The Only Enhancer - Chapter 88

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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 88
Chapter 88 – The Strength of Level 7 (2)
Ma Hyun-seok laughed with a somewhat bewildered expression.
Min-jun found himself equally perplexed watching Ma Hyun-seok.
Was he upset at being suddenly called out?
No, that wasn’t the reason.
He couldn’t possibly be in a bad mood over something so trivial.
Then why was he perplexed?
It was simple.
Despite being Level 7, Ma Hyun-seok—a tank with nothing but a +6 weapon as proper equipment—had single-handedly defeated a Disaster Level 5 monster, and that fact left me bewildered.
‘Is that even possible?’
It must be possible since Ma Hyun-seok had just done it alone, but I couldn’t help questioning it.
If he’d used Transcendence—a Transcendence skill, that is—I could understand, but that didn’t seem to be the case either.
Yet he’d done it anyway.
Level 7 hunters were stronger than I’d thought.
The German Government was equally bewildered.
“….”
They were at a loss for what to do in this situation.
But in any case, since it was connected to the Reinforce Guild.
Matteo couldn’t quite grasp what to do.
From the start, it was difficult to even comprehend that he’d defeated a Disaster Level 5 monster alone.
He was doing his best to accept the current situation, but he couldn’t help wearing a dumbfounded expression.
Was this right?
‘Ah, no—shouldn’t I actually be presenting this more favorably?’
Ma Hyun-seok, who had defeated a Disaster Level 5 monster yet acted apologetic about it, and Min-jun, who was wondering what to say in response—neither seemed entirely normal.
Anyone could see that.
Matteo nodded at the thought.
The objective hadn’t changed from the start.
To serve Min-jun.
Yes, that was enough.
Meanwhile, Min-jun observed Ma Hyun-seok.
“Hehehehe.”
Ma Hyun-seok was laughing with an embarrassed expression.
Honestly, Ma Hyun-seok probably hadn’t known either.
He’d never expected to be able to defeat it alone.
Now that it had come to this, I realized another one of my abilities would be exposed.
That was what weighed on him.
With such thoughts troubling him, Ma Hyun-seok lowered his head in reflection and spoke with an apologetic tone.
“I just meant to block and contain it, but I didn’t think I’d actually be able to defeat it.”
“No, it’s fine. These things happen.”
“Ahem, wasn’t that supposed to be a secret? I feel bad for causing trouble….”
“Huh? Oh! No, it wasn’t really a secret. It’s fine if it becomes public knowledge.”
“Hm?”
Normally, wouldn’t something like that be kept confidential?
That thought crossed my mind, but what could I say when he was so casual about it?
Ma Hyun-seok swallowed hard and trailed off.
“I, I see.”
“Yes, well, gaining the ability to solo is a good thing. It means Korea’s national strength has grown even stronger.”
At Min-jun’s words, Ma Hyun-seok felt a sudden chill and responded urgently.
“Ahem, well, you see, didn’t I regain my youth thanks to you? So I was thinking of stepping down from the Hunter Association and joining your guild…, but here’s the thing.”
Ma Hyun-seok spoke carefully.
Then he gauged Min-jun’s reaction.
What would his response be?
Was I worrying for nothing?
Min-jun’s face lit up noticeably as he spoke.
“Oh! That’s perfect for me! I was just wondering who to appoint as the commander of the Second Division. You’re the ideal candidate!”
Of course, for Min-jun, this was an offer with no reason to refuse.
In fact, he’d even considered making the offer himself.
Wasn’t the appointment of the Second Division commander his biggest headache?
Ma Hyun-seok was more than qualified.
I had considered Isabella as a candidate, but she was currently handling the guild’s major affairs so well that it would be difficult to burden her with additional responsibilities.
Jung Ji-hwan was out of the question.
But for him to volunteer like this!
If Ma Hyun-seok had known what I was thinking, he would have fled quietly, but how could he possibly know that?
I could only be pleased.
“W, well? Ah! Yes, yes, do that! I’ve led the Hunter Association before, so! The Second Division commander position is child’s play!”
“Haha! That’s great.”
The conversation seemed to be going better than expected?
Ma Hyun-seok smiled contentedly with that thought.
Now I just needed to step down from the Hunter Association and join the guild.
I’d need to pressure Won Eun-seong a bit more.
If Won Eun-seong had heard this, he would have wanted to escape immediately, but unfortunately, the distant Won Eun-seong in Korea had no way of knowing.
Besides, I couldn’t even read Min-jun’s thoughts, who was right here.
In any case, since Min-jun had come this far, shouldn’t he do something?
I asked, looking at Ma Hyun-seok.
“Then, Director.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“You haven’t tried using Transcendence yet, have you?”
“Oh, that? Right, I haven’t. I’ve been restraining myself from using it since it draws too much attention. Plus, there’s a castle nearby.”
The Infernal Armor that Ma Hyun-seok obtained upon reaching Level 7.
Since the ability mixed in explosive power, it was somewhat difficult to use.
A power whose strength you don’t know is inherently dangerous, after all.
“Oh, how convenient.”
“Hm?”
“Then should we go use it on the Disaster Level 5 monster nearby? We’re going to take care of this one anyway, and we have something to receive from the German Government. Consider it a bonus service.”
“Ah, sounds good.”
I’d been wondering when I’d get to test out the transcendent skill.
This puts my mind at ease.
Min-jun has that skill that creates a black dome to protect us, doesn’t he?
And Min-jun spoke to Matteo, who stood behind him with a somewhat dazed expression.
“I’ll also take care of the Disaster Level 5 monster that was originally in Heidelberg.”
“Y-yes? Ah, understood.”
But there was something to do first.
The cause of this suddenly emerged Disaster Level 5 monster was none other than the abruptly elevated mana distribution.
“Gwen?”
“Ah! I prepared it in advance!”
When Min-jun called Gwen, she pulled something out as if she understood, and from it emerged a fist-sized reinforced Level 5 mana stone.
The only difference was that it was completely hollow inside.
Gwen had used all the mana within it beforehand to empty it out.
The reason was simple.
“Hnnnngh!”
As Gwen exerted her power while inhaling deeply as if drawing something in, the surrounding mana began to be pulled toward the mana stone.
It was something only Gwen, who could handle mana with such precision, could accomplish.
All the residual mana left behind by the scattered Disaster Level 5 monster flowed into the mana stone.
This would prevent a new Disaster Level 5 monster from appearing due to a sudden spike in mana distribution afterward.
Of course, it would be nice if we could prevent all monsters this way, but Gwen said her power could only collect the mana scattering from the monster that just died.
Actually, what more could we ask for?
It meant we could hunt freely.
This was truly a blessing.
“I’ve absorbed all the residual mana!”
“Good work. Shall we head out then?”
Min-jun was about to head toward where the disaster monster was when he remembered something and spoke to Matteo.
“Ah, right. Tell all the other guild members who are being assembled to rest. Since we’re already here in Heidelberg, it would be nice to do some sightseeing.”
“Y-yes? Well, then….”
He didn’t ask the foolish question of how they’d take care of the Disaster Level 5 monster.
Though there were only Min-jun, Gwen, and Ma Hyun-seok, he didn’t feel they were insufficient.
In fact, even Ma Hyun-seok alone would be enough to handle it without issue.
Min-jun spoke thus and departed with the other two.
Toward the Disaster Level 5 monster felt far in the distance.
I wonder what Ma Hyun-seok’s transcendent skill looks like in action?
As he thought this, Min-jun pondered.
‘When will my level increase?’
The moment that thought crossed his mind, a luminous ring materialized on his back, but unfortunately, no one was there to witness it.
2.
Glowing metal, heated to a crimson blaze, sat motionless yet radiated such searing heat that it seemed capable of incinerating everything around it.
Ma Hyun-seok’s Infernal Carapace embodied precisely that image.
A dark-crimson exoskeleton, resembling that of some monstrous ant, enveloped his entire body, radiating heat so intense it seemed poised to melt the very air surrounding him.
From the helmet sprouted horns as though carved from an ant’s mandibles and grafted in place, while behind him billowed wings that flickered with dark-crimson flames.
The brilliant azure glow emanating from the helmet’s eye sockets made him appear as a demon lord risen from the depths of hell itself.
If hellfire were to manifest in this world, surely it would take this very form.
Just as all living creatures instinctively reject death, so too did the Disaster-level 5 monster recoil in horror.
The Disaster-level 5 monster facing Ma Hyun-seok, now clad in the Infernal Carapace, was itself an insectoid creature.
It bore the massive form of a grasshopper, yet its head resembled that of an eagle, as did its wings.
The grotesque abomination, seized by terror, drove its elongated hind legs forcefully into the ground to escape.
The creature’s enormous body carved halfway through a mountain, sending a maelstrom of earth and dust spiraling outward, but in that instant—
Flash!
Ma Hyun-seok’s azure eyes blazed with light.
For a moment, the world seemed to freeze, falling into absolute silence.
No—everything slowed as though time itself had stopped.
A realm of heightened perception, one might call it.
In this decelerated world, only Ma Hyun-seok moved at his normal pace.
He concentrated the power of the Infernal Carapace into the hammer he wielded.
Even the Grade 6 hammer barely withstood the strain, visibly melting at its edges.
Before it could succumb entirely to the infernal crimson flames, he swung it.
Roooaaarrr!
In the slowed world, crimson fire engulfed everything, and in that moment—
Crack!
The flames consumed the world.
This was no longer a matter of defeating or failing to defeat the monster.
The very fabric of reality seemed poised to collapse.
Whoooosh!
The hellfire that incinerated all things surged outward, devouring everything in its path, and then—
Boom!
It detonated.
The crimson beam that stretched outward swallowed two or three mountains whole, yet still carved out a colossal chasm in its wake.
Watching the terrain vanish as though erased from existence, Min-jun nodded with satisfaction.
‘Indeed, it surpasses the skills attached to Grade 7 items.’
Because Min-jun had poured an absurd amount of mana into its use, it displayed tremendous power, but typically, skills attached to items operate at half their potential.
Yet witnessing the raw power of Ma Hyun-seok’s direct transcendent technique was more than sufficient proof.
Disaster-level 6 monsters had yet to appear in this world.
I wondered if I was preparing too intensely in advance, but at this moment, no one cared about such concerns.
“Cough. This mana consumption is no joke. It’s even more than the ultimate skill I used when I first reached Level 5.”
“Well, it is a transcendent skill, after all.”
“Heh heh.”
Still, the efficiency was quite poor.
Then again, with that kind of power, this level of consumption was something to be expected.
Min-jun spoke to Ma Hyun-seok while restoring his mana with enhanced mana stones.
“Once you join the guild, I’ll give you something to charge your mana with.”
“Phew, thanks. I feel like I can breathe again.”
Ma Hyun-seok answered that way.
Min-jun wished his own level would rise soon.
What would the enhancement mage’s transcendent skill be like?
Honestly, even the ultimate skills were impressive.
One was an ultimate skill that could interfere with others—Interference.
Simple in appearance, but the effect itself was quite substantial.
The next ultimate skill I obtained was Potential Enhancement.
It was an incredibly powerful enhancement that raised one’s innate level.
After having these two enhancements, what kind of enhancement would appear at the transcendent level?
I was looking forward to it, but when would this blasted system finally level me up?
Just as Min-jun was complaining and preparing to leave, a message appeared.
[Your level has increased.]
[You have transcended.]
[Your body is being adjusted to create the optimal form.]
Along with that message, Min-jun’s entire body began to glow, and rings of light started forming behind his back.
One, two, three.
They increased one by one, and soon seven rings appeared behind Min-jun, completely enveloping him.
“W-what is this?”
“G-Guild Master?!”
It was far different from Ma Hyun-seok, who was adjusting his body as if shedding a shell.
Naturally, Gwen and Ma Hyun-seok, who were near Min-jun, stood in shock, unsure what to do.
Ma Hyun-seok, whose level had risen differently from his own, hadn’t even realized his level had increased.
Not long after.
The seven rings were absorbed into Min-jun’s body, and as he regained consciousness, his eyes glowed with golden light.
Then a message appeared.
[You have reached Level 7 and acquired a transcendent skill and new skills.]
[You can now safely attempt 8-star enhancements.]
‘My level increased?’
Min-jun quickly opened the transcendent skill window.
It was what I was most curious about.
Two new regular skills appeared as well, but how could I possibly contain myself?
‘Trait Enhancement’
[Transcendence]
-Awakens the latent power within a trait to reveal a new characteristic.
*Trait Enhancement uses the Sphere of Evolution as material.
*Trait Enhancement never fails.
Thus, I opened the Transcendence skill.
“…?”
A second class advancement had opened.

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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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