Chapter 36: Quest Items
Death?
When I appeared at the resurrection point in Frost City, I stood there, dazed, for a long while before finally coming to my senses.
It wasn’t because I’d been killed—surrounded by so many Kodo Beasts, how could a newcomer possibly survive? What left me stunned was the enormous meteor that had appeared out of nowhere.
Where did that magic come from? It wiped out the Magic Kodo Beast in an instant, despite its considerable magical defense. At that moment, the Magic Kodo Beast still had triple-digit HP!
Who could be so powerful?
As I pondered this, something suddenly occurred to me. I rummaged through my backpack and pulled out a smooth stone, warm to the touch, radiating a gentle heat.
What was this?
...
Kodo Beast Valley
It wasn’t until the meteor descended from the sky that the five members of the White Festival finally noticed. At some point, a group had appeared in the pitch-black valley, more precisely, three individuals.
They revealed themselves only after the Magic Kodo Beast had fallen, lighting magical fire candles.
A petite figure in a finely crafted silver mage’s robe held a long, jet-black magic staff, its tip set with a ruby the size of an egg. She frowned as she gazed at the spot where the Magic Kodo Beast had collapsed.
To her left stood a giant, at least three meters tall. In his hands, a five-meter-long, ten-centimeter-thick rod of unknown metal moved with terrific speed, scattering the surrounding Kodo Beasts like thunder. Faced with him, the beasts had no power to resist—they were struck down and sent flying in droves.
On the mage’s right was a slender male elf, clad in plain black leather armor. He lacked the imposing presence of the giant or the dazzling magical prowess of the mage.
Yet whenever a Kodo Beast approached from behind, he would give a slight shake, and a slender, black, snake-like bolt of lightning would dart out—instantly draining the life from each beast, none able to get close.
Witnessing this, even the worldly White Festival, Bear, and Black Tea were shocked to their core!
These three must be top-tier third-class experts!
Absolutely no mistake.
Even their captain didn’t possess the skill of the two warriors behind the mage.
The giant displayed the overwhelming strength of his race, dispatching the beasts as easily as if they were mere chicks.
The elf embodied the agility, finesse, and speed of his kind—quick, cunning, and terrifyingly calm and confident, far surpassing their captain.
In their awe, curiosity about the trio’s identity and purpose grew.
Why would three top-tier third-class experts come to such a low-level training ground? The strongest magic beast here was the Magic Kodo Beast they’d just seen...
As they speculated, their gazes turned to the Poet, who was fending off attacks from a dozen adult Kodo Beasts while gathering unexpected spoils.
At that moment, no one was more delighted than the Poet.
He’d thought he would die at the hands of the Magic Kodo Beast, but a sudden third-level spell had crashed down, obliterating it.
Not only had he escaped death, but he’d managed to snatch a ring from the ground—along with a staff and a cloak.
After collecting his loot, he didn’t dare linger. He forced his way through the weakened Kodo Beasts and returned to a small corner—Black Tea had lost the ability to fight, White Festival and Bear could not move, and soon, three more adult Kodo Beasts would spawn in that corner.
And the intentions of the three newcomers remained uncertain—friend or foe?
After all, on this dark and windy night, being wanted was far less intimidating than in broad daylight!
...
No sooner had the Poet returned than the two men and one woman arrived as well.
The towering giant and the swift elf immediately took over guarding White Festival and Bear, their friendly manner allowing the five to breathe a sigh of relief.
The female mage who approached radiated a beauty no less than Fox Lady Xiaomei, but with a more mature allure and presence. She stopped before the Poet:
“Sorry to interrupt. We’re here on a quest for the Magic Kodo Beast. May I ask if anything valuable dropped just now?”
The Poet was startled, not expecting the mage to speak to him, nor to be so entranced by her stunning face. He stammered:
“Uh, I—I’ll check. Looks like there are two mage items. If you want them, I’ll trade them to you. They’re just small things anyway.”
The Poet’s excessive eagerness caused White Festival, Black Tea, and even Fox Lady Xiaomei to frown quietly—except for Bear, who was secretly delighted.
Matters like this shouldn’t be decided by the Poet alone—what a fool.
“No need. I’ve taken a quest and just want to see if there’s anything I need. If there is, I’ll offer a reasonable price.”
The mage noticed the reactions behind the Poet and declined his offer with subtle grace, indirectly reminding him to consult his team first.
Her tact immediately won the favor of the four, and Fox Lady Xiaomei, now curious about the mage’s blend of beauty and poise, lost her previous hostility, instead feeling a bit of aversion toward the Poet’s fawning.
The Poet nodded awkwardly. “Uh, all right, then.”
...
After examining the three items, the mage shook her head in disappointment.
“There’s nothing I need...but thank you all the same. Farewell.”
She nodded politely to the five and turned to leave.
“Still nothing? The drop rate should be above seventy percent tonight! Should we make an offer?” The elf glanced at the Poet, whose face betrayed embarrassment and anger, his distrust plain.
“Shouldn’t be mistaken. Look at that fool—after a single word from ‘Sister Whisper,’ he’d hand over his heart if he could. Would he dare lie to her? Forget it, let’s come early in three days and camp out…”
The giant sighed, glanced at the Poet’s face, now the color of a red date, and cleared a bloody path ahead as he departed in haste.
The Poet fumed—the giant just had to say it so loudly! Faced with everyone’s teasing looks, he wished the ground would swallow him whole.