I began examining the items laid out on the table. There were 4 daggers, 2 swords, 1 mace, and 1 magic staff.
"Let’s start by examining the daggers."
I picked up one of the daggers and began inspecting its structure, hilt, and shape. Weapons made of regular metals and modern firearms, like guns, were ineffective against monsters. Of course, there are various classes and special enchantments for using regular weapons, but these things are generally not effective. That’s why people began crafting weapons and armor from materials gathered from dungeons and towers to combat monsters. Instead of handmade weapons, people usually preferred those found in dungeons or towers as treasure or dropped from monsters, as their overall characteristics tend to be better than handmade ones.
[Dagger][E Rank]
[The blade is made from a type of bone sharpened into a point.]
"What? Is this the [Examine] ability? So, it works on things like this too, and I can get information about what the blade is made of and, to some extent, how it was made. Being able to see the weapon’s rank is much easier than trying to determine it by mere inspection!"
I began examining the other daggers one by one, and I noticed that my comprehension ability was becoming more detailed.
[Dagger][E Rank]
[The blade of the dagger is made from the bone of a warrior orc, sharpened to a point, while the hilt is crafted from the root of a certain tree.]
"I’ve finished examining the third dagger, and the information is becoming even more detailed. It looks like all the daggers are made from the same material, which means I probably gathered them from the same person. Maybe they shared their weapons since they were in the same team. Let’s examine the last dagger."
[Dagger][E Rank]
[The blade of the dagger is made from the arm bone of a warrior orc, while the hilt is crafted from the root of an ebony tree.]
[Your understanding of Orc Bone Daggers has increased, and your insight into this type of weapon will improve!]
"Did I just unlock some kind of achievement? Let's examine this dagger again."
[Orc Bone Dagger][E Rank]
[The blade of the dagger is made from the arm bone of a warrior orc, while the hilt is crafted from the root of an ebony tree.] [Slightly Used.]
"Yes! I can see everything in detail now. While it’s not too hard for someone like me to tell how much a weapon has been used, getting this extra information saves time, which means I can produce more goods and make more money. Alright, let’s examine the other items too."
[Sword][E Rank]
[A sword made from a type of iron.]
[Sword][E Rank]
[A sword made from a sturdy wood.]
[Mace][D Rank]
[A mace made from a type of stone.]
[Staff][D Rank]
[A staff made from a combination of stone and wood.]
"Hmm, it’s not as detailed as with the daggers, but it's better than nothing. I guess the more of a certain type of item I examine, the more detailed my understanding becomes. Since I couldn't see more information after examining two swords, it means it’s not just about the type of weapon but also the materials it’s made of and the processes it’s gone through."
After inspecting everything, as I was about to set the daggers aside, I had a feeling that I could activate another one of my abilities. I didn’t know how I sensed this strange feeling, but it felt as if I’d been familiar with these abilities for a long time.
"Hmm, I feel like I can use my [Shatter] ability on these daggers. Is it because my understanding of them has increased?"
I took the dagger in my hand and activated the skill.
[Shatter]
The dagger I held disintegrated into pieces, reverting its materials to their purest forms.
[Dagger successfully shattered]
[Materials obtained]
[1x Orc Warrior's Arm Bone]
[1x Ebony Tree Root]
“D-Damn, even though the dagger seemed slightly worn, the materials are as good as new! And I got them in their raw, unprocessed state! If I can reach a level where I can shatter all materials, I could buy nearly broken weapons for cheap, break them down, and create new ones!”
As I began to understand the possibilities, my hope steadily grew. To earn more, I had to work harder. One by one, I shattered the remaining daggers.
[Daggers successfully shattered]
[Materials obtained]
[4x Orc Warrior's Arm Bone]
[4x Ebony Tree Root]
"Yes! Alright, with these materials, I can craft a good sword and sell it. No, if I use this... I can make an extraordinary sword!"
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The orc warrior's bones, the ebony tree roots, and the additional materials I intended to use: goblin bones and vampire fangs. I was used to working with goblin bones, as I had often crafted small daggers with them before. They were flexible, easy to process, and combine with other materials. They were also relatively cheap, so I always made sure to keep a few goblin bones in my workshop.
My heart raced; the sword I was about to create would be far beyond an ordinary weapon. The forge roared beside me, its heat waves crashing against my face. My focus intensified; the time had come to start crafting the sword.
For the first step, I took the orc warrior’s arm bone and placed it into the forge. As the fire slowly heated the bone, I prepared the goblin bones and vampire fangs. Rather than using these pieces individually, I decided to merge them together. This would give the sword a much more unique quality. The goblin bone would add flexibility, and the vampire fangs would endow the sword with sharp strength.
I worked the bellows slowly, intensifying the flames. As I turned the bone in the fire with my smithing rod, I kept my eyes locked on it. When I noticed the bone turning red and its hard exterior melting into a more malleable form, I added the goblin bone to the forge. The goblin bone, being lighter and more flexible, made the merging process easier.
The vampire fangs were to be the final touch. Instead of throwing them directly into the forge, I prepared a solution to soften them. I poured the solution into a small pot beside the furnace and placed the fangs in. A light steam rose from the pot, and I watched as the solution eroded the vampire fangs. Once they were sufficiently softened, I merged them with the orc and goblin bone mixture that I had taken from the forge.
I placed the combined materials on the anvil. Raising the hammer, I struck down hard to start the process. With each blow, the combination of the orc bone, goblin bone, and vampire fangs began to take shape, almost as if they were locking together. Each strike increased the flexibility of the sword, while the sharpness of the vampire fangs embedded themselves deeper within the material. The sound of my hammer echoed through the workshop, ringing in my ears like a victory song.
I carefully prepared the ebony tree roots for the hilt. That cold, black, and sturdy wood would add weight and balance to the sword. I cut, hollowed, and crafted it with precision. I also embedded a few leftover fragments of the vampire fangs into the hilt, further enhancing the sword's power and adding a dark aesthetic to it.
In the final step, I mounted the sword into the ebony hilt. When I held it in my hand, the power I felt was indescribable. As I spun the sword, I noticed a faint red glow emanating from the vampire fangs. The dark and deadly energy of the vampires had been imbued into this sword. It was no longer just a weapon—it had taken on its own character.
I carefully plunged the sword into the cooling tank. Steam and a hissing sound surrounded me as the sword cooled. In the mist, faint glimmers appeared on its surface. When I held it again, I could feel the flexibility of the goblin bone combined with the sharpness of the vampire fangs. I swung it through the air a few times, and it felt as if even the air was being sliced in half.
[Congratulations, you have obtained the Vampiric Sword!]
[Vampiric Sword][B Rank]
This sword possesses a simple yet effective design. The blade, crafted from orc warrior’s arm bone and goblin bone, provides both durability and flexibility. The fragments of vampire fangs increase its sharpness, granting it the ability to pierce through even the toughest armor with ease. The ebony hilt is sturdy and well-balanced, making it comfortable to wield. Its weight is neither too heavy nor too light, allowing for strong performance in both offense and defense. Aesthetically, it carries a dark and simple beauty, but its true power lies in its functionality.
[Attributes]
[Sharp Blood] [D Rank]
[A sword that sharpens the more blood it absorbs.]
[Note: Since the sword is not made entirely of vampiric materials, the effect of Sharp Blood will be visibly reduced.]
“A B-rank sword!? And it has an attribute too? If I sell something like this, I can pay off my mom’s medical debt and even cover her meds for the next few months!”
[Achievement Unlocked]
[Who wouldn’t want a sword that emits red lights when swung? After long efforts, you’ve managed to craft a sword beyond your capabilities!]
[Strength +5]
[Intelligence +5]
“A-STAT INCREASE!? Achievements that increase stats are extremely rare! In the early stages, leveling up to increase your stats is easy, but as you progress, leveling becomes nearly impossible, and gaining stat points gets harder and harder, so achievements like these are extremely rare!”
With a surge of excitement, I quickly opened the Crafting System to check my stats.
[Craftsman System]
[Level 3]
[Mana 0/0]
[HP: 20/20]
[Stats]
[Strength: 8]
[Intelligence: 6]
[Endurance: 4]
[Agility: 2]
[Luck: 1]
“Wait a minute, my Intelligence stat is 6, which means it increased by 5, but my Strength should be 7, so why is it 8? I’m certain I received a reward of 5 strength stats. Also, my Endurance increased by 1. What does this all mean? I couldn’t have leveled up without realizing it and distributed my stats because I haven’t killed any monsters, and I gained my Awakening after defeating the boss, so I couldn’t have gained experience from that either…”
As I continued to examine the screen, I noticed that my level had increased.
“Level 3? But how is that possible? And where are my stat points from leveling up?”
Each time you level up, you are rewarded with stat points. The number of stat points varies, but you are guaranteed at least 1 stat point, and it’s entirely up to you which stat you allocate it to.
“So, I gained 2 extra stat points, meaning the points from the levels I gained were automatically distributed? No, that can’t be. I haven’t received any notification of leveling up or gaining stat points. Could it be… what I’m thinking?”
To test my theory, I grabbed the iron swords I had previously set aside after working on them to gain mastery, and began melting them in the furnace. One by one, I melted each sword and forged them again. I repeated this process for hours, destroying and reforging dozens of swords. My understanding of iron swords had improved greatly, and I was dismantling them with ease. After long hours, it was time to test my theory.
“Crafting System.”
[Craftsman System]
[Level 3]
[Mana 0/0]
[HP: 25/25]
[Stats]
[Strength: 8]
[Intelligence: 6]
[Endurance: 5]
[Agility: 2]
[Luck: 1]
“Damn… my Endurance stat increased even though I didn’t level up… So, I can increase my stats without leveling up? But how? All I did was forge a sword. No, actually, this is like a physical workout. Every time I swing the hammer, all the muscles in my body are working, constantly consuming my endurance. If my guess is correct, I’m gaining strength through crafting! More precisely, I’m growing stronger by producing things! It seems I’m not gaining stat points from leveling up, but I can increase my stat points through hard work! This is basically a cheat!”
For the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful about life. I had hopes that I could actually achieve something. I could give my mom a better life, and I would do whatever it takes to make that happen.
“I’m going to craft whatever I can to get stronger!”