Chronicles Of The Crafting Hero [REMASTERED]

Tyler stared at the man standing before him. His gaze shifted from the dead Hexhorn on the ground to the steel blade in the stranger's hand. The metal was slick with fresh blood, a single drop gathering at the tip before falling into the dirt.

"Please, help me. I'm lost," Tyler said. His voice was thin, cracking with the weight of his fear.

James looked down at the young man. He didn't lower his weapon. instead, he leveled the point of the sword directly at Tyler’s throat.

Tyler’s hands shot up instantly, his palms open and trembling. "Please, I mean no harm! I'm just lost and I need help!"

"Who are you?" James asked, his voice rough and steady.

"My-my name is Tyler. Tyler Evans."

James studied him, his eyes narrowing. *Tyler... He speaks our language, but where did he come from?*

He scanned the boy’s appearance. The messy hair, the strange, soft fabric of his clothes, the shoes that looked too fragile for this terrain. *He is certainly not a hunter.*

Tyler shifted his weight, trying to push himself up from the dirt.

"Don't move," James commanded. He adjusted his stance, thrusting the sword tip inches closer to Tyler’s chest.

Tyler froze, his hands jerking higher into the air. "Please. Don't kill me."

"Where did you come from?" James asked.

Tyler’s breath hitched. His mouth opened to speak, but the words died in his throat.

*How do I explain this?* Tyler thought, his heart hammering against his ribs. *I was in my room... and then I was just brought here.*

"I was home," Tyler stammered, the words tumbling out. "And then I was suddenly transported here. I don't know how it happened. But you've got to believe me. It just suddenly happened and—"

"Stop," James cut him off. He kept the sword steady.

*He was transported here?* James thought, his brow furrowing. "So you mean you were teleported."

Tyler blinked, confusion clouding his face for a split second. "Yeah. I was."

James lowered the sword a fraction of an inch. *Teleportation... that is a high form of magic. It's rare. Not everyone can use it. Certainly not a kid who looks like this.*

He inspected Tyler again, his gaze lingering on the boy's chest. The strange, ripped shirt was soaked in dark, dried crusted blood. The stains covered his abdomen and ribs, yet the skin beneath the tears was smooth and unblemished.

"Whose blood is that?" James asked, nodding toward the stains.

Tyler looked down at his shirt. "Oh." He looked back up, his voice quiet. "It's mine."

James tilted his head. "Yours?"

Tyler nodded quickly. "Yes. That was before I healed."

James paused, silence stretching between them in the misty forest.

*Would he even believe me?* Tyler thought, fighting the urge to lower his arms. *I must sound insane.*

James narrowed his eyes, studying the stains on the boy's shirt.

*If that's his blood, there's only one explanation,* James thought. *Regeneration or high-level healing magic. His clothes are shredded... he was attacked, mauled even, but he’s standing here without a scratch.*

"Are you with anyone else?" James asked, his voice sharp.

"No, I'm by myself," Tyler stammered, his hands still raised. "Like I said, I was transported here suddenly."

"By who?" James pressed. The tip of his sword remained steady.

"I don't know. I'm not sure."

James frowned, his grip tightening on the leather hilt. "You don't know?"

Panic flared in Tyler’s chest. He needed an answer, something that would make this man lower the weapon.

"By the System!" Tyler blurted out.

Immediately, a translucent blue panel showing his stats manifested in the air between them

"Here it is," Tyler said, nodding frantically toward the floating text. "It’s right here."

James stared at the boy’s face, then at the empty space where Tyler was looking.

"What are you talking about?" James asked slowly.

"Huh?" Tyler blinked. He pointed a shaking finger at the glowing rectangle hovering between them. "The System. In front of you. Can't you see it?"

"What System?" James stepped back, his expression darkening. "What is that?"

Tyler’s eyes widened. The realization hit him like a physical blow.

*Right,* he thought, his mind racing. *Just like the monsters earlier. They never reacted to the light. It’s as if they couldn't see it.*

He looked at the man’s confused, angry face. *Even he can't see it. Does that mean I'm the only one? It linked itself solely to me.*

"Answer me!" James barked, snapping Tyler out of his thoughts.

"I swear I'm telling the truth!" Tyler cried, his voice pitching up. "I don't know what this thing is. For some reason, I think I'm the only one who can see it."

"What?" James whispered. He looked at the boy with a mix of suspicion and pity.

*Did he lose his mind?* James thought. *He isn't making any sense.*

"Stand up," James commanded.

Tyler planted his hands on the dirt to push himself up.

"Slowly," James warned, shifting his stance.

Tyler froze for a second, then rose to his feet with careful, deliberate movements. He stood there, his chest heaving, his eyes locked on the man with the sword.

"Where do you come from?" James asked, his voice low.

Tyler swallowed hard, his throat dry. *The System said this is an alternate universe. Does he even know what Earth is?*

"Earth," Tyler said.

James frowned. "Earth?"

He searched his memory, scrolling through the names of the continents, the major cities, even the obscure border villages. Nothing came up.

*I've never heard of that place before,* James thought. *Is that a town? A remote village in the unclaimed territories?*

"What rank are you?" James demanded.

Tyler hesitated. *Rank? So he knows about ranks too. The System showed my rank earlier, and this man has a level... a high one.*

He looked at the sword still pointed at his chest. *This whole world... it operates exactly like the games back home.*

"Answer me," James pressed, stepping closer.

"It's G-Rank," Tyler said.

James’s brow furrowed deep. "G-Rank?"

Tyler nodded quickly. "Yeah."

"Do you take me for a fool?" James growled. The muscles in his forearm tightened. " You can't be a G-Rank. If you don't tell me your true rank right now, I'll kill you where you stand."

Tyler raised his hands higher, his palms sweating. "No! I'm telling the truth. My rank is G!"

James’s eyes went cold.

His arm blurred.

He swung the sword in a flat, controlled arc. The movement was faster than the eye could track.

Tyler stood frozen. He only registered the attack when the cold steel bit into the skin of his collarbone.

A shallow line of red opened up on his neck.

"Ah!" Tyler cried out. He stumbled backward, his heel catching on a root, and he hit the dirt hard. He scrambled away on his hands and heels, clutching his neck. "Please! Don't kill me! I told you the truth!"

James stood perfectly still, the bloody sword resting at his side. He watched the boy cowering on the ground.

*He couldn't react to that,* James observed. * Almost as if he didn't even see the blade move.*

He studied Tyler’s face, the dilated pupils, the erratic breathing, the way his body shook uncontrollably.

*That isn't acting. That is the reaction of someone who cant protect themselves from a threat. His level must be incredibly low.*

*His blade moved faster than my eyes could follow,* Tyler realized, his heart hammering against his ribs. *If I try to run, he will catch me instantly.*

*Should I use those things?*

His mind raced to his inventory. *If I summon the fruits right now and throw them at him, they might buy me a chance to escape. It will burn my hand, we'll both get hurt. But that's just my hand. I’ll throw them right in his face.*

James slid the blade into his scabbard. The soft click of the metal locking into place cut through the tension. Tyler frowned, confusion washing over his fear.

"Sorry about that," James said. He extended a hand toward the boy.

*What is he doing?* Tyler thought, staring at the open palm. *Is he letting me go?*

"Don't worry. I'm not going to harm you," James said. "Come on, get up."

Tyler reached out and took the man's hand. James pulled him up with effortless power. Tyler felt himself hauled into the air as if a machine had gripped him, his feet leaving the ground for a split second before finding purchase again.

He touched the shallow cut on his collarbone. The bleeding had already stopped, leaving a thin, stinging line. He dropped his hand.

"You have to understand," James said, brushing a speck of dirt from his sleeve. "It is rare to find people who aren't hunters out here. I thought you were playing a trick."

"No, I wasn't," Tyler said, his voice still shaky. "I just wanted some help."

James looked at the dead Hexhorn lying in the dirt, then back at Tyler.

"I guess I should thank you for saving my life. If you had stayed silent or ignored that monster, I would have taken a serious injury. So, thank you."

"Oh... you're welcome," Tyler said.

*His attitude changed so drastically,* Tyler thought, watching the man’s face closely. *He tried to kill me a second ago. I have to stay on guard.*

"Come on, let's go," James said, positioning his bag "We can't stay here. We'll get attacked by more monsters."

"Right," Tyler said.

James turned and began walking through the forest. Tyler fell into step behind him, his eyes scanning the trees nervously.

"That weapon you used earlier," James said, keeping his gaze forward. "The spear. Where did you get it?"

"I made it," Tyler said.

James paused mid-step. He glanced over his shoulder, his brow furrowing. "You made it?"

"Yeah," Tyler answered.

James turned back to the path, continuing his stride.

*That spear looked like the work of a skilled artisan,* James thought. *He said he was teleported here suddenly. Was he holding it when it happened? And earlier, it managed to actually pierce a Hexhorn. That should be impossible for a wooden spear.*

"How did you make it?" James asked.

Tyler bit his lip.

*How do I explain this when he can't even see the System?* Tyler thought. *I guess I can say I used a skill? Since this world runs on game logic, will that make sense to him?*

"I used a skill," Tyler said.

*A skill?* James thought. *Is he a Craftsman? But what kind of skill creates a finished weapon like that?*

"So you're a Craftsman class?" James asked.

Tyler's eyes widened. "Yes!"

The word came out louder than he intended. He flinched slightly. "I mean... yes. I'm a Craftsman."

*Hmm, that makes sense,* James thought. *That explains why he couldn't react to my sword earlier. Craftsman is not a combat class. But still, this doesn't explain a lot. Why is he here? And... how could that spear hurt a Hexhorn?*

"That spear back then," James said. "How did it manage to pierce the Hexhorn?"

"Well, it shouldn't have been able to do that," Tyler admitted. "But I think it's because of the coating from the fruit. Maybe that acted as a weakness to its hide."

"Fruits?" James asked, glancing back.

"Yeah," Tyler said. "These poisonous ones that... I saw near the river."

James stopped dead in his tracks. He turned fully around, staring at the boy. "You came from across the river?"

"Yeah," Tyler said, nodding. "I was actually transported there yesterday. I came from very far away. I walked the whole day and through the night too. I barely managed to survive."

James looked at the boy’s torn clothes and the dried blood again. The area beyond the river was deep territory, crawling with beasts far stronger with high levels.

"That far?" James breathed out. "You must be the luckiest man alive. If you were transported that deep into the zone, you should be dead by now. How are you still breathing?"

Tyler rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at his worn shoes. "Well, I wouldn't say it was luck. Part of it is all thanks to the System."

James frowned. "The System that you keep mentioning. What is it exactly?"

"I don't know either," Tyler admitted. "It just appeared and transported me here. And after that... that's how I saw my level and rank."

"Your level?" James asked. "What do you mean you saw your level?"

"The System appears in front of me," Tyler explained, gesturing vaguely at the air. "But it seems I'm the only one who can see it. It shows my level... and other things' levels too."

James narrowed his eyes. "By 'other things,' you mean monsters?"

"Yeah," Tyler said. He looked up, meeting James’s gaze. "Even people. I can see your level."

He paused for a second. "It's 48, isn't it?"

James’s eyes widened. The skepticism vanished, replaced by cold shock.

"Wait," James said softly. "You can actually see my level?"

"Yeah," Tyler said. "That's what it says."

James took a slow breath.

*I thought he was just crazy,* James thought, his mind racing. *But he's not wrong. I am exactly Level 48.*

He looked at the boy with a new intensity.

*Craftsmen do not have an Appraisal skill. Only some high ranking assassins have access to that kind of information. Is he actually telling the truth about this... System?*

A sharp rustle in the bushes broke the silence.

James drew his sword instantly, the metal sliding free with a fluid motion. Tyler stepped quickly to James’s side, his eyes darting toward the noise.

"What is it?" Tyler whispered.

James kept his gaze locked on the trembling leaves. "Probably a monster."

The foliage burst apart. A slime shot out like a projectile, aiming straight for them.

A translucent panel flashed in Tyler’s vision:

**LEVEL 14 SLIME HAS ACTIVATED SKILL: BASH.**

James swung his sword in a sharp, upward arc. The blade met the creature in mid-air, cleaving through the gelatinous body with zero resistance.

The two halves separated, disintegrating instantly, turning into a cloud of fine blue dust that drifted away on the breeze. A small, solid core clattered onto the dirt in front of Tyler.

Tyler stared at the spot where the monster had been.

*He killed it so easily,* he thought, his eyes wide.

James sheathed his sword and bent down. He picked up the slime core, inspected it briefly, and dropped it into his bag. He straightened up and continued walking, gesturing for Tyler to follow.

"So," James said, keeping his voice low. "You mean to tell me that this... thing... is the one that brought you here? And you don't know what it is exactly?"

"Yeah," Tyler replied.

"And you said you're from Earth," James continued. "I've never heard of it before."

Tyler looked down at his feet, watching the dirt pass beneath his worn shoes.

*Do I tell him that I'm from another world?* he wondered. *It was hard enough for him to accept that I have a System.*

"The way you dress," James interrupted his thoughts, glancing at him. "Even your clothes. I've never seen that type of dressing before."

Tyler pulled at the hem of his torn shirt. "It's a bit complicated to explain where I'm from."

James nodded slowly. "Oh. Okay. You'll explain it to me once we get to the base. Right now, we just have to focus on our surroundings. Keep your guard up. You might get attacked."

Tyler looked around, realizing the heavy white veil had lifted completely. The trees stood sharp and distinct against the morning light, the path ahead clear. He fell into step behind James, keeping close.

James walked in silence, his mind working through the boy's story.

*The fruits he mentioned... they must be Venom Blooms,* James thought. *Those are the only toxins potent enough to weaken a Hexhorn’s hide around here. He must have scavenged them near the river.*

He glanced over his shoulder. Tyler met his gaze, his expression wide-eyed and fearful. He looked like a frightened kid, nothing more.

James faced forward again, his hand tightening aroud his sword hilt.

*Something is off,* James thought, his eyes narrowing at the path ahead. *He still hasn't told me his true rank. And the healing... looking at those shredded clothes, the damage to the fabric implies fatal attacks. He should be dead.*

He ran through the possibilities. *If it is regeneration... that is the only explanation that fits the blood stains. But that should be impossible for a Craftsman.*

James exhaled sharply through his nose, his chest falling with the heavy breath.

*I'll have to interrogate him properly once we get to the base,* he decided. *Right now, I have to get us out of here. I have to keep my guard up. Even against him. I don't trust him.*

A heavy, rhythmic sound beat against the air above them.

His eyes widened as a creature appeared from behind them. "Hey!" he yelled.

James turned abruptly. His breath hissed through his teeth as the creature touched down on the path just meters behind them, its shadow falling across their path.

Its wings folded against its sides as it landed with a heavy thud. Tyler’s mouth went slightly agape as he recognized the creature. Its feathers were a dazzling mixture of colors, shimmering like a rainbow. It stood on long, spindly legs reminiscent of a flamingo, supporting a long neck that ended in the vibrant head of a peacock.

The System panel materialized instantly. A translucent blue bar hovered above the creature's head: Pixel Level 45.