Tantalus Returns!

Seiyun: So would you like to run again?
Miira: Hi. Flattered, but I think we will pass on that!

His heart drummed as clammy unease hit his head.

Seiyun: Why?
Miira: You were a great DPS, so I’m sure you will find a group for yourself.
Seiyun: But why not your group?
Miira: Why? You were late and didn’t even want to join VC. You’re not the kind of guy we’re looking for.

Now it was personal. He gritted his teeth and wrinkled nose, as he reminded himself to not lose his cool. Even with his pride injured, he couldn’t let go of the feeling he had playing with them. An innate excitement, an unburdened giddiness — he would not lose heart because of a silly voice chat.

Seiyun: But I want to play with you.
Miira: Why?
Seiyun: Because for once after years it felt fun and meaningful to play. I want to be part of a group that clears new content first. I want to enjoy the game to its full potential. Together we could do it.
Miira: High DPS is not enough for that…

His shoulders dropped as ‘High DPS is not enough for that…’ stayed there, reminding his paucity. He took a couple of deep breaths.

Seiyun: Then what do you want me to do?
Miira: Oh? Persistent. I like that. Fine, we will give you a second chance then. Come on VC and we will go achievement hunting! Then we will see.

'Achievement hunting? The notorious waste of time? While in voice chat?'

***

An invitation to a Discord server popped up on Dave’s screen. Hesitantly, he accepted. There was only one voice chat room where Miira and Deilo were already in. He adjusted his microphone, cleared his throat as if preparing for a vocal test, and joined in.

Immediately, he was met with a girly giggle.

‘Oh, hello!’ Miira greeted him.

‘Hey,’ husky Deilo’s voice came through, which took Dave aback.

‘Hey…’

‘Oh, he talks! So, Seiyun, how are you doing? Want to tell us what did you like about our run so much?’ Miira continued.

‘Don’t tease him. He already has enough coming his way.’

Stumped, Dave gulped as Miira continued her excited giggles. ‘Alright then. Boys, we’re teleporting to the Forest of Pendalogues.’

He didn’t want to inquire any further. The sooner they would be done with this, the better. As they appeared in the forest, a wave of nostalgia hit him. It was one of the late-game leveling areas, and he hadn't been back for ages. The blue crystal leaves of the trees clinked together as they moved, creating a pleasant sound that blended with the area's ambivalent music. The grass emanated a tiny glow as you walked through it.

Miira and Deilo led the way to a golden, shimmering waterfall.

'Right! Now, we're going for the 'Tantalus Returns!' achievement. Do you have it, Seiyun?'

Knowing he didn't, but wanting to play along, he pretended to check his list. 'No.'

‘Great! So, it won’t be so useless for you. Anyway, do you see those ripples in the middle of the water? That’s where Tantalus is supposed to spawn. He could be on any of the 6 channels, but only on one of them at a time. So, our aim is to find the right channel, draw him out of the water and kill him. Simple, right?’

They began their search shortly after. Channel 2... 3... 4... Ah, there it was. Channel 5. A tiny, scrawny goblin with a massive yellow bag on its back. He wore a simple shirt made of purple leaves, a metal-looking helmet, and a red horn protruded where his forehead was supposed to be. The goblin stood on the surface of the water in a daze, mumbling something under his breath.

‘Channel 5,’ Dave announced.

‘Great! Wait for us.’

In no time, Miira and Deilo stood beside him. 'Since you're ranged, why don't you draw him out?' Miira suggested.

‘I will one shoot it. It’s a low level mob.’

Deilo chuckled. 'Don't worry. Give it a shot.'

With suspicion and a shrug, Dave released a single auto-attack, dealing measly 1 damage to the creature. The goblin stumbled and fell on its bag. Then, the next thing he knew, it disappeared in front of his eyes.

‘What..?’

The creature reappeared next to them paralyzed, as both Deilo and Miira unleashed a barrage of 1-damage hits.

‘Hit it!’ Deilo shouted.

Snapped out of his stupor, Dave joined in. Finally, after a good 30 seconds of bashing, the creature died.

‘Right. That’s how it’s done.’

‘Did you get the achievement?’ Dave asked, already tasting his affirmation to join.

‘Oh. No. We need to kill it 500 times in total. Also, when you wake him up, he dashes out of the water and runs away, unless you stun him as soon as he gets out. The dash is fast, so watch out. I can do the first stun but it only lasts for ten seconds, and then…’

Miira’s voice faded in Dave’s mind, overtaken by the number 500.

‘One kill takes around 30 seconds… times 500… that’s… over 4 hours, without the time spent on searching and loading screens…’

***

It was well past the midnight when they were only one goblin away from the victory. Dave’s eyes were bloodshot, posture contorted into an inexplicable shape. Yet Miira's voice remained as cheerful as it had been five hours ago.

‘There! Channel 3, last one!’ she exclaimed, as if meeting a long-lost friend at the airport.

Momentarily, the goblin was defeated, followed by a long, exhausted sigh from Deilo and a ‘Yaaaay!’ from Miira. Dave waited patiently.

‘You guys got your achievement already?’ he asked.

‘Yea! You’re still missing some? Weird. Oh well, check how many you still need.’

He scrolled through a never ending list of achievements, scanning for the ‘Tantalus Returns!’ yet nothing.

‘I can’t find it on the list. Only ‘Tantalus Appears!’ which says 0 out of 1,’ he responded, somewhat irritated.

‘Ohhh…’ with lower than usual voice, Miira responded.

‘Uuuuhhh…’ Deilo added.

‘What?’

‘Well,’ she giggled, almost apologetically. ‘You see, for the ‘Tantalus Returns!’ achievement to even be available… You need to complete the ‘Tantalus Appears!’ which is in a completely different area.’

‘Sorry, man, we thought you would have that since you get it through a quest while leveling.’

‘I don’t care about the achievements. I don’t care about the achievements. I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENTS.’

‘It’s okay,’ Dave cleared his throat. ‘So, are we teaming up as a static for the next update?’

But Dave’s hopes were soon reeled back as Miira was just not ready to give in.

‘Sure. If you’re willing to tank for us.’

‘I don’t tank, I’m a DPS.’

‘Well, if you want to join, that’s our last condition. We will help you with learning and gearing up. What do you say, Deilo?’

‘Sure, whatever. Good tanks are impossible to find, anyway.’

‘I suppose… I could try,’ Dave answered, unsure if they were messing around.

‘Right, you’re starting tomorrow then,’ she grinned with an absence of malice.