Chapter 434

Siegfried checked the quest details.

[Special Training From Hell]

[Do the following things to defeat the Descendant of Thunder God Vajra, Taranis.]

[Enhance Gear: Weapon +12 / Armor +10]

[Go see Deus and receive his teachings.]

[Progress: 0% (0/2)]

[Reward: Increased chance to kill Taranis.]

[Note: This quest will require a bit of luck!]

The quest details were exactly what Siegfried needed to defeat the Descendant of Thunder God Vajra, Duke Taranis.

The first thing he needed was to become overgeared himself, and the second was to become even stronger. These two were his only options unless he had some other way to level up ten times in a short period of time. Of course, he could become overgeared if he spent his entire fortune to enhance his weapon and armor, but that was too big of a risk for him.

Why?

Because enhancement was a risky endeavor where even the richest man on the continent could end up on the streets if luck weren't on his side.

The quest Special Training From Hell struck the perfect balance. It asked him to enhance his weapon and armor just enough. Then, it told him to go and seek the Level 999 Hidden NPC, Deus, for training.

It would be possible for him to defeat Duke Taranis if he accomplished both of these tasks. Of course, he still required luck as he still had to enhance his gear regardless.

A weekno, two weeks.

Huh?

Taycan tilted his head in confusion and asked, A week? Two weeks? What are you talking about?

Lets not try to win the war, Siegfried replied.

And what do you mean by that? We have to win the war! Taycan retorted in sheer disbelief.

Siegfried shrugged and asked, Hey, have you ever played chess?

Yes, I have.

Whats the win condition of chess?

What? Everyone knows its to checkmate the

Ah?!

Only then did Taycan understand what Siegfried was trying to say. The result of this war, the Kyiv Civil War, depended on whether or not they could kill Duke Taranis or not as the only ones with legitimacy to ascend the throne were King Allen and Duke Taranis.

Of course, the only difference would be that the king would never die in chess as the game would end the moment it was checkmated, unlike Chinese checkers.

Are you saying that you will focus on killing Taranis? And you need a week or two to do that?

Yeah, Siegfried replied with a nod and explained, Thats our best bet right now. We have the shorter end of the stick in this war, and its only gotten even more disadvantageous after losing the fortress.

Ughh

Once the new commander and vice commander of the southern front finish assessing their current situation, the invasion of Horn Territory will start. It will only be a matter of time for the territory to fall once they invade.

So our only hope is to assassinate him?

Theres another catch.

What is it?

We need help from outside.

!

We could reshape this entire war if we enter into an alliance with a third party and receive reinforcements from them.

But the crowns authority is going to take a massive hit from that

I know, Siegfried replied with a nod once again. Then, he continued, Whats the point of winning a civil war by borrowing a foreign nations strength? Its obvious they are going to start meddling in your affairs every chance they get later on, and the Kyiv Kingdom is going to end up as a tributary rather than an ally state. That burden, in turn, will have to be borne by the people.

We cant let that happen.

In the end, we only have one choice, and thats to assassinate Taranis. Besides, the reason we prepared a trap at the fortress was to kill Taranis and put an end to this war, right? Just think about it this way, Taranis came to us last time, but were the ones going to him this time.

I see

Anyway, you focus on the war for now, Siegfried said as he opened the World Map and located the nearest warpgate. Then, he added before walking away, Meanwhile, Ill try to come up with something. Lets go, Hamchi.

Kyu!

Siegfrieds quest to embark on the Special Training From Hell to defeat Taranis finally started.

***

He headed straight to the nearest Autonika Workshop.

The enhancement machines used by each workshop were different, just like how each workshop had its own specialties. The enhancement machine used by the Bavarian Workshop was a steam-powered machine smudged with grease and tar, while the enhancement machine used by the Autonika Workshop looked like something crafted by a state-of-the-art machine with immaculate cutting precision.

In fact, the Bavarian Workshop enhancement machines let out a crude sound that went C

hik! Chik! Poof! Poof!

while the Autonika Workshop enhancement machines let out a

whiiiing

sound that resembled the low hum of a motor.

And that was not the only difference, as the design of the Autonika Workshop enhancement machines was incomparable to the enhancement machine of the Bavarian Workshop. It was a shiny machine made out of white metal, and it would emit a blue hue of mana whenever it was at work, making it look very futuristic.

These Autonika guys are really good when it comes to designing stuff,

Siegfried thought while looking around.

The Autonika Workshop prided itself not only on its design, as its slogan was Progress Through Technology, and they were just as serious about its products technology as with its design.

Of course, they were still a step behind the Mercedes Workshop, which was perfect in all aspects.

Anyway, Siegfried finished being in awe of the futuristic enhancement machines and proceeded to prepare his Quad-Turbo Set for enhancement. His defensive gear had to be at least +10 if he was to have any chance against Duke Taranis +16 weapon.

Then, a worrying thought popped up in Siegfrieds mind,

Dont tell me Is this guy shit-stained, too?

He could not help but feel nervous as he placed the Quad-Turbo Sets main piece, the Quad-Turbo Mail, into the enhancement machine.

Whiiiing!

The enhancement machine emitted the low hum of an electric motor.

Whiiiing Clack!

Sseuuuuu!

The enhancement machines cover opened, and a steaming Quad-Turbo Mail emerged from it.

[Alert: The enhancement requested by Siegfried van Proa-nim has succeeded!]

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +0 Quad-Turbo Mail to +1 Quad-Turbo Mail!]

His first attempt was a success.

Lets keep this momentum going,

he thought as he attempted another enhancement.

[Alert: The enhancement requested by Siegfried van Proa-nim has succeeded!]

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +1 Quad-Turbo Mail to +2 Quad-Turbo Mail!]

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +2 Quad-Turbo Mail to +3 Quad-Turbo Mail!]

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +3 Quad-Turbo Mail to +4 Quad-Turbo Mail!]

[Alert: omitted]

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +9 Quad-Turbo Mail to +10 Quad-Turbo Mail!]

Fortunately, he was able to enhance the Quad-Turbo Mail to +10 in one go without slipping down.

Owner punk! You managed to go +10 without failing!

Kyuuu!

Dont get too excited.

Kyu?

We dont know when this thing will stab us in the back.

He was right. The act of enhancing ones gear was like riding a rollercoaster blind with random twists and turns, and it was this unpredictability that turned numerous unsuspecting people into its victims.

The best thing one could do when enhancing was to empty their hearts and minds as they enhanced their gear.

Dont waver

Siegfried maintained his calm and enhanced the Quad-Turbo Set pieces one by one.

Around three hours later.

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +9 Quad-Turbo Gloves to +10 Quad-Turbo Gloves!]

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +9 Quad-Turbo Shoulder to +10 Quad-Turbo Shoulder!]

He did slip down a few times, but he was able to enhance every single piece of his Quad-Turbo Set to +10.

Phew!

Im so tired Siegfried moaned after letting out a sigh of relief.

Kyu?

Im so stressed out, Siegfried grumbled.

Enhancing his gear was one of the most stressful things he could ever do

Good job, owner punk!

Kyuuu!

Its a relief that nothing bad happened!

Were just getting started.

Kyu?

Lets go to the Bavarian Workshop, Siegfried said as he left the Autonika Workshop and went to the nearby Bavarian Workshop.

***

He went to the Bavarian Workshop after successfully enhancing his Quad-Turbo Set, and the reason he came here was to enhance the other defensive artifacts crafted by the Bavarian Workshop, which were the Monster Strength Greaves, Bloody Iron Boots, and Head Breaker Helmet.

Of course, he used the Metamorphosis Mask to spare himself the embarrassment while entering the workshop, and he went straight to the enhancement machines without speaking to any of their staff members.

Unfortunately, enhancing the defensive artifacts crafted by the Bavarian Workshop was not as easy.

[Alert: The enhancement requested by Siegfried van Proa-nim has failed!]

[Alert: The item +7 Blood Iron Boots has failed its enhancement!]

[Alert: The enhancement of the item +7 Blood Iron Boots has been reset!]

[Alert: The enhancement requested by Siegfried van Proa-nim has failed!]

[Alert: The item +2 Monster Strength Greaves has failed its enhancement!]

[Alert: The enhancement of the item +2 Monster Strength Greaves has been reset!]

[Alert: The enhancement requested by Siegfried van Proa-nim has failed!]

[Alert: The item +9 Head Breaker Helmet has failed its enhancement!]

[Alert: The enhancement of the item +9 Head Breaker Helmet has been reset!]

Siegfried slipped up quite a few times, enhancing at the Bavarian Workshop compared to the times he slipped up at the Autonika Workshop.

Clink! Clink! Clink!

He could visibly see his gold reducing every time he slipped up.

However, he was fine with it. The amount he spent in enhancing his defensive artifacts was nothing compared to the amount he poured inmore like down the drainto enhance Horse Fly.

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +9 Monster Strength Greaves to +10 Quad-Turbo Gloves!]

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +9 Quad-Turbo Shoulder to +10 Blood Iron Boots!]

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +9 Quad-Turbo Gloves to +10 Head Breaker Helmet!]

He successfully enhanced the three defensive artifacts to +10 as well.

I should enhance this too, he thought as he took out his Blood Butterflys Wings.

[Alert: Siegfried van Proa-nim has successfully enhanced the +9 Blood Butterfly Wings to +10 Blood Butterfly Wings!]

He had no idea if he was lucky today or what, but he successfully enhanced his Blood Butterfly Wings to +10 as well.

He deliberated whether to enhance the Great Champions Belt too or not, but he decided against it, as this bespoke artifact was not something crafted by one of the top three workshops. There was a risk of the artifact getting destroyed upon enhancement failure, and none of them would be able to repair it once it was destroyed or damaged.

Thus, he had no choice but to delay enhancing the Great Champions Belt for another time.

[Alert: You have made 33.3% progress for the Quest Special Training From Hell!]

A message popped up in front of his eyes notifying him of his quest progress, but the real thing was from here onward.

Grip!

He tightly clenched his +10 Horse Fly, which was the biggest hurdle in this quest.

It was theoretically possible for him to clear this hurdle in one go as long as he managed to successfully enhance it to +11 since he could use the enhancement coupon and guarantee its enhancement to +12.

Of course, he could even attempt to make it +13 if he tried his luck once again and successfully managed to enhance it to +12.

Regardless of the possibilities, his first goal was to get it to +11 first.

Siegfried took out the Gear Protection Coupon and decided to attempt the enhancement.

Please Please Please I know youre not shit-stained he muttered desperately under his breath over and over again as he placed his +10 Horse Fly and entered the serial number on the Gear Protection Coupon into the enhancement machine.

[Alert: A Gear Protection Coupon has been identified!]

[Alert: The artifact will not be destroyed despite a failed enhancement!]

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The message popped up in front of him.

I pray that Quandt has wiped the shit off of you Siegfried prayed earnestly before pulling the lever.

Wooong!

The enhancement machine vibrated vigorously and started the enhancement process.

Chik! Chik! Poof!

Chik! Chik! Fwoooooosh!

The enhancement machine cried out

Chik! Chik! Poof!

Chik! Chik! Fwoooooosh!

The enhancement machine released a cloud of steam, and the result of the enhancement popped up in front of Siegfrieds eyes.