The Achievement Junkie

A large courtyard door opened. Jack carefully closed the door behind him, still feeling some aches throughout his body.

"Jack…" Dragov called out happily.

Smiling, Jack descended the steps and replied, "Don't worry about me. I'm fine, just a little sore."

Beside Dragov were two more beasts, a wyrm and a dragon. Dradich bowed his head to Jack while Karronteel casually turned around as Jack reached the final steps. The dragon spoke, "Have you come for me?"

"I came to talk with you. You still want to hear about what happened since your sealing, right?" Jack asked.

When Karronteel nodded, Jack added, "To help me explain some things, I had to go get someone…"

At the same time, the courtyard door reopened as a grey-skinned elf stepped in and flew down the steps in record time. Landing, Eedaj smiled and bowed his head to the large fifteen-meter tall dragon. "I'm Eedaj, also known as the Mind God. It's a pleasure to meet such a prestigious beast like yourself. You're Karronteel, correct?"

The dragon nodded, taken aback by Eedaj's self-introduction. "You… are a god?"

"There are many gods these days, for more than there were during the era of your people," replied Eedaj.

"Then tell me… How much time has passed since Halmut and Skaryn ascended? And what happened to my people?"

"I'll answer every question I can." Eedaj waved his hand to retrieve two chairs and a giant cushion. "Please, have a seat. It'll be easier for us to speak this way."

Karronteel nodded as he and Jack took sat down, allowing Eedaj to start explaining, "As for the exact amount of years since their ascendance, I'm not sure. My brother and I were the fourth and fifth gods to ascend and it's been over five thousand years since then. Now, before I explain a bit more, I must ask you this: Who is Moranti to you?"

"Moranti?!" A smile spread across the dragon's face, sensing that a piece of his old home was still around. "Is Moranti still living? Please tell me that Moranti is alive. There's no way anyone could've defeated him!"

"Calm down…" Eedaj paused, giving the dragon a moment to breathe and regather himself. "I know that Moranti is still living, but I'm not sure what his current conditions are."

Catchin on slightly, Jack asked the dragon, "Does that mean you know Moranti too?"

"Of course! As our champion, it would be a disservice to doubt his strength!" shouted Karronteel, still showing some of his emotions.

"Moranti is a Spectral Dragon…" Shaking his head, Jack sighed. "That gives me all the more reason to save him next!"

"Save him?! What's happened to him?!"

Both Eedaj and Karronteel stared at Jack as the hero stated, "Daruun told me--"

"Daruun?!?! You know Daruun, Jack?!" Karronteel interrupted them again, acting all the more surprised.

"Karronteel… What is Daruun to you?" Jack questioned.

"He is the almighty one that aided Halmut and Skaryn in their ascendance. Though we knew little of him, we recognize him as a being above deities."

"That's shockingly true," Jack replied. "Anyway, I'm a hero that Daruun chose to represent him in this world. For that reason, I've been named as Daruun's champion while I gather and lead the neutral gods against the other godly factions."

"Godly factions?"

"Long story short, Halmut and Skaryn eventually became enemies and formed their own godly factions. They helped others ascend, much like Daruun had helped them. Only, they forced every deity they helped into a strict contract, unlike Daruun. Eedaj is one of the neutral gods, the gods that received Daruun's help to ascend without contracts or binding seals," Jack explained.

"Then… Why must you war with the others?" asked Karronteel.

"We're only fighting them because they started this," answered Jack. "What will soon take place is the second godly war. The first only took place between Halmut and Skaryn, as well as their factions and all of their mortal followers. That nearly ended the world but never truly ended. We're trying to stop this before they end up destroying the world again."

"I see. So, as Daruun's champion, does that mean you'll become a god?"

"Yes. Very soon, many others, including myself, will ascend to godhood. That's the reason I wanted to talk with you, Karronteel," stated Jack. "I wanted to ask if you would be willing to join me for that. As equals, of course."

"That means I'll also become a god in time… But if we must face the other gods, then would we also be facing Moranti? I refuse to--"

"Moranti is actually under a lot of stress right now. He was captured and contained by his fellow chaotic gods after Moranti revolted and killed two of them," answered Jack. "Lucky for him, Skaryn is still sealed and is unable to activate Moranti's contract, let alone learn about Moranti's rebellion."

"Then--"

"Like I said earlier, I plan to free Moranti and help him break his contract," Jack continued. "So, knowing that we'll soon free Moranti and that you'll join me in ascending, would you like to travel with me?"

"So long as we're true equals, then I'll consider it. But you're still too weak, in my opinion," added Karronteel.

Jack laughed, "Maybe when I summoned you, but I'm stronger than you are now. If you want to test that, then be my guest."

Staring cautiously at Jack, Karronteel didn't agree immediately. The dragon then asked, "Show me your level, then. If you're at least stronger than me by a single level, I'll agree to your request."

With a sigh, Jack removed his cloak and momentarily deactivated his innate ability to block prying eyes. "Read 'em and weep!"

Karronteel didn't understand what Jack had said, but the dragon was astounded to see that Jack was over ten levels stronger. "Lv. 72?! But how could that be possible when you were so weak before?!"

"As Daruun's champion, I've created many ways to gain EXP that you might call peculiar… But it allows me to take full advantage of moments like that battle to farm EXP better than anyone else!"

"Farm EXP? What's the meaning of that phrase?" asked the dragon.

"It means that I can gather EXP in many different ways so that way I level up much quicker," Jack answered. "Once we form a mutual seal and become companions officially, we'll be linked mentally and through EXP. That way, you'll level up just as fast as I do while I get stronger by having access to your bloodline?"

"What do you intend to do with my bloodline?!" Karronteel suddenly shouted. "I'll have you know that--"

"Chill!"

While Jack shouted, he activated his bloodline skill but kept it controlled to not stress his fatigued body. The hero only altered his left arm, which wasn't as sore as the right, allowing it to become a singular claw to replicate Dragov's claws.

"See?" Showing off his transformed arm, Jack continued, "I can only do this because Dragov is one of my beast companions. When I form a mutual seal with a beast, I can recreate their bloodline strength. It was something that Daruun gave me a while back."

"Oh… So that magic is from Daruun…" Shifting from suspicion to shock, Karronteel took in the sight of Jack's unique skill. "Daruun must truly be a being that stands over gods, as I've never seen or heard of such magic."

"Everything I have now is in part thanks to him," added Jack. "So, does that mean you're willing?"

"Yes, I'll remain true to my statement. As you are now much stronger than me, I'll join you as a companion on equal footing," stated Karronteel. "However, know that even with you're higher level, you aren't strong enough to kill me. Should you ever--"

"I'm glad we can be friends!" Jack shouted, not letting Karronteel finish his threat.

The two then performed the mutual seal, officially making Karronteel Jack's fourth and final beast companion.