The Goddess of Death's silhouette glimmered from beyond the purple veil.

"Begin with Mayanes Diabol!" Her resplendent voice filled the room. At the same time, a quest popped up in front of Kang Oh.

[Goddess's Quest 1: Kill Mayanes Diabol.]

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

Use Demon Sword Ubist to slay Mayanes Diabol, who is located in the western region, and retrieve the God of Creation's 'source'.

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.

Reward: Goddess's Quest 2.

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

"Leave it to me!" Kang Oh yelled.

[You have accepted the Goddess's Quest.]

"You must kill Mayanes Diabol with your jet-black demon sword. That is the only way to bypass his immortality." Deborah's brilliant voice rang out.

"I will keep that in mind. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?" Kang Oh asked.

'Please tell me more about Diabol!'

"Cyndia, my faithful servant."

"Cyndia?" Kang Oh wanted to ask 'Who is that?', but Deborah didn't give him the chance.

"Eder." Her calm, yet firm voice could be heard everywhere.

"Yes, Supreme One," Eder said, maintaining his reverence and politeness.

"There won't be a second chance."

"I promise you. I will complete my mission."

"I'll be watching."

Whoosh.

The purple veil disappeared and Deborah's marble statue returned to normal. The goddess had left this realm.

Soon after, the priestess that'd led them here returned.

"The Supreme One asked that I assist you," she said.

"Your name is..." Kang Oh asked.

"I am the goddess's faithful servant, Cyndia."

"Mm!" So this was who the goddess was talking about!

"Please follow me." Cyndia took them to the priests' living quarters. "Please sit down."

Kang Oh, Eder, and Cyndia sat around a table.

"The Supreme One told me that you are to kill the Mayanes," Cyndia said.

"Yes. She told us to start with Mayanes Diabol," Eder said.

"The Church of Death has long since looked for a way to kill the Mayanes. I will tell you what we've learned."

"What do you mean?" Kang Oh asked.

"The God of Creation's power has been divided amongst the eight Mayanes. In other words, they are similar to gods. Thus, in order to use their divine powers, they require believers, worshippers, prayers, faith, etc."

"Believers? There are people that worship the Mayanes?" Eder asked.

Cyndia shook her head. "No. At least not here."

"Then?"

"In order to use their power, the sealed Mayanes capture people and drain their life force. The more life force they have access to, the more powerful they become."

"Mm."

"Are the Kalma connected to the Mayanes?" Kang Oh asked.

"The Kalma provide the Mayanes with humans."

"Putting this all together, the Kalma supply the Mayanes with people, and the Mayanes drain these people and slowly get stronger?"

"Yes." Cyndia nodded her head.

"If I save the prisoners, will the Mayanes become weaker?" Kang Oh asked.

"That's correct," Cyndia immediately replied.

"Then we should save as many people as we can, and then strike when they're at their weakest."

"We should deal with the Kalma first. Saving the prisoners is pointless if we let the Kalma keep rounding up people," Eder said.

"That's true. But how do we deal with them?" Kang Oh stroked his chin.

"If you manage to kill their leader, Malak, then... you should be able to freeze their operations for a while," Cyndia said.

"Please tell us more."

"Killing Malak will cause internal strife. They won't have the manpower to capture humans until they've completely dealt with their leadership issue."

"While they're busy infighting, save the prisoners and then kill the Mayanes," Kang Oh said.

"Yes." Cyndia nodded her head.

'We have a basic plan now...'

"Please tell us more about the northern and western regions, the Kalma's stronghold, and everything you know about Mayanes Diabol. Please don't leave out anything; tell us everything you know, even things that you might consider trivial," Kang Oh said.

Now, they needed to gather as much information as possible, formulate a plan, and execute said plan.

* * *

Kang Oh and Eder left the temple, and rejoined Sephiro and Deul outside.

"What happened inside? Did you meet the goddess? What about Mr. Eder's body?" Sephiro barraged them with questions.

Kang Oh glanced at Eder. He was basically saying, 'You explain!'.

"So what happened was..." Eder then explained everything that went on in the temple.

"Hoh, a quest from the goddess! Moreover, the reward is amazing!" Sephiro desperately stared at Kang Oh. "Can you share the quest with me?"

"I don't think I can." Kang Oh opened the quest window and checked, but there was no 'Share Quest' option there.

"You're not lying to me, are you?" Sephiro stared at him suspiciously.

"If I could, I would've sold it to you at a price. Isn't that right?" Kang Oh asked.

"Probably." That convinced him.

"Mr. Deul," Kang Oh called.

"Yes?"

"I'd like to buy a house in Latnia."

"A house?"

"Yes, a house!"

He needed a safe location to set up a transfer magic circle. Thus, he planned on buying a house.

"Mm, I know a real estate agent here."

"I see. Could you please take us to them?"

"Yes."

Sometime later...

Kang Oh's party bought a two room house. They planned on using one room for the magic circle, and the other for them to rest in.

Eder bought the house of course. There was no reason for him to pay when he had Eder here.

"Then, if you'll excuse me." Deul said farewell.

"Take care." Kang Oh clasped Deul's hands and vigorously shook them.

'Thank you for everything!'

Once Deul left...

"Ah, that's right. Eder," Kang Oh said.

"Yes?" Eder stared at him blankly.

'What is it?'

"We have to write a contract."

"What for?"

"A contract that states that you'll pay me 30,000 gold after we clear the goddess's quest and you get your body back!"

"Eh, do we really need a contract? Do I look like someone who'd lie to you?"

"You never know. People look different before and after they use the bathroom."

"I'm undead, so I don't think that applies to me," Eder joked tastelessly.

"That's not funny." Kang Oh gave him a look, pulled out a Sabra's Contract from his inventory, and began to fill it out.

When the latter (Eder) regains his body, then he will pay the former (Kang Oh) 30,000 gold.

It also contained a clause stating that whoever violated the contract would have to give up their entire fortune.

"Here, sign it." Kang Oh passed him the contract.

"Tch." Eder signed the contract against his will. With this, the contract had been established!

"Hehe." Kang Oh laughed when he saw the contract's dim light. 30,000 gold!

"I'll begin setting up the transfer magic circle." Eder entered the room.

He'd set up this magic circle many times before, so he was done rather quickly. Kang Oh's party then entered the magic circle.

"To Altein!"

* * *

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll be going."

Once there, Sephiro and Eder left. Then, Kang Oh sent Man Bok a message.

- Mr. Man Bok.

- Yes, Mr. Kang Oh?

- Please get some supplies ready for me.

- How much?

- A week's worth for me, Eder, and Sephiro.

- Understood. Ah, and I have something to tell you.

- What is it?

- The Black Hammer Dwarves wanted a word with you. If you have the time, please go and see them.

- Understood.

Kang Oh closed the message window, and his eyes gleamed.

'Did they do it? Did they finally get a blacksmith skilled enough to handle adamantium? I really hope so.'

Kang Oh went through the intercity transfer gate.

"The Black Hammer Dwarves' Hideout!"

The environment instantly changed, and Kang Oh was greeted by a dwarf guarding the magic circle.

"Mr. Kang Oh. It's been a while," the Dwarven Warrior said.

"Yes, it has. Could you please tell me where Chieftain Randelhoff is?"

"The Chieftain should be in his room."

"Thank you."

Kang Oh immediately headed for Randelhoff's room.

"Chieftain Randelhoff."

"Oh, you've come."

Kang Oh was a friend of the Black Hammer Dwarves. It was only natural that they'd welcome him.

"I heard that you were looking for me. You're not ready to make the sword, are you?" Kang Oh said, his voice filled with excitement.

Randelhoff shook his head. "No, that's not why I called you."

"Then what did you need?"

"I want to ask a favor."

"A favor?"

"Could you leave the adamantium gemstone with us?"

"The adamantium? Why?"

"Seeing good materials motivates us dwarves. The adamantium will serve as good motivation for our blacksmiths," Randelhoff said.

Kang Oh's eyes glinted.

'Seeing good materials motivates them, huh...'

He had a good idea. The more precious materials he brought them, the faster they'd produce a blacksmith skilled enough to make him a demon sword.

"Alright." Kang Oh nodded his head.

"Thanks."

"I'll bring it to you immediately."

"Mm."

Kang Oh returned to Altein and immediately went to Eder's house.

"Huh? Why are you here?" Eder's eyes widened. He was currently in Arumode's body.

'It hasn't been that long since we split?'

"I came to take the adamantium from your safe."

"Why?"

"The dwarves wanted it."

"Ah, are the dwarves making you your sword?"

"No. Apparently, dwarves draw inspiration from seeing precious materials, which makes them work harder or something."

"I see." Eder pocketed the gold coin, which was engraved with a 1403. This was the key to his safe!

"Oh, and by the way, Eder."

"Yes?"

"You still have the Dragon Bone, right?"

"What?"

"The Dragon Bone that the Bone Dragons dropped."

Eder had bought Eclipse's Scythe, the Immortal Monarch's Clothes set, etc. from the auction, but had also bought the Dragon Bone too.

"Ah, yes. I have it."

"I want to borrow it!"

"I'm sorry?"

"I want you to lend it to me. Dragon Bone is a rare material. If the dwarves see the adamantium and the Dragon Bone, then they'll be a lot happier."

"..." Eder's expression clearly said, 'No, thank you.'.

"Fine then. I'll just do the goddess's quest later. There's no rush, right?" Kang Oh decided to be a pain in the ass.

"Phew. Fine, I'll let you borrow it." Eder sighed.

"Good call." Kang Oh grinned.

Kang Oh 'stole' the Dragon Bone from Eder, and then the two headed for Diana Bank.