Chapter 97: Hidden Profession: Artificer
"I can't believe it—we actually did it!"
"Hey, hey..." Battlefield Wheelchair Man ran his fingers over the massive stock of the Primitive Gun, caressing it like a lover he’d been dreaming of.
Steel Tide slapped his hand away with a sharp snap. "Get lost. What kind of creep are you, touching it like that?"
A player named "Electromagnetic Detonation" chimed in from the side. "This is our first gun ever made—it's a historic moment. We should give it a name."
Battlefield Wheelchair Man’s eyes lit up. "How about SMG0818? Or maybe Type II Submachine Gun? Both are my absolute favorites!"
Steel Tide sneered. "Go ahead and shove your wheelchair gun names down my throat." He paused, then added, "And for your information, this isn’t even a submachine gun. It’s a shotgun."
Battlefield Wheelchair Man leaned in again. "How about M30 Composite Rifle?"
Steel Tide ignored him. After a moment of quiet thought, he finally nodded. "Since it shoots steel pellets... how about Steel Sprayer?"
The group fell into stunned silence.
Even Steel Tide seemed to realize the name was a little… crude. He scratched his head sheepishly and quickly backtracked. "I was just kidding! Let’s think of something better, okay?"
But before anyone could respond, the Character Sheet flickered with new information.
Amidst the lingering scent of gunpowder smoke, the crude barrel of the Primitive Gun shimmered faintly with a delicate magical aura—the residual afterglow of the spellwork triggered by the bullet’s discharge.
[Maker Naming Successful!]
[You have successfully crafted a Magical Weapon: Steel Sprayer]
【Steel Sprayer】
Quality: Unique
Range: Within fifty meters—depends on luck. Beyond fifty meters? Pure chance.
Description:
Forged from the most basic tools and the roughest materials, this gun bears the soul of over a dozen blacksmiths. The dents and pockmarks along its barrel tell the story of its brutal birth.
This simple shotgun takes tens of seconds—sometimes longer—to reload, and fires only once per reload. But believe me—by the time you’re ready for a second shot, a storm of steel pellets will have turned you into a pile of shredded meat!
"The direction of the age lies beneath my Iron Hammer."
—Steel Tide, Gunsmith
Steel Tide: "..."
Battlefield Wheelchair Man patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, boss, don’t sweat it. Sure, the name’s a little… memorable. But hey—we’re not just making history. We’re earning it!" He grinned. "Next time someone mentions you, they’ll say, ‘Oh, that’s the guy who built the first firearm in Alerzage—the legendary Steel Sprayer warrior!’"
He couldn’t help it—he burst out laughing.
Steel Tide glared at him with a look that could melt steel.
But before the tension could grow, the Character Sheet updated again.
Steel Tide muttered under his breath, "No way…"
[You have created a new Magic Item. Hidden Profession unlocked: Artificer!]
[In the Multiverse, Artificers have shaped both peace and war through their inventions and magical artifacts. Countless lives have been saved or illuminated by their benevolent creations—but countless others have been shattered by the devastating precision of their genius.]
[As master inventors, Artificers harness originality and arcane power to unlock the extraordinary potential within objects. They treat magic as a complex system waiting to be decoded—then applied through spells, blueprints, and contraptions. They wield an array of tools to channel their Arcane Strength.]
[Current职业: Barbarian]
[Do you wish to undergo Career Transition?]
[Note: Career Transition will impose an Experience Point penalty. Your current XP will be reduced to 40% of your original total. Proceed with caution.]
Steel Tide’s heart pounded. With a fierce sweep of his hand, he roared:
"What the hell is there to think about?!"
"I’m confirming the transition—right now!"
[Your current职业: Artificer Level 1]
[To cast spells, Artificers may use Alchemist’s Supplies to brew potent Spirit Elixirs, Calligrapher’s Supplies to inscribe a symbol of Strength, or Repair Tools to craft a temporary Talisman.]
[Artificer’s Magic Power is intrinsically tied to their tools and natural talent. Few professions rival the Artificer in crafting items that properly harness the rules of Multiverse Magic.]
[Acquired Profession Trait: Magical Craftsmanship]
【Magical Craftsmanship】
[You have learned the fundamental principles of magic—how to channel it into objects, and how to awaken its latent power. You now possess a limited Spellcasting Ability. To onlookers, you do not cast spells in the traditional way. Instead, you appear to conjure miracles through everyday items. You will learn to ignite the spark of magic within the mundane.]
Steel Tide read the description again and again, his eyes blazing with excitement.
"Our Mechanical Divinity is finally here!"
"From now on—planes, cannons, aircraft carriers, even giant mechs—we can build them all!"
He clenched his fist, then raised it high into the air.
"Flesh is frail. Machines shall ascend!"
---
Kai Xiusu lay coiled within the Giant’s Maw Cavern, observing the scene in the Player’s Blacksmith Shop through a magical projection. His expression flickered—just slightly—surprised.
"Mechanical Divinity?"
"That wasn’t even supposed to exist until after Server Launch... How is it already forming? And it’s even unlocked the Artificer hidden profession ahead of schedule?"
Mechanical Divinity—the very name echoed through the halls of legend. In later times, it would become one of the most powerful Player Guilds in the Multiverse.
Back then, it had begun as a small group of mechanical enthusiasts. Its leader, Steel Tide, had been nothing more than an ordinary university student majoring in mechanical engineering.
But as more Players entered Alerzage, the Guild grew rapidly, drawing in top-tier talent from across the globe—some of the most brilliant minds in science and engineering. This influx transformed the Guild’s identity, turning it into a true force of technological wonder. Eventually, it would establish a Floating Fortress in the Mechanical Realm as its headquarters—straight out of a sci-fi epic.
"Recruitment and Pacification... must be done. I must bring this force under my control."
Kai Xiusu watched the footage of the shotgun tearing through a straw dummy, reducing it to rags. His decision was made.
Thus, Ashen Hollow’s Head Steward and the Great Wise One, Lanpu, personally traveled to Bathor City to recruit the group. They offered lavish rewards: generous funding, cutting-edge spell resources, and—most enticing of all—a bottle of rare Dragon Blood Elixir for every member.
Under the weight of such temptation, the unworldly Steel Tide—and his entire Guild—collapsed.
Especially the promise of unlimited funds. It hit home hard—after months of scrimping and saving just to afford basic blacksmithing supplies.
Without hesitation, Steel Tide led his Guild into the fold, willingly becoming a Red Dragon’s Hound—Half-Dragon.
Now, not only did his blacksmithing skills surge, but he could breathe fire himself. Even the chore of stoking the furnace was gone—no more manual bellows.
With the urgent construction efforts of the Bear Goliath and the Ogre, within just seven days, a brand-new, massive structure rose in Bathor City.
A large iron plaque hung at the entrance—Storm Armory.
(End of Chapter)
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