The Achievement Junkie

"Give me one good reason."

Naparn was entirely still. The Molten God didn't even breathe, afraid that Sterfen would press the knife further into his throat.

"Hmm… It seems you remember your lesson well…" Sterfen chuckled as he dragged the tip of his blade down Naparn's throat. He cut into the collar of the god's luxurious jacket. Underneath that, a vulnerable scar was visible. "You know my capabilities already, so don't push your luck."

"What do you want?" asked Naparn.

Sterfen's warm smile returned, making the Assassin God all the more frightening. "Sadly, killing you will ruin my current plans… If only…"

"If you're not here to kill me, then why are you in Olympic Chateau?"

"First, let me warn you about something," Sterfen added. "You've already experienced two of my personal skills, but you've never experienced my third."

"Third…" Naparn's breath stopped again.

"Don't worry, it's simple. Now that I've marked you with my blade, my third skill has already activated. It took half a century to perfect but I crafted it should I ever get a chance to enter here, like I have now," explained Sterfen. "I call the skill Mark of the Reaper. In that slit on your neck is a portion of my own energy, ready to puncture your throat and end your life upon my command. I'll let you feel it for yourself…"

As Sterfen removed the blade from Naparn's throat, Naparn was terrified. He saw Sterfen remove the knife and step aside yet the Molten God still felt the presence of a knife penetrating his skin.

"Unless I remove that mark, your life is in my hands for the next twenty-four hours," stated Sterfen. "Should I wish you dead, that's what you'll be. Should someone else wish you alive, then they'll have to bargain with me…"

Catching on to Sterfen's plot, Naparn glared angrily at Sterfen. "You dare use me as a hostage?! How could--"

"Would you rather die right now?"

Stopping his tongue, Naparn refused to say more.

"Good, now be silent and wait for our next hostage to arrive."

"What--"

"Naparn?"

Hearing that voice, Naparn looked back from where he came. He spotted Lyrun walking up to him. But Naparn's heart sank further before he felt any relief. The familiar slit along Lyrun's throat was enough to dash away the Molten God's hopes of being freed.

Lyrun was confused as well, turning to Sterfen and then looking behind him.

That's when Naparn also noticed a second Sterfen casually walking behind Lyrun. And as soon as Naparn spotted the second Sterfen, its figure faded away."

"Sterfen… You used a body double to mark me?" Lyrun asked, showing a praising smile.

"Unlike this pestro, you're smart enough to recognize a hostage situation without putting up a fight. With that in mind, why not use a low-level copy instead of myself?" answered Sterfen. "But just because my body double to marked doesn't mean you're safe. I'm sure you can still feel the knife against your throat as we speak."

"Then, I assume you'll be taking us to Halmut?"

"Correct. He's got a few things that I desperately want. Do you think I'm kind enough to keep Naparn alive longer than he needs to be?" Sterfen stated, not holding back his words.

Stewing in anger and silence, Naparn didn't dare speak. Against his will, the Molten God had no choice but to go calmly along with the scenario like Lyrun.

"Then follow me. It's been a while since I last visited my arrogant brother."

"Sterfen, Halmut is--"

"He's my brother, whether you like it or not," interjected Sterfen. "It's not my fault that Halmut has abandoned his family. If he hadn't then I'd be calling you nephew… Then again, maybe it's a good thing he left the family. I would hate to be labeled the black sheep for wanting to fillet my nephew…"

The God of Secrecy nonchalantly strolled through the halls as the hostage gods followed suit.

In a few minutes, the group of three entered the expansive throne room. Halmut was already rolled over, watching the three gods enter with squinting eyes.

The main holy god didn't keep his eyes on Lyrun or Naparn for long. His focus was on Sterfen as he sighed. "Sterfen, what have you done?"

"I'm only here because you've forced my hand, Brother," Sterfen stated in a very professional tone. "If you and those under you hadn't bothered my wife so much then I never would've gotten involved. Can you really blame a husband for seeking vengeance and freedom for his wife?"

"I'm not your brother, Sterfen. I respect you and the other gods under Daruun but I have given that up. You know that," argued Halmut. "Now, explain yourself. How did you enter this place and why are they both standing behind you so casually with blood on their necks?"

"Long story short, they're my hostages."

"Hostages? You can't take--"

"Halmut, as you don't wish to be my brother I won't remain courteous." Sterfen's voice became colder as he cut off the dragon and continued his explanation, "With a single command, their lives will be lost. Even if you revive them, the holes in their necks would never heal, so take that into consideration. Would you like to lose your two most loyal lackeys?"

"I'm no--"

"Shut up!" Halmut spoke up, silencing Naparn from joining the conversation. "Continue, Sterfen."

Nodding, the Assassin God continued, "I'm giving you a choice. I can either kill both of these men now or you can hand over my wife's contract, as well as Kori's."

"Or," added Halmut, "I can just kill you now."

"True, you're entirely capable of killing me. But I'll be taking these two with me. And since one of them is the man I despise more than death, I'm willing to exchange my life for both of theirs," reasoned Sterfen, not flinching under the dragon's threats. "So, what will it be? I'll release them after you hand me the contracts and escort out of Olympic Chateau. I feel that exchanging the lives of two gods for the lives of two others is quite fair, don't you?"

*****

Facing his opponent, Argyle held nothing back as he forced the regent swordsman to take defensive precautions.

The regent was gritting his teeth in anger. Even with his legendary blade, the swordsman was forced to equip his shield. It removed the regent's ability to attack two-handed and his mythic-tier shield was now getting cracks thanks to Argyle's special blade.

At the same time, Argyle kept a close eye on Tralon's duel.

Tralon had managed to escape the Lightning Cage from Thyron but he was starting to look worse for wear. And with such a wide level gap, Argyle couldn't imagine Tralon holding out much longer.

With that in mind, Argyle needed to hurry up and finish his opponent.

Argyle exhaled sharply through his nostrils. Focused on the man shielding himself, Argyle rushed forward with ever more determination.

The two images of Argyle split up again. One rushed to flank the regent while one sidestepped and ducked low for an attack on the regent's legs.

Forced to defend, the regent moved to parry the low attack in front of his face and kept his shield ready to defend the attack behind him. As the two swords connected in front of the regent's right leg, Argyle's sword faded into nonexistence. The regent rushed his head around to get a better view of Argyle's incoming attack but didn't find Argyle.

At last second, the regent caught a glimpse of Argyle in the air.

Rather than simply flank, Argyle leaped to a new vantage point and attack from the spot exactly opposite his false attack. He flanked from high up, putting the regent's parry at the largest disadvantage Argylde could create.