The realization sent a chill down his spine.
Was this some kind of hidden privilege?
A mistake? Or a cheat that shouldn't exist?
Michael fell into brief contemplation, his expression unreadable. There was no excitement on his face—only calculation.
Thinking back carefully, even in his previous life, he had always been a little different. Machines that shouldn't have run worked smoothly in his hands, as if responding to his intent rather than logic. Systems others struggled to understand felt instinctive to him, their patterns clear at a glance.
At the time, he had dismissed it as coincidence.
Now, standing inside a world that operated on rules far removed from reality, coincidence felt like the weakest explanation.
He shook his head.
Now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Speculation without information was meaningless.
He turned toward the crafting table. On its surface lay three familiar items.
A bottle of water.
A bun.
And a small dagger.
In short, beginner supplies—bare minimum rations meant to keep a person alive, not safe.
[Low-Quality Dagger – Level 1]
Michael stared at the dagger for several seconds, his gaze steady and analytical. He didn't rush. He didn't hesitate.
Then he spoke softly, almost casually.
"Enhance."
The air trembled.
An invisible force wrapped around the dagger, like countless unseen threads tightening at once, weaving through its structure. At the same time, a subtle exhaustion washed over him—not pain, but the unmistakable sensation of something being taken.
[Mental Energy: 100 → 90]
The blade vibrated violently, buzzing as if resisting the change, before abruptly settling down. Then, description interface of the dagger updated.
[Enhancement Success!]
[Low-Quality Dagger → Sharp Enchanted Dagger – Level 2]
"Success."
Cold light flashed along the blade as Michael grasped it. The dagger felt completely different—balanced, sharp, and dangerous. Its weight was perfect, its edge refined to a lethal precision.
"So it really works… and the cost isn't high."
"Which means this ability has room to grow."
He swung the dagger lightly.
Clang—!
The blade sliced cleanly through the air, producing a sharp, piercing sound that lingered longer than it should have. The difference was undeniable. This weapon was leagues above its previous form.
It was hard to imagine how crude and fragile the original dagger must have been by comparison.
Michael's excitement lasted only a moment.
Then another thought surfaced.
"…Wait."
If a simple object could be enhanced—
His gaze slowly shifted forward.
To the very front of the Ark.
"…Then the Ark itself should also be capable of being enhanced."
The talent description had been clear.
No restrictions.
No exceptions.
Structures, systems, objects—everything counted.
Michael took a deep breath, steadying himself. Curiosity and anticipation surged together, tempered by caution, as he stepped toward the control panel. A strange instinct guided his movements, as though something deep within him already understood the outcome.
He placed his hand on the oval-shaped device.
"Enhance."
An invisible force surged forth once more.
But this time, Michael immediately felt the difference.
His Physical Energy was being drained at several times the speed compared to when he had enhanced the dagger earlier. The sensation was abrupt and overwhelming, like forcing a mountain through a narrow passage.
"Activate."
[Physical Energy: 90 → 30]
Michael's legs gave out, and he slumped heavily to the ground. His breathing turned ragged as sweat beaded across his forehead, muscles trembling under the strain.
Yet his eyes never left the Ark.
Before him, the massive structure began to change.
Metal groaned softly, deep and resonant. Energy veins lit up beneath the Ark's surface, pulsing in synchronized patterns. Subtle vibrations rippled through the compartment as internal systems reconfigured themselves, layers of reinforcement locking into place.
[Ark Upgrade Complete!]
[Current Level: 2]
Michael's heart skipped a beat.
Despite the exhaustion weighing down his body, an uncontrollable sense of exhilaration surged within him.
It worked.
The system continued.
[Next Upgrade Requirements:]
• 200 kg of wood
• 200 mechanical components
• 400 kg of metal
Michael inhaled sharply.
"That's… a ridiculous jump."
The interface flickered again, and a small note appeared beneath the requirements.
[Additional consumption possible: Mental Energy]
Michael's excitement cooled slightly. The explanation regarding Mental Energy made him temporarily shelve the idea of forcing another upgrade anytime soon.
Draining that resource recklessly was practically flirting with death—and death was inefficient.
As his thoughts settled, two new sections unfolded on the screen.
[Ark Upgrade Perks]
[Ding! You obtained Special Module Card.]
"These are the real benefits."
The system listed the available upgrade perks for a Level 2 Ark.
[Ark Upgrade Perks – Level 2]
1. Basic Compartment Blueprint (0 Ark Coins)
2. Basic Water Reservoir Blueprint (1 Ark Coin)
3. Ark Burst Acceleration Device Blueprint (5 Ark Coins)
4. Ark Platform Stop Time +1 Hour (2 Ark Coins)
[Perks can be obtained by spending Ark Coins.]
"Ark Coins… so that's the currency of this world?"
Michael frowned slightly.
"I don't have a single one right now. Does that mean I can only choose the first perk?"
If that were the case, then upgrading ahead of schedule might actually put him at a disadvantage instead of giving him an edge.
His brows knit together.
"Can these options be saved… and chosen later once I have enough Ark Coins?"
The system responded almost immediately.
[System: Upgrade perks may be temporarily stored. A maximum of three pending upgrade perks selections can be retained.]
Michael let out a quiet breath of relief.
"That's good."
Without hesitation, he reached out and extracted the only blueprint that didn't require Ark Coins.
"For now… this will do."
Michael frowned slightly.
"Or did upgrading too early cost me something? Alright, let's take a look at the first upgrade perk."
He clicked on the first option.
[Perk 1: Basic Compartment Blueprint]
[Requirements:]
• 100 kg of wood
• 150 kg of metal
• 60 mechanical components
[Optional Enhancements:]
• 20 kg of glass
• 10 kg of fiber (structural modification)
The list of materials made his scalp tingle.
"These materials aren't easy to gather at all."
At least, not at this stage.
Even completing the Ark's basic upgrade requirements was already difficult enough. If he rushed into refining blueprints now, he would only spread his resources too thin.
"For now… this can wait."
Michael shifted his attention to the second reward of his Ark upgrade—the one he had been truly curious about.
[Special Module Card]
[Effect: Upon activation, grants one Special Ark Module]
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"A special module…"
"How special is it exactly?"
A thought surfaced almost immediately.
"…This should be enhanceable too, shouldn't it?"
Once the idea formed, it refused to leave his mind.
Although upgrading the Ark had consumed a massive amount of Physical Energy, he still had Mental Energy in reserve.
Moreover, after eating the bun and drinking the water earlier, his physical condition had recovered far faster than expected.
[Physical Energy: 30 → 50]
Michael exhaled slowly.
"…I can try."
He raised his head and fixed his gaze on the floating module card.
"Enhance."
An invisible force appeared once again.
The card in Michael's palm burst apart, releasing countless blue particles that scattered like shooting stars in every direction. The light was dazzling—fleeting, impossibly dense, and violently beautiful.
If anyone could have observed the scene from above at that moment, they would have seen the Ark surge forward like a comet cutting through the sky—its massive frame wrapped in a brilliant blue trail of energy, leaving behind a long, luminous afterimage.
"…Huh?"
Michael stared at the space where the card had been, his brows knitting slightly.
The intense radiance gradually contracted, the blue particles collapsing inward until they vanished completely. At the same time, the invisible force dissipated, as if it had never existed. A strange, hollow fatigue washed over his body.
[Physical Energy: 50 → 20]
[Mental Energy: 90 → 50] [Status: Mental fatigue]
(A/N: Mental Energy may also recover after resting, using special props or sleeping)
Michael exhaled slowly, forcing his breathing back under control. Then, the system responded.
[Ding, Enhancement Successful!]