The Only Enhancer - Chapter 133
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 133
133 – Underground Invasion (2)
2.
Waging war required meticulous preparation across multiple fronts.
It was an essential step to minimize casualties and secure victory.
For the Reinforce Guild, everyone needed to raise their levels, strengthen their characteristics, and master characteristic mana.
The first targets for characteristic enhancement were Isabella and Ma Hyun-seok.
Like Jung Ji-hwan, Isabella also needed her level raised, so there was much work ahead—but she was prepared for it.
Moreover, those whose maximum level caps had increased through enhancement also needed leveling, making things even busier.
Characteristic enhancement itself proved straightforward.
Isabella obtained a characteristic called Shadow Assassin.
Literally translated, it meant shadow assassin.
She had become an assassination-type class that wielded shadows.
Originally a tank, her transformation into a damage dealer was quite surprising, but I accepted it.
I wondered if Ma Hyun-seok might also become a damage dealer type, but he didn’t.
The enhanced characteristic he obtained was none other than Guardian of Steel.
It was a characteristic that suited a tank perfectly.
Actually, it seemed that when a characteristic became unique through enhancement, the boundaries between tank, dealer, and healer tended to blur.
In any case, Ma Hyun-seok felt somewhat disappointed upon obtaining Guardian of Steel.
He wished it had been Steel Hero instead, or so he lamented.
Regardless, with their enhanced characteristics acquired, Jung Ji-hwan, Ma Hyun-seok, Isabella, Kim Woo-jin, and finally Henry trained alongside Mary to master characteristic mana.
‘As expected, Team Two’s captain is the fastest.’
Ma Hyun-seok, whose ability stat had risen to 14 through enhancement, and Kim Woo-jin, who had been 14 from the start, learned fastest, followed by Henry and Jung Ji-hwan with higher stats, and finally Isabella.
Isabella’s pace wasn’t particularly slow either.
However, the skill of those who had acquired characteristic mana, including Mary, was extraordinary, so everyone progressed faster than expected.
Next came the crucial matter of leveling up.
While they trained to master characteristic mana, I completed enhancements allowing all guild members to reach Level 6.
Since materials were already fully prepared, the enhancement process didn’t take long.
The guild members were bewildered by the fact that everyone could now reach Level 6, though.
‘Are the preparations roughly complete?’
Now I only needed to find conditions and raise levels.
In other words, there wasn’t much time left before the expedition to Russia.
Thinking this way, I deliberated whether there was anything else to prepare.
If I had to nitpick, I wanted to further develop Andrew’s magical engineering before departing, but waiting for that would consume the remaining year, so I shelved it.
‘It would be nice to get Isabella and Jung Ji-hwan to Level 6 a bit faster.’
But it was far better to go to Russia and prepare for the invasion while raising levels alongside the other guild members.
After all, with just level increases, unlike other executives who possessed unique characteristics, they could immediately evolve to Level 7 through the Sphere of Evolution.
That aspect was quite advantageous.
Once all preparations were complete.
I headed to the Workshop for my own final preparations.
My task?
There’s only one.
Enhancement.
Then what am I enhancing?
“This.”
What I pulled out was none other than the Fragment of Seven Stars—the very piece I’d used to create my first +7 enhancement.
[Fragment of Seven Stars]+7
-A wand crafted from fragments of dark stars.
-Grants partial access to the power of Seven Stars.
-If no attack-type skills are equipped, skill ‘Blink’ becomes available.(Extraction Applied)
-If subspace-type skills are possessed, skill ‘Gravity Field’ becomes available.(Extraction Applied)
-If ranged weapon-type equipment is equipped, ultimate skill ‘Horn of Attraction’ becomes available.
-If penetration-type skills are possessed, ultimate skill ‘Point Penetration’ becomes available.
-If gravity-type ultimate skills are possessed, transcendent skill ‘Fragment of Seven Stars’ becomes available.
-When using skills through the wand, the skill ignores the barrier of Calamity Level 7 monsters.
└When used against Calamity Level 6 or lower monsters, the barrier is ignored and additional damage is dealt.
That’s right.
What I’m enhancing is none other than the Fragment of Seven Stars.
For this, I’d even crafted three +7 essences.
The success rate for +8 is merely 10%.
I wondered if I could even attempt it three times with the mana I possessed.
But regardless, attempting it was what mattered, wasn’t it?
I took a shallow breath and gathered mana to attempt the enhancement.
And then.
“Blessing of the Enhancement Master, Mana Reinforcement.”
I cast blessings and buffs to maximize the probability as much as possible.
And then.
“Domain of the Enhancement Master.”
With the skill I’d gained alongside the curse of the Enhancement Master upon reaching Level 7, the meager 10% probability skyrocketed to 30%.
With a 30% success rate and considering my mana reserves, three attempts would be cutting it close.
However, what mattered now wasn’t whether the +8 enhancement succeeded.
Even without +8 equipment, I had no trouble facing Calamity Level 7 monsters right now.
There might even be Calamity Level 8 monsters, but if I used characteristic mana, +7 would be sufficient—I’d already heard as much from Baya.
It was none other than a fairy.
‘She appeared when I reached +7.’
We’d even had a conversation.
According to Baya’s account, a traitorous fairy had taken it upon herself to become the Monster King and detonated herself, destroying the Fairy World.
The remnants of the surviving monsters had come to Earth.
From what I heard, this system itself is a product of the fairies.
In other words, what I’d witnessed back then was.
‘A fairy, then.’
Whenever I attempted a new enhancement, I’d only ever seen their form, but at the 7th enhancement, we actually conversed.
If that pattern held, the probability of meeting them again during the 8th enhancement was extraordinarily high.
I valued meeting the Fairy Elder more than actually crafting the 7-Star Fragment into an 8th enhancement.
I’d heard the rough details from Baya, but hearing it from her was the perspective of a monster, and as someone called the Fairy Elder’s descendant, I couldn’t afford to be ignorant of the fairy perspective.
With that resolve, I attempted the enhancement.
“Item Enhancement.”
I called out in a voice as reverent as prayer, and immediately my mana surged forth as if being wholly consumed.
The surroundings filled with mana.
Even as a tremendous quantity of mana was drawn out, I didn’t blink once.
It was less than a tenth of my total mana, after all.
Yet still, an absolutely staggering amount of mana continued to pour forth.
Observing this phenomenon, I could discern the truth.
‘This isn’t an enhancement.’
This wasn’t mana being released by enhancement.
The evidence was clear—the mana pouring out wasn’t converging and infusing into the item, but rather spreading in all directions.
Just as when I first challenged the 7th enhancement, light began to vanish from the room, enveloping everything.
All light faded and lost its power, and when complete darkness filled the space, a voice resonated.
-The time has come.
With those words, pure white light erupted from the 7-Star Fragment, and the room that had been consumed by darkness began to be surrounded by light, transforming into a chamber of radiance.
A being composed of pure white form stood there.
Wavering as if light itself, the entity’s appearance took shape—robed and grasping a long staff.
At first glance, it bore a human form, but the pointed ears made it unmistakably clear this was no human.
Looking upon them, I naturally understood.
This being was the Fairy Elder.
And for reasons I couldn’t explain, I naturally sensed something.
‘An Enhancement Master?’
I could feel they possessed the same mana as me.
The being tilted their head slightly as if reading my thoughts.
-Child, your intuition is correct.
“…Are you an Enhancement Master?”
-Indeed. I was, and so was that child.
“…”
I didn’t need to be told who they meant by “that child”—I understood naturally.
The Monster King.
They too were an Enhancement Master.
So there were many Enhancement Masters in the Fairy World? The thought crossed my mind.
This time, the Fairy Elder shook their head.
-No, there were only two. Only that child and I were Enhancement Masters.
“…I see.”
From those words, I could roughly discern what position the Fairy Elder held among those conversing with the Monster King and Min-jun.
Perhaps they were among the highest-ranking of all fairies?
And the way they referred to me as a child….
As my thoughts reached that point, the Fairy Elder spoke to Min-jun.
-I wish to converse at length, but I have precious little time remaining.
Seeing the regret etched across their features, Min-jun gazed back with equal disappointment.
Why was time so limited?
There were so many questions I yearned to ask.
So.
“Then please tell me just one thing.”
I asked if I might pose a single question.
-Very well, ask away.
The Fairy Elder answered with permission.
And an unexpected question tumbled forth.
“Am I doing well?”
A question of whether I was doing well.
It was a question whose answer remained ambiguous.
Yet the Fairy Elder’s form smiled gently and responded.
-You are doing splendidly. Continue as you are.
With those words, the Fairy Elder and the luminous chamber began to fade.
Min-jun watched regretfully, as if resigned to the inevitable, and before vanishing entirely, the Fairy Elder spoke once more.
-We shall meet again.
“Will I be able to see you for longer next time?”
-Yes, I shall reveal all that I know to you.
At those words, Min-jun nodded, and the Fairy Elder’s form disappeared.
As the luminous chamber and the Fairy Elder’s presence faded, all light began to gather within the Seven-Star Fragment.
Brilliant radiance erupted, and the orange light that symbolized Rank 7 shattered like scattered fragments, pouring forth resplendent golden luminescence from the fissures.
The entire chamber was enveloped in dazzling golden radiance that blazed magnificently.
Min-jun did not check the options upon witnessing this.
It was not particularly important, after all.
Thus, upon seeing the first Rank 8 equipment, Min-jun immediately withdrew an item.
It was the Blazing Crimson Gauntlets.
And the exclusive option affixed to these Blazing Crimson Gauntlets was none other than.
“Guaranteed Enhancement.”
Darkness descended upon the chamber once more, and this time it transformed not into a pristine white room but into a verdant garden suffused with emerald light.
At the central table within, a Fairy Elder sat sipping tea, their gaze fixed in bewilderment upon Min-jun, who had suddenly materialized before them.
A Fairy Elder whose appearance bore striking resemblance to the one who had just departed so solemnly.
Min-jun regarded this Fairy Elder and spoke.
“Now you’ll tell me everything, won’t you?”
-….
The Fairy Elder gazed at Min-jun as if seeing such a creature for the first time in all his existence, and Min-jun met his gaze with a knowing smile.
3.
A bitter wind swept across the land, freezing both earth and air in its merciless grip.
The Siberian Plains of Russia bore the notorious reputation of such desolation.
Beneath that frozen expanse, three humanoid monsters bowed their heads before a singular presence, delivering their report.
-Baba Yagi and Murlough have fallen.
-The human forces appear to be considerable.
-According to the accounts of Baba Yagi, Murlough, and Ursula, their descendants have emerged.
The presence looming over those who delivered the report closed its eyes and spoke.
-It seems I must awaken it.
-Gasp!?
-?!!?
-Heh, even their descendants will meet their end now.
-No matter how much they inherit from their predecessors, they cannot overcome our legacy.
With those words, it began to awaken the legacy of the Great War.
The Underground Elder was stirring the weapon to rise.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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