Chapter 144: destiny?

Following that, the +8 enhancement, with a 15% chance, succeeded immediately. And the +9, with a 10% chance, also succeeded immediately… not.

The light that briefly enveloped the bow quickly disappeared, and the bow remained at +8.

“Strange. The enhancement didn’t work this time.”

• Strange? What’s strange…?

• Leah’s conscience

• The attitude that a 10% chance should definitely succeed is infuriating lol

• Forget not breaking, why didn’t it even downgrade?

• It stayed the same level with a super low probability

• Crazy

• Leah, don’t go outside… You’ve used up all your luck here, something bad might happen

Fortunately, the bow reached +9 on the next attempt.

“Yes. This is right.”

“What’s right? Leah, do you really want to get hit?”

“Koharu. I thought we were at the stage of congratulating each other on our successes.”

Koharu’s voice trembled.

“Yes, we were… until you provoked me with your bragging while I was in despair!”

Koharu charged at me like a person who had lost their mind. And she was immediately knocked back. I had knocked her back with an arrow, sensing a threat.

“Kya!”

Was it the power of a +9 weapon? Koharu’s HP was at critical levels from a single arrow. She didn’t die, thanks to her sturdy equipment.

Karen intervened from the side.

“She’s right, Leah. To be more annoying than Haru, who’s arrogant and clueless, with that calm tone… that’s a real talent.”

“Karen. If you’re going to take my side, do it properly…”

Koharu, sprawled on the ground after being hit by the arrow, muttered,

My statement seemed to have united the two, who had been bickering just moments ago. Even though it wasn’t really meant to be a boast.

But even I faced a trial.

[Enhancement Failed: Enhancement level –1]

“This is the first time the level has decreased. Well, it’s an experience worth having once.”

• Sigh… I’m too tired to even get angry, do whatever you want

• Don’t give up! We must gather our strength and criticize her!

• Die

• Spit Spit Spit

[Enhancement Failed: Enhancement level –2]

“This is the first time the level has decreased by two stages. Well, it’s an experience worth having once.”

• Huh…?

• Yes, this is it lol

• Phew… I almost reported her for probability manipulation

• Starting to get nervous now? lol

• Enhancement normalization lol

• Let’s keep going like this ^^

It went smoothly up to +9. But every time I attempted +10, with a 7% success rate, the weapon’s level decreased.

And then.

The bow briefly shimmered red.

Crackle – !

Light, bursting like an electric spark, filled the altar. In its center, the bow shattered into pieces.

[Enhancement Failed: Weapon Destroyed]

“This is the first time I’ve experienced weapon destruction. This is definitely… something you should only experience once…”

• Serves you right

• Justice prevails!!

• Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay?

• Lol

• Ah, that’s refreshing

• Did +10 look like a joke to you?

• Now let’s start again from the beginning~

“Pfft… L-Leah. That’s too bad.”

Senior Ena spoke, not even trying to hide her laughter.

“Yes… this is it… worth coming to watch!”

Those were Karen’s words.

I felt a slight urge to launch the two of them, but… I restrained myself, remembering that my bow was in pieces.

“Koharu… so this is how it feels. There are emotions even an elf can’t understand without experiencing them directly.”

Koharu, her face pressed against the ground, raised a thumbs-up decoration. But why was she still lying down?

I quickly paid the fee and restored the weapon. Then I attempted enhancement again. +1, +2, +3…

• ????

• The restoration was so fast

• It’s really easy to get to +9

As my Pia said, reaching +9 wasn’t difficult. But like hitting a massive wall, +10 wouldn’t yield to me easily.

The coins, which had exceeded 5,000 including what Koharu repaid, were now down to only enough for a few more attempts.

• Should we… stop now?

• +9 is good enough!

• We’ve seen the coins disappear, so it’s okay to stop lol

• What are you talking about, if she stops here, she’ll be a real idiot

• Be a winning idiot, Leah!!

• No matter what, reaching +10 is a win

Senior Ayame hung her head.

“Seeing this, even making a +10 seems incredibly difficult. Koharu, who destroyed such a precious thing…”

“Senior… please stop saying that…”

Koharu muttered dejectedly. But at the altar, the complete opposite was happening.

Flash –

Golden fireworks exploded on the altar. The light enveloping the bow spread like wings for a moment, then gently condensed into a refined form.

Brilliant patterns appeared, as if engraved along the black bow.

[Enhancement Successful: Deepwood Bow +10]

• Wow

• Congrats congrats congrats congrats

• She did it

• Honestly, I was cheering for her from the middle lol

• It was cute how she got dejected with every failure lol

• It’s doable after investing almost 5,000 coins

• A bit anticlimactic… but I enjoyed the show, so congrats

• Leah? You’re qualified

• The +10 bow effect is awesome

• Strongest physical skills, and now the strongest weapon, she truly has wings

• It’s not a metaphor, there are literally wings on the bow lol

“Wow, what? Did it work? Congratulations!”

Had Karen changed her mind to cheering for me like the Pia from the middle of the attempts? Her congratulatory voice sounded sincere.

“That’s it, Leah. You, at least… reach the top.”

Koharu. How long are you going to stay glued to the floor?

“Wow. I witnessed this live. Congrats on +10!”

“That’s a magnificent bow. Now I’ll need a +10 weapon to compete with you, junior. I’m burning with motivation.”

I could hear the seniors’ actual clapping through Discord.

In that heartwarming atmosphere, as the rather lengthy enhancement process seemed to be concluding,

A single notification suddenly rang out.

[Enhancement Successful: Deepwood Bow +11]

• ??????

• Did I see that wrong??

• +11 what the!!!!!

• Wow, did she just click that without saying anything???

• Leah, this crazy

• Surprise enhancement, what’s this

• Why did it succeed again lol

• Is this even possible

• First +11 on the server lol

“It felt right, so I tried it. Fortunately, the result was good.”

My colleagues and seniors, who had been speechless as if frozen, flocked around me.

“Wow… what should we even call this? Beast’s Heart? No, it’s like she has no heart at all.”

“At this point, I don’t even feel envious. It’s like she’s a completely different person.”

“Why!! Only you!!!”

I ignored the mournful cry from the floor.

“This is a true server-breaking weapon, worthy of national power…”

Karen, admiring it, looked at my still form and asked urgently,

“Leah? No, right? This isn’t what I think it is, right?”

“…What do you think it is, Karen?”

“Hey, don’t do it. Seriously, no joke, that’s not what it was made for.”

• Don’t tell me…

• Clicking +12 now isn’t Beast’s Heart! That’s just being a beast, Leah!

• Is she seriously considering attempting +12? lol

• I really hope she doesn’t…

• Leah… please stop ㅜㅜ

• 95% destruction rate, even if it breaks, it’s just boring

• It’s like throwing away a +11 weapon, it’ll just tank her popularity

• I want to see it though? lol

• Yeah, try it

I looked around at everyone and spoke.

“I have 250 coins left. Exactly enough for one +12 attempt.”

I paused, then slowly raised my head.

“…I feel destiny calling from these coins.”

• A destiny of destruction…?

• Ah lol It is interesting that she has exactly enough left

• What destiny, it’s a 1% success rate! 95% destruction, 99% chance of failure!

• I knew it, she had the mindset that even +0 was fine from the beginning

• She can cover it all with physical skill…

“That’s not the reason.”

Voxel Craft was a light and casual game server. But even here, I had been striving to show my true self.

If I could enhance the Spirit Bow like this in the place where I used to live… would I have tried?

The answer was ‘yes.’

“I’ve long believed that destiny is something you seize. I’ve lived that way. But after watching life and death intertwine on the battlefield… you eventually realize that destiny isn’t a matter of will, but of ‘permission.’”

I looked down at the bow resting quietly on the altar.

“A weapon can either extend life or not. That’s why a weapon is a bond where destiny plays the strongest role. If this bow becomes stronger, it means I will be given a matching opponent and role.”

I took a step closer to the bow.

“And if not, it simply means it wasn’t meant to be. I’m ready to accept that.”

• Kyaa

• I don’t know what she’s saying, but upvote if it sounds cool lol

• Isn’t that just the ramblings of a gambling addict? lol

• Yeah… they’re masters of rationalization

• I can tell no one can stop Leah now…

• Let’s see it happen lol

• Drumroll

• +12 here we go~

“Here we go.”

I muttered briefly and proceeded with the enhancement.

The bow on the altar shimmered red for a moment. Immediately after, all light around the bow suddenly vanished.

No message appeared.
The bow on the altar was invisible, and a silence fell, without even the usual sound effect that played after enhancement.

My gaze was fixed on the altar, quietly enveloped in darkness.

“…I see.”

• Ah, so close

• Not so close lol If she had a brain, she’d know it would fail lol

• It broke in the end…ㅜㅜ

• So Rue’s +10 weapon is the strongest on the server…

• Rue, eating potato chips at home, gets a win

• Haven’t we seen that chat message recently? lol

• Still, it was courageous to try!

“It’s okay. It wasn’t meant to be. But if it was destroyed, there should be remnants, why isn’t there any…”

Flash –

At the sudden, explosive light, I briefly closed and opened my eyes.

• Ugh

• What’s with the blinding light

The darkness enveloping the altar was instantly torn away. Within it, the invisible outline of the bow slowly emerged.

The Deepwood Bow was no longer a weapon of darkness.

The entire bow was enveloped in a holy golden light, shining brilliantly.

Strands of light, sparkling brilliantly along the bow, condensed like metal. Crystal wings slowly unfolded along those strands.

The light emanating from the tips of the wings illuminated the altar like a revelation from heaven.

And in the center of the bow, a refined golden pattern pulsed rhythmically.

[Enhancement Successful: Deepwood Bow +12]