Blacksmithing

Blade wiped the sweat from his forehead, glancing at the rare ore in his hands. Ryan studied it for a moment before nodding in approval.

"You've got something special here, kid. Shadow-Infused Iron Ore isn't easy to find," Ryan said, rubbing his chin. "You must've hit just the right spot in that mine."

Blade smirked. "Or maybe I'm just that good."

Ryan chuckled. "Confidence is good, but let's see if you can actually forge something decent out of it. Follow me."

He led Blade deeper into the forge, where the air was thick with heat and the smell of molten metal. The sound of hammers striking anvils echoed through the space as seasoned blacksmiths worked tirelessly.

"First things first," Ryan said, handing Blade a pair of tongs. "You need to melt that ore down. Toss it into the furnace and pump the bellows."

Blade followed his instructions, placing the Shadow-Infused Iron Ore into the blazing furnace. As he gripped the handle of the bellows, a notification appeared.

[New Skill Acquired: Basic Smithing]

As if his body instinctively knew what to do, Blade controlled the airflow carefully, watching the flames turn blue as they devoured the ore. Slowly, the metal began to melt into a dark, shimmering liquid.

"Not bad for a first-timer," Ryan said with a grunt. "Now, pour it into the mold."

Blade carefully lifted the crucible with the tongs, his hands steady despite the intense heat. He poured the molten metal into a sword-shaped mold, watching as it settled with a faint glow.

[Forging Progress: 30%]

Blade frowned. "It's not done yet?"

Ryan shook his head. "Forging isn't just about pouring metal. Now comes the real test—hammering it into shape."

As soon as the metal cooled slightly, Blade retrieved the glowing blade from the mold and placed it onto the anvil. Ryan handed him a blacksmith's hammer.

"Strike it while it's still hot," Ryan instructed. "Even pressure, precise hits."

Blade gripped the hammer and raised it high. The moment he brought it down, another notification appeared.

[All Craftsmen skill activated.]

His vision sharpened, and faint glowing lines appeared on the blade's surface, guiding his strikes. He followed them instinctively, each hammer blow landing perfectly in sync with the glowing marks.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew as Blade worked tirelessly, shaping the metal with each precise strike. He didn't stop, ignoring the sweat dripping down his face and the burning sensation in his arms. He focused only on the rhythm, the pulse of the metal beneath his hammer.

Time passed, and Ryan watched with interest. "The kid's a natural," he muttered under his breath.

After what felt like hours, the final strike echoed through the forge.

[Forging Progress: 100%]

[You have successfully forged your first weapon: Shadowfang Dagger.]

Blade exhaled sharply and lifted the completed weapon. The Shadowfang Dagger was sleek and dark, its edge glimmering ominously in the light. A notification popped up.

[Shadowfang Dagger]

Grade: Rare

Attack: +15

Effect: Increases attack speed by 5% and enhances damage in low-light environments.

Ryan let out a low whistle. "Damn. A rare-grade weapon on your first try? Either you're lucky, or you're meant for this."

Blade smirked. "I think it's skill."

Ryan laughed. "Alright, kid. I'll admit it—you've got potential. But don't get cocky. You've still got a long way to go before you can call yourself a real blacksmith."

Blade nodded. "Then let's keep going."

Ryan grinned. "That's the spirit. Welcome to the forge, kid."

[Title gained : Blacksmith Apprentice]

[New Quest: Craft Your First Set of Armor.]

Old Granny: "That's the spirit, kid! But you're still far too green. I made a Unique-grade weapon on my first try. Fufufufufu!"

Blade's excitement vanished as he heard the old granny's laughter.

"Just who are you?" Blade asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Ryan raised a brow. "Did you say something?"

Blade quickly shook his head. "No, nothing."

Ryan shrugged. "Alright then, let's begin making your armor."

Blade nodded eagerly.

"We don't have any more Shadow-Infused Iron Ore, but you can use mine," Ryan said, handing him three ingots of the rare metal. "This should be enough to craft a full set of armor. But you're still missing something important."

Blade tilted his head. "What?"

Ryan crossed his arms. "You need Troll Skin. It will be placed on the inside of the armor to make it flexible and prevent discomfort for the wearer."

A notification appeared.

[New Quest: Hunt the Trolls]

"You can get it however you want," Ryan added. "Buy it, trade for it, or hunt the trolls yourself—it's up to you."

Blade smirked and gripped his dagger tightly. "Guess I'll do it the hard way."

With that, Blade stepped out of the forge, ready for the hunt.

"You're going on your first hunt, huh?" Old Granny said, her voice nostalgic. "Reminds me of my own days."

She smiled and continued, "Hunt a whole settlement of trolls, and I'll teach you one of my swordsmanship techniques."

A new quest appeared in front of Blade.

[Quest: Troll Settlement Extermination]

The legendary Moonlight Sculptor wants you to prove your talent. Hunt and exterminate a whole settlement of trolls.

[Reward: Skill Sculptor War Arts]

"What kind of swordsmanship?" Blade asked, his curiosity piqued.

Old Granny chuckled softly. "I could use all kinds of tools, both for crafting and as weapons. I wanted to use everything to create and sculpt. They called me a madwoman for it, but this very thing forced me to excel in all types of weaponry."

She paused, then added, "You'll have plenty of time to learn later. For now, I'll teach you my swordsmanship. It's the most flexible after all."

Blade nodded. "That's great, but it still didn't answer my question."

Granny raised an eyebrow mischievously. "Come on, won't it be better if you... find that out at the end as a surprise gift?"

Blade shook his head, but smiled. "Okay then, but it better be worth it."

She returned to her sculpting knife, her smile ever-present. "Oh, it is," she said.

Blade grinned. "Looking forward to it then."

Granny nodded, her gaze serious now. "Let's begin."

*******

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A/ N : While waiting for new chap, do check out my new book, In Marvel with Ultimate fantasy System