Chapter 43: The Light of the Golden Axe

Life returned to a calm routine, as if the Gate Break was a dream.

Wake up, order delivery, hammer items, check the Mine’s progress.

Time flew by.

“Time to check it out?”

Inspecting the Mine, I looked nervously toward Zone 3’s end.

Thanks to Lumberjack 1’s scouting, Zone 3’s layout was mapped out.

I’d ordered it to report any boss room without entering, and today, one was found.

Shiver.

I was well-equipped.

Having heard about the boss, I’d prepared thoroughly.

Still, not having seen it, I didn’t craft the weapon yet.

I stockpiled materials, planning to make it after confirming the boss.

“This way,” said Lumberjack 1.

“This place feels eerie.”

Zone 3.

Surrounded by pale wooden walls.

At its end, a vast boss room.

Larger than Zone 1’s, incomparably bigger than Zone 2’s.

There—

“Freaking huge.”

The boss monster.

A Corrupted Black Tree stood motionless in the room’s center.

[Corrupted Black Tree]

I’d confirmed its details through Mir Guild.

• Hello, Vulcanus-nim.
  
• This is Mir Guild.
  
• Congratulations on founding Vulcanus Guild.
  
• It’s a pity we couldn’t work together, but we believe Vulcanus Guild and Mir Guild can build a good relationship.
  
• Contact us anytime you need help.
  
• Regarding your question, the Corrupted Black Tree’s weakness is holy attributes.
  
• Its tree nature might suggest fire, but this corrupted tree has abandoned its original properties, becoming a fully dark-attributed monster.
  
• Fire attacks work somewhat, but light or holy attacks are most effective.
  
• For strategy, prioritize…
  

Despite my choice to form Vulcanus Guild instead of joining them, they remained friendly.

Not out of fondness, but likely hoping I’d craft items for them later.

“Holy attribute, huh.”

After observing the boss, I stepped back.

Pulling out prepared items, I activated my crafting skill.

[Using Production Skill.]

[Please select the shape of the item to craft.]

A weapon suited for the Corrupted Black Tree.

Surprisingly, not fire-based, but clearly—

“Axe.”

An axe.

Nothing beats an axe for felling a tree.

[Please specify the details of the axe’s shape.]

I’d already chosen a model.

A legendary item from a game, Titan’s Golden Axe.

It had holy attributes, perfect for this axe’s blueprint.

[Please choose the material for the axe.]

I’d been waiting for this moment.

Holy ore from Zone 1.

Glowing wood from Zone 3.

Holy water and goddess statue fragments from the auction.

I gathered every holy or light-related item.

Dumping them in, crafting began.

[Crafting begins.]

Whoosh!

Ember heated the materials.

Clang!

I swung my hammer.

To defeat this boss, I hammered with utmost care.

A tool for both logging and combat.

Lost in hammering, the axe took shape.

[Crafting is complete.]

[‘Shining Golden Axe’ has been obtained.]

[Shining Golden Axe]

Type: Axe

Grade: SS

Restriction: Level 29 or higher

Description: A holy axe radiating brilliant golden light, imbued with sacred blessings.

Attack: 400

Abilities:

1. Holy Light – The axe’s glow resists darkness and deals holy damage to enemies.
   
2. Logging – Greatly increases attack against plant-type monsters.
   
3. Giant – Attack increases significantly against larger monsters.
   
4. Afterglow – The axe’s light trails it, dealing additional strikes.
   

Complete.

A holy axe.

Weighty yet balanced, it glowed softly under the boss room’s dim light—exactly what I wanted.

One problem.

Wielding it meant getting close to that boss.

Despite my level-ups, a mere blacksmith like me approaching it was suicide.

Why an axe, then?

Why not a crossbow?

Because I wasn’t alone.

“Lumberjack 1!”

“Yes.”

I wasn’t fighting solo.

“Take this.”

“Thank you.”

Lumberjack 1, who guided me here, gripped the axe.

It swung it in the air, clearly pleased.

Yes.

I planned to let Lumberjack 1 handle the boss.

Specialized for logging, its raw attack likely surpassed mine.

I also pulled out the Blazing Crossbow I hadn’t sold.

Loading arrows crafted for this battle—

“Go, Lumberjack 1!”

“Understood.”

The battle began.

The massive boss.

Lumberjack 1 advanced toward the Corrupted Black Tree without a hint of fear.

The tree showed no reaction, almost as if it were just a tree, not a boss.

Thanks to that, Lumberjack 1 reached it unhindered.

Raising the axe powerfully—

Crack!

It swung horizontally.

A burst of light.

Holy Light, dealing extra holy damage.

Logging, amplifying against plant-types.

Giant, boosting against massive foes.

All options combined for a devastating hit.

A massive gash appeared on the tree’s trunk, followed by Afterglow’s axe-shaped light striking again.

“GRRRRRR!”

The Corrupted Black Tree stirred.

Thrashing, it uprooted itself.

Roots surged like tentacles, knocking Lumberjack 1 back.

If that were me—ugh.

Terrifying to think about.

“You okay, Lumberjack 1?”

“I’m fine.”

Despite the brutal hit, it stood stoically.

The tree, enraged, swung its roots again, but—

Crack!

“Nice!”

Lumberjack 1 swung the axe like a baseball bat, cleanly severing the roots.

It charged again.

Like against the Tree Golem, it fought well.

Its combat instincts surpassed mine.

I couldn’t just watch.

“I’ll support you—swing freely!”

Twang.

My crossbow fired.

The arrows ignited with the crossbow’s ability.

But that wasn’t the point.

Like the golden axe, my Flash Arrows, made with holy materials—

Flash!

Exploded with intense light on impact.

Like a flashbang, they dealt little physical damage but stunned the tree, halting its movements.

This let Lumberjack 1 advance easily.

Crack!

Another successful axe swing.

SS-grade weapon, indeed.

Each hit was devastating.

The weapon’s options countered the tree perfectly, and Lumberjack 1 was optimized for logging.

Its damage was likely several times stronger than intended.

“GRRRRRR!”

The tree thrashed, but it was futile.

My steady Flash Arrows and Lumberjack 1’s axe carved deeper into it.

Half its roots were severed, its trunk more than half cut.

It scattered corrupted needle-like leaves—

Flash—

But they fell powerless under the axe’s light.

Finally, Lumberjack 1 delivered the last blow.

Crack!

The Corrupted Black Tree collapsed.

[Defeated the Mine’s third boss, ‘Corrupted Black Tree’.]

[Access granted to the Mine’s fourth zone.]

[Mine time limit increased to 16 hours.]

[Level increased.]

[Reached Level 30.]

[Ability ‘Hephaestus’ Descendant (SSS)’ activated.]

[New ability added to ‘Blacksmith’s Soul’.]

Satisfying system messages flooded in.

Whether out of lingering frustration or duty, Lumberjack 1 kept hacking the fallen tree.

I approached its stump, spotting dropped items.

[Corrupted Black Tree Fruit]

[Corrupted Black Tree Sap]

Fruit and sap.

Sap made sense, but fruit? How to use it?

I’d figure that out later.

Activating Hephaestus’ Descendant, I scanned the boss room.

Sure enough—

“Here it is.”

Crack!

Thud.

A vein.

Or a forest vein?

Something appeared.

Hacking toward the light—

[Corrupted Black Timber]

Timber matching the boss’s name dropped.

Gathering the room’s resources, I looked to the other side.

Zone 4’s gate was wide open.

I’d planned to check it later due to time, but curiosity overwhelmed me.

“What’s next?”

Zone 1: Ore.

Zone 2: Fiber.

Zone 3: Wood.

One thing came to mind.

Could it really be that?

It seemed like the only material left.

“Let’s see.”

Unable to resist, I headed to Zone 4.

Passing through the familiar thick darkness, a space as dim as Zone 1 appeared.

I calmly surveyed it.

The walls felt soft to the touch.

I’d hoped it wasn’t, thinking such a material in a Mine was unrealistic.

But—

“Leather? Seriously?”

A zone made entirely of leather appeared.