On the third floor of the Blacksmith's Association, the elevator doors slid open.
Two figures stepped out.
One was a dignified man in his forties, clad in silver-gray attire. On his chest gleamed a golden hammer insignia, above which were eight black stars.
Eight stars signified an eighth-rank craftsman. The golden hammer marked him as a blacksmith.
An eight-star Saint Craftsman.
Within the entire West Ocean branch, there was only one such person.
Nigel.
President of the Sun-Moon Federation's West Ocean City Blacksmith's Association.
Beside him stood a girl of thirteen or fourteen. She was tall, agile, and strikingly beautiful, with bright eyes and golden hair tied neatly into a ponytail. Her fitted attire accentuated her nimble build.
The staff at the front desk immediately stood. "President."
Nigel nodded. "No need for ceremony. I've brought Rachel to take her second-rank test. I'd like to speak with the surveyor."
"Yes, President. Miss Rachel is already prepared. She truly lives up to her reputation as a generational genius."
Rachel remained calm, merely nodding.
She disliked the word genius.
Her achievements were born from effort, not talent. Her goal was clear. To surpass her father and become a ninth-rank Divine Craftsman.
Across the entire Xynnar Continent, there were only three.
Suddenly, Nigel paused. His brow lifted slightly. "What's that sound?"
Rachel's ears twitched subtly as well, her attention snapping toward the source.
It was a continuous, melodic, yet powerful rhythm of hammering.
Perfectly timed. Intensely controlled. Beautiful.
Nigel asked the staff member, "Is someone taking a fourth-rank test?"
The staff member froze. "No…?"
Nigel frowned slightly, then turned to Rachel. "Go prepare for your test. I'll take a look."
"Yes." Though curious, Rachel obeyed and headed toward the second-rank testing room. There was no time for distraction.
Nigel followed the sound.
It led him to the testing room three.
Even with the forging room's excellent soundproofing, the rhythm still seeped through the door.
Only rare, high-density metals produced such sounds. And such precise, powerful strikes meant one thing.
Thousand Refined hammers.
Blacksmith ranks were rigid for a reason. This level of forging already approached Grandmaster territory. More than that, Nigel could hear it clearly.
The blacksmith inside wasn't fighting the metal.
They were in harmony with it.
Harmonization was a state in which a blacksmith resonated with the metal being forged, step by step, until both reached a form of fusion. In this state, the chances of producing an outstanding work increased dramatically.
Every forged piece carried not only technique, but also the blacksmith's emotions, intent, and ideals.
Nigel did not enter the forging chamber.
Even as the Association's President, he was not allowed to.
During a blacksmith's ranking test, no one was permitted to interrupt. Any disturbance could break the blacksmith's concentration, leading to failure, or worse, leaving a lasting shadow on their forging path.
How interesting.
Nigel returned to the front desk and asked calmly, "What is the name of the examinee in testing room three?"
The staff member quickly checked the records. "The examinee is Ray. He was recommended by Grandmaster Kaelan and is currently undergoing the test."
As he spoke, he handed Nigel a copy of Ray's form.
When he saw Kaelan's name, Nigel chuckled softly. "Of course. Who else but Old Cen would recommend someone capable of entering harmonization during an examination?"
His smile froze a moment later.
"Nine years old?"
He lifted his head sharply. "Are you certain this isn't an error? The examinee is only nine?"
The staff member answered immediately, "Yes. We were also shocked. It's rare for someone so young to apply for a ranking test."
Nigel fell silent.
A nine-year-old… taking a blacksmith's test?
If that was true, then he must be attempting at least the first-rank evaluation.
Beep. Beep.
Nigel activated the soul communicator at his waist.
"Dad, I'm ready," Rachel's voice came through. "I'm in testing room six."
"I'll be there shortly."
Though his curiosity lingered, his daughter's test took priority. Nigel quickened his pace toward room six.
"Time's up!" the surveyor announced in a firm, clear voice.
Dang!
Ray delivered his final hammer strike and withdrew both hammers. With a flash of silver light, the Thousand Refined Tungsten Hammers vanished into the Heavy Silver Rings on his wrists.
His breathing was steady, his chest rising and falling gently. His cheeks were flushed, and sweat glistened faintly on his forehead, but that was the extent of his exhaustion.
The forging room fell silent.
The surveyor focused on the Heavy Silver, while Kaelan's gaze lingered on Ray's eyes.
For just an instant, Kaelan thought he saw a faint silver glow flicker within them, as if a remnant of the metal's radiance still lingered. Though the forging had ended, Ray's focus had not completely dispersed.
This child… if he stayed on this path, he would one day become extraordinary.
"Heavy Silver," the surveyor announced after careful inspection. "Purification exceeding Hundred Refinement standards. Volume reduced by seven percent. State of refinement: triple Hundred Refined."
If such results came from a Grandmaster, they would be unremarkable.
But this was a nine-year-old child whose body had not even begun developing.
It was nothing short of astonishing.
"The evaluation is passed," the surveyor concluded, looking toward Kaelan.
Kaelan let out a bitter chuckle. "Gilbert did this on purpose."
The surveyor stiffened. "This child… he's Gilbert's disciple?"
Kaelan nodded. "I didn't believe it at first either. But now I'm certain. This child is qualified to take the second-rank test."
The surveyor considered his words, then turned to Ray. "Child, besides metal purification, what other forging skills do you possess?"
Ray snapped out of his forging trance. In his mind, the only regrets were that he had restrained the power of his Thousand Refined Tungsten Hammers and that time had run out too soon. Given more time, he was confident he could have completed a Thousand Refinement.
"I can forge basic small and medium-sized components," Ray replied earnestly.
Kaelan was not surprised. Ray had mentioned this earlier, and Gilbert himself had agreed that the boy could accept commissions.
"Forge a medium-sized component," the surveyor said solemnly. "If you succeed, you will be promoted to a second-rank blacksmith."
The requirements for the second rank were simple: the ability to Hundred Refine rare metals and successfully forge a medium-sized component.
Ray had already exceeded expectations in purification. Now, only one step remained.
"Yes!" Ray answered, immediately beginning.