Enhancement Frenzy and the Unicorn Hunt

"...So that's what happened? Wild."

Carpe let out a hollow chuckle after hearing the rough outline of events from Cheonma.

An enhancement frenzy had broken out?

He'd only given a little help in return for the huge favor from Fergus, but it had snowballed out of control.

A colossal, mega-sized snowball at that!

According to Cheonma, Luisillan was currently in a total frenzy over enhancements.

"Wasn't even intentional... Though, thinking about it, it's not that out of left field."

It happened in other RPGs all the time.

When a top-tier enhanced weapon on the server got enhanced, everyone jumped in.

Success? "Now's the time!" Boom, they all go for it.

Failure? "Server's strongest weapon sacrificed!" Boom, they all go for it anyway.

They'd enhance no matter what!

People obsessed with enhancements didn't need logic—they needed excuses.

-What, ain't the world just like that? Man, thanks to you, hundreds or thousands of high-end weapons are gonna blow up today, and hundreds or thousands more are gonna get born. At this point, they oughta give you a commendation from the devs for advancing Last Savior's enhancement meta—maybe even some company stock.

Cheonma cackled like he was having the time of his life.

"Dude, is this seriously that funny? You seem more hyped than you've been in ages."

-Hey, watching enhancements fail is more fun than fires or fights.

"Your personality... Who cares about other people's gear? As long as mine's good."

Carpe gazed fondly at his weapon.

The 14-enhanced Legendary gauntlets, Fist Demon—no 12-enhanced Unique could even step to this planet-busting beast, the strongest in all of RaSe.

After hitting 14 enhancements, Carpe had bolted straight to a nearby hunting ground.

Letting a masterpiece like this sit without a test drive? Unthinkable!

And the test drive? Pure satisfaction.

Monsters around the capital were mostly level 65-70 heavy hitters, but they dropped like flies after a couple punches.

"Kuh. Games really are all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about the gear, huh."

And one massive bonus: He'd unlocked info on Repeat.

Just like Unlock had updated after opening the first Legendary box, Repeat had conditions too.

A detailed "Details" entry had appeared next to the old king-of-laziness description.

Carpe tapped it, and the updated Repeat info scrolled out.

-Rerolls skill card packs, re-enhance on failure.

-Skill card pack repeats unlimited.

-Daily repeat limit based on gear ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grade:

Normal: 20 | Magic: 10 | Rare: 7

Hero: 5 | Unique: 3

Legendary: 2

*Skill level-ups increase counts and probability bonuses.

"Only twice a day for Legendary? Kinda stingy scale. Not quite god-tier luck. Fine, stripping the 'god' title now."

-Don't talk to me about personality. At least mine's better than your conscience.

"Eh, still beats manual grinding. Love the probability bonus."

Without the update, he'd have had to grind repeats manually. Lucky break.

"Alright. All Luisillan objectives done?"

-Yep. Come back when the leyline recharges. Oh, grab all quest rewards before you go.

"Obviously."

Carpe headed back to Forge Street to wrap up unfinished quests.

"Ooh! This! This is Blue Mithril! Muahaha! I was right, you heretics. Blue Mithril exists!"

In a rundown smithy at the edge of Forge Street, the old blacksmith squealed like a kid at the sight.

"Wh-where'd you get this?"

"Last floor of Hymer Mine."

Beating the final boss "Rampaging Steel Golem" dropped Red Mithril and "Unknown Ore Chunk." Bury the chunk near a leyline, and after ~30 minutes, it turns into Blue Mithril.

A hidden piece only hardcore players would find—and a rotten vet like Cheonma knew it cold.

"Truly grateful! No regrets now. Gotta give my final work to you!"

The old smith grabbed his hammer and started smelting the Blue Mithril.

Clang! Clang!

Some time later...

"Here! And this hammer—use it well, young one. It's what I wielded in my youth."

He handed Carpe two items.

One was a crafting hammer that boosted high-grade chances.

The other, a Blue Mithril bracelet.

'Whoa, solid options? Built-in Heal accessory?'

-Hidden quest reward. Gotta be worth it.

Similar to his equipped "Neiges Full Bracelet," but a slight upgrade.

Max two bracelets, so Carpe swapped out the elf-forest Neiges Full for Blue Heal Bracelet.

Passed Neiges Full to Mirage—only elves-recognized could equip, so no other summons anyway.

"May fortune follow you."

After the old smith's send-off, Carpe found the Forge Combination manager.

"Mm! Impressive. Hauling this much ore solo! Here's the promised reward."

"Impressed by your skills—want to request more. Can you investigate why the golems rampaged?"

"Sure, leave it to me."

"Please. Golems need to get back to normal..."

As Cheonma said, linked quest.

-No rush. No time limit. Bundle with overlapping routes later.

"Right. RPG rule: Hoard quests first."

Luisillan adventures done.

"Yeah, yeah. No detours—straight to parts now."

Engine core and body Red Mithril secured—left: unicorn horn, pegasus wing.

-Unicorn in Jenonia, Pegasus in Saint Ru Hal. Both rare, tough meets...

"Not for you?"

-Bingo. Unicorn first—less picky.

"Dimension Gate!"

Zzzzt!

A warp gate spawned. Pre-saved Magic Tower coords made Jenonia a breeze.

The Magic Kingdom Jenonia housed the Great Forest, called the continent's lungs.

Monster hub via forest bases—vast, barely pioneered.

-Think real Amazon vibe. Not quite as big—Seoul x5-ish?

"...Still disgustingly huge."

-Yeah. Find unicorn in this beast. Hidden boss—one spawn in the whole forest.

"Whoa, sounds nightmarish. Not random spawn, right?"

One horse in Seoul x5? Beyond difficulty—insanity.

Luckily, RaSe had some mercy.

-Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pure random. Roams set zone.

Cheonma: Giant lake "Forest's Eye" central—unicorn spawns within 5km radius.

"Whew. Still big... Long haul it is."

-Some camped a month+. No tracking skill? Forget it.

Track prints/manure with tracking skill to find it.

-Low 5-star? 5 days min. 7-8 star? 1-2 days.

"Wait—I got no tracking skill?"

-No sweat. You got better than that. Unicorn's a field boss, remember?

"Ah!"

Carpe got it.

"FB Radar works!"

-Yup. Stocked up?

"Dozens in inventory."

FB Radar: Unique consumable, pings field bosses in 1km radius.

Perfect here!

-Lake first. Tight to reach today.

"Got it."

Carpe beelined to central lake.

Missed by logoff—arrived next day.

-Prime spot. Potion first—dirt scent from general store.

"Right, almost forgot."

Carpe dumped potion on head.

Thick earthy scent rose; Mukhyang bounced curiously at the change.

"Kyuu? Kyuwoo!"

-Unicorns hyper-sensitive to humans. Mask as nature or it bolts.

"Picky jerk."

Confirmed scent soaked in, Carpe used radar.

Beep beep beep!

"Huh? Got one! Wait..."

Boss in 1km.

Issue: Radar pinged two bosses.

"This happens?"

-Great Forest special. Big area, multi-bosses. Sometimes they turf-war—even mutual kill for lucky players sweeping double loot.

"Jealous. Want freebies!"

-Shut it. Pick one—might not be unicorn. Track both.

"Closer first."

Carpe headed to coords.

"Whoa..."

-Insane. Jackpot first try?

There: Unicorn drinking at water's edge!

Carpe and summons ducked behind giant rock.

-Stay hidden. Might fight—super cautious, could bolt.

"No way."

Tag in this mega-forest? Hard pass.

One-shot the chance.

"Awaiting strategy, General."

-Heh. Flawless plan. Your turn, Kyuu-kyuu.

"Kyuwoo?"

Mukhyang ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tilted head at Cheonma's call.

-Unicorn's monster-class but divine beast. Kyuu-kyuu too.

"Kyuwoo!"

-Hates humans, chill with beasts/divines. Show affinity, Mukhyang!

"Kyuit!"

Mukhyang saluted soldier-style, zipped to unicorn.

"...Purruk?!"

Unicorn tensed at approach—but relaxed at magic squirrel.

"Purruk? Purruk!"

"Kyuwoo! Kyuu!"

The divine duo chatted, then frolicked.

"Bonded."

"As expected of Hyang's affinity. Heartwarming."

"Next?"

-Huh? Obvious.

Cheonma tilted head like why ask?

-Castle Ring with Kyuu-kyuu, then WHAM to the ribs. What else?

"..."

"..."

"Whoa, General. Pure demon! Badass!"

<……Ahem. That general fella lacks tact, yep.>

Tina goggled in disbelief; Carpe stared, appalled.

"Personality wild. Peaceful scene and that's your take?"

-Peace? Gimme the horn. Prep the rib shot.

"No heart in you?! You're a demon! Ding! Acquired 0-star Patron Spirit Demon Lord!"

-Hate it? Play hide-and-seek.

"Guh!"

Carpe glanced—Mukhyang blissfully unaware, key to backstab op, bouncing happily.

"Damn."

No choice.

Can't botch the greater good for feelings.

Carpe squeezed eyes shut, triggered Castle Ring!

Whoosh!

Positions swapped instantly with Mukhyang.

"Kyu?"

Mukhyang blinked cluelessly—that instant...

"Permafrost!"

Ice wave flash-froze unicorn's legs.

"Purruk?! Purruk!!!"

"Human... sorry, human."

Follow-up combo.

BAM!

Ma Sword Penetration Mirror smashed unicorn's ribs.

"Kyuwoong?!"

Mukhyang finally clocked it—shocked wail.