1002. Young Shirou's Special Training / 1003. How to Become a Hero ...

The forging process in the labyrinthine city of Orario is very similar to that in the original world, except that because the materials used are Magic Stone and materials dropped by monsters of the Phantasmal Beast, and whether it is the furnace or other tools and mediums, they are all infused with magic, making it more efficient.

If inspiration strikes and everything goes smoothly during forging, a weapon can be completed in as little as an hour. Of course, if you want to refine it, it will take much longer, possibly several days.

However, as a novice, Bell is not yet at the stage where he needs to rely on weapons and develop weapon usage skills. What he needs are reliable weapons that can assist and accompany him to grow rapidly.

Shirou arranged the necessary forged steel and materials in order, ready to begin.

"Shirou, let me help you." Tsubaki said with great interest. Although she was already a top-notch blacksmith, she could always discover something new about Shirou, so she was always happy to stay by Shirou side.

"Okay, thank you," Shirou replied.

First, the forged steel incorporating the material is thrown into the furnace and heated until it is red-hot. Then, it is taken out with iron tongs, forged into shape, and then the local quenching technique of clay tempering is used to precisely control the hardness and flexibility of different parts of the blade.

The material used is the fangs of Demon Wolf that appears after level 40. Three fang-shaped spike grooves are created on one side of the dagger's blade, and the [Wolf Soul] property is infused into it, which can easily tear open wounds and cause fatal damage.

After polishing the black steel sheet until it shone, Shirou then used an engraved steel needle to carve patterns on it. In addition to the True Magic runes of this world, Shirou also mastered the engraving developed by Chaldea. In the form of engraving, he recreated the great deeds in epic myths and brought a brand new kind of amplification to the Servant.

One side of the blade is engraved with the Chaldea Emblem: Beast, while the other side is engraved with the Emblem: Demonic, providing a 5% damage bonus against beast and demonic targets. Lower-level dungeons mainly consist of demonic and beast monsters.

Shirou then embedded a polished glass-sphere-shaped Magic Stone into the center of the hilt. This was an energy crystal that had fallen from the fortieth floor. This gave the weapon the [Energy Drain] effect, allowing it to recover a small amount of health and mana by defeating an enemy.

Finally, the dagger was sharpened, flashing a bluish-gold light, and was officially completed, placed on the table.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh!" Bell looked at the completed dagger, excited, half-raising his arm, somewhat at a loss.

"Bell, why don't you give it a try?" Shirou stepped aside and said to the boy.

The dagger seemed to be alive; it even bounced when Bell touched it. Sweat beaded on Bell's palm as he gripped the hilt, and in Bell's mind, the long howls of wild beasts echoed repeatedly.

Bell desperately suppressed the pounding of his heart and took a deep breath.

He hissed as he inhaled the air.

Then he exhaled—the beast's howl from within the dagger maintained the same frequency.

Finally, the dagger stopped trembling and lay in Bell's hand, as if it had been tamed.

"Oh my god, this is the Demon Sword, the legendary Demon Sword!" Bell held the new weapon in both hands, his eyes sparkling.

Chapter 1002 Shirou's Special Training

Dagger - Wolf Soul (Demon Sword)

Additional attributes:

[Wolf Soul Assault]: When attacking from behind, gain a 15% damage bonus.

Additional engraving:

[Beast Specialist]

[Magic Special Attack]

Additional Skills:

[Energy Drain]: Throws crimson bats that damage enemies and restore a small amount of energy.

Uses: 1500/1500 (The Magic Stone will be destroyed after all uses are exhausted.)

"Wow, amazing!" Bell exclaimed, looking at the added attributes and the True Magic added to the skill. As a newcomer, he wasn't qualified to learn True Magic yet, so this was his first time using True Magic. However, he only had 1500 uses, and he was reluctant to use it, feeling very conflicted.

As an expert, Chun could better see the extraordinary nature of this dagger. Although there were no level restrictions on weapons among adventurers, powerful weapons often had higher requirements. The higher the quality of the materials used, the heavier they would usually be.

Among the adventurers on the front lines are dwarves and Amazon who have reached level 6. These races, known for their strength, can even cleave a ten-meter-long Red Dragon in half with a single blow using an axe or greatsword. Their weapons, when thrown, can shatter a small mountain. It's easy to imagine how heavy their weapons are.

Even without strict weight restrictions, such weapons can still attract unwanted attention. If targeted by a bandit group, not only the weapon but also one's life could be in danger. Therefore, for those who lack strength, possessing overly powerful weapons is a dangerous practice and could even lead to injury.

The adventurer's city is not entirely a place of light; there are countless eccentric gods, as well as criminal gangs of swindlers, thieves, and robbers.

Shirou had considered this well. The weapon he forged for Bell was for beginners. While adventurers of level one or two might be envious, it wouldn't prevent Bell from escaping. As for powerful individuals of level three or above, even if they obtained it, it would be of little use, so they wouldn't bother to forge such a weapon.

If Bell works hard enough, Shirou could very well match him with a suitable weapon as he levels up.

She admired the engravings on the sword and said, "Oh, what a nice weapon! It's quite suitable as a magic sword for beginners. By the way, Shirou, may I use the engraving you just used?"

"If you can learn it, you can use it as you like," Shirou casually replied.

"Really? Thanks! If you have any more treasures like that, please show them to me, big sister!" Chun said excitedly with a smile.

"If we have the chance next time," Shirou said, packing up his tools. He then turned to Bell, who was still rubbing his face against his new weapon, and said, "Well then, Bell, let's go!"

"Huh? Where to?" Bell asked, puzzled.

"The dungeon, huh? It's a new weapon I just got, of course I have to get used to it while it's still fresh in my mind," Shirou said matter-of-factly.

"Eh? Are we going to use this weapon?!" Bell said reluctantly, hiding the Wolf Soul behind his back.

"What else do you want to do with it? Put it by your bedside and worship it? This is a weapon, you know." Shirou looked at Bell and said helplessly. This kid is afraid of being poor.

"Eh? But! It's already night!" Bell said, looking quite conflicted.

"Well, let's just treat it as a little training session before bed. We can practice until we fall asleep," Shirou replied, putting on his battle vest.

"Wouldn't it be dangerous to fall asleep in the dungeon? Big brother! I might not be able to do it!" Bell protested. He was still growing, and staying up all night every day would stunt his growth.

"Don't worry, I'm here with you. I'll bring you back before I die," Shirou comforted Bell.

"What about before you die? What if you get injured? Oh right! What about Miss Ais Wallenstein? Brother! You haven't forged her weapon yet, have you?" Bell, driven by a strong will to survive, spoke up, finding a reason to save his life.

"That young lady doesn't need a sword. I'll come up with a plan tonight, and we can do it tomorrow after she arrives," Shirou said.

"I told you my training was Sparta, so be prepared to only sleep two hours a night," Shirou said, putting on his cloak and walking outside.

"Hahaha! Go for it, kid! Next, I'll try making a weapon using Shirou's method too." Tsubaki laughed gleefully, patted Bell on the shoulder, pushed him forward, and walked enthusiastically towards the forging table.

"Whoaaaaah!" Bell was pushed out, and seeing Shirou's retreating figure, he could only hurry after him, "Wait for me, big brother~!"

So the two of them arrived at the third level of the maze, where there was a spacious platform with an opening on each of the four sides, leading in different directions and gathering monsters from various habitats.

"Bell, the best way to hone your skills is through real combat. I won't make a move unless you're on the verge of death. But I promise I'll bring you back to life before you die, so fight with all your might against the monsters. Start with the first three floors and get a feel for the effects of this new weapon."

As Shirou spoke, he looked around. There were no other adventurers here at the moment, making it the perfect time for training.

"Yes! I understand!" Bell gripped the hilt of the new dagger tightly and replied earnestly. He would absolutely not let Shirou and Goddess down.

"Very good! I sense your determination." Shirou nodded in satisfaction, took out a mosquito coil-like object from his bag, lit it, and placed it next to Bell. Because they were standing near the air vent, the strange fragrance spread through the passageways in all directions.

"Um... Big Brother Shirou? What are you doing?" Bell felt a bad premonition when he saw the strange smoke.

"Gathering Magic Incense, it's really inefficient to let you go find monsters alone." Shirou jumped onto a small stone platform, then stepped on the rock wall and jumped to a higher place, moving away from Bell as he agreed.

"Huh?!?!" Bell's face turned pale as red and blue demonic eyes appeared in the shadows around him.

"Gahhh!!"

"Coo coo coo!!"

Thump, thump, thump—the sound of chaotic footsteps kicking the ground came from all directions, gradually approaching.

Goblins, Earth Spirit, and skeletons—all low-level monsters—rushed towards them in droves.

"Very good! Bell, take care of them!" Shirou said, waving his hand from his high vantage point.

"Impossible! Waaaaaah!!!" Bell screamed in terror and ran away as fast as she could.

Chapter 1003 The Method to Become a Hero

Bell was running frantically, but when he reached another exit, he found that another group of monsters had just arrived and were blocking the entrance.

Then, in the next instant, a ferocious beast with bloodshot eyes pounced on him.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Bell yelled and ran to the right, brandishing his dagger and severing the neck of the wolf that pounced on him. Then, yelling again, he ran to the other side.

"Then... I shall begin my own training as well," Shirou said, standing on the high platform.

Although in this world, thanks to the help of the gods, adventurers have a more convenient combat experience, much like the leveling-up system in an online game.

However, unlike online games where everyone can reach the maximum level, most adventurers remain at level one. This is because the key to combat still lies in the human body; the spirit of adventure and the courage to fight without fear of death are the ultimate factors. The gods merely guide the potential and experience of their followers to the most suitable places, and then display the acquired abilities in textual form in the data table.

With the blessings of the gods, adventurers only need to refresh the blessings to adjust the potential within their bodies in one go, transforming all their previous experience into power.

In ancient times, before the gods descended to the mortal realm, all sorts of powerful heroes emerged. Relying on their own strength and through the cooperation of various races, they carved out their own path in the world.

These heroes also prove themselves by defeating monsters. To defeat stronger monsters, one must have greater strength, faster speed, a more robust body, and the agility to utilize physical abilities and dodge monster attacks.

The adventure legends left behind by these ancient heroes are filled with epic and thrilling adventures that rival those of modern adventurers. They have defeated super monsters that only appear on the tenth floor, such as the master of the dungeon level. These stories have been recorded and passed down through the ages.

Therefore, Shirou speculates that the people in this world inherently possess the physique to become Superman, and the 'leveling up' phenomenon is a sublimation of human self-challenge. That is, challenging stronger monsters in the dungeon, regardless of whether you have joined a familia or received divine favor, can still stimulate the human body's potential.

The gods simply accelerated this process of sublimation.

For those who haven't received any favors, the process of transforming experience into strength takes a little longer, perhaps a week or even a month to process.

But the result is the same: as long as you persist in exercising and dare to challenge yourself, you can continuously become stronger.

After Shirou killed the mutated, gigantic fire Minotaur, his body was already full of energy, and he could feel his body getting stronger every now and then. He should be in the 'leveling up' phase, although it's slow, he is definitely getting stronger.

Shirou stood on the high platform in a kyudo practice posture, holding a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other, engaging in mental visualization training, raising his fighting spirit to the highest point, reminding his brain to keep up with his body's activity, transmitting this energy throughout his body, and developing his potential to the fullest.

Since he has a chance to start over, Shirou won't waste it. There are billions of humans, but how many of them get the chance to relive their childhood? And how many of them can truly make the most of it?

By retracing our steps, reflecting on our mistakes, inheriting our strengths, and correcting our bad habits, and by training in a way that suits our individual strengths, we can become stronger.

Ultimately, humans simply need to do the right thing at the right time. As long as they do this, they can find happiness and fulfillment, even if they are not wealthy enough to buy airplanes and yachts, they will still feel content.

When one's heart is full, one can face life more positively, whether optimistically or pessimistically, and at this time, one will move towards the goal one desires.

"Awooohoohoohoohoo!!!" The roars of various monsters and beasts echoed from all around.

"Waaaaaah!!!" The white-haired boy was still in the spacious wasteland of the underground city, jumping up and down in a sorry state, running around from left to right, and from top to bottom.

Bell's face was deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down his forehead and neck. Although he should have been hot from running and fighting, he felt chilled to the bone, and his hands and legs trembled uncontrollably.

He was too naive, thinking that as long as he came to Orario, he could become a powerful adventurer and level up smoothly by grinding monsters in dungeons. He was completely unaware of his own abilities and didn't realize that he might not have any talent at all.

The weapon Shirou forged for him was extremely useful, light and sharp, capable of easily severing an opponent's throat with a single strike. However, he failed to utilize it effectively, focusing instead on fleeing.

The demons that came from the four paths behind the white-haired boy formed small teams, and then these small teams merged together, now forming a massive tidal wave of demons.

Although they were just low-level monsters, there were simply too many of them for Bell to handle. Just seeing the sight made his heart tremble with fear.

Wild beasts' teeth are for biting. Even if their sharpness varies, their ferocious savagery in wanting to devour humans is the same. Their claws raised and teeth bared are something that a human's fragile body cannot resist.

Bell narrowly avoided attack after attack from the monsters, pushing himself to the limit. A single misstep could have cost him his life. He leaped high into the air, stepping on the monsters' heads to escape, miraculously surviving.

Even the monsters showed signs of fatigue at this moment. Although humans have gradually lost their wildness and the ability to fight tigers and wolves like apes and monkeys due to their separation from the brutal competition of nature, they are surprisingly strong in terms of endurance.

A cheetah can keep up with a race car in a distance of 100 meters, but it needs to rest immediately after its burst of speed. Marathons, on the other hand, were a daily part of hunting for primitive humans. They outran mammoths and various ferocious beasts, and long-distance running ability has become ingrained in every human being.

Of course, such high-intensity exercise comes at a price. At this moment, Bell felt every part of his body was screaming, and every muscle felt a tearing sensation when used.

With a whoosh!

"Oh no!" Bell slipped on some gravel.

A Demonic Beast resembling a black tiger opened its gaping maw and lunged at Bell's neck.

Chapter 1004 Awakening and Rekindling of Passion

Just as the black tiger-shaped Demonic Beast was about to bite Bell's neck off, a flash of light appeared high in the sky.

It was a transparent glass bottle filled with a watery liquid, thrown out by Shirou from the high platform. The bottle spun in the air, reflecting a colorful array of hues.

The arrow didn't stop there; instead, using the force of the bottle, it changed direction and fell downwards, piercing the head of the Demonic Beast that was about to bite Bell's throat, saving Bell from certain death.

After the bottle shattered in mid-air, the crystal-clear liquid fell and landed right on Bell's wound, restoring some of his depleted strength.

So no matter what, Bell can't die, but he can't escape being surrounded by monsters.

Faced with the overwhelming stench and foul odor emanating from the monsters' mouths, he was on the verge of collapse. He could only run away, howling and crying, while simultaneously wielding his dagger to slay the monsters that were chasing him.

"Bell! I've given you my guarantee of safety. If you can't even get past the monsters here, you'll be stuck in the first ten floors for life." Shirou fired another arrow, shattering the healing potion and sprinkling it on Bell to help him recover from his wounds.

Upon hearing these words, Bell, who was running away, came to a sudden stop as if struck by lightning.

'Yes, am I just supposed to keep running away like this?'

If it were Miss Ais, she would definitely use her gorgeous and rapid sword skills to shatter all these monsters to pieces.

If it were Big Brother Shirou, he would also use ingenious tools, combined with his unerring archery skills, to shoot these monsters through.

Bell recalled the despair he felt when he encountered the Minotaur, utterly powerless to resist.

'Am I just supposed to wait for them to come and rescue me? Every adventure is about being saved by Miss Ais suddenly appearing, or by a healing potion flying in from the sky? Can someone like that even be considered an adventurer?'

But beyond the fear of monsters, Bell harbored a deeper fear: the self-doubt that arose from facing the harsh realities of life after arriving in this city.