God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 187: Episode _The Great Cataclysm (4)

7.

Han Simin made a quick judgment. These run-of-the-mill mobs weren’t going to cut it. He couldn’t waste time farming boxes that weren’t even worth the cost of enhancement stones. With gold now over $150 per piece, fifteen enhancement stones cost more than $2,000. To justify that kind of investment, the resulting weapon had to be worth at least $10,000, which meant it needed to be at least Unique-grade.

“I’m heading out to farm,” he announced.

“We’re going to focus on leveling up for now,” Seolah replied.

“Sounds good.”

And so, they decided to part ways. He had promised to help them until level 100, but he couldn’t just drop everything and stick to the Specialists indefinitely. As long as they didn’t quit the game, the path to leveling up was always open, so not getting the experience buff right now wasn’t a huge loss. Seolah nodded readily.

In her heart, she wanted to venture into deeper, more dangerous territories with Simin. She wanted to fight stronger monsters in a stable environment and improve her specs. But right now, leveling was the priority, especially when the new content had the player base in such an agitated state.

This was the perfect chance to widen the gap with the other rankers. They would stick to their plan. For the Specialists, the boxes would become important content, but it wasn’t so critical that the world would end if they didn’t farm them right away. After a brief consideration, they came to a conclusion.

“We can just buy them.”

It was a conclusion only the wealthy could reach. The probability of getting a good item was low anyway, and if one did appear, it would eventually hit the market. They could just acquire it then. The many new paths for players to get closer to NPCs didn’t hold much meaning for the Specialists either. More than anything, they trusted Han Simin.

“Just trust me. I’ll bring back a Legendary weapon.”

No, what they really trusted was his passion for money.

*

The details of the main quest’s third act had not been released. With a minimum level requirement of 100, that was only natural. Yet, as if they already knew, players everywhere were naturally heading out to destroy the demonic energy-imbued gates. It was the current social trend. The Emperor had made a public declaration, and the kingdoms had placed bounties on the gates, ordering guilds to destroy them. Armies were dispatched to subjugate the monsters invading their territories. For players who now had a way to integrate with NPCs, it was an irresistible tide.

However, the atmosphere didn’t become as overheated as one might expect, because the NPCs maintained a reasonable line. Monsters from the Demon Realm were appearing, but it didn’t feel like the world was about to end. It was more like they were simply fending off an invasion. It felt like they were destroying gates for the future. The rewards were proportional to that feeling. So, no matter how much they tried, they couldn’t get truly excited.

—It’s not as intense as I thought it would be.

—I was expecting something to really pop off.

—The start was too strong. A Legendary? I still think getting that from a Normal box was a bug.

A new year arrived with the Great Cataclysm. The players’ expectations gradually waned, and the Demon Realm content settled naturally among them, as if it had always been planned. However, their hopes hadn’t vanished entirely.

—Maybe something will happen when we hit level 100 and Act 3 is revealed?

—There’s no way these demonic energy-imbued gates just appeared for no reason.

—The thing we destroyed was a sealing stone. It would be weird if demons didn’t show up.

—I’m curious.

In the end, it was a game. A story existed, and if things continued this way, demons were bound to appear. The only thing players couldn’t be sure of was the game’s overwhelming realism. The outcome could change depending on their choices. If they defended well from the start, it was possible they could create a future where the demons never appeared at all. This sparked countless debates.

—Still, wouldn’t it be better if the demons showed up?

—What are you talking about? You want the game to be ruined? At the current player level, what are we supposed to do against demons?

—Yeah, they need to control it at least until we level up more.

The cries of those who couldn’t even take down an ogre they met on the road! The community forums were never quiet.

8.

While players scrambled to adapt to the myriad changes, Han Simin stuck to his original plan.

“There it is.”

“Do you really think you can take it?” Kardian asked skeptically.

“Why? Is it strong?”

“It is different from the demonic rabble we have seen so far. It is, at the very least, a lowest-grade demon.”

“Hah. Doesn’t that mean it’ll drop a pretty decent box?”

“...You would have to kill it first for that to happen,” she said dryly.

Beyond the Unknown Mountains, near the entrance to a land of mystery, on that ambiguous border, Han Simin had finally found what he was looking for: a monster that looked like it would drop a worthwhile box! A beast at least as strong as the final boss of the main quest’s second act! He gulped, staring at the horned demon with bulging muscles, wielding a giant axe. The demon, sensing his gaze, turned to look at them. A historic moment.

Simin swallowed hard. He had acted tough, but it was obvious the demon was strong. It had to be. He couldn’t even handle the regular monsters in this area by himself, let alone this demon. The hunting ground’s level was that high.

“Kardian, I’m counting on you.”

Kardian was silent.

In all honesty, he wouldn’t have even attempted this without Kardian. He wasn’t reckless enough to risk his items on a challenge with no chance of success. He handed her the mana crystals he had stolen from her lair, which she accepted with a look of disbelief.

“Just this once. We only need to kill it once.”

Kardian was silent.

What Simin needed was a single stroke of luck. He needed a case study he could show to others.

“If I get a Legendary from this, like that Southern Expedition team did, I can live like a king for three years.”

Simin knew luck-based games all too well, especially since he could manipulate probability. Making money through probability was difficult, and there was no need to mess with probabilities he couldn’t control. So, he would suffer just this once and then make money steadily.

“I’ll give you three Praise Points.”

“Praise Points?”

“Yeah. Collect 100 of them, and I’ll give you back your heart, clean slate. We say our goodbyes. Deal?”

For this, he was willing to give her anything she wanted. It was all for the sake of making a living. Kardian considered it, then nodded. It would be a difficult battle for her as well. Even if her mana was full, it had its limits. But she wasn’t worried. Whether she used magic without polymorphing or engaged in close combat after polymorphing with her limited mana, the outcome would be the same.

“Hey, Sudal. Give her a Rune,” Simin commanded.

Sudal grunted.

The importance of a companion, something he never felt while roaming the continent alone! As she felt the power surging through her, Kardian unleashed a torrent of draconic magic upon the lowest-grade demon. To a third party, it would have looked absurdly one-sided, as if he were effortlessly sweeping through with an overpowered dragon. But Simin wasn’t the type to care about such things.

“Good job. Three Praise Points. Keep a good count. If you forget, we start from zero.”

What mattered was the reward right in front of him, the sweet prize! A smile spread across Simin’s face as he saw a jewelry box drop.

*

It was, in fact, a gamble. An uncertain one. A gamble that made even Simin himself question it.

’Will this really be a high enough grade?’ he wondered, doubting the lowest-grade demon.

“It is sufficient,” Kardian had assured him, but he hadn’t believed her. It was only natural, as he never trusted anyone but himself. It had been too easy to kill. He hadn’t considered just how broken Sudal’s buffs were when combined with Kardian’s power.

“Hmm.”

After a moment of thought, he made his decision.

“I’m going live.”

The crossroads between a recorded broadcast and a live one. The difference was clear. With a recording, if he didn’t get the desired result, he could just not upload it. But a live broadcast was different.

“What is there to life?”

He decided to trust Kardian this one time.

“If a Legendary doesn’t drop, your Dragon Heart is going straight into my mouth.”

Kardian said nothing.

And so, the broadcast began. After a long ad, Kardian’s refreshing face appeared on screen, and the viewers spammed the chat more than usual. The title of the stream alone was enough to make their hearts flutter.

—He’s opening a random Normal box?

—It says it’s a +15 random box.

—Oh, nice. Think a Unique will drop?

—He’s aiming for a Legendary, it says.

With no real news for nearly two weeks, the users had all been hoping Simin would start a stream. They expected him to bring something new. The first person in Fantastic World to own a Legendary item. If it was him, the God of Enhancement, then maybe... As expected, he broke ten thousand viewers in no time. The stream combined two of the most popular types of content in game broadcasting: enhancement and random boxes.

Without dragging it out, Simin showed them the box, which was leaking a gloomy demonic energy. Then, he began the enhancement process, starting from +1. He showed the entire process, uncut, including the parts where he fought off monsters that interrupted him.

It took quite a while. On top of that, the viewers had to watch a one-minute ad every fifteen minutes. The whole thing took half a day. But there were no complaints.

[User Aieishoo has been kicked.]

Those who couldn’t stand it were removed, and besides, it was entertaining in its own way. Just seeing Kardian’s face was enough to make most of them forgive the wait. After many trials and tribulations, the +15 box was complete. After one final ad, Simin opened it. The tension was so thick that even the great Han Simin’s hands trembled as he opened it, a feeling that was transmitted perfectly through the broadcast.

He had brought it to +15 with his own ability, but from here on, it was pure luck. There were no guarantees, unlike when he got the Ring of Blessing. The probability might have increased, but if the box’s limit was Unique, then nothing higher would ever come out.

’How long has it been since I’ve dealt with pure chance?’

Ever since he gained the ability to change probability, he had never even looked at odds he couldn’t control.

“Whew.”

He savored the uncontrollable trembling as the box opened. A single pendant shot out.

—What is it?

—What’s that?

A flood of questions urged Simin on, but he ignored them and checked the options first. His brow furrowed instantly. But as he read to the end, a bright smile spread across his face.

[Bloody Grudge]

- Grade: Special

- Required Level: 70

- Defense: 100

- Special Option 1: Converts a portion of absorbed blood into a shield for the caster.

- Special Option 2: Converts a portion of absorbed blood into attack power for the caster.

- Special Option 3: Recovers the caster’s health with a portion of absorbed blood.

- Effect increases by 30% if the blood is from the Demon Realm.

It was Special-grade, but its options were good enough to be considered Legendary!

“A random Normal box? With enhancement, anything is possible! I’m a specialist in box enhancement! I’ll even enhance the item that comes out for you, nice and clean. For price inquiries, check my profile and contact me anytime. Sponsorship inquiries are also welcome!”

The desired result led straight to a commercial, and the broadcast ended. Even after it was over, the viewers couldn’t bring themselves to leave the stream.

—Holy crap. Is that a Special-grade Legendary item?

—Spec-gendary, lol.

—I can’t believe something like that can come from a box.

—A Legendary felt too unrealistic, but seeing this live on stream is insane.

The dying embers of hype, which had been smothered by the humiliating name of ’Normal box,’ roared back to life.

*