Chapter 350: Grand Lotus

[Moonlight Leather]

Leather made of soft, silver fur that shines in the presence of moonlight. The leather can be used to create robes that increase one's magical ability.

Material Rank: AA

As expected, the soft fur was a material. However, it wasn't anything special when compared to dragon materials. Plus, it was only AA-rank.

'Pass.'

Kang Oh picked up the book next.

[Flash Bang]

A spell created by the mage, Rubana. Reading this book will teach you Flash Bang, which you can use to either blind or damage your enemy.

'Flash Bang, huh...' He'd never heard of this spell before. 'Is it a rare spell?'

If it was, then he'd be able to sell it to the Mage's Tower for a hefty price. He'd be ok with contribution points too, rather than money.

"Lastly..." Kang Oh picked up the shoes.

[Moonlight Infused Boots of Swiftness]

Boots that the Beast of the Black Forest, Diak, dropped. The boots are light and tough, so they are perfect for long distance travel. However, these boots show their true worth when traveling over short distances. Contains the power of the moon.

+ Moon's Blessing: Receive the moon's blessing. All abilities increase by 10%.

+ Swiftness: For 10 seconds, you may go beyond your max speed. In exchange, this ability rapidly drains your Stamina. Cooldown: 5 minutes.

Rank: S.

Abilities: Defense +330, Physical +70, Mental +30, Sense +50.

Minimum Requirements: Level 400.

'Not bad.'

However, he wasn't interested in them. He already had the Draka set, after all.

'I'm most interested in the necklace.' Kang Oh stared at the necklace that Eder was currently looking at.

A short while later...

"Have you all taken a look at the items?" Kang Oh asked.

"Yes."

"Yes."

"How will we divide up the loot?"

"Pick the item that you want. If no one wants an item, then we can give it to Mr. Man Bok. In exchange, you can only pick one item!" Sephiro said.

"What if two people want the same item?" Karin asked.

"Then it'll be auctioned off. The money will go to whoever didn't get an item."

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

"Does anyone want the Moonlight Leather?" Sephiro took the lead. "No one. Then how about the grimoire? Does anyone want it?"

Soren was the only one who raised her hand.

"Sold!"

"Hehe, thank you."

"Now it's time for the boots. I want the boots." Sephiro took a look around. "No one? No one wants them, right?"

There was only one bidder this time too. Sephiro smiled brightly and took the Boots of Swiftness. 'Oh, yeah. I got really lucky.'

"I see you were all aiming for this item here. The last item is the S-rank necklace!"

Kang Oh and Eder simultaneously raised their hands. But for some reason, Karin didn't raise her hand.

"What about you, Ms. Karin?" Sephiro stared at her.

"I don't really want anything." Karin shrugged her shoulders. However, everyone else knew why she was hesitating.

She hadn't done anything. After all, Karin had died as soon as the battle began. That's why she didn't ask for anything.

"Then Mr. Kang Oh, Mr. Eder. Please bid for the item or come to an agreement," Sephiro said.

"Eder."

"Yes, Mr. Kang Oh?"

"It's about time I change my necklace. Give it up."

"I don't even have a necklace."

"I probably need it more than you."

'I fight on the frontlines while you fight from a distance!'

"Didn't you see what happened? I almost died from a single hit. I need it too." Eder didn't back down.

"Are we really doing this?"

"I've made a lot of money too."

"1,000 gold!" Kang Oh yelled.

"2,000," Eder replied.

"3,000."

"4,000."

"5,000 gold!"

5,000 gold was Kang Oh's Maginot Line. If Eder raised his bid, then he would give up the necklace.

"..."

However, Eder raised his hands. 5,000 gold was his limit too.

"Then Mr. Kang Oh will get the necklace, and Ms. Karin and Mr. Eder will receive 2,500 gold each. We'll leave the Moonlight Leather with Mr. Man Bok. Does anyone have a problem with this?"

"No."

They had finished dividing the loot, and Kang Oh had acquired a new necklace for the low price of 5,000 gold.

'Thanks for everything.' Kang Oh pulled off his necklace.

The Wind Yearning Fire Necklace. It possessed the ability to quadruple the power of wind magic or skills. In exchange, it quadrupled the MP cost and cooldown time.

Quadrupling the power of wind magic and skills was great, but Kang Oh only had one wind element skill. So to him, it was like casting pearls before swine.

If a wind mage equipped this necklace, then it'd be able to show its true worth.

Anyhow, a full moon hung from his new necklace, which glowed with faint light. He equipped it right then and there.

[You have equipped Moonlight Beast Diak's Necklace.]

[Moon's Blessing has increased your abilities by 10%.]

[You may now use Moon's Protection.]

Hunting Diak had benefited him substantially. Not only did he get a new necklace, but he'd also won 300 million won ($300,000 USD)!

* * *

Cyndia, Muhawk, and Gainus, who was assuming his elderly human form, visited Eder's mansion.

"Welcome," Eder said. "How have you been? Please come in!"

They briefly exchanged pleasantries, and then Cyndia went straight to the point. "It's time to fulfill the Supreme One's task."

"Have you found the escaped Mayanes?" Eder asked.

"Not yet," Gainus replied.

"Not yet?" Eder tilted his head. 'If you don't know where they are, then how do you expect us to fulfill the goddess's task?'

"Please call Mr. Kang Oh and Mr. Sephiro. We'll continue this discussion once they're here," Cyndia said calmly.

"Understood."

Sometime later...

At Eder's behest, Kang Oh and Sephiro came to his house.

"You called?" Kang Oh looked at Cyndia and asked.

"We're all here now, so we can begin."

Kang Oh's party attentively listened to her.

"Myself, the church, and the Divine Dragon are tracking the escaped Mayanes. However, we haven't been able to find them yet."

"They hide well," Gainus added.

"I see," Kang Oh said.

"It won't be easy to find them. Thus, there's something we have to do before we find them."

"Which is?" Sephiro asked.

"With Diabol and Krishan dead, there are six other Mayanes that are still alive. Two of them have escaped our grasp, but four of them are still sealed away."

"Do you want us to kill them first?" Kang Oh asked.

"Yes."

Then, his quest was updated.

[Goddess's Quest: Annihilate the Mayanes]

Though they were favored by the God of Creation, the Mayanes arrogantly revolted against the Primordial Gods.

The Goddess of Death, Deborah, wishes for their complete annihilation. She also wants you to retrieve the God of Creation's sources, something they are completely undeserving of.

Remaining Mayanes: 6.

If you complete the Goddess's Quest, then you may choose one of these rewards.

1. Raise one skill or spell to master-rank.

2. A weapon imbued with the Goddess of Death's power.

3. Transcend your limitations as a human.

Difficulty: Nightmare.

Minimum Requirements: Demon Sword Ubist.

Failure: You will automatically fail the quest if you lose possession of Demon Sword Ubist.

[The Goddess's Quest has been updated.]

"They may attempt to free their companions, so kill the rest of them first. It's a good idea. So where are the other four?" Kang Oh asked.

"The God of Life, Luhan, has two of them. The other two are with the God of Destruction."

The God of Life, Luhan, the Goddess of Death, Deborah, the God of Creation, Maya, and the God of Destruction, Ulam. These were Arth's four Primordial Gods.

"We'll kill Lord Luhan's Mayanes first. To get there, we need to go to the floating island, Grand Lotus," Cyndia said.

"Grand Lotus!" Eder looked shocked. On the other hand, Kang Oh and Sephiro had no idea what that was.

"Why are you so surprised?"

"Ah, you've never heard of Grand Lotus before? The paradise that is said to reside somewhere in Arth?"

Grand Lotus often showed up in fairy tales. It was basically heaven; a place where someone who does a lot of good in their life goes to.

"I've never heard of it before," Kang Oh said. 'I might be excited if it were the world's most dangerous place, but what good is paradise?'

"Whatever then. So Grand Lotus actually exists, and Lord Luhan's Great Temple resides there?" Eder asked.

"Yes." Cyndia nodded her head.

"Mm. Paradise, huh... I'd really like to go. How do we get there?" Eder asked.

"Lord Gainus will take us there. Isn't that right?" Cyndia stared at him.

Gainus slightly nodded his head.

"When do we go?" Kang Oh asked.

"Now." Gainus tapped the ground with his staff. Then, a golden magic circle appeared on the floor.

Light arose from the magic circle, forming a pillar of light that engulfed everyone there. Gainus was the last to disappear.

* * *

Whoosh.

A cool, refreshing breeze blew across his cheek.

Kang Oh was greeted by the sight of a clear blue sky and green grasslands. They were so close together that it felt like he could just reach out and grab a cloud.

"Is this Grand Lotus? I only see grass here," Kang Oh said. 'It's called paradise, but all I see is grass.'

"Look behind you," Gainus said.

Kang Oh turned around, and his eyes widened.

There was a giant temple there!

The temple was built entirely of wood. But it wasn't created by carving wood and piecing them together. No, the temple was formed out of all sorts of trees! What was the best way to describe it? It was as though the trees themselves wanted to be a part of the temple and grew accordingly.

Anyhow, it was both an incredibly mysterious and bizarre sight.

"This is Lord Luhan's Great Temple of Life," Gainus said proudly, as if he were introducing his own house.

"I-It's amazing!" Eder couldn't stop gaping.

Kyaa!

Waryong didn't know what was going on, but it cried out regardless. In response, Gainus gave Waryong a stern warning.

"Don't you dare mess around."

Groan.

A dragon and a wyvern. Their levels were too far apart. Waryong groaned and hid behind Sephiro.

"Shall we go?" Cyndia said, and Kang Oh's party headed for the Great Temple of Life. Once they made it to the top of the stone stairs, they were greeted by a Birdman.

"I've been waiting for you, Lord Gainus."

"It's been a while, Ruinari. Would you mind taking us to the audience chamber?"

"Please follow me." The Birdman, Ruinari, led the party inside, and Kang Oh took his first step into the Great Temple of Life.