novelraw Chapter 39 : Chapter 39
Chapter 39 : Chapter 39
Chapter 39 : Legendary
Sal opened his eyes at the excited voices coming from nearby.
Only after blinking a few times did he realize he was lying on the sofa in Room 17.
Upgrade placed a cup of coffee on the table next to him and winked.
“You woke up just in time. All the parts to assemble are ready.”
Sal rubbed his face and looked at the clock.
It was already getting close to six in the morning.
He jumped up and shouted to the room.
“You said you would wake me up at three!”
A smile remained on Upgrade’s face the whole time.
She pointed at Martin, who was on the other side of the table.
“He said he wanted to remake the mechanism. But, the result is truly amazing. We also did one more project we wanted to do among ourselves while you were sleeping. So don’t be too angry.”
Sal got up from his seat and took a sip of the coffee.
Unfortunately, it was not brewed by Alex, but was similar to the coffee sold at the stalls.
Sal mulled over Upgrade’s words for a few seconds, ignored his aching back, and scanned the table.
Looking at the table, he could not believe the sight unfolding before his eyes.
All the parts he had imagined were laid out as if waiting to be assembled.
On top of that, the parts were of much higher quality than expected.
As he turned his head, his eyes met with someone.
‘Upgrade…!’
He could tell at once thanks to whom that quality was achieved.
Just then, Gosha approached the other side of the table awkwardly, as if hiding something.
Upgrade saw Sal’s questioning expression and gestured with a smile.
“Just show him. I’m curious what his reaction will be.”
Gosha moved her body slightly and pulled back a piece of silver cloth lying on the table.
As she lifted the first cloth, a new uniform revealed itself.
His eyes, which were automatically analyzing the items on the table, began to work the moment they saw the shirt.
‘Epic Grade…?’
Sal gasped in surprise.
Upgrade pointed alternately at Martin and Gosha.
“It isn’t me this time. It is a surprise gift they planned entirely!”
Sal approached wordlessly and touched the shirt.
It was quality several times more advanced than what he had initially designed, but it felt familiar somehow.
Unlike his design that used silver-infused metal, circuits covered the entire shirt like black threads and were moving as if alive.
To Sal’s eyes, even the amazing sight of at least eight runes harmonizing and coexisting was visible.
Name: Argento Shirt
Origin: Crafted
Vintage: New
Grade: Epic (Medium)
Dimensions: Chest 42in | Neck 17.5in
Material: Refined Upgrade Essence | Refined Mage Essence | Void Silk | Essence Core
Attributes:
-Defiance: Nullifies pierce and blunt damage, reflects damage with a certain probability
-Synergy: Shares abilities between identical set items
-Chameleon: Changes form according to the wearer's ability Essence
Abilities: Challenger, Synergy, Chameleon
Power Source: Enhanced Core
Evolution Potential: None
Quality: Excellent
Durability: 100%
Estimated Value: $45,000.00 ~ $70,000.00
Sal’s gaze finally stopped at the collar of the shirt.
The collar, finished with black metal, sparkled whenever it caught the light, and Sal immediately realized that a Core was engraved inside it.
He wanted to say something, but no words came out even when he opened his mouth.
At that moment, Gosha reached out from behind Martin and showed him black pants of the same material bordered with silver.
Name: Argento Pants
Origin: Crafted
Vintage: New
Grade: Epic (Low)
Dimensions: Waist 32in | Leg 34in
Material: Refined Upgrade Essence | Refined Mage Essence | Polyester | Dire Wool
Attributes
-Stability: Nullifies movement penalties or hindering abilities
-Synergy: Shares abilities between identical set items
-Shock Nullification: Nullifies fall damage and external attacks, reflects damage with a certain probability
Abilities: Stability | Synergy | Shock Nullification
Power Source: Enhanced Core (Set) | External Essence
Evolution Potential: None
Quality: Excellent
Durability: 100%
Estimated Value: $35,000.00 ~ $50,000.00
“These pants work alone, but they create a great effect when worn with the shirt. It is ideal to wear the shirt tucked into the pants. So that the Essence can connect.”
Gosha and Martin calmly folded the clothes and handed them to Sal once they finished speaking.
Consideration not to burden him was embedded in their smiles.
“Considering what we received, this is too small a repayment. Even if it isn’t permanent… it was the moment I felt most alive in my entire life.”
Martin raised his eyebrows at Upgrade.
“So we all tried making one thing each.”
When Sal looked at Upgrade with disbelief, she silently placed a small box on the table.
“It feels a bit off for me to wear my first experimental piece myself, so you use it. It is the result of the first experiment made with a new Skill Grade.”
She smiled and pointed at the box.
As Sal opened the box, inside was a pair of fingerless gloves even more luxurious than the ones Upgrade usually wore.
When Sal looked at her with a surprised face, she nodded.
“If you flow Essence into them, they will transform into your tool set just like mine.”
Upgrade raised her hand to demonstrate the function.
Her hand changed into various mechanical devices capable of precise manipulation.
“It will take some time to get used to. But once you do… you will never be able to go back.”
Sal looked at the gloves.
His eyes were naturally providing information, just like with the uniform earlier.
All Epic Grade.
They were the highest-grade items among everything he owned.
Even if he emptied all his Q-Credits, he would not be able to pay for even one of these.
Unable to find words to express his gratitude, Sal stared blankly at the gifts and simply checked the information flowing endlessly into his mind.
Name: Argento Gloves
Origin: Crafted
Vintage: New
Grade: Epic (High)
Dimensions: Circumference 8.5in
Material: Refined Upgrade Essence | Refined Mage Essence | Ghost Thread Bolt
Attributes:
-Pocket: Can summon crafting tools from a limited dimensional pocket
-Transformation: Tools stored in the pocket transform into extensions of the wearer's hands
-Overcharge: Increases the Grade and abilities of the gloves for a short time
-Synergy: Shares abilities between identical set items
Abilities: Pocket | Transformation | Overcharge | Synergy
Power Source: Enhanced Core (Set) | External Essence
Evolution Potential: None
Quality: Excellent
Durability: 100%
Estimated Value: $65,000.00 ~ $90,000.00
Upgrade tapped Sal on the back and smiled brightly.
“Relax, I won’t ask for money. It is also repayment for using a few of your materials. Just think of it as a fun deal for us too.”
She pointed at the rifle on the table.
“Are you awake now? This is just the beginning!”
Sal nodded and carefully placed the uniform and gloves on the sofa.
Martin giggled as he watched.
"Sal, that shirt can withstand a direct hit from a Hulker. If you fly into a Prowler, the Prowler would probably pass out. You don’t have to handle it like a baby."
When Sal looked at Martin silently, Gosha burst into laughter at the sight.
“If you like it that much, try a proper Appraisal! You’ll be even more surprised.”
A coughing sound from the other side of the table drew their attention.
Upgrade pointed at the materials on the table with her arms crossed.
“Come on! Am I the only one who wants to see the birth of a Legendary weapon?”
The three gathered around the table, and Sal stood in the center.
“I have raised everything to Epic Grade. But some parts need to be upgraded to Legendary.”
She explained while pointing one by one to the parts that needed further upgrading.
“I calculated the necessary materials and Essence amount and organized them next to the parts. I also left about 10 percent extra, just in case.”
She carefully placed the Epic Core Sal had restored on his first day onto the table.
“It might be a bit sentimental, but wouldn’t it be better to make your first Legendary weapon with your first Epic Core?”
Sal activated his eyes.
Upgrade’s calculations were perfect.
The current amount was sufficient, but seeing the extra supply put his mind at ease.
Having no reason to just watch any longer, Sal activated the Core and drew out the Essence.
And using his Mythos Crafter ability, he began to upgrade the parts to Legendary Grade using the high-quality materials around him.
It was a completely different sensation from when he first made the gauntlet.
This time, all the materials were high-grade, and the available Essence was plentiful.
Since there was no need to rush, Sal poured all his effort into transforming the parts into the desired shapes.
It felt like melting metal and slowly pouring it into a cracked bowl.
As the metal seeped into the cracks, it seemed as if an invisible hand was firmly holding the shape.
All the cracks that needed to be filled were visible to Sal’s eyes.
If it were the old Sal, he would not have known what to do and would have rushed while worrying about Essence.
But this time was different.
He was feeling the flow of this work with his entire body.
As a result, he even felt a sense of regret when the work was finished, but at the same time, a warm energy spread and a sense of accomplishment at having completed a Legendary Grade part surged up.
Upgrade looked at the part and then broke into a bright smile.
"Good, it was worth investing 20 minutes! There are still five more left, so don’t space out and keep going! Come on, hurry!"
Sal smiled, handed the part to her, and moved on to the next one.
He did not rush, but it was much easier and faster than the first one.
This time, he immersed himself in the work without being swayed by emotions, and as a result, another Legendary part was born.
Martin and Gosha watched entranced as Sal upgraded the parts.
The atmosphere in the room gradually heightened.
Everyone knew what the next weapon was.
Sal stepped back and downed the cold coffee in one go.
His whole body rode the flow of the work, screaming that it was now time to assemble the parts into one.
The three looked at each other, and Sal began the assembly.
This sniper rifle was intended to be completed with a composition of Epic and Legendary parts, but Sal planned to upgrade this weapon into a set product and grant it an Evolution trait.
Martin and Gosha gripped the edge of the table as they watched, and Upgrade also watched from the other side, holding her breath.
Sal activated his ability without any warning and began the work.
This weapon was already a highly complete piece, close to reaching Legendary Grade.
Sal was pleased that several key parts were of better quality than expected and visualized the blueprint in his mind.
The sniper rifle was a tougher opponent than the cracked bowl from earlier.
It was a task of filling hundreds of tiny gaps with Essence to turn a weapon with a detachable structure into a single, integrated form.
The process of melting and fitting the parts felt like a power struggle with the gun.
It took Sal over an hour just to refine the weapon until it became Legendary Grade.
‘Done. Now only the last part remains.’
Sal used his Essence to engrave an Evolution Rune onto the sniper rifle.
After connecting strands of energy to every part of the gun, he slowly engraved them into the weapon’s Essence Core.
Before the results could even be checked, the sniper rifle vibrated on the table, causing everyone to step back in surprise.
However, Sal alone did not step back.
‘It’s trying to absorb the Epic Core.’
He did not panic at the unexpected situation and continued to draw along the lines.
Setting the Evolution trait was successful, but in this state, it would become a weapon that continuously absorbed the user’s Essence.
The blueprint Sal had designed could solve this problem.
It was a method of connecting Essence to the bullet so that it absorbed Essence from the target every time it was fired.
It was an idea just like a fishing rod, as Martin had said.
He wound strands of Essence in a spiral around the barrel.
The strands wound this way were structured to be shot out together whenever a bullet was fired, allowing them to absorb the target’s Essence.
It seemed like a nonsensical method, but it was possible according to the blueprint, and his eyes were also telling him that this was the best way.
Trusting his Mythos Crafter ability, Sal carefully placed that complex skein onto the barrel.
After pouring his whole mind into it for nearly an hour, he finally took his hands off the sniper rifle.
Then, looking carefully at the gun, he spoke.
“It doesn’t absorb Essence at all, and to my eyes, it is perfect with nothing left to fix. Shall we check the result now?”
With those words, Sal deactivated his ability, and the result revealed itself.
Unlike the other equipment he had worked on so far, this gun did not just shine briefly and cool down but emitted a soft glow for several minutes.
Everyone watched the process with bated breath.
Sal gratefully accepted and drank the instant coffee Upgrade handed him.
Martin flopped down onto the sofa and closed his eyes, and Gosha followed suit.
“Both of you, go to your beds and sleep.”
“I’ll just rest my eyes for a moment.”
“…Me too.”
The two, who had only shaken their heads at Upgrade’s words, must have fallen asleep already, as the sound of their breathing could be heard.
Upgrade smiled and said.
“It is one of the most tense moments of my life, yet the background music is Martin snoring.”
Just as Sal was about to say something, the radiance emitting from the gun began to slowly fade.
He and Upgrade watched the sniper rifle taking shape before their eyes without saying a word.
It is natural for the appearance to change when upgrading an item, but Sal had set it to keep the ‘Maslow’ engraving on the side of the gun.
He had allowed the Essence to freely intervene in all other parts, and the weapon was reacting to that setting as if it had received a challenge.
The barrel grew a few inches longer, and the muzzle swelled to a shape close to a cylinder.
The scope, which was once a fat oval, changed into a long and sleek telescopic form.
The sniper rifle, which looked like a crude assembly just moments ago, was now reborn as a precisely crafted masterpiece.
As the radiance completely disappeared, Sal whistled in admiration of the sleek barrel of the weapon lying before him.
He immediately activated his eyes and rejoiced in the fact that everyone’s efforts had concluded successfully.
This gun was a Legendary Grade weapon and, at the same time, equipment equipped with a complete Evolution trait.
If it continued to accumulate kills, it would evolve into Mythos Grade and likely become the most powerful existence among all existing long-range weapons.
Sal felt like he wouldn’t be able to wipe the smile off his face for a while.
Upgrade suddenly pulled Sal into a short hug and then pulled away.
She handed the engraving tool she was holding to Sal and pointed at the sniper rifle.
“You have to sign it.”
As Sal accepted the tool with slight hesitation, Upgrade said with a smile.
“Are you going to let everyone who sees this gun mistakenly think Maslow made it? This didn’t drop as monster loot, Sal. You made it. Hurry up and sign!”
Martin and Gosha jumped up in surprise upon seeing the finished gun.
Upgrade insisted once again towards them.
“He should sign it right here, don’t you think?”
Martin answered as if out of breath.
“Of course! It’s the weapon you made. You have to leave proof of ownership. Who would say anything about carving a name onto a Legendary Grade weapon?”
Gosha saw Sal hesitating and said with a quiet smile.
“If you want to keep people from seeing it easily, you can write it on the stock.”
But Upgrade shook her head side to side.
“No way. This is a masterpiece among masterpieces. You have to carve the name right on the side.”
Martin also nodded and pointed at Upgrade.
“I agree.”
The fatigue-soaked squabble felt rather heartwarming.
Sal felt even more grateful knowing that all three of them were on the verge of collapsing.
It was clear that all three were holding on almost by instinct, considering how long they must have been working before he even arrived.
He clapped his hands to stop the commotion.
“I’ll sign!”
Sal, who first approached the stock, heard Upgrade growling from the other side.
“Trust me!”
Sal said with laughter in his voice at her grumbling, and carefully engraved his name on the metal of the stock.
Then, he moved to the wide area right under the scope, pointed to a spot that caught the eye immediately, and looked at Upgrade.
When she nodded in satisfaction, Sal smiled and engraved ‘Mythos’ in large letters right there.
“It’s finished! But I definitely can’t do an Appraisal. We have to go to class.”
“We?”
Sal beamed at Upgrade and said.
“‘Intro to Crafting with Upgrade’!”
“What?”
“You have 20 minutes left until your first class, Professor?”
If looks could kill, Sal would not have made it out of Room 17 alive.