The Only Enhancer - Chapter 81

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 81
Episode 81 – The Sphere of Evolution (1)
A black sphere emanating an ominous aura.
A perfectly black sphere, as if absorbing all light itself, rolled across the floor.
The gloomy black orb immediately captured everyone’s attention.
As all eyes in the room converged on a single point.
Min-jun stepped forward and spoke.
“What is that?”
In an instant, people snapped back to awareness.
Had they been bewitched by something?
Everyone shook their heads.
‘What was that?’
‘I feel like I just lost my mind for a moment?’
‘I… I have no idea.’
‘What is it?’
Each person’s confusion left no room for answers, and even if there had been, no one present could have provided one.
Only Min-jun remained unaffected.
It seemed that only Min-jun, with his enormous mana reserves, had gained immunity.
Though somewhat unsettled, I stepped forward after witnessing the state of my fellow guild members.
‘Just in case something goes wrong if I act.’
Since it appeared to have no effect on me.
Without excessive concern, I collected the scattered 5-star equipment and mana stones into my inventory, then approached the black-tinged sphere.
What on earth was its identity that it could entrance people like this?
As I approached with that thought and attempted to check the Item Information.
I felt the system recoil and furrowed my brow.
[This item cannot be identified through conventional means.]
I had never seen such a message before.
What exactly is this that even the system speaks like that?
My curiosity only deepened.
The moment I thought that, the system delivered another message.
[It can be identified through the Enchanter’s Eye.]
[Would you like to proceed?]
Why ask the obvious?
Of course I would check.
Relieved by the fact that I could immediately verify its identity, I examined the information.
I witnessed something extraordinary.
[Incomplete Sphere of Evolution]
-A crystalline form completed when a Calamity Level 5 or higher monster consumes other monsters.
-Once the crystal is complete, the monster undergoes evolution to the next stage.
*Due to its incomplete state, information can only be read through the Enchanter’s Eye.
‘…An Evolution Orb?’
A crystalline structure that monsters complete by devouring one another.
And once the crystal is complete, the monster evolves to the next tier?
Wait.
What does that mean?
It means that Disaster Level 6—something that only existed in urban legends—has become reality.
‘I suspected something like this would emerge, but not in this manner.’
Naturally, I had always assumed that Disaster Level 6 monsters would eventually exist.
After all, items had already been enhanced up to +6, and the descriptions made it abundantly clear.
They could ignore the defensive barriers of Disaster Level 6 monsters.
The fact that it appeared in the System Message meant Disaster Level 6 monsters were certainly real.
Perhaps they already existed somewhere.
Or even higher tiers.
Twenty years had passed since the Cataclysm, and if Entrebite was the only creature that had engaged in cannibalism, that would be far too optimistic.
‘I never expected to uncover this secret.’
I had just discovered the mechanism behind monster evolution.
The secret to monster evolution was cannibalism.
Among Disaster Level 4 and below monsters, cannibalism never occurred.
Even when territorial disputes arose, they never devoured one another.
But Disaster Level 5 was different.
Which meant that creature’s extraordinary strength was also due to cannibalism.
My prediction had been correct.
Though with a slight difference.
‘I thought evolution happened with age, but it seems monsters must engage in cannibalism to evolve.’
This information seemed far more valuable than I’d anticipated.
Since it appeared dangerous, I quickly placed the incomplete Evolution Orb into my inventory.
Only then could the others fully regain their composure.
I couldn’t let this out when others were around.
Even Gwen, whose mana reserves exceeded the other guild members’ by at least tenfold, had her pupils dilated in shock.
It seemed safe to say that anyone but me would be mesmerized by it.
“Phew, what on earth was that?”
“Our guild master truly is remarkable.”
“Seriously, I felt dizzy for a moment, but you just watched it calmly and even grabbed it and stored it in subspace.”
“Of course. Our guild master is the best, after all.”
As all the guild members chimed in with praise, I felt slightly embarrassed and scratched the back of my neck.
In any case, the matter was resolved.
I smiled lightly and addressed my guild members.
“Let’s collect everything we’re owed from the German Government and enjoy some sightseeing.”
“Yes, sir!”
Everyone shouted in unison, their spirits lifted with excitement.
Stronger than other Disaster Level 5 monsters?
True enough, but that didn’t make it drastically different.
In the end, I helped it come out and caught it—the result was the same.
When everyone erupted in excited chatter.
I suddenly thought to myself.
‘Could I strengthen that from earlier?’
I had a strange feeling about it.
What you might call an Enhancer’s intuition?
And I could sense it instinctively.
‘Strengthening it would be fun.’
The Serial Enhancement Mage within me had awakened once more.
Of course, I planned to enhance it when no one was around.
All I wanted was to finish negotiations with the German Government quickly, slip into my hotel room, and begin enhancing.
0.
Liam Schmitt could only doubt his own ears.
Since they’d used a commercial flight instead of a private jet, even a direct flight was bound to be slower than his usual means.
After arriving, he’d intended to guide Min-jun and the Reinforce Guild members, but.
In the brief time that had passed, news spread from all corners that the Reinforce Guild had repelled Berlin’s demon.
What on earth did this mean?
Liam Schmitt wondered if he was still on the plane dreaming, but of course that wasn’t the case.
‘…This isn’t normal.’
It was an entity at least 1.5 times stronger than a typical Disaster Level 5 monster.
Yet they’d caught it within a flight time difference of just 1 to 2 hours?
He couldn’t believe it.
Of course, he’d heard that parts of Tiergarten had been devastated, but supposedly everything outside the combat zone remained unscathed.
He’d even heard there were no casualties or injuries whatsoever.
The more he heard, the more he wondered if it was all fabrication, but Liam Schmitt decided to accept it.
‘Truly extraordinary.’
Then again, having met Min-jun in person, he felt it was entirely plausible.
Could he even handle a Disaster Level 5 monster solo?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, he chuckled at the absurdity of it.
Surely not.
Liam Schmitt, amused at his own frivolous thinking, had no choice but to head toward the urgently summoning German Government.
Liam Schmitt made his way to the Government Building as quickly as possible, where he found the Reinforce Guild members resting without a scratch, completely at ease.
“Ah, you’ve arrived?”
“…I’m a bit late.”
Seeing Min-jun speak as if questioning why he’d taken so long, Liam Schmitt wanted to say they’d caught it far too quickly, but since that was something to be grateful for rather than criticized, he let it pass.
At Liam Schmitt’s words, Min-jun simply nodded.
It seemed to have been said without particular meaning.
The moment Liam Schmitt arrived, Min-jun spoke.
“Then shall we receive what’s owed without further delay?”
Liam Schmitt, responding to my grin with a nod, handed over every reward promised when I accepted the commission.
First came the money and two 5-Tier items—a substantial haul.
Truthfully, that alone would have been sufficient compensation, but there was something additional he’d promised to give.
Liam Schmitt handed me a map he’d received from the German Government, explaining its contents.
“This shows the regions across Germany with high concentrations of Level 4 Disasters, and areas suspected to contain Level 5 Disasters.”
“Wow! Thank you so much!”
I seemed to appreciate this map far more than the money and 5-Tier items, which struck Liam as curious, but seeing my genuine gratitude and hearing that I’d put it to good use, he decided not to dwell on it.
He simply assumed I’d find it entertaining to use.
Then Liam Schmitt added one more thing.
“The German Government has agreed to cover all living expenses in Germany for every member of the Reinforce Guild.”
In other words, they were giving us a free vacation.
With that, he distributed specially crafted cards from the government to all Reinforce Guild members.
He explained that they could use these cards for all transactions.
He also made sure to mention that if anyone needed cash, the daily limit was approximately 100 million won.
Once I’d received all the rewards.
I smiled contentedly and addressed my guild members.
“Everyone take a week to sightsee, then we’ll regroup.”
“Yes! A whole week!”
“We got a week in Taiwan too, and now another week here!”
“Guild Master! Thank you!”
“Who’s that?! Call me Guild Master!”
“Who else would it be! Just give up!”
“Anyway, long live the Guild Master!”
“Heh! We’re going to have a blast!”
My excited guild members chattered away enthusiastically.
I chuckled and turned to Jung Ji-hwan.
“I have some business to attend to, so I’ll head to the Hotel first. Call me if you need anything.”
I said the same to Gwen, then excused myself after greeting Liam Schmitt.
Why rush out so eagerly?
The reason was simple.
‘I need to get back and start enhancing.’
I had much to do.
Especially.
‘I’m genuinely curious what happens when I enhance the Orb of Evolution.’
1.
A premium suite room.
Though I’d come to the most prestigious suite in Germany’s finest hotel, my impression was straightforward.
‘Spacious enough to lay out items and enhance them comfortably.’
To me, a premium suite was precisely that kind of place.
A spacious reinforcement workshop.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Others had suggested I show off a bit, but reinforcement was more important right now than any of that.
Wasn’t I curious?
What would happen if I reinforced an incomplete evolution orb?
A complete evolution orb?
Or something else entirely?
‘It would be nice if reinforcement made it usable by people.’
I’d entertained such thoughts, but why imagine when I could simply try?
Action spoke louder than speculation.
I immediately retrieved the ominous black-tinged evolution orb from my inventory.
An incomplete evolution orb.
Holding it in my palm, I felt it distinctly.
This could be reinforced.
Why hesitate?
I’d reinforce it immediately.
Grasping the ominous evolution orb, I activated Item Reinforcement.
In that instant, a considerable amount of mana drained from my body.
It was less than what reinforcing a +7 item required, but still a substantial quantity.
If I had to compare it, roughly five times the mana needed to upgrade from +5 to +6?
I could afford it now without strain, but at level 5, it would have been quite burdensome.
As I used the skill, the fairy-like light that usually appeared never manifested.
Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp.
The familiar insect sound echoed as my mana coalesced, taking the form of Entrebite.
What was this?
Could it be the creature’s very soul?
Bewildered by the strange sight, I watched intently.
Without hesitation, it spread its wings and rushed toward the incomplete evolution orb.
Whoooooosh———!
As it merged with the evolution orb, all light was sucked inward—the opposite of item reinforcement.
It felt like witnessing a black hole that consumed even light itself.
Then the evolution orb began to transform.
The purely black orb intermingled with crimson, becoming a sinister dark-red sphere like the color of dead blood.
‘Wow.’
Though it held no effect on me, I was certain of one thing.
If others saw this, they wouldn’t be vaguely mesmerized like before—they’d be completely enthralled.
Just as I thought I shouldn’t take this out anywhere, the System Message erupted with dramatic fanfare.
[You have reinforced an evolution orb for the first time.]
[A hidden ability within the ultimate skill ‘Potential Reinforcement’ is revealed.]
‘Huh?’
I’d expected something to emerge, but I thought at most it would be a hidden ability within a skill being revealed.
But a change to the ultimate skill itself?!
This was equally intriguing, but Min-jun examined the crimson sphere in his hand first, as if respecting the proper order.
Then.
Information about the transformed Evolution Orb became visible.
[Evolution Orb] (Enhancement Complete)
-A crystalline structure completed as monsters devour one another.
-Only monsters of Disaster Level 5 or higher can absorb it.
-A monster that absorbs this Evolution Orb undergoes one stage of evolution.
*An incomplete Evolution Orb perfected through an Enhancer’s enhancement.
*The exact effect when used on a monster remains unknown.
*Can be used as material for an Enhancer’s ultimate skill.
‘It’s complete now. But what’s that last part?’
It was as expected.
The Evolution Orb had become complete.
Based on the option description, since it was perfected through enhancement, using it on a monster could trigger a special effect?
This was intriguing too, but it wasn’t the main point.
The main point was the final line.
With that thought, Min-jun opened the Potential Enhancement description with a hopeful heart, wondering if a hidden effect had appeared.
『Potential Enhancement』
-Allows you to identify and enhance potential.
*Targets affected by Potential Enhancement can surpass their level cap.
*Potential Enhancement requires 100 Enhancement Essences of the corresponding level.
*Potential Enhancement cannot fail.
*When enhancing Level 6 potential, an Evolution Orb can be substituted for 100 Level 6 Enhancement Essences.
“….”
To enhance the Association Chairman, I’d been diligently crafting low-grade equipment into Level 6 enhancements and separately collecting worthwhile ultimate skills—through this tedious work, I’d accumulated a mere 50 Level 6 Enhancement Essences.
I’d gathered them diligently.
But now I could conserve them even more.
Min-jun smiled wickedly at that realization.
‘I’ll enhance you soon, Chairman.’
The moment Min-jun thought that.
In Korea, Ma Hyun-seok, who was working diligently at his desk, sneezed so violently that the desk shifted slightly.
“Achoooooo!”
He tilted his head in confusion at the tremendous sneeze.
Since becoming an Awakened One, he’d never caught a cold.
So why was he suddenly sneezing like this?
Moreover.
Shiver.
He even felt a chill.
‘Hmm, it seems I’ve been overworking myself.’
I should take a break soon.
I have a bad feeling about this.
But Ma Hyun-seok couldn’t have known.
That fate itself was inescapable.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————