The Achievement Junkie

'They've taken Jin! We need to get him back, now!'

'Seriously?' Moranti was startled to hear such a thing. 'Who took him?'

'Grixor! He broke Jin's limbs and carried him away,' explained Eedaj.

Then, Sterfen's shout came through, 'Moranti, we need you!'

'Right, right… I'll go get him back,' Moranti stated calmly.

'Pick something up from Rikko to trade. He's good two things that I'm sure they'd want to get back,' Sterfen added. 'Also, I'm coming with you.'

'Are you--'

'Don't worry about me. I've only killed one god today and I'm not satisfied yet.'

Excited to hear that, Moranti smiled and teleported back to the Leisure Guild. Sure enough, he found two familiar faces waiting for him in their meeting room. Instantly, Moranti recognized one of the items the holy gods would be desperate to get back.

"Look! I've finally got it!" Choron shouted in childlike enthusiasm. He swung Naparn's sword around like a toy.

"Since you've already fulfilled your contract, then let me take it back," Moranti replied. "I'm sure it could come in handy for negotiations to get Jin back."

"What?!" Both Rikko and Choron shouted in unison.

"I'll explain later. First, I need the sword. Second, you have something they'd want, right?" Moranti asked, pointing at Rikko.

Nodding solemnly, Rikko retrieved the corpse of the fallen Mage God, shocking Choron.

"Good, I'll take them both off your hands."

Storing both the sword and the corpse, Moranti teleported away in haste. Now standing beside Sterfen in the air, Moranti smiled and extended his hand to the Assassin God.

"Lunara, gather the others and prepare for our return. We've got to go get Jin, that battle-crazed idiot," Sterfen stated. Then, he took Moranti by the hand and vanished, leaving Lunara and Dragas to gather the others and learn more about the situation from Eedaj.

*****

Halmut stood patiently over the viewing table. After reminding Grixor of the plan, Hadurt smiled as Grixor fled with the amulet. As the others in Reinolt did the same, Halmut changed the view.

Looking over the scene on the Maldor-Aazoon border, Halmut was confused by what he saw.

Naparn appeared to be a magma elemental he was so mad. Lava consumed his entire body as Naparn was yelling to his opponent, the fading Sterfen. But whatever the situation, they had fulfilled their strategy already.

Halmut calmly stated into his contact crystal, "Time to withdraw."

Seeing Oosam and Sillo retrieve their amulets was proof that the message went through yet Halmut was furious to see Naparn ignore the order.

"Naparn, NOW!"

After yelling directly into the depths of Naparn's skull, Halmut saw his loyal second-in-command ignore orders yet again. And seeing Sterfen and Lunara rocket toward him was only adding more to Halmut's rage.

Since Naparn was still rebellious, Halmurt roared, "NAPARN! RETURN NOW!"

Finally, as Grixor and the others entered the conference room, Naparn fled his battle with great reluctance.

"Naparn refused to return?" Grixor asked, still smuggling the beaten and broken God of Discipline.

"It's nothing. He'll be here any second," Halmut answered, steadying his gaze. "But we should be ready. Knowing them, they shouldn't take long to arrive."

The holy gods each took a seat and the bestial gods returned to their human forms.

Jin was handed to Halmut, who showed the samurai a friendly smile. "Jin… It's been quite a while since we've spoken. Wasn't it before your ascension?"

Rather than answer, Jin spat in Halmut's face and smiled. "Kill me… Now's your chance…"

"That's tempting… but there's something more valuable than your life, at least it is to me. I'm hoping it's not the same for your comrades…" Halmut cheekily replied.

Naparn stormed in, still covered from head-to-toe in magma.

"Cool off or you'll be waiting outside," stated Halmut, still unhappy with Naparn's insolence.

"Yeah, cool down, hothead!"

That voice rang out from the back of the room. None of the holy gods had entered from that side yet everyone recognized that voice. The holy gods looked and found two fellow deities standing within the conference room, unwelcome.

"Sterfen… We meet again and so soon…" Halmut chuckled, turning to show Jin in his hands.

"Yeah, yeah, shall we get on with the trade?" Moranti cut in.

"Fine. Hand over the enchantment key and I'll release Jin."

Sterfen and Moranti were floored by the request, not expecting it to come from Halmut.

"I'll repeat myself this once. Hand over the enchantment key and I'll return Jin to you. If not, then I see no reason for him to remain alive," stated Halmut, still showing his well-rehearsed smile.

"You don't want this?"

As Moranti retrieved the corpse of the fallen Mage God, the unknowing holy gods were startled. Halmut, however, was unfazed, shrugging and answering, "No… I don't feel a corpse is worth him alive."

"Then what if we add this to spice up the trade?" Moranti smiled back, showing his own acting skills.

Again, all holy gods that weren't present on the Maldor-Aazoon border were baffled to see Naparn's sword appear in Moranti's other hand. Halmut was also startled, turning to Naparn with hellish fury in his eyes.

"Do you want it or not?" Moranti asked again.

Halmut took a moment to reply. It was a development he hadn't quite expected. Adding the sword to the deal had actually made it a fair deal, considering Halmut's ability of resurrection. But that wouldn't get Halmut what he wanted…

Torn at the moment, Halmut eyed the others carefully. He asked, "Does that mean you won't offer the enchantment key?"

His tone finally shifted and became cold. Halmut popped the knuckles of his free hand, preparing to deliver a finishing blow to the already broken samurai. However, Halmut suddenly felt something warm fall onto his chest, yet it quickly chilled and wet his robes. The Sun Dragon looked down in shock. Then, Halmut felt a rush of blood coming up his throat. The red liquid dribbled out from between Halmut's teeth and down his cheek. His rage eclipsed Naparn's in an instant as he looked down at the samurai with utter disdain.