Episode 45.
5%.
Anyone could see it was low—no, one could only think it was a probability destined to fail.
It might sound nice to call it 5%, but it was an atrocious probability where even a thousand attempts could all fail.
That was why I hadn’t attempted it, despite body strengthening being the ultimate way to increase combat power.
If weapons or armor were destroyed, the loss would already be immense, but the penalty of one’s body being destroyed was on a level where recovery was impossible.
Yet despite knowing the penalty, I was now attempting body strengthening.
Why?
The first reason was because I had obtained Turning Misfortune into Fortune.
It caused a magical effect that flipped success and failure probabilities by ordinary probability—meaning it raised body strengthening’s success rate to 95%.
Of course, it wasn’t 100%.
As could be seen in the description, it was ordinary probability—that is, a 30–50% chance.
Taking all these probabilities into account comprehensively, success and failure could be seen as roughly fifty-fifty.
50%.
It was certainly a value ten times higher than 5%, but with this alone, attempting the enhancement was an unavoidable gamble.
Because if the strengthening failed, I would have to live with a permanently destroyed body.
Was there any need to attempt such a reckless enhancement just because of immediate urgency?
‘Of course not.’
It was true I was rushed because of the Black Moon, but that wasn’t a threat warranting such a reckless gamble.
Turning Misfortune into Fortune was merely the first reason I was attempting body strengthening.
In truth, the decisive reason I was attempting body strengthening was the red liquid sloshing inside the Holy Grail—the Sublime Blood.
『Sublime Blood
Classification: Consumable (Potion)
Durability: None
Unique Effect: Restores a destroyed body.
Description: Blood shed by a divine being. Though it is not True Blood, the traces of True Blood imbued in the Holy Grail allow it to demonstrate a similar effect.』
As expected of an exclusive artifact.
Every three days, Sublime Blood was generated that eliminated the penalty from failed body strengthening.
Even if body strengthening failed, as long as I had this Sublime Blood, I could eliminate the permanent penalty.
‘No.’
This wasn’t the end.
Flash!
I enhanced the Sublime Blood contained in the Holy Grail.
Since it required no special materials, maxing it out at one-star proceeded without any issue.
『+99(★) Sublime Blood
Classification: Consumable (Potion)
Durability: None
Unique Effect: Restores a destroyed body.
Enhancement Effect (9/99): Life Regeneration moderately increased for 6 hours.
Enhancement Effect (15/99): Stamina moderately increased for 3 hours.
Enhancement Effect (20/99): Removes Poison effect by ordinary probability.
……
Enhancement Effect (99/99): Stamina becomes infinite for 3 minutes.
Max Enhancement Effect (Max): Permanently increases Stamina by a minute amount.
Transcendence Effect (★): By a slight probability, a mysterious power dwells in a restored body.
Description: Blood shed by a divine being. Though it is not True Blood, the traces of True Blood imbued in the Holy Grail allow it to produce a similar effect.』
If I had to define enhanced Sublime Blood in one word, it was a ‘panacea.’
All sorts of effects were slapped onto it—healing, regeneration, stamina increase, and more.
‘It’s a bit ambiguous, though.’
Others might say I was being greedy, but those weren’t the effects I wanted.
‘Should I try for two-star?’
Since transcendence enhancements came with all sorts of powerful effects, I needed to see two-star to judge.
The problem was materials.
For synthesis, I needed materials that were similarly transcendence-enhanced.
But Sublime Blood was generated only every three days, so I couldn’t obtain it immediately.
So I couldn’t synthesize?
No.
There was a way.
If I used materials of the same one-star grade, synthesis was possible.
However, using identical materials yielded a 40% success rate, but if I used unrelated one-star materials instead.
‘The probability is 10%.’
It was a slim chance, but that was fine.
Because I had Turning Misfortune into Fortune right now.
If this reversal barrier activated, the success rate would become 90%, allowing me to succeed in the two-star enhancement.
I took out the herbal medicine stored in my backpack.
Flash!
Like the Sublime Blood, I enhanced it to one-star.
With this, I had prepared the materials for synthesis: the same type of potion, both transcendence-enhanced to one-star.
Therefore.
Flash!
I immediately attempted synthesis.
The two materials engulfed in light merged into a single form.
But.
Hiss!
Black smoke billowed forth, signaling the synthesis’s failure.
“Ah!”
It seemed Turning Misfortune into Fortune hadn’t manifested.
Well, unless this barrier manifested, breaking through a 10% probability was….
“Hm?”
But the situation suddenly changed.
The billowing black smoke was sucked back in as if rewinding.
Fwoosh!
It turned golden.
‘The barrier activated!’
It was a phenomenon I was experiencing for the first time, but that alone made me certain.
That Turning Misfortune into Fortune had manifested and flipped the probabilities of success and failure.
That this was precisely the phenomenon of reversal (逆轉).
『Transcendence Effect (★★): Upon consumption, enhancement prevention effect activates; reduces enhancement failure penalty by 1 count.』
It came!
The moment I saw the two-star transcendence effect, I couldn’t help but cheer.
Penalty prevention for enhancement—that was the effect I had been waiting for.
‘Right. I’m transcending an exclusive artifact; this much should come out!’
Even at transcendence one-star, I probably could have done partial strengthening.
But what I wanted wasn’t partial-body enhancement.
It would take a long time, and if I strengthened each part separately, it could cause abnormalities in my body’s balance; it wasn’t a good enhancement method in the long term.
Then what should I do?
Whole Body Strengthening—that enhancement which required accepting the tremendous penalty of death was the most efficient in terms of returns.
I could be sure because I had experience from before my regression of raising my combat power through Whole Body Strengthening.
‘When I strengthened my whole body, my combat power skyrocketed. Later, I suffered when my body’s balance was broken due to partial strengthening.’
I had no desire to repeat the same mistakes as before my regression.
Whole Body Strengthening with its fatal penalty—that was the only answer.
‘And penalty reduction is an essential effect for Whole Body Strengthening.’
Just in case, I had transcendence-enhanced it to two-star, and obtained the desired effect.
Therefore, there was no longer any need to hesitate.
Gulp.
I drank the Sublime Blood contained in the Holy Grail.
I thought it would be unpleasant because it was blood, but the moment it touched my tongue, a sweet taste like honey lingered at my lips.
The Sublime Blood slid smoothly down my throat.
“Nice.”
I felt somehow healthier.
I briefly savored the refreshing feeling of various abilities having risen.
I had even gotten the preventive shot that eliminated one penalty; now the time for the decisive battle had truly come.
『Whole Body Strengthening』
I attempted Whole Body Strengthening, which I had tried only once even before my regression.
“Kuugh!”
Heat surged through my entire body as if I had entered a ball of fire.
My blood vessels swelled, and my muscles ballooned uncontrollably.
Strengthening a living creature rather than an item inevitably entailed pain.
And that pain was so extreme that even I, who had traversed hell, couldn’t help but cry out.
But I endured.
I bit my lip until it bled and persevered.
That time of pain was not long.
Sssshh.
The swollen blood vessels and bulging muscles returned to their original state.
Hwaaak!
Brilliant golden light radiated from my body, filling the room.
“…Huh?”
It was an unexpected situation.
I hadn’t failed.
Nor had the success and failure probabilities reversed due to Turning Misfortune into Fortune.
“I… succeeded, right?”
I had succeeded.
Breaking through the slim 5% chance.
‘Just like back then.’
I had lost my captain and attempted Whole Body Strengthening emotionally.
Truthfully, my mindset at the time was simply that I couldn’t help it if I died like that.
I had thought that resolve made the enhancement succeed.
‘So it was just destined to happen.’
Resolve?
Determination?
Nonsense!
Those destined to succeed will succeed no matter what.
I felt those words fit the current situation perfectly.
Crack!
I clenched my fist.
I felt a strength that seemed capable of shattering even rocks.
It wasn’t merely a feeling.
I had obtained superhuman strength truly capable of crushing rocks.
Not only strength, but eyesight, hearing, endurance, speed—every aspect had been strengthened through Whole Body Strengthening.
Moreover.
‘I still have one more shot.’
Since the enhancement hadn’t failed, the Sublime Blood’s effect still remained.
What did that mean?
That one failure penalty was ignored.
Furthermore, having achieved trait evolution, I had one more chance at Whole Body Strengthening, so it was worth challenging.
Flash!
I attempted Whole Body Strengthening once more.
The terrible pain returned due to the strengthening energy imbued throughout my body, but.
“….”
I endured.
It was but a moment.
If I could endure that momentary pain, I would enter the realm of superhumans through the second Whole Body Strengthening.
Of course, that was assuming the enhancement succeeded.
Hissss—
Black smoke leaked out.
‘So it failed.’
It was a pity, but I was satisfied.
Now the Sublime Blood would take the penalty of failure in my stead, and its effect would disappear.
But what was this?
Sssshh.
The smoke seeped back into my body.
Fwoosh!
And just like moments ago, brilliant golden light erupted, illuminating the room.
“Ah!”
Without realizing it, I let out an exclamation at the refreshing energy enveloping my body.
It was Turning Misfortune into Fortune.
Now, even if my enhancement failed, it didn’t immediately result in failure; it passed through one more filtering stage called Turning Misfortune into Fortune.
The enhancement failure couldn’t overcome that filter and reversed into success.
“…Even the Sublime Blood’s effect remains?”
Two Whole Body Strengthenings, and not a single failure to boot.
But this wasn’t entirely something to be happy about.
‘Because if I don’t evolve my trait, I can’t perform a third-stage strengthening.’
Body strengthening could be performed according to the trait’s evolution stage.
Having evolved once, Whole Body Strengthening was only possible twice.
It was regrettable, but wanting more was greed.
‘Even now, I could be called a monster anywhere I went.’
I had accomplished what I couldn’t even do before my regression—two Whole Body Strengthenings.
So was I stronger now than before my regression?
Of course not.
Comparing then and now, when I had been clad in all sorts of artifacts and consumed elixirs, was absurd.
However, in terms of potential—the potential that was about to explode—I could confidently say now was far superior.
And the reason was unavoidable:
‘Second-stage Whole Body Strengthening at the second omen, an exclusive artifact, even…’
There was a strange belt sword capable of manifesting the unique traits of King Arthur and the Twelve Knights of the Round Table.
Preparations to face the end were steadily, steadily progressing.
While I was fairly satisfied with the harvest beyond my expectations.
Riiiiiiiiiing—
A ringing bell sound spread.
On the LCD screen was ‘Tiger’—Chairman Gang.
What business did this old man have, who usually didn’t contact me unless I contacted him first?
「I think you need to come here.」
As expected of Chairman Gang.
He got straight to the point, and his voice was quite serious.
“What is it?”
Since he wasn’t one to speak carelessly, I asked back.
「It has begun.」
“What do you mean by ‘begun’…?”
「Han Yeongung, Seong Yeil, and William have awakened their traits.」
In that moment, I realized.
That trait awakening, permitted only to a select few, was now expanding its domain.
And that meant.
‘The end is approaching.’
It also meant that the end had drawn near for humanity.