The Achievement Junkie

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

A voice echoed out of the barrier but none saw where it originated specifically. That was until one of the raging Storm Dragons roared and was suddenly frozen in place. Despite their incredible, divine speed, the dragon taking the lead stopped moving entirely, as well as breathing.

Both of the other Storm Dragons roared and backed off in worry. They threw more lightning at the breathless dragon. When the silent dragon showed no reaction at all, the Storm Dragons were put further on edge.

"None shall pass!" the voice repeated itself, letting the Storm Dragons better determine where the voice was coming from.

A quick glimmer of light appeared around the silent dragon's neck, revealing a man standing in the air. It was startling enough to find a man hiding right in front of their eyes but the Storm Dragons were more frightened by the purple scales covering the man's arm and the scythe-like claw that was run through the neck of the breathless Storm Dragon.

"JACK!"

A shout of anger filled the air as more figures descended from the clouds above, leaving the elves speechless. It immediately became clear to all Esonya that gods had come, leading an army of dragons to wipe out the seceding nation.

Twenty-one figures in total descended from the clouds. Many were in human form but there were ten in their full dragon forms. Leading them from the center were four men. Torian and Grixor stood as the clear generals of the march with Lyrun standing by. Tralbok was the fourth, trying his best to claim some credit and reputation for the event.

"What's wrong, Torian?" Jack replied with a laugh. "This is your fault for letting the young-bloods get antsy. If you hadn't let your new gods attack blindly, then maybe this one wouldn't be dead. He could've had another few minutes to live."

Torian shouted back in disgust, "Jack! Back off or die now! We've come to deal with the traitorous nation, not to fight the war-ending battle."

"Oh? Then I guess I'm misinformed. Last time I checked, it wouldn't take more than twenty gods to flatten Korten. Or did Lyrun have a hidden army that needs to be subdued?"

"Back off or die! You dare challenge all of us?!"

"And you dare use so many against me?" refuted Jack. "The more people you use to face me, the more credit I'll gain in the end. Play your cards wrong and I may become more famous than Halmut in a single battle… Actually, I like the sound of that!"

Jack casually swung his other arm, decapitating the lv. 90 Storm Dragon and allowing the corpse to fall through the barrier. However, the moment the corpse began its fall, Jack took on his final form. With all four bloodlines raging, Jack bolted through the air toward the two fleeing Storm Dragons.

"Try me!"

That joyful shout rushed downward as Grixor charged for Jack. Thanks to the Storm Dragons being closer, Grixor managed to squeeze past them and run into Jack just in time to save their lives.

The powerful club-like tail hammered into the tip of Jack's thinner-than-hair claws. A resulting shockwave spread wide as earth energy and space energy collided with reckless abandon. Grixor laughed loudly, "Not bad! But nothing like Moranti's!"

"Really? Then let's try this!" Jack chuckled, dousing his arms in spectral flame and reappearing at Grixor's side mid-swing of his claws.

Grixor continued to laugh as his agile tail, sprung back and slammed into Jacks' chest. Blood sprayed out as Jack was knocked backward.

"See! Nothing like Moranti! Nothing like--"

"GRIXOR!"

While the Earthen God laughed at Jack, he was unaware of the second figure of Jack appearing behind him. Both spectral scythes arched downward with more energy than ever, intent on decapitating the Earthen God in a single blow.

But Torian's speed was far too much to allow that to happen. The Storm God immediately shouted to his companion and jumped into action.

As Grixor turned around, he felt drops of warm liquid dripping onto his scales. Grixor blinked and noticed just how close Jack's attack was, not even a hand's length away from Grixor's neck. A drop of blood onto Grixor's face, trickling off of Torian's sword-like tail that was run through Jack's torso.

"You chose death, Jack," stated Torian, remaining firm and unwavering.

But the hero broke out in laughter as blood sprayed from his mouth. "You think it's that easy?"

Both figures of Jack began to fade and blow away in the light breeze, as did the illusory blood on Torian's tail and Grixor's face. At the same time, two roars sound out simultaneously, but only for a moment. When Grixor and Torian turned around, their faces immediately tensed up and twitched.

Both of the Storm Dragons that had failed to enter Estonya moments ago were now falling to the barrier below, with their severed heads leading the way.

"I clearly said, 'You shall not pass,' and they tried to pass. They had it coming," Jack shrugged as the blood of the Storm Dragons burned off of his claws.

"You…"

"Torian! Grixor!" Lyrun shouted, gathering everyone's attention. "Why are you focusing on him? Either of you can break that barrier, so hurry up and get this over with!"

"Not so fast…" A new voice filled the air as two figures rose up from the barrier. Eedaj continued, "If you've come for Korten, then leave now. If you've come to fight, then just say so."

A sudden flash of purple light appeared beside the two gods, leaving Moranti behind as the light faded. Getting a good look at the gods above, Moranti whistled loudly, "Wow… If you're all so eager to die, then why not just admit it? For you all to come at once, you'll save us a lot of time."

"Yeah, we can just do a mass burial," Jack added with a laugh.

"Enough!" Torian shouted, rethinking and adjusting to the situation. "You know why we've come. If you decide to defend Korten, then you'll be facing us all."

"Are you sure about that?"