บท 11: Armor

The area around Krez painted a mosaic of his crafting journey, scattered with the remnants of experimentation and practice. Panther leather scraps, snake scale hides, and wolf leathers were strewn about, each piece bearing the marks of early attempts and learning curves. Some items showcased peculiar holes, while others displayed stitching anomalies—a testament to Krez's evolving skills.

Amid the discarded remnants, emerged a collection of imperfect yet salvageable pieces. Jackets, shirts, and pants, though not flawless, held a level of craftsmanship that could find a place in the market for a small amount of coin. These were Krez's stepping stones, each creation contributing to his growth as a budding craftsman.

In the span of nearly two weeks, Krez diligently balanced the dual pursuits of material collection during the day and crafting at night, honing both his combat and crafting skills. His foresight in forging a weapon proved accurate, as the hammer he crafted wielded devastating power. In this forested area, reminiscent of a typical starting zone in video games, Krez was rapidly outgrowing the challenges. The monsters he encountered now offered minimal experience, signaling the need to venture beyond this initial terrain.

Gazing at the distant snow-capped mountains, Krez made a firm decision. Once his armor was completed, he would bid farewell to the familiar confines of his warded grove, venturing beyond the forest into the broader expanse of the world.

Krez stood prepared, the materials he planned to use next to him. Ready to create his armor, his first significant creation in this world. While it might not compare to the masterpieces of skilled crafters, it would be his masterpiece. Aiming for a one-star rating, Krez found his design ingenious—a blend of black panther leather on the outside, insulating wolf fur against his skin, and concealed snake scales within, forming three layers of protective defense.

In the following five hours, Krez's hands danced, arms moved with precision. He'd circle the crafting table, adjusting his stance for optimal positions. Stitch by stitch, his masterpiece took shape.

With one last stitch, Krez completed his creation. He voiced his relief, "Whoo, finally done!" Standing up and surveying his work, he marveled at the impressive armor. The black exterior, light gray fur inside, and perfectly attached snake scales created a striking contrast. The sleeveless design featured leather straps that would connect to the plate arm guards obtained from the skeleton boss. A pair of pants, crafted in the same way as the top, lay next to the armor. At the bottom of the pants, leather straps awaited to connect with the plate greaves also acquired from the skeleton.

The chest part of the armor included a popped collar for added protection around the neck area. The design resembled a leather jacket from Krez's old world, with an open section in the middle. This open part featured buckles and leather straps that could be used to close the armor, providing 100% protection when fully secured.

As Krez finished admiring his handiwork, he decided to use his Inspect skill on the crafted items. While he loved their appearance, he needed to determine their ranking. If they didn't register at least a 1-star ranking, Krez would have to restart.

~~~~~~~~~Hybrid fighter armor ~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~☆~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Description:

The first real work of a young crafter, this creation has the ability to withstand 1 attack from the power of the 2nd realm. It's designed for battles in the 1st realm.

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Krez was ecstatic as he completed his first significant project, marking his initiation into the realm of 1-star crafters. Crafting and selling these items would serve as a promising income stream for him. After all, Krez was well aware of the substantial expenses associated with cultivation.

Krez gazed at the snow-capped mountains, contemplating his departure. However, realizing it was late and the sun was setting, he decided to wait until first light tomorrow to don his armor and embark on his journey into the mountain range he had his eyes set on.

He considered making a pit stop to gather all the books in the underground room but decided against it. Fearing his inventory would be overwhelmed and uncertain about when he could actually read the books, he decided against it.

He pulled up his stat screen and reflected, acknowledging the considerable progress he had made. However, despite a substantial increase in his level, his body cultivation level remained stagnant. It became evident that without a specific body cultivation technique, hard work alone could only crack open the door to body cultivation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Krez~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Level:52

Body cultivation: 1st stage Mercenary

+Strength: 127

Agility: 200

+Vitality: 127

+Stamina: 127

Available Attributes: 27

Exp: 124/5200

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Krez initially planned to cook something to eat, but the hours of crafting left him drained. The fatigue wasn't merely physical but a mental exhaustion from prolonged concentration. His brain felt as if it had been tossed around like a toddler's ball.

Krez began heading to bed but halted, deciding to strip off his clothes and immerse himself in the refreshing qi infused pond.Nodding off, Krez emerged from the pond and collapsed onto his bed, opting to let the air dry him. Unaware due to his sleepiness, high in the sky, a woman perched on a sword observed him. Blushing, she remarked, "Such a shameless man walking around naked. I hope he doesn't come to the sect." With those words, she flew off. Had she witnessed Krez's earlier adventures, training in the forest with everything exposed to the wind, her blush might have been so bright it would be mistaken as a stoplight.