The Achievement Junkie

"Now, that doesn't mean the god system is weak," Sterfen continued, "I just think your system is a one-off improvement and not a system created for a multitude of gods. It takes more effort than the god system, but it offers much more for yourself and those you've created a pact with.

"What I wonder most is what benefits your demigods will receive."

Unable to answer that or conceive that with his current level, Jack was startled to imagine what his chosen demigods would receive. Considering that choosing a demigod would be more impactful than his normal pact, there was no telling what Jack's system would offer those demigods.

A few knocks rapped on the door. Lunara smiled and shouted, "Hurry up! We can finally discuss everything!"

Eedaj opened the door, leading Rikko, Kori, Bowzer, Hadurt, and Lorwynn. The rest of Jack's usual party entered next with the guild leaders. Then, to Jack's surprise, Dragas and Guuro were the last to enter before they closed the door and cast silence throughout the room.

"Finally, you're awake!" Dragas rushed to the other side of Jack's bed, sitting beside Eliza.

"And why were you so worried about me?" Jack chuckled.

Dragas showed a pouty face. "How could my grandchild not have a father?! If you leave Eliza a widow, I'll kill you and turn your body into fertilizer."

"Okay… I'll keep that in mind," Jack smiled nervously and looked to the others around the room. "Sorry to keep you all waiting so long."

Lorwynn smiled warmly. "It was no--"

"Yeah, why did you take so long?! All you had to do was wake up!" Hadurt shouted with a smile. "Do you realize how tempting it was to kill Pestro personally while you were comatose? Now's my chance to ascend, so why did you take so long?!"

Laughing, Jack slowly lifted a hand up to calm Hadurt. "Don't worry, I've got a fun plan for Pestro. But before that happens, I wanted to make sure that we're all on the same page for what comes next. You guys already talked about who's making you three demigods?"

Kori answered, "Lunara will choose me. I think Rikko is choosing Hadurt while Guuro is choosing Lorwynn. Then those two will get a boost to two of heir magic types."

"Good, then I'll mention what comes next." Jack continued, "After we kill Pestro and you three can reignite your latent potential, you'll join me in Earthen Keep."

"You're coming too?" Hadurt asked, raising an eyebrow. "Does that mean--"

"No, I won't be helping you clear the entire dungeon. But you are allowed to kill anything and everything you can. You can't miss this chance to become gods. We need all the support we can get and there's no telling when you'll get another chance," stated Jack. "I'll be going solo, sneaking through all ninety-nine floors of the dungeon until I can reach the ancient tomb at the end."

"Ohh… Who's tomb is that?"

Jack looked to Hadurt and smiled wide. "Mine."

"What?!" Hadurt shouted while everyone else out of the loop was stunned.

"It's the tomb of my former body," Jack explained. "When I was chosen as Daruun's champion, I started back at lv. 1 because I received a new body with even more potential. Though that made things difficult in the beginning, now I can do way more than I ever could in my last life.

"Also, I should find all of my old items in the tomb, including all of my old gear, equipment blueprints, EXP pots, and more," added Jack. "With that, we should be able to arm a small party to the teeth."

"Perfect! Then we'll be able to make new gear and equipment on top of gaining some right off the bat," Lorwynn stated, seeing into Jack's intentions.

"Yup, and given my system's abilities, I think I can cheat smithing and weapon crafting…"

Most everyone turned to Jack with a strange look on their faces.

Noticing their confusion, Jack explained, "With my new body came something called a system, which, according to Sterfen, should be better than the god system. That's how I'm able to access the skills of everyone with a pact, even the personal skills and spells of gods. That should also help me instantly become a master blacksmith to create my own weapons."

"Ok… so that means you can learn skills faster than anyone else?" Hadurt asked, trying to comprehend what Jack meant.

"Sorta… That's a big part of it. But it also makes all of you stronger, as you all know," answered Jack. "But there's one thing you need to remember. While I'm making this long dungeon run, I can't leave until I reach the ninety-ninth floor. If I leave halfway, then I'll half to start back at the beginning and waste even more time that will be needed elsewhere."

"That's fine," stated Eedaj. "Considering what just happened, we know that the chaotic gods won't be making a direct move anytime soon. We've practically eliminated their entire syndicate and they're down to their remaining gods. And Moranti weakened their numbers already, so the chaotic gods will be acting carefully and thoughtfully.

"And the holy gods?" Jack asked.

Kori answered, "I don't think we'll need to worry about them either. They just lost two gods and now we've holed up numerous gods here in Gilga. Until Halmut comes up with some countermeasure for the increase of neutral gods, he won't be stepping out against us, not in godly combat at least."

"Then now should be the best time for me to disappear for a while. All the more reason why I need to hurry and clear Earthen Keep," concluded Jack.

"And what should we do?" Rydel asked. "Is there anything we can do to level up while you're gone, Jack?"

Jack scratched his head. "Hmm… You're all around the mid-forties so we would need a suitable dungeon… Hadurt, do you know any dungeons that could work? With the syndicate on the ropes, I imagine that we could find an empty dungeon for them right?"

"Or…" Sterfen cut back into the conversation, "What if they joined some of the upcoming wars?"

"Why's that?" asked Jack.

"Well, after half of the Trodan Council was proven to be syndicate members, that left the Leisure Guild with the majority of the remaining seats. Also, the people of Gilga are almost too grateful to the Leisure Guild, wanting it to resume control over Trodar like things were originally after Trodar was formed," explained Sterfen. "Because of that, it means the Leisure Guild will now be the driving force to reunite Trodar's lost territories and could ally with other nations."

"Oh… So you want them to fight in the war with Prachten, Iscantor, and Limneer?" reasoned Jack.

"No, just the fight with Limneer," Vixus responded. "Prachten and Iscantor have both asked the Leisure Guild to host a war conference. They've already asked us if there was a way to end things peacefully or create an alliance."

"Really?" Caught off guard, Jack scratched his head again. "And since Limneer hasn't, I assume you're suspecting they'll be the only ones to fight it?"

"Yeah, that's what we're suspecting," stated Vixus. "How would you like to handle it, Jack?"

Taking a moment to think carefully, Jack nodded and stated, "How about this… We'll have each of them rejoin Trodar officially, but they'll become territories under the Trodan flag? Then, they'll each elect their own representatives to run the territories under Trodan rule. Does that sound fair to you?"

Vixus smiled, along with the others, replying, "That sounds very generous considering our overwhelming strength."

"And with the other nations about to war, I'm sure at least Prachten and Iscantor will be glad to have the Leisure Guild for protection," added Eedaj. "As new nations, they'll be the first target for land-hungry kingdoms."