Chapter 15: The Potential Of Silver

The ring of hammers and the murmur of voices filled the settlement as the new arrivals settled into their roles. With more hands to work, progress moved faster than ever.

Leon stood near the forge, watching as the settlers carried logs, reinforced the palisade, and secured the last gaps in their defenses. The once fragile wooden barrier had become a proper fortification—sturdy, sharpened stakes lining the perimeter, with a reinforced gate that could withstand a real assault.

Ding!

[Quest Complete: Establish Basic Defenses]

Rewards: 500 EXP, 1x Defense Upgrade Token, ???

Leon smirked as the notification flashed before him. Finally, a solid layer of security.

But there was still more work to do.

He turned back to the forge, where raw silver ore sat piled beside him. Silver wasn't just valuable—it had potential. And with his Extraction ability, he could push that potential even further.

Reaching out, he activated his skill.

[Extraction Activated]

The raw silver trembled before liquefying, impurities separating from the molten metal like oil rising from water. The resulting silver shone with an unnatural purity.

[Purified Silver Ingot] x3 Acquired!

Leon picked one up, the weight familiar in his palm. Normal silver was valuable, but purified silver… that had uses beyond mere currency. Weapons, enchantments, even defenses—this could be the key to something greater.

Garrick approached, eyeing the ingots. "Planning to make weapons out of that?"

Leon nodded. "Not just weapons. If we can refine enough, we might be able to reinforce the settlement."

The captain crossed his arms. "A silver-lined gate, maybe?"

Leon's smirk widened. "Exactly what I was thinking."

With the palisade complete, the next step wasn't just holding the line—it was ensuring the settlement thrived. And with silver, a new path was opening before them.

[New Crafting Option Unlocked: Silver Reinforcement]

[New Quest Unlocked: Discover the Properties of Purified Silver]

As the sun set over the fortified village, Leon knew one thing for sure—this was just the beginning.

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The night was calm for the first time in days. The flickering torches along the palisade cast long shadows, and the newly reinforced walls stood strong against the darkness.

Leon stood near the forge, staring at the purified silver ingots stacked neatly before him. Their gleam reflected the firelight, whispering of untapped potential.

The system had given him a new quest—Discover the Properties of Purified Silver—but it hadn't told him exactly what made this silver special. That was something he'd have to find out for himself.

He picked up an ingot and turned it over in his palm. It wasn't just silver. It felt different. Lighter, almost humming with energy.

"Let's see what you can really do."

[Extraction Activated]

As the ability surged through him, something strange happened. The purified silver didn't just break down—it changed. The metallic surface shimmered, splitting into two separate materials.

[New Materials Acquired!]

Refined Silver Essence x1 (A magical-conductive material. Ideal for enchantments and warding.)

Heavy Silver Alloy x1 (A durable metal, excellent for crafting weapons and armor.)

Leon's pulse quickened. This was big.

Silver was already valuable, but this? This was something else entirely.

Garrick approached, his brow furrowed as he saw the changed materials. "What did you just do?"

Leon handed him a piece of the Heavy Silver Alloy. "Something useful."

Garrick tested its weight, nodding. "Feels stronger than iron."

Leon smirked. "And the other half? That's what I'm really interested in."

If the Refined Silver Essence was magic-conductive, then it could be used for far more than just weapons. Defensive wards, enhanced tools, even artifacts—this was the key to pushing the settlement beyond just survival.

But first, he needed a craftsman capable of using it.

His gaze turned to the new recruits. Among them was an older man who had introduced himself as Bram, a blacksmith by trade.

Leon walked over and dropped a chunk of the Heavy Silver Alloy in front of him. "Think you can make something out of this?"

Bram ran his fingers over the metal, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "This isn't normal silver."

"No, it's better."

The blacksmith's lips curled into a grin. "Give me a proper forge, and I'll make you something worth wielding."

Leon nodded. This was exactly what he needed.

As he turned back to the forge, another notification appeared before him.

[Hidden Quest Unlocked: The First Forged Weapon]

Objective: Create a weapon from Heavy Silver Alloy

Reward: ???

Leon exhaled slowly.

Whatever was coming, he needed every advantage he could get.

And this was only the first step.

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