Ch.119119. Enhancement Gacha (2)

+3 enhancement was the maximum limit that could be achieved with normal grade enhancement stones.

[Madness Greatsword +2 > Madness Greatsword +3 Enhancement Requirements]

– Enhancement Stone (Normal): 0 / 150 (Enhancement Success Rate 30%)

– Support Stone (Normal): 0 / 50 (Enhancement Success Rate +0% / 10%)

– Protection Stone (Normal): 0 / 100

The success rate drops dramatically.

Maximum 40%.

Actually, at this point, it’s not just about the probability but also the materials.

I have plenty of enhancement stones stockpiled, but now I’m out of support stones and protection stones.

Especially protection stones—if I use them once, I’ll have nothing left for the next enhancement.

“The final enhancement. Kukum. Do it.”

“Let’s test your luck.”

Kukum takes a deep breath and places the weapon on the anvil.

To be honest, enhancing with normal grade stones isn’t really that nerve-wracking.

Both in the Farming World and in reality, as long as you have protection stones, it’s not too burdensome, and there are quite a few hunters with money who carry weapons enhanced to +2 or +3.

Of course, this is a matter of sentiment.

After all, if it’s not a top-tier weapon, as time passes and hunters get stronger, weapons that drop from higher dungeons might become better than weapons enhanced with hard-to-obtain protection stones.

The idea of “just use it and replace it later” only works when you have abundant resources.

If an SS+ grade blacksmith has these odds, lower-grade blacksmiths would need even more materials while having lower success rates.

If it weren’t for me.

If it weren’t for the Rift Dimension.

If it weren’t for Kukum, even I wouldn’t have attempted this enhancement.

That’s why I could watch without regrets.

Even with just a +2 enhancement, I could sell it with a hefty premium.

Of course, I could have made more money by selling the protection stones instead.

But there’s no need for that.

I’ll make plenty of money anyway.

Besides, I can already earn a lot from other things.

Hair loss medicine. Elixirs. Sound absorption stones.

Sound absorption stones, like protection stones, are consumables whose price drops when the market is flooded, but they maintain their value because they have many uses in special cases.

However, protection stones lose value when the market is flooded.

Even now, compared to before, the value of lower-grade protection stones has decreased, and there are reports of more hunters buying them. There’s no need to flood the market further and drive prices down.

Instead, I can sell items enhanced with protection stones as my specialty products.

Enhancing an S- grade item like this could fetch a higher price at auction than selling the protection stones separately.

If there’s no demand, it would depreciate, but if there is demand, rankers might buy S- grade items with the intention of using them as final-stage equipment for at least a few years.

In fact, thinking about it that way, they’d have to pay a premium for weapons enhanced with rare protection stones at low success rates.

That’s why this is important.

“Please succeed.”

Clang!

“It worked…!”

[Enhancement Success!]

The clear sound once again proved to be right.

“You’re lucky, friend.”

“Woohoo!”

I rejoiced as if I had successfully enhanced the One Ring itself.

Even if it’s considered an easy enhancement here, running out of materials after just three attempts is really cutting it close.

Well, I didn’t spend that much time mining, so I could gather more if I focused on it.

But considering the limited farming time and the many other things that need attention, it’s not necessarily the best choice.

So this moment determined whether the greatsword I’d take out during the next logout would be +2 or +3, and fortunately, I succeeded in three consecutive enhancements.

I guess I could say my luck was pretty good to succeed at 60% and 30% consecutively.

“Thank you, Kukum.”

“It’s your luck. Congratulations.”

He said enhancement costs weren’t discounted, but with the 100% favorability benefit, he didn’t charge me the Pam required for enhancement.

This is quite a significant benefit, especially for higher enhancement levels.

“I’ll come again next time.”

The enhancement was quite satisfactory.

I was just planning to enhance the Madness Greatsword for appearance’s sake, but it turned out better than expected. Taking it out as a +3 enhancement meant it wasn’t just for show—it could sell for much more than the Gray Wolf Leather Top.

I carefully stored it and headed south to spend the rest of my day in the swamp.

Today’s goal wasn’t to gather as much mud as possible before leaving tomorrow or the day after, but to fully enjoy using this newly enhanced greatsword before parting with it.

“Alligator skin, alligator meat, come to me!!!”

I put away the shovel I’d been using for days and ran excitedly with the greatsword in hand.

———————

Grooooar-!

The mournful cry of a swamp alligator echoes.

A sad scream reminiscent of Crocodile’s death cry from Me****** long ago.

But I felt no pity for the creature making such a sorrowful cry, knowing it must have been a source of despair for someone else.

Instead, I was delighted.

“This feels amazing.”

Unlike the Black Monkey, alligators have less endurance, so it’s not easy to land all hits of Leaping Slash, but the feeling of the “one-hit challenge”—using Leaping Slash and striking just once—was exquisite.

[Madness Greatsword +3]

– Grade: S-

– A greatsword driven mad after being soaked in blood by a blood-crazed swordsman. Those with weak mental fortitude may not be able to resist the blood impulse.

– Made of lava stone that can withstand hell’s lava, making it extremely durable.

– Further strengthened by a master’s touch.

– Attack Power +70

– Attack Power +10 when Strength/Vitality is A+ or higher

– Damage Received -10%

– Strength +1 grade when defeating 15 or more enemies (Duration: 30 minutes)

“Are these options even reasonable?”

It’s S- grade but has a base attack power of 70.

That’s higher than most S grades and almost comparable to S+ grade.

Looking at greatswords specifically, it could even be considered SS- grade compared to one-handed swords.

Additionally, the requirement for the +10 attack power bonus has been lowered from S- to A+ for strength/vitality.

This means hunters who would use this level of greatsword are more likely to benefit from the effect.

There’s said to be a huge gap between A+ and S-, after all.

Plus, the Madness Greatsword’s penalty of increased damage taken has been reduced by 5%, and the special option that required killing 20 enemies for +1 strength grade has been lowered to 15 enemies.

Overall, enhancements with normal grade stones at this level tend to improve option performance.

That’s why hunters often say that using protection stones only prevents destruction but otherwise isn’t much different from enhancements in other games.

But from my perspective, Farming World’s enhancement system is different.

Normal grade enhancements are like this, but rare grade, heroic grade, legendary, and mythic enhancements grant different effects.

It’s interesting because enhancements don’t simply multiply power by 2, 3, or 4 times.

Grooooar!

This time, I slashed an approaching alligator with just the greatsword, without using [Leaping Slash] and even locking [Double Slash], relying solely on my reaction speed.

The sensation wasn’t as satisfying, but the alligator’s belly was still split in half with a single strike, killing it instantly.

“Wow… one hit?”

Even without using skills, I still benefit from the [Master of Melee Weapons] +1000% attack power effect, so my damage output remains high, but it’s still quite amazing to kill a C-grade monster with a single normal attack.

“Ah, the madness effect triggered.”

I got too excited hunting alligators for my experiment and exceeded the 15-kill threshold, raising my strength by one grade to SS-, which probably contributed to this.

Still, it was a satisfying experiment.

The raw attack power was so impressive that I almost regretted having to part with the Madness Greatsword.

Who needs technique or fancy moves?

When everything shatters upon impact, nothing can survive.

That’s why so many people are obsessed with greatswords.

Well, I’ll be making an SS-grade weapon anyway.

As I ventured deeper into the swamp to enjoy my farewell ceremony with the sword…

Swoosh- Ting!

An arrow flew at me, which I deflected with the greatsword.

Looking in the direction it came from, I saw it wasn’t from an alligator but from up in one of the trees scattered throughout the swamp.

“Oh, a person.”

Someone covered in mud, with only vital parts concealed, crouching and holding a bow.

I waved my hand in greeting.

“Hello there!”

They shot an arrow at me, but it wasn’t particularly threatening, and they were the first to answer my question about whether there were actually natives living in the Rift Dimension.

Not an ancient dwarf brought from somewhere, not an ancient elf, not an ancient fairy, not Kim Su-jung or Lee Ji-hyun brought from Earth, but a genuine local who was clearly surviving here!

Swoosh!

Instead of a response, another arrow came flying.