The earth still trembled faintly behind them as Iden and Rael returned from the Buried Root Den. The air was crisp, but Iden's heart burned with purpose. His pack overflowed with exotic ores, beast-infused minerals, and—most importantly—potential.
Their camp was growing, but it was time to build the true foundation for something greater.
And that began with the forge.
The current forge was nothing more than a crude stone fire pit with a makeshift anvil. It had served its purpose for basic tools and weapon components—but the materials Iden now carried demanded something far more refined.
He opened the interface and navigated to the building menu.
Upgrade Structure: BoneforgeRequired:– Refined Iron Ore x6 ✔– Beast-Iron x3 ✔– Radiant Ore x1 ✔– Timber x15 ✔– Builder-Class Skeleton present ✔
Construction Time: 4 hoursResult: Advanced Forge capable of evolving gear and processing magical ores.
"Do it," Iden said.
The Builder Skeleton clanked to life immediately. It hauled materials from the storage piles, carving stone and assembling a new anvil base, reinforcing the chamber with fire-hardened bone frames. Radiant Ore was infused into the forge core, letting it reach higher magical temperatures.
Smoke curled upward, glowing faint red from the heat.
Structure Upgrade Complete: Boneforge [Tier II]Bonus: Unlocks Gear Evolution, Complex Crafting, Specialized Class Assignment
Iden could now build more than survival tools—he could create legendary weapons.
Iden summoned a new skeleton using his freshly earned summon token.
A cloud of energy formed and collapsed into a stout, sturdy frame. Unlike the Miner or Builder, this skeleton had a broader chest, heavy reinforced arms, and thick bone plates to resist heat and pressure.
Iden assigned it to the forge interface and selected a role.
Custom Assignment Detected: Repeated Forge-Linked Actions Recognized
New Class Unlocked: Forgemaster SkeletonClass Type: Crafting SupportPassive: Craft Quality +15%, Reduces gear failureTrait: Ingrained Memory – Learns patterns to reduce time with each repetitionCombat Role: Basic (Can wield hammer defensively)
A thin red line glowed down the Forgemaster's spine as it took its place at the Boneforge.
Forgemaster Skeleton (Level 1) AssignedActive Summons: 5/5
Iden selected a small portion of the Root Core Gem and Radiant Ore, combining it with leftover Beast-Iron and a normal bone dagger.
With the Forgemaster's assistance, the material fused into something more—responsive to his mana, pulsing with latent growth.
Item Crafted: Rootbound Fang (Uncommon+)Weapon Type: DaggerEffects: Bonus +5 Speed | Bleed chance | Grows stronger with nearby forest manaEvolution Path Unlocked: "Verdant Edge" (Kill-based Progression)
Iden smiled faintly. This was just the beginning.
He could now craft experimental weapons—living tools designed to grow, change, and adapt. Just like his summons.
Meanwhile, Rael stood by the newly cleared storage zone, organizing herbs and beast blood. Her own healing aura had strengthened again—her Radiant Veil now pulsed visibly every half-minute.
She smiled quietly, watching her brother's face light up with each new discovery. His direction was clear now—not just survival. He was building an ecosystem.
A force.
The Scout Skeleton returned with a report: nearby territory was starting to show signs of other survivors expanding. Fires seen in the distance. Paths carved into the forest.
Competition was growing.
But Iden didn't panic.
He looked to his freshly upgraded forge, the glowing root-infused weapon now strapped to his side, and the Forgemaster hammering methodically nearby.
They had a fortress.
They had workers.
And now—they had craftsmanship.