2. Enhancement
2. Enhancement
【 Korea Hunter Gallery 】
[ Info ] Hunter Distribution and Abilities by Rank.
Author: WantToAwaken
Today, let's learn about the ranks and abilities of hunters.
As everyone knows, Awakened ranks exist from the lowest F-rank up to A-rank.
A lot of people get confused, but the Awakened rank is a separate grade from the Trait rank.
First, I prepared a table for easy viewing.
The summary below is not an absolute indicator since stats vary so much for each Awakened, so don't blindly trust it.
F-rank = Physical abilities have almost no difference from an ordinary person. A rank even rarer than A-rank. Unlike ordinary people, growth is possible by hunting monsters. Trait possessed.
E-rank = Physical abilities that are clearly different from an ordinary person's phys...
......
......
A-rank = If a B-rank is a superhuman who can see and dodge bullets, an A-rank is a real monster that remains intact even if hit directly by an artillery shell. Of course, being a high rank, there is quite a deviation between the lowest and highest tiers. In most cases, they received a high grade of at least C to B-rank or higher at the time of Awakening.
S-rank = A rank reached by an extremely small number of Awakened after long growth. Even now, 10 years after the Gate Incident broke out, S-rank hunters can be counted on one hand. It's practically an extra-tier grade. But even S-rank hunters can't clear S-rank Gates, holy shit. Shouldn't the Association reclassify the ranks?
"As expected..."
Quite naturally, there was nothing regarding EX-rank.
"Hek-hek..."
On top of that, an abnormality had occurred not only in my status window, but also in the pet status window of Haengbok, who should have stopped vital activity long ago.
[ Name 》 Haengbok ]
[ Model Name 》 Jellico MK - 1 ]
[ Mana Core Grade 》 None ]
[ Lifespan 》 Permanent (Under Contract) ]
"Does this... even make sense...?"
The F-grade Mana Core that originally belonged to Haengbok had disappeared altogether. On top of that, the lifespan was strange too.
'What does "Under Contract" mean? If the lifespan is permanent, could he be immortal?'
Although he didn't know for sure, if the status window was real, it was certain that this Jellico had already departed from the category of a magical beast.
Though Haengbok himself didn't seem to notice that fact at all.
"Hek-hek..."
"Heoo..."
Returning to my trait, Beast Alchemist.
【 Beast Alchemist 》 EX-rank 】
The trait rank, which was E-grade, had become EX-rank.
A simple display error?
'There's no way.'
An error in the system window had never been observed even once until now.
Although he didn't know exactly what tier EX-rank was, one thing was certain: it was a rank existing beyond S-rank, currently known as the highest grade.
'...If this is real, just what level has my ability reached?'
Even an A-rank would be at the level of talent the nation is desperate to find...
Whatever it was, first figuring out the ability was the urgent priority.
I went to work at the shop.
Of course, it wasn't to do business.
The small-scale cultivation facility equipped in the shop.
I stood in front of it and activated my trait.
【 Design 】
【 Cultivation 】
【 Reinforcement 】
【 Function not unlocked. 】
"...A new function, Reinforcement, has appeared."
At my previous rank, E-rank, I could only use the Design and Cultivation functions.
However, the new function 【 Reinforcement 】 had appeared in the work window, which used to contain only basic skills as a Beast Alchemist.
Since the 【 Reinforcement 】 function required someone of Team Leader's level, it must be a C-rank ability.
There seemed to be a few more functions below it, but it didn't seem possible to use all of them yet.
Although it was a bit disappointing, even this much was amazing.
"Hmm, shall I test out the new function first?"
【 Reinforcement 】 is a function that literally reinforces the traits or abilities that a magical beast possesses.
Even if magical beasts are cultivated and created with the same design and facility, a single 【 Reinforcement 】 makes a world of difference in performance.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this difference in 【 Reinforcement 】 determines the class of pets of the same grade.
Of course, it is an equally difficult and arduous task.
Magical beasts with different characteristics and mechanisms.
One must meticulously pay attention to each of their traits and harmonize them so that no backlash occurs.
Naturally, in order to raise the success rate of reinforcement, countless trial and error attempts are required.
"Hmm... shall I try it on this guy?"
"...Shwik."
I took out a turtle about the size of a human head from the shop cage and placed it on the workbench.
[ Name 》 Undecided ]
[ Model Name 》 Rune Turtle V - 3 ]
[ Mana Core Grade 》 E-grade Processed Core ]
[ Lifespan 》 8 Months ]
Up to here was the basic information of the turtle.
And the trait was...
[ Trait 》 Rune Barrier (E-grade) ]
'Rune Barrier.'
The combat support pet Rune Turtle, which has the trait to generate a mana barrier through the rune characters engraved on its shell.
The Rune Turtle wasn't something I designed myself; I paid money to purchase someone else's design and cultivated it.
Since this turtle possessed an extremely simple structure, it could be said to be very suitable for reinforcement experiments.
As a side note, if the reinforcement success rate is too low, failure can have a major negative impact on the pet, so I selected a model with the simplest structure possible and one where clear differences could be seen upon reinforcement.
Meomchit-
Before reinforcing, I realized one major problem.
"Ah, come to think of it, there's no proper reinforcement facility here. Even if I buy one now, it'll have to come from overseas, so it'll arrive much later..."
If it were a research lab, that would be one thing... but in my shop, where an entry-level cultivation facility is all there is, proper reinforcement cannot be performed.
It's not completely impossible, but since reinforcement deals with living magical beasts, it requires many delicate and precise task-assist instruments.
What I currently have are just truly basic catalysts and reagents.
"Shwik..."
Just as I was agonizing in front of the Rune Turtle.
Ddiring-!
[ Presenting the improvement direction for the target model 'Rune Turtle V - 3'. ]
Guidelines floated before my eyes along with the system window.
"This is...!"
The internal structure of the Rune Turtle was drawn in 3D in my head, and various possibilities were intuitively grasped.
An omnipotent feeling, as if borrowing the senses of a transcendent being who had spent a lifetime creating and modifying such lifeforms.
But at the same time that sense spread out, there was a feeling as if my brain were burning. An instinctive warning alarm that I must not focus on this sense any longer.
Whether I liked it or not, I had no choice but to understand why most of my abilities were locked.
'This is not the realm of humans...!!'
I hastily broke free from that sensation and gasped for air.
"Heo-eok... heo-eok..."
Although it was just a fleeting moment, through that transcendent sense, I saw what kind of reinforcement would be valid in the current situation.
"Shwik..."
The Rune Turtle looked up at me as I gasped for breath.
Looking into those unfocused eyes, I somehow felt my head cooling down.
"...It's a bit late for this, but is it really okay for me to modify your body as I please?"
The God of Jelly Dogs said that Haengbok possessed a soul.
If that's the case, these magical beasts must also possess souls. They aren't beings that simply move according to programmed inputs.
An ethical problem I had always thought about ever since Awakening and creating magical beasts.
"...No matter how I sugarcoat it, in the end, this is an act of playing with life."
Even so, I... want to aim for a higher realm.
I want to utilize this ability. I couldn't deny such a desire.
I want to experience firsthand the power of an EX-rank ability that could overturn my life.
I was an extremely ordinary civilian, and I was not a righteous enough person to kick away a given opportunity due to reasons like ethics or conscience.
"...So, at the very least, I'll make sure to try my best so that you guys become the best among magical beasts of your kind."
"Shwik..."
Granting them outstanding abilities and letting them meet better owners.
That was my bare minimum duty toward life, and an excuse to convince myself.
Fortunately, I possessed the ability to execute it.
[ Selecting the direction of reinforcement. ]
[ The user's database information is of the highest grade. ]
[ Reinforcement success rate increases drastically. ]
[ Reinforcement Success Rate 》 Very High ]
*
[ Trait 》 Rune Barrier (E-grade) → Rune Barrier (C-grade) ]
"Ha... I really pulled it off?"
Even though I did it, it made no sense. The trait leaped two steps in a single bound.
I improved the Rune Turtle's rune characters and attached one more external mana core on top of its shell.
Mounting an external socket and connecting the mana circuits was an extremely high-difficulty operation under poor conditions, but...
[ Sub-trait 'Evolution Monarch's Sleight of Hand' is activated. ]
[ The precision of the reinforcement process increases. ]
[ The speed of the reinforcement process increases. ]
The EX-rank trait made even such work effortless.
The specs of the Rune Turtle reinforced in such a manner were...
[ Name 》 Undecided ]
[ Model Name 》 Rune Turtle V - 3 ]
[ Mana Core Grade 》 E-grade → E+-grade ]
[ Lifespan 》 8 Months → 10 Months ]
[ This magical beast has undergone a special reinforcement process. ]
"Did its lifespan increase thanks to the external core?"
For a detachable external core to directly help extend lifespan... this was another newly discovered fact.
"Isn't this fantastic...?"
Since I put it under sleep anesthesia so it wouldn't get stressed while I carved the shell, I still have to monitor it further, but seeing how its lifespan increased, it seems highly likely there won't be any adverse effects from the reinforcement at least.
Anyway, the rune characters on its shell became clearer, and the hexagonal mana core sparkling blue in the center looks visually very pretty.
Should I say it looks like a jewel turtle?
"Now all that's left is to find your owner..."
The biggest problem...
There's a large pet shop right next door, so people rarely come to a hole-in-the-wall shop like this.
*
Inside a C-rank Gate.
A man wearing light armor was lying sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath.
"Haa... haa..."
Surrounding him were full of traces indicating a fierce battle had taken place and corpses of monsters.
A middle-aged man with a potbelly approached the lying man.
"Duyu-duyu-du Dusik Yoo! Why don't our Dusik do some more spec-ups now? It's hard to watch you barely scraping by every time. As if your damage output wasn't lacking enough as it is, tsk tsk..."
The man called Dusik couldn't help letting out a hollow laugh.
'Fuck... Team Leader-nim. Has it ever occurred to you that I, a rear-liner, can't dish out proper damage and have to run around because you don't tank properly?'
But as a mere C-rank hunter, Dusik Yoo couldn't voice what he was thinking out loud.
Because Team Leader Kim was a B-rank hunter.
Backtalking weakly was all he could do.
"Haa... I've already done everything I can...? Tier 3 Mederis gear, Ormeta accessories, getting buffed before entry, and even potion doping—what more can I do here, Team Leader-nim...?"
"Your pet slot is empty."
"Didn't our country ruin the pet business long ago because talent all drained away due to regulations?"
"There are plenty of good pets brought in from abroad. Use imported ones like me. A lot of shops opened up recently, Dusik-ah."
Ha... It's obvious without even looking. He's probably doing this to compare with the new pet he pulled.
The tiger-type magical beast he allegedly bought recently for 400 million won. Was it crafted by a renowned artisan with a C-grade mana core? I'll admit its appearance is definitely cool.
"Got it? Our Dusik Yoo, next time we come, let's both bring our pets, okay?"
The other team members looked at Team Leader Kim with eyes that said, 'Here he goes again...'
'Fucking asshole...'
Did this bastard eat his age through his asshole? He doesn't even tank properly, yet he tries to feel superior over crap like this.
Ah, he does tank. But this guy only protects female team members.
But what could he do?
The welfare of the current guild he belonged to was pretty decent... and switching guilds during this season was awkward, so he had to endure it.
Ehyu...
*
Dusik Yoo visited a large pet shop in Gaepo-dong.
"What!? 50 million won?"
No, fucking hell... why is the price of the lowest-tier combat pet more expensive than ordinary equipment!?
"It's a top-quality magical beast designed and cultivated by our 'Lepta' artisans. Even if it's D-grade, it's not the same D-grade! There's a clear demand for combat support as well as a pet. Its lifespan is as long as 4 to 5 years, which is longer than ordinary D-grade magical beasts."
"Ah... right..."
I thought I'd buy a reasonably cheap pet to satisfy Team Leader Kim's sense of superiority, but it's more expensive than I thought... Combat pets start at D-grade as a baseline, so I can't lower the budget any further...
In the end, Dusik Yoo left the building without purchasing a pet.
"Still, 50 million is a bit much..."
Although he makes plenty of money being a C-rank, he didn't want to spend big money just to satisfy Team Leader Kim's disgusting sense of superiority.
Tsk... But if I don't buy anything at all, he's probably going to throw another fit...
At that moment, what caught Dusik's eye was a small private pet shop situated right next to the large magical beast pet shop.
"...Sure, well... even if it's not for combat, a magical beast is still a magical beast."
In fact, Team Leader Kim might like it even better. Because it would compare even more favorably with his own pet.
*
Ddalang-
"Excuse me. Is anyone here?"
"Ah, yes, welcome. Is there something you're looking for?"
When he entered the building, a neat young man came out to greet him.
'The owner is young. A part-timer?'
"Um... do you have a kid that would be alright to bring to a C-rank Gate?"
"Ah, I'm sorry. Our shop doesn't have proper combat pets yet..."
Indeed, there was no way a small hole-in-the-wall place like this could cultivate combat pets. Equipment costs, maintenance fees, monster materials, and so on—not to mention how much an individual would have to manage, it was inherently far too dangerous for a private business to create combat magical beasts.
It wasn't hard to infer that if one escaped the shop due to negligent management, civilian casualties could occur.
Unless there was a magical beast handler of hunter origin equipped with proper certification, even getting a permit wouldn't happen.
A fact that even Dusik, an outsider to the field, knew.
"Then I'd like to take one that's reasonably sturdy... Is there a decent fellow?"
"Ah... yes... we do have one, but..."
For some reason, the owner seemed to be reading the room cautiously.
'...Why is he doing that? Is there a problem?'
...There was a problem.
In the eyes of Yuhyeon, the pet shop owner, something strange was visible.
[ Name 》 Dusik Yoo ]
[ Race 》 Human ]
[ Awakened Rank 》 C-rank ]
[ Position 》 Rear-Support Mage ]
[ Combat Tendency 》 Prefers acting as a stable stationary turret. Prefers casting for a long time in place to deliver a powerful single blow. ]
[ Improvement Points 》 Currently unable to demonstrate proper capabilities due to the poor front-line of the team he belongs to. Appears capable of performing his role when paired with an outstanding tanker. ]
'No... just what on earth is this...?'
The information window of another Awakened, which normally shouldn't be visible, came into view.
And with detailed current circumstances attached to it, no less.