The Achievement Junkie

Chapter 703 - Moranti and Lunara vs Woltin's Six-man Team

"Crax..." 12-13 spat as he was informed of the situation inside the waiting chamber. He glanced at Sterfen’s shaking, sweating body. "I suppose Halmut’s plan had more kinks than anticipated. He was even stupid enough to believe they’d allow him to use such items... How come Skaryn hadn’t agreed? That would’ve made everything much easier..."

Complaining to the senseless assassin, 12-13 sighed, "We may have to abandon things a bit early... I’d rather not give up Halmut, though. It’s rare to get such a specimen with so much potential and such loyalty..."

The shadowy man went back and forth between Halmut’s vision and Kylon’s, wanting to know everything that was going on inside the keep. Once failure became imminent, 12-13 was ready to abandon Halmut and accept a half-fulfilled mission. Such results were already more than enough for 12-13 to retain his position and possibly earn him some extra influence among his peers.

*****

Those still inside the keep were clueless about the threat made on the failed challengers’ lives. No announcement was made either.

Oli determined that stating such a thing would counter anything they wanted to happen. He deduced that announcing such interference to the challengers would give any Gem members in the keep a reason to self-implode, whether it was done so willingly or unwillingly by their far-off superiors with illegal seals. That way, anyone who dared act knowledgable about the incident in the waiting room would be questionably dismissed from the competition on grounds of illegal tampering and incitement of terrorism.

Though he still wanted to enjoy Moranti’s fight, Oli’s mindset was already altered and only the removal of infiltrators would calm him.

Moranti was happily confronting Woltin as the two men were facing each other directly. In his full dragon form, Moranti played the role of the aggressor while Lunara was his support in her hybrid form. One attacked with merciless abandon and the other used skills to control the tempo of battle to keep their side from facing a disadvantage with less able bodies.

"Kartonians are amazing!" Woltin laughed, watching as Moratni charged into his six-man team with no fear. What had him in awe was Moranti’s ethereal abilities, phasing through his team’s physical and abstract attacks. "Too bad you’re not all like this!"

"Oh? Did you run into the others?" Moranti chuckled playfully. "Please tell me you sent them packing!"

"Oh, you can be sure of that. You two are much more fun though! I wonder what would happen if your two teammates were here?"

"Then you wouldn’t be," laughed Moranti. "If they joined in, your side would already have perished. Maybe you wouldn’t be out, but everyone else would be goners."

"Tough talk, but prove it!" one of Woltin’s teammates cried, getting the others riled up.

’Now!’

On Lunara’s command, Moranti barreled into the six-man team but crashed into the center of them instead of fleeing for a second follow-up strike. A pulse of spatial energy poured out, forcing the six to increase their energy defenses to resist any unwanted, forced teleportation. However, a second type of energy then poured out over them all, catching everyone off guard.

Amid the avalanche of spatial energy, Moratni blinked out and swapped places with Lunara, who cast her most powerful personal spell with everything she had, sheer frost.

An incredible shockwave of glacial energy rocked the six-man team, freezing over two of them in a glacier and half trapping two more. The woman who had shouted moments ago remained uncaptured but chilled to the bone and slowed greatly. Woltin was the only one unaffected by the attack, smiling wider than ever.

Then, a slew of massive spatial slashes was aimed at the large team from all around as Moranti wasted no time to attack the affected team members and Woltin alike.

At the same time, Woltin slammed his staff on the ground and sent out his own pulse of illusory white energy that was practically transparent. It washed over his teammates and Lunara without causing any harm, even spreading out towards the incoming spatial attack. Upon colliding with Moranti’s attacks, the spatial slashes dissipated into nothingness, as did the ice surrounding Woltin’s team.

Moranti then switched with Lunara again and charged out of the team’s encirclement with a big grin. "You can nullify other energies?!"

"Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m invincible," commented Woltin.

"Because you might accidentally nullify your teammates’ attacks as well?"

"That’s right..." Woltin sighed, knowing he couldn’t hide his weakness any longer.

Before Luanra or Moranti could say anything else, they received a message from Jack. ’Offer them half your points and leave. We have no more time to waste.’

Lunara nodded in agreement with Jack, immediately stating, "How about we offer you half our points and we walk away as acquaintances? I believe that’s more than generous."

"I’ll take that deal," Woltin agreed, surprising most of his teammates. "Jeniff, are you against that?"

Sighing in disappointment, the woman stored her sword and stepped back toward Woltin. "No... It’s a fair deal."

"Then let’s do it." Happy that she also understood how close they were to a party wipe, Woltin stepped forward with his card at the ready.

Both Lunara and Moratni held up their cards, showing near-identical numbers. Lunara stated, "I’ll pass you all of mine."

"Works for me."

Tension was still in the air as Woltin’s team watched Woltin and Lunara both hold her armband, allowing the transfer to take place. Only when the transfer was completed did they feel at ease.

"Thanks for being so understanding," Woltin chuckled, bowing his head slightly.

Moranti laughed, "Next time, I want to face you alone. I’d love to see how that would end."

"Maybe... I’m not sure how confident I would be against you by myself. It would be interesting for sure."

Having made the exchange, the two groups parted with a friendly bow and went their separate ways.

’Jack, how come--’

’There’s no time. Just hurry and scour the maze for any signs of a purple barrier or something that may lead you to one. Don’t fight anyone or anything, cause we need to hurry!’ Jack shouted his reasoning, not giving Moranti time to argue or question.

’Got it... Then I’ll just do that, though it’s no fun...’ Moranti sighed in response. ’Lunara, hop on my back.’

The goddess retained her hybrid form and climbed on Moranti, already anticipating what would come next. Suddenly, ethereal energy bathed over Moranti and Lunara, making them both ethereal as they rocketed through the air to explore the maze at top speed.

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