“What don’t you get about what I’m saying?” Rex asked as he pinched his brow. He was standing across the counter from a tough-looking woman. She was one of the lesser-known town blacksmiths, Linn. She kept her arms crossed as she repeated what was said earlier.

“For the third time, I don’t understand why you’d want a stick. My store has all sorts of weapons available. Pick something else.” Linn reiterated herself. As a blacksmith, she was familiar with all types of weapons. She even prided herself on completing custom orders, but this was beyond her. The idiot before her was requesting a stick, not a club. He’d be better off asking a woodworker for scraps.

“I can’t afford any of your merchandise. Maybe I could buy just a handle or something? Or, you know, a stick.” Rex said. He was annoyed with his limited funds, but there was little he could do about it. Money was tight. The slime he killed recently only gave a few copper pieces, the lowest of this world’s currency. To make things worse, his current class prevented him from using weapons above a certain level.

“Look. How about this? Why not make your own stupid stick? My forge is open to anyone that can use it.” Linn sighed as she spoke. It was hard to believe anyone could be this stubborn on something so odd. She hoped that the compromise would get him out of her hair.

“Make my own?” Rex said in disbelief. He had forgotten about the possibility. Most role-playing games came with an expansive set of crafting skills. So, why would this place be any different? Forging weapons shouldn’t have been out of the realm of possibility. He just needed the skills to do so.

“Yeah. I usually have apprentices make nails to start off, but you can just make a rod and scurry off.” Linn snickered as she gave her offer. She knew a novice was bound to make mistakes. Even a simple dagger would take a considerable amount of time to perfect. Linn, herself, could only make low-tiered weapons. Rex’s attempt was bound to be an almost unusable failure, but he wanted to have a useless metal rod anyway.

“Awesome deal! I’m gonna make you proud!” Rex said as his energy shot through the roof. He followed Linn into the back room where the forge was held. It was a moderately sized room that was unbearably hot thanks to the nearby heat source. The furnace roared as its internal fire raged on. An anvil sat at the ready, and a grindstone was eager to be used. Each piece of equipment might as well have been gemstones in Rex’s eyes. He was more than willing to start forging.

“THE SKILL TREE [SMITHING] HAS BEEN UNLOCKED.”

Genesis’s voice rang out inside Rex’s head. He had heard it many times, but this was the first mention of any sort of skill tree. A panel appeared after Genesis finished its report. Several branching paths presented themselves. Each new avenue offered different possibilities to specialize in. If he wanted to, Rex could become a master blacksmith by utilizing the Genesis Program properly.

“So, I can use anything here?” Rex said while reading through the panel. He looked through the available details that the panel presented. Apparently, unlocking the tree itself came with various benefits. The chance was slim, but he was capable of crafting mid-tiered weapons randomly. Successful use of these skills was accompanied by experience points and a potential increase in skill level. With a high enough level, he could equip the team with stellar weapons and armor.

“Sure. You can use the scrap nails to forge an iron rod. I’ve got a club mold on the wall. Oh, and I’ll kill you if you touch anything else.” Linn replied while waving her hand. The bell in the main room rang, so she needed to return to the shop. Of course, the final comment rang in Rex’s mind. He knew she wasn’t kidding and had the power to do what she stated.

Rex quickly shook his head and prepared to forge something amazing. The starting skill he just received as a part of the [Smithing] tree was [Novice Forge]. So, he tried using it immediately. He rushed to the rusty nails that rested in the far corner of the room and dumped them into the crucible. Without a moment of hesitation, he thrust the container into the furnace. Rex had never forged an item in his life, but the knowledge on what to do continued to pour into his mind.

He pulled out the molten metal and poured it into a specialized cast. The red liquid filled the mold as slowly cooled. After enough time passed, Rex used tongs to hold the rod while he shaped it on the anvil. Before he knew it, he was at the grindstone with his new present in hand. Every moment happened seamlessly. His body felt like it was moving on its own. Once the final process was done, Rex gently placed the weapon down. He watched as it cooled and took off his gloves.

After enough time had passed, a tone rang in Rex’s head. He prepared to listen to Genesis, but nothing was said. His eyes darted to the metal which was in the process of cooling. He hadn’t checked it in a while. The metal’s heat was visible until recently, so he preferred not to touch it with his bare hands. A quick jab with the tip of his finger showed that there was nothing to worry about. After a deep breath, he picked it up.

Upon touching the weapon, it began to glow. The light grew at a rapid pace. Soon, it was blinding. Rex closed his eyes as the brightness somehow built even further. He was about the let go of the blade, but a voice stopped him from doing so.

“[NOVICE FORGE] ACTIVATED. NOW CONSTRUCTING NEW WEAPON.”

Rex could feel the weight of his weapon change. The light slowly dimmed, but he didn’t dare to look. Once enough time had passed, his gaze focused on the object in his hand. The metal gleamed in the flickering light of the forge. The edge that he meticulously formed was altered by the power of the Genesis Program. Its rarity and damage output were presented with a separate panel. Everything was as it should be.

“[CRUDE IRON ROD] CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE.”