《Absolute Craft [A VRMMORPG CRAFTSMAN/SWORDSMAN NOVEL]》 The Official Release (1) Chapter 1: The Official Release (1) In the year 2081, a select few individuals around the globe were granted beta access to the first-ever VRMMORPG, a game that would transport players to fantastical realms and was destined to take the world by storm. The final quests of the beta testers were livestreamed, further igniting the public''s excitement. Many could hardly contain their anticipation. As a result, those fortunate beta testers became celebrities as the masses avidly followed their exploits in the new world. Some guilds crumbled, others rose, and in the ultimate battle where all the leading guilds allied to defeat the final boss¡ªwhose demise would announce the game''s official release date¡ªsomething unexpected occurred. ¡°Stop dying like idiots! Can¡¯t you follow a simple tactic and countdown¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who can¡¯t cooperate! I¡¯ve had enough of your selfishness! I¡¯m leaving!¡± shouted a female player in charge of the healers of Cerberus, the top guild. ¡°...seems like the only sensible option. If we join other guilds and regroup quickly, we should be able to defeat the final boss without him,¡± added a man with short white hair and a cold demeanor. ¡°It¡¯s not like he cares about us. We¡¯re just tools to him anyway,¡± another prominent member of Cerberus remarked nonchalantly, his arms crossed behind his head. As if on cue, the guild¡¯s lieutenants began abandoning their guild and leader on the battlefield. Following them were other guild members who had turned a blind eye to their leader¡¯s arrogance and selfishness. In the blink of an eye, the guild leader of Cerberus stood alone amidst the battlefield''s scars left by the final boss, whose colossal form loomed over him. The Rotten Leviathan, an amalgamation of sea and land creatures whose putrid flesh dropped onto the battlefield in heavy chunks, shuddered at this unforeseen development. The man who had inflicted the most damage upon it had been cast aside even by his closest aides. How could the final boss not rejoice? Its booming, grating screeches struck Blake like an avalanche. The guild leader of Cerberus, now utterly alone, looked up, settled into his stance by bending his knees and back, and placed his right hand on his katana¡¯s hilt. He whispered as crimson flames roared within his sheath, eager to strike the final boss. ¡°Some things never change. One of them is me dying in style.¡± The ground beneath him cracked, debris billowing up as Blake enveloped himself in crimson flames, charging at the final boss like a meteor... ...that would crumble and crash upon impact. - At a mall, two men were on evening cleaning duty, mopping the floor. One of them swung his mop aggressively, his face contorted in frustration. The other calmly attended to his duties, listening to the late news from the TV hanging above them. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.[We suspect that a lot of people will go to bed early tonight.] [Ah, the official release of Ashen World Online! I can¡¯t wait either!] [We have one of the beta testers as our guest today! Mr. Alan, one of the guild leaders who defeated the final boss, will share his story with us and his expectations for AWO!] [Thank you for having me. It¡¯s been a year since that final battle. I still can¡¯t forget the thrill...] As the beta tester discussed his time in the game world, the man in the mall wielding the mop like a spear suddenly raised it and shook it at Mr. Alan on the screen. ¡°This damn bastard looks like he stepped straight out of the game! How many plastic surgeries did he get?! Huh! If only I¡¯d had access to the beta release, I wouldn¡¯t be here! I¡¯d be a millionaire like those lucky bastards! Just wait till I get into the game!¡± [There¡¯s a popular thread on SNS about The Humbled Dog¡¯s return. Do you think he¡¯ll come back to the game and establish a guild again to prove everyone wrong? Despite being abandoned in the last battle, his contribution against the boss still surpassed everyone else. That Final Meteor Rush is the second most-viewed gaming video on SNS!] [Ah... him. I met him a few times during quests and naturally cooperated in the last battle. He always struck me as overly talented but blinded by it, so I wasn¡¯t surprised when his lieutenants approached me before the last battle to discuss a potential merger.] [That''s intriguing!] [Yes. His guild members must have been fed up with him for a long time but decided to endure his selfishness until the end. There were doubts, certainly, hence the plan B.] [What do you think he¡¯s doing now? Planning a comeback? Enjoying a new hobby?] [It¡¯s hard to say. Of course, we earned substantial income after our adventures became public and were livestreamed. He could be doing anything, really. At the very least, I don¡¯t think he¡¯d take up a normal job.] ¡°Hey, Blake! You think The Humbled Dog is a millionaire?¡± the jealous man with the mop turned to his coworker. ¡°I kinda feel bad for him. That dude was a beast! But if he''s a millionaire too, then damn him!¡± ¡°He is,¡± Blake replied. ¡°You sound pretty sure,¡± the man said, squinting. ¡°The second most-viewed video they mentioned is from his perspective.¡± ¡°Ah, damn them all!¡± the jealous man vented his frustration by scrubbing the floor vigorously. Just then, their obese boss waddled in, his bulging belly bouncing. ¡°That¡¯s the passion I love to see! Keep it up, you two! The first million is always the hardest! Haha!¡± Blake bit his lip. ¡°Damn them all! Just wait! I¡¯ll stumble upon a legendary class and earn millions in the first few months! You gonna play tomorrow, Blake?¡± Blake closed his eyes. ¡°Yeah, I will. Solo grind, you know.¡± ¡°Best of luck, mate!¡± ¡°You too. By the way, there aren¡¯t any classes in Ashen World Online.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± On January 1st, 2084, Ashen World Online¡¯s official release became available to everyone! The Official Release (2) Chapter 2: The Official Release (2) Blake gazed at the sleek black capsule that had replaced his bed. After turning eighteen and following a heated argument with his family, he had taken the capsule from his parents'' house. The situation resembled an incident within the game world that had led to him being known as The Humbled Dog¡ªa nickname stemming from his guild¡¯s name and the events that transpired. Cerberus had lost its two prominent heads, leaving the middle one isolated and humbled, cast into the shadows. Only after spending time with nothing did Blake open his eyes and confront his unbearable self. He never wanted to return to that world. He didn¡¯t even want anything to do with it. All the wealth and fame he¡¯d accumulated felt like a curse, reminding him of the atrocities he¡¯d committed. In the one-year gap between the beta¡¯s finale and the official release, Blake rented a small apartment and worked for minimum wage, persistently scraping by and refusing to use his savings. As the official release approached, he knew he¡¯d return to Ashen World Online. The fact that he hadn¡¯t discarded the capsule said it all. Gently touching the capsule¡¯s surface, Blake closed his eyes and reminded himself of his new principles and goals. He¡¯d grind the game solo and participate in events alone for as long as possible¡ªnot to prove he could clear the game by himself, but because he was too afraid to face his old companions. He also didn¡¯t seek their forgiveness. He simply wanted to be part of the world that excited him the most. ¡®I can¡¯t mend those old ties, and I doubt they want me to,¡¯ Blake thought. ¡®I¡¯ll just work on myself like I¡¯ve been doing all this time.¡¯ That was quite challenging for a lone nineteen-year-old man. - Blake tilted his head upon seeing this system notification. He expected to dive into the game world and begin anew. Perhaps the gaming company had sent him some reward for participating in the final boss battle? He didn¡¯t know what it could be and even dreaded checking the message. That was a part of the past he didn¡¯t want to revisit. After five minutes of deliberation, he opened the message. If it was what he thought it might be, he would delete it. What appeared on the screen, however, surprised him. It was a message from an NPC friend, Edward. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡®They say the game¡¯s official release is set one hundred years after the beta testers'' final battle. It''s not surprising that Edward could reach me since I used the same capsule,¡¯ Blake thought, shaking his head and clenching his fists. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t be dwelling on that right now¡­¡¯ Thanking Edward for the blueprint, Blake offered a moment of silence. He then reviewed the description again and reached the same conclusion as his old friend¡ªhe would truly experience hard work by building all these things and rebuilding himself from the ground up. Blake didn¡¯t even know how he¡¯d fare in crafting. Reflecting, he recalled that crafters who relied less on the game system had higher chances of producing high-quality items and creating whatever they desired. The more the system assisted them, the poorer the quality. The game system was useful for mass production. But if one truly wanted exceptional items, using one¡¯s own hands, mind, and strength was the way, rather than letting the system control the tools to perform the task. Blake accepted this uphill challenge. With a smirk, Blake thought of his friend who must have already entered the game world in search of legendary items, while he stood in the character creation room with two of them already bestowed upon him. A moment later, Blake rubbed his face to erase the smirk. He couldn¡¯t be the only one to receive a title during character creation. Other beta testers might have schemed to receive similar messages or perhaps hidden their weapons or title tokens somewhere in the vast world to retrieve later. ¡®Thank you again, Edward,¡¯ he thought. Vargar (1) Chapter 3: Vargar (1) A familiar force seized Blake''s body. It felt as if someone were pulling him upward, even though he could still feel the ground beneath his feet. Before he knew it, he had left the character creation room and appeared on a jagged road. An icy chill slapped him in the face. He gazed up the uneven path winding toward the snowy mountain. Snowflakes cascaded in abundance, and heavy clumps frequently fell from the surrounding trees. Although the road was somehow spared from deep drifts, Blake''s boots¡ªwith wooden soles and leather uppers¡ªstill sank into the snow blanketing it. His breath hung in the air, obscuring half his vision, further cluttered by system messages warning of his current debuffs. If this continued, he would eventually start losing health points. Just then, someone reached out to him. "Ye''re a player, eh?" Turning off the system messages with a thought, Blake held his breath and looked down toward the source of the muffled voice. An old dwarf, no taller than 4''3", stood there, half his face hidden behind a brown scarf, his white Viking beard heavy with snow. He squinted as he sized up Blake, assessing his potential. Thanks to the titles Blake had received prior to arriving here, an aura surrounded him that hinted at his capabilities. The Spiritual Blacksmith title ensured he could grasp concepts more easily and craft items no one else could. The old dwarf, however, was experienced enough to tell that this was external influence, not Blake''s own talent. He harrumphed. "Ye''re a brat born with a golden spoon! We''ll see if ye''re worthy of it. I''m Vargar, the traveling blacksmith. I stumbled upon this zone and was told by the world voice that I''d meet a player on my way here." "My name''s Superbia, and I''m looking forward to working under you," Blake introduced himself using his nickname, choosing his words carefully based on his experience in minimum-wage jobs where bosses liked to exploit their authority. If there was a chance to leverage their status, most would take it. The dwarf shook his backpack¡ªnearly as big as he was¡ªby its shoulder straps and turned around. "Ye''re not bad. Time will tell how long ye''ll keep that attitude. We''re heading deeper into the mountain. Hold onto this first." Just as players wielded the system, Vargar wielded his backpack; it opened on its own and spat out a fur-lined jacket. Blake reached for it eagerly, like a parched man grasping for water, and bundled up. The brown jacket was a little too big for him, but that suited him just fine. He would have liked to squat down and hug himself, but Vargar harrumphed and started up the mountain path. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The newly acquired stat eased the biting cold, warming his calves and feet. It was a peculiar sensation unique to the game world; in reality, people would still have cold legs despite wearing a jacket. Occasional gusts of icy air prickled him, but not enough to hinder his movement. Only the snow posed a challenge as Blake trudged along the path with his minimal stats. "So players really have returned. Many more now, ye?" Vargar asked, breaking the silence. Blake replied, "Yeah. Were you expecting their return?" "It''s been the talk these past years. More players mean more sales! I might return home to reopen the business! Haha!" Vargar laughed heartily. Blake, however, found nothing amusing. All he had been doing was following the dwarf''s backpack. He couldn''t open the game system to learn more about his titles and rewards because of the steep, treacherous path. He hadn''t received any weapons or equipment. Vargar hadn''t given him any quests, either. The old man kept prattling on about his adventures and sales. It was like being forced to listen to a boss''s ramblings back on Earth. Blake had endured such talk countless times to keep his job, and a dislike for Vargar was growing within him. It all came out at the dwarf like an avalanche. "Can''t we actually do something?!" "Aye, ye lasted longer than I thought," Vargar chuckled. "What the hell do you mean? Do you even know where we are? This is the Lost Kingdom''s zone! There must be valuable stuff all around us, buried under the snow! We don''t have to climb all the way to the mountain''s spire, do we?! It''s so boring!" Blake exclaimed. "Ye don''t have to follow me. I know ye hold the keys to this place as a player who''s been sent here, but I didn''t enter this zone intending to use a player in the first place. Just give me back my jacket before ye go your way," Vargar replied, stretching out his hand. Blake gritted his teeth. "I''ll... stay with you." "And?" "And?" "Don''t ye think ye must say something?" "...I''m sorry," Blake muttered. "Good brat," Vargar grinned behind his scarf. "I''m not foolish enough to burn bridges with a player whose connections lie in the Lost Kingdom! Ye know nothing about it, though! Do ye know about the Lost King''s Crown?" Blake clenched his fists. Now that was something he''d like to hear more about! He shook his head. Vargar harrumphed. "The Lost King wore his crown like a badge of his achievements, not just a symbol of sovereignty. He forged it himself. Rumor has it that every successor forged their own crown, each piece molded at a significant milestone. The beginning of the Lost King''s reign is such a milestone. And since the crown adorns one''s head, its first piece must also be hidden at the top of this zone¡ªthe mountain''s spire!" Blake''s blood surged with excitement. Vargar (2) Chapter 4: Vargar (2) ¡°Ye ready?¡± Vargar asked. ¡°I am,¡± Blake replied with a firm nod. Gazing down the road, Blake estimated it would take them at least four, maybe even five hours to navigate the snowy path. That was his best guess, but he could easily be wrong since he''d never been part of an information-gathering team before. In battles, he relied on the intel provided to match his opponents and guide his teammates toward certain victory. This dynamic changed significantly when Blake reached the top and no one else could match his vision and pace. ¡°Will we have a dispute at the top?¡± Blake asked. ¡°Ye can take the piece of the crown if we find it. Too much hassle and responsibility for a wandering blacksmith like me! I''m more interested in the natural resources up there!¡± Vargar replied. ¡°Ye''re quite honest about it, though.¡± ¡°I''m terrible at reading the room,¡± Blake admitted. ¡°I''d rather be straightforward these days.¡± ¡°I see, I see.¡± As the two conversed as equals, Blake learned more about The Lost Kingdom and the art of blacksmithing. Both subjects intrigued him greatly since he knew little about them and only had some knowledge of The Lost Kingdom from his time as a beta tester. Time passed more quickly now that they shared common ground. Before long, the skies darkened, and the snowfall intensified into a blizzard. Vargar''s backpack opened on its own, releasing a red-framed lantern containing a brightly shining magical stone. Catching the lantern with practiced ease, he pressed onward. Eventually, the duo reached the end of the road, which lay far below the spire. A wall of snow loomed before them, but Vargar pulled out a shovel without hesitation and began digging through the obstacle. ¡°Let me help,¡± Blake offered. He grabbed the second shovel and tackled the snowy barrier. He wasn''t as fast or strong as Vargar, but he still eased the dwarf''s burden. After a while, Vargar struck something solid. He leaned in and brushed the snow away with his hands, revealing a metal door adorned with intricate carvings, none of which he understood. He tried to push the door open, but it wouldn''t budge. ¡°Well, that''s foolish of me since ye''re the key,¡± Vargar said, turning to glance at Blake, who had been beside him the whole time. Placing his hand on the cold frame, Blake gave it a gentle push, and the door yielded. It screeched from years of neglect and being buried under snow before swinging open to reveal a dark interior. Vargar extended his lantern inside, illuminating parts of the room. His eyes sparkled upon noticing a workbench, an anvil, a forge, and tools hanging on the brick wall. ¡°This must be The Lost King''s first smithy!¡± Vargar exclaimed. Meanwhile, Blake finally received his first quest. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. This quest laid the groundwork for Blake''s skills. He didn''t have any blueprints for weapons or armor, meaning he could improvise, search the smithy for useful items, or seek guidance from Vargar. For the second objective, he could rely on himself. The third one... seemed the easiest. While Blake weighed his options, Vargar explored the smithy and fortunately found a switch for the lights, which he activated. Caught off guard, Blake instinctively covered his eyes and dropped into a fighting stance. ¡°Calm down. It''s just light,¡± Vargar chuckled. Rubbing his eyes, Blake adjusted to the brightness and clicked his tongue. ¡°Next time, warn me before you turn anything on.¡± In a corner, there was a large double chest that Vargar opened, revealing various ores and limestone inside. Blake joined him and peeked inside, not understanding much. Noticing his confusion, Vargar explained, ¡°This one''s copper, this is tin, and that''s iron ore. The limestone is crushed into flux and added to the ore before smelting to extract metals. Tin and copper make bronze. Iron is useful on its own but can also be made into steel, though I don''t think ye''re at that level yet.¡± Blake scratched his chin, pondering these resources. There was clearly much more to blacksmithing that he needed to learn. It would be best to have Vargar''s guidance. ¡°Please, make me your disciple!¡± Blake asked earnestly. He had been feeling an overwhelming desire to fight monsters and level up, which he tried to suppress through conversation. But now he genuinely wanted to forge his own weapon and armor, to focus more on self-improvement. Before he began forging, he channeled his battle urges into his crafting ambitions. ¡°Aye, aye,¡± Vargar said, stroking his beard. ¡°If ye promise to work with me in the future back in The Dwarven Kingdom! It''s an honor to be the master of the future Lost King, but ye must know the other title The Lost King received from the world.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± Blake asked. ¡°The Hollow King. He became so self-sufficient that he never relied on his people and only sought to make the kingdom the best place for them, which led to him ignoring them. He alienated himself from his subjects. In the past, The Lost Kingdom had a strong significance despite the word ''lost,'' as they were so advanced that people claimed they came from the future and were lost in the current era. ¡°I don''t want ye to become The Hollow King,¡± Vargar said, turning away. ¡°It''d be such a loss to lose ye.¡± Blake looked down. ''Did you know about this, Edward? This is eerily similar to my situation.'' The First Craft (1) Chapter 5: The First Craft (1) Unaware of Blake¡¯s reflections, Vargar interrupted his train of thought. He asked, ¡°What do ye want to craft first? A weapon, I wager.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Blake nodded. ¡°Which one? A sword, ye?¡± Vargar asked with an odd smirk. It was a knowing smile that suggested even youngsters in the fantasy world favored swords over any other weapon. Despite being primarily wielded by nobles, swords attracted even those of humble origins, including players. Blake shook his head. ¡°A katana.¡± His reply elicited an unusual reaction from Vargar as the old dwarf¡¯s face twisted. He looked like he¡¯d swallowed a sour lemon. But Blake wasn¡¯t interested in picking up another weapon. Choosing the craftsman occupation was already pushing him out of his comfort zone. The katana style he¡¯d learned¡ªor rather absorbed like a sponge¡ªduring his beta tester days was too dear to him. It never felt like he¡¯d worked hard to learn katana stances and techniques. They were so enjoyable and intricate that Blake yearned to wield the same weapon as before, but perhaps with a different element than fire. ¡°What¡¯s with that expression?¡± Blake asked. Vargar harrumphed. ¡°A katana, ye? Demanding! It¡¯s such a demanding weapon! The arduous process aside, steel is the weakest metal required for this weapon to be functional! Any weaker metal like iron or copper will cost ye your life. Ye¡¯re going to skip a few steps!¡± Blake recalled his guild¡¯s craftsmen sighing whenever he approached them with his katana low on durability and on the verge of crumbling. His weapon back then was precious, imbued with rare ores and enchantments that allowed it to endure his fire skills. Didn''t that mean his blacksmiths had even more work to do? As Vargar elaborated on the difficulties and precise forging required, Blake unconsciously lowered his head and stared at the floor in shame. He realized he hadn''t appreciated his guild members'' skills and efforts at all. It hurt him, even though those days were in the past. When Vargar noticed that something was bothering Blake, he stopped talking and simply watched him. Sensing his gaze, Blake met the dwarf¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯ll forge my katana, even if it means skipping easier materials.¡± ¡°¡­I like yer spirit,¡± Vargar smirked. Without wasting time, they got to work. Vargar donned his personal apron, gloves, and goggles, while Blake found similar items hanging near the tools and put them on to protect himself from injury. ¡°This furnace has everything we could ask for in the steel-making process. It¡¯s advanced enough to handle iron smelting and steel refining,¡± the old man said, admiring the cold furnace, which he¡¯d love to take home. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.After admiring the furnace, Vargar proceeded to guide Blake. ¡°We shall heat the iron ore, coal, and limestone flux. This will produce molten pig iron and slag. The latter will fetch ye good pocket money as the quality of resources here is great.¡± Blake loaded the furnace with the materials, and its mouth lit up in flames. Using his game system, he checked the resources and found that everything here was rare¡ªthird grade, after uncommon¡ªwhich meant the ore itself was one rank higher than the jacket he''d worn to survive the harsh winter. As Blake gazed into the tongues of flame, Vargar smacked him on the back. He shouted, ¡°Work those bellows! Keep the heat optimal!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Blake gripped the bellows¡¯ handles with both hands, squeezing hard. This process required considerable strength, which Blake lacked since he was only a level one player. Even so, he could see something forming within the furnace, bubbling to the top of the molten iron. It was dark and bubbling. "That must be the slag Vargar mentioned. I can see it clearly, and there¡¯s a system window next to it with a percentage... ninety percent? Which means I should skim off that slag at one hundred percent!" Blake thought. It was one of the passive skills of The Spiritual Blacksmith¡ªThe Hearth¡¯s Spirit (legendary)¡ªwhich allowed Blake to connect with the furnace and perceive its process in the finest detail. If he were more experienced and knowledgeable, he¡¯d be able to see much more, but that would surely come with time. What Blake didn¡¯t know was that skimming off the slag was an advanced task that required precision, experience, and timing. It needed to be done quickly and within the proper time frame. Unaware of these nuances, Blake grabbed a slag rake and thrust it into the furnace¡¯s mouth, aiming to skim off the slag on his own. All he could tell was that it was orange and bubbly, and that was precisely what he needed to remove. Vargar fell silent when he saw this and swallowed his words upon witnessing Blake taking matters into his own hands. The old dwarf stepped back and observed the young man¡¯s actions. As Blake leaned in, his face reflecting the raw flames and perspiring profusely, he strained his arms, trying to skim off the slag, but to no avail. He knitted his eyebrows and bit his lip, refusing to give up. Vargar harrumphed. ¡°Enough. This molten iron is ruined.¡± Walking a few steps away from the furnace, Blake dropped flat onto the ground and glared at the furnace with a mix of confusion and anger. He had definitely seen the percentage indicating the state of the iron and slag. How did he fail? What was the reason? Vargar harrumphed. ¡°Ye¡¯re naive!¡± ¡°Oh, shut up!¡± Blake inwardly shouted. The First Craft (2) Chapter 6: The First Craft (2) ¡°Hmph!¡± Vargar harrumphed again upon noticing Blake¡¯s expression. He didn¡¯t doubt that the young man had cursed at him. He must have been so frustrated that he forgot to show respect or even reverted to his former demeanor. Even so, his frustration didn''t seem baseless. Many people give up on blacksmithing after experiencing its difficulties, growing frustrated to the point of no return. Blake, however, seemed determined to attempt melting iron ore, coal, and limestone flux once more. He demonstrated this resolve by standing up and questioning the dwarf about his failure. ¡°Where did it go wrong?¡± he asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead as he walked toward the old man with heavy steps, his voice insistent. Vargar clasped his hands behind his back and stood motionless, offering no reply. Blake gulped and added, ¡°Sir?¡± Vargar sneered. ¡°I don¡¯t know what ye have seen, but ye obviously missed a lot of cues. What did ye see? Let me guess: bubbling slag and red metal. Ye didn¡¯t see anything else!¡± Blake¡¯s face twisted as if he''d swallowed something bitter. Vargar guffawed. He used a long tool to extract the failed product. ¡°Ye listen to me, but ye are so impatient. It¡¯s good that ye aren¡¯t relying on your player¡¯s advantages¡ªthose cheap methods. But I can¡¯t understand where this impatience and arrogance come from. Don¡¯t forget ye need a guide before forging alone!¡± ¡°¡­I was at the top,¡± Blake whispered. ¡°Ye were?¡± Vargar asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯m similar to the Hollow King¡ªyou could say we''re two peas in a pod. My friend gave me those titles to remind me not to repeat the same mistakes, but something inside me resists. I told myself I''d work hard for my own growth, but maybe I''m incapable of that; maybe I''m just an arrogant prick. I want everything handed to me because I believe I deserve it, having been at the top before... If I just pick up a katana, I could achieve so much!¡± In making that candid confession, Blake recalled Edward''s advice not to wield a katana too soon. Here he was, trying to forge one for himself. Was that really the path he should have taken? Why did he feel so confused and lost? In the real world, he could endure hardships and eke out a living, but why did he so easily lose himself in this game world? Blake looked away in shame. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.Vargar hummed thoughtfully. ¡°¡­ye''re still malleable, like mythril. And why? Because ye''ve acknowledged ye''re similar to the Hollow King. Ye''re the best person to change the fate of the Lost Kingdom¡ªand yerself! Whether ye achieve it is up to ye!¡± He placed the flawed iron on the workbench and walked over to his backpack, retrieving a bottle of beer. ¡°When I¡¯m down, I drink plenty and hammer metals as if they were misbehaving mistresses!¡± Vargar raised the bottle in a toast, thumbed it open, and downed it in one go, causing Blake''s eyes to widen. ¡°My wife prefers it slow and romantic, after all.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t need to hear that!¡± Blake exclaimed. ¡°Haha! Someone¡¯s spirit is up!¡± Vargar guffawed. ¡°Giving up on the first day is pathetic! Come, I¡¯ll explain to ye what exactly went wrong!¡± Blake nodded. Only a sore loser would abandon the pursuit of legendary titles. If they weren''t meant for him, he''d find another way, but it was too soon to say. He approached the workbench where the cooled iron lay. It looked terrible, even to an untrained eye. Vargar began, ¡°Heat management is paramount. Remember when I told ye about optimal temperatures? Ye must maintain it consistently while skimming the slag! Precision is crucial. Improper skimming results in losing valuable iron and leaving impurities behind! The slag needs to be removed promptly; otherwise, it cools and solidifies with the iron. Visual cues like bubbling patterns or color changes are vital to observe so ye can properly skim off the slag.¡± This explanation illuminated his mistakes. Blake had monitored the percentage of slag bubbling out and the iron melting, but then became lost during the skimming process, which he had performed clumsily. He hadn''t observed other visual cues, controlled the heat, or even handled the tool correctly. He inhaled deeply. ¡°Can I get a bottle?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Vargar nodded, fetching another bottle of beer and handing it to Blake. Blake popped it open and drank as Vargar had done. Being only a nineteen-year-old human, he coughed and spat foam onto his blacksmith''s apron, eliciting laughter from the old dwarf. He licked his lips and declared, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving this smithy without forging full armor and a weapon.¡± Vargar chuckled. ¡°Haha! There¡¯s still plenty of fun ahead!¡± he said, knowing that Blake would face more hurdles¡ªmilestones¡ªon his first crafting journey. The First Craft (3) Chapter 7: The First Craft (3) Through trial and error, Blake built his knowledge of smelting. Everything he learned was absorbed by his legendary skill¡ªThe Hearth¡¯s Spirit¡ªwhich displayed vital information, ranging from the furnace¡¯s temperature to the minutest details of the ores immersed in the flames. Different patterns and colors appeared in Blake¡¯s vision, guiding him in producing optimal pig iron, which he then refined into a steel ingot with the aid of coal and under Vargar¡¯s supervision. This time, Blake stayed true to his word, patiently working and refraining from getting ahead of Vargar¡¯s instruction. Because he possessed the legendary blacksmithing title, he made fewer errors than most novice blacksmiths, saving significant time. Though the starry blanket covered the skies and many players logged out in preparation for tomorrow, Blake wasn''t ready to end his first day in Ashen World Online without fully immersing himself in blacksmithing. Vargar didn''t feel like calling it a night either. Using long tongs, he picked up the molten steel and placed it on the anvil. Beside him, Blake stood with a hammer in his hand. In Ashen World Online, equipment provides skills and stats. That said, Blake¡¯s hammer only slightly increased his strength. Nevertheless, this was helpful since he was a level-one player with no accumulated stats yet. Blake speculated that he hadn¡¯t gained anything from his blacksmithing utensils and gear because he was just beginning his path as a craftsman. Not only did he have a whole smithy to himself, he also had an abundance of rare-grade materials at his disposal. This was more than sufficient. Too many advantages could make him miss valuable insights. Even with the hammer providing +5 Strength, the task proved more demanding than he''d anticipated! ¡°Flatten the steel, thinning and elongating it,¡± Vargar instructed, signaling him to begin. ¡°Imagine this steel as your enemy or the monster you¡¯re so eager to defeat to level up!¡± Staring at the orange, malleable steel, Blake imagined his name written on it. He then envisioned himself arrogantly dragging his guild members into battles, his selfish tactics causing harm, which sparked uncontrollable disgust within him. He swung his hammer. ¡°BLAKE!¡± Vargar caressed his beard. ¡°I wonder who is that Blake... ayo, brat! It¡¯s good that ye started from the middle, but keep the strikes consistent and precise! Go along the blade! Ye hear me?!¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.Blake didn''t hear him. Instead, he let the wave of anger take hold as he swung the hammer with all his strength. Though his eyes reflected a mix of hatred and sadness, he remained consistent and precise. On the contrary. He wielded the hammer like a weapon. Moreover, he could see the points he needed to strike thanks to yet another skill from his legendary title¡ªThe Blacksmith¡¯s Spirit (Legendary). Just like The Hearth¡¯s Spirit, this skill absorbed Vargar¡¯s advice and assisted Blake in the process of thinning and elongating the steel. As Blake entered a battle mindset, his standout qualities¡ªfocus and calculation¡ªwere heightened. Because of this, the skill could replicate Vargar''s expertise even though Blake wasn''t listening. BANG! ¡°The sound is different,¡± Blake said as he stopped hammering, holding his hammer above the steel whose colors had darkened. Vargar nodded. ¡°Indeed. I¡¯m amazed ye have noticed it. In this state, I mean. We need to reheat it now!¡± Once the steel cooled off, the sound it produced upon being struck was different, which Blake naturally noticed in his battle mindset. It calmed him down. Putting the steel into the furnace, Vargar asked, ¡°Who is that Blake?¡± ¡°Me,¡± Blake replied. The old dwarf incredulously shook his head. ¡°I know that humans are deeply attached to their social lives, much more than most races, but ye¡¯re too hard on yerself. Ye were at the top, ye? And no one tried to help ye? Just left ye alone at the end?¡± Blake narrowed his eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t remember.¡± Someone must have extended their hand toward him, but he¡¯d dismissed it with a shrug and carried on with his gaming routine. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn¡¯t even recall who had truly exploited him and who had genuinely wanted to help him. ¡°Good news, though,¡± Vargar said while carrying the malleable steel back to the anvil. ¡°Ye have a knack for hammering and striking! Haha!¡± Blake faintly smiled at the old dwarf. Given his recent behavior, those words could be interpreted ambiguously, but he appreciated the sweat he''d worked up hammering the steel. He felt truly absorbed at the time and sensed a connection between him and the steel. In Vargar''s words, the steel was like a willing mistress craving more. Blake massaged his temple before continuing with the work until late at night. ¡°We¡¯ll continue tomorrow!¡± Vargar said, exhausted. Blake nodded. Lifes Brutal (1) Chapter 8: Life¡¯s Brutal (1) Blake opened his eyes to the blaring sound of his alarm. He fumbled for his phone until he found it beside his pillow. He turned off the alarm, stared wearily at the dark screen, and dropped the phone before burying his face into the pillow. Oh, how he longed to just close his eyes and go back to sleep. He''d give anything for a day off, but he couldn''t afford it on his minimum-wage job. That''s when the familiar, fleeting thought assaulted him: like a devil''s whisper, telling him he could live a lavish¡ªor at least normal¡ªlife with just a few taps on his mobile banking app. This temptation prompted him to stand up and head to the bathroom. He couldn''t touch that money unless absolutely necessary. It was dirty money that had made him a bastard, hurting his family, friends, and many others with his obnoxious selfishness. At nineteen, a high school dropout due to his career as a beta tester, Blake couldn''t find any decent work. He also wasn''t mentally prepared to return to school and pursue a degree. ''I''ve already started playing the game despite promising myself I wouldn''t... I need to be stricter with myself,'' Blake thought as he stared into the bathroom mirror. His tiny one-room apartment was so small that he could see most of it reflected in the mirror. His only belongings were the game capsule, a pillow, and a closet¡ªall, except for the black capsule, as gray as the room''s gloomy atmosphere. He didn''t look great either: weary eyes, pale skin, and dull brown hair. He resembled an invalid, an appearance he often tried to hide beneath his clothes. He put on his work clothes, bundled up, and left the house. The mall where he worked was close to his apartment block, so Blake met up with his co-workers quickly. His overweight boss assigned him to a section and a partner, then retreated to his office to laze around. Blake was once again teamed up with Joel, a jealous man, likely because they were both high school dropouts of the same age. "I''m claiming the riding floor scrubber!" Joel announced, taking what he considered the most enjoyable machine for himself. Blake nodded and went to pick up other equipment. As he rode the machine, Joel asked, "It''s been three days since the official release. How you doing, bro? Still the same?" This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it."Yeah, just hammering and drinking beers," Blake replied. The katana required a lot of arduous, repetitive work. It could be finished in a single day, but it would lose significant strength and bonus stats, which Blake couldn''t accept. So he had been repeating the same tasks for three days, enjoying the food and beer in between. Players could sample many new foods and drinks in the fantasy world for the novelty, but eating was also an important aspect of their gaming experience. An empty stomach halved one''s stats and increased stamina usage, making one more vulnerable to crowd control effects like stuns. Joel pressed his fingers to his forehead and exclaimed, "You''re missing so much fun, bro! You haven''t experienced the thrill of fighting monsters! At least try out a few weapons in the tutorial zone. I picked up a spear and have already skewered a few creatures! There''s an abandoned village in my tutorial zone that''s like an event area where players team up. I met a sassy woman there who looked down on me after I freaked out when a rabbit leaped out of the darkness. She called me a loser who picked a spear because he''s afraid of fighting monsters up close!" Blake swallowed his laughter and asked with a poker face, "How did you reply?" "Bro, I called her a dishwasher, and she went at me as if I''d killed her entire family. I lost," Joel sighed. "She''s so lucky I haven''t received my destined legendary title yet." "Yeah, good luck with that," Blake replied before distancing himself from his co-worker. He couldn''t recall any events happening this early, let alone in the tutorial zones, back when he''d been a beta tester. Could it be that the game company had changed their strategy, or that a hundred in-game years after the last boss''s defeat had made the game much more demanding? Perhaps teamwork was now essential. Rumor had it that the AI controlling the game world was so advanced it could send players back three thousand years into the past, allowing them to face new enemies or perhaps even change the future. ''I need to forge a mask after the katana''s done,'' Blake thought, fearing he''d be forced to play with others sooner than he expected. Lifes Brutal (2) Chapter 9: Life¡¯s Brutal (2) When Blake achieved the perfect crescent curve, Vargar examined the blade''s spine and edge, checking that hammer marks were smoothed out, the surface was consistent, and the edge was sharp and even. There were a few minor imperfections that could be fixed through polishing, which wasn''t a problem. "Yeah, it''s good work for a first-timer," Vargar said. "This blade is eager to slice through enemies and, to me, feels like a beast restrained by chains." "Does it?" Blake asked, narrowing his eyes as he tried to sense the blade''s spirit, which somehow eluded him despite his strong connection to it. Of course, it wasn''t a true katana yet; the blade still needed to be fitted with a handle¡ªa tsuka. Vargar didn''t have much expertise with handles. He often outsourced this work to artisans in neighboring cities. Depending on a handle''s quality, he''d either leave it as is or make additional carvings to perfect his creation. As a traveling blacksmith, he needed at least some experience in this area. Now that he had shared some of his knowledge with Blake, the two crafted a simple handle for Blake''s first katana. Once assembled, the weapon was complete. <+25 STR, +40 DEX> DING! <+10% AS> Blake hadn''t noticed a single message from his game system. Instead, he gazed at his katana, captivated by it. Now he could see what Vargar had sensed within the blade¡ªthe restrained beast. It was as if he had infused a part of his own fierce spirit into the katana, giving life to an entity that craved blood in his stead. It was like controlling his own impatience. All he needed was to craft a sheath for it and slide the katana into place. Beyond that, the katana felt so precious to Blake that he wanted to give it what it deserved¡ªblood and proper care. He also felt inspired to forge more items and leave a piece of himself in them. At that very moment, a spark of creative inspiration ignited within him! "I want so much more of this," Blake whispered, admiring his blade, which gleamed with a fresh and hungry sheen. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.The beast had been tamed. - Reading the title''s description, Blake learned that he was recognized as part of The Lost Kingdom. This title essentially granted him access to other zones related to The Lost Kingdom without any prerequisites. Perhaps it would upgrade over time to provide the exact locations of other zones. Knowing his katana''s measurements intimately, Blake carved a wooden sheath for it. Vargar also had black paint to give the sheath a better appearance. Of course, he didn''t go easy on Blake, offering stern guidance. "You''re not painting just a part but the entire sheath! Use broad strokes!" "Okay, I get it! I''m only familiar with digital coloring, you know?" "I don''t know what that means!" Since they felt that a restrained beast resided within Blake''s katana, they decided to add stylish chains to its plain handle¡ªfeatures that wouldn''t hinder the weapon''s use. After that, the katana project was truly complete. It rested at Blake''s hip like an extension of himself and complemented his appearance. Though he was from the western part of the world, people always joked that he was the reincarnation of a Japanese man because of his talent with katanas and his artistic skills. "I''ll get a blueprint for my mask... I mean, helmet," Blake said. "You don''t want to forge armor first? Your priorities and preferences are peculiar," Vargar said, stroking his beard. Later that day, Blake lamented the lack of digital conveniences, much to Vargar''s confusion. - Meanwhile, Joel had defeated a mini-boss in the abandoned village and picked up one of the loot items reserved for him. His heart leaped as he gripped the spear''s shaft. The weapon had a sleek silver design and emitted a cold, menacing aura; it was chilly to the touch. He couldn''t check its stats just yet. He needed to prepare himself mentally for the moment. Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back and took a deep breath. Finally, Joel examined the name and description. <+15 STR, +17 DEX> <1 Skill¡ªThrust (Common): Thrust your weapon to deal 100% of your spear''s damage> A glistening tear formed at the corner of Joel''s eye. He wiped it away and exhaled. "Not yet," Joel whispered. "...My destined legendary weapon isn''t here yet." Joel stood in silent contemplation for a minute. The Gatekeepers (1) Chapter 10: The Gatekeepers (1) Blake stoked the furnace and added the materials to produce more steel. He stood attentively before it, hands on the bellows. Various notifications flashed across his retina, which he sorted through subtle eye movements. Meanwhile, Vargar examined a blueprint Blake had drawn. It wasn¡¯t truly a blueprint, lacking crucial details and steps to craft the helmet that resembled a mask. It was simply Blake''s vision of the design, which Vargar summed up as a demonic skull. ¡°He can draw well,¡± the old dwarf muttered. This boded well for Blake¡¯s future as a blacksmith or even a craftsman. He needed to learn more about blueprints and their specifics, and once he did, he''d become a craftsman who could effectively translate his vision onto paper. Reviewing the sketch, Vargar stole glances at Blake managing the furnace. He had no critiques about his work there. They had spent a week here already, which was ample time for someone like Blake¡ªa man born with a silver spoon¡ªto grasp heat management and the intricacies of the furnace. ¡°Check the blueprint,¡± Vargar told Blake before taking over his task. Using long tongs, he lifted the malleable steel and brought it to the anvil. Meanwhile, Blake analyzed the shortcomings in his blueprint. He said, ¡°So, a curved dome shape first.¡± Picking up the hammer, Blake placed the steel on the horn of the anvil and began hammering it from the center outward. ¡°BLAKE!¡± ¡°Ye, here we go again.¡± Although forging the armor wasn¡¯t as demanding as crafting a katana, it still needed to be reheated. Vargar had reminded Blake of this many times, but the young blacksmith had internalized that rule by now. Vargar¡¯s other guidance was still essential. The old dwarf said, ¡°Flatten the front now.¡± ¡°BLAKE!¡± ¡°Dis is amusing and bizarre at the same time.¡± After hours of hammering, it was time to introduce chiseling. This tool was used to sculpt eye slits, a nose, and other facial features of Blake¡¯s mask¡ªnaturally, in a demonic skull style for maximum intimidation and coolness. ¡°Reinforce the edges now,¡± Vargar instructed. That meant hammering the edges to enhance the helmet''s durability. The final steps involved polishing the helmet, adding padding, and securing it with leather straps¡ªall straightforward tasks thanks to the smithy''s abundant resources. Blake used wool for padding and secured it inside with leather straps. This not only provided comfort and a proper fit but also helped absorb impacts. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.Leather straps also ensured it stayed securely on his head. That said, this feature wasn¡¯t necessary, as the inventory system magically affixed the helmet to Blake¡¯s head. He could only lose it if someone cut through it or forcibly removed it. <+35 VIT, +30 DEF> Cradling the helmet and naming it, Blake felt as if another part of his soul had awakened within it, awaiting the completion of the other pieces for his true resurgence. The helmet turned out perfectly, just as Blake had envisioned and drawn. Only the bright steel sheen on its demonic skull design didn¡¯t appeal to Blake, but Vargar reassured him they could paint it black with his oil paint. With this in mind, Blake focused on crafting the other pieces. He spent six days in total, dedicating each day to a single piece. It wasn¡¯t that Blake needed that much time, but half of his day was consumed by other responsibilities and rest. The last day was more relaxed, as he only needed to paint his steel armor black following Vargar¡¯s instructions. Entitled to rewards for continuous progression, players could receive items entirely unsuitable for their current path or, like Blake, items that could only enhance their abilities. Not only did he receive a handle for his katana to replace the makeshift one he''d crafted with Vargar, but he also obtained two empty enchant scrolls. These scrolls seemed like items that could become any enchantment he desired. If not, his Limitless Enchantment skill should ensure he acquired what he wanted. This combination seemed incredibly potent and exhilarating! Blake licked his lips and rubbed his hands together. It was time to enchant his katana and armor set, claim a new reward, and dive into his first battle of the game¡¯s official release! The Gatekeepers (2) Chapter 11: The Gatekeepers (2) Changing a katana¡¯s handle was more difficult than Blake had thought. However, because his existing handle was basic and of poor quality, he only needed to be careful with the blade. He discarded the inferior handle without much thought and fitted Pride¡¯s Shackle¡¯s blade into the new, superiorly designed handle. The new handle, wrapped in black cloth with red strings crisscrossing in an intricate pattern, was both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to grip. It fit Blake''s blade perfectly without any need for hammering. As he held his katana, the game system displayed a message. Smiling, Blake sheathed the blade and placed the weapon into his inventory. He also stored his equipment there to avoid walking around the smithy in full gear¡ªnot only because it would be odd, but also to prevent dirtying his precious armor set. He turned his attention to the icons of the empty scrolls and selected one. As a beta tester, Blake no longer had to use his fingers to operate the game system. He could do anything with it through his mind, from opening it with a thought to logging out. A simple scroll materialized before him out of thin air. Blake unrolled it, holding the edges and staring at the blank sheet. Vargar stood beside him on a small chair, peering at the scroll as well. An awkward silence settled over them as neither knew how to proceed. It was true that, according to their descriptions, these scrolls could be turned into any enchantment, but they didn''t explain what to write or how to compose the enchantment. ¡°I¡¯ll try with a pencil,¡± Blake said. ¡°Ye sure?¡± Vargar gave him a skeptical glance. Placing the scroll on the workbench, Blake wrote ''Life Steal'' on the white canvas. The idea of enchanting his katana with life steal had come to him after pondering the second objective of the legendary quest. It would allow him to tackle challenges solo without frequent breaks, as life steal would enable him to regain health by damaging his enemies. But... ¡°Nothing happened,¡± Blake said. ¡°Ye,¡± Vargar replied, stroking his beard. ¡°Do you know anything about enchantments?¡± Blake asked the old dwarf, prompting him to close his eyes in contemplation. After what seemed like the umpteenth stroke of his beard, Vargar opened his eyes and spoke of the tense rivalry between dwarves and elves. As Blake tilted his head slightly, Vargar quickly added that the dwarves excelled in blacksmithing while the elves specialized in enchantments. ¡°Many of my kin would murder anyone for saying this, but these two concepts are similar¡ªin their essence, at least. We shape tough metals through raw strength, fire, and ingenuity, giving birth to various weapons, armor, utensils, tools¡ªthe list goes on. Depending on the blacksmith and his skills, each item gains different stats and abilities. Ye could say that ye have enchanted yer katana with three skills upon its creation. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.¡°Word has it that the elves are the opposite of us,¡± Vargar concluded. The old dwarf didn''t seem to know more about the elves and their enchantment principles, which was unfortunate. Nonetheless, he''d given Blake a few ideas. Had Blake realized how little was known about elves, he would have appreciated Vargar''s knowledge even more. ¡°Opposite... so they enchant already-made items and use mana?¡± Blake mused aloud, prompting a few nods from the old dwarf. Vargar said, ¡°It appears The Lost King¡¯s dynasty understood that these two concepts are unbeatable when combined and excelled at them more than we did. If it weren¡¯t for our differences, perhaps we would have reached the Lost Kingdom¡¯s level by now.¡± Once again, the old dwarf made a statement that would infuriate both races, but he only laughed heartily. As Blake listened to the old man, he checked the scroll¡¯s description again. ¡°Is this like getting a taste of limitless enchantment?¡± Blake thought aloud. Each of these skills consumed half of his mana and would either curse or bless. Neither skill explained exactly how it worked, suggesting that their effects depended on the target. ''Something like blessing a fire item would make it burn more intensely or cause flames that last much longer... I guess?'' Blake thought. ''If I use Endless Curse on my katana, will the weapon debuff others or will it get debuffed?'' Initially, Blake thought he might gain permanent life steal from Endless Curse, as he considered life steal to be a debuff. But there was a chance he''d weaken his katana instead, harming himself in the process. If life steal belonged under Infinite Blessing, then he''d regret not realizing sooner. Although eager, Blake restrained himself from making any moves. ¡°Let¡¯s forge a weapon with the wasted iron ore,¡± he said. Trial and error once again! The Gatekeepers (3) Chapter 12: The Gatekeepers (3) ¡°Don¡¯t ye have only two scrolls, one for yer katana and another for yer armor set?¡± Vargar asked upon hearing Blake¡¯s decision. It was a valid question. Blake smiled. ¡°It seems the scrolls are used to permanently enchant weapons, armor, or anything else for that matter. My two enchanter skills temporarily buff or debuff, so I believe I can stack temporary enchantments on top of permanent ones. I¡¯m eager to try it out.¡± Noting the excitement in his voice, Vargar chuckled. Although Blake was nearing the third objective of his legendary quest, which was purely combat, his thirst for battle had been replaced by his newfound passion for crafting. This was the clearest proof that Blake had genuinely embraced this path. ¡°Furthermore, it''s not as if blacksmiths can''t produce identical items using the same skills. While ingenuity and creativity are important, mass-producing the same items is just as crucial¡ªthat''s where blueprints come in. The better your blueprint skills, the better your mass production and the quality of your weapons and armor,¡± Vargar said. Blake nodded. ¡°Not everyone can wield the highest quality weapons or wear the best armor. Cannon fodder is essential in large-scale battles or wars.¡± ¡°Not to mention the expenses,¡± Vargar added. While discussing blacksmithing on a grand scale, the two remained deeply focused on their current task. Vargar sketched a simple blueprint for a sword to teach Blake how to forge one and what was required. Meanwhile, Blake prepared the materials, tools, and the furnace. It took them less than an hour to forge the test sword. The name and description indicated how imperfect and far from its true potential the sword was, yet its appearance and damage weren¡¯t that terrible. The double-edged sword appeared to be a perfectly forged weapon that could fetch a decent sum from a naive or inexperienced player. Its peak damage was impressive, so with a little more investment, the longsword could be an effective weapon. Gripping the handle, Blake channeled the skill. Once again, he demonstrated his expertise in operating the game system; he didn¡¯t glance at the skill¡¯s icon or click it to activate the skill¡ªhe only thought of The Endless Curse, and it activated. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡®This is¡­ good,¡¯ Blake thought. In player versus player combat (PvP), a one-second stun was often more than enough to defeat an opponent. Even if not, one second was still a precious amount of time to inflict serious damage. It was less useful against monsters, but it was still an amazing debuff! Not only that, but Blake also learned that he could enchant items up to legendary grade, which amazed him. If he were to use that skill on the scroll, he¡¯d permanently get the legendary version of . ¡°My skills won¡¯t weaken my weapons or armor¡­ at all,¡± Blake said, eliciting a chuckle from Vargar, who had anticipated this result. How could the Lost Kingdom¡¯s King even weaken himself like that? However, since he wasn''t certain of his assumption, he chose to remain silent about it. Now that everything had been confirmed, Blake could proceed with enchanting his weapon and armor set. While enchanting his armor set was uncertain¡ªsince he only had a single scroll for armor enchantment and would probably enchant only one piece¡ªhe could safely combine the scroll and his enchanting skill with his katana. Looking at the three skills he¡¯d forged along with his weapon, Blake decided to use the buff enchantment on his katana. He unrolled the scroll on the workbench, then retrieved his katana from his inventory, unsheathing it and gently placing it across the white canvas. Blake extended his hand over his two valuable items and used his Enchantment Buff¡ªInfinite Blessing (Legendary). In less than a second, unknown letters began to inscribe themselves on the scroll¡¯s canvas, ignoring the katana that lay across it. Each letter appeared on the scroll as if Blake''s enchantment skill had burned them into the white sheet. These letters resembled those from various Earth alphabets, ranging from Latin to Greek. Some were even combinations of letters from both alphabets with the same meanings. Once the writing was done, all the letters suddenly flashed with a crimson aura that enveloped the katana in its unique sheen before all of the light sank into the blade. The Gatekeepers (4) Chapter 13: The Gatekeepers (4) It wasn''t the life-steal effect Blake had desired. However, as he examined the blade enveloped in a crimson sheen from various angles, he couldn''t help but smile. Not only did the crimson aura look intimidating, but the enchantment that executed his enemies meant he had a higher chance of better loot and could level up significantly faster. It was such a valuable enchantment that he''d do anything for it, including transferring the effect to his next weapon after Pride''s Shackle. With his weapon enchanted, Blake sheathed his katana and stowed it in his inventory. He let the window hover at the edge of his vision as he pushed the table to the workbench to lay out his entire armor set. First, he unrolled the second empty scroll and placed as much of his armor on it as possible. Naturally, it was a challenging task due to the size mismatch. Helmet, pauldrons, chest armor, gloves, greaves, and boots¡ªthese were the items Blake had crafted and painted in a week, all made from high-quality steel. Durable and strong, the armor set provided Blake with high stats and a unique skill¡ªmuch more than most players at early levels could hope for. The skill he¡¯d obtained from crafting his armor set was a passive one. Without Blake¡¯s input, Pride¡¯s Second Coming Set would automatically adapt to any attack. If he faced a combination of attacks, he could decide which type to prioritize defending against. Blake loved the skill, not realizing how it mirrored his own indecisiveness and internal struggles. Just as he could change defenses, Blake had come to love crafting as much as his battle fervor. Unaware of this, Blake proceeded with the enchantment. He hovered his hand above his mask¡ªthe item he wanted to enchant in case enchanting the entire set was impossible. Channeling his mana and activating the skill, the same process occurred. The unknown letters burned onto the white sheet beneath the armor, ignoring its heavy presence. Then, all of the letters sank into the entire armor set! Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.Upon learning about the skill''s capabilities, Blake literally stared at the screen with sparkling eyes. He was like a kid who had just received the toy he always wanted for Christmas! At least, that''s how Vargar saw him. The ability to control weight and even transfer it to something else was such a remarkable skill that Blake couldn''t stop grinning widely. Not only was his armor heavy, but he could use its weight to trap or stun enemies unexpectedly before cutting them down with his katana. Reducing the weight meant he could be more agile, which was crucial for his fighting style. There was also an element of surprise. No one would expect a player encased in steel armor to be nimble or fast. A quest prompt interrupted Blake¡¯s joy. A small flicker of bright, golden flames appeared before Blake. It expanded to the size of an adult man''s clenched fist, then took the form of a golden apple with adorable, transparent golden flame-leaf antennae and tiny legs below. The elemental landed on the workbench and looked up at Blake. Its little eyes instantly sparkled. "Sol," Blake said after pondering for a moment. Upon receiving the name, Sol''s eyes shone even brighter. Vargar commented, "Ye two are alike." "How?" Blake asked, puzzled. Meanwhile, Sol used his amazing power to fly up and perch himself atop Blake¡¯s head. His leaf antennae swayed left and right as he settled into a comfortable spot. For Blake, it felt like wearing a cap so comfortable he''d never take it off, even in bed. Before Blake could look into Sol¡¯s stats and their connection, the walls of the smithy behind him trembled and parted like hidden doors, revealing a pitch-dark corridor. An inviting breeze swept over Blake and Sol. The Gatekeepers must have sensed that Blake had completed two of the three objectives of his quest. Now it was time to prove that he was worthy of vying for The Lost Kingdom¡¯s throne¡ªthat he could be a king not only with crafting skill and drive, but also with the strength to back it up. Blake glanced over his shoulder at the black abyss. "Come with us, Vargar. I''ll show you that the third objective is the easiest." In the blink of an eye, Blake equipped all his gear from his character page, encasing himself in his forged items. Time to see whether Blake¡¯s hard work had paid off! Versus The Gatekeepers (1) Chapter 14: Versus The Gatekeepers (1) Sol''s light illuminated the narrow corridor for Blake and Vargar. The old dwarf had been hesitant to accompany Blake, but he relented readily after seeing Blake''s confidence. In his long life, Vargar had met numerous confident people, but none had an aura like Blake''s. Though bratty, impatient, and even somewhat entitled, the young player overcame his flaws and strove to change himself¡ªa quality that was part of his charm. He undoubtedly possessed something that drew people to him. Moreover, this was yet another trial for The Lost King''s throne. It might be dangerous to enter the trial zone for outsiders, but Vargar didn''t want to miss the rise of the new king, especially since he had been involved from the beginning. Considering all of this, he couldn''t bring himself to disappoint Blake¡ªor himself. After ten minutes of walking, Sol''s light reached the other end of the corridor, revealing the threshold. From that point onward, a vast expanse unfolded in every direction¡ªso vast that Sol''s light was nothing but a drop in a sea of darkness. However, Blake and Vargar had already noticed at least fifty menacing red orbs staring at them from across the expanse. At the edge of Sol''s light, Blake caught sight of a few pairs of pristine white sabatons and glimpses of greaves of the same color and material. Despite their color, these armors blended seamlessly into the hall''s darkness¡ªan intriguing and quite advanced mechanic for the first battle zone. <0/50> Without hesitation, Blake accepted the challenge. The moment he did, beacons hidden on either side of the hall, high above Blake and the gatekeepers'' heads, ignited, casting a mix of blue and red lights across the hall. Every nook and cranny became visible to human eyes. And with the hall illuminated, the appearance of the gatekeepers was laid bare. Seemingly crafted from marble that could adapt to any source of light, their armors¡ªnow reflecting the red and blue beacons¡ªwere so lean they appeared as an additional layer of skin. Their intricate details and finishes gave each armor a celestial appearance. Although perhaps excessively ornate, Vargar couldn''t find any flaw in the design and grew more impressed the longer he examined them. Sol didn''t know anything about craftsmanship, but his little eyes shone like a thousand stars. Meanwhile, Blake focused on their weapons, which were spears. Just like the armor, their spears appeared to be forged from the same light-absorbing material. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!"Forging and enchanting at its finest," Blake muttered. Unaware that his words had pulled Vargar from his deep admiration of the armor¡ªVargar hadn''t even considered the enchanting yet¡ªBlake looked up at the gatekeepers'' helmets and noticed something unusual. Each helmet had a thin strand extending taut toward the ceiling like a marionette''s string. The blue light revealed the strands, while the red light concealed them. As each beacon swept its light across the gatekeepers, Blake confirmed his suspicions. He smiled. Unsheathing his katana, he assumed the balanced stance¡ªmiddle guard. With his blade held in front and tip pointing at the nearest gatekeeper''s chest, Blake compelled the opponent to make the first move. Three gatekeepers advanced as their strings swayed, each making a thrust toward Blake, leveraging their superior reach. In response, Blake sidestepped just enough to avoid two of the three thrusts without giving any other gatekeeper an advantage. Simultaneously, he angled his curved blade, parrying the inevitable enemy thrust and guiding it away from his body. This created an opening that Blake could exploit. However, the experienced spearman¡ªthe gatekeeper¡ªalso understood this and remained cautious. He responded by using the other end of his spear to defend himself and to create distance suitable for him and his weapon¡ªregaining his advantage. Yet, the crescent blade sliced through his neck before he could execute any of those moves, beheading him in a split second. His finely crafted helmet plummeted to the cold floor and bounced before rolling between the legs of his comrades. The rest of his body knelt before Blake before collapsing face-first¡­ or chest-first. <1/50> Vargar''s jaw dropped, while Sol happily danced atop Blake''s helmet. In just a few seconds after entering the battle, Blake had defeated one of fifty opponents, and he did it with such precision and speed that he emerged unscathed. What he did was nothing short of amazing, despite his moves seeming simple and effortless on the surface. The execution of that defensive and offensive sequence was perfect. Moreover, Blake''s stats had increased beyond what the gatekeepers had adapted to, thanks to his use of one of his katana''s three skills. As Blake defeated one of them¡­ Versus The Gatekeepers (2) Chapter 15: Versus The Gatekeepers (2) Given Sheathed Pride¡¯s enhanced stat bonuses, it was more advantageous for Blake to disarm the gatekeepers rather than execute them one by one. In immersive virtual reality, enemies could be subdued through countless methods¡ªseveral of which Blake could easily perform as a beta tester with nearly two years¡¯ experience beyond what other players had. As he swept through the gatekeepers, their hollow helmets rattled in his wake, followed by the dull crash of their armored bodies collapsing onto the floor. Those distant echoes trailed behind him as he darted toward his next targets, drawing crescent-shaped arcs that claimed their heads in a single, fluid motion. Each slash carved a silver crescent streak accented with a crimson sheen. These luminous arcs hovered briefly above the falling gatekeepers, as though gazing down at them on Blake¡¯s behalf. This vivid display proved that Blake had been using his katana¡¯s second skill¡ªCrescent Pride (Rare). Combined with The Executioner¡¯s End Enchantment, this skill transformed Blake into a genuine whirlwind of devastation. He not only annihilated his foes but remained entirely unimpeded. He managed this feat because he had discerned the mechanics of the hall. The blue and red lights rippling across the room, along with the strings affixed to the gatekeepers¡¯ helmets, were all interlinked. These lights alternately revealed and concealed the strings, each strand betraying a gatekeeper¡¯s move before its armored shell could fully react to Blake¡¯s approach. During his very first clash with the gatekeepers, Blake verified his hypothesis by reading these subtle shifts. In the following encounters, he matched each sway to the gatekeepers¡¯ attacks and stances, remembering all patterns. From that moment forward, Blake not only redirected the gatekeepers¡¯ spears but also provoked those with exposed strings into lunging at him. After shedding all the rust from his year-long hiatus, Blake no longer needed to abide by the hall¡¯s constraints¡ªhe confronted the gatekeepers on his own terms. ¡°¡­unbelievable,¡± Vargar murmured under his breath. In spite of all the stat boosts, the old dwarf could easily discern the intricate nuances behind Blake¡¯s technique and cunning. Admiring how adeptly the young player wielded his katana, Vargar analyzed Blake¡¯s approach, which ranged from exploiting the trial¡¯s mechanics to relentlessly testing the gatekeepers¡¯ limits. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.¡°I have no doubts now,¡± Vargar said, clenching his hands and grinning broadly as he witnessed the one-sided carnage. ¡°He¡¯s The Supreme Blade, The Main Head of The Cerberus¡ªthe one who inflicted the most wounds upon the leviathan a century ago!¡± Players were entities that the inhabitants of this world would inevitably have to adapt to¡ªmuch like the world itself already had. It would be sheer folly to sever ties with them, and even more so to refuse cooperation. That said, not every player warranted attention. Despite their endless potential and capacity to return from death, some could never capitalize on those advantages. Yet the player who had torn through The Lost King¡¯s trial¡­ <50/51> ¡­was undeniably someone the world would remember. Vargar harbored no doubts about that. ¡°He truly showed me that the third objective is the easiest! Haha!¡± No sooner had the old dwarf exclaimed those words than the beacons burst into countless shards, plunging the hall into total darkness. Nothing remained visible, and only the delicate clinking of glassy fragments meeting the floor punctuated the silence. Sol let out an endearing squeak as the darkness overshadowed his moment of enthusiasm. Shifting from excited thrashing to a sullen pout, the sun elemental rose to the challenge. He forced his apple-shaped body to radiate even more warm sunlight, chasing away the oppressive darkness. Blake smiled as he again glimpsed his own hands and the gleam of his katana¡¯s ridge. ¡°Thanks, Sol.¡± Sol hummed softly. His eyes, twinkling with pride at having aided his Master, soon dimmed as a surge of blue and red light spilled over them both, cutting his moment short. Half of the hall now glowed crimson, while the other half was awash in sapphire radiance. Vargar stood within the blue glow, while Blake and Sol remained firmly in the red sector. ¡°I expected this, considering the counter has stalled at fifty,¡± Blake said. <50/51> A new system message came into view: A voice swept through the hall: ¡°The Supreme Archer shall live on!¡± A sharp whistle hissed through the air. BANG! Out of nowhere, an arrow punched through Blake¡¯s left pauldron, cleaving the steel and slicing into his flesh. <-104 HP!> Grinning broadly, his eyes widening with anticipation, Blake murmured, ¡°The Supreme, eh?¡± Versus The Gatekeepers (3) Chapter 16: Versus The Gatekeepers (3) Before the second arrow whistled toward him, Blake weighed his next moves. Those who excelled in ranged weaponry and sharpshooting skills were often vulnerable up close, yet Blake refused to underestimate this foe. The feminine voice behind it all¡ªThe Supreme Archer¡ªhid her arrows within a crimson haze, using it to her advantage. Moreover, her arrows could pierce his armor, even though it mitigated more than half of all incoming damage. It would be foolish for Blake to look down on her. Considering the circumstances and that single devastating shot, he now regarded her as the final boss of the third objective¡ªthe last gatekeeper blocking his path to the precious fragment of The Lost King¡¯s crown. Certain of her prowess, Blake felt a thrill at the thought of facing her in close combat. That, however, would come later, and only if he could pinpoint her location. For now, the archer concealed not only her arrows but also her very presence in the red zone. This meant that when Blake stood in the hall¡¯s red section, he couldn¡¯t see her or her attacks. Retreating to the blue zone would somewhat solve this issue, but it would feel as if he were running away¡ªsomething he was against. Not out of pride, but because giving the archer more range would be the worst possible decision at this moment. [HP: 1021/1125] ¡®I can take about four arrows before it gets truly dangerous. Within that window, I have to adapt to her hidden volleys and track her down. Pretty doable,¡¯ Blake thought. To anyone unfamiliar with this immersive game, such reasoning would sound insane. How could someone adapt to invisible attacks and pinpoint their source without any special abilities? Even NPCs would believe Blake overestimated himself, given his low level and unimpressive stats. Yet he was simply built differently. By the end of the beta testing era, Blake had acquired and mastered a broad array of passive and active sensory skills¡ªabilities one could only encounter in a world of fantasy. His mind still remembered the strain of those peculiar techniques, and he understood their underlying principles. One was that the so-called sixth sense could be awakened by anyone, even in the real world. Everyone has likely experienced a sudden insight or a flash of intuition¡ªakin to a sixth sense. In this game world, one could deliberately harness such instincts. Pointing his blade downward, Blake assumed a defensive stance. With his eyes shut, he heightened his remaining senses, focusing keenly on his hearing. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.As a faint whistle cut through the silence, he instinctively clenched his eyes tighter. The second arrow hit dead-center on his chest, tearing through his armor. Fortunately, the high-grade steel and the armor¡¯s attributes prevented bleeding¡ªan affliction that would have weighed heavily on him in this predicament. The third arrow followed swiftly, once again targeting his chest and aiming for the crack created by the previous shot¡­ ¡­which Blake detected just in time, shifting his balance to prevent the damage from compounding. The fourth arrow seemed hastily fired, streaking toward his helmet. Yet behind that demonic mask lay a steady, unflinching expression. He remained utterly composed, steadfast in his guard. As the fourth arrow entered striking range, he swept his blade upward, cutting its tip and shifting its force into his katana. Biting his lip, Blake tensed every muscle and deftly deflected the projectile to one side. His eyes snapped open. Like a hound freed from its leash, he surged forward, racing toward the final gatekeeper concealed in the red zone. Having grown accustomed to the arrows¡¯ speed, Blake had also deduced her position. Meanwhile, the gatekeeper betrayed nothing. She drew her bowstring taut again and released a spinning arrow at Blake. To her astonishment, Blake¡¯s katana was already raised before she finished drawing. He paused only long enough to intercept the arrow¡ªreplicating his earlier feat¡ªthen pressed onward. The arrow clattered across the floor, much like the severed heads of countless other gatekeepers before. Blake continued his assertive advance, his katana slicing through the space where she hid. What he cleaved apart, however, was her cover, which parted like a curtain to reveal her. [The 12th Lost King¡¯s First Forged Soldier Lv. 1 HP: 800/800 MP: 278/455] Forged from more lustrous steel than her counterparts, The Supreme Archer was unmistakably a woman. A small helmet revealed a long blonde ponytail, and though she was petite, her curves and short skirt left no doubt of her femininity. Within her carved eye slits, two emerald, bestial eyes glared back, reflecting the image of Blake¡¯s demonic mask. As he tilted his hilt and lunged forward¡­ ¡­her bow emitted a sharp clang, straightening and elongating into a long spear that she raised to block his strike. BANG! Blake sneered. ¡°You¡¯re in my domain now.¡± Versus The Gatekeepers (4) Chapter 17: Versus The Gatekeepers (4) ¡°You¡¯re in my domain now.¡± Although Blake sounded menacing¡ªperhaps even disdainful¡ªhe was genuinely thrilled to clash with the soldier. Melee combat had always been his element. Now that she wielded a spear instead of a bow, the parameters of the fight shifted in his favor. Yet he suspected that her choice of a longer weapon was deliberate¡ªmeant to maintain distance. It hit him immediately: spears excelled at keeping opponents at arm¡¯s length. This meant he had to surge forward, denying her any room to maneuver out of close quarters. He struck first, his katana colliding against the spear¡¯s handle as the final gatekeeper blocked. Before she could adjust her grasp, Blake scored a hit on her armor faster than she anticipated. He leveraged his superior speed and the hard-earned experience from his beta days, outperforming the typical player by a great margin. Determined to repay the injury inflicted by The Supreme Archer¡¯s arrow, Blake deftly twisted his wrist and slashed at her torso again, intent on exacting his vengeance. And he would continue striking until she yielded and became his familiar. His blade moved with such speed that it carved shimmering crescents in the air, bathing her in a gleaming storm of steel. Only a handful of these arcs stemmed from the Crescent Pride skill; each one sliced clean through her armor. The rest were clever feints and sacrificial strikes, calculated to crack her stance and break down her defenses. [-144 HP!] [-137 HP!] [-109 HP!] [-115 HP!] As Blake once more unleashed twice his weapon¡¯s damage on the fifth slash, the gatekeeper¡¯s bestial eyes flickered into trembling human ones that briefly locked onto his blade. They reverted to their feral state a heartbeat later as dire urgency seized her. This player was no mere challenger¡ªhe wielded his katana like savage claws, surprisingly more beast than she ever was. He eclipsed her in every facet of close combat. If nothing changed, his next successful strike would end her. Driven by duty and desperation, the gatekeeper took a calculated risk. She deliberately exposed a vulnerable spot, hoping to lure Blake in. He took the bait. Although he inflicted another punishing blow, this time he lacked the position to react as swiftly as before. Grasping the opening, the soldier kicked him in the stomach, using the strike¡¯s recoil to propel herself backward. Then she somersaulted gracefully, putting more distance between them. When Blake looked up, he found her hovering near the ceiling, her spear reverting into a bow form as it absorbed red and blue radiance. She wove a ribbon of red-and-blue mana around her arrowhead, its tip gleaming with dense magical energy. Amid that bright tapestry of mana and light, The Supreme Archer¡¯s poised silhouette and bow remained visible, making her appear both radiant and invincible. Everything about this moment screamed danger. Sheathing his katana, Blake assumed a new stance. It dredged up memories of his final battle against the leviathan, but he dismissed that painful recollection with a slight shake of his head. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.He might have perished in style at the time¡­ ¡­but today, he would be reborn. Blake studied the archer calmly. He breathed in, then out. She hovered at least fifteen meters away, suspended high above, safely out of reach. It seemed he had no choice but to endure her final arrow. Only then could he close in and defeat her¡­ ¡­yet Blake didn¡¯t think so. The game extracted both the best and the worst from its players. Similarly, the players could surpass the game¡¯s mechanics through ingenuity, talent, or experience¡ªor all of these combined. Blake wasn¡¯t one of the characters with defined rules and limitations. He stood here as himself. No limits. He raised his gaze and smiled. The arrow¡¯s brilliant red-and-blue glow washed over his face, as though the entire hall¡ªhis very life¡ªalready belonged to the archer. As if confirming that notion, The Supreme Archer released her arrow. Charged with mana, it streaked toward him like a scorching meteor. When it reached the halfway mark, Blake sprang into action. He vanished from his spot. As he intersected the arrow¡¯s path, he cleaved it neatly in two. Only the soft rasp of his katana sliding back into its sheath and the faint clink of its chains reverberated through the hall¡ªBlake himself had disappeared. By the time the gatekeeper understood what had happened, she instinctively tilted her head back. There he was, floating above her, katana still sheathed, ready to strike. ¡°I acknowledge you as The Supreme Archer¡­ ¡­but I am The Supreme Blade.¡± He flashed past her in an instant, carving a deep slash from her shoulder down to her thigh, splitting open her armor to reveal the metallic flesh beneath. Blake alighted softly on the floor and inclined his head. Behind him, the final gatekeeper crashed to the ground like a toppled statue. Her wide, now fully human eyes admired his back. ¡°Yeah, I already acknowledged¡­¡± Blake bit his tongue. He sounded like his old self. How many beta testers had mocked him for that tone? No matter¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t dwell on it now. ¡°Yes,¡± he whispered. ¡°Beatrix,¡± said Blake softly. The defeated soldier¡¯s metal shell shuddered beneath a black glow, undergoing a transformation she herself could never have imagined. Meanwhile, a set of heavy doors materialized across the hall, swinging open with a resounding thud and flooding Blake with radiant, golden light. One Horned Demon (1) Chapter 18: One Horned Demon (1) Two events occurred at the same time: Beatrix began her transformation, and the majestic doors swung open. Those doors undoubtedly guarded the first fragment of the previous Lost King¡¯s crown. Blake wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if that very piece radiated the regal brilliance flooding the space. The glow felt so warm and inviting that even Sol, the Sun Elemental, closed his tiny eyes to bask in it. Behind Blake, his newly bonded familiar trembled under the suffocating black light. Beatrix moved stiffly, like a mechanical doll long overdue for oil and maintenance. Parts of her armor darkened as though infused with creeping ink. The metal popped and shrank, conforming to her evolving figure. By the end of her transformation, Beatrix had shifted from a heavenly white soldier into a demonic servant. Every trace of white had vanished. She now wore a full suit of armor that, much like Blake¡¯s own, clung to her body as though it were a second skin. Her helmet had transformed as well, resembling a featureless mask rather than practical headgear. Instead of being tied in a neat ponytail, her blonde hair now cascaded loosely down her back, drifting like threads of gold. Her skirt had vanished, its loss accentuating her hourglass figure even more. With this new title, Blake officially became Beatrix¡¯s master and the first player to claim a familiar. He could now view her stats, equipment, and even her inventory. A quick glance at her profile hinted at her extraordinary nature. Her system mirrored that of a player¡¯s, able to evolve alongside him and match his limitless growth. This insight explained the Lost Kingdom¡¯s former prestige, though it also raised the question¡ªhow had such a mighty kingdom fallen? Dwelling on that wouldn¡¯t help now, so Blake focused on her stats: If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡®Her dexterity is naturally high,¡¯ Blake thought. ¡®She gains far more from her equipment than I do from mine, and her stats might improve further once she equips her bow.¡¯ He regarded her thoughtfully. Standing poised, she saluted by pressing her joined fingers against her left breast. Initially, the gesture struck him as odd for a soldier, but recalling her immense strength and graceful movements, it soon felt appropriate. He found it reassuring to have her at his side, especially since he still intended to advance through the game with minimal involvement from other players. ¡®Her equipment set is similar to mine but far surpasses it in quality¡ªno doubt because the previous Lost King forged it,¡¯ Blake mused, examining her armor set, The Pride¡¯s Back. Not only did it boost her mana by 215% and raise her dexterity beyond his own, it also bestowed two skills, surpassing his gear in that regard. Since the set itself provided no direct attack speed bonus, Blake suspected her bow would compensate for that¡ªand perhaps grant even more dexterity. Still, he clicked his tongue, feeling overshadowed by the previous Lost King¡¯s craftsmanship. No matter the circumstances, it felt like a personal setback. The equipment¡¯s skills were also astonishing: Both legendary skills bent the game¡¯s rules in ways Blake considered almost unfair. In comparison, his Perfect Steel felt unremarkable. He imagined Vargar¡¯s advice¡ªdon¡¯t fret, Perfect Steel would shine at legendary grade someday. Yet Blake¡¯s disappointment lingered. His competitive spirit demanded that he return to the smithy and forge something even greater. How else could he hone his craft? Just then, Vargar¡¯s voice cut through his thoughts. ¡°Ye alright? What¡¯s that look for? Even she¡¯s tiltin¡¯ her head at ye.¡± ¡°¡­her equipment has two skills,¡± Blake muttered. ¡°Haha! Ye really thought ye could match the Lost King?¡± Vargar grinned like a kindly grandfather as he reminded that the previous Lost King had been trained in blacksmithing and enchanting from a young age. There was no chance for a novice king to forge someone like Beatrix in the modest smithy where they had worked this past week. ¡°Enchanting seems better,¡± Blake said, sounding sulky. Vargar harrumphed. ¡°Ye¡¯re right. Ye just need scrolls to make ¡¯em permanent¡ªscrolls ye can¡¯t get yer hands on yet.¡± His expression softened. ¡°Don¡¯t be such a child. See again how similar yet distinct these concepts are after today¡¯s battles.¡± Blake side-glanced at the old dwarf. He¡¯d relied on enchantments and his forged gear throughout this hall. In his last clash against the Supreme Archer, he had turned Prideful Step into a lethal strike by controlling his weight with the Weight Enchantment. Although the concepts were distinct, they meshed perfectly. ¡°That balance is what ye must master,¡± Vargar said after hearing Blake¡¯s assessment. ¡°Ye¡¯re a real monster in battle¡­I doubt many could do what ye did.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything special,¡± Blake insisted. ¡°Plenty of people could do the same.¡± Vargar narrowed his eyes. ¡°Ye jokin¡¯?¡± ¡°No,¡± Blake replied, completely sincere. The dwarf sighed. ¡°Yer battle experience is exceptional. It¡¯ll serve ye well as ye strive for the throne¡­but ye¡¯ve got a long journey ahead in crafting and enchanting.¡± Blake sneered, as though a new challenge had been laid before him. ¡°Actually, that makes it sound even more fun now that I think about it.¡± One Horned Demon (2) Chapter 19: One Horned Demon (2) After reviewing Beatrix¡¯s stats and equipment, Blake realized he had never actually examined Sol¡¯s stats. The little creature had appeared at such an unexpected time. Yet, Sol didn¡¯t seem troubled by Blake¡¯s earlier oversight. He seemed to take pleasure in Blake¡¯s strength and had even assisted him in battle! All of this left him one genuinely happy golden apple. Never in his entire gaming career had Blake encountered anyone with infinite health and mana. This seemed impossibly overpowered, and he couldn¡¯t help but focus on the tiny presence perched atop his helmet, emanating warmth and light. Those infinite stats stemmed from Sol¡¯s title. Its rank fascinated Blake, who had always believed ¡°legendary¡± to be the pinnacle. Yet here was a universe-grade title bestowing infinite vitality upon Sol. It seemed Sol could not die. His skill, Sunshine, felt underwhelming by comparison, merely granting ceaseless light and warmth to him and those Sol cherished. Still, it could prove useful, especially in the winter tutorial zone where Blake would soon venture. Compared to that universe-grade title, however, it significantly paled. Blake, however, recalled how delighted his little apple had been when he helped dispel the darkness, prompting him to smile. That memory was so endearing that he set aside any lingering misgivings about Sunshine. No, he would embrace Sunshine as a valued addition to his team. ¡°You¡¯re our little torch, aren¡¯t you?¡± he said, raising his hand to gently poke his elemental. As their bond deepened, Sol gleefully wriggled atop Blake¡¯s head, his eyes shining brighter than ever. While Sol basked in his contentment, Blake glanced over his shoulder at his familiar. Beatrix lingered behind him, standing quietly in his shadow, watching his interaction with Sol. She inclined her head slightly to meet his gaze. ¡°Can you talk?¡± he asked. Beatrix shook her head. ¡°I see. Your intellect remains intact, but your former abilities must be sealed, likely because I¡¯m only level one¡ªand so are you. We¡¯ll need time to unlock them. Welcome to the team, Beatrix. I trust you¡¯ll keep up with me until the end, and I look forward to having you at my side and witnessing your achievements.¡± Blake extended his hand. His familiar shook it, nodded, and then saluted before melting into his shadow, as though it were ink-black water. She had demonstrated a new skill, quite unlike what she had under the previous Lost King. Perhaps she simply disliked bright illumination in this new form. Her armor was dark, and it seemed she had inherited shadow- or darkness-based abilities. It was no surprise that she might detest excessive radiance. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.Once she vanished into his shadow, Blake murmured aloud, ¡°My familiar and elemental are polar opposites¡­ Well, Vargar, shall we look for the first piece of the crown?¡± ¡°Ye,¡± agreed Vargar, stroking his beard. With Sol perched on Blake¡¯s helmet, the trio proceeded toward the source of the golden radiance flooding the hall. Their shadows stretched long behind them, but only one concealed a pair of emerald eyes that observed for a few moments before closing again. The light ahead shone so brilliantly that Blake and Vargar narrowed their eyes as they approached the next chamber. Within, a perfectly hewn white stone block supported a black box roughly the size of a modern keyboard. The box¡¯s lid swung open as soon as Blake stepped closer. Inside lay a broken shard shimmering with rainbow hues, more vibrant than the surrounding golden glow. ¡°Beautiful craftsmanship,¡± murmured Vargar, closing his eyes as a faint smile curved his lips. During all this, Blake¡¯s and Beatrix¡¯s keen scrutiny weighed on Vargar. The familiar likely mirrored her master¡¯s caution, tracking the dwarf¡¯s every move. As for Blake, Vargar was not surprised that he remained guarded. What¡¯s more, Vargar had confirmed Blake¡¯s past. Having been abandoned by his guild members and allies in the final battle against the leviathan, Blake surely carried deep scars that made him keep others at arm¡¯s length. The old dwarf met the demon¡¯s eyes. ¡°Do you remember our promise?¡± ¡°You mean that I¡¯ll visit the Dwarven Kingdom and forge with you?¡± Blake asked. ¡°Ye.¡± Vargar nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to it.¡± He turned and departed. Perhaps that was for the best. Yet this moment strongly reminded Blake of his former self. He had once been a guild leader who hoarded top-quality items and challenged anyone who disagreed, determined to prove them wrong. He refused to let any treasure end up in hands incapable of unlocking its full potential. Although beta testers were selected by precise criteria, a hierarchy inevitably emerged; no two players were ever true equals. Blake had humbled so many others that he rose among the very best. ¡®It¡¯s frustrating¡­ but it¡¯s logical, isn¡¯t it? I have the Aegis Blueprint. Only I can forge this. I don¡¯t want to share it with anyone else. It makes sense for me to claim it entirely!¡¯ Blake thought, feeling as though a devil perched on his shoulder, murmuring assent. Yet an unexpected, more virtuous thought emerged¡ªan angel, figuratively perched on the other shoulder. He pivoted and called, ¡°Vargar!¡± ¡°Ye?¡± the dwarf answered, pausing to meet Blake¡¯s gaze. For a few tense moments, Blake said nothing. Then he finally spoke: ¡°¡­This is tearing me apart. I feel you deserve more, but I don¡¯t know how to proceed. The old me would have just taken this item without a second thought. That part of me¡­ it pains me. I don¡¯t want to repeat those mistakes. What should I do?¡± One Horned Demon (3) Chapter 20: One-Horned Demon (3) ¡°What should I do?¡± Blake was the guild leader who had led his team to the top. Yet he¡¯d always been more of a skilled player than a strategist. He was great at following his advisors¡¯ plans¡ªor even surpassing them¡ªbut he rarely came up with those plans himself. With a clear path laid out before him, he could accomplish a lot. But when it came to dealing with people, it was a different story. Sure, he had a presence that attracted others, and many admired his talent, but his past showed he wasn¡¯t good at building those relationships. Vargar looked at the young man, surprised that Blake had opened up so honestly. His initial shock faded into a warm smile. ¡°Your old wounds must still ache,¡± Vargar said. ¡°You did well, Blake. Really well. I would have acted the same in your place. A week-long friendship can¡¯t stand against something that might change your fate. Even close dwarven friends might betray each other for the piece you¡¯ve obtained.¡± ¡°Then¡­ there¡¯s no problem?¡± Blake asked, still feeling uncertain. The old dwarf stroked his beard. ¡°Every life has its troubles. But you promised to visit my home. That¡¯s more than I ever asked for. I trust your word is stronger than diamond.¡± Though still unsure, Blake felt much better. He had finally given something back to Vargar for all his help. He would hold onto that promise and one day visit the dwarven kingdom as a skilled blacksmith, able to forge items the world had never seen. As he thought more about it, he realized how much Vargar stood to gain. The dwarf had placed his faith in Blake¡¯s future, and if things went well, his kingdom would gain a strong ally¡ªsomeone who could help connect dwarves and elves. ¡°Take your time with the fragment. I¡¯ll look over the gatekeepers¡¯ armor,¡± Vargar said. ¡°Alright.¡± Blake nodded and returned to the golden chamber. There, he picked up the light fragment of the Lost King¡¯s first crown and viewed its details: [The First Piece Of The 12th Lost King¡¯s Crown (Ancient)¡ªWhen his kingdom fell, the 12th Lost King broke his crown into seven shards and scattered them, knowing his family¡¯s forging tradition would end. Each shard holds flexible power and is needed to craft The Aegis. The titles¡ªThe Spiritual Blacksmith and The Limitless Enchanter¡ªare required to forge the first piece into an item.] [You have found one of the key parts of The Aegis.] [You have received a new quest!] [Forge The First Piece Of The 12th Lost King¡¯s Crown into an item (Legendary)] If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.[Reward: Based on your performance] Suddenly, the white stone heated up. In an instant, the black box around it melted into a hazy mist. New system messages appeared before Blake¡¯s eyes: [The White Obsidian Furnace has heated up in response to your quest.] [You now have temporary ownership of The White Obsidian Furnace.] This strange, magical method of forging caught Blake off guard. He hadn¡¯t expected to use such a furnace yet, but he wouldn¡¯t back down. It seemed the quest wanted to test him right now, to see how far he could go. As more details on The White Obsidian Furnace came to him, Blake removed his helmet and gently placed it on the white stone. It didn¡¯t melt. He could now control exactly what would melt on its surface. The furnace offered such fine control that returning to a normal smithy would feel disappointing. He set the crown shard near the demonic mask and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll melt it into my helmet and shape it into a horn.¡± He glanced at Sol, who perched nearby, enjoying the furnace¡¯s warmth. Behind him, Beatrix emerged from his shadow and watched the sealed doors. She stood ready to strike down anyone who dared to interfere. With these two by his side, Blake smiled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised,¡± he said. He gripped his hammer and swung it. ¡°BLAKE!¡± Sol froze, his tiny eyes wide. Beatrix turned her head, likely just as shocked. Their master¡¯s forging rang out loudly, sounding more unusual than ever before. ¨C A few hours later, the grand doors opened. A small, glowing orb shone brighter as it drew closer. Soon, a tall figure stepped out of the shadows, the orb perched atop him. Clad in black armor, Blake emerged. The room¡¯s glow dimmed now that he had turned the piece into an item¡ªthe horn on his helmet. Sol clung to it like a prized treasure. Having finished checking the gatekeepers¡¯ armor, Vargar greeted him and noticed the horn. It matched the demonic mask perfectly. He smiled. ¡°A fine spot for the first fragment. It¡¯s lost its rainbow shine, so I guess it¡¯s an item now, eh? What¡¯s its name?¡± Blake nodded. ¡°Hubris.¡± His gear now matched Beatrix¡¯s armor as it obtained a new skill. Hubris reflected his chosen name¡ªSuperbia, the sin of pride. His katana and equipment embodied that pride. Unsheathing the blade meant fighting as he always had, savoring excitement he could never fully escape. His armor, Pride¡¯s Second Coming, hid his identity, allowing him to partake in the excitement of this world. And Hubris? It turned him into The Hollow King. Leveling Up (1) Chapter 21: Leveling Up (1) ¡°I never expected to babysit a player, but it wasn¡¯t a terrible experience,¡± Vargar said with a cheeky smile as he adjusted the straps of his large backpack. Blake stood across from him, arms folded. When Vargar mentioned babysitting, Blake averted his gaze, then sighed and thanked the old dwarf for everything. Yesterday, Blake had completed his first quest and acquired the first piece of the 12th Lost King¡¯s set. He shaped it into a horn for his demonic helmet, thereby completing another legendary quest. He had also discussed the gatekeepers¡¯ armor and weapons with Vargar, eventually deciding to share half of the loot. That equipment¡ªarmor and spears¡ªwas forged from high-quality steel, suitable for crafting, selling, and other uses. Although Vargar initially disliked taking half, Blake reminded him that resources were part of their deal. In truth, Blake wanted to share his loot with others. It felt like his first genuine step toward becoming a better human being and a more thoughtful player. He wanted to care more about his relationships. ¡°Thanks for everything, Vargar. I¡¯ll always consider you my friend. Until we meet again in the Dwarven Kingdom,¡± Blake said, extending his hand. The old dwarf shook it firmly. ¡°And I¡¯ll think of you as a friend as well, Blake. Until next time!¡± Vargar turned, opened the smithy doors, and let the howling blizzard rush in. The sudden cold roused Sol from his nap, making him adopt a comical defensive stance against the chilly air. His Sunshine soon chased the discomfort away. Not one to linger on farewells, Vargar headed down the mountain¡¯s slope, his silhouette shrinking until it vanished beyond the horizon. At that moment, the smithy¡¯s doors swung shut. - Blake approached the workbench and rested his palms on it. He surveyed the smithy: the furnace, the spot where he had shared a beer with Vargar, the sealed doors, and finally the pile of armor and spears. He couldn¡¯t store the third objective¡¯s loot in his inventory because of his low level. His armor and katana took up most of the space, with blacksmithing tools filling the rest. One tool in particular stood out. It was Blake¡¯s reward for completing the quest with outstanding results¡ªthe horn now adorning his helmet. [Volcanic Mold (Legendary)¡ªA mold crafted from soft yet firm volcanic clay, infused with draconic mana deep within the Empyrean Dragon¡¯s Volcano Kingdom. It can assume any shape, regardless of its dimensions, due to its pliable texture. Having rested at the bottom of the volcano for a thousand years, it is said the Volcanic Mold can even shape dragons¡¯ breaths into focused beams.] Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.It looked like a thick, volcanic-themed pad capable of stretching and contracting infinitely. This remarkable property would allow Blake to craft items with far greater ease and precision. In fact, he could even create custom molds for mass production. The Volcanic Mold brought out Blake¡¯s inner child as he played with its delightfully soft texture. It was as addictive as popping bubble wrap. Sol, seemingly eager to join, rolled onto the workbench and looked up. His golden eyes, however, settled on Blake rather than the mold. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Blake asked, puzzled. Sol didn¡¯t respond, remaining perfectly still. His silence spoke volumes. The little apple-like creature had always seemed happy at Blake¡¯s side, but now he was quiet. After a moment¡¯s thought, Blake asked, ¡°Hungry?¡± Sol¡¯s eyes lit up. He had arrived only a day ago, and perhaps he needed sustenance¡ªwhatever that meant for an elemental. Blake had no one to ask; no one else here could speak or explain Sol¡¯s needs. This puzzle felt more challenging than fighting gatekeepers. Each passing second increased Blake¡¯s discomfort. How did one feed an elemental? Just then, Blake felt a gentle nudge of intuition, as though a guiding angel sat on his shoulder. ¡°Anything you want?¡± he asked. Sol turned toward the pile of steel equipment, focusing on one suit of gatekeeper armor. Since Blake had defeated them cleanly, the armor remained nearly pristine. To Sol, though, it looked like a meal. ¡°Sure¡­ just one,¡± Blake said, lifting the little elemental and placing him on the chosen armor piece. Without hesitation, Sol pressed his tiny mouth to the armor. Within moments, his apple-like body began melting it into a paste he eagerly consumed. Both Blake and Beatrix, her emerald eyes peering from his shadow, watched, astonished. Sol paid them no mind, wriggling inside the armor as he devoured it with surprising ease. Blake glanced over his shoulder. ¡°What about you?¡± he asked Beatrix. She shook her head slightly, showing no need for nourishment. Blake nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t work on an empty stomach, so we¡¯ll head out as well. We can¡¯t go anywhere without our little torch. Let¡¯s wait until he finishes.¡± His familiar agreed, and together they waited, patient and curious. Leveling Up (2) Chapter 22: Leveling Up (2) Once Sol happily gobbled up an entire armor set, from the headgear down to the sabatons, he whined softly, asking for a lift to his nest atop Blake¡¯s head. Still astonished by Sol¡¯s ability to devour something so much larger than himself, Blake gently took him into his palm and placed him on his head. Sol closed his golden eyes and nodded off. His little lips were slightly parted as he leaned to one side, covering himself with Blake¡¯s hair. ¡°Who knew the Sun slept?¡± Blake whispered, listening to Sol¡¯s quiet breaths. Opening his game system with a mere thought, he clicked on his inventory and equipped each item, one by one, taking on the form of the dark demon. He stopped at the headpiece, knowing it would place Sol on cold metal instead of his head¡ªan abrupt shift that might wake him. Blake felt awkward since he¡¯d never had a familiar or a house pet before. He hadn¡¯t realized he had such a soft spot for them; perhaps Sol¡¯s adorableness tugged at his heartstrings. Wouldn¡¯t the blizzard outside wake him up anyway, though? Blake rolled his eyes upward, thinking. A few moments of contemplation led him to leave Sol behind. That, however, proved not as simple as it sounded. It wasn¡¯t that Blake had to be gentle, but Sol seemed anchored to his head, refusing to budge. It¡¯d be more accurate to say that Sol had latched onto Blake like something alien¡­ This little one left Blake with no choice. He put on his helmet, waited a few seconds to see whether Sol stirred, then turned the knob on the smithy¡¯s doors and stepped into the blizzard. His small companion didn¡¯t even blink while the snow pelted him. The blizzard also had less effect on Blake now that he wore his full armor set. None of the cold debuffs from his first day here bothered him anymore. A few seconds later, Sol¡¯s warmth enveloped Blake in a pleasant bubble that melted the falling snow. Beatrix had no reason to worry from within her master¡¯s shadow. With everything under control, Blake made his way down the mountain¡¯s slope, following the same path his dwarven friend had once used, though the snow had long since buried any tracks. - Fighting common monsters had never been Blake¡¯s preference. They generally fought with predictable patterns and lacked intelligence. It was nothing like fighting players or unique monsters that could adapt to their opponents¡¯ skills and environment. Still, higher-ranked monsters came with advanced behavior beyond their usual patterns, so exploring the world always thrilled him. Something dangerous might lie in wait, guarding treasure; unexplored areas could conceal valuable information for side quests or the main lore¡ªinevitably leading to exciting battles that tested his wits. ¡°You look like a common mob,¡± Blake whispered, eyeing a white lynx with an avalanche pattern rippling across its fur. He¡¯d left the main road and ventured straight into a white forest buried in snow. It didn¡¯t take long for him to encounter his first monster; the lynx stalked past a tree and, by bad luck, came upon the dark demon. They sized each other up. ¡°A single clean cut with Crescent Pride, followed by a thrust into its neck, will do the trick,¡± Blake thought. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.Though he didn¡¯t have a stat for critical strikes, crits naturally happened when striking vulnerable spots¡ªrewarding anyone who fought smart. ¡°If I somehow miss, the bleeding will finish him,¡± Blake added. Bleeding also occurred naturally in both worlds. In Ashen World Online, it whittled away HP depending on its severity. Light wounds rarely caused this debuff, but Blake was confident in both Crescent Pride and his skill¡ªhe was sure he could inflict at least mild bleeding, if not severe. Unconcerned about the lynx¡¯s opinion of him, Blake dashed forward with his Prideful Step Skill, slicing through the creature¡¯s exposed side and appearing behind it. As though he sensed the next moment in time, he drove his katana forward before the monster could react. When it finally did, Blake¡¯s blade slid into its neck like a knife through butter. Blake¡¯s black eyes gleamed. He surrendered to a surge of battle lust, having missed the thrill of combat so much that even a common monster¡ªnormally dull¡ªnow excited him. He let out a wild roar, his booming voice echoing throughout the white forest, summoning more lynxes from every angle. A scene reminiscent of the hall of gatekeepers played out once again, this time in the snowy woods. Fortunately, the only witness to Blake¡¯s one-sided display of domination was Beatrix. - Blake¡¯s stamina had dropped dangerously low¡ªeven though he¡¯d already reached level three. He needed to conserve a bit of energy to escape the white forest and avoid dying like a noob. Leaning against a tree, he watched Beatrix emerge from his shadow. She stared at him¡ªor so he assumed¡ªthrough a mask without eye slits. She wore it now because they were in dangerous territory. ¡°¡­ah, damn,¡± Blake muttered, realizing his mistake. He¡¯d come here to gather food so he could forge without suffering side effects. Instead, he¡¯d given in to the urge he¡¯d been suppressing all this time¡ªfighting monsters like the battle maniac he truly was, a side he couldn¡¯t hide. ¡°My inventory expanded after I leveled up,¡± he said, consciously opening his game system in hopes of finding a few slices of meat. Sure enough, he¡¯d obtained five chunks of raw meat. Their small icons already made his mouth water. ¡°I should¡¯ve gone for the butcher title¡­ I¡¯d have ended up with a lot more meat.¡± Blake felt like smacking his own forehead for missing such a clear opportunity. Players could turn monsters into particles¡ªsomething NPCs couldn¡¯t do¡ªto gain random loot. Money was guaranteed, while resources or items were much rarer. Materials like meat, bones, or blood fell somewhere in between, with a higher chance than items but still lower than guaranteed money. To boost the drop rate of these ¡®in-between¡¯ resources, players could earn simple titles like Butcher. Blake could have skinned or sliced a single lynx multiple times to get that easy title, but he hadn¡¯t, consumed by his killing spree. ¡°I also should have let you show off so I could gauge our teamwork¡­ Instead, I just fought like a madman¡­ My old habits are coming back. Thanks for the reminder.¡± Standing still like a statue, Beatrix quietly sank back into his shadow. She¡¯d emerged only to admire her master, inadvertently helping him¡ªan outcome that left her awkward, too. Meanwhile, Sol kept snoozing like a baby. Leveling Up (3) Chapter 23: Leveling Up (3) Skinning monsters wasn¡¯t simple. During his beta tester days, Blake struggled with this profession until he discovered he had a knack for it, eventually earning a rare-ranked butcher title. The higher the rank, the more loot a player could obtain from turning monsters into particles. It was worth at least leveling up this title or combining it with others to reach epic rank in the late game, because of the valuable loot one could get from bosses or special monsters. Keeping his battle lust in check, Blake worked on his butcher title until it became rare. He skinned, sliced, and collected raw parts of ten lynxes, just as he had in his beta tester days. The process was faster and even somewhat enjoyable. It reminded him of how his guild members used to grin at his lack of skill in miscellaneous tasks. Whether they were genuinely sharing a friendly moment or just pleased to see his weakness, Blake chose not to dwell on it. He finished his work and buried the memories deep in his heart. Smiling, Blake scooped up some snow, held his hands near his forehead, and let Sol¡¯s warm aura melt it so he could wash the blood from his hands. He put his gloves back on and flexed his fingers. ¡°Now, then. I¡¯m a bit hungry, so I should log out and eat in real life before cooking here. But I¡¯m more interested in our cooperation, Beatrix.¡± At the sound of her name, Beatrix emerged from the shadows. Blake had reached level three, but his familiar and elemental were still at level one. Sol slept soundly, while Beatrix had mostly been ignored. Blake decided to level up alongside her. ¡°With our stats and equipment, we shouldn¡¯t struggle in this forest. We also have Sol¡¯s aura, so the snow won¡¯t bother us,¡± Blake said, earning a nod from his familiar. ¡°I¡¯m currently stronger against groups of mobs or players than a single foe. I rely on my experience to make up for that, but it¡¯s best if I keep enemies alive until I¡¯m done. I can count on you to finish them off.¡± Blake¡¯s first katana turned him into a powerhouse against groups, if not entire armies. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.With Beatrix on his team, he could keep everyone¡¯s lives in the palm of his hand, leaving them no chance to heal. She was his shadow, watching everything, even while covering various angles. He expected that much from her, since he could also track many details during battle. ¡°Let¡¯s see what we can do without too much planning. You¡¯re free to act as you see fit. I¡¯ll lure the enemies,¡± Blake said, then howled again. His voice echoed through the white forest, rousing its inhabitants. Five white lynxes dashed toward him. He calmly took a middle guard stance, waiting. Meanwhile, Beatrix left his shadow. Like a fish in water, she slipped between the trees, using her heightened hearing to spot monsters. After fighting Blake¡ªwhen he handled her arrows with his eyes shut¡ªshe seemed to have evolved to match him, relying on her enhanced senses more than her eyesight. She tracked the five lynxes Blake had provoked, then casually roamed the forest for more. Still on the move, she drew her bow and pulled back the string. It seemed odd since she hadn¡¯t nocked an arrow. Any doubt vanished as tendrils of shadow formed between the string and the riser, creating an arrow with a four-bladed tip. She released it, and the arrow silently pierced a lynx¡¯s head. The monster noticed Beatrix and charged at her. She changed direction and loosed another arrow at a different target. Repeating this ten more times, Beatrix soon had eleven monsters chasing her like frenzied hounds. Back at Blake¡¯s side, Beatrix settled into his shadow. He glanced at the wave of monsters bearing down on them. ¡°Good idea. The more, the stronger I become.¡± His smile widened as he noticed all the lynxes hit by Beatrix were left with so little health that a single slash would finish them. A thought struck him. He said, ¡°As I move, so does my shadow. I¡¯ll weave among these monsters, and your job is to kill anything that threatens me. I¡¯ll draw them into obvious openings¡ªtake your shot when you see it.¡± Beatrix¡¯s eyes gleamed in the darkness, though Blake couldn¡¯t see them. And so, the two refined their teamwork. As for Sol, he still slept! Mining Node (1) Chapter 24: Mining Node (1) Blake logged out of the game world. The gaming capsule¡¯s lid opened, showing him lying there, silently staring at the ceiling. He didn¡¯t have his usual blank look; instead, he looked like he was still in battle. ¡®Beatrix can keep up with me. She¡¯s great at spotting openings. I need to power both of us up with more skills and stats,¡¯ he thought, considering the different ways players could improve those attributes. Upgrading weapons and armor with Skill Runes was a popular way to get stronger. Each piece of armor and every weapon had a limited rune capacity, which made Blake¡¯s blacksmith and enchanter skills even more valuable since he could add one or two effects. Another way to get stronger was to upgrade existing skills with Evolution Shards. For example, those shards could increase the range of his Prideful Step or reduce the cooldown of his Sheathed Pride. Those were basic bonuses, and depending on the Evolution Shard¡¯s grade, they could be much more powerful. Getting a title, like Blake had done, was also an option, but that route was much harder than the others. ¡®Because my tutorial zone is unique, I doubt I can find Skill Runes or Evolution Shards in the usual ways. Vargar mentioned mining nodes somewhere, so I should track those down and look for valuable ores that could help me or Beatrix get stronger,¡¯ Blake thought, stepping out of his gaming capsule. When he put his foot on the floor, his leg bone cracked. Clicking his tongue, Blake stretched his leg to ease the pain. The gap between his gaming avatar¡¯s condition and his real body was like night and day. Even during his time as a beta tester, he hadn¡¯t been in such bad shape, because his friends used to get him out for some physical activities. If it weren¡¯t for his job, Blake would have been in even worse shape. But work drained him so much that he could barely think about taking care of himself, let alone eat well. His late dinner was just a cup of instant noodles. His stomach rumbled at the sight of the steaming noodles. Blake, however, wasn¡¯t feeling so great. He clenched his hands and took a deep breath. He¡¯d taken a step toward a better version of himself in the game world. His current lifestyle was his punishment for ignoring his relationships and schoolwork. He also knew he couldn¡¯t wait around for something or someone to jump in and fix his life. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.Just like he¡¯d changed in the game world, Blake decided it was time to break out of his shell in real life. ¡®I¡¯ll rework the gatekeeper¡¯s armor into simple steel armor, then sell it on the market. I still don¡¯t have the battle pass or any way to connect with other players. I guess I need to leave the tutorial zone first,¡¯ Blake thought. He didn¡¯t want to use that cursed money, so the quickest way to make some cash for better food was to forge new armor from the gatekeeper¡¯s set. Because it took effort and time, Blake slowly nibbled his instant noodles like a rabbit. - Right when Blake logged in, he felt two beings watching him. One was behind him, clearly relieved that he was finally awake. The other was his Sun Elemental, who had just finished a long nap. Sol rolled off Blake¡¯s head and landed on the workbench. His eyes gleamed like stars, and his shiny glow looked stronger than before. The cute little creature wobbled happily on the table, ready for another adventure. ¡°You missed some good stuff, Sol,¡± Blake said, surprising him. ¡°We caused quite a scene in the forest while you were asleep.¡± Sol¡¯s cute wobbles turned into quick thrashing as he threw a fit. He wanted to go on the same adventure now, but Blake had other ideas. Ignoring the angry rolling apple, Blake fired up the furnace and opened the wooden chest, taking out iron ore and flux. ¡°I¡¯m gonna make a pickaxe. Beatrix, you want one?¡± Blake asked. Stepping out of his shadow, Beatrix nodded. She could use some training, even with her steel muscles. Just then, Sol let out a whine. ¡°You want a pickaxe too? I¡¯ll make you a toy,¡± Blake said with a shrug. Sol kept whining. It looked like Blake had misunderstood again. He turned to the golden apple, whose eyes were locked on the furnace¡¯s opening. ¡°¡­you wanna go in?¡± Blake asked hesitantly. Sol¡¯s eyes lit up, confirming it. Blake held him near the furnace, told him he couldn¡¯t stick his own hand inside, then tossed him in as promised. Sol landed in the furnace, soaking up the heat happily. ¡°I figured you¡¯d be fine since you¡¯re a Sun Elemental, but this is awesome, Sol!¡± Blake shouted. Sol wobbled in place, finally joining in on the work. Mining Node (2) Chapter 25: Mining Node (2) Blake placed his Volcanic Mold on the workbench and stretched it out over the table¡¯s corners, making room for a pickaxe mold. He had already drawn a pickaxe blueprint earlier. It was much better than his first one because he had followed Vargar¡¯s guidance. He wrote down important details about forging the pickaxe. A system prompt appeared above the Volcanic Mold. Without hesitation, Blake agreed. His simple sketch disappeared, and a second later, the Volcanic Mold began shaping itself into a pickaxe. Because the handle would be made of wood, there was only a mold for the pickaxe¡¯s head. ¡°Great,¡± Blake whispered. He picked up the iron ore and told Sol to get started. He put the iron ore into the furnace and kept track of the temperature. Later, he added flux and patiently watched the metal, occasionally glancing at Sol. Sol was also staring at the iron with curiosity. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, Sol,¡± Blake said, narrowing his eyes. Sol looked away. Even Blake, who wasn¡¯t good at reading expressions, could tell Sol wanted to try eating the iron ore or even the slag. But both were still full of impurities and could hurt Sol or make him hate iron. Nobody knew what secrets Sol might have. He could end up eating steel or other metals and then create something extraordinary¡ªmaybe a new kind of metal that only Blake could obtain. That was why Blake couldn¡¯t let his little companion eat whatever he wanted. After skimming the slag, Blake kept the iron heated until it melted. Then he poured the liquid into the mold. ¡°I read online that steel is better for pickaxes, but I¡¯ll save my steel for now,¡± Blake commented, watching the molten iron solidify in the mold. The Volcanic Mold was perfect for handling oxygen and iron, letting Blake focus on the handle. He picked up a thick branch from the white forest and snipped off the smaller twigs with a knife. Then he shaved it down and polished it with sandpaper. His work was rough and amateur, but Blake was satisfied with the result. He did the same with the pickaxe¡¯s head, sharpening its edges and making sure the eye hole fit the handle. At last, he finished his product. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. <+20% ore bonus from mining nodes> ¡°It shines,¡± Blake said, looking into Sol¡¯s golden eyes. Sol looked up at him, proud. Controlling flames was probably part of Sol¡¯s nature, and he mostly stuck close while watching the iron. Blake couldn¡¯t help praising and even hugging him. By now, Blake definitely had a soft spot for cute pets. Then he forged another pickaxe for Beatrix. Afterward, the three set out again into the white forest. - Thanks to his sun elemental¡¯s aura, Blake walked through deep snow with ease, while Sol bobbed around on his head, looking at everything. He saw white lynx corpses left behind, and his eyes sparkled. Maybe he shared Blake¡¯s eagerness for battle, or maybe he just enjoyed their victories a little too much. Either way, Sol was now an active member of the team, looking for possible mining nodes¡ªthough he seemed more interested in the corpses and blood than anything else. Beatrix, meanwhile, wasn¡¯t just hidden in Blake¡¯s shadow. She moved smoothly among the trees and even jumped onto the branches, scouting ahead and striking down lynxes before they could get close to Blake. If any did manage to get near, Blake took care of them himself to blow off steam. ¡°We¡¯ve secured the top of the mountain¡­ so the mining node should be at the bottom or close by, right?¡± Blake said out loud. Just then, he heard a ringing in his head¡ªuntil he realized it came from his horn. The horn must have detected something about the 12th Lost King. Blake took a few steps forward, and the ringing grew louder. Following the sound, he reached a thick patch of snow that cracked open into a hole, revealing an entrance to a mining node. He smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s inside.¡± Beatrix appeared at his side, while Sol held onto his helmet, peering ahead. His excitement made his little apple-shaped body shine even brighter. Blake walked in, his elemental aura pushing back the darkness. He saw copper, tin, and iron ores in large amounts¡ªand there was coal too! He chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work.¡± For some reason, the idea of gathering so many resources made him eager, even if it meant hours of mining.