The Achievement Junkie

"You're right…" Alcahain agreed, also showing some signs of relief. Handing the weapon back to the swordsman, the Brawler God asked, "What side did you serve back then?"

"Skaryn. I like his simple leadership style and hands-off approach to let his followers do as they wished," answered the man. "Hence my adaptation of his skills, such as Universe of Shadows and the creation of this sword."

"Right…" Alcahain nervously chuckled, turning his attention back to the fruits.

The Brawler God, as well as all the other gods, felt both relief and caution upon learning about their newest foe. Considering the last person they saw use such attacks was Skaryn himself, it was a little jarring at first to see the swordsman go all out. And knowing that the swordsman had hidden his strength during the last great battle, they felt the necessity to be even more cautious around him.

But their nerves were gradually relaxed with help of the scrumptious fruits they continued to devour. Very quickly, they discovered that Kylon's words were true.

Torian noticed that his seventeenth fruit left him with a much weaker sensation of bliss than all before it. And the eighteenth fruit was only worse. Siding with Kylon's earlier opinion, Torian decided not to partake in a nineteenth or twentieth fruit as he didn't think they would offer him anything but a possible withdrawal when compared to what he felt moments earlier.

The others wound up doing the same, stopping after noticing the drastic change of consuming one too many fruits. After that, each god claimed their own space and either meditated in silence or chatted quietly in small groups, oblivious to the virtually invisible man by the passageway.

*****

Once they exited the passageway and reached the reef on the outside, Jack stopped and telepathically shared his thoughts and orders, 'Lina, I think it's about time you returned home. Moranti will take you back.'

'Jack, shouldn't we let Moranti have a share of fruit before leaving?' asked Lunara.

'Right… sorry, I almost forgot that…' Shaking his head, Jack continued, 'Moranti, you'll go with Raztol to their storehouse and procure one sample of each plant they have. I'm sure your wife will be excited about that.

'Afterward, Moranti and Lina will go pick thirty fruits since his bloodline should be able to handle it. Then, Moranti will take Lina and the hostage to Trodar and Raztol will come see me so that we can talk like we mentioned earlier. Is that alright?'

'Of course, Jack. It's the least I can do in return for protecting my people,' replied Raztol.

'And thank you for protecting me!' Lina leaned against the hydra head's neck and hugged him tightly.

'I didn't. If Jack and they hadn't--'

'Either way, thank you for the effort,' Lunara added. 'I'm very proud to know that our people are in your caring and capable hands, Raztol.'

'I… Thank you… Lunara…'

'When we're done talking, I assume Raztoll will want to speak with Lunara and ask her opinion on how to handle segregation more properly among the hydras. Right?' Jack pushed the conversation along.

'YES! I would very much appreciate that!' stated Raztol, regaining his usual demeanor.

'Then it's settled. I look forward to tomorrow so don't have too much fun, Moranti.'

With that, Jack hurried away toward Glacial Palace along with Lunara. Moranti joined Lina on Raztol's back as they left for the hydra storehouse filled with underwater flora and fauna of all kinds. They were all excited for what would come next.

*****

'Hmm… With both illusory and spatial energy surrounding it, I doubt entering via teleportation would work… But summoning should still be fine…'

Behind locked doors and within a barrier of silence, Jack paced around the room while thinking out loud via telepathy. He was trying to go over his plan and look for necessary adjustments while there was no one there to judge his means of meditation.

'God's Eye didn't work from the outside, but will it work inside… That can make everything more difficult…' Jack sighed, picking up a mug of fresh, hot coffee, available thanks to his reclaimed, in-game inventory. Taking a seat for the dozenth time, Jack leaned forward with elbows on knees and chin on fists.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Dispersing the silence spell, Jack shouted, 'Come in!'

After the usual clicking sounds, Raztol made his way into the room and sat across from Jack. 'Is something the matter? You appear to be stressed?'

Chuckling, Jack replied, 'Don't worry about me. I just overthink things sometimes and can use a moment alone to help me put things into perspective. Now, onto business… Why haven't you told Mom that you're my grandfather?'

'Umm…' Raztol was caught off guard by Jack's unusual wording, stunned at being called a grandfather right off the bat.

'You should tell her.'

'I know…'

'Like, tonight.'

'But that--'

Jack shook his head and insisted, 'Look, we both know that she's not exactly attached to this place, and for good reason. However, I'm sure she's matured a lot over the years and I think now would be the best opportunity for you. If you wait too long, you'll lose your chance.'

'What do you mean?' asked Raztol, sensing a strange urgency in Jack's words. 'Why now and not after your time in Glacier Keep?'

'That wouldn't be the worst time to do it, I guess… But sooner is better in this case. You don't know this but there's a whole universe beyond Glacier Reef, beyond the land above, and beyond this entire planet. I'll be taking the entire family through that universe very soon, and that includes Mom,' explained Jack. 'So, if you even want a chance to be a part of the family tree, then you need to make sure to tell her ASAP.'

'What's… ASAP?'

'Just tell her as soon as possible, okay? You already know that Lina would love it, so why hide it?'

Sighing, Raztol teetered his head back and forth, 'It's just… I know you're right. But I feel terrible confronting this before finally solving the issue of discrimination among our people.'

'Then why not start by asking her opinion on the matter?' suggested Jack. 'Now go on, go find her while you have the chance!'

'B-but--'

'Go! Before I kick you out for real!' laughed Jack.

Rising to his feet, Raztol bowed his head. 'Thank you, Jack.'

'Anytime, Grandpa. Now let me think in peace.'

The hydra head left is a quickened pace, locked the door behind him and letting Jack cast silence to resume his paced thinking.

But before Jack could continue where he left off, a flash of purple light appeared in the room. The moment Jack noticed Moranti and the straggling, red-faced hostage he dropped the silence barrier.

'What's--'

Moranti immediately shouted via telepathy, 'WHO IS RYN?!'