Forging Ahead to +12
After the incident with The Sun guild, Carpe realized he still had a long way to go.
Ranking 1st, Gunter, was already in the midst of his third job change, while Carpe hadn't even hit level 70 yet.
The level gap was more than double!
Next time they met, Gunter would surely have completed his third job change, and if they fought then, Carpe was guaranteed to lose.
Of course, Cheonma had said, "Half a year late to the game, and you're already thinking of catching up to rank 1? That's some busted conscience right there..."
'People gonna care about that in a fight?'
What player would ever say, "Hey, you started half a year late, so I'll go easy on you to make it fair!"?
The world wasn't that kind.
No matter the reason, in a world where the weak got devoured, Last Savior was a jungle of survival of the fittest.
'Ugh. If I fought Gunter again and got wrecked without landing a hit? I'd die of embarrassment.'
-Yeah, why'd you pull that "Our unfinished duel... next time, for sure!" movie vibe? I thought you lunatics were shooting a film. You two some shounen battle manga rivals or what?
Sonic Fist vs. Buster from that wish-granting orb comic.
Naruto vs. Sasuke from the ninja manga.
Ippo vs. Ippo from the boxing one—hell, tons more!
'...I had to in the moment. The mood just carried me.'
Humans sometimes got swept up in the atmosphere.
Staring into Gunter's blazing eyes, Carpe had reflexively played along.
'Anyway, since I said it like that, I have to win next time. "I started late" is just self-rationalization!'
-No, that's not rationalization—that's a fact... Whatever, grind hard.
No matter the reason, Carpe burning with motivation like this was a hugely positive sign, so Cheonma quietly cheered him on.
What did a latecomer need most to catch the frontrunners?
Bone-crushing effort? Overwhelming talent?
Of course, those were essential.
But they were just the bare basics.
No ranker slacked on effort, and none lacked talent.
Only those blessed with both could climb the ranks among Last Savior's 500 million users.
Simply out-efforting or out-talenting them wouldn't cut it. That was reality.
So latecomers needed something extra to overtake the leaders.
Overwhelming luck!
Busted freebie power!
Even more serendipitous encounters!
Way more hidden pieces!
Fortunately, Carpe had that in spades—way more than anyone else.
This enhancement was one such hidden piece.
'Finally, the moment's here!'
-Yeah. You came to snag the fourth relic part and squeeze in some enhancements... but that epic quest dragged it out.
'No choice. Couldn't skip an epic quest. Enhancements can start now.'
Aside from leveling, enhancements offered the quickest power boost.
Assuming they succeeded, that is... but Carpe didn't worry. His success was guaranteed.
If he pushed full gear from head to toe to +12, wouldn't that close the gap with Gunter big time?
"Benefactor, you've worked hard. Sourcing that much solution can't have been easy..."
The special enhancement solution came from the deepest floor of a mine dungeon.
There was a special spot called a dragon vein, and you had to extract the solution from it.
Carpe had gotten the extractor from Fergus at quest start; plug it into the vein, and it auto-pulled the solution.
Simple on paper... but.
"With all those vein rats swarming... Impressive as always, benefactor."
"Haha, tough but manageable."
Fergus's hidden quest wasn't mere gathering—it was a defense mission.
The instant you plugged in the extractor, hordes of rats targeted the solution.
Vein rats fed on the vein's energy, so they wouldn't sit idly by.
They went berserk, attacking Carpe, who fought them off for two hours straight to secure the solution.
Individually weak, but endless numbers, and they prioritized the extractor—way trickier than expected.
Without his retainers, he'd have failed.
"Now, benefactor, bring out the gear you wish enhanced."
"One sec."
Carpe stripped his gear, then dumped everything from inventory, lining it up.
Fergus inspected each piece, pausing at one.
"Ho. This? Wasn't here last time."
"Yeah, got it from the mine dungeon this time."
The item was the Unique sword Sylphid, dropped from the dream demon.
Fergus examined it closely, whistling in admiration.
"A fine blade, rare even in my clan's history."
"Really? It's just Unique+."
Unique+ wasn't "just" anything, but to a smith who'd forged Legendary gauntlets, maybe not impressive?
Carpe thought so, but Fergus shook his head slowly.
"By grade alone, sure. But it has room for refinement. If you're okay with it, may I tinker?"
"Go for it! Mess with it however you like!"
Fergus chuckled at Carpe's eager reply.
"Haha, got it. Hmm. But a shame—you use gauntlets, so even refined, you can't wield it."
"...Switch to sword? I'm decent with blades too."
"No. It'll improve, but not beyond your current gear."
"Ugh... Fine, sell it then."
A refined Unique+ sword would hit Legendary.
And Legendaries fetched insane prices.
Perfect for funding Magic Tower upgrades...
"Ah, forgot to mention—if I refine it, it becomes soulbound."
"..."
-Freebie lord's justice prevails. Tradable Legendary? In your dreams!
Carpe agonized, torn between selling as-is or getting a top-tier Legendary soulbound.
"Of all things, a weapon I can't dual-wield... Wait."
He glanced at Tina, in doll mode, touring the forge with Mukhyang.
"Hyang. How's this? Suits you."
"Kyuu...?"
"Hm. Forgot squirrels can't equip armor. Pity."
Tina mainly used lance now, but she was originally a sword knight.
Refine Sylphid, bind to Tina?
Lance excelled at mounted combat but sucked up close; this fixed that.
Mid-range: Unique lance on mount! Close: Legendary sword!
Carpe pitched it to Fergus.
Fergus pondered, then nodded.
"Hm. For that doll knight? Should work."
"Perfect, do it."
"Haha. Then I'll nerf it to her level—keep the restriction, or she can't equip."
"...You can do that?"
"Clan secret technique. One moment."
What a min-max smith!
Seemed he could handle most item tweaks.
As Carpe marveled, a notification popped.
The God of Blacksmithing pouts. He appeals, "I could do that too."
"..."
-A so-called ancient god competing with a human... Kinda pathetic.
'Right?'
Fergus placed Sylphid on the anvil and hammered away.
Clang! Clang!
Some time later.
"Done! Better than expected."
Sylphid gleamed, utterly transformed.
◈ A special magic sword blessed by a top-grade wind spirit. Imbued with wind's sharpness—cuts anything.
◈ Refined by peerless human craftsmanship. Gear performance greatly enhanced.
◈ Strength +10
◈ Agility +10
◈ Attack Speed +30%
◈ Moderate chance to destroy target's gear on hit.
◈ Gear grows with wearer's level.
◈ Level 30+ required.
◈ Physical Attack: 200 ~ 310
◈ Non-tradable.
"Ooooh!"
True Legendary!
Attack dipped from Unique days due to lower equip level—unavoidable.
But stats boosted, and gear growth? Jackpot.
"Here, Tina. Yours now."
"...My lord. Too much for me. Your lance suffices."
"No one else can use it. Gauntlets for me, Gillian has his own, Mirage copies, Hyang with teeth?"
"Hmm! Tempting..."
Tina's cheeks flushed imagining it, then normalized.
"...Thank you, my lord. I'll cherish this gift beyond my life."
"Good. Use it well."
Carpe handed Sylphid to Tina.
Now, the main event.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The God of Blacksmithing mutters endlessly, "Not bad for a human... not bad for a human..."!
Fergus's hammer strikes rang through the enhancement forge like heavenly rhythm.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw