Despite the makeshift padding of moss and leaves on my stone bed, my back still ached slightly. But at least the sharp cold of the ground no longer seeped into my bones. As I cracked my eyes open, I saw weak beams of light filtering through the cracks in the cave ceiling. A thin wisp of smoke rose from the ashes of the dying fire, cloaking the cave in a dim haze.

  Today, I had to build the forge. If I truly wanted to establish a proper workshop, I couldn’t do anything without a solid forge where I could shape metal. Controlling fire, maintaining a stable temperature... These were not just essential for survival, but also crucial for my progress.

  I stood up and stretched my arms. My muscles were still weary, but my mind was clear: I had a goal—to build a forge that would take root in the heart of this cave.

  I ventured deeper into the cave. The forge needed to be placed in a relatively spacious alcove where I could manage airflow properly. At the same time, I required a small chimney opening to allow smoke to escape. If smoke accumulated inside, it would not only blind me but could also poison me.

  On the right side, I noticed a natural ledge on the cave wall. There was a thin crack near the top; if I could widen it a bit, I could create a simple smoke vent. The ground was also slightly concave—an advantage for collecting ash and coal residues.

  Satisfied with the location, I pulled out my hammer and chisel, but carving stone with such primitive tools would take an eternity. A solution flickered in my mind: my ability, [Shatter].

  I slowly gathered mana within me. As I placed my palm against the stone wall, the familiar vibration of my ability spread from my fingers into the depths of the cave.

  I activated [Examine] as well, and the stone’s structure unfolded before my eyes like a map. Porous regions, denser areas, weak fractures... The texture of the stone unraveled in my mind.

  "Now..." I took a deep breath and activated my ability.

  [Shatter].

  The stone beneath my palm cracked with a sudden tremor. Small fragments broke off and fell to the ground as I carefully directed the vibrations to shape the stone the way I envisioned. I didn’t want to just break it randomly—I needed a controlled excavation.

  I worked step by step: first, carving out a broad pit for the base of the forge. Then, I expanded the sides to form deep walls that would enclose the fire. I widened the thin crack at the top, creating a proper chimney opening. To stabilize the chimney, I reinforced the edges with small stone fragments.

  After about half an hour of effort, a large forge recess had taken shape within the cave wall. But this was only the beginning.

  To enhance the carved-out space, I used the stones I had gathered earlier. Near the cave entrance, I had found flat, slab-like stones. I hammered their edges smooth and lined the inside of the forge with them. These stones would retain heat longer and ensure an even distribution of warmth inside the forge.

  As I placed the stones, I filled the gaps between them with a mixture of fine sand and clay. This would act as a temporary mortar, holding the stones firmly in place. By stacking the stones higher around the forge, I reduced the risk of the fire being extinguished by the wind.

  With the foundation of the forge complete, it was time to test the fire. I arranged small pieces of wood and ignited them with a few sparks. The fire soon roared to life, and the rising smoke drifted smoothly through the chimney opening I had carved.

  For hours, I fed the forge and monitored its performance. The chimney functioned well, and the stone walls reflected the heat evenly. When I touched the stone, I could feel that it retained warmth for hours. This was perfect for metalworking.

  Exhausted but satisfied, I sat beside the forge.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  I didn’t have a fully equipped blacksmith workshop yet, but I had laid the foundation. The forge was here.

  Later, I would need to search for ore deeper in the cave—perhaps copper or iron. I also had to build a bellows to further increase the heat. But these things could be handled in time.

  For now, I had a stone forge built from scratch, my hardworking hands, and an unyielding spirit.

  As the fire crackled in my ears, I allowed myself a small smile.

  "Maybe from here, a blacksmithing empire will rise," I murmured.

  And in the depths of the cave, the forge I had carved with my own hands continued to burn, like the beating heart of my new life.

  The faint but steady dance of the flames flickered against the cave’s stone walls as I let my tired body sink to the ground beside the forge. My hands ached from carving the stone, but my mind felt even heavier. I had built the forge and successfully kindled the fire—but I was still missing one of the most fundamental tools for metalworking: an anvil.

  Without an anvil, I couldn’t properly forge metal. I could make rough shapes, perhaps, but fine craftsmanship? Impossible. Crafting swords, forging armor, or even shaping a simple nail required a sturdy and resilient anvil.

  I looked around. The key to an anvil: a dense, hard stone or a solid block of metal. I had no raw metal. I hadn’t yet set aside time to search for ore. So, I had to start with stone. But ordinary rocks wouldn’t last long—an anvil surface needed to withstand constant hammer blows without crumbling or cracking.

  I decided to walk deeper into the cave. I lit my torch from the fire and proceeded forward. As I examined the stone walls, I activated my [Examine] ability.

  Placing my palm against the surface, I closed my eyes and scanned the structure of the rock. The mana seeping into the material revealed its inner composition in my mind—porous formations, dense minerals, fragile veins...

  After a while, I noticed an unusual density deep within the wall. A rock more compact and heavier than the others... Granite? Or basalt? I wasn’t sure, but its weight and hardness were palpable.

  I pulled out my chisel and struck the hard surface. Sparks flew—that was a good sign. This happened with very hard stones. But simply digging wouldn’t be enough; I needed a proper anvil surface.

  At this point, I had to rely on my [Shatter] ability once again.

  For an hour, I loosened the stone with my hammer and separated the pieces. Then, I carried the largest chunk outside the cave. It was about knee-high, heavy, and looked durable.

  I placed my palm on the block and took a deep breath.

  [Examine].

  I scanned the veins and weak points of the stone. I identified which sections were harder and which were more brittle. With this knowledge, I could shape it in a controlled manner.

  [Shatter].

  I carefully transferred my ability. I shattered the low-density areas with subtle vibrations, gradually smoothing the upper surface. The whole process was like delicate carving. It took hours, but in the end, I had a roughly flat and wide surface.

  This should be suitable for hammer strikes. The natural weight of the stone would keep it stable, and its hardness would serve me well as a temporary anvil.

  But my work wasn’t done yet.

  The anvil had to remain fixed; otherwise, it would move with each strike, which could injure me.

  I further refined the bottom of the stone block, then placed it on the flat ground next to the forge area. To keep it from moving, I wedged smaller stones around it. For extra stability, I filled the gaps with a mixture of mud and ash, leaving it to harden near the fire.

  Everything seemed ready. I picked up a rusty piece of iron I had found at the cave entrance earlier. I didn’t have a bellows yet, so the fire’s heat wasn’t optimal, but that wouldn’t stop me from making my first test.

  I placed the iron in the fire and waited until it turned red-hot. Then, I grabbed my crude hammer and began striking it atop my newly crafted stone anvil.

  Tok! Tok! Tok!

  Each strike echoed through the cave’s depths. The stone anvil absorbed the impacts well, keeping the iron steady without bouncing. Of course, it wasn’t as effective as a real metal anvil—but having built a forge from scratch and making my own stone anvil filled me with immense motivation.

  After shaping the iron for a while, I set the hammer aside, satisfied.

  I sat in front of my anvil, gazing into the fire.

  Everything was improving, moving in the right direction. Even though this was only a temporary place, it was my workshop now. It was a shame that I’d have to leave it one day after all this effort. But maybe someone else would find it after me. Who knows, perhaps when I became a renowned blacksmith, this place would gain value, and I could sell it for a fortune.

  “Hahahaha…”

  I let out a laugh and took a deep breath.

  This wasn’t a fully equipped workshop yet, but I was making progress step by step. A forge, an anvil, simple tools... With a little more time, a little more patience, and maybe if I discovered hidden ores deeper in the cave...

  I could turn this dark cavern into a true blacksmith’s workshop. Perhaps one day, with weapons forged by my own hands, I would be strong enough to explore the cursed tower.

  But for now, I was just exhausted and proud.

  Leaning against the stone anvil, I closed my eyes.

  Tomorrow, there would be more work to do... But today? Today was the day I told myself, "Here we go."