"This… this is [Rare!]"

In the world of Artemia, weapons are graded to reflect their quality and power – very much similar to role-playing games back on Earth; one of the very reasons why Otherworld is being treated as a game by many.

[Common] weapons are just that, simple and unadorned, while [Uncommon] blades whisper of potential with their slight enhancements. [Rare] weapons, like what Julian created in less than an hour, shine with unique traits, captivating the hearts of adventurers.

The quality is followed by [Epic], [Legendary], and [Mythic]. But of course, the last two are rarely seen or heard, only the most Legendary of blacksmiths and crafters could ever really achieve it – and in the history of Artemia, that number is almost close to none.

"Let… let me see that!"

The blacksmiths exchanged incredulous glances, their mocking laughter quickly replaced by a mixture of disbelief and envy. They crowded around Julian, their voices overlapping as they bombarded him with questions.

"How… did you do that?" One demanded, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Do you have some sort of specialized [Skill] in blacksmithing?" Another asked, his tone laced with begrudging frustration… or perhaps it was admiration, it was really hard to tell by the tone of his voice.

"Oi, we are asking you a question!"

"What the fuck is wrong with this new guy…?"

"Tch, just leave him alone."

Throughout all of the noises coming from their mouths, however, Julian remained stoic, seemingly oblivious to their inquiries. He completely ignored them as he just grabbed another lump of steel and started hammering away.

His focus was solely on the dagger taking shape beneath his skilled hands. The rhythmic clanging of metal against metal filled the air as he worked, each strike precise and purposeful.

The blacksmiths' voices faded into the background, their words drowned out by the all-consuming passion that drove Julian's every movement. His mind was lost in the art of creation, his soul intertwined with the weapon he crafted.

The forge's heat seared Julian's skin, sweat beading on his brow. He barely noticed. His hands moved with a mind of their own, hammering, shaping, refining. Each blade sang to him, a symphony of steel and fire.

Hours and hours passed, and yet Julian did not speak at all – the smile on his face, not even fading one bit. In fact, the smile might have even turned wider… more crazed.

This was the very reason Ellie broke up with Julian; he was obsessed, and not in a good way at all. Not at all. There is something… not right with him.

"By… By Artemis," the shop owner, who started watching Julian because he heard all of the commotion from the other blacksmiths, whispered; his eyes incredibly wide. "What… what sort of monster is he…?"

Julian ignored him, completely lost in his craft. Each weapon took less and less time, something that would have been impossible if he was back on Earth.

The pile of weapons grew. Swords, daggers, and even axes – and the most shocking of all of this is that most of it was of [Rare] quality, there were [Uncommon] weapons, but they could probably be only counted in one hand.

"How… many has he made? This is insane," one of the blacksmiths asked, "He definitely has a [Unique] skill!"

"I've… I've lost count. This… this is so lit. I should have turned on my stream!"

"Huh…? What stream…?" Another blacksmith squinted his eyes as he looked at the one who just spoke, "...Are you an Evil Spirit?"

"W…what!? No… no way. Me? Ha…hahaha!"

And as the Players realized that they were in the presence of a hyum, they all started refraining themselves from wording out their comments.

Hours continued to melt away. And very soon, the other smiths left, shaking their heads in disbelief as Julian refused to speak or even acknowledge them.

Darkness started to fall, but Julian forged on like a madman.

"Uuhh…" The shop owner didn't really know if he should approach Julian, "We're closing, but... keep going if you want. Just… just don't burn the place down."

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And of course, Julian did not even glance at him, not breaking his rhythm at all. The call of the forge drowned everything. In the flickering firelight, Julian's hands continued their relentless dance.

And very soon… the darkness enveloped Julian, broken only by the forge's glow and the occasional spark from his hammer. His large, towering shadows, veiling the entire smithy with each spark.

Hours and hours passed again. The forge may be his only source of light, but for someone like Julian… the world of shadows was his home.

This is his territory.

And soon, morning came.

"...What the? This guy is still here?"

And it wasn't only the chat that was shocked, the shop owner and the blacksmiths were too – how could they not, when there were probably more than enough weapons there to outfit an entire army?

"Oi, you—"

"Don't," the lead blacksmith stopped one of the other smiths from approaching Julian, "Look at his eyes — he's in a Trance. Nothing good will come from disturbing him."

"...Oh, come on. What trance? That's bullshit."

"What's bullshit is all of you just standing around!" The shop owner raised his voice, "If you have the time to talk, then just grab more ingots for the man! Go! Go!"

The blacksmiths could do nothing but just be pushed by the shop owner, suddenly forced to be a mere smithhand to this strange visitor. As for the shop owner…

…his eyes that were reflecting the glimmering blades could not help but just glisten; they might as well just reflect all the coins he could get from all of it. Just… how much money could he actually get?

"I'm… I'm gonna get rich!"

Julian was completely oblivious to all of this as just continued to hammer and hammer away.

And soon… it was night again.

And once again, everyone else left and the forge became Julian's only light. His shadows once again filling the entire smithy. This time, however…

…for some reason, his shadows remained and seemingly even swallowed the fire itself.

[Unlocked the Unique Hidden Class Quest: Master of Shadows!

Prerequisite: Craft 100 [Rare] Grade weapons consecutively without rest with only the heart of the forge as your light! You are a Blacksmith without equal, your hands blessed by the Gods themselves!]

And all of a sudden, ethereal words materialized before him, glowing softly in the dim light.

"Hm?" Julian finally paused, his hammer mid-swing. If Julian remembers correctly, these floating words in front of him were the Guidance of Artemis.

[The Master of Shadows is–]

"Skip...What is it even saying?" Julian's brow furrowed as he muttered, running his fingers through his sweat-dampened hair.

[Would you like to accept the Hidden Quest? Requirements: Offer all the weapons you have crafted to the shadows.]

The words shimmered. He tried to ignore the floating text, but it persisted, hovering at the edge of his awareness. Julian growled in frustration.

"Can't even work in peace," he grumbled, his hands itching to return to the forge.

The quest's presence nagged at him, an unwelcome distraction from his craft. Julian's jaw clenched.

"Ugh," he snapped, reaching out to touch the ethereal words. "Accept. Now leave me be."

[Quest Accepted!]

And as soon as he accepted it, an even darker shadow suddenly revealed itself to the smithy – Julian was completely unaware of it, however, as he just continued to hammer away.

And soon, this pitch-blacked shadow crawled toward the swords he had created… swallowing them all into its abyss, and it seemed even hungry for more.

[Congratulations, you are now one step closer to becoming the Master of Shadows! Here are your labors:

1. Craft 10 [Epic] Grade weapons and offer them to the shadows.

2. Craft a [Unique Epic] Grade weapon.

3. Kill a [Special] Monster using—]

"Oh…?" And before the information could fully enter Julian's mind, he felt his vision just suddenly darken – his hand that was holding the hammer, just losing all of its strength as his body finally gave in to the exhaustion.

And without even any mercy, his body just dropped to the ground as he lost consciousness.

[...]

[...The Gods of Artemia are watching you now.]

[Julian, wake up…] And back on Earth, MEGAN was desperately trying to wake Julian up as soon as the stream ended, [Julian…

…Please, wake up!]