Pushing the Limits to +14

Carpe proceeded to enhance Tina's new sword and Gillian's greatsword up to +12 as well.

With that, the current +12 equipment status for Carpe's party was as follows.

A total of five pieces of equipment had successfully reached +12, while the rest of the armor was at +9 and accessories at +7.

He'd have loved to coat himself head to toe in +12 gear, but enhancements beyond +10 consumed special solutions, so he couldn't just spam them recklessly.

"We ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could push the armor to +12 as well... but then we'd run short on solution for +13 on the weapons."

"Oh yeah? Should I go squeeze more enhancement fluid out of the leyline then?"

"Haha. Leylines don't produce infinite enhancement fluid. Once extracted, they need time to recover—probably a few months."

"Hmm. Guess we can't help that."

That was why he'd only pushed the gear he planned to use until the end of the game—and the growth-option pieces—to +12.

No need to enhance every piece of armor anyway. I'm not using the Wind Set forever. A little more leveling and I'll swap it out.

'True. Gotta be at least Legendary set items to make +12 worth it.'

...Why is your sense of conscience always so off? You think Legendary set items just sprout from the ground?

'They might not sprout from the ground, but don't they pop out of Cheonma-hyung's head? Feels like it'd show up around Chapter 3 of the Cheonma Secret Manual.'

Sigh. Can't even talk to you...

Cheonma wanted to deny it, but he knew of a quest that actually gave such rewards, so he could only grumble.

"Well then, benefactor. Are you prepared?"

Fergus's expression was markedly different from before.

The relaxed look he'd worn during the +12 enhancements was gone, replaced by clear tension.

"Yeah. Here are the gauntlets."

"Yes. Right here."

Carpe carefully placed the +12 Fist Demon on the anvil.

"Even with my skills, I can't guarantee 100% success on +13. The odds are... about 30%."

"What happens if it fails?"

"If you're lucky, it drops 1~3 levels. If not, down to +0. And in the worst case..."

Fergus picked up his hammer and smashed a shabby piece of gear nearby.

It shattered with a clang!, fragments scattering everywhere.

"...It breaks like this. Indestructible options don't apply on enhancement failure. And there's no way to repair it."

"...I get what you're saying, but did you have to smash a perfectly good piece of gear?"

"Haha. Showing it live has more impact, right? And this is a secret, but..."

Fergus lowered his voice as if it mustn't spread.

"Sacrificing gear like this improves the next enhancement. It's a ritual of sorts."

"I see! Can't argue with sacrifices. Very scientific!"

"Haha, exactly. The grade of the sacrificed gear matters too. Rumor has it the God of Enhancement favors Magic-grade items."

"Ooh. Hey, I heard sacrificing in multiples of three boosts your luck?"

"Whoa. That's a novel approach. Worth researching."

...They're having a blast. Bunch of lunatics.

...I wish they'd all just die. This world is so messed up.

At this point, Carpe wondered if gacha and enhancements spread some intelligence-dropping plague.

Unfortunately, Cheonma's sighs didn't reach the three lunatics.

"One last question. Shall we proceed?"

"Of course. 30%? That's basically guaranteed. They're practically giving it away."

He was confident even in a survey of 100 RPG players.

They'd all foam at the mouth calling it a steal!

"Heh. Well said. I've only watched Grandpa do +13, but now it's my turn. My blood's boiling."

"Here we go!"

Fergus gripped the hammer tight and slammed it down on the gauntlet.

Kaaang!

The clash of metal rang out beautifully.

And then, a single notification followed.

"Kraaaah!!!"

"Woooah!!!"

...It actually worked.

"Of course it did! I told you—30% is basically free!"

You're celebrating way too hard for something like that.

"Good is good!"

Another notification appeared before the bouncing Carpe.

"Huh? What's this?"

Oh yeah, starting at +13, the game broadcasts successes continent-wide. You can opt out, of course.

"Ah, got it. Lots of games do that. Man, I'm gonna flood the chat with these."

How many times had he envied those messages in other games? Now he was the star of one.

The first-ever +13 on the server, no doubt!

"Does broadcasting give the player a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bonus or something?"

Nope. It's just 'Behold my epic creation, peasants!' vibes.

"...No first-time bonus?"

Nope. Decline it.

"Tch. No real need to broadcast then."

Still, with nickname privacy, he was tempted.

"Oh, we can hold it. Hold for now."

"We'll decide after all enhancements are done."

Huh? What do you mean? We're done. Nothing left.

"What are you talking about, hyung?"

Thanks to the one-shot +13 success, there was still some solution left.

Why not go further?

"+14, let's go!!"

You madman! Madman!

"Eep. Benefactor, I really can't guarantee +14! Odds under 10%..."

Two of the three lunatics balked at +14, but...

"10%? That's more than enough!"

The uniquely insane one had no brakes.

"Proceed."

"I admire your courage and resolve, but +14 is no joke. From +14 on, failure means no drop—just +0 or destruction."

"Whew. Now that's enhancement. Honestly, it lacked thrill till now."

Carpe placed the +13 gauntlet neatly on the anvil.

"...You sure?"

"It's fine. I've got insurance."

"Insurance?"

Fergus echoed, but Carpe just smiled without answering.

In that smile, Fergus saw a sage transcending worldly desires.

Of course!

Not clinging to mere mortal gear—that was the pinnacle of enhancement!

Enlightened, Fergus gripped his hammer firmly.

"I understand your resolve, benefactor. Trust in me! I'll make it happen!"

...This guy's seriously misunderstanding something.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Determined Fergus acted without hesitation.

He grabbed the solution, splashed it on the gauntlet—whoosh!

"Here goes!"

He swung the hammer with vigor.

Taeng!

A dull metallic clang, far from the crisp ring of +13—something was wrong.

The gauntlet shattered amid notifications, and a pale Fergus shouted.

"Oops! My hand slipped—"

And in that instant.

Of course, Carpe wasn't detached from enhancement.

He just had solid insurance!

"Repeat!"

The shattered gauntlet began reassembling.

"Wha? Wh-what's this?!"

The gauntlet was back on the anvil, good as new.

"Whew. Even knowing, it's chilling."

No matter how reckless Carpe was, he wouldn't toy with a +13 Legendary lightly.

He'd already tested that Repeat triggers on enhancement failure.

'Wasn't on a Legendary, so I was a bit worried, but it works.'

Great. What if it didn't apply to Legendaries and it exploded for real?

'Then fate, I guess. Time for new gear. Not like Legendaries are impossible to get.'

I get the casual gamer mindset... but not really.

Fergus stared blankly at the restored gauntlet, then prostrated before Carpe.

"Benefactor—no, God of Enhancement!"

"Huh?"

"That miracle is impossible without the God of Enhancement! I knew from the box you were no ordinary man. You're a god!"

"No, I'm human..."

"No. I see it. Trapped in a lowly human shell now, but one day you'll shed it!"

Hey, isn't that shading your looks? 'Lowly'?

"......"

Carpe barely calmed the excited Fergus and continued.

"Whew. Anyway, this power comes from a minor deity—no, a god I serve. I'm human."

"I-see. Incredible power."

"Yeah. Oh, looks like enough solution for one more..."

"Right away!"

Knowing gear wouldn't break, Fergus had no reservations.

He raised the hammer again and struck.

Kaaang!

A crisp ring, and notifications exploded.

Notifications piled up, but Carpe checked the item info first.

"Kraaaah!"

Carpe wailed to the four directions.

The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw