The Achievement Junkie

"That's what I was thinking!"

"Oh, you too, Oli?" Silas chuckled.

Nodding, Oli asked, "Yeah, I do. That's why I'd like to ask you about my next assignment. Would you mind if I spend it guarding Jack?"

"Is this to strengthen the enterprise or to give you a chance to use the nexus?" laughed Silas. "Jack would need to--"

"Jack already agreed to let me use it."

"But we still need to form the pact," Jack mentioned. "Without that--"

Oli spoke up again, glancing at Silas, "Well, I can't fulfill my end of that promise unless Silas agrees to reassign me. Also, it would strengthen the enterprise while I gained access to the nexus, allowing Jack a guaranteed chance at early survival while letting me become a four-star. That's a win-win!"

"Fine… I can find someone else for your former assignment," Silas gave in with a nod. "But only if Jack is alright with joining the enterprise."

"Hmm… I'm not sure--"

"Jack," Daruun cut in with a grin, "If you want to join the enterprise, you could eventually take my current role. You would become District 14's ambassador of the Resolute Enterprise and would oversee the security of the district while also gathering intel for the enterprise. Given time, I believe you and your hand-selected party members would be more than capable of that with the addition of a few others, like Perchet, Eedaj, and Oosam for example."

"Then… I'd be in charge of espionage and information gathering?" Jack asked Silas.

"I'd agree with Daruun. You'd be a great fit for the job while helping Daruun shoulder the burden of leading his district when the situation permits," Silas explained. "But once you commit to the enterprise, you'll never be allowed to back down. We charge at any challenge after calculating and planning for any risks involved, something right up your alley. Unless you're willing to accept such risks without hesitation, don't bother committing. The same goes for your teammates and anyone you would want to bring in with you. Point out who you way and I'll say whether I agree or not."

"Right now?"

"Right now." Silas showed a half-smile, always intent on proving merit through confident action in place of promising words.

"Well… My wives would--"

"After Daruun's training, I'm sure your wives will be capable enough to handle plenty of missions. I accept."

Sighing, Jack blinked and looked around the room. He didn't bother mentioning Sterfen or Skaryn as they were more involved in Daruun's plans and had their own plans to accomplish. With that in mind, the hero took a few moments to think over everything.

"Would my team always be given the same assignment?"

"If you're asking about splitting the team to handle two separate assignments based on which teammates were best fitted for each assignment, then yes, you'd be allowed to divide your team when appropriate," answered Silas.

"Then… I need to have Rydel, Maynard, Trax, and Zariff. Those three could even work as a smaller, subterfuge team to infiltrate enemy lines or any other situation where needed. They're a small bunch but would be able to accomplish plenty on their own."

"Hmm… I'll allow that once they're capable."

Jack continued, "Also, I'd like Bowzer to join me."

"Jack… Can I…" The young fox god spoke up, hesitating to speak his mind.

"Bowzer, if you want to travel with your Dad, then go for it. You can always come back and work with us if you'd like. The same goes for my other companions," Jack stated, looking around the room at Phoro, Dragov, Karronteel, and even Jinbe who had come with Perchet and Raztol via Karronteel's spatial rift.

"If Domnius wouldn't mind, I'd want Karronteel to work with me alongside Phoro, Dragov, Jinbe, and eventually Bowzer as another sub-team able to deploy at a moments notice to hit hard when needed."

"I'm alright with that, but only once Karronteel finished his proper training," agreed Dominus.

"Then I want to ask a few others but I'm sorry we haven't discussed this before now…" Jack sighed, turning to the gods. "I agree that Eedaj, Perchet, and Oosam would be amazing additions, but I also want to ask Sillo if he'd like to join because his plethora of energy types allows for a lot of versatility."

"I…" Taken aback, Sillo needed a second to respond. "I'm honored by the thought but--"

"Take out the corpses," mentioned Daruun with a smile. "We'll revive them now and let them decide for themselves what they wish to do."

Jack added, "And Duorda would be included along with Sybin, should she be willing to join."

As the corpses of the fallen legendary gods were retrieved and placed at the center of the room, Sillo opened his mouth but failed to say something. Everyone then watched Duorda step forward and use his living miasma to pour life back into the many corpses. One-by-one, the fallen opened their eyes and sat up. Relief washed over them as they noticed the strange grouping of gods around them and the lack of in-fighting.

"Sybin!" Sillo leaped forward to embrace his sister, who struggled to believe the reality she was feeling.

"It's better now, right?" Duorda asked in a matter of fact way.

Sybin nodded. "Yeah… it is."

"I know you've all just been revived, but I have a proposition for some of you," Jack continued. "Oosam, Sillo, would you two be willing to join Perchet, Eedaj, and Sybin to work for me indefinitely? It would involve getting stronger than your wildest imagination and working for one of the strongest organizations in the entire known universe."

"Sure! So long as no contract is involved!" laughed Oosam, getting everyone to break out in laughter.

"Same… I'm willing if I can learn more," Sybin stated, showing a serious face but a startled gaze.

"What about us?"

Jack looked to the side, watching Lyrun rise to his feet and stand with Torian and Grixor. The hero smiled and sighed but followed his gut, glancing at Sterfen in search of a response.