The Achievement Junkie

While Daruun laughed to himself, Jack was coming to terms with all of the new things he was now planning to do. Sure, he could act cool and collected, but that didn't mean that Jack was so confident in himself. It helped that he had years of gameplay to help him play the role of a legendary hero, despite his mortal nerves.

"Dragov," Daruun continued, "the Leisure Guild has prepared a massive courtyard for you, one I've made sure fit your size and allowed for the freedom to move as you wish."

"Finally!" a shout of excitement shook the chamber. "I'll be able to stretch my body and rest comfortably!"

"Oh… So he's grown that much?" Surprised, Jack returned to the moment and looked up at the darkness, remembering exactly how large he made that space. "You've grown A LOT, Dragov."

"Then, let's get going, shall we?"

Again, a flash of light filled the chamber. This time, all three of them were transported to a new area unfamiliar to Jack. Also, the new space was entirely closed off yet well-lit, giving Jack a full view of Dragov's overwhelming size.

Dragov was overjoyed. The giant centipede was already moving and making sure to explore the giant space he was given.

While Jack was in awe of the sheer size of Dragov, he began to wonder how they fit such a space within the Leisure Guild property without razing half of it to the ground. That's when Jack heard a few voices behind him.

Looking back, Jack found Tralon leading Vixus, Kims, Argyle, and Bowzer down a large flight of stairs.

"Oh… He made it underground." Jack figured out Tralon's clever design which was hidden by the slight slant in the ceiling. "What took you guys so long?"

The others were glad to see the new chamber but were startled by what some might call a wild beast of godly proportions. They couldn't help but be startled by how large the Draconic Centipede really was and how fast the massive beast was as it skirted around the open area.

"I'm glad that Dragov is pleased with his new home," Tralon chuckled as he finally reached Jack. "This place is at the edge of the property, that way Dragov can simply break through the ground at the rear and he'll be just outside the city walls."

"Did you hear that, Dragov!" Jack shouted, getting the centipede to calm down and crawl closer. "If something happens and you're needed to take action, you'll break through the back wall. That way you'll appear just outside of the city and won't destroy it in the process."

"I'm grateful to know that, Master Jack." Dragov bowed his head to the human.

"I don't want to hear that, Dragov. You can call me Jack and I'll call you Dragov, got it?"

"Got it, Jack."

The hero smiled back at the gigantic centipede, contemplating whether he should form a mutual seal with Dragov or not.

"Go for it, Jack." Daruun's voice encouraged Jack's thoughts and brought everyone's attention to Jack. "Aren't you curious what will happen should you use your bloodline skill with Dragov? Or with Phoro? Or with all three of your companions together?"

Overloaded with such exciting thoughts, Jack stepped forward with quill and ink in hand.

"Dragov, we're going to form a mutual seal and be forever linked both physically and mentally," Jack explained to the massive beast. "This will allow me to grow stronger and share some of your abilities while also linking us telepathically, as well as splitting all of our EXP from this point on."

"Then go ahead. What must I do?" asked Dragov.

"Just bring your head down here. When I ask, I'll need a drop of your blood to finish the seal."

Jack had already started writing the seal the moment Dragov's head was in reach. When Jack asked for Dragov's blood, the centipede pricked his giant tongue on one of his many teeth. Taking a drop of that small stream of blood, Jack finished the seal and found himself partnered with three beasts of exceptional bloodlines.

"Mind if I watch you test your new bloodline skills?" Daruun asked, sharing the same question that immediately came up in the others' minds as well.

Not answering verbally, Jack activated his bloodline skill. Now, he found himself in a new mental space. As if all three of the beasts were surrounding him, Jack saw the essence of their bloodlines in three different directions, imitating the beasts they came from.

Reaching out for the wind essence, Jack felt himself become lighter and more agile. His body suddenly felt more flexible. Also, Jack felt the instinctive need to flap his arms as if they were wings.

Since Jack was entranced by the mental space he had discovered, he had closed his eyes and didn't know that feathers and wings had suddenly grown were Jack's arms had been. He still had hands, but they had three fingers and rested at the end of his newly grown wings. Jack didn't grow a beak, but his eyes became those of the Minokawa's granting him sight beyond that of eagles.

Only after Jack had tested his new sight did he realize that he was no lingerie inside that mental space.

"W-What?!"

"Congratulations, Jack. You've successfully bonded with the Minokawa bloodline." Daruun began to clap, but he was the only one not frozen in shock. "Test your new speed. With your body feeling so flexible, you should be able to turn corners while keeping your ridiculous flight speed."

Testing just that, Jack rocketed through the air according to the instincts of the bloodline. He didn't manage to fly as smoothly as Phoro or as quickly, but Jack was delighted to have such abilities.

"Don't forget about Dragov, Jack. Try his bloodline out too."

As Jack stopped looping around the giant centipede's body and landed on Dragov's back, the Draconic Centipede watched in angst. Dragov hoped to see Jack using his bloodline power, wanting to help Jack in a way he had never considered before.

Jack took a few deep breaths as he reentered that mental space and separated himself from the essence of Phoro's bloodline.

Then, Jack smiled with eyes closed, not knowing what would come next.

Before everyone's eyes, Jack started to shake his jaw open. Three rows of jagged teeth replaced his usual grin. Next, plates of armor started to cover Jack's body, yet they folded into one another to keep Jack mobile and flexible. Also, bone spikes jutted out of Jack's back through the exoskeleton he had grown. And finally, Jack's fingers had merged together to morph Jack's hand's into a single long claw, mimicking one of Dragov's many legs.

Since Jack already knew that the change had occurred in reality as well as in that mental space, he admired his new form.

"Try a skill!" Daruun shouted, waving his hand to bring a sturdy, stone dummy into existence.

Hearing Daruun's shout, Jack showed his new threatening smile as he looked to the dummy. Jack's right claw began to glow blood-red. Bursting forward at full speed, Jack activated Sudden Death to reach the dummy in an instant.

Thrusting his large draconic claw forward, Jack easily carved through the stone dummy, leaving a clean, gaping hole.

"So I can use certain skills with these as well?"

Jack started to simulate the different things that he could try. That's when he remembered his bestial skills from Cerdot, the one's that required Jack to have wings.

"You'll have plenty of time to try your new flight skills later," Daruun mentioned, grabbing Jack's attention. "I'll be nice and tell you shouldn't make a mutual seal and an inheritor's pact on the same creature. If you do that, then the pact will claim precedence in the system and you won't be able to access that companion's skills."

"What about Lina? How come I can't learn her skills?" Jack asked as he reverted to his human form.

Daruun answered, "Because she's an anomaly. She's the first-ever child of two gods, making her far more than just a beast or a human. Also, I'd recommend that you only make a maximum of four mutual seals. Otherwise, you'll overload yourself when you're trying to merge bloodlines using your skill."

"Merge bloodlines… You mean activating more than one bloodline at a time, right? Does that mean I can…"

"I don't know…" Darguun shrugged, teasing Jack. "There's only one way to find out, right?"

With another passionate smile, Jack closed his eyes and reentered that mental space. In the face of the three separate bloodline essences, Jack called all three of them to him.