First Flames of the Spirit Realm
Carpe muttered to himself as he stepped out of the auction house.
"I registered it since I have no use for it anyway, but I wonder if it'll fetch a fair price. Sure, scarcity might draw some buyers, but…"
"It's a level 300 item. The current rank 1 is barely over level 150. Reaching 300 is years away, right?"
Even if it's Legendary, who's gonna buy something they can't use right now?
"Yeah. Honestly, I wouldn't buy it myself."
Who knew what better gear might drop in the future? No real need to scramble for it at this stage.
Ordinary folks might think that way. But there are 500 million RaSe players out there. And plenty among them aren't so ordinary.
And among those extraordinary types, some had money rotting away in their inventories.
Just check the RaSe trading boards—tons of stuff where you're like, 'Why the hell would anyone pay that for this?' A level 300 Legendary is tame by comparison. Plus, a level restriction doesn't mean it's completely unusable.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Some hidden classes ignore item level restrictions entirely. Like the Unique-grade 'Weapon Master,' for instance.
As the name suggested, Weapon Master let you equip any weapon, bypassing restrictions.
Of course, equipping a level 300 item didn't grant its full level 300 power—it scaled to the player's level. But unique options usually worked as-is.
"Whoa, there's a job like that?"
Yeah. Beyond special classes, there are workarounds. Skills that halve equip restrictions, consumables that ignore them for a few minutes. Bottom line: sacrifice some performance, and you can equip it.
"Hmm. In that case, no need to worry much."
Without restrictions, the halberd and shield's unique options were top-tier. Demand was guaranteed.
It'll sell for a fortune—no doubt. My guess? Eight figures easy.
"Whoa, really?"
Obviously. Forgot how you sold that early-game Unique scythe for 30,000 gold already? Sure, it was bubbly pricing… but if a Unique scythe hit 30k, a Legendary spear won't break 100k?
"Urgh. Yeah, when you put it like that."
Watch. I predict at least 100k. If chaebols start their chicken game like last time, double or triple no problem.
"Then that day calls for chicken and pork belly. Speaking of food, I crave more Ignior meat. It was insane."
Carpe's inventory brimmed with dinosaur meat from Buk Yeomjon Lectia—exactly 100 servings.
"Wanna eat, but holding off."
No way he'd waste such a killer buff dish on mere taste. Best for pre-battle consumption.
Just ask for more when it's gone. You even got the related quest.
"Right."
About 30 minutes earlier.
Carpe had received two quests from Buk Yeomjon Lectia.
'Wanna do a little job with me?'
'A job? What kind?'
'Not tough or anything. Just wanna confirm whatever that bug sensed from you.'
Buk Yeomjon continued, pride stung that he couldn't sense what the West Wind Sovereign had.
'Need to know if it's just me, or if the other Four Calamities can't either.'
'Uh… you mean?'
'Yeah. Meet the other two besides me and that bug, then report their reactions.'
A detailed quest window popped up before Carpe's eyes.
Meeting the Four Calamities
📍 Quest Type: Special
🎁 Description: Buk Yeomjon Lectia has asked you to meet the other Four Calamities and report their reactions.
⊳ West Wind Sovereign Guide conversation (Complete)
⊳ Buk Yeomjon Lectia conversation (Complete)
⊳ South Wind Horse Kroga conversation (Incomplete)
⊳ East Sea Dragon Ribaoya conversation (Incomplete)
Rewards: Title 'One Who Draws the Interest of the Four Calamities'. Buk Yeomjon Lectia's reward. Scales with completion.
Failure: Slight drop in Buk Yeomjon Lectia's affinity.
'Not just spotting from afar. Talk to them directly, tell me how they judge you.'
'…Is it that important?'
'I'm curious! Aren't you, about what that scheming mantis is plotting?'
'Fair enough… Got it.'
No deadline, nothing impossible—Carpe accepted readily.
'Oh, one more thing.'
'Yes?'
'You're heading to the Spirit Realm soon, right? Grab some ingredients while you're there.'
'Ingredients?'
'Yeah. Unique meat only found there. Bring it, and I'll cook more.'
'Appreciate it, but… wouldn't it be faster if you went yourself?'
'Sure, but it's a hassle. I hate moving unless I'm cooking. Chatting this long with you is already rare.'
'…'
'And crucially, I'd cause chaos. Spirits are hypersensitive to my aura—unlike humans. Show up, and the whole realm flips.'
'Ah.'
Carpe nodded. He'd seen something similar.
Back at the Flame Spirit Haven, spirits had freaked over his West Wind Sovereign ring—mere trace power. A full Four Calamity? Yeah, realm-wide panic.
'Got it. I'll fetch it.'
'Good. Refreshing. Leave it to you. I'll stick around here—bring the meat back when done.'
With that, Carpe returned to the city and listed the items.
"The Four Calamities quest isn't doable right now. Can't just meet them on demand."
Yeah. Gotta power up first. East Sea Dragon aside, South Wind Horse treats humans like bugs. Goal's surviving one wing flap, let alone talking.
"Sigh. Long road ahead."
You're doing fine. Grab the other relics, evolve Kyuu-kyuu, and you'll survive.
"Gotta hustle."
Final checks done, Carpe activated Dimension Gate.
Pre-saved coords for the Spirit Realm cave entrance zipped him beyond the flame plains.
Inside, a dead-end wall soon appeared.
Spirit script in the center? Touch it to enter. Oh, drop location's pure random. Might fight on arrival—prep fully.
"Harsh. Got it."
Carpe summoned all retainers from his Room, then cast Haste and Striking on everyone.
Prep complete!
"Here we go."
He placed his hand on the inscription.
You have touched the Eighth Gate to the Spirit Realm.
Enter the Spirit Realm?
Caution: The Spirit Realm follows different laws than the human world. Some skills and functions may fail or act unpredictably.
Death Penalty: Amplified. Reconnect wait x1.5. Item drop chance x1.5.
"Kinda scary."
Carpe smirked at the warnings.
Too many spectacles so far to balk at this.
"Enter."
Flash!
Carpe and his retainers vanished from the cave.
"The Spirit Realm?"
They landed in lush grasslands.
Carpe scanned—no monsters or spirits. Lucky; no instant fight.
"Everyone okay?"
"Kyuu kyuu kyuu!"
"All safe, my lord. Is this the Spirit Realm? The air hums with unique mana."
"Yeah, I'm good too, Master."
Hot damn, me too! Never thought I'd visit the Spirit Realm. You learn something new every day. Wait, didn't I die?
Internal diagnostics complete, Master. No anomalies.
"Just in case. Skills might glitch here. Check fir—"
Boom boom boom!
The ground quaked violently.
Master. Something huge approaches. Larger than me.
"Huge?"
Affirmative. Flame-wrapped golem vibe. Heh. Stylish with the fire.
Tallest Royard sensed it first; others soon followed.
"What the hell is that?"
A flame giant charged them—genie-like sans the blaze, red name 'Flame Scout' overhead.
Tch. Bad luck. Battle stations. Once it locks on, it hunts to the death—no running.
"You know it?"
Yeah. Spirit Realm guard. Patrols, spots intruders, charges. Tough bastard.
"…Looks it. How strong?"
Hmm. Remember that Ant Hell guardian with the top-grade flame core? Slightly weaker. Near match.
"Oho."
Carpe's eyes gleamed.
That one mutual-killed world rank 1 Gunter…
"Perfect. Test my current level."
Just right to gauge his gap with Gunter.
The approaching giant roared at Carpe.
And so began Carpe's first battle in the Spirit Realm.