Max Talent Player

‘I need to weaken the incantation’s strength.’

He explained that to Senia, putting it in more concrete terms so the Guardians could follow his actions a little better.

“Using the strength of the incantation, I will enhance the Immortal Fleet right here, right now.”

The conditions were already fulfilled.

[A special incantation is active.]

[Immortal Fleet restoration has begun.]

Schultz opened his mouth. Golden energy was leaking from the cracks that had spidered over his dry skin. It was like he was bleeding golden light instead of blood.

“Those who seek death shall live, those who seek life shall die.”

[Immortal Fleet restoration in progress.]

Hyukjin felt the strength of the giant that had emerged from Schultz’s back getting sucked towards the ‘Immortal Fleet’. It wasn’t visible to the naked eye, but a flow of energy only Hyukjin’s Eye of Perception could see.

‘The Immortal Fleet is getting restored.’

The Immortal Fleet hadn’t appeared, but Hyukjin could feel it. Slowly, little by little, it was getting repaired.

[Immortal Fleet is 50% restored.]

[Immortal Fleet is 80% restored.]

[Immortal Fleet has been fully restored.]

The golden light seeping from the cracks in Schultz’s skin was much dimmer now, and the giant at his back was a little smaller.

‘Still not enough.’

He had to weaken the incantation more. If he didn’t do this right, Schultz would die. Hyukjin went right into enhancement. He would harness Schultz’s incantation—and the overwhelming power Schultz had summoned.

Hyukjin took out the reward the Herdsman of Las Vegas had given him.

[Use the Special Ability Enhancement Crystal?]

[Select the special ability you want to enhance.]

The ability he chose was naturally the Immortal Fleet.

[Enhance the Immortal Fleet?]

[You may choose and combine the elements needed for enhancement.]

Thanks to the altered Stardust, Hyukjin knew all the hidden attributes of the Special Ability Enhancement Crystal, even the fact that this crystal was compatible with the Immortal Fleet. However, he hadn’t shared the full list of enhancement requirements with Senia or the Guardians.

‘The combining element is the Endless Sky Crystal.’

Hyukjin took it out without hesitation.

‘I need to break it.’

But he couldn’t do it carelessly. The Endless Sky Crystal contained Endless Sky mana, a highly hazardous force for the vast majority of lifeforms.

Hyukjin drew out his energy. Just as he had with the Explorer of Service, he used one of his abilities on the newly advanced Sea King of Service.

-Ability Share: Share an ability with designated observation targets.

He could use all of his Observer’s Eye skills on Kang Somyi. It was the same with Schultz. The ability Hyukjin shared was none other than Endless Sky Physique.

‘I won’t be able to share it completely, but it’s enough.’

If this was the Endless Sky, no amount of Ability Share could guarantee Schultz’s safety. Hyukjin still hadn’t confirmed whether Ability Share granted his ability in its entirety. But they weren’t in the Endless Sky, and Schultz only needed to endure the mana leaking from a low-grade Endless Sky Crystal.

‘And most of this mana will be used up in the enhancement.’

So Schultz would be able to handle it. Hyukjin went for it. To break this crystal, this object that could be called the lifeblood of a dungeon, he needed the Endless Sky Hammer.

[Endless Sky Hammer]

An artifact that can shatter an Endless Sky Crystal. An Endless Sky Hammer is needed to be able to harness an Endless Sky Crystal’s power.

Grade: Low

He brought down the Endless Sky Hammer on the Endless Sky Crystal.

With just one strike, the crystal shattered, releasing the mana it contained. Hyukjin felt a wave of sheer power hit him like a wall, and his eyes were blinded. Even so, as overwhelming as it was, it was a familiar feeling.

[Endless Sky Crystal has been chosen as a material.]

[Beginning Immortal Fleet enhancement.]

[Calculating the +1 enhancement success rate.]

As usual, enhancement was most swayed by talent and luck. And Hyukjin had already confirmed multiple times… that his talent for enhancement was second to none.

The notices continued.

[+1 enhancement success rate: 120%]

[‘Endless Sky Crystal’ is involved in the enhancement.]

[‘Endless Sky mana’ reacts with the ‘Chungmugong’s Will’.]

The first time he came here with Pietro, this place was called the ‘Immortal Fleet Gate’. Hyukjin remembered the gate description.

The soul and will of the Chungmugong (Lord of Loyal Valor) Yi Sun-sin culminated in the Immortal Fleet.

‘This is definitely a continuation of that gate.’

[Proceeding with additional enhancement.]

[Congratulations!]

[The enhancement was successful!]

* * *

* * *

Hyukjin confirmed that [Immortal Fleet] had become [Immortal Fleet+3]. The giant moving behind Schultz was nowhere to be seen, and he was no longer radiating the golden glow.

Schultz slumped to the ground, unconscious.

‘He’s out of danger, I think.’

They were in the clear, then. Hyukjin heard Senia’s voice.

“Player Kim Hyukjin. Please explain the enhancement.”

“I achieved a +3 enhancement.”

“A… +3?”

“Yeah.”

“But I’m certain you only did one round of enhancement. How did you get a +3?”

“I think the Endless Sky mana and Chungmugong’s will reacted, resulting in an additional enhancement that ended up being a +3.”

Senia nodded. Actually, she already knew that—Hyukjin was sharing the Immortal Fleet description with her right now. She was just acting like she didn’t know in order to inform the Guardians.

After inserting an intentional pause, Senia continued, “But it doesn’t seem to just be a +3.”

Getting a +3 was already surprising. That alone would have been an astonishing result, since a +3 had been achieved in a single enhancement by an ‘Observer’ who wasn’t even an enhancement or production class Player. Such enhancements were rare feats even for ‘Masters’.

Hyukjin knew that as well. But more shocking than that was the grade of the enhancement.

“You’re right.”

“Please explain.”

“I got a red enhancement.”

With his talent for enhancement, he had gotten blue enhancements so far. But this time, it wasn’t blue.

In his former life, Master Pedro said the following:

–There’s an unsurpassable gap between regular enhancements and blue enhancements. There are cases where a +1 blue enhancement is better than a +3 regular enhancement.

That was the definition of a typical blue enhancement.

–But red enhancements have powerful merits that can’t be compared to regular enhancements. Sometimes, they draw out an item’s unique ability, or activate a hidden piece, or maximize the latent power of the enhanced object.

All the Masters agreed on this point.

–Theoretically, there must be an enhancement grade above red enhancements. But red enhancements are our limit. Despite that, we consider red enhancements our masterpieces.

If blues were far better enhancements than regular ones, then reds were enhancements that could even bestow new abilities to an item.

Hyukjin checked the Immortal Fleet’s full item description.

[Immortal Fleet+3]

Battles by summoning an undying fleet. Can only be summoned on the ‘ocean’. The summon duration and fleet’s fighting prowess will be determined by the summoner’s Willpower.

• Number of summonable vessels: 20

• Upon fulfilling a special incantation, the Willpower consumption markedly decreases.

• When used by the Sea King of Service under the command of their sovereign, 1 Turtleship can be summoned.

• When used by the Sea King of Service under the command of their sovereign, Immortal Fleet can be used ‘on water’ rather than ‘on the sea’.

• If the person the Sea King of Service serves has a skill related to ‘ability sharing’, Immortal Fleet can be shared. However, only 20 vessels can be summoned.

The ability could now generate a Turtle Ship, and it could be used ‘on water’ as well as be shared.

“Mmgh…!” Schultz’s eyes flashed open. “What just happened?”

Immediately afterwards, Schultz rolled over and vomited the contents of his stomach. He puked for a long time before recovering his composure.

“I apologize. That was unsightly.”

“No, it’s thanks to you that I was able to fully restore and enhance the Immortal Fleet.”

Everything was for this very moment.

“And now, I give the Immortal Fleet to you.”

He had been planning on giving Schultz the ability, since Schultz’s advancement to the Sea King of Service made him Hyukjin’s subordinate. But now, even that “loss” was basically nonexistent.

“I’m capable of ability sharing.”

“Ah…!”

Schultz felt greatly relieved. Even after he took this ability, Hyukjin could still use it. Now that he wasn’t completely snatching the Immortal Fleet away, it weighed less heavily on his conscience.

“I think this ability would be better placed in your hands than mine. Only then can it shine.”

“...Thank you.” Schultz resolved himself. “I swear to you, I will prioritize protecting the seas of Korea. Not just because you are my sovereign, but because I am someone who knows how to repay a favor.”

Hyukjin grinned.

“A class scenario of yours has cropped up in the vicinity of the South Sea of Korea.”

Like with Kang Somyi, he could see Schultz’s class and the associated hidden scenarios. The German Player was due for a prolonged stay in the country—many things were hidden in Korea.

“Understood.”

Schultz went on one knee, then recited the words the Sea King of Service was scripted to say.

“The Sea King of Service greets the sovereign.”

Shortly afterwards, the Immortal Fleet changed hands.

[Immortal Fleet+3 has been transferred.]

[The Sea King of Service has acquired the Immortal Fleet.]

[Proceeding into the scenario of the Yi Sun-sin Statue Gate.]

[The quest ‘King Kraken Hunt’ has begun.]

The sea began to pitch and roll, the waves rising up and the wind blowing hard. Hyukjin sensed the presence of monsters far in the distance. The aura was one he had already experienced.

“King Krakens.”

“What’s that?”

“A giant octopus monster. Their levels are in the mid to late 40s.”

The one Hyukjin defeated had a boss monster designation, but not these. They were regular monsters.

“If they’re in the mid to late 40s… they’re fairly strong.”

“Yes.”

Water rushed forward, wetting their feet. The land they were standing on was turning into sea.

“The field is changing,” Hyukjin said calmly. He could tell. “It’ll turn into a deep ocean very soon.”

The water was getting deeper. Deep waters… were the best environment for King Krakens. Schultz’s eyes grew serious.

“I await your command.”

“You may summon the Immortal Fleet.”

Schultz heard a notice.

[The sovereign has issued his command.]

[Turtle Ship can be summoned.]

Schultz realized. This was a stage for the Immortal Fleet, not the King Krakens, to shine. He was here to personally learn and experience the strength of the Immortal Fleet and the Sea King of Service when next to his sovereign.

‘Turtle Ship.’

The product of a red enhancement, the Turtle Ship, made its debut.