The Achievement Junkie

While Tyres stepped aside from his usual cockiness and began to take his fights more seriously, there was one other fight that the beasts on the battlefield avoided.

The clash of Alcahain against his former pupil, Hadurt, had already begun scarring the battlefield itself. Charred earth… Craters of rubble… Whether it was Hadurt or Alcahain, each of them wielded devastating power with each rampaging strike.

"You're doing better than last time," laughed Alcahain.

Hadurt shouted with a chuckle, "Thanks! Maybe I'll manage to beat you yet."

"In your dreams!"

As earth energy condensed around Alcahain's gauntlets, static electricity filled the air. The Brawler God picked up the pace and hurled another barrage of punches toward Hadurt.

In defense, Hadurt wielded his demonic halberd. As each punch neared him, Hadurt maintained an aura of fire, lightning, and wind all around him. Using wind to increase the ferocity of his flames and lightning to increase his evasiveness, Hadurt was daring Alcahain to fully commit to a knock-out punch.

At one end of the clearing, the rush of beasts from the spatial rift slowed. However, people were now charging out in place of the many beasts. Karronteel was relieved to see this, knowing that he'd be able to close the rift in a few moments.

Humans made up a majority of the last-arriving combatants but greis elves were also intermingled in the chaos. The Beholders charged alongside the greis elves, their newest friends and caretakers. Together, this calvary of sorts charged in without fear.

While the Minokawas and the many beasts of the Sky Floor rushed to aid Phoro with the Storm Dragons, Argyle and Dradich led many familiar faces to aid Dragov. Almost the entire battlefield was a chaotic mess of blood, but it was easy to find the behemoth Draconic Centipede and the speeding Minokawa.

With help arriving, Dragov prepared for the next part of the plan.

'Hadurt, Jin, can you cover for us?'

'What are you talking about Dragov?!' Hadurt shouted telepathically. 'I've got my hands full.'

'So will we but we'll need you two to keep Alcahain and Tyres from getting to us,' replied Dragov.

Phoro added, 'We'll be quick, so thanks!'

Jin spoke up next, startled, 'You've already gathered enough...'

The Samurai glanced to the side and gave up his thought. He sighed and laughingly cursed Jack for letting the two beasts ascend first.

Phoro was zooming through the air with Strom Dragons on his tail. But now that his fellow Minokawas were there with help of dozens of other beasts, Phoro rushed toward Dragov with reckless abandon. Startling many, Phoro crashed into Dragov's neck without mercy, landing a powerful Wind Blade attack.

CRACK!

The sound of glass shattering caught those nearby off guard. There were some fragments of glass and metal falling from where Phoro had collided with Dragov.

"RRRRROOOOOOOOOAAAARRR!!!"

Dragov's sudden cry billowed and alarmed all people within a few kilometers. Earth energy began to seep out of Dragov faster than blood from a lethal wound. The abundance of earth energy being emitted by the centipede was unfathomable to any mortal on the battlefield. But the nearby gods instantly recognized what was happening.

"Impossible!" Grixor roared, glaring at the massive centipede. "He can't--"

Moranti's scythe cut-in, nearly taking off Grixor's arm for a second time as the Earthen God was shielded by Lyrun's spell.

Moranti smiled wide, proving how devilish he could become. "You're busy with me. I wouldn't recommend losing focus!"

Unable to step away, Grixor roared, "Tralbok, find someone to get that centipede!"

"And the Minokawa."

"What?!" Grixor glanced back to Lyrun and then to the battlefield below. He gritted his teeth as the Minokawa began to release a vast amount of wind energy and entered Dragov's giant maw for protection.

Due to Dragov's size, he was impossible to guard completely. But Argyle and Dradich worked with Jack's party, guild leaders, and Jack's wives to keep the stronger opponents at bay. The leftover earth mana then worked as a natural shield against weaker attacks, letting Dragov begin his ascension in peace while Phoro did the same inside the centipede's mouth.

"EXP braces…" Lyrun stated, glancing at Jack. "I didn't expect to see such items come in handy after all this time…"

"So that's their plan," Tralbok sighed. He took out a contact crystal while becoming Grixor's second support. "Tyres, hurry up and kill that thing!"

"I'm busy…"

"What did you--"

"I'm busy down here. Jin and that swordsman have me occupied and this swordsman is fast enough to catch me," admitted Tyres. "Now, I must fight."

As Tyres ended the connection, Tralbok shouted, "Alcahain, you'd better--"

"I can try but no promises! He's faster, so that won't work well…"

The Brawler God gave Tralbok even less time, ending the conversation quickly and returning his focus to Hadurt.

"Sillo, Sybin! Take out that centipede!" ordered Tralbok.

Sybin was the first to respond, "We can't…"

"We…"

"What is it, Sillo?!"

"Hello? Sorry, but I've got your Twin Mage Gods occupied. You should search for another volunteer," stated an unfamiliar voice, leaving Tralbok speechless and frustrated as the connection was lost.

Tralbok glared at the Twin Gods and shouted, "Hurry up already!" The God of Time quickly reverted to offense and charged Moranti, gaining a slight advantage together with Grixor.

Not far from that 2-v-3 of the strongest gods was the 2-v-1 of the Twin Gods and their two-faced opponent. Sillo was furious as Duorda crushed and destroyed his contact crystal

"Don't look at me like that! You left yourself open and I showed why you should never get distracted against an unknown opponent," Duorda stated loudly. "If you want it back, come gather the rubble. Prove to me that you deserve acknowledgment!'

Shouting in anger, Sillo created a slew of magical weapons in the air around him. Icy tridents, lightning lances, earthen spikes, holy swords, and dark sabers took form and launched themselves at the black, energy-draining skeleton.

Sybin wasn't too far away, standing in front of Duorda's white half brimming with vitality. She was hesitant to make her next move as the white skeleton asked, "Are you okay?"