[No title provided]
Carpe gently stroked the gauntlet. The look in his eyes as he gazed at it was so sweet, it seemed like honey might drip from them at any moment.
"Heh heh heh."
A laugh slipped out automatically, unbidden.
He often heard the phrase "just looking at it fills my belly," but right now, Carpe felt like merely looking at it might make his stomach burst and kill him.
"Whew. Thanks to you, my benefactor, I've gained invaluable experience. I never dreamed the day would come when I'd pull off a +14 enhancement..."
"It's thanks to Fergus's skill."
"No, no. In this case, I've received the greater favor. I never could have had this experience alone."
Fergus added that this feat of achieving +14 would be precious experience for his future growth.
"It'll take a few more months for the leyline to fully recharge. Please stop by again then. I'll hone my craft even further by that time."
"Oh? So next time, we'll go for +15?"
"...That might be a bit tough."
"Just kidding."
Carpe let out a chuckle.
No matter how cheat-like Repeat was, it was hard to imagine infinite enhancements were possible.
-Obviously. If Repeat worked all the way to max enhancement, it'd be ridiculously broken. Total game balance killer. Other players struggle to even hit +10, but you'd be soloing uncharted zones with +20 gear? That wouldn't be a game—it'd be free-server trash.
'But what if RaSe really is a trash game with zero balance, and max enhancement is possible?'
-No way.
'Just hypothetically?'
-Then I'd regress again and burn down RaSe HQ. A game like that shouldn't exist.
In truth, Carpe thought it was too absurd as well.
From devouring countless RPGs, he knew enhancements were typically endgame content in most.
Even in the most hardcore, veteran games, max enhancement was rare—and achieving it with one skill? That outdid even Unlock, which cleared all status ailments.
'God-tier Unlock, god-tier Repeat! Ugh. At this point, skill grades mean nothing. 10-star or 0-star, all cheats.
-They're beyond-grade skills, so yeah.
'Beyond-grade... Now I'm curious again.'
-Curious? About what?
'There's one more beyond-grade left.'
Carpe's title Three Firsts came from being the first on the server to get a 10-star skill, a 0-star Patron Spirit, and a 0-star skill.
So obviously, there's gotta be another one.
'A 10-star Patron Spirit. Has to exist, right?'
-Hmm. Logical progression, yeah. But no clue how to get it. Not even a hint.
'Ah! Like how the 0-star Patron Spirit gave a 0-star skill, maybe the 10-star skill is the key to a 10-star Patron Spirit?'
-...Unlock as the key to a 10-star Patron Spirit?
Cheonma pondered Carpe's idea briefly before shaking his head.
-Unlock's so shrouded in mystery I can't say for sure... but probably not? By that logic, 9-star skills would unlock 9-star Patron Spirits.
'Ugh... Fair point.'
-Better to sacrifice like ten 9-star Patron Spirits or something.
'Oh?!'
-Don't 'oh?!' me... No need to rush. You're the closest to a 10-star Patron Spirit anyway. Probably.
Some random player pulling a 10-star made no sense, but the guy with Three Firsts grabbing Four Firsts? That tracked.
-Can't picture anyone else snagging a 10-star... Wait.
Cheonma suddenly eyed Carpe like he'd realized something.
-If you get a 10-star Patron Spirit, what happens to me?
'Huh?'
Most RaSe players stuck with their initial Patron Spirit for life.
But "most" wasn't "all"—rare exceptions existed.
Hidden quests or events let some swap Patron Spirits.
Cheonma himself had swapped a few times across his playthroughs.
Yes. Swapped.
RaSe's rule was one Patron Spirit per player, so swapping meant ditching the old one!
-...
'...'
-On second thought, no 10-star Patron Spirit. Not possible. Three Firsts is the cap.
'...Suddenly changing your tune?'
-Do we need this pointless chat now? Focus on the story at hand.
'Won't even make eye contact.'
-No time for this. Long road ahead. Not doing the fourth relic?
'Fine, calm down. Not swapping even for a 100-star Patron Spirit. Obviously. Cheonma-hyung's the best.
-...You!
Cheonma melted momentarily at the unexpected words.
'Swapping would lose Repeat too, right? No way! Not after tasting this power.'
-...Damn brat. Idiot for getting touched even briefly.
Carpe chuckled at the grumbling Cheonma.
Even setting Repeat aside, he had zero intention of swapping... but he kept that to himself.
"So, you're leaving now?"
"Yeah. Business done. I'll put this enhanced gear to good use."
"Haha. I'll await your next visit. Ah, benefactor. When leaving, use the back door, not the front. Crowds out there... might draw attention."
"Oh? Right, yeah."
Carpe recalled his first visit.
Fergus had recently enhanced a user's gear as thanks for help—up to +9 on Hero gear, no less.
While other forges balked at +7, Fergus nailed +9 effortlessly, and rumors spread like wildfire.
Now, players swarmed his forge.
Fergus sighed softly.
"Whew. Such a hassle. Can't even stroll peacefully. Anyway, front door might cause a stir, so the back..."
"Want me to help?"
"Pardon?"
"Those crowds are troubling you. I'll clear 'em out."
"That'd be ideal, but... possible? Violence in town brings guards fast."
"Psh. What do you take me for? Peacefully. Totally peaceful."
"...Then I leave it to you. I'd rather hone my craft than deal with business."
"You got it."
Cheonma queried suspiciously at Carpe's bold claim.
-What? How're you dispersing a mob? Enhancement-crazed players gonna listen?
'Course not. But I got a way.'
Strictly speaking, he hadn't—until mid-enhancement.
-What stunt now...?
'Just watch. It's solid.'
Not long after Carpe finished enhancing.
Crowds still thronged Fergus's forge.
Desperate players queued for days to impress him. Enhancement's allure was terrifying.
Bang!
"He’s out!"
"Fergus! Heard you like quality ore—got some here!"
"Whoa, calling bronze 'quality'? Fergus, pure iron ore here!"
"Hey, butt out of my rapport!"
The scene evoked a marketplace.
Shouting players begging attention turned Fergus pale as he tried to exit.
"Argh, whatever! Let it be!"
"Sucking up to NPCs gets old. So stuck-up!"
"Secret in that forge! Just get inside!"
Some players rampaged, attempting to break in.
System-blocked, but rage-blinded, they ignored it.
"Smash it!"
"If I can't have it, no one can!"
"No fair enhancements—destroy it all!"
Some even drew weapons.
And then.
A shocking message froze them, snapping reason back.
Congratulations! A player named ??? has succeeded in +13 enhancement at a forge in Luisillan, capital of the Rudineria Federation!
Congratulations! A player named ??? has succeeded in +14 enhancement at a forge in Luisillan, capital of the Rudineria Federation!
"...Huh? System message?"
"What? Since when does RaSe...?"
"...Gasp?!"
Collective stun.
Players doubted their eyes and brains—no exceptions.
Those who grasped it...
"What?! +14?! Not a bug—real?!"
"System message means legit! Luisillan's right here!"
"Insane. +13 then +14 back-to-back... Possible? No official +12 even exists!"
Chaos erupted; they scattered wildly.
"Where?! Where?!"
"Whisper if you know—generous reward!"
"Forget +9. Alerting the guild."
"Not Fergus! Somewhere else!"
They fled Fergus's forge instantly.
The message popped right after Fergus appeared outside—no way it was him.
Carpe's ploy.
Only he, the sole +13 achiever, knew of the "enhancement message delay."
"Heh heh. Outsiders..."
Fergus shook his head and retreated inside.
Meanwhile, Carpe...
Splat!
Green Giant defeated!
"Kya! Mobs melting! This +14 power? Planet-busting weapon!"
He test-drove his new gear, lost in bliss.