Chapter 61: The Dungeon Forge

What’s a mine?

A place where ores are buried, where resources are extracted.

My mine was similar.

It yielded fibers, wood, and leather, but it was still about gathering materials.

So, I assumed Zone 5 would be the same.

“It’s not a mine for gathering—it’s a dungeon.”

Zone 5 was different.

A dungeon.

Exactly that.

Upon arriving, I saw a cliff.

Below it—

SCREECH!

GROWL!

ROAR!

Monsters swarmed.

Like game mines focused on slaying monsters rather than digging, this was a dungeon.

Well, technically, it’s still gathering.

“Experience point farming?”

It sounds absurd, but it fits.

The teeming monsters below suggested no other explanation.

And it wasn’t bad.

“This solves my gear level worries.”

My recent concern: guild members growing too fast, outpacing the gear I could craft.

Zone 5 might fix that.

Still, I wasn’t sending my bewildered assistants, staring at the monsters below, to hunt here.

“You guys head back and do your tasks. Good work.”

“No trouble.”

“Thank you, Master.”

I sent them all back.

Only Spark remained.

I couldn’t send Spark alone, and I needed it now.

I found a suitable rock as a workbench and started crafting.

[Using Production Skill.]

[Select the shape of the item to craft.]

“Sword!”

The safest weapon against monsters.

[Specify the details of the sword’s shape.]

No internet in the mine, so I based it on a famous weapon from memory.

The Carnage from a game, a top-tier weapon.

Fewer than ten per server, a hyper-rare item worth 30 million won per trade.

I modeled it after the Dark King’s Judgment Blade.

With such inspiration, the result should be epic.

[Choose the material for the sword.]

I’d go all out.

The concept: Dragon Soldier.

A warrior forged from dragon fangs.

I used freshly acquired materials.

Mine Drake’s Fang.

Ancient Dragon’s Bone.

Plus, the Giant Spider’s Eye from Zone 2’s boss and the Giant Vampire Bat’s Fang from Zone 1’s.

Every boss-grade material from the mine went in.

[Crafting begins.]

Whoosh!

Spark’s flames shot at the materials.

Clang!

My hammer swung.

The dragon bone, as rare as adamantium, raised the crafting difficulty.

Normally, I’d check the time and leave the mine to craft leisurely, but the time restriction was gone.

No one would care if I stayed here.

[Progress: 22%…]

Slow progress.

No matter.

I was used to hammering over time.

Whoosh!

With slow progress, Spark kept spitting flames.

Sweat dripped, and Spark seemed tired.

[Crafting complete.]

[‘Earth Dragon’s Fang’ obtained.]

A sword was born.

Mainly drake fang and dragon bone, it gleamed pale.

The vampire bat’s fang added a faint red hue, and a shrunken spider eye adorned the guard’s center.

Appearance: pass.

Now, the crucial item info.

[Earth Dragon’s Fang]

Type: Sword

Grade: SSS

Restriction: Level 50+

Description: Crafted by Hephaestus’ heir using materials from vanquished bosses, a true Dragon Slayer.

Attack: 700

Abilities:

1. Earth Dragon – Greatly increases attack when grounded.
2. Gaze – Boosts accuracy and critical hit rate. Chance to stun enemies before attacking.
3. Bloodsuck – Recovers health based on damage dealt.
4. Lesser Scorn – Deals bonus damage to dragon subspecies, triggering Dragon Fear per hit.

“Nice!”

SSS-grade.

Solid abilities.

I worried the weaker bosses like the bat or spider might dilute performance.

Luckily, no.

As a seasoned smith, I knew it wasn’t just about materials but their synergy and meaning.

Though, great materials usually meant great items.

“Next one!”

Whoosh!

It took time, but I wasn’t stopping.

[Using Production Skill.]

I crafted more.

[Crafting complete.]

[‘Earth Dragon’s Armor’ obtained.]

[Crafting complete.]

[‘Earth Dragon’s Helm’ obtained.]

Using Mine Drake materials and other boss drops, I balanced them carefully.

The Earth Dragon set was complete.

As a set, it gained—

[Set Effect: Draconic Force]

Physical abilities greatly enhanced by drake power.

A set effect.

Preparations were perfect.

[Smith’s Soul imbues ‘Earth Dragon’s Fang’.]

[Smith’s Soul imbues ‘Earth Dragon’s Armor’.]

[The Smith’s Soul awakens.]

Using Smith’s Soul, the Earth Dragon set came alive.

The assistant, sword planted in the ground, knelt knight-like.

[Name the Smith’s Soul.]

Crafted with care, it deserved a grand name, but—

“No favoritism.”

Fairness mattered.

I gave it a fitting name.

[The Smith’s Soul is named ‘Combat 1’.]

Flinch.

Combat 1 seemed to twitch at the name.

My imagination?

A living armor reacting to a name? Unlikely.

Just a response to being named.

“Combat 1, swear loyalty to your master.”

“I swear.”

It vowed like a knight.

Maybe from the care or materials, it felt more self-aware than other assistants.

I gave Combat 1 its first order.

“Can you go down and slay some monsters?”

“As you command.”

Combat 1 leapt off the cliff.

I didn’t expect such a bold move.

Would it survive the fall?

Thud!

It landed expertly, bouncing off rocks to slow its descent.

Like Crafter 1 excelled in crafting and Miner 1 in mining, was Combat 1 built for battle?

Its descent was artful.

Upon landing—

Slash!

SCREECH!

It felled a monster in one strike.

The SSS-grade weapon’s power was immense.

Monsters swarmed the cliff’s base, surrounding Combat 1.

Swish!

Combat 1 spun, sword arcing.

Five monsters charging it were bisected and fell.

My gear, but its power was unreal.

“Whoa, behind!”

As Combat 1 slaughtered, a monster aimed a poison sting from a blind spot.

Even Combat 1 couldn’t dodge such a perfect attack.

As it hit—

Ping!

The sting bounced off harmlessly.

The Earth Dragon’s Armor, made from dragon materials, had insane defense.

Grounded, its defense soared.

Combat 1 hunted the stinging monster, slashing.

[Level Up!]

The fight was brief, yet I gained a level.

Compared to Miner 1 hunting golems, this was unmatched.

Insane experience farming.

This was an experience point mine.

Exactly what I needed.

If it appeared sooner, I’d be past level 100.

Regret hit for its late arrival.

Also—

“Master.”

“What?”

“What about the dropped materials?”

“Materials drop?”

Not much, but some dropped.

Not just experience—materials too.

The drop rate seemed low, but the sheer number of kills added up.

Combat 1 held—

[Lizardman’s Tail]

A monster material.

I wanted to collect them all, but ordering Combat 1 to do so was tricky.

It was busy fighting relentlessly.

“Wait! Don’t pick them up yet!”

“Understood!”

I gave the order.

I’d need another assistant for materials.

Not wasting Smith’s Soul on a mere porter.

A porter and sub-dealer.

“An archer, then?”

Recalling game party compositions, I raised my hammer again.