Kang Oh had made his stance clear on the Ranking Show. He wanted to liberate dungeons, and keep the pre-established rules set for them. If the large guilds didn't follow these rules, then he would fight them till the bitter end.

What was the large guilds' reaction to this?

The top twenty guilds, which included Lash, Corruption, Bleach, and Festival, remained silent on the matter. On the other hand, the 4 great guilds adopted a wait and see approach.

They went with the attitude, 'Let's see how the large guilds react.'.

In any case, the reason the large guilds remained silent was because they had no other choice. Kang Oh, a Master, as well as Helena and Bart, who possessed extraordinary combat prowess even for Numbers, backed the effort.

These three had the power to rival, or even surpass the great guilds. Thus, Kang Oh's statement had a profound impact on them.

Moreover, the Dungeon Liberation Movement was backed by the people. In other words, Kang Oh was perfectly justified in his actions.

To the large guilds, Kang Oh and the Dungeon Liberation Movement proved to be a huge threat. People looked at their guild members strangely now.

However...!

They couldn't obey Kang Oh's commands. There was no way they'd be willing to part with something so profitable.

At the same time, they couldn't refute Kang Oh's points. Doing so would be the same as declaring war. They didn't want to fight Kang Oh, Helena, or Bart.

Plus, they needed time to form a plan.

Some of the guildmasters had already gathered in one place.

"It's been a while."

"Indeed."

"Tch, things have taken a turn for the worse."

"Kang Oh. He's an issue."

"So how will we deal with him?"

"Mm..."

'Let's band together and take him on.'

If a few of them banded together, then even Kang Oh wouldn't be able to take them on.

However, large guilds banding together wasn't as easy as it sounded.

"If the Gladon Guild takes the plunge, then we'll follow."

"Oho, so you want me to be the leader?"

"That's not what I'm saying..."

"In terms of size and manpower, the Swift Steed Guild..."

It was hard for greedy people to work together.

In the end, the large guilds couldn't come to a decision, and were forced to remain silent.

'Just as I expected.'

The large guilds did nothing, intent on maintaining the status quo.

What would Kang Oh do now?

'What do you mean? I'll do as I please.'

He had given them some friendly 'advice'. Kang Oh had asked them to allow Dungeon Hunters entry into their dungeons free of charge.

However, they had flat out ignored him.

'If words don't work, then maybe violence will.'

Kang Oh continuously clenched and unclenched his fist. However...!

He had something more important to do first.

"Let's go, shall we?"

White flames burned in his left hand. It was a Leaf of the Sacred Flame. If he used this, then he would be transported to the Great Temple of Lava.

That's right. Today was the day that the Blacksmith God, Orgon, would give him the split source!

'Let's go.' Kang Oh tightly gripped the leaf. Then, giant white flames rose from his hand and devoured his body.

[You have used the Leaf of the Sacred Flame.]

[You are being transported to the Great Temple of Lava.]

* * *

Kang Oh was greeted by the sight of a giant statue, the Blacksmith God himself. His face flushed from the heat of the flowing lava all around him.

"Greetings, Supreme One." Kang Oh politely bowed his head. Then, he slowly raised his head and said, "Is the task complete?"

"It is." Orgon extended his giant hand, revealing a shiny source at the tip of his index finger.

Kang Oh carefully accepted the source. It was half the size of the original source, exactly as advertised. However, its shape, that of a star in the night sky, remained the same.

"Thank you." Kang Oh placed the source into his inventory.

"Deborah has already taken the other half. And you don't need to thank me. You already paid me for my work," Orgon said bluntly.

"Um, excuse me..."

"What is it?"

"If I bring you a meteorite again, will you make me some equipment?"

Equipment forged by the Blacksmith God would no doubt be incredible.

"I can. But you probably won't be able to use it."

"May I ask why?"

"I am a blacksmith for gods. So everything I make is meant to be wielded by a god."

In other words, he had to be a god in order to use his equipment.

"If it's remodeled..."

"It most likely can't be remodeled. There's no blacksmith in this world that's skilled enough to remodel my equipment."

'Tch.' Kang Oh had a bitter taste in his mouth. 'How unfortunate!'

"Get going." Orgon waved his hand at him.

"Yes."

Since he had no more business here, Kang Oh wordlessly left the Great Temple of Lava.

* * *

In the western grasslands, there existed a mountain range whose summits were perpetually covered in snow. This mountain range was known as the Ruman Mountains.

It was the orcs' territory, a faction that possessed immense power in the western grasslands. And it was here that the Maam Cliff was located, a cliff that was as deep and giant as a well.

The cliff was so deep that it was called the Demon Sealing Prison.

Most orcs didn't come here. Why, you ask? Because it was dangerous. If they fell in, there was no way to get out.

However, there was a group of people there.

First, there was an old man whose white hair fluttered in the wind. It was the Divine Dragon, Gainus.

The Draco Tribe was beside him. They were a tribe that served dragons. Their faces resembled lizards, but they boasted incredible physical strength and possessed dragon scales.

They either carried boulders, or set up elaborate devices all around the cliff.

There were also those that assisted them. They wore shiny plate armor with a black ring embedded in the middle.

They were the Church of Death's paladins.

"Please take these over there," Cyndia said clearly, and pointed at an area.

"Yes, ma'am," a paladin enthusiastically replied, and carried a log over to the area she pointed towards.

"Hoo." Cyndia sighed, and then took a look around. 'Is there anywhere else that needs work?'

Then, she saw Gainus look at his mirror. It seems like Eder was contacting him.

Cyndia approached Gainus.

"...Yeah, I'll summon you right away," Gainus said, and immediately tapped his staff onto the ground.

Thud!

A golden circle glowed across the barren land.

Whir!

A pillar of light rose from the magic circle, and people appeared in its place.

Kang Oh, Eder, Sephiro, as well as a man and woman they'd never seen before had appeared.

"Do you have it?" Gainus asked.

"I have it right here." Kang Oh passed him the halved source.

"Hmm." Gainus briefly looked over the miniaturized source, and then placed it into his subspace.

"How far along are your preparations?" Kang Oh asked.

"It'll take a few more days."

"Understood. Ah, and these are my companions that'll be helping me this time around. I can guarantee their skill." Kang Oh pointed at the man and woman.

"My name is Bart."

"I am Helena. I always wanted to meet you." The red-haired woman stared at Gainus with sparkling eyes.

"Me? Why?"

"I wanted to learn magic from you."

Gainus looked her over.

"You're pretty good for a human. Fine. When this is all over, I'll give you a few pointers."

"Thank you."

"Mr. Kang Oh, this has something to do with me achieving a great feat, right?" Bart asked. At the moment, Bart's class proficiency was at 99%. He had finally reached the wall.

However, Kang Oh had told him that defeating the Mayanes would fulfill the conditions. Thus, he had gotten Bart to help him.

"I've defeated a few of the Mayanes before, and all of them were considered great feats."

"I'll trust you."

"Please do."

Kang Oh turned his gaze away from Bart, and pointed at Cyndia.

"This is Ms. Cyndia. She's a high-ranking priestess from the Church of Death."

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Yes."

"It's nice to meet you."

With this, all of their introductions were over. Kang Oh then said, "Alright then. Mr. Bart, Ms. Helena. Let me explain the traps that we've prepared. If you have anything to add, then please feel free."

"I will."

"Understood."

A few days later...

They had completed their preparations.

Kang Oh, Sephiro, and Bart were nowhere to be seen. It was decided that they'd rush in when the Mayanes were spotted.

There was a transfer magic circle set up on one side of the cliff. It was set up so that they could teleport to the battlefield whenever/wherever using the magic scrolls that Gainus had provided them with.

Eder and Helena remained in Maam Cliff. Eder stayed to make sure the paladins remained healthy, while Helena wanted to spend time with Gainus.

"I'll lure in the Mayanes now." Gainus swung his staff.

Whir.

A dragon statue popped out of the ground.

Gainus cast a few protection spells on the dragon statue. Then, he pulled out the halved source from his subspace and placed it inside the statue's mouth.

At that moment, the dragon statue's eyes glowed.

Whir.

White energy spread out.

Thus began the luring of the Mayanes!

* * *

Kabul.

Back in the times of the Baiyan Kingdom, it was the third most populated city. It was also called the 'Rat's City'.

There was a giant, complex tunnel underneath the city, much like a maze, which acted as a hideout for those who had been abandoned by the world, or those who were running away and sought refuge.

Eight criminal organizations were located here. These organizations were involved in assassination contracts, drugs, theft, etc. This place was deeply connected with the criminal underworld.

It was said that when night came, rats would come out. Hence the name, Rat's City.

But at some point, residents of Kabul could no longer see these 'rats'.

One man, who went through the tunnels out of curiosity, shockingly said, "T-They're all gone. All of them!"

The people couldn't believe it. Where had all of those rats gone?

But there was a man here that could answer this question.

His face was covered by white cloth, and only his purple eyes were visible underneath.

Tramp, tramp.

The man walked along the tunnel, and eventually found himself in front of a shabby door.

He opened the door, and found a small pub.

There was only one customer there. Like him, his face was covered by cloth. The owner of the pub was nowhere to be found.

The man approached the sole customer. The customer's jade eyes shined.

Then, the man removed the cloth, revealing the playful face underneath.

"Did you feel it too?" Orga asked.

The jade-eyed man, Jigon, firmly nodded his head.

"But you're still going to stay here?" Orga rebuked.

"It's a trap," Jigon said curtly.

"I know it's a trap. But it's still one of the God of Creation's sources. I need it," Orga said yearningly.

Not long ago...

He could clearly feel his source shaking. His source was resonating with the other, calling for him to claim it.

In other words, if he just followed its call, then he'd find himself another source.

"I told you. It's a trap." Jigon firmly stared at him.

"So?"

"Don't do anything."

"You know only too well that I can't do that. The God of Creation's source is calling me! Moreover... I've gathered a lot of fuel."

As possessors of the God of Creation's sources, Jigon and Orga were capable of creating beings. Of course, using this ability required life force, and the two Mayanes had spent a lot of time gathering it.

How?

By feeding on the trash that gathered in the tunnels underneath Kabul. They were the fuel that recharged their sources.

This is also the reason why the city's 'rats' could no longer be seen. Jigon and Orga had killed them, and sucked them dry of their life force!

"You still can't go," Jigon said firmly.

Now wasn't the time to act. Plus, it was clearly a trap!

"Don't make me laugh. I'm going." Orga turned around.

'It doesn't matter if it's a trap. I'll just have to destroy it.'

"Orga!" Jigon yelled.

However, Orga didn't stop and heed him.

"Haa." Jigon watched Orga's back as he left and sighed. He eventually followed him.

He only had so many companions left. He couldn't afford to lose any more of them.