Chapter 10: TMNT

After exploring the map function more, I found out a lot of things. First off, it shows only the name and the Familia—if they have one—for gods, but it shows name, age, and rank for adventures. Also, when I focus on gods or high level adventures—let's just say adventures with high instinct—I will get the message; 

[Your 'eyes' have been noticed.]

The message might sound ominous, however they don't actually know it's me. Their instinct just tells them someone strange is looking at them, but it doesn't pinpoint who. I tried it against a golden-blonde haired little girl that was surprisingly a level 4.

She was 11 years old yet higher level than adventures that were in their thirties. Shame on them. Well, when I kept clicking on her, she kept jolting to look around, and even though I was walking behind her, her eyes never focused on me. 

It might have been because she is young that her instincts aren't sharp enough to pinpoint me, but I was not going to try it against a god or someone higher level. 

Another thing to note is that I can pin a location I want to get to in the map and in front of me will appear a blue line leading me to that location. It even shows me multiple paths and if I make the wrong turn, it will automatically reroute itself. Like my own personal google map.

A good function, I guess. The more interesting functions are unlocked when I become rank 1: One being street view. The game had given me a preview, allowing me to zoom down to the street and when zoomed down I could look around and look at the people walking through the street like I was actually there. 

Another function that will allow me to choose if to allow the name and rank of the characters in this game to appear above their head. I guess it would be better to have it there rather than clicking it on the map and having them looking around for the spying creep.

Well, that's all for the map.

Now, let's get some of those other daily missions out of the way. I couldn't do what I was about to do out in the open, so I made my way to the most secure and out of sight place.

The sewers.

Yep, I was currently in the sewer with my back to the wall, but the sewer had been abandoned for ages. There was no apparent water from what I could see, and the stonework of the sewer was rugged and weathered, with visible deep cracks and patches of moss clinging to the walls. The scarce light in the tunnel came from some of the empty ventilation shafts embedded in the walls with corroded metal grilles, and the air was even good, just stale. 

So, I'm good. 

The only bad thing is the rats that's just staring at me. "What, you think this is your home!?" The rat turned and ran. I hope it doesn't call its friends.

Well, whatever, let's do this. Since I already added 14742 exp into my agility earlier, and I want to keep my current level as low as possible to grind exp, I decided to only add what's needed.

30000-14742 is 15258, so I can only use about that much to increase my dexterity. I pressed and held the plus in my dexterity, letting its number quickly go up from 419 to 436. It told me I would spend a total of 15390 exp, and with a yes, my level became 2878, my actual level (without items), 2825. This brought my total exp down to 46,818 exp

I collected my reward, a x10 premium summoning ticket. 'Nice.' I just hope my first x10 summon ain't ass. I mean, in most gacha games, your first 10 to 30 summons are normally generous, so I hope this is too.

Now, I called the summoning screen, I saw there were now four banners. Newbie, item, weapon, and armor banner and all these banners, except for the newbie, have a basic summon and a premium summon. I took some time to look through the banner, nodding.

'Yep, the height possible item in all the primes is legendary, uncommon for the common banners.' I guess higher ranked items can only be acquired through missions, event banners, or milestones. Not that I mind. I feel like if I got even a legendary item, it will break this world's logic by quite a lot. 

I mean, seriously. It doesn't even look like this game world has magic weapons or weapons with skills. 'I might be wrong, however a legendary item will be 100% an overkill.'

Now, let's look at this beginner banner.

_____________________

Newbie Summon

*Armor and Weapons Rank 6 and below are available in this banner.

*Rate Up for 'Rare Item'

*Pick one ['One Legendary Rank 6 Weapon/Armor Selector' or 'Three Rare Rank 3 Weapon/Armor Selector'] after 210 draws

*330 hours remaining

*Acquiring a Legendary item will immediately end the banner, and you will be rewarded an 'Ignore Rank Egg'

_____________________

A selector? 'Damn.' This shit is generous. If I do all seven day missions, getting 210 summons will be possible. As for which of the two choices is the best option? It was 100% the rank 3 rare selector. First, I will get three and second and most importantly, I wouldn't be able to use the legendary weapon unless I got to rank 3 or got an ignore rank egg.

Ignore rank egg is basically a golden egg you crack on a weapon which allows you to ignore its rank, so a rank 0 can use a God rank 12 without any drawbacks. However, the chance of getting that is the lowest in this banner. 

'I just hope I don't be unlucky and get a legendary on my first ten pull.' Yes, I will get an ignore rank egg and be able to use the weapon, but the rate of rares are much higher in this banner than the rest, and I'd rather have 10 rare than 1 legendary.

At least, in this early game.

Well, let's stop ranting and pull. Unlike the first time when it was showy, it seems the game developers got lazy and just sent the items I pulled to my inventory with a 'new' beside it.

From the ten pull, I got a total of 45 enhancement crystals from three of the pull, 4 enchantment stones from four of the pull, 1 common, 1 uncommon, and, drumroll!

1 rare! 

"FUCK YEAH!" Who would have thought I would get a rare in my first ten pull. My luck is looking glorious!

Now, let's see what this shit is.

[Tsar Bomba (Rare): Rank 9]

...

No, you can't be serious. That's a nuke. Yeah, I might just be seeing shit or this game decided to name a weapon that. 'Let me...' 

Let me just look at its status real quick.

_____________________

Tsar Bomba

Rank 9

Rare Thermonuclear Device

Requirement: None

Description: The Tsar Bomba, the most powerful thermonuclear device ever detonated on Earth, was tested by the Soviet Union in 1961.

+0 stats

Enhancement: None Available

Total Yield: 50~58 Megatons of TNT

Thermal Radiation Radius: 3,000 km² (1,158 mi²)

Instant Vaporization Radius: 35 km (21.75 mi)

Moderate Damage Radius: 55-60 km (34-37 mi)

Radiation Fallout Radius: 100 km (62 mi)

Blast Wind Velocity: 1,000 km/h (621 mph) near detonation epicenter.

Enchantment: 0/9

Socket: None Available

_____________________

I... I got a nuclear bomb? 

"I got a nuclear bomb!?"

Why? Why would this game give me a nuclear bomb? And the Tsar Bomba? For what purpose? Is it telling me to nuke this city to oblivion? Wouldn't I also die from the nuke? Why would I ever need to use this?

Bro, this is crazy. I should have gotten a better rare weapon, a sword or a hammer, but I got a consumable weapon? 

A nuke?

'Can I set a timer on this?' I looked at the image. It doesn't look like what I would expect it to look like, it was just an orb. Should I call it out and check it out?

No, what the fuck am I thinking? Next thing you know, once it comes out, it will detonate. 

Yeah, fuck that. Let's just leave the nuke in the inventory. 

I guess I will use it when I am about to die. 

If I am dying, I ain't going alone...

"Wait, you can enchant it!?" It can even be enchanted to become stronger!? What the fuck? 

Should I test...

Nope, let's just forget about the nuke and look at the uncommon items I got.

[Basic Atlas Gauntlets (Uncommon): Rank 3]

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Basic Atlas Gauntlets

Rank 3

Uncommon Gauntlet

Requirements: None

Description: A simple gauntlet favored by common brawlers of the Atlas Corporation. When equipped, the weight experienced by the wearier is much less than the actual length.

+1 Strength

+1 Endurance

Enhancement: 0/9

Fist Fight: When no weapon is held in any hand, strength, dexterity, and agility are increased by 20 levels. 

Echo: When delivering a punch with the right gauntlet, there is a 16% chance of 'echo' the damage without additional impute or energy from the user. Echo can not trigger another echo.

Charge Punch: Charge one gauntlet for 1–6 seconds, increasing Strength by 15% per second. At max charge, gain an additional 30%, totaling 120% increased Strength. Charging reduces movement speed by 15% per second while increasing durability by 70%. After release, lunge forward (seconds charged * 5 meters) to deliver the punch. Can trigger 'Echo.' Cooldown: (seconds charged * 1 minute).

_____________________

Ok, this one is actually good. Excellent for an uncommon. I just hope it isn't too small for my hands, but seeing the image, I doubt it will be too small. 

Ok, let's equip it to test out. I stood up and equip— 

"Woah!" 

The moment I equipped the Atlas Gauntlets, they materialized on my arms, and I was immediately hit by their sheer size. These things were massive—far bigger than I expected. The gauntlet extended from my fingertips all the way to just below my elbow, and easily three times the width of my normal arm. I couldn't even keep my arms straight; they were so bulky that I had to hold them up awkwardly, my elbows bent outward just to keep my balance. 

I glanced down, noticing the uncurled fingers of the gauntlet hung low with the tips reaching my calves, and just lifting my arms to inspect them was annoying. The gauntlet itself had a rugged, industrial look, like something forged in a factory rather than a blacksmith's forge. 

Heavy mechanical components were visible around the wrist and forearm. The knuckles reinforced with metallic plates, and the back of the hand and fingers covered in segmented armor-like plating. 

Though the gauntlet was huge, inside it felt like I was wearing nothing more than an elbow-length glove. My fingers didn't quite reach the ends of the gauntlet's metal fingers, but every movement I made was mimicked by the gauntlet—slower, sure, but precise.

'Even with the skill that made them feel lighter than they actually were, they still weighed a lot.' If I drop this on a normal human or even a rank one blessed, they will die.

I squeezed my hand into a fist and watched as the big, metal fingers closed into a tight grip. Each bend of the joints sent a soft mechanical whir through the gauntlet, and though the fingers were slower than my own, they moved in sync with my actions. It was like controlling a puppet, but the puppet was a heavy, industrial war machine.

I shifted into a boxing stance, trying to feel out the weight distribution. It was hard—really hard. The gauntlets threw off my balance completely, and I had to fight just to stay in form. When I threw a punch, it felt like I was dragging a massive weight through the air, each swing slow and strenuous. 

I needed to get my dexterity up so I could bring out the full power of my A-rank strength, and once I did, these things would be devastating. But for now? No way. 

"I guess I will have to wait before I can become Vi." I unequipped them. 

As for the common rank 1, it was a helm called 'Helm of Solitude,' a 'rectangular-prism' helm that covers my entire head. It has a vertically slatted visor with metal bars spaced evenly apart, providing some visibility, and the bottom of the helm extends slightly over the neck, blending into a layer of chain mail that offers further protection to my neck and throat.

Good thing it fits. I will definitely need some head protection down in the dungeon.

Now that's out of the way, let's get down to enhancing. And of course, what I chose to enhance is the Cracked Nagjolinganda Crystal Dagger. It currently has the best base stats in the item I can equip, and upgrading it would give the most stats benefit, so I called it out.

It appeared in thin air and I caught it.

The dagger, about 20 centimeters long, glimmered with a translucent, icy blue hue, capturing and refracting light from the ventilation shafts with each subtle movement. It had a pronounced crack on its surface down the center, from the tip to the hilt, which glowed with a purple aura. The blade's edges looked to be blunted, however it tapered to a perfect point at the tip, with its hilt continuing the seamless crystal construction, measuring about 10 centimeters.

In my large hands, the dagger size was dwarfed by my frame, appearing more like a small letter opener than a weapon. 

That was not an exaggeration. 

This shit wasn't even worth being called a knife in hands.

But all that matters is its stats. 'Time to enhance.' Calling up its status, I clicked on the plus next to the enhancement, and a screen popped up. 'I know.' I sent away the tutorial, and then something appeared in thin air, dropping to the ground.

It was a large forge hammer with a length of about 1.5 meters and its head was a large block of stone affixed to a metal handle, much like the stone hammer. 

 "…The fuck?" Am I supposed to use that to upgrade this sword...?

Ok, I need the tutorial. 

I went to the new menu that had appeared earlier, 'help,' and clicked on 'enhancing an item.'

*Tutorial: [Enhancing an item is only possible for uncommon-grade items and above. Attempting to enhance an item below that rank will result in the weapon and the enhancement crystals being destroyed. A similar result is expected when attempting to enhance a fully enhanced weapon.]

'You can't even attempt to enhance a lower ranked or maxed enhanced item in my game.' I guess this is more 'realistic.'

*Tutorial: [The process of enhancing an item is simple. Take an enhancement crystal, place it on the item, and use the enhancement hammer to hammer the crystal into the item. A successful enhancement will result in the crystal shattering being absorbed by the item, while a failure will result in the crystal destruction and disintegrating into the air.]

Ok, I'll take that back. This is not realistic. I'm basically an MMORPG blacksmith. One tap with a hammer, and the weapon becomes a legendary weapon. I should have expected this.

*Tutorial: [The cost of a weapon enhancement and the chance of a useful enhancement scales with the weapon grade and the enhancement level. Enhancement crystal can be used on items not provided by the game, though this item needs to be rated as an 'uncommon' rank or above.]

Well, I've found one way to make money. "Noah's Upgradery." The right name...

Is Upgradery a word? It is one now.

However, I'm not planning on opening a shop for now. Need these stones for my own shit. Besides, the game provides me money, for now, I believe.

I digress. Let's do this.

Squatting, I placed the Nagjolinganda Crystal Dagger on the ground then I called out an enhancement crystal. It was the size of an average dice—and shaped like a perfect cube—with a predominantly deep orange color.

I placed the crystal above the dagger and then raised the hammer, bringing it down with ferocious speed, and then lightly tapping the crystal. It shattered instantly, breaking into indigo and sapphire droplets of light and then immediately shooting into the dagger. The dagger briefly glowed with an aura similar to the enhancement crystal, then it returned to normal.

"Let's see." I held the 'letter opener' and checked its stats.

[+2 in all stats.]

[Enhancement: 1/9]

So, I guess it will scale like my game. All uncommon weapons have the same scaling: 1 to 4 will give +1, 5 to 8 +1.2, and then nine will give 2.2, so in total, fully enhancing an uncommon weapon will give 12 levels. 

This is exactly why the Cracked Nagjolinganda Crystal Dagger is the most uncommon weapon in terms of stats, even better than most rares. Yes, rares give more levels with +11 enhancement, but that's only to one stat. 

This one gives it to all five stats, so 55 levels. 'An amazing weapon.' And it ignores rank. Even if I am a rank 9, I will still be using this dagger. +60 isn't anything to scoff at. It's even more than the set item of the Rhapso Beginner Set.

'Let's continue.'

Bringing one crystal, I hammered it into the dagger, but it didn't glow. '...' Oh, right, now I remember. Bringing out another crystal, I hammered it into the dagger, and it glowed. 

'I am right.'

The cost for common weapon enhancement is 1 crystal for 0 to 1, 2 crystals for 1 to 2, 3 crystals for 2 to 3, and so on. As for the percentage of success, the first three enhancements are 100%, the next three are 95%, and the next two are 70%. To get to nine, the chance of success is only 50%. A flip of a coin. 

Twelve crystals later, I was at rank 5 with the enhancement and checked the stats again. '???' It wasn't what I expected. With the growth rate, it should be 5.5, but it was 6 instead. 

'2 points after reaching five?' There is no way. If it goes like that, 6 to 8 should also give 2, and then nine would give 3, so 16 levels from an uncommon? '80 levels from the dagger?' 

An uncommon dagger? Almost one entire rank from a fully enhanced uncommon? 

What the fuck? 

+60 was already enough, but 80? 

Well damn. 'Well, it's better for me.' 

I won't ask for a nerf.

I hammered five crystals into the dagger, and then on the sixth, the stone shattered, and the energy went into the air.

'...' Was that... Was that a failure?

No way, right?

I took another crystal and hammer at it. The crystal shattered and entered the dagger, though it didn't glow. "That was a failure!?"

I guess failure goes like this: Let's say you want to upgrade from 5 to 6. You use 5 crystals, all successes, and then the last one is a failure, which means the enhancement will fail, and the next crystal you use will restart from 1. 

No, wait, that's not the problem. How did I fail a 95% chance? The hell? No, I'm not even mad. I'm not mad. Things just happen. 

Besides, I got a nuke, so what's there to be mad about?

Six more crystals, and the dagger now had enhancement rank 6 of nine, with 27 of my 75 enhancement crystals used. The 48 remaining crystals, I'll keep for now. I could upgrade it to nine, but, truth be told, I am bored by just sitting in the sewers and these rats are getting too brave.

"Shoo!" The five rats didn't move despite my loud voice and just stared at me with their beady red eyes. 

And then they got closer.

Ah, they want me to leave. 'Haah,' I guess Master Splinter doesn't want to take in more students.

Well, whatever. Let's leave and go register in the guild.'