Chapter 9 − Hammerfall
Chapter 9 − Hammerfall
Tyler sat beneath the frosty trees near Shindo, fingers tapping his stats window. He hadn’t spent any of his attribute points since level 16, and now with ten to allocate, he had a decision to make. He frowned, staring at the eight different categories. Without hesitation, he dumped all ten into [Attack].
[Player: Tyler] [Level 26]
[HP: 225/225] [Power Regen: 16/16]
Stats:
> Attack: 15 (+10)
> Defence: 5 (+20)
> Agility: 2
> Speed: 2
> Power Regen: 6
> Accuracy: 1
> Dodge: 1
> Health Regen: 1
Remaining Attribute Points: 0
With his newfound strength, he marked the teleportation beacon outside Shindo. A soft hum radiated from the crystal as it locked in his return location. Milo tilted his head.
[Teleporter Registered: Shindo]
“Why are we heading back to Yandi?” he asked, brushing snow off his furry shell.
Tyler ignored the question. He had a goal in mind.
Moments later, they were back in Yandi. The sun was higher here, and the snow hadn’t blanketed the ground like in Shindo. Tyler strode with purpose into Vitamin Ape’s forge.
The hammering had resumed. The gorilla-carrot hybrid stood at the anvil, smashing a chunk of titanium with his massive fists, sending up sparks.
“You finally back, little man?” Vitamin Ape said, raising a bushy eyebrow.
“I have the gold. What can I get?”
Vitamin Ape gestured to a rack. Among the items, Tyler picked up a crude titanium sword.
[Item: Crude Titanium Sword (ATK+15)]
[Buy Item?] [Yes] | [No]
He swung it once. It felt… wrong. The balance was off, and the grip clunky.
“Is this your best work?” Tyler muttered.
Before Vitamin Ape could reply, Milo stepped in. “Seriously, this is what you forge with those fists? Can’t you make something better?”
Vitamin Ape snorted. “Of course I can. But tools matter. Metal hammer on titanium? That’s a joke. My fists are tougher than that metal, so I use these.” He flexed.
Milo blinked. “So… if you had a better hammer…”
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on NovelFire. Report any occurrences.
“I could make blades so fine, even gods would bleed.”
Tyler rolled his eyes. “Just say you want to give us a quest instead of talking in circles, stupid NPC.”
Vitamin Ape paused, then let out a deep, rumbling laugh. Not mocking, but amused. Like a parent humouring a child who just threatened to punch a bear. “You got guts, kid. Threatening the guy who forges your weapons with his bare hands. Cute. Fine, I’ll play along. A few days ago, a meteorite crashed down. Material from the sky, pure and blessed by the cosmos. I don’t know where it landed, but I know someone who might.”
[Quest Unlocked: Vitamin Ape’s Hammer]
Vitamin Ape wants you to follow him to an unknown location.
Do you wish to follow him?
[Yes, let’s go immediately] | [No, maybe later]
Tyler stared at the screen. “You better not take us somewhere dangerous, or I swear you’ll regret it.”
Vitamin Ape only chuckled again, as if the idea of Tyler threatening him was a delightful joke. Tyler sighed and tapped [Yes, let’s go immediately].
The world darkened. Shadows swirled around them. In a blink, they stood inside a cold, eerie cavern. Blue flames flickered in concentric circles around them, casting ghostly reflections.
“Where are we?” Tyler asked.
Vitamin Ape pointed to the centre. “Shrine of the most devout follower of the Creator God, the Aether Dragon. The most powerful wizard ever to live… Yandeon.”
In the middle of the altar sat a blue, translucent figure. Milo screamed.
“A GHOST?!”
The figure opened its eyes. Its voice echoed as though from the depths of a massive iron bell. “I am no ghost. I am the spirit of Yandeon, bound by faith and fire, servant of the Aether Dragon.”
Tyler raised a brow. “So… you’re dead. The ‘most powerful wizard’ got clobbered? That’s rich. What’d you do, trip over your own spellbook?”
Yandeon’s form rippled, his expression solemn. “Even the greatest mortals are still bound to mortality. I fell in battle against a being of infernal origin, its flames meant to consume the world. My final act sealed the rift between realms. My death was the cost of salvation.”
“That’s… actually kind of epic,” Milo murmured.
Tyler scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, okay. Still sounds like a waste if you ask me. Anyway, about the meteorite?”
Yandeon turned his glowing gaze to them. “Indeed, I sensed its fall. It lies beyond the Windy Mountains. But heed my words: those peaks are not merely tall — they are cursed.”
Tyler scoffed. “Cursed? How?”
Yandeon’s tone deepened, the flames dimming slightly. “A violent storm surrounds the highest peaks. However, these storms are not simple weather phenomena — they are fury incarnate. The wrath of a divine being lingers in those peaks, twisting snow into spears, wind into blades. Mortals who ascend are shredded, not by the cold, but by divine anger. Even I cannot peer into its eye.”
Milo gulped.
“Few dare venture close,” Yandeon continued. “None return. It is said a temple exists atop the highest peak, but no mortal has stood before it in an age.”
Tyler grinned. “Sounds like a challenge.”
[Quest Assigned: Vitamin Ape’s Hammer]
[Objective: Cross the dangerous Windy Mountains to fetch a piece of the fallen meteorite. The meteorite will be used to forge a legendary hammer.]
[Reward: Fine-grade titanium gear, access to advanced equipment.]
[Will you accept the quest?] [Yes] | [No]
Tyler smirked and tapped [Yes]. “Challenge accepted.”
The blue flames around the altar dimmed, and the light of the teleport crystal pulsed faintly once again.
Tyler and Milo reappeared near the forge tent, and Milo blinked. “Are we heading to the mountains now?”
Tyler shook his head. “I’ve got some business to take care of first.”
His eyes narrowed. He remembered the clearing, the egg nestled inside the nest… and the Rhino Momma who nearly turned him into paste. He clenched his fist and reopened his stats window.
[Attack: 15 (+10)]
It was a far cry from the meagre 8 damage he’d done back then. If he activated [Rage], he’d hit with 75 damage per strike. But his defence would be shredded. Still, maybe — maybe — if Milo used his [Absolute Defence] to protect him, he’d survive. Not that Tyler would ever admit needing help.
Milo, who had been staring at Tyler’s intense focus, asked, “Uhh… where are we going?”
Tyler looked away, unwilling to speak, but Milo filled in the blanks. “If you’re planning to go for the mountains now, you need better strategy. And supplies. We may have 500 gold, but an expedition means stocking up. Let’s try a few bandit camps in the frozen forests first. Safer, more gold.”
Tyler nodded — unconsciously.
“And now you’ve got that Rage skill too. Plus—”
Tyler cut him off. “Let’s just check Yandi’s forest for now. Teleport is on cooldown anyway.”
Milo, trudging behind him, continued speaking, but his well-meaning advice started grating on Tyler’s nerves. The voice that once seemed helpful now felt like relentless droning, a lecture in every step. To Tyler, it was just background noise—until a piercing scream rang out:
“AHHHH! TYLEEER!! HEEELLLP!!!”