Chapter 173: Something Funny?

The moment Nina flicked the brush forward, a glowing line appeared mid-air but she didn’t stop there... she kept flicking and flicking...

Within seconds, she had drawn a small creature which looked like a mixture between a bunny and a fox. It seemed cute and almost harmless looking.

Until it appeared into reality alive with flesh and bones.

It looked around momentarily before dashing forward at surprising speed and slamming into a metal crate, knocking it over.

Jax blinked.

"...Okay, that’s new."

Nina grinned proudly. "Second branch!"

She spun again, drawing two more creatures which were slightly larger this time with sharper features.

They appeared instantly, moving with more aggression.

"First branch is still objects," she explained quickly. "Second branch lets me create living things... kinda."

West watched carefully.

"Limitations?"

"Size and complexity," she replied. "And how fast I can draw."

She demonstrated again, drawing a clean and simple shield.

It materialized instantly in her hand without a second wasted. Then she drew a spear and a cluster of small floating platforms.

Her speed had improved drastically.

What used to take her several seconds now happened in moments.

"Third branch though..." she voiced with a lower tone.

West raised a brow.

"...Go on."

She hesitated.

"Only once a day."

She proceeded to lift the brush again and drew a massive incomplete outline that radiated intensity...

She stopped halfway.

"...I could make something huge."

"How huge?" Jax asked.

Nina glanced at West.

"...Like... a building."

She paused.

"...Or worse... nuclear..."

West understood immediately.

"...Don’t use it unless you absolutely have to."

She nodded quickly.

"Yeah, I figured."

Despite her lower physical strength compared to Jax, her versatility was terrifying.

She could create objects, creatures, structures...

She was practically a walking arsenal.

"Good," West pushed himself off the pillar while they both turned to him.

"You’re ready."

Jax grinned instantly.

"For what?"

West smirked.

"To join me on the next ruin."

That got their full attention.

"...Seriously?" Nina asked.

West nodded.

"It’ll be the last one."

"For me with Dragon Fang Gang."

They both froze.

"Wait... that means—"

"Ten ruins," West said simply.

"After that, I meet the requirement."

"And Shadow Reapers becomes official."

"Finally!" Jax laughed in excitement. "It’s about time."

Nina practically bounced on the spot. "We’re really doing this..."

West nodded.

"Yeah."

Then added calmly—

"So be ready."

—

Later, as they took a break, West leaned back slightly, pulling out his phone.

"Tomorrow, I’ve got something to handle."

Jax raised a brow. "What now?"

"Divine Forge."

That got Jax’s attention immediately.

"...More weapons?"

West nodded.

"Remember your katana?"

Jax glanced at it instinctively.

"Yeah?"

"There were leftover fragments from the Cryoheart Shard."

Jax’s eyes widened.

"No way..."

West smirked.

"Orion used them."

"Made two more frost weapons."

Nina blinked. "Wait... like yours?"

"Not exactly," West said. "More on the weaker side but nonethless valueable."

"One already sold."

"For around $450,000."

Jax nearly choked.

"...Excuse me?"

West shrugged.

"The second one’s about to sell."

"I’m going to finalize it tomorrow."

Nina stared at him.

"...How much money do you even have now?"

West thought for a second.

"...Close to ten million."

"...BRO WHAT?" Jax eyes widened as he shouted.

West chuckled. "Relax."

"That’s startup money."

"For the gang."

And he wasn’t even exaggerating because behind the scenes, Aria had been working relentlessly setting up offshore accounts, creating untraceable transaction pathways, structuring finances in a way that couldn’t be linked back to them... Investments... Allocations... logistics... data... everything...

"She’s been handling a lot," West stated.

Jax nodded slowly. "Yeah... she’s legit."

Nina smiled. "She really wants this to work."

West’s expression softened slightly.

"...Yeah."

"She does."

—

As the sun began to set, the training session wrapped up.

They were tired but excited because everything was finally coming together.

Nina suddenly turned to West.

"Oh—wait!"

West glanced at her.

"What?"

She smiled sheepishly.

"I... uh... made something."

"For you."

West raised a brow.

"...A weapon?"

She shook her head quickly.

"No no—art."

"I drew you... again."

Jax immediately grinned. "Yo—let me see—"

"No!" Nina snapped.

"It’s not for you!"

West chuckled slightly.

"...When do I get it?"

"I’ll come by this week," she responded.

"You’re always welcome," West voiced with a smirk while Nina smiled brightly.

"Good."

The late afternoon sun filtered through the broken ceiling panels of the abandoned industrial warehouse, casting long beams of golden light across the dusty ground as they rested a little in preparation to call it a day.

Jax sat on a rusted crate with his ice katana resting across his lap and faint wisps of cold still radiating from the blade.

"The ruin better not be some weak stuff. I need a real fight this time," Jax stated with a look of confidence.

Nina rolled her eyes while twirling her glowing brush between her fingers.

"You say that now, but when something massive shows up, you’ll be the first to shout ’West help me!’"

Jax scoffed. "Please. I’ve grown, okay?"

West leaned back against the pillar, folding his arms and watching them with mild amusement.

"...You’ve grown," he echoed.

Jax smirked. "See? Even boss agrees."

Nina snorted. "He didn’t say how much."

Jax was about to fire back when footsteps echoed from the entrance.

All three turned as five figures walked in casually.

They didn’t even glance at West, Nina, or Jax at first.

Instead, they spread out slightly, scanning the warehouse, looking around as if inspecting property.

"...Yeah," one of them voiced with hands in his pockets. "This works."

"Plenty of space," another added. "Hidden enough too."

"Perfect location for our base."

Jax blinked.

"...Uh?"

Nina frowned slightly while West said nothing.

One of the five finally turned toward them and walked forward before stopping a few feet away.

His gaze swept over them briefly and dismissively before speaking.

"This place is now the property of the Setting Sun Gang," he declared with a flat tone.

"You can leave now."

There was a brief silence before low chuckling sounds rang out from West.

The man’s brow twitched.

"...Something funny?"