NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34 - Light Speed Rune (2)
Chapter 34 Light Speed Rune (2)
At the Enhancement Station.
If the Synthesis Station consumed summons, the Enhancement Station consumed runes.
[Welcome to the Enhancement Station!]
[Enhance or polish your runes here!]
Its exterior was similar to the Synthesis Station.
Located in a building near the Tower of Trials, the Enhancement Station was also managed by the Player Headquarters.
Baek Jin-woo entered a room after waiting in line and placed the Light Speed Rune into the main slot.
‘I have enough materials.’
Throughout the weekly dungeon grind, Baek Jin-woo had been saving useless low-tier runes.
Poorly statted runes didn’t sell well, but they made excellent enhancement materials.
‘You need enhancement fodder anyway.’
He emptied his collection of junk runes into the material slots.
The goal: to reach level 10.
Fortunately, he had more than enough.
[Do you want to enhance?]
[Y/N]
“Alright.”
A brilliant light erupted from the main slot as the enhancement process began.
[Level 2!]
[Intelligence +12% → Intelligence +24%]
[Level 3!]
[Agility +12% → Agility +24%]
[Level 4!]
[Intelligence +24% → Intelligence +36%]
[Level 5!]
[Agility +24% → Agility +36%]
For reference, base stats like Strength, Intelligence, Vitality, and Agility had a potential range of +4% to +12% per enhancement level.
With regular runes, the stat increase was random within this range.
However, rare runes always achieved the maximum possible increase.
Moreover, raw Intelligence and Agility boosts were not affected.
‘Perfect, just perfect!’
Every enhancement level brought satisfaction.
[Level 6!]
[Intelligence +36% → Intelligence +48%]
[Level 7!]
[Agility +36% → Agility +48%]
[Level 8!]
[Intelligence +48% → Intelligence +60%]
[Level 9!]
[Agility +48% → Agility +60%]
[Level Max!]
[Intelligence +60% → Intelligence +72%]
[Enhancement has reached the maximum level!]
“Wow.”
Baek Jin-woo marveled at the result.
A fully enhanced rune, maxed out with perfection.
He checked the rune’s updated details.
[Rune]
[Grade: Top-tier (Rare)]
– Limited to 100 worldwide.
[Set Effect: Light Speed]
– 6 pieces equipped: Attack Speed +300%.
– For wand-wielding summons, an additional +200% Attack Speed.
[Level: Max]
[Stat Bonuses]
Intelligence +72%, Intelligence +30, Agility +60%, Agility +30
“This is insane…”
A rune like this was unrivaled.
Equipping six of these on Lamba would result in unimaginable performance.
Just the thought was thrilling.
But it wasn’t over yet.
‘Time to apply the polish.’
Normally, enhancing the “Intelligence +72%” stat further would require a Top-tier Intelligence Polish.
This meant grinding the top-tier Tuesday Dungeon for a polish and applying it repeatedly until it reached its maximum potential.
But with Universal Polish, it was simple.
One application instantly maximized the stat.
Baek Jin-woo placed four Universal Polish items into the material slot.
[Do you want to polish?]
[Y/N]
He confirmed, and the polish was applied to all options.
[Rune]
[Grade: Top-tier (Rare)]
– Limited to 100 worldwide.
[Set Effect: Light Speed]
– 6 pieces equipped: Attack Speed +300%.
– For wand-wielding summons, an additional +200% Attack Speed.
[Level: Max]
[Stat Bonuses]
Intelligence +84%, Intelligence +60, Agility +72%, Agility +60
The ultimate rune, enhanced and polished to its absolute peak, was complete.
For Lamba, nothing better could be crafted or found.
Baek Jin-woo repeated the process for the other two Light Speed Runes.
By the time he was done, he had created three “graduation runes.”
Feeling accomplished, he left the Enhancement Station with a smile.
***
At the training field, as soon as he arrived.
“Lamba.”
– “Jin-wooooo! You’re back? Did you bring me any cream buns?”
Exhausted from Hun-gyo’s relentless drills, Lamba ran toward him with pleading eyes.
“Of course, I brought some. But first, try equipping these.”
Baek Jin-woo swapped out three of Lamba’s Swift Runes for three Light Speed Runes.
– “W-whoa! What’s happening?”
Lamba’s eyes widened.
– “I feel so light!”
She spun and darted around the air, her movements noticeably faster.
Agility not only increased attack speed but also movement speed.
“Swing your staff.”
– “Okay!”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
– “Kyaa! This is insane! I’m so fast!”
Her speed was no joke.
Even with just three Light Speed Runes, which didn’t activate the set effect, the improvement was remarkable.
Once all six were equipped?
She’d generate a massive amount of initial stacks, sending Hun-gyo into overdrive.
Lamba’s Gale Impact!
For now, it would benefit Hun-gyo, but ultimately, it was intended for another summon.
In the past, there was an A-grade summon named Aso.
Until Aso joined the team, Hun-gyo would handle the stacking.
Once Aso was summoned?
Hun-gyo would focus solely on his role as the Training Instructor.
That’s how absurdly overpowered Aso was.
Of course, this didn’t mean Hun-gyo was weak.
While he played the role of a trainer in Baek Jin-woo’s party, he was strong enough to dominate battles on his own.
– “Jin-woo! This feels just like the old days!”
For reference, during 「Battle of Summoners,」 Lamba never had a fully optimized rune setup.
The partnership was too short-lived, and the game was in its early stages.
“We’re not done yet. Once we get the rest, you’ll be even faster.”
– “Faster than this?! Can I even handle that?”
“Handle it?”
Baek Jin-woo glanced at Hun-gyo.
Sure enough, he was wearing his trademark smirk.
Noticing this, Lamba laughed nervously, sweating.
– “Ha-ha-ha! Of course, I can handle it. What was I thinking? Silly me.”
With a pat on Lamba’s head, Baek Jin-woo chuckled.
“Hang in there. Once things settle, it’ll get easier.”
***
Late at night.
At a logistics center.
Baek Jin-cheol, Baek Jin-woo’s father, was sitting and joking with a friend his age.
Tonight, he was here for another round of parcel handling.
Though in truth, Baek Jin-cheol wasn’t doing any physical labor.
‘Why would I, when the Golem does everything?’
Yoo Ji-ah had gifted him a B-grade Diamond Golem, and its performance was outstanding.
Faster, stronger, and more precise than standard golems, it single-handedly handled the work of 50 people.
Thanks to this, the logistics company had agreed to increase Baek Jin-cheol’s pay.
“I’ve always wondered something,” his friend Park Jung-hoon said.
“What is it?”
“Why does a guy with a shiny summon like that do parcel handling?”
“And what else would I do?”
“You could sell it or use it as a Player. Especially that Diamond Golem—it’s worth a fortune in construction!”
“…Honestly, I don’t know.”
“What?”
Park Jung-hoon was incredulous.
A Player unaware of their summon’s value?
“It was a gift. How could I sell something given with such goodwill? I’m happy using it instead of my old Pebble Golem.”
Baek Jin-cheol admired Yoo Ji-ah.
Despite being from a wealthy family, she was polite, humble, and respectful.
Selling her gift would be unthinkable.
‘That wouldn’t sit right with me.’
So, he never even checked its value.
“You idiot. That thing’s worth 10 billion!”
“What?!”
Baek Jin-cheol’s eyes widened.
Did he just say 10 billion?
He quickly pulled out his phone to search.
– Diamond Golem.
– A construction-grade summon highly sought after by all construction companies.
– No listings available due to high demand.
– Estimated value: 10 billion KRW.
‘She gave me something this valuable?’
Even for a rich family, that was a significant gift.
“Hey, one more thing.”
“What?”
“Who gave this to you? A chaebol or something?”
Startled, Baek Jin-cheol hesitated.
Park Jung-hoon had hit the mark.
“Why would a guy with connections to chaebols be doing this job?”
“Enough already.”
Baek Jin-cheol shook his head.
“I think tonight’s my last day.”
“You’re finally selling it?”
“Yeah.”
“Smart move.”
As the two friends laughed, Baek Jin-cheol silently resolved to start fresh.
He had a dream—running a small chicken restaurant in his neighborhood with his family.
With 10 billion?
That dream was within reach.
“Hey, weren’t you big into frying chicken back in the day?”
“Who, me? I practically got a doctorate in chicken!”
“Don’t start with that nonsense.”
“Heh, did it make you laugh at least?”
“Yeah, a bit.”
The two chuckled, their friendship cemented by shared dreams and laughter.
‘Let’s make it happen.’
Baek Jin-cheol thought about his family and quietly thanked Yoo Ji-ah for her kindness.
‘Daeseong Electronics for life!’