At the enhancement station.

When the Synthesis Station was consuming summons, the Enhancement Station was consuming runes.

[Welcome to the Refining Station!]
[Enhance or polish your runes here!]

Its appearance was similar to that of the Synthesis Station.

Located in a building near the Tower of Trials, the Enhancement Station was also managed by the Players' Headquarters.

Baek Jin-woo entered a room after waiting in line and placed the Light Speed Rune in the main slot.

I have enough materials.

Throughout the weekly dungeon grind, Baek Jin-woo had saved useless low-level runes.

Low level runes didn't sell well, but they made excellent enhancement materials.

You need improvement fodder anyway.

He emptied his collection of junk runes into the material slots.

The goal: to reach level 10.

Luckily, he had more than enough.

[Do you want to level up?]
[Y/N]

"Alright."

A brilliant light erupted from the main slot as the enhancement process began.

[Level 2!]

[Intellect +12% → Intellect +24%]

[Level 3!]

[Agility +12% → Agility +24%]

[Level 4!]

[Intellect +24% → Intellect +36%].

[Level 5!]

[Agility +24% → Agility +36%].

For reference, base stats such as Strength, Intelligence, Vitality and Agility had a potential range of +4% to +12% per level of enhancement.

Normal runes would randomly increase stats within this range.

Rare runes, however, always provided the maximum possible increase.

Additionally, raw Intelligence and Agility increases were unaffected.

Perfect, just perfect!

Each level of increase brought satisfaction.

[Level 6!]

[Intelligence +36% → Intelligence +48%]

[Level 7!]

[Agility +36% → Agility +48%]
[Level 8!]

[Intellect +48% → Intellect +60%].

[Level 9!]

[Agility +48% → Agility +60%] [Level Max!

[Level Max!]

[Intellect +60% → Intellect +72%] [Level Max!

[Buff has reached maximum level!]

"Wow."

Baek Jin-woo marvelled at the result.

A fully enhanced rune, maxed out with perfection.

He checked the updated details of the rune.

[Rune]

[Grade: High (Rare)]
- Limited to 100 pieces worldwide.

[Set effect: Lightning Speed]
- Equipped 6 pieces: Attack speed increased by +300%.
- Wielding summons also increase attack speed by 200%.

[Level: Max].

[Statistic Bonuses].
Intellect +72%, Intellect +30, Agility +60%, Agility +30

"This is insane..."

A rune like this was unparalleled.

Equipping six of them on Lamba would result in unimaginable power.

The very thought was exciting.

But it wasn't over yet.

Time to put the finishing touches on it.

Normally, a further increase in the 'Intelligence +72%' stat 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 easy.

One application instantly maximised the stat.

Baek Jin-woo placed four Universal Polish items in 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 pieces worldwide.

[Set Effect: Lightning Speed]
- Equipped 6 times: Attack speed increased by +300%.
- Wielding summons also increase attack speed by 200%.

[Level: Max].

[Statistic Bonuses].
Intellect +84%, Intellect +60, Agility +72%, Agility +60

The ultimate rune, improved and polished to its absolute peak, was complete.

For Lamba, nothing better could be made or found.

Baek Jin-woo repeated the process for the other two lightning runes.

When he was finished, he had created three "graduation runes".

He left the enhancement station with a smile on his face.

***

On the training ground, as soon as he arrived.

"Lamba."

- "Jin-wooooo! You're back? Did you bring me some cream buns?"

Exhausted from Hun-gyo's relentless drills, Lamba ran towards him with pleading eyes.

"Of course I brought some. But first try equipping these."

Baek Jin-woo exchanged 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 soared through the air, her movements noticeably faster.

The agility not only increased her attack speed, but her movement speed as well.

"Swing your staff."

- "Okay!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

- "Kyaa! This is crazy! 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 meant for another summon.

In the past, there was a class A summon called Aso.

Until Aso joined the team, Hun-gyo would do the stacking.

Once Aso was summoned?

Hun-gyo would focus solely on his role as a training instructor.

That's how absurdly overpowered Aso was.

Of course, that didn't mean that Hun-gyo was weak.

While he played the role of trainer in Baek Jin-woo's group, he was strong enough to dominate fights on his own.

- Jin-woo! This feels like the old days!"

For reference, during Battle of the Summoners. Lamba never had a fully optimised rune setup.

The partnership was too short-lived, and the game was still in its infancy.

"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 looked at Hun-gyo.

Sure enough, he was wearing his trademark grin.

Lamba noticed and laughed nervously, sweating.

- "Ha-ha-ha! Of course I can do it. What was I thinking? Silly me."

With a pat on Lamba's head, Baek Jin-woo chuckled.

"Hang in there. Once things settle down, it'll get easier."

***

Late at night.

In a logistics centre.

Baek Jin-cheol, Baek Jin-woo's father, was sitting and joking with a friend of his own age.

Tonight he was here for another round of parcel handling.

Though in truth, Baek Jin-cheol wasn't doing any physical labour.

Why should I, when the Golem does everything?

Yoo Ji-ah had given him a B-grade Diamond Golem, and its performance was outstanding.

Faster, stronger and more accurate than standard Golems, it could single-handedly do the work of 50 people.

As a result, the logistics company had agreed to raise Baek Jin-cheol's salary.

"I've always wondered something," said his friend Park Jung-hoon.

"What is it?"

"Why is a guy with such a shiny summons handling parcels?"

"And what else could I do?"

"You could sell it or use it as a player. Especially that Diamond Golem - it is worth a fortune in construction!"

"Honestly, I don't know."

"What?"

Park Jung-hoon was incredulous.

A player not knowing the value of his summon?

"It was a gift. How could I sell something given to me with such goodwill? I'm happy to use it instead of my old Pebble Golem."

Baek Jin-cheol admired Yoo Ji-ah.

Although she came from a wealthy family, she was polite, modest and respectful.

Selling her gift would be unthinkable.

I wouldn't like that.

So he never even checked its value.

"You idiot. This thing is worth 10 billion!"

"What?!"

Baek Jin-cheol's eyes widened.

Did he just say 10 billion?

He quickly pulled out his phone to look it up.

- 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 that valuable?

Even for a rich family, this was a significant gift.

"Hey, one more thing."

"What?"

"Who gave you this? A chaebol or something?"

Startled, Baek Jin-cheol hesitated.

Park Jung-hoon had hit the nail on the head.

"Why would a guy with connections to chaebols do this job?"

"Enough already."

Baek Jin-cheol shook his head.

"I think today is my last day."

"You're finally selling it?"

"Yes."

"Smart move."

As the two friends laughed, Baek Jin-cheol silently decided to make a fresh start.

He had a dream - to run a small chicken restaurant in his neighbourhood with his family.

With 10 billion?

This dream was within reach.

"Hey, didn't you used to love to fry chicken?"

"Who, me? I practically have a PhD in chicken!"

"Don't start with that nonsense."

"Hey, 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 of his family and quietly thanked Yoo Ji-ah for her kindness.

Daeseong Electronics for life!