Chapter: Founding A Guild
The morning air was crisp as Damian, Miles, and Astrid stood outside the hospital, leaning against the truck they had borrowed for the journey. The past few days had been chaotic, but their resolve was stronger than ever.
“Damian, what’s the plan?” Miles asked, worried.
Miles adjusted his backpack, looking uneasy. “Are we really going back to the refinery? I mean, we just barely made it out last time.”
Damian nodded. “Yes. We’ve leveled up, but this area isn’t going to be ours for much longer. The government will be sending more people to awaken soon. Captain Howard told me we probably have less than a week before they bring in teams to lock the area down.”
Astrid’s brow furrowed as she tried to understand what Damian meant. “What happens then?”
“The world is about to change,” Damian said firmly. “If the government doesn’t make this public, we’ll have to force their hand. People need to know what’s coming so they can protect themselves. But before that happens, we need to solidify our position.”
Miles and Astrid exchanged a glance. The weight of the situation was beginning to sink in.
“We wasted two days while I was out,” Damian continued. “And I know you couldn’t hunt alone without me. But we’re out of time to take it slow.”
Damian turned to his teammates. “What are your level stats by now anyway?”
Miles scratched the back of his head. “I put almost everything into strength and agility, with about five points in mana so I can use Stealth more often. My Blunt Weapon Mastery is at level 7.”
Astrid chimed in. “I’ve been focusing on agility and dexterity to improve my bow skills. I also invested five points in mana for Bloodshot. My Bow Mastery just hit Intermediate Level 1.”
Damian nodded in approval. “You’re both progressing well. Your builds make sense for how you fight, but we’re going to need more equipment soon. Stronger gear is going to make the difference in our next fight.”
Forming a Guild
Miles hesitated before asking, “So, what’s next after we clear the refinery boss?”
Damian crossed his arms, thinking for a moment. “I’ve been considering this. We’re ahead of the curve right now, and if we play this right, we can keep it that way. I think we should stick together and form a guild—or maybe a clan, like in games. We can pool our resources, gather materials, and start earning money through what we find.”
Astrid’s eyes widened. “You mean, like a team? For the long haul?”
Damian nodded. “Exactly. Miles, you live on your own in Austin, right? And Astrid, you’re already here with me. We can base ourselves out of Uncle Ben’s farm for now. It’s rural and far enough from prying eyes. We’re far ahead of anyone else—we have to capitalize on that.”
Miles grinned. “I like it. Being a Metuber, this kind of content could make me the top channel on the site. Plus, I don’t have much to lose. I’m in.”
Astrid smiled. “You know I’m with you, Damian.”
“Good,” Damian said. “Now we just need a name.”
Miles rubbed his chin, pretending to think hard. “How about… Hunters Guild? I mean, that’s basically what we’ve been doing, right? Hunting these things?”
Astrid and Damian exchanged a look and smirked. “Hunters Guild,” Damian repeated. “It’s perfect.”
In that moment, the Hunters Guild was born—a small, unofficial group with big ambitions. They weren’t just a guild. They were becoming something more.
The drive back to West Texas was long and quiet, the weight of their plans settling over the group. Three hours later, they pulled into the familiar small town, making a stop at Rodger’s shop.
The store was quiet when they entered, the only sound coming from the back where the rhythmic clang of hammer on metal echoed.
“Rodger?” Damian called, but there was no answer.
Pushing further into the workshop, they found the man hunched over his forge, hammering away at a piece of glowing metal. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his movements were unusually precise.
“Rodger!” Damian shouted louder, finally breaking his concentration.
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Startled, Rodger looked up. “Damian? Thought you were out of town for the week!”
“I was,” Damian replied. “But something came up. First, let me ask—did you awaken?”
Rodger wiped his hands on a rag, chuckling. “How’d you figure that out?”
“I can see your abilities with a skill I have,” Damian said. “But I don’t remember telling you how to awaken.”
Rodger grinned. “I didn’t do it on purpose. Remember all the materials you left me? I was working on treating that leather and forging some things you requested. Got so focused, I didn’t even notice until this warm sensation hit me. Next thing I know, there’s a status window in front of me. Says I’ve got the God of Creation Blessing. Enhances my crafting skills.”
Damian’s jaw dropped. “That’s incredible! So what did you make?”
Rodger motioned to a nearby mannequin, where a full set of leather armor gleamed in the light. “Made this from that Stag hide you gave me. Even had some left over for arm guards.”
Damian used Observe on the armor.
Lightning Stag Leather Armor
Rank: Rare
Description: Crafted from the hide of a Lightning Stag, this armor provides exceptional protection against magic.
Effects:
Magic Resistance: High
Damian’s heart raced. “Rodger, this is exactly what we need. Your blessing is perfect for what we’re doing.”
“What do you mean?” Rodger asked, confused.
Damian grinned. “Join us. We’ve started a guild—a team of hunters. We need someone like you to make gear and keep us supplied.”
Rodger laughed, shaking his head. “You’re serious, aren’t you? Alright, Damian. I’m in. But you bring me the materials, and I’ll craft you the best damn gear you’ve ever seen.”
Damian clasped Rodger’s hand, a wide grin on his face. With Roger on board, the Hunters Guild was finally taking shape.
The heat from the forge radiated through Rodger’s workshop as Damian leaned against a wooden workbench, explaining his vision for the future. Astrid and Miles sat nearby, listening intently while Rodger hammered away at a piece of scrap metal.
“We need to start thinking ahead,” Damian began, his tone serious. “Right now, it feels like we’re just surviving. But that’s not enough. Once the world learns how to kill these creatures and harvest their materials, there’s going to be a market for weapons, armor, and gear designed specifically for hunting them. And when that happens, we’re going to be at the top of it.”
Rodger raised an eyebrow but kept hammering. “You’re saying we’re going into business?”
“Exactly,” Damian said, grinning. “Your craftsmanship, combined with the rare materials we bring back, could make us all wealthy. People will need gear that works—just like we’ve learned guns don’t. The stuff you make won’t just be tools; it’ll be lifesaving equipment. And lifesaving equipment always sells.”
Rodger paused his work, wiping his hands on a rag. “You know, Damian, I’ve lived my whole life on a farm. I love working with my hands, but farming doesn’t pay the bills like it used to. Most folks out here scrape by. If this could really work…” He trailed off, the weight of the idea settling in.
“It will work,” Damian said firmly. “But we need to prepare now. We don’t have much time before others catch up.”
Reaching into his bag, Damian pulled out several broken and crude weapons he had collected from the goblins they’d killed. The blades were jagged, the handles splintered, and the metal was brittle. “I’ve been saving these. They’re made from magic metal, but the goblins didn’t forge them properly. We can smelt them down and create something far better.”
Rodger inspected the pieces, nodding slowly. “Yeah, I can work with this. It’ll take some time, though.”
“That’s why we’re helping,” Damian said. “You’ll need the extra hands, and I’ll help speed things up.”
Before they began, Damian handed Rodger a handful of mana stones. “These are for you. Use them to increase your strength. You’re going to need it to handle this workload.”
Rodger hesitated but eventually agreed. After eating the stones, he felt a surge of warmth and power coursing through him.
“Status,” Rodger muttered under his breath, grinning as he saw his strength stat had increased to 30. “Alright, let’s get to work.”
The following hours followed by the sound of Rodgers' forge roaring to life as Damian, Rodger, Astrid, and Miles worked tirelessly throughout the day. Sweat poured down their faces as they smelted the goblin weapons, hammering out the impurities and refining the magic metal.
“Rodger, how’s that bow coming along?” Damian asked as he shaped the blade of a sword.
Rodger held up the partially assembled bow, its frame reinforced with the antlers of the Lightning Stag. “This is going to be a beauty.Astrid peeked over his shoulder, her eyes lighting up. “It’s incredible! I can’t wait to use it.”
Nearby, Miles was busy polishing the metal for the small armor pieces they planned to make. “You know,” he said, “I never thought I’d be doing something like this. Feels like we’re building gear for a video game.”
Damian laughed. “It kind of is, isn’t it? But this is real, Miles. And we’re making things that will save lives.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, their efforts bore fruit. Rodger stepped back, wiping his brow as he admired the finished products.
Lightning Stag Bow (Astrid)
Rank: Rare
Attack: +25
Effects:
Lightning Channeling: Arrows fired from this bow can carry a small shock, dealing additional magic damage.
Agility Bonus: +5
Dexterity Bonus: +5
Stormbreaker Sword (Damian)
Rank: Rare
Attack: +30
Effects:
Lightning Conductivity: Channels magic attacks, enhancing Lightning Spear’s damage by 10%.
Strength Bonus: +5
3. Ironhide Shield (Damian)
Rank: Uncommon
Defense: +30
Effects:
Magic Resistance: Reduces magic damage taken by 15%. Durability: Can withstand heavy impacts without cracking.
Hunter’s Armor Set (Team)
Rank: Uncommon
Defense: +15 per piece
+5 Agility
As the team packed up their new gear, Damian turned to Rodger. “Thank you. None of this would’ve been possible without you.”
Rodger chuckled. “Don’t mention it, kid. Just make sure to bring me more materials. I’m starting to enjoy this new line of work.”
Damian grinned. “We’ll keep you busy, don’t worry.”
As they loaded the truck, Astrid walked over to Roger and hugged him. “Thanks for everything, Rodger. You’ve given us a real shot at surviving out there.”
Miles gave a thumbs-up. “Seriously, you’re a lifesaver. We’ll make sure everyone knows the best gear comes from Rodger.”
Rodger waved them off as they drove away, the faint glow of the forge lighting up his shop behind him.
In the truck, Damian looked at his team, determination etched on his face. “This is it. We’re ready now we hunt, we level up, and we take down anything before we lose our terf”
Astrid and Miles nodded