The Library

James didn't waste any time and instantly went to work, unlocking these runes could only be done by making a pattern with your mana that the runes indicate. Of course, James didn't have a single clew what the runes said, what he did know is the correct mana pattern, he had memorized that long ago.

If he remembered correctly the guy who did this in his previous life was already at the concentration standard of [Tier 6] when doing this, but with his world affinity, James didn't think it would be difficult.

But those thoughts quickly faded as his mind got heavier and heavier the more of the complex pattern, by the time he had half done it was 3 hours later and it felt like a container filled with concrete was resting on his brain, he honestly couldn't think of a way someone with 0 world affinity could have done this.

"he must've found a trick to manipulate these ancient runes."

That was the only thing James could come up with, the guy had spent over 3 years traveling, searching for this language, after all, him having found some way to manipulate mana that works best with these certainly wasn't out of the question, otherwise, even with [Tier 6] concentration, there would be no way for him to control mana on a high enough level while under this amount of pressure.

Sadly James didn't have this special way, and he frankly didn't have the time to look for it, so the only option is to brute force it. Luckily his world affinity was crazy high, a normal [Tier 6] wouldn't even stand a chance in this quest.

And so he continued, the process only getting slower and slower the farther he got into it. It had taken another 5 hours for him to get to this point, and to say he was sweating was an understatement.

Right, when James was feeling not only the heaviness on his mind but also a fading feeling, he did it, the purple runes dissolved, revealing golden draconic runes beneath. James wanted to stand up immediately and turn in his quest, but when he did he lost his balance and fell back on his chair. Only after 10 minutes of relaxing did he feel ready.

Knock-knock

"come in"

A hoarse voice said behind the old wooden door, James opened it to reveal a relatively normal office in the same style as the little cabin, only the walls seem to be thousands of meters long and covered with books, every one of them looking older and more precious than the other, but James didn't have time for that right now.

"You don't look good boy, sweating all over, sit down."

Merlin pointed to a chair opposite him. James said down as quickly as he could, still clearly exhausted. As soon as he did he threw the piece of parchment on the table. Merlin just looked at it for a second, puzzled.

"You did it already? You are truly a genius, it is indeed too bad I can't take someone with your talent as my Apprentice, but so be it."

Before Merlin could continue a system message popped up.

System: congratulations, you have completed the legendary quest [Merlin's helper], you are given 50 legacy skill points and 5 levels, talk to Merlin for your favor.

While James kept looking at the system message he got snapped out of it by Merlin.

"So boy, what do you want for your favor, I owe you a really big one for how quickly you did this, so ask away, think grand."

James didn't have to think long, he had long since known what he wanted from Merlin, but what he didn't know is how far he could grand it.

"I want you to help me create the best possible mana body. At [Tier 3] and again at [Tier 5]"

Merlin just frowned at James and started laughing.

"That is indeed a grand wish, worthy of being a favor granted by Merlin, give me a second."

Merlin then started rummaging through his desk to eventually come out with a small bottle of white powder. The white powder was overflowing with Devine might, like it was a God itself.

"This my boy is the bone marrow from an Ancient God, it can completely erase your current mana body and grand you a new one, this particular bottle has the power to grant a peak Legendary mana body. So in your case, where it has nothing to destroy it will just grand you the mana body, while you are creating the mana body I will be on standby, giving you tips and helping you manipulate your mana, I think with your world affinity getting 95% shouldn't be a problem."

James was over the moon, the highest rank mana body he had ever heard about was a Legendary rank, he had never even heard rumors about anyone with an advanced Legendary mana body, yet he was getting a Peak one, at 95% at that. The only mana body that could be better than his would be a Divine one, and James was pretty sure that wasn't physically possible. While James was in his happy mood he suddenly remembered the second thing he came here for.

"That's right, mister Merlin, regarding the second thing I came here for. Are you interested in hearing my trade offer?"

"of course, go ahead"

"Okay, I am willing to give you a visit to the Divine Library, in exchange for a teleport to a specific location."

At those words Merlin nearly fell out of his chair, he couldn't believe his ears, the Divine library. It was regarded as the best Library in all of gods Domains, every single ancient text, magic, and combat technique, everything had an exact copy in the Divine library, and they were free for the taking if you managed to get it. There was a catch involved though, the quality of the item you can take out depends on your mental strength, and even if you managed to make it far, it is said that only when you are faded to have said item will it appear. Merlin had heard countless rumors about the Divine library, but even he was never able to detect these secret passageways spread about through the greater world, yet now this boy was saying he knew the location of one of them, that was ridiculous.

"Are you sure young man, one gate to the library can at most let 3 beings enter before it loses its power, are you willing to give me such a chance just for a teleport."

"Of course, I wouldn't want it any other way, sir Merlin."

James said that, but in reality, he would rather one of his other teammates get this opportunity. There was nothing he could do though, the place where the gate was located was extremely difficult to reach, he honestly had no idea how to get there, or what it was, the only thing he knew where the location, this still wouldn't be that big of a problem if not for the magic barrier around it that blocked most magic teleportation methods, even [Tier 5] teleportation scrolls couldn't get there, his only hope was Merlin.

"Okay then, perfect, let's get that friend of yours and get going."

Merlin was all smiles, he couldn't contain himself, this was only natural, as the time someone like him could get from the Divine Library was leagues above James or Iron. Merlin disappeared and reappeared only an instant later but this time with Iron next to him, Iron seemed to be in utter shock, of course, Merlin hadn't explained anything.

"What's happening James, are you done?"

Iron asked with a slight stutter in his voice.

"Don't worry Iron, yes I'm done, and now it is time for your quest to start. O, and how did it go with the crafting?."

James was curious to see how good Iron was, he guessed that if Iron took his time, to get as good a chance as possible, he would need around 5 to 10 minutes per piece, which was already miles apart from any normal blacksmith who would take at least 30. So he guessed that he would have made around 50 to 100 pieces of armor, and around 25 to 50 should have been successful.

"It went pretty well, I managed to successfully make 24 chest pieces, one of them coming out mystical-iron rank, and 20 Swords, 2 of them coming out with a rank upgrade."

While James and Iron kept talking Merlin seemed to be getting more and more impatient, which was a rare sight.

"Can you guys keep the little talk for the tea, quickly tell me where this portal is located?"

James was kind of taken aback by how Merlin was reacting, but he just gave the coordinates as quickly as he could.

As soon as he did Merlin conjured up a magic circle beneath their feet, instantly teleporting them to a dark cave, all the walls were made out of an extremely precious-looking material, it was as black as the night with little streaks of silver lightning coming across it.

"No wonder I never managed to find this place, that material lets out no mana, even if there was a God in hear I wouldn't have even suspected it."

Merlin said while marveling at the walls of the cave, but his attention was quickly diverted when he noticed the round portal, whit on the other side an extremely long hallway, filled with books.

Merlin couldn't hold his excitement and pulled the 2 boys through the portal, who were both still looking at the system message that had appeared before them

System: congratulation on discovering a portal to the Divine Library.

Now that the 3 of them had stepped foot in the library they didn't seem to have entered the long hall of books, but some sort of little reception area, the long hall was still there, but before it was a little desk with an owl sitting in front of it.

"O, what a pleasant surprise, guests, it's been such a long time. Nevertheless, it is sad that I don't have the time to chat, as you can imagine running this library takes an awful lot of time, so I will start the explanation. Now that you have gained entry to my library you have been bestowed the right to take 1 item home with you, but, as you could imagine it isn't that simple, the quality of the item you will get will be determent by how far you get in the Library Ile, the farther you can get the more valuable the books are, but also the more potent the Divine might will be that you will have to endure. Now the specific item from that grade you will get is purely determent by your fate, if you are meant to have something, you will surely get it, after you take said item from the shelves, you will be teleported back here. I hope you guys are ready and don't have any questions, because I'm not permitted to answer them."

Before any of them could even say a single word the owl had swung his wing, making James appear in the long hall with books, without Iron or Merlin, he wasn't worried, this was a personal challenge, no way they would put us in the same hall.