God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 186: Episode _The Great Cataclysm (3)

5.

Though not in great numbers, similar events were unfolding all across the continent. Randomly appearing gates, seeping with demonic energy, and the monsters that poured out from them. They were different from ordinary monsters. Their eyes were bloodshot, they drooled constantly, and a sinister aura emanated from their bodies even as they stood still.

Monsters from the Demon Realm. They lacked the dignity to be called demons, but no one dared to underestimate the pressure they exuded. It was hard to do so. They were as strong as they looked insane.

“Hey! Hey! Rune!” Simin shouted.

Sudal grunted in response.

The monsters emerging from the gates across the continent were all different. The ones the Specialists encountered were enormous, bulldog-like hounds. They were so large that a single one could completely cover a person just by pouncing, and their hideous appearance made one instinctively wonder what kind of ugly name they deserved. Not that there was any time to name them.

“Grrr-RAWR!”

“Aack!”

Amid the chaos, the one silver lining was that the spawns weren’t completely random. The monsters were stronger than those found in the Unknown Mountains, but they didn’t exceed the level of a named monster from that region.

’The gates follow the level of the hunting ground they appear in, but the difficulty is one—no, two—steps higher.’

A hypothesis was formed. It wasn’t a certainty, but it was still satisfying. By gathering information like this, piece by piece, the day would come when they understood everything about the crisis facing the continent. And with that knowledge, a way to make a fortune would surely present itself.

[Rune: Regeneration has been applied for 300 seconds.]

[HP and MP recovery speed increased by 5,000% for the duration.]

[Rune: Hammer of Divine Punishment has been applied for 300 seconds.]

[Attack Power increased by 100% for the duration.]

[The two Runes have fused, applying the effect of Special Rune: Death Bleed.]

To achieve that, however, he first had to deal with the pack of dogs in front of him. Simin brandished his hammer with a flourish and shouted, “Let’s go, Kardian!”

Kardian remained silent.

*

Victory feels modest, while losses feel immense. News of the gates appearing across the continent, coupled with reports of the damage they caused, was more than enough to make the continent’s inhabitants tremble in fear.

“They say a gate to the Demon Realm has opened.”

“Does that mean the demons are invading?”

“What do we do?”

If it had just been the gates, they wouldn’t have been so terrified.

“The monsters coming from them are attacking mercenaries and even leaving their zones to attack people.”

But hearing stories like these—stories that would directly impact their lives—they couldn’t help but feel a deep-seated dread. The certainty that they were safe within their territory walls, 24/7, had been shattered. The monsters of the Demon Realm didn’t rest at night.

The mere thought of having their necks torn out in their sleep was enough to fill people with terror, especially those living in small territories rather than fortified cities. These were people who trembled in fear at the occasional attack from a large monster, an event that might happen once a year, if that. They couldn’t possibly remain idle in a situation like this.

Those who wanted to live made a bold choice: they packed their belongings and moved. They were leaving the homes of their ancestors, but the fear of the demons, passed down for hundreds of years, was greater. Perhaps the fear was even stronger because they had never seen them. The fear of the unknown. That, after all, is the greatest terror.

Reports of this exodus reached the Emperor one after another.

“So, what was to come has come,” the Emperor murmured, his brow furrowed with worry as he sat on his throne.

“The adventurers have destroyed the sealing stones, Your Majesty,” a subject reported.

“It was the expected course of events.”

But the Emperor’s expression wasn’t because of the adventurers’ actions. He already knew this would happen, thanks to the history books passed down only to the emperors. If he hadn’t known, he would never have allowed the adventurers to break the seals on the stones that once connected their world to the Demon Realm.

“What of the preparations?”

“We have notified each kingdom.”

“It must proceed in secret.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

In the end, history flows as it is written. A future known only to the Emperor. He had to organize his complex thoughts and map out the path ahead. The burden on the Emperor, who had to consider the entire continent, was too great to express in words. Not a single part of it could be allowed to collapse. Even if their unity was forced, forged under the rule of a tyrant, it was crucial that they moved as one.

“Is this the beginning?”

The demonic energy-imbued gates were merely the start. The sealing stones the adventurers had destroyed were like peeling the skin off a tangerine. The real sealing stones were located in the Four Forbidden Zones, beyond the mountain ranges—time bombs created by demons who sacrificed their lives to prepare for a future return as they retreated. When those detonate, the true war with the demons will begin. And if that cannot be stopped, then it will inevitably come: the descent of the Demon King.

Therefore, they had to stop it in its infancy. This initial stage, where monsters that were treated as little more than rabbits in the Demon Realm were crossing over, was their easiest and only chance. But it was also the time for utmost caution.

“Above all, the adventurers must never find out.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

These guests to the continent, with their infinite lives and lack of fear of death, undertook adventures the continent’s people never could. They grew stronger by the day and would play the largest role in the war against the Demon Realm. But they were a double-edged sword. Wielded correctly, they could be sharper than any weapon, but they could also become a bomb aimed at the continent itself.

Most of them adventured for fame and fortune, and there were plenty among them who wouldn’t care if they sided with humans or demons to achieve it. Considering the few humans who fell to the whispers of demons and brought great danger to the continent hundreds of years ago, before adventurers even existed, this was the most critical issue to guard against.

“And it must never reach that bastard’s ears.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Never!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

In truth, the enemy was unknown even to the Emperor. If it weren’t for the contents of the history books passed down to him—no, even after reading them, he still wasn’t certain. ’Will the demons truly come?’ Thus, there was something he feared more than a threat that had not yet arrived: Han Simin. A man who could drag a future that might not even exist out of hell itself.

But the Emperor didn’t know. He didn’t know that this very man was the first on the entire continent to encounter a demonic energy-imbued gate.

6. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

They killed all the monsters that came from the gate and safely destroyed it. In truth, Kardian had done nearly all the work herself, but none of the rewards of victory went to her.

“If there’s something you want, just say it. I’ll give you one thing,” Simin offered magnanimously.

“My Dragon Heart.”

“Anything but that.”

Kardian fell silent.

“I’ll take that as a no, then.”

The very picture of a ruthless master! He dismissed Kardian’s contributions in a single breath and immediately began sorting through the items unique to the Demon Realm, a sight that was truly impressive.

“I can’t believe I’m seeing the definition of slave driver in person,” one of the Specialists muttered.

“From now on, we should tell anyone at the office who complains about being a slave to go talk to Simin,” Seolah added with a laugh.

Of course, admiration was one thing, but practical gain was another. The Specialists couldn’t help but be interested in the items they had never seen before. Above all, they were interested in the boxes. They had killed dozens of monsters, but only two demonic energy-imbued boxes had dropped—one weapon and one armor. Their eyes met, then all gazes turned to Han Simin. The meaning was clear: ’Enhance it and open it.’

Simin shook his head. “Let’s just open one first.”

Unlike the random boxes from before, these had no grade listed. That meant there was no guarantee that enhancing them would raise their potential. Still, he could make an educated guess.

“It’s not like a box dropped by trash mobs like these will have anything good in it anyway. It’d be a waste of money to enhance it.”

It was unlikely to contain anything valuable. Deep down, a sliver of hope flickered, but reality was cold.

“Still, with my luck, I should at least get a Rare,” Simin declared. With that cold judgment, he opened the weapon box without hesitation. The video from the community forums was still fresh in his mind: the Legendary-grade sword that emerged from a box opened without a second thought, and the $40 million they must have earned. This was the start.

A bow popped out of the box.

“Not bad.” It was a popular weapon for users who disliked close combat, so demand was high. But the grade?

After checking it, Simin passed it to the others without a word. It had no glow, nothing that made it look special. It was a Normal-grade item. The fantasy the four of them had built up about random boxes shattered.

*

The Specialists weren’t the only ones. It was a reality that countless parties across the continent, formed to enjoy the new content, had to face. While it was difficult to find monsters from the demonic energy-imbued gates, it wasn’t hard to find named monsters that had been exposed to demonic energy. Yet, there was not a single report of a Legendary-grade item dropping from them. A day passed, then two, then a week. Not only were there no Legendaries, but there were no Special or Unique items either.

And the users realized that the first drop was just beginner’s luck. Fantastic World was just another game, after all.

—Damn it. I forgot Betago probably referenced old PC games.

—The item cap is probably locked unless it’s from a certain level of named monster or higher.

—Didn’t they just make it so only Normal items drop? I haven’t seen a single post from someone who got a Rare or better from a box.

—I got a Rare. But it’s level 20 required.

The fantasy shattered, and expectations were lowered. The users who had dreamed of a massive payday naturally disbanded, but the excitement didn’t die down completely. After all, it was still new content.

—Well, it’s random. Something will pop up eventually. It’s not like the old drops are gone; this is just a bonus.

—And the items from the boxes have options I’ve never seen before.

—Maybe because they’re from the Demon Realm?

Just as people were getting used to it, another piece of news spread among the players.

—Breaking news! The kingdoms are putting up bounties on the gates. The Emperor seems pissed that monsters are attacking territories. If you’re above a certain level, you can join the army, and guilds are recruiting a lot of players too. Check it out.

—Whoa. I joined the army, and it’s awesome. They give you free weapons and armor, plus a monthly salary.

—Joining the army doesn’t seem like a bad idea for low-to-mid-level players.

—I joined an NPC guild, and there’s not much discrimination. In fact, they seem to treat me better because I’m a player.

—I heard that during guild selection trials, NPCs are really keen on recruiting players because they fight harder since they can just revive after dying.

A new opportunity! A new path for players who had grown tired of just grinding levels and gearing up! The massive wall that had stood between adventurers and NPCs for half a year had begun to crumble with the opening of the main quest’s third act. NPCs discovered the unique advantages of players, and players discovered the benefits of mingling with NPCs. The beginning of a wonderful society where both sides could win for their mutual benefit! This was the greatest change brought by the Great Cataclysm.

*