The Achievement Junkie

Overwhelmed, Jin struggled to figure out a solution. He attempted to rush to the side but Grixor's tail didn't allow Jin enough time to readjust himself before taking another attack.

"You've done well, Jin… But it's time."

Grixor's tone wasn't cold nor warm. With an emotionless face, Grixor roared and unleashed even more energy around his tail, throwing into the samurai with all the strength Grixor's massive frame provided.

Jin did all he could to defend. All twelve of his katanas were driven into the flailing tail, yet Jin still felt his footing giving way. But Grixor's claws followed the tail in milliseconds. One was deflected while the other managed to force its way past Jin's defenses, snatching Jin's true right arm.

The samurai groaned but swallowed his yell.

"Wow… You deserve praise. To be a weak human yet you're able to swallow such pain." Grixor smiled again, praising Jin as Grixor twisted his claw and yanked Jin closer to him. The crunch of the samurai's bones was louder than Jin's pained groans.

Jin never stopped attacking Grixor but his attacks weren't very effective as Grixor pulled the Samurai into his chest, not giving Jin the space to swing his katanas or enough leverage to pierce his earth energy armor. That was only made worse as Jin's second arm was also gripped and broken by Grixor's other claw. This happened with each of Jin's physical limbs, yet Jin continued to grit his teeth and use his illusory limbs to break free.

Still admiring Jin, Grixor retrieved an amulet radiating holy energy. Its appearance had Jin immediately struggle to free himself. But the Earthen God was too strong.

"You're coming with me…" Grixor stated, activating the amulet.

A column of light suddenly fell from the dark sky. It enveloped Grixor and Jin, who was held tightly against Grixor's chest. Both were lifted off the ground as they were carried away into the heavens.

As the column faded, Eedaj's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. "Kylon! What does Halmut want with Jin?!"

"Tyres, Alcahain, it's time to retreat!" The Storm Goddess turned away from Eedaj, not bothering to answer him.

Either way, Eedaj read her mind to learn the truth. Then, Eedaj's heart skipped a beat.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Tyres shouted as he sliced Guuro's barrier one last time.

Alcahain didn't reply. He was still trying to kill Hadurt! After his permanent demonification, Hadurt had grown all the more difficult to kill since he focused on survival and not victory.

"Alcahain! Now!" Kylon rushed to the recently inducted holy god, taking out her amulet to travel via light column to their destination.

Tyres did the same, vanishing from the battlefield and leaving the Zuran army in shambles as they retreated.

The mortal battle was a victory for Rydel's party and Reinolt, but the battle of the immortals ended in their side's defeat.

While Hadurt was finally able to relax and breathe, taking some potions to recover from his injuries, Eedaj rushed to Guuro. At the same time, Eedaj mentally shouted to both Sterfen and Moranti, 'They've taken Jin! We need to get him back, now!'

*****

"Found you!"

Sillo's lust to kill was higher than ever before as he spotted the no-longer-hidden assassin. Lightning gathered to form lances. Earthen spikes were ripped from the ground below. Ice was formed to create tridents. Holy light emerged in the shape of swords. Darkness appeared to make sabers. All five of those elemental attacks took shape around Sillo's body, just waiting to be hurled into Sterfen.

Once he became visible, Sterfen didn't waste any movement. He charged through the lightning and bolted for Sillo with incredible speed.

"Die!"

All five of the incredible attacks darted through the air to engulf Sterfen in a frenzied whirlwind of projectile attacks.

Sterfen did his best to avoid any major blows or to get caught completely. Tanking or deflecting some attacks, Sterfen broke free from the whirlwind but the attacks followed him.

Strangely enough, Sterfen's focus was on the other fight above his own.

Lunara was shoeing promise with all the support from Dragas, but it wasn't going to be enough in the long run. That was clear to everyone.

While running from the slew of attacks, which Sillo kept adding to, Sterfen held his hand toward the heavens. Something small appeared in his palm. It was white and pillowy, something that was familiar to Sillo and Oosam yet something completely unexpected.

That small cloud-like substance suddenly grew darker and rushed higher into the sky. In moments, that small cloud smaller than Sterfen's palm billowed and roared with thunder and lightning. A raging storm was formed and sheet after sheet of rain fell heavily onto the many battlefields.

"Water magic?! How can you use water magic?!" Sillo shouted in anger, utterly perplexed and confused. Not only had Steren suddenly used a second magic type, but Sterfen had also cast such a useless spell to change the weather.

Oosam, on the other hand, at least understood the intentions of the spell. He looked up to Lunara, who was smiling from ear-to-ear on all three of her heads. In such weather and with that abundance of rain, she would get faster!

The Illusion God was taken aback. Never would he have believed that Sterfen was so capable as he did now. Not only had Sterfen one-shotted a lv. 93 god, while fighting another lv. 93 god and a lv. 95 in tandem Sterfen was more worried about his wife's fight than his own. And how was it that Sterfen managed to cast water magic, exactly? All these thoughts flooded Oosam's mind.

"What's the point of such a useless spell?!" Sillo yelled, still focused on chasing Sterfen with his plethora of varied attacks.

Many copies of Oosam surrounded Sterfen as well, making the situation all the harder.

But Sterfen didn't mind. With his wife receiving another boost and the weather putting a damper on some of Naparn's strength, Sterfen was gladly keeping these two from targeting the busy duo above him.

Then, Sterfen asked telepathically, 'Rikko, are you ready?'