Alex entered the Matrix. This time, his gaze was determined. Before him, the dark anvil and the furnace with its blazing breath awaited like silent allies.
A new window opened:
[Do you wish to create a weapon?]
Yes / No
He was about to click when a new tab appeared, adorned with a logo shaped like a gift box. Intrigued, he touched the icon.
A new notification appeared:
"Huh? What's this?" he said, surprised.
[New Matrix Feature Unlocked: Rewards]
"Hynn… why am I only discovering this now?!"
[System]: Rewards are now accessible.
His eyes lit up.
"Whoa… so cool!"
Four icons appeared before him, each representing a gift box. Without hesitation, he opened the first one.
A blinding flash engulfed the Matrix, and a window appeared:
[Reward for forging a sword for the first time] You receive a new skill: Arcanoscope Eye
Arcanoscope Eye
Type: Passive / Perception
Description: Allows the user to instantly view a weapon's statistics by looking at it.
Effects
• Stat vision: Power, Sharpness, Balance, Resistance, Magic, Rarity, Durability
• Range: Direct line of sight, up to 10 meters
• Activation: Automatic when looking at a weapon
• Limits: Cannot detect fully hidden, illusioned, or magically camouflaged weapons
• Fatigue: No notable fatigue, passive skill
• Required level / Progression: Can evolve to see additional details
"Incredible! This is exactly what I needed… well, maybe not right away, but it's definitely a game-changer!"
He then opened the second box.
[Reward for naming your first creation] You receive a new skill: Guided Hammering
Guided Hammering
Type: Active / Forging
Description: Allows the user to strike metal exactly at the right spot to shape or flatten it perfectly, even without much experience.
Effects
• Automatic precision: Each hammer strike hits the exact area needed to achieve the desired shape
• Efficiency: Reduces the risk of error, cracking, or deforming the metal
• Activation: Activates as soon as the user starts forging
• Limits: Does not replace creativity or design; the user must still decide the shape or style of the item
• Fatigue: Slightly reduced compared to classic hammering, as fewer unnecessary strikes are made
• Required level / Progression: Can evolve to strike faster, work harder metals, or automatically create complex shapes
"Awesome!" exclaimed Alex. "With this, I can forge like a true master!"
Without thinking, he clicked simultaneously on the last two icons.
A new text appeared:
[Reward for transmitting your first creation] You unlock a new feature in the Matrix: Legend Writing
Legend Writing
• Type: Special Matrix Skill
• Description: After forging a weapon, the user can write a legend that spiritually binds to it. This legend is inscribed into the weapon's very essence and becomes visible to anyone analyzing its characteristics.
• Compatibility: Each weapon has a compatibility rate with the chosen legend. The higher this rate, the more the weapon can absorb the story and gain power.
Compatibility Levels
• 0–30%: The legend has no effect; it is merely decorative.
• 31–60%: The legend has a minor influence; the weapon gains a small bonus (durability, sharpness, slight aura).
• 61–90%: The weapon begins to absorb the legend; its stats and properties reflect the story inscribed.
• 91–100%: The weapon becomes a Living Relic; the legend fully manifests, granting unique effects and sometimes a will of its own.
Alex couldn't hold back his tears.
"This… this is the best day of my new life…"
The last notification appeared:
For the first use of your creation, you gain +3 Level Points
"Level points?" Alex repeated.
An interface appeared immediately:
[Instructions: Assign your level points to the main parts of the Matrix forge to strengthen or enhance their power]
• Furnace
• Bellows
• Anvil
• Pile
• Water Tank
"This Matrix is totally cheating!" he said, laughing. "Well… let's see. The forge is strengthened, and now, with the metal I have… here we go!"
He invested his points in the furnace. Immediately, the flames erupted violently, then stabilized at a new intensity.
"Perfect… with this, I can finally shape the obsidian! Now, it's time to get serious."
Then, he returned to the window:
Do you wish to infuse blood to shape the weapon?
[Yes] / [No]
Alex clicked [Yes].
Eleven blood spheres appeared around him, floating slowly in the air. Magical arrows animated above each sphere, and a series of names projected in light appeared:
[System]: Use the blood of a monster to shape the essence of your creation.
Stored Blood:
• Lightning Squirrel
• Mist Serpent
• Burning Hedgehog
• Acid Wasp Queen
• Obsidian Ant Queen
• Thunder Forest Feline
• Stormbeak
• Black Dragon
• Humans
• Slytherik
• Rubryx
Now that he possessed a metal capable of withstanding the blood of powerful monsters, Alex had many more options. But this weapon would be used to face one of the forest kings, whom he hoped to recruit. He had to choose the blood of a monster strong enough, but not too strong, to avoid accidentally killing the king… He felt indecisive, hesitating among all the options.
He finally clicked on Rubryx.
The blood sphere wrapped around his right finger, forming a pulsating reddish spiral.
The next interface opened:
[System]: Please draw the weapon you wish to create.
Alex murmured:
"I'm going to make something different from a sword…"
He thought for a few minutes, studying each possibility. Then a smile lit up his face:
"Ah… this will be perfect!"
He bent to the ground and began to draw. Two identical forms came to life under his fingers, as if they had a will of their own.
The blood spread on the white floor, vibrating like living ink. With meticulous precision, Alex traced two mini-axe heads, each double-bladed, perfecting every detail.
When the drawing was finished, he rose and floated in the air, his body radiating intense light. The lines he traced vibrated and solidified, forming a blood mold perfectly shaped like the mini-axe heads.
Alex looked at his work and exhaled, satisfied:
"Perfect."
Then, a new window appeared before him, awaiting his choice.
Choose your materials
Stored Materials:
Several windows appeared:
• Lightning Squirrel x3
• Mist Serpent 1
• Burning Hedgehog 1
• Acid Wasp Queen 1
• Obsidian Ant Queen 1
• Thunder Forest Feline 1
• Stormbeak 1
• Black Dragon 1
• Slytherik x15
• Rubryx 1
• Obsidian x30
Alex burst into an excited laugh:
"Of course I'm choosing the obsidian! I worked so hard to transport it…"
He clicked on the obsidian icon.
[System]: Select the desired quantity.
"Two blocks should be enough," he said without hesitation.
[Voice Command Activated: 2 obsidian blocks selected]
Two massive blocks appeared in Alex's hands, heavy and shining under the light of the Matrix.
He stared at them for a moment, a smile on his face:
"This is new too… Alright, let's start."
Alex was about to place the obsidian blocks into the furnace when a new window appeared.
[Do you wish to tame this metal?]
Yes / No
"What? What are all these new things?" he murmured, slightly overwhelmed.
An explanation appeared immediately:
Instructions: Taming a metal reduces the risk of failure to zero when using this material. All your creations are guaranteed successes, but this does not affect the rank or final quality of the item.
Alex smiled with excitement. His demonic grin revealed his ghoul-like canines, and his red eyes glowed intensely.
"Orh… let's have some fun!" he said, clicking [Yes].
A massive flash engulfed the Matrix. When it disappeared, everything had changed: the anvil, the furnace… all gone.
"Hynn?! What just happened?!" Alex shouted.
Before him, an obsidian golem appeared, colossal, over thirty meters tall. Its burning eyes glowed with an infernal light.
"What the hell?!" Alex breathed, incredulous.
A gigantic phrase appeared in the air, luminous and imposing:
[Mission: Defeat this Golem to tame the Obsidian]
Start in: 3… 2… 1…
"Whaaaat?!" Alex screamed.
The golem charged with a roar that shook the ground. Alex clenched his fists, a demonic grin on his face. His eyes shone with excitement.
"Alright… if that's how it's going to be… BRING IT ON!"