Chapter 7: Hide, Stone, and a Hard-Won Shield
The rhythm of Ren's new life was quickly establishing itself: wake before dawn, push his body through the grueling physical conditioning, then dedicate hours to skill practice and crafting. Today, after his usual hundred repetitions had left his muscles screaming and his Strength stat showing incremental gains, he turned to his ironwood training dummy, spear in hand.
His [Basic Combat Stance Lv. 2 (EXP: 150/200)] felt more natural now, less a conscious effort and more a default state of readiness. His [Spear Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 0 (EXP: 25/50)] was also slowly climbing as he drilled thrusts, parries, and short, controlled footwork around the unyielding dummy. The thud of his wooden spear against the ironwood was a constant percussion in the quiet morning.
[Spear Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 0 (EXP: 35/50). Your thrusts are becoming more centered. Still lacking true power generation from the core.]
It was during a break, as he was inspecting the tip of his spear for wear, that he remembered his dire tool situation. His [Flint Knife (Poor Quality)] was practically useless, its durability a pitiful [5/100] after the Herculean effort of crafting the dummy. He couldn't attempt any more serious woodworking, like the [Wooden Buckler (Reinforced)] he coveted, with a knife that threatened to shatter if he looked at it too hard.
"System," he thought, examining the chipped flint, "any suggestions for acquiring a new knife? Or perhaps repairing this one?"
No direct answer came, but a new entry appeared under his [Basic Woodworking Lv. 2] skill when he focused on it:
[Basic Tool Handle (Wood)]: Can be crafted. Requires [Suitable Wood Branch] x1, [Binding Material (e.g., Vine, Sinew)] x1. (Note: A handle is useless without something to attach to it.)
That was… unhelpful for the blade itself. He needed a new cutting edge. He remembered seeing villagers occasionally knapping flint they found by the river, creating sharp edges for skinning or cutting tasks. It was a primitive skill, but essential.
"If I find some good flint, can I make a new knife blade?" he mused aloud.
A new prompt appeared, almost as if waiting for the question.
[Potential New Mundane Skill: [Basic Stoneworking (Primitive Tools)] can be unlocked through practical application. Requires [Suitable Stone (e.g., Flint, Chert, Obsidian)] and a [Hammerstone]. Success is not guaranteed. Risk of injury from sharp flakes is moderate.]
Flint. The Kukan'yu River was about a twenty-minute walk from Oakhaven. He'd seen children skipping stones there. It was worth a shot. His current knife wouldn't even cut tough vines for bindings anymore.
He decided to combine the trip with some foraging for his [Herbology] skill, which was still languishing at Lv. 1. He took his spear – never leaving his hut unarmed now – and a small wicker basket.
The walk to the river was uneventful. He kept to the well-worn path, his [Stealth Lv. 1] making his passage quieter than most. He spotted a patch of Sunpetal flowers, good for minor burn salves according to Old Hana's teachings.
[Herbology (Kukan'yu Region - Novice) Lv. 1 (EXP: 60/100). Sunpetal identified and harvested correctly.]
At the riverbank, he searched for suitable stones. He looked for flint nodules – dark grey or blackish stones, often with a waxy luster, that fractured conchoidally, meaning they broke with curved surfaces, ideal for creating sharp edges. After about half an hour, he'd collected a half-dozen promising candidates and a couple of smooth, heavy river stones to use as hammerstones.
Finding a secluded spot, he attempted to knap his first flint blade. He held a nodule in one hand (protected by a scrap of leather he'd saved) and struck it sharply with a hammerstone. A flake of flint flew off – dangerously sharp, but not the blade he wanted.
[Basic Stoneworking (Primitive Tools) Lv. 0 (EXP: 5/30). You have successfully made… a sharp rock. Try to control the fracture.]
It was harder than it looked. He nicked his fingers twice (thankfully minor, his VIT making him somewhat resilient to tiny cuts), earning him a stern system warning about carelessness. But slowly, after many failed attempts and a growing pile of useless sharp flakes, he managed to strike off a long, relatively thin piece of flint with a wickedly sharp edge. It wasn't elegant, but it was a blade.
[Basic Stoneworking (Primitive Tools) Lv. 0 (EXP: 25/30). Crude Flint Blade x1 created. Quality: Very Poor. Durability: Very Low. But it is sharp.]
He managed to create two more such crude blades before his hands were too sore to continue. He'd also gathered some tough river vines for bindings.
[Basic Stoneworking (Primitive Tools) Lv. 0 (EXP: 30/30) -> Basic Stoneworking (Primitive Tools) Lv. 1 (EXP: 0/100)]
Description: You can now more reliably shape stone into basic tools like crude blades, scrapers, and arrowheads (if you ever figure out bows). Your understanding of fracture mechanics has improved slightly.
+10 Character EXP!
Level: 3 (EXP: 230/400)
Back at his hut, he used his new [Basic Woodworking Lv. 2] skill to craft a couple of [Basic Tool Handles] from sturdy branches. Attaching the flint blades with the river vines was tricky, but he managed. The resulting knives were ugly, primitive things, but they were sharp.
[Crude Flint Knife (Vine-Wrapped Handle)]
Quality: Very Poor
Damage: Low (Slashing/Piercing)
Durability: Low (Blade prone to chipping, handle insecure)
System Comment: An improvement. Ish. Don't try to stab anything too solid.
With a somewhat functional cutting tool restored, Ren turned his attention to the [Wooden Buckler (Reinforced)]. The "Reinforced" part worried him. Ironwood itself was tough, but how to reinforce it further? He didn't have metal bands.
His [Basic Woodworking Lv. 2] description mentioned: [Wooden Buckler (Reinforced)]: Requires [Sturdy Wood Planks (Ironwood recommended)] x2, [Tough Hide Patch] x1, [Strong Binding Material] x1.
Tough Hide Patch. That meant hunting. He needed something with a hide thick enough to offer some protection. A Gnarled Root-Wolf, perhaps? They were common enough in the deeper parts of the nearby woods, about the size of a large dog, with tough, mangy hides. They were also pack hunters and notoriously ill-tempered. This would be his first real hunt with his spear.
A new system quest popped up, as if reading his mind.
[New Optional Quest: Buckler Requisites]
Objective 1: Hunt and kill 1 Gnarled Root-Wolf.
Objective 2: Successfully skin it to obtain 1 [Usable Root-Wolf Hide]. (Requires a cutting tool).
Objective 3: Gather 5x [Iron-Thread Vine] (Strong Binding Material).
Rewards: +75 EXP, [Skill: Skinning Lv. 1], 1x [Minor Stamina Potion].
Failure Condition: Severe injury or being eaten.
System Note: This is a DANGEROUS quest for your current level. Proceed with extreme caution. Or, you know, don't.
Ren's jaw tightened. Dangerous or not, he needed that buckler. And the [Skinning] skill would be invaluable. He checked his new flint knives, his spear, and mentally prepared himself.
He ventured into the woods, moving with [Stealth Lv. 1], his senses heightened. He found Iron-Thread Vines relatively easily – thick, dark vines that grew around certain ancient trees, known for their incredible tensile strength. Harvesting them with his new knife was much easier.
[Iron-Thread Vine x5 collected. Objective 3 Complete!]
Finding a lone Root-Wolf was harder. He eventually picked up a trail – distinctive paw prints and the faint, musky scent of the creature. He tracked it for nearly an hour, his [Basic Survival Lv. 2] aiding him.
Finally, he spotted it: a lean, grey-furred beast with yellow eyes, currently gnawing on some unfortunate rabbit. It hadn't sensed him yet.
This was it. He took a deep breath, settled into his [Basic Combat Stance], spear held ready. He was Level 3. The wolf was probably equivalent to a Level 4 or 5 mob in game terms, but it had no system, no stats Ren could see, only natural cunning and ferocity.
He burst from cover, aiming a strong thrust at the wolf's exposed flank as it turned, startled by his sudden appearance.
[Surprise Attack! +10% Damage on first strike!]
The spear connected, punching through the mangy fur.
[Spear Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 0 (EXP: 40/50). Solid hit! Target bleeding!]
The Root-Wolf yelped in pain and fury, spinning to face him, teeth bared in a snarl. It lunged.
Ren sidestepped, his [Basic Combat Stance Lv. 2] (+8% Dodge) just barely allowing him to avoid the snapping jaws. He thrust again, a quicker, less powerful jab that grazed its shoulder.
The fight was a blur of movement. The wolf was fast, agile, constantly trying to circle him, to get at his legs. Ren relied on his stance, his spear's reach, and his slightly superior AGI to keep it at bay. He took a shallow claw mark on his arm (HP: 165/175), a stinging reminder of the beast's capabilities.
He focused, remembering the system's advice: power from the core. He planted his feet, met a lunge with a firm spear shaft deflection, then put his whole body into a powerful counter-thrust as the wolf was momentarily off-balance.
The spearhead struck true, deep into the creature's chest.
The Root-Wolf let out a choked cry and collapsed, twitching.
[Gnarled Root-Wolf killed! +40 Character EXP!]
[Spear Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 0 (EXP: 50/50) -> Spear Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 1 (EXP: 0/100)]
Description: Your ability to wield a spear has improved. Attacks are slightly faster and more accurate. Basic defensive maneuvers with the spear are now possible.
+10 Character EXP (Skill Level Up Bonus)!
Level: 3 (EXP: 305/400)
[Quest Update: Buckler Requisites]
Objective 1: Hunt and kill 1 Gnarled Root-Wolf. (COMPLETED!)
Ren was breathing heavily, adrenaline coursing through him. He'd done it. His first real, dangerous hunt.
Now for the skinning. He pulled out one of his crude flint knives. The system prompt for the [Skinning] skill appeared, guiding his initial cuts. It was messy, difficult work, the hide surprisingly tough. His new knife chipped twice, but he managed to remove a large, mostly intact section of hide.
[Usable Root-Wolf Hide x1 obtained.]
[Quest Update: Buckler Requisites]
Objective 2: Successfully skin it to obtain 1 [Usable Root-Wolf Hide]. (COMPLETED!)
All Objectives for "Buckler Requisites" COMPLETE!
Calculating Rewards…
+75 EXP Awarded!
Obtained Skill: [Skinning Lv. 1 (EXP: 0/100)]
Obtained Item: [Minor Stamina Potion] x1
Level: 3 (EXP: 380/400). So close to Level 4!
He used the [Minor Stamina Potion] immediately, the cloying sweet taste instantly refreshing his depleted SP bar. He then carefully carried the hide and the rest of the wolf carcass back towards Oakhaven. He'd leave the meat at the edge of the forest; the scavengers would appreciate it, and he didn't want to attract anything bigger to his hut.
Back in his workspace, he laid out the ironwood planks he'd managed to split from another log (a less knotty one this time, thankfully), the Root-Wolf hide, and the Iron-Thread Vines.
Crafting the [Wooden Buckler (Reinforced)] took the rest ofthe day. He had to shape the planks into a rough circle, figure out how to layer them for strength, then stretch and attach the tough hide to the outer surface using the vines as stitching, and finally craft a sturdy handle and arm straps on the inside. His [Basic Woodworking Lv. 2] and [Basic Stoneworking Lv. 1] (for shaping some pegs) were pushed to their limits.
Finally, as dusk painted the sky, the system chimed.
[Crafting Succeeded!]
[Wooden Buckler (Reinforced) x1 created!]
Quality: Poor (Crude materials, low skill)
Defense: Moderate (Physical)
Durability: Moderate (Ironwood core, Hide reinforcement)
Properties: Offers decent protection for its size. Somewhat cumbersome for an untrained user.
System Comment: It's not pretty, but it might stop a tooth or two. Try not to block with your face next time.
[Basic Woodworking Lv. 2 (EXP: 150/200)]
+60 Character EXP! (Complex Crafting Achievement!)
[LEVEL UP!]
You have reached Level 4!
HP/SP/MP fully restored!
+5 Stat Points available!
+2 Skill Points available!
Ren held the buckler. It was about the size of a large dinner plate, thick and surprisingly heavy, the dark ironwood showing through the crudely stitched grey wolf hide. It felt solid. Real. He'd made this. He'd faced danger and overcome it.
He was Level 4. He had a spear, a shield, and a growing set of skills. The path ahead was still incredibly long, but tonight, Ren felt like a warrior in the making.