NABC Chapter 330 Smithing a hammer
Chapter 330 Smithing a hammer
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Dumatite Ingot
Rare
A dumatite ingot smelted by a master craftsman. With all the slag removed, the ingot boasts high-grade purity. Best used for equipment that must endure intense heat.
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Lucas looked at the rough, rectangular ingots in front of him. Ten of them were stacked neatly against the wall.
John, Sean, Sarah, and Barney stared at the ingots in astonishment.
"I can't believe we can process ores now," Barney muttered, glancing at Lucas, who was washing his hands.
"It's not just that," John added, "But the efficiency. We barely had any ore, and most of it was full of impurities. Yet, Lucas still managed to get ten fairly large ingots out of it. That's impressive."
Sean, Barney, and Sarah nodded, realizing the extent of what had been achieved.
"Don't get used to this level of quality," Lucas said, drawing all their attention.
"Why not?" Sarah asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Because I'll be using half of these ingots to craft tools. The other half will be sent to crafters and territories we're allied with to demonstrate our worth," Lucas explained and then looked at Sarah, "Next time we procure ore, you'll be the ones processing it—not me."
Sarah's mouth fell open, and Lucas patted her shoulder before picking up one of the ingots.
"For now, I'll start making some tools that I need immediately. I've already made some basic preparations to get started. This is one of them," Lucas said, holding up something he had crafted while waiting for the crucible and mold to heat up.
Everyone's eyes were drawn to the tool. It felt like the perfect starting point for working with metal.
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Refined Primitive Hammer
Within minutes, the ingot turned a bright, golden-orange color. John observed Lucas and noticed the intense focus in his eyes as he watched the ingot inside the furnace.
The others talked quietly among themselves, but Lucas remained unflinching. Then, his eyes twitched—just once. John glanced into the furnace but saw no visible change; the ingot's color remained the same vibrant orange.
Suddenly, Lucas flicked his mana-infused fingers, and the heated ingot shot out of the furnace. The room fell silent as everyone watched Lucas move the glowing ingot onto the furnace's extended slab, the only surface available to use as an anvil.
He pulled the makeshift hammer from his belt and examined the hot ingot briefly before striking it with considerable force.
CLANG!
The sharp sound of metal striking on metal echoed through the room, making everyone flinch.
John squinted, trying to follow Lucas's movements. He carefully observed Lucas's hand positioning, his gaze, and the precise points where the hammer struck the ingot.
CLANK! CLANG! CLANG!
The rhythmic hammering continued, sending sparks flying with each strike. The others instinctively took a step back.
Barney kept his eyes fixed on the hammer. "The durability is dropping very slowly," he said, his expression bewildered.
The strikes were precise and forceful as Lucas wielded a hammer crafted from a refined rock and a sturdy wooden branch.
With unwavering focus, he pounded the ingot repeatedly. After several minutes, he guided the metal to float effortlessly back into the furnace.
Sweat poured down Lucas's face, his skin glistening in the firelight. His clothes clung to him, thoroughly drenched from his relentless efforts.
"Here..." Sarah approached, offering him a small, clean cloth.
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"Thank you," Lucas said, taking the cloth and wiping his soaked face.
"The shape of the ingot has changed significantly, Lucas," John observed, his tone filled with curiosity.
"I'll address that in just a moment, Uncle John. My apologies," Lucas replied quickly before passing the hammer to Barney, who activated his skill without hesitation.