Chapter 447 Witnessing Tralon“s Self-Sacrifice
Alleviated to hear that, Tralon smiled. "Thank you, Daruun. Without your guidance, I never would've sen Jack again or would've witnessed the magnificence of the city and guild that Jack had created. I was able to take part in that spectacular legacy, my proudest achievement."
Daruun's apparition sighed. "Tralon… Don't worry about Jack. I'll make sure he knows everything regarding this decision, and I'm sure he'll understand your intentions. Is there anything else you wanted to ask me?"
"No… There's nothing else."
"Then," Daruun added, "let me say this. Thank you, Tralon, for everything you've done and for always taking the path that most would waver from ever accepting."
"Thank Jack, he's the one who taught me that," Tralon replied with a touching smile.
With that over, Daruun faded away and the world around Tralon began to move again.
Tralon wasted no time as copious amounts of raw spatial energy started to gather around his arms, startling the frightened guards on the city wall. While preparing the spell, Tralon sighed and contacted Jack for the last time.
Personally witnessing the smile on Tralon's face and the tears in Tralon's eyes, Jack couldn't keep his own waterworks from taking place. Jack had no doubt that Tralon died fulfilled and satisfied at that moment. The look on the aging mage's face in his final moments was proof of that.
'Jack… Are you there?' Tralon asked.
'Yeah, what--'
Tralon interrupted Jack, not wanting to waste his final moments as the army was about to reach the city walls, 'Jack, let me thank you one last time.'
'Tralon, what--'
Mid conversation, Tralon teleported away into the center of the horde of enemies. He drew a lot of attention, but that didn't matter to Tralon as he focused on saying his final uttered sentence, 'Thank you, Jack… for everything…'
With that final goodbye out of his mind, Tralon forcibly ripped the fabric of space around him, casting Rendering Space across the entire army.
A torrent of spatial energy flooded the eastern field, nearly disintegrating everything and everyone that stood in its wake. The intimidating army of over ten thousand had been shredded into a paste in less than a second.
All the guards rushing to the east gate were astounded, speechless at the sight of such a phenomenal spell. Had they not been there to witness that event, hardly anyone would've believed it to have been possible, let alone that it happened moments before the city was breached. After a few moments to take in the newly updated situation, the guards began to shout and praise the powerful mage who saved them all, forgetting the weakening reputation of the former guild master.
"So, do you have any questions for me?"
Still watching the scene take place, Jack's ethereal presence stood beside Daruun. "... No… There's nothing else to say…"
"While I've awakened your subconscious, you should check your achievement list. You'll be amazed at what Tralon and the others have helped you earn," Daruun added.
Emotionlessly, Jack blinked and opened his menu. Then, he took his time to open the achievement list.
"This… This is thanks to Tralon, isn't it?"
"Well, having the dueling gods was a great part of it as well, but Tralon saving the city was by far the greatest contribution. How can an achievement be great if there's no left alive to admire it?"
Jack kept his eyes locked on his newly completed achievement, unable to say more.
[Rise of the Leisure Guild: complete]
[Successfully eclipse and surpass the former, ancient reputation of the Leisure Guild. By demonstrating the guild's ability to repel all forces with minimal casualties, including gods and being outnumbered by the thousands, the reputation of the Leisure Guild has surpassed even the organizations that gods have supported for over five centuries. Legendary reward: 2000 skill points. Event reward: 5000 skill points.]
For quite a while, Jack remained motionless and speechless while staring at the achievement. Daruun said nothing either. He patiently waited for the hero to eventually claim the achievement and look back to him.
"Are you wondering about the rest of the fight? Or would you like to hear about that from them first hand?" Daruun asked.
"Go ahead and sum it all up."
"Very well." Daruun explained, "Tralbok chased and killed Lorwynn after failing to kill you. While Lorwynn was rushed to the most powerful clerics the guild had on hand, Tralbok rushed Bowzer in an attempt to kill the fox. However, Kori, who had disguised himself as a new recruit of the guild to keep an eye on Bowzer, stepped in to save Bowzer and forced Tralbok to retreat.
"With Kori handling Tralbok, Eedaj rushed to aid Rikko in crippling Pestro, which they did. They dragged him back as a husk of his former self, waiting for you to wake up and finally kill him."
Amazed to hear that, Jack looked back to Daruun. "They crippled him to the point that I can kill him?"
"Correct. That's what Eedaj had planned all along," continued Daruun. "Now, there was also something else taking place elsewhere while this battle concluded. Sterfen made his move on the holy gods in Olympic Chateau, using your summoned Spectral Dragon as the perfect distraction to catch them off guard. With them unaware, Sterfen took both Naparn and Lyrun hostage in exchange for Kori's and Lunara's contracts."
"That's--"
"However," not letting Jack get too excited before he finished, Daruun interrupted Jack, "Halmut refused to hand the contracts over until after the battle, as he didn't want Sterfen returning to make the battle so one-sided. And after witnessing Kori's appearance and learning more about the deep-rooted hatred between Kori and Naparn, Halmut decided to activate Kori's contract before relinquishing it to Sterfen. In the end, Kori lost his godhood and dropped from lv. 95 to lv. 89 and Sterfen left Olympic Chateau with your mother's contract.
"But, you'll be glad to know that Kori will again be able to ascend using the same strategy as Hadurt and Lorwynn," Daruun added. "So, we've received one new neutral god in Lunara and we'll soon receive three new neutral gods if handled correctly."
"By handled correctly, what do you mean?" Jack asked.
"I mean that they'll have to fully focus on leveling up. Thanks to the battle, Hadurt is now lv. 89 and Lorwynn is halfway through lv.88. So long as they go to the right place and just focus on EXP gain, all three will manage to ascend in their week-long time frame," answered Daruun.
"Would Earthen Keep work for them?"
"Yes, that's where I'd recommend. They'll be the perfect distraction for your sneaky entrance. Then, while they grind EXP on the first floors, you'll be crawling through all ninety-nine floors to reach your tomb at the bottom."
"And I'll be strong enough to face the boss myself?" questioned Jack.
Daruun chuckled, "Not in the way you'd expect… Also, you'll be placed eerily close to godhood after killing Pestro, but reach won't reach lv. 90 so easily. After finding your tomb is when you should worry about the grind to ascension. Trust me, you'll be glad you went that route first instead of grinding with those three."
"Hmm… so I'll be able to handle Crypt Lord Duorda alone, but not in the usual sense…" Jack scratched his head, trying to imagine what Daruun could be hinting at. "What, do I need to up my charisma and seduce him?"
"Perhaps…" Daruun laughed, intrigued by Jack's attempts to predict the strange exchange that Jack will experience at the end of Earthen Keep. "Don't worry so much about that. I know that you'll be fine in the end, so just focus on what's most important for now. Make more pacts with gods, make a public statement as the Leisure Guild for all the city and world to learn, and enter Earthen Keep confident that you'll eventually find your old in-game avatar."
Jack sighed. "Fine… then I'll just wait and see since you're so confident about the final floor."
Daruun smiled, glad that Jack would focus on the task at hand and trust in his word.