Sweat streamed down his face as his body ignited with a hellish heat, like he'd been tossed into a goddamned volcano. But that wasn't the only agony vying for his attention. Deep inside, his core was a tempest of chi, a whirlpool of fiery orange threads threatening to burst through his energy channels. His body was screaming at him, a desperate plea not to wait too long to break through.

Overflowing chi could scour his energy channels like a damned sandstorm and strain his core. Hunter’s body was meant to harness this tempest, to contain it, not to be overrun by it.

His thoughts strayed to his old sun visualization technique, but he quickly cast it aside for his newer cycling technique following the path of Holly and Horse. It took every ounce of his focus to maintain the Earth Strider technique. His new breathing exercises helped — deep inhalation followed by three short exhalations in a continuous cycle.

Once he settled into this rhythmic pattern, his awareness shifted in a way that defied explanation. Despite feeling like he was simultaneously being torn apart and thrown into a bonfire, numbness replaced the agony, leaving him a bystander to his own shivving pain.

Visualizing the unruly chi flow pressing against the confines of his core, he willed it to shrink inward. Tower would probably explain it better, but Hunter sensed the limitless expanse of chi within him could stretch across the damn sky if unfolded. His steady breaths helped calm his racing heart. Without them, it would be akin to a wild stallion thrashing against burning stable doors.

Using his Stallions River Run technique, he imagined his raging ball of chi as wet clay shaping into a stallion, the details sharper this time. He pictured it coming to life, rising out of the pool of chi, which became the source of a mountain river streaming throughout his body.

Instead of letting his chi flow through the network of rivers, he instinctively knew this time would be different. Focusing inward on his core, he urged his wellspring where the clay horse resided to condense. It seemed like he wrestled with this visualization for hours. Only after truly meditating on the process and maintaining his breathing pattern did his wellspring collapse in on itself.

The chi circulated through him, scorching his chest and abdomen with the demand to become smaller and more concentrated. With all his effort, he pressed down on the raging torrent leading back to the source—his core.

Stubborn as Hades’ hellfire, the chi refused to budge. He maintained a steady breath, continuing to wrestle it, but the unrefined chi overwhelmed his stamina. His clay horse was losing definition, its edges blurring, yielding to an unseen force and threatening to dissolve back into the river.

That sharpened his intent. Not only did he have to visualize the chi source shrinking, but he also needed to maintain the fully realized form of his animal totem, the horse.

A difficult task, but the realization that mentally clinging to the orange motes of chi to reinforce the clay horse, the totem held its shape easier. As the river receded, the clay horse turned a brilliant shade of burnt orange gold, standing proud.

Bit by bit, he directed his flow until at last, the surge of his new chi pathway snapped the rest of his chi into place. His mind exploded in a brilliant golden light, the pressure lifting but replaced with a heat that felt like divine flames igniting his body. The pain returned a thousandfold, tearing a scream from his throat.

But, as quickly as it came, it passed.

A cool breeze washed over him, as if he were standing astride the horse atop the mountain. With the violent storm gone, his mind quieted, cooled and became comforted by his success. A sudden rush of gasping breaths roused him from his deep meditation. His eyes snapped open to find black tar oozing from his pores, coating every inch of his body.

The stench hit him next, like someone had force-fed all the poison in the world to a bunch of skunks with the shits and let them loose in the library. It was a monstrous nightmare of a smell that didn't just assault his nose but stung his eyes with its toxic fumes. After a goddamn eternity, it became bearable enough for him to focus on the blinking notification that had been there for who knew how long.

Hunter grinned through the pain as his battered body started to recover. As his aura returned in full force, he realized he was buck naked and covered in a layer of tarry filth and sweat. He sent up a quick prayer to the god of tinkerers that he'd have the strength and focus to make those water pipe connectors Tower thought he could whip up so easily.

As the tremors in his muscles subsided, he braced himself against the wall and slowly rose to his feet. The notification caught his attention again, an update scrolling across his vision.

[Congratulations, First Initiate on the path of Holly and Horse. First Star Refiner level: 100% complete. You are officially a Second Star Refiner: 0% complete. Now go take a bath, you smell like a raccoon's ass after a chili cook-off.]

Hunter chuckled, feeling a surge of energy with each step he took. The pain he'd endured had vanished, replaced with a hum of power coursing through his veins like he'd swallowed a whole damn guarana tree and hibernated for days. He felt amazing, better even than when he'd broken through to the First Star Refiner stage.

“Status.”

[Name: Leocedes “Hunter”

Age: 18

Clan: Filo

Class: Pending

Path: Holly and Horse

Element Type: Primary – Earth. Secondary – Pending.

Energy Type: Granted – Chi. Earned – Pending.

Chi Cultivation: Second Star Refiner.

Specialization: Undetermined]

[Chi: 5/5

Stamina: 5/5

Physical: 23

Mental: 15

Weapons Mastery: 16

Armor Mastery: 1]

Walking back into the guild room, he became a little disorientated. The bare walls and empty storage shelves seemed almost blindingly bright. He shook his head and blinked.

"What the hell's wrong with me?"

Tower: You did it, Hunter. You're a Second Star Refiner now. That disorientation you're feeling is your enhanced senses adjusting to your surroundings. Just take a moment; take a breath. Your body will catch up with your mind.

Doing as Tower suggested, Hunter took a deep, steadying breath and focused on controlling the light, like he was operating some sort of internal dam. It took a hell of a lot of concentration, but after a few tense moments, he was able to tune out the sensory overload.

A grin spread across his face. "This is amazing, Tower. I can see hairline cracks in the walls, and the areas shrouded in darkness are clear as day when I focus."

Tower: After your bath, I suggest you practice with your aura senses. You'll see the difference now that your chi pool has condensed and expanded, increasing your capacity to hold more chi.

Hunter rubbed his grimy hands together and strode over to his crafting table. "You said your pipes are in working order thanks to the purity crystals and water-sealing resin I brought back. Let's get these connectors made and fitted so I can have a nice bath, and then it's back to the grind."

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Hunter placed both hands on his new crafting table—the foundation of all his future creations. Thanks to his time in the tutorial room, he had access to Tower's waterworks blueprint. Staring at the internal workings of Tower made him feel even more life-like.

Sure, Tower seemed like a fortress on the outside, but inside? He was crawling with vulnerabilities. Pipes could be busted, monsters and dire beasts infesting him like goddamn parasites.

A stark realization struck Hunter like an arrow to the chest: he was more than just a caretaker; he was a doctor, a battlefield surgeon, needing to bring Tower back to full health.

Dread and determination churned in his gut, weighing heavy as lead. He clenched the edges of his crafting table, steeling himself. “Tower, your blueprint shows me where you're hurting. It says here I need twenty connectors to patch you up. I got a metal bar from my first straw hoplite kill—can you tell me if that'll do the trick?”

Tower: Please lay the metal bar on the crafting table.

Hunter nodded, rifling through his inventory for the metal chunk. His recent loot was glowing like a goddamn beacon. He squinted at it. “Hey, Tower, why are my looted items pulsing?”

Tower: It appears you’re referring to the Divine Order Skills Scroll you obtained after your first shadow boss kill. There should be two other items – choose one to equip.

Hunter rubbed his stubbled jaw. “Is there a time limit on that?”

Tower: No, the pulse is merely a reminder to examine and choose one of the two items. Once chosen, the other will vanish.

Eager as he was to check out his new skills scroll and choose his reward, Hunter pushed it aside. He had a job to do first.

See, I can focus on important tasks, not just the ones I fancy.

He pulled the hunk of metal from his inventory, laying it on the crafting table. His eyes widened as a title and prompt appeared above the bar.

[Reinforcement Metal Core. Rare Tier Item. 99% iron, 1% carbon. Strong and durable. Can be hardened through heat treatment. Primary use: tools, weapons, armor.]

A crafting menu popped up, linked to the metal bar.

[Forging. Sculpting. Inscription.]

He scrolled through the suggestions until he found a suitable one. It seemed simple enough, but his heart sank at the list of required tools.

[Forging: The process of shaping and crafting metal through heat and force. Best for creating weapons, armor, and other functional items.]

[Tools required: hammer, chisel, mallet, tongs, and anvil.]

Damn! He didn't have any of those materials in his inventory. But complaining about it wouldn't do him any good. From the information provided in the blueprint, he estimated how much metal he'd need for the connectors, and how much he could spare for a hammer. It looked like he had enough for both.

The broken chair legs from the library would make decent tool handles. There was one hitch though—his mithril dagger was only an uncommon tier, while the metal bar was a rare item tier, showing an upgrade option to the unique item tier, three levels higher if an upgrade script was engraved on it.

Hunter liked the sound of that, but he reined in his excitement. None of those upgrades would be possible until he mastered the basics.

"The way my crafting table is tethered to your system prompts is amazing! I can see exactly what I need to do and the tools I need to do it. There’s just one little thing: I don’t have those tools, but I do know how to make them using the leftover metal bar and salvaged wood. Do you have any ideas on how I can process the bar without a metal forge? Even if I were a Fire cultivator, at my current level, I’d have a hard time turning that bar molten."

Tower: That is quite the conundrum. But I am glad that you asked. There once was a mighty forge within me; I can still feel the ghost of its presence. Do you see the stone basin in the corner?

Hunter narrowed his eyes, searching the room until he found it. He strode over, peering into the sunken base. “I don’t remember this being here.”

Tower: At my Foundation Phase, I can make minor adjustments to my interior if I have the blueprints in my archives. In the same way I summon monsters or fashion my own, they have to be ones I have prior knowledge of. My imagination is not as good as yours.

Hunter’s brows shot up at that revelation. Was the tower once infested by bunnies? If there once was a blacksmith’s forge here, what else had been here before, but now was long gone? That knowledge would be vital in understanding what Tower could do under Hunter's guidance.

"I was told I have one heck of an imagination, especially when I first told Nic I dreamed of you. Sounds to me like we have a partnership of sorts. We can help bring out the best in each other." He gestured to the stone basin. "If I place the metal bar in there, where do I get the heat source?"

Tower: The same place where you get water. All elements come from me, but I have a limited supply tied to my level of progression.

Hunter grinned. "You have access to elemental stores. That's brilliant news."

Fire, water, earth, and wind.

Hunter wondered what forms these elements could manifest, the possibilities were endless. Together, he and Tower could be an unstoppable force. He pulled himself back to the present. "Focus, Hunter. Stay in the now."

He grabbed the metal bar and placed it in the basin. "Here you go, Tower, work your magic!"

Tower: Please step back, Hunter. I'd rather not melt your face off.

Hunter heeded the warning, stepping back as flames erupted from the ground, engulfing the basin. His eyes brightened, as the flames reduced to mere embers, licking the bottom of the basin.

Tower: It is safe for you to approach. I’ve taken the liberty of creating stone molds for the hammer head and chisel.

The sound of stone grinding drew Hunter’s attention to the hefty stone molds emerging from a crevice in the wall.

A platform of stone extended beside the basin.

Tower: Place the stone molds on the platform. The basin is on a stone axis, allowing you to pour the molten metal through the spout. Ideally, I would recommend you wear eye protection and heat-resistant gloves. But you don’t have the materials required for that yet. I’m confident a thick layer of grime and your Second Star Refiner durability will provide some resistance if you work in short intervals.

Trusting Tower's advice, Hunter stepped forward. He turned the basin on its axis, pouring the molten metal into the first mold for the hammer. When the heat started to sear his skin, he took a break, wiping sweat and grime from his brow.

He continued working until the second mold for the chisel was filled. Then a new mold appeared, designed for the pipe brackets to ensure the waterworks network flowed as one continuous system.

With the work done, Hunter stood back, a proud grin spreading across his face. He took a swig from his water skin, the liquid tasting like ambrosia after his hard work.

Surveying his handiwork, a sense of accomplishment boosted his spirits. The flame under the basin died away and words scrolled across his vision.

[You have made a hammer, chisel and twenty pipe brackets. The forge is now a working component ready for further servicing.]

“Yes!” Hunter punched the air. “That's a win for us, Tower.”

Tower: I’m glad that is the case, as I feel rather drained after that.

Hunter approached the rough surface of the walls and gave them a gentle pat. “Why don’t you take a well-deserved break, Tower? You’ve done a lot in a short space of time, and I, for one, am truly grateful. You can leave the rest to me.”

Tower: Thank you, Hunter. That is the first time anyone has ever offered me such kind consideration and acknowledged my contribution.

Hunter shrugged. “Well, it's about damn time then. Your predecessors didn't know what a gem they had in you.”

Silence filled the room, and Hunter took it as his cue to get back to work.

While he made the wooden handles at his crafting table, he thought about his next steps: take the tools, new brackets, connect all the pipes, at least on his current floor, and then scrub himself clean before delving into his newfound treasures, the Divine Order Skills Scroll and his first gate boss reward.

The thought alone spurred him on, although a little nagging question in his mind surfaced every now and then: how would he know which item would be the best to choose? Maybe it would be like when he had to choose his beast core egg at the childhood ceremony.

He'd just know.

He shook his head. Nothing was ever that simple, but perhaps he could ask Tower to help him make a decision.

Before long, he had all the pieces he needed to make the tools.

It required Tower's help to extract the metal from their stone moldings and secure the hammerhead onto the wooden shaft. When he finished, he had a fine uncommon tier hammer and chisel, along with all the brackets he needed.

Tower: I must commend you for staying focused throughout that task. Not an easy feat after your recent breakthrough. Are you ready to mend the pipes on this floor?

Under Tower's guidance, he set off, carefully navigating the puddles and placing the brackets where the pipes leaked. The journey took him through several long corridors and into chambers beyond the chained trapdoor.

This time, the door didn't rattle as he hopped over it. “Hey, Tower. What’s down in the basement?”

Tower didn’t reply.

Hunter raised his voice. “You there, Tower?”

Tower: Sorry, Hunter. I was flushing the drainage system for your arrival and checking the new pipe connections for any leaks. Did you have a question?

Hunter didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah. That trap door leading to the basement. What’s down there?”

A longer stretch of silence filled the room before Tower finally answered.

Tower: The trap door, yes... well, it’s a long story. I don't want to bore you…

Hunter felt his curiosity spike. “Try me. I’m all ears.”