The rain fell without mercy.
Dark clouds swallowed the moon as thunder rolled across the Blackstone Mountains.
Lightning illuminated a lonely village nestled between jagged cliffs before plunging it back into darkness.
The village of Blackstone had once been famous throughout the kingdom.
Not for knights.
Not for mages.
Not for nobles.
It was known for its blacksmiths.
Generations ago, warriors from every corner of the continent traveled here to commission weapons that could split mountains, armor that could withstand dragon fire, and tools that lasted for centuries.
The sound of hammers striking anvils had once echoed day and night.
Now…
Only silence remained.
Most of the forges were cold.
Their chimneys had collapsed.
The once-proud streets were empty except for a handful of old craftsmen who struggled to earn enough to survive.
The younger generation had long abandoned the village.
Steel was no longer respected.
Mana was.
Beast Tamers ruled the world.
Those capable of forming contracts with powerful magical beasts became nobles, generals, and legends.
Blacksmiths…
Were relics of the past.
…
Inside one of the oldest workshops in the village, a young man repeatedly swung his hammer.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Each strike echoed through the empty building.
Sweat dripped from his forehead despite the cold weather.
His name was Drake Ashford.
He had just turned eighteen.
His short black hair clung to his forehead while his amber eyes remained focused on the glowing piece of iron resting upon the anvil.
One strike.
Another.
Then another.
His movements were smooth and disciplined, yet there was a hint of frustration hidden beneath every swing.
Finally, he stopped.
He examined the sword.
Straight.
Balanced.
Sharp.
Perfect.
“…Still ordinary.” He sighed.
No matter how skilled he became…
It was still only a sword.
Without mana, enchanted runes, or beast cores, nobody would pay much for it.
A normal weapon had little value in today’s world.
A loud cough echoed behind him.
Drake immediately turned.
An elderly man sat in a wooden chair near the furnace.
His hair was completely white.
Deep wrinkles covered his face.
Despite his age, his eyes remained bright with quiet wisdom.
This was Gareth Ashford.
Drake’s grandfather.
The last respected blacksmith in Blackstone Village.
“You’ve improved again,” Gareth said with a faint smile.
Drake forced a grin.
“Improved enough to stay poor.” The old man laughed softly.
“You’ve always been impatient.” “Can you blame me?” Drake placed the sword on the workbench.
“Every month another forge closes.
Merchants only buy enchanted equipment.
Beast Tamers can earn more from one hunt than we make in a year.” Silence filled the workshop.
The old man stared into the furnace.
“For centuries…” “Our family forged more than swords.” Drake had heard that sentence countless times.
His grandfather loved telling stories about their ancestors.
Stories everyone else dismissed as myths.
“We forged miracles.” “We forged legends.” “We forged…” “…living weapons.” Drake smiled helplessly.
“You mean Beast Blacksmiths?” Gareth slowly nodded.
“The greatest craftsmen to ever exist.” “The people who created dragons before dragons ruled the skies.” “The ones who forged the first phoenix.” “The architects of living legends.” Drake chuckled.
“If Beast Blacksmiths really existed, why did they disappear?” For the first time…
His grandfather’s expression became unusually serious.
“They were erased.” The words hung in the air.
“History claims they created a monster that nearly destroyed the world.” “They became sinners.” “They were hunted.” “Their names burned.” “Their knowledge buried.” Gareth leaned forward.
“But history is written by the victors.” Before Drake could ask another question…
A violent coughing fit overtook the old man.
Blood stained the cloth covering his mouth.
“Grandfather!” Drake rushed to his side.
“I’m fine…” The old man forced another smile.
“Just an old body refusing to listen.” But Drake knew better.
The village healer had already warned him.
Gareth didn’t have much time left.
The workshop fell silent once more.
Outside…
The storm continued.
…
Later that night.
After helping his grandfather rest, Drake wandered through the abandoned storage room behind the forge.
Broken anvils.
Rusted hammers.
Collapsed shelves.
Everything was covered in decades of dust.
He carried a lantern while searching for anything valuable they could sell.
Even a handful of old iron nails would help.
As he moved an ancient cabinet…
CRACK!
The rotten floor collapsed beneath him.
“What—” Before he could react…
The ground disappeared.
His body plunged into darkness.
He crashed hard onto cold stone.
The lantern rolled away.
Its light flickered across an enormous underground chamber.
Drake slowly stood.
His eyes widened.
“…Impossible…” The chamber stretched farther than he could see.
Massive stone pillars supported the ceiling.
Ancient murals covered every wall.
Thousands of glowing blue crystals illuminated the darkness like stars.
At the center…
Stood a forge unlike anything he had ever imagined.
It towered nearly fifteen feet high.
Forged from black metal that reflected no light.
Golden runes flowed across its surface like living rivers.
Despite centuries of abandonment…
Its fire still burned.
Not orange.
Not red.
The flames were deep sapphire blue.
They moved silently.
Almost…
As if breathing.
Every instinct screamed at Drake to leave.
Yet something inside him pulled him forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
The closer he came…
The faster his heart beat.
Ancient symbols began glowing beneath his feet.
The forge awakened.
The blue flames suddenly erupted toward the ceiling.
A voice echoed throughout the chamber.
Cold.
Ancient.
Neither male nor female.
“Bloodline confirmed.” Drake froze.
“What…?” “Descendant located.” “Final compatibility test initiated.” The forge released countless streams of light.
They surrounded him.
His body became unbearably hot.
Agony exploded through every nerve.
He fell to his knees.
“Aaaagh!” The light entered his chest.
His blood seemed to boil.
His vision blurred.
The chamber trembled violently.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
The ancient voice spoke once more.
“Beast Blacksmith…” “…Candidate accepted.” A symbol shaped like an anvil surrounded by a dragon’s tail slowly appeared on the back of Drake’s right hand.
The mark burned like molten iron.
Then…
Silence.
The blue flames settled.
Before Drake could process what had happened…
A tiny crack echoed from inside the forge.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
One glowing object slowly rolled out onto the stone floor.
It was no larger than a child’s fist.
Smooth.
Dark crimson.
Covered in faint golden veins.
An egg.
No…
Not an ordinary egg.
The ancient voice returned one final time.
“The First Beast awaits its creator.” The egg suddenly pulsed.
A tiny heartbeat echoed through the chamber.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Drake stared at it in stunned silence.
His entire life…
Was about to change.
********** End of Chapter 1