds moved below like streams of ants.
West shoved both hands into his pockets while walking casually through the quieter residential district.
The cool morning air brushed against his face and everything finally felt peaceful...
Until he reached his building...
West slowed slightly as he got to his apartnt entrance... a woman was standing there.
Dark circles rested beneath her eyes while loose strands of hair moved softly with the morning breeze. She wore a simple brown jacket over a blue dress.
The mont she noticed him approaching, she stood straighter imdiately.
West frowned. "...What are you doing here?"
Debra hesitated slightly. "I wanted to see you."
West stopped several feet away and the atmosphere instantly beca awkward.
He glanced around briefly before looking back at her. "You know where I live now?"
"You brought us into the city. It wasn’t difficult to figure out afterward," Debra answered sincerely.
West clicked his tongue lightly. "Dangerous habit."
"I know."
Silence settled briefly between them before Debra carefully held out a small paper bag toward him.
"...I brought breakfast."
West stared at it. "...Seriously?"
"You used to like these when you were younger."
West didn’t accept it... he simply stared at her without a cold look.
Debra’s fingers tightened slightly around the bag.
"I know you’re angry with ," she said softly. "I know I don’t deserve your kindness after everything but—"
"You’re right. You don’t. Leave," West words were brutal and cold, causing Debra’s face to fall.
It was heart wrenching whenever West treated her like a piece of dirt but she never complained. She simply just tried again and again and again.
"Please... West... please... can you just give a..."
West cut her off before she could complete her statent, "You disappeared for years,"
He continued quietly. "No calls. No birthdays. No explanation. You only tried to contact when your life was in danger."
Debra lowered her gaze. "...I know."
"And now you’re standing outside my apartnt with breakfast like that fixes anything?"
"It doesn’t," West looked away briefly. "Leave my life alone like you already did in the past."
He pushed the door open slowly, "I don’t have ti for this."
He stepped halfway inside but before he could shut the door, Debra grabbed his wrist.
"Please..." her voice cracked. "Just hear out."
West’s eyes slowly shifted toward her hand gripping his wrist before moving back to her face.
"What exactly are you expecting here?"
Debra stiffened slightly as West continued.
"What? So emotional mother-son reunion?" he asked quietly. "A hug? Tears? Forgiveness?"
"West..."
"No."
His voice sharpened. "It’s too late."
Debra’s lips trembled as West slowly pulled his hand free.
"All the nights I spent alone growing up already happened."
His gaze hardened further. "All the birthdays you missed already happened."
He stepped closer to her. "All the tis I needed my mother already happened."
Debra’s eyes imdiately started reddening while West continued anyway.
"All the monts I wanted soone to tell things would be okay... already passed."
Tears slowly rolled down Debra’s cheeks now and West noticed them but the bitterness inside him was too deeply rooted so he was simply unmoved.
"So what exactly is the point now?" he asked quietly.
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