call from jin

Rex leaned back in his chair, cracking his knuckles as he prepared to log into God's Garden. His mind was already working on strategies—plans to level up, secure better equipment, and establish his dominance. But just as he reached for his virtual helmet, his phone vibrated.

Jin.

Rex hesitated for a second before answering.

"Yeah?"

"Rex! Where are you?" Jin's voice came through, slightly out of breath. "Tara and I just reached Black Wind Town. We're doing a quest here."

Rex raised an eyebrow. "Black Wind Town?" He glanced at the clock. They must have been grinding non-stop since launch. He expected nothing less from Jin and Tara—both were competent, but Level 2 was still far from what they needed.

"What's your level?" Rex asked.

"We just hit Level 2," Jin replied. "Tara's working on a gathering quest while I'm dealing with a monster subjugation task. It's taking a while, though. The XP gain here isn't great."

Rex smirked slightly. "That's because Black Wind Town is a beginner hub. You'll waste time if you stay there too long."

"Yeah, we figured. But there aren't many guides out yet. We're mostly going in blind."

Rex leaned forward. "Listen. Forget about Black Wind Town. Your goal is Level 5 as soon as possible. Once teleportation unlocks, we'll meet at Blue Wind Town."

Jin was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Level 5, huh? That'll take some grinding."

"You have eight days," Rex said. "Hunt elite monsters if you have to. Don't waste time on trash mobs."

Jin groaned. "Easy for you to say."

"Tara and I were talking—should we form a party with others?"

Rex's answer was immediate. "No. You don't want dead weight slowing you down. Stick to a duo."

"Got it," Jin said. "We'll push harder. Blue Wind Town in eight days, right?"

"Eight days."

As Jin hung up, Rex exhaled and finally placed his hands on the virtual helmet. He had his own grinding to do. If Jin and Tara could reach Level 5 in time, then maybe—just maybe—they'd be useful.

For now, God's Garden awaited.

As Rex placed the virtual helmet over his head, a familiar rush washed over him—the sensation of entering God's Garden. His vision blurred momentarily before the world around him took shape.

Blue Wind Town.

The town was bustling with activity. Players filled the streets, forming parties, checking out quests, and engaging in trades. NPC merchants shouted out deals, while blacksmiths hammered away at glowing metal in open-air workshops.

Rex scanned the area. Most players were still Level 2.

Too slow.

He had expected this. The early game was always rough—players wasted time figuring out mechanics, struggling with low-level quests, and getting stuck in inefficient grinding spots. But Rex wasn't like them. He had experience—both from his past life and his understanding of God's Garden's systems.

If he wanted to stay ahead, he couldn't rely solely on leveling up. Gear was just as important. Even a Level 5 player could lose to a well-equipped Level 3. The best way to ensure he had top-tier gear? Forging.

Heading to the Forging Institute

Without hesitation, Rex moved through the streets, heading toward the Forging Institute. It was one of the few places in town where only serious players went.

The institute stood at the far end of Blue Wind Town—a large, stone building with towering chimneys that belched smoke into the sky. The entrance was flanked by two massive furnaces, their fires burning with an intense glow. Inside, NPC blacksmiths worked tirelessly, hammering molten metal, shaping weapons, and refining ores. The scent of burning coal and hot iron filled the air.

As Rex entered, a burly NPC instructor covered in soot turned to him. "You here to learn forging?"

Rex nodded. "Yeah. I want to register."

The instructor grunted. "Not free, kid. You need 10 Silver to register as a beginner forger. That'll get you access to the basic recipes and a starter forging hammer."

Rex wasn't worried. He opened his inventory and checked his currency.

20 Gold, 85 Silver, 40 Copper.

His wealth came from looting the RisingSolutions members after their defeat. While other players were struggling to afford basic equipment, Rex already had enough money to sustain himself for a while.

10 Silver? That's nothing.

He paid the fee, and a notification popped up.

> [System Alert: You have learned Basic Forging!]

- You can now craft common weapons and armor.

- Success rate: 75% (higher with better materials and skill level).

The instructor handed him a crude iron hammer. "You wanna be a forger? Then get to work. The real test is whether you can make something useful."

Rex smirked. "That won't be a problem."

Unlike other beginners, he wasn't going to waste time crafting trash-tier weapons. His goal was to forge something strong enough to give him an edge over everyone else.

Rex tightened his grip on the crude iron hammer. The weight felt decent, but it wasn't a tool he intended to use for long. If he wanted to forge truly powerful weapons, he needed better tools, better techniques, and most importantly, rare materials.

He glanced around the Forging Institute, observing the NPC blacksmiths at work. Most of them were hammering out basic weapons—iron swords, bronze daggers, and crude breastplates. Nothing extraordinary.

There has to be something better.

The Mysterious Blacksmith

As Rex explored deeper into the institute, he noticed an older blacksmith working at a corner forge, separate from the others. Unlike the regular NPCs, this one had a unique nameplate—"Old Man Hargan". His beard was streaked with ash, and his arms were covered in old burns, clear signs of a master blacksmith.

Unlike the other instructors, who barked orders at players, Hargan remained silent, focused on his work. His hammer struck metal with precision, sending sparks flying, but the sword he was crafting didn't seem like ordinary steel. A faint blue glow pulsed along its edges.

"That's not normal iron," Rex thought, intrigued.

He approached cautiously. "Are you making an enchanted weapon?"

Hargan barely glanced at him before returning to his work. "I don't teach beginners," he muttered.

Rex smirked. "Good thing I'm not just any beginner."

Hargan's hammer stopped mid-air. The old blacksmith slowly turned to him, eyes narrowing. "Big words. Most of the so-called 'forgers' in this place can't even temper iron properly."

[Hidden Quest Discovered: The True Path of a Blacksmith]

Quest Type: Unique (Cannot be repeated)

Difficulty: A

Description: The master blacksmith Hargan has noticed your potential but refuses to teach weaklings. Prove your worth by forging a weapon worthy of his attention.

Requirements:

Craft an Ironwood Tower Shield (Level 3)

Materials Needed: Black Iron Ore x3, Tempered Wood x2

Success rate must be above 85%

Rewards:

Unlock Intermediate Forging

Gain Hargan's Favor (Increases success rate when forging advanced equipment)

??? (Hidden Reward)

Rex's eyes gleamed as he read the quest requirements.

Ironwood Tower Shield (Level 3)

Materials Needed: Black Iron Ore x3, Tempered Wood x2

Success Rate Requirement: 85%+

A Level 3 shield wasn't just a piece of gear—it was gold in the making. Most tanks were still stuck with crude wooden shields or basic iron bucklers. A proper tower shield would sell for a fortune at the auction house.

Rex's smirk widened. He wouldn't just complete this quest—he'd make serious money while doing it.

Time to gather materials.