The Achievement Junkie

"How about I show you, rather than tell you?" chuckled Daruun.

Both Jack and Duorda were taken aback as they recognized Kustram in the distance. Duorda murmured to himself, "So this is where it took place? I must see this!"

Jack remained silent, eager to examine the most legendary clash that Kartonia had ever experienced. It was a fight that had Jack's inner gamer anxiously excited to witness and a battle that had Jack's newer mindset of leadership curious to understand beyond the false records of Kartonian history.

"Save all questions for after the fight," added Daruun. "Let's watch the fight in silence, so you both can take it all in for what it is."

Just as Jack and Duorda nodded in agreement, a brilliant pillar of light fell down upon the island nation. It lasted only a few seconds but one-fifth of the island had been erased effortlessly.

A gigantic golden figure descended from the opening in the clouds, staring down at the scrambling nation. He stared in disdain to see the people screaming and scrambling to understand what just occurred.

Jarred as well, Jack didn't know what to think. Though the hero knew Halmut had done some outrageous things, Jack didn't know how far Halmut was willing to go. Killing thousands of innocent lives without a single thought or worry was beyond what Jack had imagined, even for the great Sun God.

"HALMUT!!!"

The clouds rolled over as Skaryn plunged downward through them. His eyes were overflowing with rage and Skaryn's entire body was on edge, ready for action.

"You're still so weak, Skaryn?" Halmut chuckled and mocked the newly-arrived god. "They're only mortals. Their lives are easily replaceable given a few decades or a century. Why should they hold any true importance to you?"

"You know very well why!" shouted Skaryn, not afraid of showing his emotions. However, that didn't mean Skaryn was acting hot-headed. He remained in place, standing a few dozen meters in front of the giant dragon.

Halmut laughed some more, "Really? I don't remember having such a weak companion in the past. Can you jog my memory?"

Unfazed by Halmut's taunts, Skaryn asked, "Does Kylon know about this?"

"She's busy supporting Lunara against your men. You have no right to speak for her as her greatest enemy!"

"Does she know about this?!" barked Skaryn.

Halmut shrugged. "She has no need to know of my actions beforehand. Why should I council with her or the other gods for my every move? I lead the Holy Gods and can therefore act in favor of our goals however I wish!"

"Answer the question!"

"No, Kylon knows nothing about this," Halmut sighed, acting disappointed in his former companion. "My, my… how you've fallen…"

"Halmut, leave now before I kill you. I'd rather not do that but you're making any other option more impossible by the day," argued Skaryn.

"Well, I'm glad you're finally taking notice. I thought I'd have to eliminate all of Kustram to get through to you. I guess I'll just finish the job after dealing with you."

"You dare?"

With a slow, confident chuckle, Halmut shouted, "Join me, Skaryn! Why can't we be partners, like old times?!"

"Shut up! I refuse to be another person's tool… Never again!" Skaryn shouted, shaking the air around them.

"Ohhh… What a temper… But for no reason!" Halmut argued, "I'm no tool, not anymore. I refuse to be a pawn in Daruun's schemes. He always showed favoritism towards you, not me. Daruun has never offered me anything without offering it to you first. The man only sees me as a tool that makes you stronger. Skaryn, apart from Gem, you're the only one that I regard as my equal. Let's both leave this--"

"I refuse."

Shut down before having finished his offer, Halmut added, "Skaryn, don't make this mistake again. If you don't choose now, then I'll be forced to remove you. I'd rather not but I'm more than willing should you choose to become my enemy."

Staring the dragon in the eye, Skaryn remained on-guard. "I don't choose to be your enemy. I've never done that. It was you that chose to go against us, Halmut. You need to abandon them and give up your addiction to--"

"I've no addiction!" shouted Halmut, not daring to give up his stance. "I've been forced into this decision by him, Skaryn. He's just like them, trying to keep me cooped up and stowed away forever. If you hadn't intervened, Daruun would've sealed me away to rot forever, just like them!"

"Halmut, Daruun isn't like that," stated Skaryn. "Daruun sees you as a valuable asset and a powerful potential leader. He has no reason to--"

"You don't know anything!" Halmut roared.

"Halmut, you're in denial! Those stimulants are nothing more than drugs used to control you and--"

"Shut up!"

"Give up the stimulants and stop listening to them, Halmut!" continued Skaryn. "Then, you'll be able to see things more clearly. Then, we'll be able to work together again with Daruun--"

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

A second enormous pillar of light fell down toward the island, missing Skaryn entirely.

The crack of thunder filled the air as Skaryn rocketed away, appearing directly in front of the giant pillar. In that split second, Skaryn's eyes turned pitch-black and a shockwave of dark energy rushed upward to repel and counter the falling pillar of light.

"Halmut! Have you no shame?!"

"As the leader of the Holy Gods, I've come to eradicate a nation that defies our presence in support of you and your Chaotic Gods!" reasoned Halmut, shouting it for the entire island below to hear. "By removing them from existence, I'll be--"

"And the Flood Dragons?! What about them?!" barked Skaryn, not interested in the false logic that Halmut was spewing.

"Those are casualties that will remain on your conscience, Skaryn. It was your influence and defiance that drove me to this necessary course of action. Their demise will be respected as--"

"Retreat now, or die!" Skaryn ordered, letting dark energy consume the sky and air around them.