The Witcher: Elemental Lords

Soon, they arrived at the blacksmith shop, at Verick's forge. They lit the fire and prepared all sorts of tools. Only then did everyone slowly start to arrive. Dole greeted them one by one, and then relayed the message to the back, preparing for breakfast.

Dole was already used to arriving early, which made others complain a bit. This little thing came too early. He was kicked several times along the way, and a few bursts of laughter were heard. However, Dole also knew that these people were just teasing him verbally, with smiles on their faces. It was just playful banter. The entire blacksmith shop was like a big family, very warm.

Having been here for a few days, he also knew the real details of this blacksmith shop.

The supervisor, Harley, was responsible for all management matters of Old Ke's blacksmith shop, including personnel allocation.

There was one Level 3 blacksmith, who rarely took action, sitting in the main hall. There were three Level 2 blacksmiths: Verick, Santis, and Moray. There were five Level 1 blacksmiths. Dole only remembered a few names, like Ike and Batty. Each blacksmith had helpers and apprentices. In total, the entire blacksmith shop had as many as thirty people. In Domon City, Old Ke's blacksmith shop was considered mid-sized, and the blacksmith shop had official backing. When those Level 2 blacksmiths were free, they would forge and repair various military products. Verick was also like that. Dole had seen many standardized weapons because of this.

After finishing breakfast, Verick sat on the iron stool, picking his teeth while watching Dole busy at work. It had been a long time since he had seen such a diligent young man.

"Dole, I have nothing to do this morning. I want to test your basic hammer techniques," he said with a smile.

Dole turned around, his eyes immediately lighting up, and said, "I've only been practicing for a few days, but I'm getting a feel for it. Can I demonstrate it for you?"

Verick nodded and said, "Try making a hoe first."

Dole nodded.

The forging steps were just those few. Dole completed them meticulously. Soon, he opened the mold and took out a piece of iron plate.

Holding the tongs in his left hand, he took out the fiery red iron plate, radiating scorching heat, and placed it on the iron anvil. After securing it, Dole turned around and took out the number two hammer from the nearby tool table, hefted it in his hand, and began to hammer the iron plate.

In the beginning, he could only use the smallest number one hammer, which weighed only 2.5 kilograms. Now, he could use the number two hammer, a 5-kilogram hammer, and his strength had greatly increased.

Yesterday, he had been using the number two hammer all the time, so he used it directly today.

Recently, he didn't know what was going on, but as long as he woke up after a night's sleep, his whole body would be full of strength, feeling full of energy. He was already handling the number two hammer with ease.

Bang.

A hammer struck down, and the iron plate dented in. Dole lowered his head, looked at the depth, and began to continue forging.

Basic hammer techniques did not have fixed movements. There were just those few back and forth, adapting to different scenarios. Dole had already practiced them well in the past few days, leaving only familiarity with the materials in his hands.

Clang clang, the iron plate cooled and heated again. Dole quickly hammered the iron plate flat, preparing to fold it for the second forging.

Ordinary farm tools generally only required two or three forgings, depending on the material itself. This was scrap material, so three forgings were enough.

Verick watched from the side without giving any guidance. Seeing Dole preparing for the second forging, he smiled and said, "Not bad, not bad, you've mastered the basics so quickly. Ordinary farm tools don't require much attention. Just hammer the material evenly and shape it. Whether it's two forgings or three forgings, it depends on yourself. If it's scrap material, it's best to have three or more forgings."

He raised his head, took Dole's fire tongs, took out the iron plate to look at it, pointed to a few places, and then put it down, saying, "These places have flaws, uneven thickness. Use small force and multi-layered hammering, starting from the surroundings."

Dole nodded, not saying anything. He had learned a lot in the past two days and knew what he meant.

Starting from the second forging, the hardness of the material began to increase. This was the time to test strength. Dole had two years of experience in the mine, so he had strength. In addition, he had been doing warrior training, so he didn't lack strength.

Verick watched Dole forge while giving guidance. Soon, a hoe blank was freshly produced.

After quenching, the hoe was formed. Although there were some small flaws, it was enough for Dole.

This hoe was also the first farm tool Dole had ever completed. He carefully recalled the process just now and had a clearer understanding of forging.

As he was preparing to make the second one, Supervisor Harley walked in from outside, striding vigorously. Behind him were five armored soldiers in military attire, each holding many iron tools in their hands.

Supervisor Harley said a few words to those soldiers, and they each took the things in their hands and walked towards several Level 2 blacksmiths, including Verick.

Verick seemed to be used to it. When he saw that person walking forward, he respectfully greeted him, took the weapons in their hands, and bowed his head, saying, "Verick is at your service."

The soldier nodded and said politely, "As soon as possible."

Verick nodded.

He lowered his head and saw that the weapons in his hands were all swords: two broadswords, two war swords, and one rapier.

These swords had many nicks, scratches, and even signs of breakage, obviously no longer usable.

He carefully examined them, turned around, and said to Dole, "Go to the back and request some refined steel, about ten kilograms."

Dole nodded and went to the back to prepare the materials.

Repairing weapons and re-forging a weapon were different. Dole already had some experience, and when Verick said it, he understood what was going on.

In addition to Verick, Santis and Moray also received tasks at this time. For a time, the entire blacksmith shop was clanging and banging.

Dole was Verick's apprentice, and he was only responsible for this side, following Verick, helping and learning at the same time. His expression was meticulous and very serious, because he knew that this was his livelihood, at least for the time being. As long as he became a Level 1 blacksmith, he would be able to survive independently and not have to look at other people's faces. This was the foundation of survival.

No matter what he could do in the future, at least now his task was to concentrate on learning.

Verick was holding the number three iron hammer, weighing a full ten kilograms, a whole size larger than the one in Dole's hand. When the hammer struck down, sparks flew everywhere, but in Verick's hand, the twenty-pound iron hammer was as light as a feather.

Clang clang, whoosh whoosh.

A morning passed quickly. Verick only repaired one rapier. After eating, he continued to repair.

Dole learned from the side. Occasionally, when Verick needed him, he would have him use a small hammer to assist in forging, sometimes hammering heavily, sometimes hammering lightly, and sometimes having him tap lightly like raindrops. These changes allowed Dole to learn a lot.

Just one day, he felt that he had grown a lot.

Recently, he didn't know what was going on, but he felt that his ears and eyes were sharp, and his strength had no limit, as if as long as he could eat his fill, he would have inexhaustible strength.

Forging weapons was also a process of understanding weapons. The five war swords took a full two days to repair. Holding the last repaired broadsword in his hand, Dole thought of basic swordsmanship, held it in his hand, and swung it in the blacksmith shop.

The broadsword was very heavy, and Dole couldn't hold it steady. He was just playing around, and holding it in his hand was like being drunk, causing Verick to laugh heartily.