God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 31: Episode 6 _ What Would Happen If I Enhanced This_ (6)

Chapter 31: Episode 6 _ What Would Happen If I Enhanced This_ (6)

7.

“Huh?”

What was this? A Corrupted Holy Staff? And it had ’evolved’? The once-holy staff was now streaked with black, giving it a bizarrely captivating appearance. A faint, dark greenish-yellow aura emanated from it, and Simin’s brow furrowed.

‘What the hell?’ he thought. ‘It can evolve at +14? My dagger barely evolved at +15. This is so unfair!’

“What is this? What’s going on?” Yeseul asked aloud.

“I’m not sure,” Simin admitted. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

This was clearly different from his dagger’s evolution. Was it a special effect aura? It seemed he wasn’t the only one who could see it. Simin checked the staff’s information.

[+14 Corrupted Holy Staff]

* Grade: Epic Rare

* Level Requirement: 20

* Class Restriction: Dark Mage

* Option 1: Magic Power +5 (+30)

* Option 2: All Healing Effects +5% (+30%)

* Special Option 1: Aura Effect Evolution (Special Aura)

* Special Option 2: ‘Unique Dark Green Aura’ Effect Applied

- Applies ‘Morale Boost’ buff to allies within a 26-foot radius (4% HP and MP recovery every 10 seconds).

- Applies +30% additional damage when using Holy or Dark attribute skills.

- Converts non-attribute attacks to Holy/Dark attributes.

“Gah!” Simin cried out in anguish.

“What? What’s wrong?!” Yeseul asked, startled.

With slumped shoulders, he handed her the staff. “See for yourself.”

“Whoa!” A gasp of awe escaped her lips.

Behind Hyeonsu, Seolah’s eyes widened as she read the item’s stats. “How is this even...”

’Possible?’ he finished for her in his head. ’Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking.’

“Simin...” Yeseul’s eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, turned to him.

His hands trembled, but he managed to force one corner of his mouth into a smile. “C-Congrats. You got lucky. I’ll just charge a thousand gold coins for the evolution fee.”

As an enhancement master, he couldn’t just take an item because it turned out well—even if every fiber of his being was screaming at him to do just that.

‘It’s not like I could use it anyway,’ he reasoned, forcing himself to calm down.

“Okay! Was the total 2,200 gold coins? I’ll send it as soon as we get out!” Yeseul chirped.

“It’s 2,240,” he corrected instantly.

“Fine... I’ll give you 2,300. Happy now?”

“I love you, kiddo.”

Thankfully, his self-control was immediately rewarded. The impromptu evolution fee he’d invented did wonders to soothe his aching gut. $100,000! It was an astronomical sum, but considering how useful the aura would be even at high levels, it was an investment Yeseul wouldn’t regret.

‘I should charge more for high-level weapons,’ he mused, already planning his next move. The thought was comforting. He was gradually getting a handle on Fantastic World’s enhancement system. A Rare item evolving was far more effective than a Normal one, which gave him a new benchmark for his pricing. ‘I should raise my prices, too.’

His services were exclusive to top-tier players, after all. He would aim for expensive and precise, not cheap and plentiful. The prices he’d set so far were based on low-level items, but the percentage-based aura effects made them feel far too low. Now he had justification to raise them—especially for accessories, if not for weapons and armor.

Boom! Boom!

“Stop chatting and do something! I’m at my limit!” Hyeonsu, who had been silently absorbing a barrage of magic, finally shouted.

“Ah, sorry!” Simin called back.

Though Hyeonsu’s broad back blocked his view, the sheer number of explosions suggested he wasn’t in great shape. The health bar in the party window confirmed it. The ridiculous aura was helping him hold on, but their opponent was still a level 35 named monster. Hyeonsu’s ability to silently tank was nothing short of amazing.

In response, Yeseul raised her +14 staff. “Heal!”

A harmony of light and darkness erupted. Hyeonsu’s health shot up instantly. He couldn’t help but glance back, a look of utter bewilderment on his face.

“What was that?” he asked.

“Hmm?” Yeseul tilted her head.

“Why did I heal so much?”

“Hehe.”

Between the aura effect and the staff’s base options, her healing was boosted by a staggering 65%. Of course it would feel like a lot more than usual.

“But how do we get it down?” Seolah wondered aloud.

Even with the enhanced healing, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. Illusion wasn’t about to descend just because he was low on mana, and he wouldn’t be letting his guard down again. They had no way to approach him.

As they pondered their next move, their eyes fell on the dagger still embedded in Illusion’s robe.

“...What is it?” Simin asked, shrinking back from their focused gazes. He had been comfortably sitting back and watching, but the atmosphere suddenly felt like he was expected to do something.

“You can retrieve that dagger, can’t you?” Seolah asked.

“Yes, it’s possible.”

Remembering how he had thrown and recalled the dagger during the slaughter at the desert entrance, Seolah’s face brightened as she made her request. “Just hit its wings and make it fall.”

It was a single sentence, a simple request. Simin stood and recalled his weapon. At its master’s command, the crimson dagger materialized in his palm.

‘Can I do it?’ He was confident in his ability to hit a target, but the problem was the transparent barrier around Illusion. It was undoubtedly a shield. He pushed aside the question of whether he could pierce it. There was no point in overthinking it. He just threw it without a second thought.

‘It’ll either hit or bounce off.’

Aiming for a blind spot, the dagger shot forward with all his strength and collided with the barrier.

Illusion was startled by the sudden attack but didn’t bother to dodge. He trusted his shield. It was a matter of pride for a level 35 named monster, one who once boasted of being the continent’s great archmage.

But...

As if mocking his arrogance, the crimson dagger tore through the shield and bared its fangs at its target.

“...No!” Illusion cried.

The spell he had been chanting fizzled out. His instinctive twist to avoid the blow was impressive for a named monster, but he should have reacted the moment he sensed the dagger.

“Aargh!”

The split-second delay between thought and reaction was more than enough time for the crimson dagger to pierce his left wing. The immense attack power, combined with stacking damage-over-time, was a fatal blow for a low-health mage.

“It’s falling,” Simin announced.

“Oppa,” Seolah called out.

“Right, let’s go,” Hyeonsu responded.

Seolah and Hyeonsu, who had been watching the situation unfold, broke into a run. Their target was the spot where the falling Illusion was predicted to land. With their health and mana now full, they moved with renewed speed.

“Ice Spear!” Seolah’s sword became coated in frost.

The wounded mage, afflicted with a status effect, was falling from the sky. An enemy offering its neck so openly was her perfect prey.

Kshnk!

[You have dealt a critical blow!]

The Illusion raid was difficult because the path through the ruins was complex and the monsters were high-level. Even if a party found the boss room, low-level players lacked the means to attack Illusion directly. Mages couldn’t beat him with magic, and ranged attackers would be targeted first. Even if they focused their attacks, they would be logged out one by one by his powerful spells before they could break his shield.

But the Specialists had the means to handle all of it. And the result was...

[Quest Complete.]

[‘Scenario Quest: Act 1’ has been cleared.]

[‘Scenario Quest: Act 2’ is now open. By proving their skill, adventurers have earned the right to proceed to the second act.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

They defeated Illusion more easily than expected. Killing a wounded mage on the ground was hardly a challenge for a Unique-grade magic swordsman.

“Wow! I went up two levels!” Yeseul exclaimed.

A brilliant flash of light signaled the end of the Ain Kingdom’s main quest, Act 1. Of course, it also heralded a new beginning.

“And look at all the items that dropped!” she added.

“Everyone, freeze!” Simin shouted, leaping to his feet.

The time for looting had begun.

* * *

With Illusion’s death, the desert reverted to a vast, empty cavern. It had all been a mirage he created. But none of the four were amazed by this. Their attention was captivated by the pile of rewards.

“Illusion’s Robe. It’s a Unique set item. Yeseul can use this,” Seolah said, picking it up.

“Also, the ancient bone fragments,” Simin added.

Yeseul noted, “And there’s a Rare-grade ring!”

At least seven items lay scattered around the corpse—a fitting drop for the final boss of the main scenario quest’s first act. They divided the loot appropriately, leaving Simin out of the initial picks.

“Aren’t you going to choose?” Seolah asked him.

“You all go first,” he said, gauging the situation. After they each took one, four items remained. “I just want this one, if that’s okay. I’ll pass on the other rewards.”

He then snatched up a box he’d been eyeing.

[Random Box (Scenario Quest: Act 1)]

Grade: Normal

Option 1: Drops a random item when opened.

Everyone looked at him with confusion. While the four remaining items were of lower quality than the first three chosen, they were still better than what Simin had picked. It was an illogical move, especially considering the obsession with money he’d shown so far.

“Simin oppa, that’s just a Normal-grade item,” Yeseul pointed out.

“It’s Normal, but it’s random,” he retorted.

“How do you know what’ll come out?”

They were worried about him.

“Do what you want. I’ll take this one, then,” Hyeonsu said, casually picking another item.

‘There’s something more to this,’ Simin thought.

He was intrigued by the word ‘random.’ The item itself was called a random box. It reeked of gambling. Of course, he didn’t expect anything good to come out. Considering the grade and level requirements of the other items, he might get something decent if he was lucky, but the probability of getting something bad was much higher. It was the first time he’d seen such an item in Fantastic World, but it was a staple in other games, which was why the Specialists had ignored it. He knew that well.

“Are you sure you’re okay with just one?” Seolah asked.

“The other stuff is useless to me anyway. If you feel bad, just let me pick first next time.” But even trash has its uses.

“Then I’ll take this,” Seolah said, picking up another item.

“Sure.”

As he smiled and took the box, Yeseul, who had been watching him closely, approached. She could be clueless, but she was surprisingly sharp when she needed to be. Her suspicious gaze fixed on the box.

“Does that thing have a prime location, too?”

“A prime location?”

“You know, one that increases the chance of getting something good!”

“...I’m not a shaman.”

If he had that kind of power, he wouldn’t be stuck playing a game. He’d be out buying lottery tickets. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered it, but unfortunately, that kind of probability manipulation didn’t work. However, he could think of other ways to use his ability.

He snickered to himself. The same grin he wore when he met a new sucker spread across his face. Ignoring the others as they divided the remaining items, Simin pulled out his anvil.

“What are you doing?” Yeseul asked.

“What does it look like?” he replied.

Couldn’t she tell by looking? He placed the anvil on the ground and set the box on top of it.

“No way!” she gasped.

No one could have predicted this. If he hadn’t thought of enhancing his leather pouch, he never would have considered applying the same logic here to enhance a random box.

“Aren’t you curious?” he asked.

They were curious, but also dumbfounded. How did he even come up with such an idea? It was both an obvious and a shocking concept for any seasoned gamer. Most games confined players to a set framework. Enhancing a random rock on the ground or a building was impossible.

But here, it was possible.

“A random box, huh. What kind of reward do you think will pop out if I get it to +15?”

Even Simin himself couldn’t imagine the result. Betago, that damn AI, had created a game so realistic it could surprise even him, implemented NPCs that defied player expectations, and was smart enough to impose restrictions on his own rule-breaking supernatural power.

So, he would just go for it.

‘Something will come out,’ he thought. And if not, oh well.

“Here I go.”

“...This is insane.”

It was a gamble only possible within a game. And the whole scene was being broadcast live on the Specialists’ channel.

***