"Sure," I told the old man without hesitation. "I will kill him for you."

Archmage Nadu revealed a seldom seen smile. "As expected, you are fearless."

"Not fearless," I spoke back, smiling. "It's just that I have absolute confidence in myself."

I saw how the old man lifted an eyebrow.

"Well, as long as you don't overestimate yourself." Archmage Nadu replied after a short period of silence. "By the way, have you not gotten a staff yet? I feel an abundance of fire within you, yet I can see no staff to channel that power."

"No, I don't."

"Yes. Without a guided path, the elements will travel in disarray. Here, this is my old staff." Archmage Nadu handed me his walking stick. "My orb broke long ago, but the staff is of excellent quality, made from a piece of the world tree, and should suffice for the current you even without an orb inserted."

I received the staff. It was just as the information he gave me. A growth type staff which would, with the proper materials, evolve with me as I leveled up and grew stronger.

Archmage Nadu's Walking Stick(Growth)

Requirement: None.

Description: This was once the staff of Archmage Nadu. It was crafted with a piece of the long-destroyed world tree and carries a tremendous vitality. Inspired by his resolve to kill the demon king and avenge his fallen comrades, it is filled with an intent to grow stronger at any costs. A suitable orb is needed for it to reveal a portion of its power.

Properties: Intellect + 7, Wisdom + 13 (Attributes and bonus effects depends on the inserted ord)

"If you ever find a suitable ord." Archmage Nadu said. "Come find me and I will teach you the way of staffmaking."

"Already found one." I grabbed the white wolf's red-eye from my bag.

Nadu received the eye and nodded with a laugh. "Ah, how could I forget. The one-eyed, a white wolf infused with demonic power and scattered moonlight for centuries. These contrasting power were obviously enough for it to gain something of equivalent value. Hand over the staff, I shall now teach you the noble art of staffmaking."

I gave back the staff to the man who held each of the items in his hands. "

"The first step of staff-making is carving the shaft. We already have a shaft, and so all which is left is to find an orb that synergizes well with its spirit. Luckily, the one-eyed's eye is perfect for my old staff. Both long for power and will stop at nothing to accomplish their goals. Just like you." the old man said. "What do you think the next step is?"

"Put them together?"

"Yes, now repeat after me." The old man commanded. He then began to chant. "Kindred spirits of nature, thou whose ways are lost and aim forgotten. Smoke and fire and cloud and rain. You were two rivers, now one. Fuse!"

As Archmage Nadu pressed the two items together, a myriad of colors far more exquisite than the rainbow emerged.

「You have learned the ancient art of staffmaking by watching Archmage Nadu.」

「You have witnessed a legend in his craft. + 1 Skill point. +1 Profession Proficiency.」

Art of Staffmaking (Ancient)

Requirement: None.

Description: Long ago, all practisers of magic created their own staff. This was because a staff created by oneself had a spirit which was in tune with one's own spirit, allowing the elements to flow more freely. However, the art of staffmaking was lost amidst the passing of time and only a select few still remembers its former glory, while even fewer can still use it.

Current proficiency: 1/100

"Do you want me to show you again?"

"No, no," I hastily interjected. "I've got it."

"Good, because I'm slightly out of breath. Here, take it. It's yours now."

He gave me the staff. It was a slender wooden staff without any blemishes or marks at all – as if undamaged by the pass of time. It seemed to carry a limitless vitality within, and the top of the staff was donned with a large crimson eye, sporadically moving about like it was alive. It slightly gave me the creeps, but I inspected it nonetheless.

Staff of One Eye (Growth)

Requirement: None. Bound to the user and cannot be dropped upon death.

Description: This was once the staff of Archmage Nadu. It was crafted with a piece of the long-destroyed world tree and carries a tremendous vitality. Inspired by his resolve to kill the demon king and avenge his fallen comrades, it is filled with an intent to grow stronger at any costs. The orb of the staff if the left Eye of the One-Eyed wolf which has absorbed scattered moonlight and demonic power for centuries.

Properties: Intellect + 29. Wisdom + 34.

Reveal bloodlust (Active): Causes all stealthed players within a five-meter radius to lose stealth.

One Eyed's beam Active: Emits a beam of demonic and moonlight power to destroy an enemy. Damage depends on the user's intellect and affinity with the evil god and the moon god. Costs: 50 mana. Cooldown: 10 min. Cast time: Instant

Wow, the attributes and active skills of this item truly was as said –far to good to be an item from the Beginner Village. I compared it with the boots and as expected, found them sorely lacking compared to the old Archmage's staff. At least they would increase the damage of the active item skill, One-Eyed's beam.

Boots of The Moon Goddess (Rare)

Requirement: lvl 7

Description: A pair of boots bestowed upon the One-Eyed wolf by the moon god for a long and faithful service. By her divine power, they have now been remodeled to fit its killer.

Properties: Affinity with the Moon-god + 5

"Young man, your skills are excellent. I would have loved to pass my legacy onto you, and yet I feel it would only impede your progress." Archmage Nadu solemnly said. "Go, travel across the great wide world and find yourself a path of your own. Once you have sufficient power, I will find and lead you to the underworld where your destiny lies."

"You sure you don't want to pass on your legacy to me?" I asked. "I mean, these chances don't come very often do they?"

"No, no, I'm sure."

"Really?" I tried again.

"Yes, although you'd become the strongest mage currently in the world if I did, it will not be enough to kill the demon king." Archmage Nadu said.

"I think it will if I try hard enough."

"Ahem." the old man cleared his throat. "I suddenly felt a bit of pain in my chest. You should head over to blacksmith Taylor, he probably needs your help with something. I need to get some rest so you can find me later when you are strong enough to leave the village. If you need anything crafted, just tell the masters of the village I will compensate for the loss. Good luck."

Archmage Nadu waved his hand and walked his tired body into a house nearby. I stood in the middle of the village, smiling widely. Now, here is where the fun begins.

I began the searching for Blacksmith Taylor and eventually found him in the forge.

The bulky beast of a man pushed the heavy billows up and down as smoke and fire mingled into one. Sparks flew right and left and my voice was drowned in his relentless hammering. As he finally finished, he put the sword he had been hammering into a racket where other were neatly placed. He then turned to me.

"Welcome, how may I help you?" he said.

There was an exclamation mark over his head. I inquired. "I heard from the village chief you needed help with something."

"Ah yes, I'm in the need of a special material. Do you know what Tykes are? They live in the forest and their horns have a mineral that is especielly good in forging when refined. Can you gather a few for me?"

Blacksmith Taylors Request.

Description: Blacksmith Taylor is in the need of a special mineral only found in the horns of a creature called Tyke. They live in the forest nearby.

Task: Gather 10 Tyke horns for Blacksmith Taylor.

Reward: 10 copper, Minor Intimacy with Blacksmith Taylor.

I accepted the quest and then said. "The village chief also told if I wanted something crafted, I could ask you and he would compensate you later."

「Intimacy with Blacksmith Taylor lowered from neutral til hostile. Beware, he may attack you if provoked.」

Anger flashed in Blacksmith Taylor's eyes. "Are you lying to me?"

I stepped back as the hulking man towered above me. "No, listen, he really told me this. Here, look, this is his staff."

I showed the Staff of One Eye and pointed at the shaft.

Blacksmith Taylor gradually calmed down. "I see, so he has found someone to entrust that task to. Fine, I'll believe you, what do you need?"

「Intimacy with Blacksmith Taylor has improved from hostile til friendly.」

I dropped my head. The towering man had given me quite some pressure. If it was the real world, I wouldn't have been afraid of him. But in the game, tactics, and experience was insignificant in front of true strength.

"Can you perhaps make me something with this tooth?" I removed the wolf tooth that had dropped from the One-Eyed and passed it over.

Demonified Wolf Tooth (Rare)

Description: A tooth from the One-Eyed wolf. It contains minor demonic energy

Properties: Can be used to make a necklace.

"Ah, so that old dog was finally killed." the blacksmith nodded in understanding. He then said. "Well, I'm not as proficient with these kinds of materials as Jenny is. How about it, finish my quest and then I'll take you to her. She doesn't allow visitors very often."

I nodded and left the smithy. Just wait, I will exploit you profession masters until you chase me away, I thought and laughed as I walked toward the forest.