Level Up Machine

Chapter 119 Expedition Beyond the Border (1)

-Ding.

[The level of Rocket Punch has increased to Level 4.]

[You can now use the ‘Remote Control’ ability to control the launched Rocket Punch.]

“Hooh.”

Yeong-sik’s eyes sparkled as he stared at the message window that appeared before him.

The chronic drawback of Rocket Punch.

The somewhat absurd drawback of having to go pick up his arm after launching it had been resolved with this enhancement.

“Shall I give it a try?”

Yeong-sik muttered as he stepped out of the warehouse. He aimed his Rocket Punch at a large rock near the training ground.

-Swoooosh!

With a jet propulsion, his right arm shot out. His rapidly spinning right arm collided with the rock.

-Crack!

The huge rock shattered into pieces upon impact with his right arm. Yeong-sik extended his right arm, which was now just a stump at the elbow, forward.

Click. As if it had a will of its own, his right arm flew through the air and attached precisely to his elbow. He heard the sound of gears meshing, and the sensation in his right hand returned.

Yeong-sik pointed his right arm towards the side of the shattered rock. This time, his purpose was not merely to retrieve the launched arm.

-Swoooosh!

Rocket Punch ignited. Yeong-sik concentrated and changed the trajectory of the already launched Rocket Punch using remote control.

Just before hitting the rock, the trajectory of Rocket Punch changed, soaring into the air. Like a small jet plane flying through the sky, Yeong-sik’s right arm moved freely.

If anyone had seen this,

they would have been astonished at the sight of a flaming arm moving rapidly through the air.

Yeong-sik, with a satisfied smile, called back his right arm. Click. With the sound of gears meshing, his right arm attached to his elbow.

“Not bad.”

Though he could use Energy Blast or Plasma now, the power of Rocket Punch was not that significant.

However, Rocket Punch still held great value as a weapon, especially since it could be used for a surprise attack that was almost impossible to anticipate.

In the case of Energy Blasts, anyone could imagine ‘Ah, an attack is coming,’ but with Rocket Punch, predicting the attack was nearly impossible.

Who would ever expect their opponent to use a technique that involved launching one of their limbs?

Back in the warehouse, Yeong-sik continued to enhance his other weapons.

-Ding.

[To enhance ‘Blade,’ you need 10 A-grade metal cores. Would you like to proceed?]

‘…As expected, it requires more materials compared to Rocket Punch.’

Yeong-sik checked the number of metal cores required for his other weapons. Except for Rocket Punch, all of them required 10 A-grade metal cores each.

‘I have enough A-grade metal cores.’

The grade of metal cores obtained from extracting adamantite ore was typically A.

S-grade metal cores only came from a ‘major success,’ so their numbers were extremely limited, but A-grade metal cores were a different story.

The adamantite he had purchased cost nearly 1 trillion won. If he didn’t have an ample supply of A-grade metal cores, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Yeong-sik calculated the remaining A-grade cores and enhanced his weapons one by one.

[The level of Blade has increased to 4.]

[The blade’s strength increases, allowing you to maintain the ‘Draw’ effect continuously. You can use the ‘Blade Storm’ ability, which sweeps the area ahead by detonating the blade. After using ‘Blade Storm,’ the blade can be reused immediately without a cooldown.]

[The level of Boost has increased to 4.]

[The capacity and output of Boost increase.]

[You can use the ‘Acceleration’ ability, which consumes a certain amount of Boost to move at explosive speed.]

[The level of Slow Motion has increased to 4.]

[The duration of Slow Motion increases to 5 seconds.]

[The ‘Steel’ effect is added during the duration of Slow Motion, making you immune to physical attacks. However, magical damage is not reduced.]

[The level of Shotgun has increased to 4.]

[The power of the Shotgun increases, and the number of bullets fired at once increases.]

[You can use the ‘Full Burst’ ability, which fires more bullets at once than ‘Burst.’ After using ‘Full Burst,’ rapid firing is disabled for a certain period.]

[The level of Gatling Gun has increased to 4.]

[The number of bullets and the power of the Gatling Gun increase.]

[You can use the ‘Barrage’ ability, which maximizes firing speed. The effect of ‘Barrage’ lasts for 1 minute.]

[The level of Mine has increased to 4.]

[The number and power of usable mines increase.]

[You can use the ‘Big Bang’ ability, which releases 30 mines at once to attack the enemy.]

[The level of Missile has increased to 4.]

[The power of the Missile increases, and the number of missiles in stock increases.]

[You can use the ‘Bombardment’ ability, which fires all available missiles at once.]

[The level of Plasma has increased to 4.]

[The amount of usable plasma increases.]

[You can use the ‘Plasma Barrier’ ability, which uses plasma to protect your entire body.]

[The level of Eclipse Cannon cannot be increased with the ‘Enhancement’ skill.]

-Ding.

[The level of the Enhancement skill has increased to Level 4.]

[You can enhance weapons using S-grade metal cores.]

Just as the continuous ringing of bells was starting to get on his nerves, Yeong-sik finished enhancing all his weapons except for the Eclipse Cannon.

“Whew.”

Yeong-sik felt a thrilling shiver as he looked at the message window that appeared before him.

‘The effect of the enhancement skill is truly amazing.’

With the higher level, every time a weapon leveled up, it gained incredible abilities.

Compared to an average summoner, he had essentially acquired nearly ten advanced skills this time.

Enhancing all his weapons to Level 4.

If he hadn’t taken over the Goldrun Guild, it would have been an impossible dream.

Earning more than a million gold solely through hunting and dungeon exploration was practically impossible.

‘It was worth all the effort.’

When he first met Han Jun-man and devised the plan in his head, he had wondered if it was a bit too ambitious. Although he was convinced that Han Jun-man was a greedy fool, there was no guarantee that everyone else would be the same.

However, it seemed his earnest performance had paid off, as the situation unfolded as he had hoped. While Han Jun-man’s complacency played a part, the tremendous value of the ‘machine’ he created was a significant factor.

Even the most rational person would find it hard to stay sane with a mountain of gold piled up before their eyes.

“…If only I could get some orichalcum.”

The primary material for the next enhancement, S-grade metal cores.

No matter how much money he had, it was impossible to buy those.

Yeong-sik thought about ways to acquire orichalcum as he turned his gaze back to the message window.

‘And as expected, the Eclipse Cannon cannot be enhanced.’

Yeong-sik nodded in understanding as he looked at the message window stating the Eclipse Cannon could not be enhanced.

‘Well… it’s hard to imagine how such a weapon could be further enhanced.’

Recalling the time he used the Eclipse Cannon deep in the forest, away from prying eyes, Yeong-sik made a grim face.

It was more of a ‘weapon of mass destruction’ than a mere weapon.

“Hmm… I only have three S-grade metal cores.”

Even if he wanted to enhance all his weapons again, he didn’t have enough metal cores left. After contemplating, Yeong-sik decided to use the enhancement skill on ‘Plasma.’

Plasma was a weapon unlocked at security level 8, and its utility was incredibly high, making it effective when used with other weapons.

-Ding.

[Enhancing ‘Plasma’ requires 5 S-grade metal cores.]

“Ah… I lack the materials.”

Yeong-sik showed a disappointed expression.

‘In that case, I should have invested all the S-grade metal cores in enhancements.’

Considering the power of the enhancement skill, that might have been a wiser decision.

‘No,’

Yeong-sik, deep in thought, soon shook his head.

Although he hadn’t yet tested the power of the S-grade Android, he was certain it possessed Ranker-level strength or even higher.

A Ranker was someone every guild would desperately try to recruit.

Just the fact that he could create such powerful assets using items was already a significant advantage.

Pushing aside his disappointment, Yeong-sik checked the materials needed for enhancing his other weapons.

‘All except Rocket Punch require five cores each.’

Perhaps because it was a first-stage weapon, Rocket Punch only required three metal cores, but the other weapons needed more.

‘Better to enhance at least one than none at all.’

As the saying goes, it’s better to use resources when you can rather than hoard them uselessly.

-Ding

[Rocket Punch’s level has increased to 5.]

[You can use the ‘Rupture’ effect, which sends a powerful wave into the target, destroying it from the inside.]

“Hooh.”

Yeong-sik’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the message window that appeared before him.

The advantage of Rocket Punch as a surprise attack. This new effect maximized that potential.

‘This is what S-grade enhancement looks like.’

It was a significantly powerful effect, far beyond the previous level. Yeong-sik’s desire for orichalcum grew stronger.

“With this, the enhancements are done for now…”

Suppressing his desire for orichalcum, Yeong-sik opened his status window to check his manufacturing skill, which had reached level 8.

“Hmm… The recipes have become more flexible.”

Among the newly added manufacturing recipes, none had as much impact as the Android.

However, the ability to modify a few materials to create different forms and performances was a newfound flexibility that hadn’t existed in the manufacturing skill before.

‘Now, this feels like a true manufacturing skill.’

Until now, the items made by a mechanical engineer lacked flexibility compared to other production professions.

Unlike an alchemist who could combine various magical materials to create new types of golems and potions, or a blacksmith who could make any weapon if they had the materials, mechanical engineers were limited to completing machines with just metal materials.

For instance, even the hugely popular refrigerators couldn’t be made without relying on the skill.

The new level 8 manufacturing skill addressed these shortcomings by allowing the combination of various materials to create a wide range of machines.

‘This opens up a lot of possibilities.’

With that thought, Yeong-sik turned his attention to another skill he had just acquired: the ‘Synthesis’ skill.

[Skill Information: ‘Synthesis Lv Max’]

Description: Allows a mechanical engineer to synthesize machines with other items. The final form of the item will be designed by the mechanical engineer. However, synthesis is not possible if the structure cannot be physically realized.

“What?”

Yeong-sik’s eyes sparkled.

As he read the skill description, a lightning bolt of inspiration struck his mind.