Queen

Despite the humble quality of his first sword, Frank felt a swell of pride as he beheld the completed piece. Though it may not have been anything extraordinary, the sword represented hours of dedication and effort poured into the craft of forging.

Setting the sword aside with a sense of satisfaction, Frank's determination remained unwavering. With a steely resolve, he reached for another iron ingot, his hands already familiar with the weight and feel of the metal. With each strike of the hammer, he channeled his energy into the creation of yet another blade, his movements fluid and purposeful.

As the second sword took shape beneath his skilled hands, Frank couldn't help but marvel at the subtle improvements in craftsmanship. Though still far from perfect, this sword boasted a slightly finer edge, a testament to the progress he had made in refining his technique.

Despite the knowledge that better quality swords could be obtained in the market, Frank found solace in the act of creation itself.

Exhausted from forging, he strolled through the serene landscape, Frank found himself immersed in the beauty of nature. The gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze and the soft chirping of birds provided a soothing backdrop to his thoughts.

Turning his attention to the open field where many of his fellow disciples were engaged in training, Frank felt a sense of camaraderie wash over him. Approaching them with a warm smile, he engaged in conversation, eager to hear their thoughts on the upcoming hunt and their combat skills.

Engaging in lively discussion, Frank listened intently as his fellow disciples shared their excitement for the next hunt. Their enthusiasm was palpable, each of them eager to test their mettle against the challenges that lay ahead.

As they exchanged stories and techniques, Frank couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship with his companions. Despite their diverse backgrounds and abilities, they were united by a shared passion for martial arts and a common goal of honing their skills.

With resolve in his heart, Frank departed for the sect market, his longing to forge overshadowed by the harsh reality of poverty. Retrieving the silver sword from his dimension ring, which he had crafted from the system, he knew that its value could be his ticket to a brighter future.

Arriving at the store, Frank presented the silver sword to the shopkeeper, who recognized its significance immediately. Silver, renowned for its rarity and versatility in array crafting, was a highly sought-after commodity among practitioners of the arcane arts.

Without hesitation, the shopkeeper offered Frank a substantial sum of gold coins in exchange for the silver sword. The allure of silver was undeniable, its potential for transformation limitless in the hands of skilled craftsmen.

For the next three days, Frank immersed himself entirely in the art of forging, his days filled with the rhythmic clanging of hammer against anvil and the hiss of metal meeting flame. Drawing upon the lessons gleaned from the teachers in the minor forging sect, he honed his skills with each passing hour, his proficiency growing steadily with each strike.

Fueled by a relentless determination to excel, Frank poured his heart and soul into crafting weapons of unparalleled quality. Guided by the wisdom of his mentors, he explored new techniques and experimented with different materials, pushing the boundaries of his craft with each creation.

Of all the weapons he forged, Frank found himself drawn to the art of crafting spears. This versatile weapon, with its long reach and piercing power, resonated deeply with him, serving as both a symbol of his prowess and a reflection of his fighting style.

With each spear he forged, Frank poured his passion and expertise into every detail, from the balance of the blade to the intricacy of the shaft. Each weapon became an extension of himself, a testament to his skill and dedication as a blacksmith.

As the days stretched on, Frank's mastery of the forge continued to grow, his confidence soaring with each successful creation. Though the path ahead was long and arduous, he knew that with perseverance and dedication, he would continue to forge his own destiny, one spear at a time.

He didn't forget to check the random crafting recipes, the items he had crafted within these days were.

[MANA POTION: RESTORES USERS MANA]

[ELEMENTAL PEARL: RESTORES QI AND HELPS BREAK THROUGH RANK]

[VIBRANIUM KNUCKLES: KNUCKLES ABLE TO ABSORB KINETIC AND POTENTIAL ENERGY]

These were the thing he could afford with his current wealth.

Frank held the vial of shimmering liquid in his hand, its ethereal glow captivating yet enigmatic. The concept of mana, a mystical energy so often depicted in tales of fantasy and magic, stirred caution within him.

"Mana," he murmured, his thoughts drifting to the countless stories where this potent force played a central role. In these narratives, mana was often portrayed as the lifeblood of magic, fueling spells, enchantments, and extraordinary feats beyond imagination.

However, Frank's rational mind urged him to proceed with caution. Without a deeper understanding of the properties and potential consequences of consuming this mysterious substance, the risk was simply too great.

"And what would happen with the vibranium knuckles and the 9 continuous fist technique were used together," he said reminding himself to use it next time in actual combat.

Walking out of his residence he met up with some of the other disciples walking towards the sect mission hall, today was the day they went hunting again, reaching there he saw that most of the disciples who were part of their hunting squad were standing outside.

As Frank approached the gathering of leaders and strategists, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at him. His gaze swept over the familiar faces, noting the absence of Lex.

Perplexed, Frank listened as one of the leaders explained the reason for their assembly. The sect had taken notice of their minor sects penchant for straying from assigned missions, instead opting to pursue their own hunts in large quantities. As a result, the sect had decided to intervene, issuing a personalized group mission tailored specifically for their minor sect.

After a while Lex walked out, asking all the disciples to follow him someplace quieter, almost 120 people standing outside the mission hall didn't please the elders much.

As Lex addressed the gathered disciples, his authoritative voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd, commanding their attention. Standing tall and resolute, he began to relay the recent developments that would shape their path forward.

"Listen up, everyone," Lex's voice rang out, carrying a sense of urgency. "We have important matters to discuss."

With a swift and concise delivery, Lex outlined the series of events that had unfolded in recent days. First, he informed them of the progress on their residence in the demonic rat hunting ground—a space meticulously designed for the practice and refinement of their new technique. The news elicited murmurs of anticipation and excitement from the disciples, eager to test their skills in the specialized environment.

"Secondly," Lex continued, his tone taking on a hint of wry amusement, "I may have employed some... persuasive tactics to secure sponsorship from the elder who granted us the demonic rat hunting ground." His words were met with a mixture of laughter and admiration, as the disciples recognized Lex's resourcefulness and determination in securing their sect's support.

Finally, Lex revealed the most pressing task that lay ahead: the sect had charged them with the formidable mission of exterminating the demonic rats plaguing their new minor sect location. The gravity of the task hung heavy in the air, tempered by the disciples' determination to rise to the challenge.

Everyone felt like they were dreaming, all of this was good news no bad news came after, they had gotten whatever they wanted, and they felt like the Gods were smiling upon them or have blessed them with extreme luck.

Without further delay, they proceeded to the safe zone, now designated as their minor sect. The strategist convened a lengthy meeting to discuss their strategy. Despite the seeming simplicity of exterminating the demonic rats, it proved to be a laborious and perilous endeavor. The creatures had established a heavily fortified breeding ground, making any unprepared incursion a potential death sentence.

The devised plan entailed hunting in groups of three, devoid of any designated leaders. Each group consisted of a shield user, a spear user, and a bow user. This strategy was meticulously crafted based on the understanding that rats posed a less formidable challenge compared to goblins, thus requiring a more agile and versatile approach to hunting.

Wasting no time each team went out hunting, nothing special happened on the first day, all the scavenging rats died quite easily, one arrow, slash from a spear, or slam from a shield killed them easily.

There was a total of 39 teams, if a team were to come upon the rat's nest almost 20 teams were to come together and attack it together. On the first day, nothing happened except killing the small fries of the rats, on the second day the nest was found but the teams returned before exploring it completely due to the lack of light.

Each member was tasked with exploring the intricate network of tunnels within the nest. Frank, however, was not included in the team that had previously discovered or engaged in hunting within the nest the day before. The nest itself comprised a labyrinth of passageways leading to the royal chamber, where the queen rat held court.

There was a palpable sense of anticipation among the groups, fueled by the discovery of the deceased disciples' bodies within the nest. These unfortunate souls had either perished within the confines of the nest or been dragged there by the rats to serve as sustenance for their offspring and the queen. This grim revelation heightened the team's hopes of uncovering valuable pills or techniques amidst the remains of the fallen disciples.

The exploration of the Rat's nest went smoothly, all of the rats were killed the only thing remaining was the queen's chamber and the queen's guard. The 12 leaders assigned for the previous battle were to fight the queen while the rest of the disciples were to face the royal guards. The queen was the size of a small car back on earth, she had red eyes and humongous claws, while the royal guard was the same size as normal demonic rats but more muscular.

As the fight started the twelve leaders rushed to the queen, the entrance of the royal chamber was quite large so everyone rushed inside at the same time, the leading team consisted of 5 shield users, 4 spear users, and 3 bow users, and the archers stayed back while the rest of the team engaged the queen at close quarter combat.

The queen's formidable strength far surpassed any adversary they had encountered thus far. A single swipe from her massive claws sent the shield tower crumbling, creating an opening for her to target the spearmen. Fortunately, Frank's quick thinking saved the day as he summoned an earth spike between them, halting the queen's charge in its tracks.

Although his teammates were taken aback by Frank's unexpected intervention, they couldn't afford to dwell on it. The shield users swiftly reconstructed the shield wall, fortifying it even more resiliently than before. Seizing the opportunity, they unleashed a coordinated barrage of attacks on the queen, aiming to overwhelm her defenses and strike at her vulnerable spots.

The rat queen jumped back leaving the attack range of the group, screeching it raised its claws swiping at the shield war, and an almost invisible wave of sharp wind shot towards the shield wall. Landing on the shield cut them in half, throwing shrapnel all over the area.

"It's a rank 3, everyone finishes your battle quickly we gonna need all the help we can get" shouted Frank at all the disciples fighting the royal guards.

The shield was still large enough to block the rat's next attack, almost all the archers in the hunt focused their attention on the queen, there were 8 royal guards, making it easy for the groups to hunt without the archers.

As the leader's group provided cover, a relentless rain of arrows descended upon the rat queen's body, unleashed by the combined might of 32 archers. Even for a formidable rank 3 beast, such a barrage proved overwhelming. Meanwhile, the spear users, having held their ground, hurled their spears like javelins at the queen.

To their surprise, the rat queen succumbed to her wounds far more swiftly than anticipated, bringing an abrupt end to the battle. Amidst the jubilation of victory, it became evident that none of the disciples had fallen, with only minor injuries sustained. The humans' fighting prowess proved to be exceptionally potent, considering the formidable opposition comprised of only 8 royal guards and the rat queen.

With the battles concluded, the disciples took a moment to catch their breath before embarking on a search for any treasures left behind by fallen comrades.