Lin Mo walked away from the Ascendant Pillar, but this time, he had a clear purpose in mind and he wasn't wandering aimlessly.
He knew where he needed to go. Yet, after taking only a few steps, Lin Mo's expression gradually darkened.
A question had been gnawing at the back of his mind.
Where did these memories come from?
The game had only been officially launched two weeks ago.
Two weeks.
That was all the time players had to explore the world of Ascension Online.
Yet the memories in his mind contained information that no ordinary player could possibly possess. Hidden quests. Secret triggers. Unexplored locations. NPC behaviors. Quest chains that players wouldn't discover for months, sometimes even years.
There was simply no way anyone could have experienced all of it within two weeks.
And yet, somehow...
He knew.
Lin Mo's brows knitted together. As the days passed, more and more inexplicable things happened to him.
First, there was his resurrection.
Then came the strange voice.
The gigantic eye.
The mysterious way on how he was inside the game.
And now, the memories.
One mystery after another had been piling up, yet not a single person had given him an answer.
Not the system.
Not the players.
Not even the world itself.
Lin Mo sighed.
Perhaps there was no point in chasing answers he didn't have the means to obtain. For now, he could only do what was within his reach.
One step at a time.
He would cross that bridge when he came to it.
"Whatever happens, I'll deal with it when the time comes."
With that thought, Lin Mo stopped dwelling on the matter. Right now, he had something more important to do.
Lin Mo raised his hand. The motion was natural. Almost instinctive. It was as if he had performed the action countless times before.
A faint ripple of blue light appeared in the air. A transparent screen unfolded before his eyes.
《STATUS》
Name: Solus
Race: Human
Level: 1
Experience: 0 / 100 EXP
《BASIC ATTRIBUTES》
Lifepoints: 100
Mana Points: 50
Defense: 10
Attack Power: 10
Magic Power: 10
Attack Speed: 1.00
Movement Speed: 10.0
Luck: 10
《EQUIPMENT》
Weapon: Common Iron Sword
Head: Common Cloth Cap
Body: Common Cloth
Hands: Common Cloth Gloves
Legs: Common Cloth Pants
Feet: Common Cloth Shoes
《CURRENCY》
40 Copper Coins
A completely ordinary Level 1 Human.
That was what the status panel showed.
Most players would probably stare at their attributes with excitement before immediately planning how to increase their level.
Leveling up, getting stronger, obtaining better equipment, becoming powerful.
For Lin Mo, however, those things could wait.
[ Ironroot Forge ]
The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the street.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Lin Mo followed the noise and soon arrived at a large stone-and-metal building. A thick iron sign hung above the entrance.
IRONROOT FORGE
The building was impossible to miss.
Black smoke rose from several chimneys on the roof, while the heat escaping through the open windows made the air around the building shimmer.
The moment Lin Mo stepped inside, a wave of heat washed over his face.
The forge was packed.
Players crowded around the counters and workstations, while several dwarven NPCs moved between the furnaces with practiced efficiency.
The entire hall was alive with noise.
"Hey! Don't touch that!"
"Why not?! I already paid for it!"
"You paid for the sword, not the sharpening service!"
"Then why the hell is sharpening so expensive?!"
"Because you're asking me to repair a sword that looks like it was used to fight a pack of wolves!"
A nearby player looked down at his battered weapon.
"Can you at least make it look less pathetic?"
The dwarf blacksmith stared at him.
"No."
"Why?!"
"Because it is pathetic."
The surrounding players burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! He got roasted by an NPC!"
"Bro, even the NPC doesn't respect you!"
"Shut up! All of you!"
Lin Mo couldn't help but glance toward the commotion.
The atmosphere inside the Ironroot Forge was completely different from the quiet streets outside.
Players were everywhere.
Some were purchasing weapons.
Others were comparing equipment.
A few were gathered around blacksmiths, asking questions about attributes. The players continued chatting as they went about their business.
Lin Mo quietly observed everything. He wasn't here to buy anything.
Not yet.
His eyes slowly swept across the forge.
The furnaces.
The workstations.
The apprentices.
The dwarven craftsmen.
And finally...
The specific forge he was looking for.
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed slightly. There it was. The beginning of his plan.
According to the information he had obtained from the Ascendant Pillar, a hidden quest existed within the Ironroot Forge.
However, players had not discovered it during the early days of the game. The reason was simple.
Nobody had any reason to do something so absurd.
The hidden quest was eventually discovered by a player who had jokingly suggested recasting his Common weapon into a higher tier.
Everyone had laughed at him.
But the player actually tried it.
And that single foolish decision accidentally revealed the existence of a hidden quest chain.
However, discovering the quest was one thing. Completing it perfectly was another. There was a specific pattern required to trigger the quest.
The number of times the weapon had to be reheated.
The number of strikes.
The cooling process.
And, most importantly...
The final sequence.
If even one step was performed incorrectly, the hidden quest would not activate. Lin Mo already knew the entire process.
He walked toward the forge. The players nearby barely paid him any attention. Until he stopped.
Lin Mo reached toward the workstation and picked up the hammer lying beside the anvil.
Several players turned their heads.
"Huh?"
"What is that guy doing?"
"Is he a blacksmith?"
"Look at his equipment. He's Level 1."
"So?"
"Why is a Level 1 holding a forging hammer?"
A player laughed.
"Maybe he thinks he can craft a legendary weapon."
Another player shook his head.
"Newbie probably doesn't know how the system works."
Lin Mo ignored them. He drew his Common Iron Sword. The weapon was cheap and ordinary.
Exactly what one would expect from a Level 1 starter weapon.
A few players noticed.
"Isn't that a starter sword?"
"Yeah."
"Why is he putting it on the forge?"
"Wait..."
The player stared.
"Is he seriously trying to reforge it?"
"Hahahaha!"
The laughter immediately spread.
"Hey, newbie! You know you need a blacksmith NPC for that, right?"
"He's probably going to melt his own sword!"
"Maybe he's trying to make a Divine Weapon!"
"Someone stop him before he bankrupts himself!"
Lin Mo remained completely indifferent. He had already memorized the process. He placed the sword into the furnace. A system prompt appeared.
System: Recast Common Iron Sword?
[YES] [NO]
Lin Mo selected YES.
The sword disappeared into the flames. The surrounding players became even more amused.
"Did he just throw his sword into the furnace?"
"That's exactly what he did."
"Can he even get it back?"
"Probably not."
"HAHAHA!"
Lin Mo didn't react.
Five minutes.
Exactly five minutes.
He knew the timing. He reached for the tongs. The metal had turned bright orange. Lin Mo carefully pulled the sword from the furnace.
HISSSSS!
Steam rose from the blade.
He raised the hammer.
CLANG!
One strike.
CLANG!
Two.
CLANG!
Three.
Four.
Five.
He stopped.
The players stared.
"That's it?"
"What the hell was that?"
"Is he actually trying to forge it?"
"Maybe."
"He's terrible."
Lin Mo placed the sword back into the furnace.
Five minutes.
Again.
He repeated the process.
Five strikes.
Back into the furnace.
The third time.
Five strikes.
Back into the furnace.
By now, the laughter had faded.
The players were confused.
"What is he doing?"
"I have no idea."
"Is this some hidden mechanic?"
"There's no way."
"Maybe he's just stupid."
Lin Mo pulled the sword out one final time.
This time, instead of returning it to the furnace, he plunged the blazing-hot blade into a nearby water trough.
SSSSSSSSHHHHHH!
A thick cloud of steam erupted. The sound echoed throughout the forge. Several players turned toward him.
"Whoa."
"Did he just temper it?"
"That's not how the tutorial taught us to do it."
"Maybe the tutorial isn't the only way."
"Are you saying this guy knows something?"
"No way. He's Level 1."
Lin Mo ignored them. He retrieved the sword. Then he raised the hammer.
And began striking.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The rhythm was steady.
Precise.
Twenty-five strikes.
The final strike landed.
CLANG!
The sound rang through the forge.
For a moment, silence followed.
Then—
"Kid."
A deep voice came from behind him. Lin Mo stopped. He slowly turned around.
A short but heavily built dwarf stood there.
His arms were thick with muscle, and his hands were covered in years of calluses. His gray beard reached down to his chest, while a pair of protective goggles rested on his forehead.
His eyes were sharp.
Observant.
The dwarf looked at the sword. Then at the hammer. Then back at Lin Mo. The players nearby immediately began whispering.
"Isn't that Bromm?"
"Wait, that's Bromm Ironhand!"
"The Level 15 Expert Forger?"
"Yeah!"
"Why is he talking to that newbie?"
Lin Mo calmly looked at the dwarf.
A system panel appeared.
《BROMM IRONHAND》
Level: 15 Expert Forger
Bromm folded his arms.
"Kid, that's an impressive technique."
His eyes narrowed.
"Where did you learn it?"
Lin Mo already knew this was coming. The first step had been completed. Now came the important part.
He couldn't reveal that he knew about the hidden quest.
He couldn't appear too knowledgeable. He had to make Bromm believe that his interest in forging was genuine.
Lin Mo lowered the hammer.
"I didn't learn it from anyone."
Bromm raised an eyebrow.
Lin Mo continued.
"I've been watching your apprentices."
He glanced toward the dwarven apprentices working nearby.
"They repeat the same rhythm when they forge."
Lin Mo looked back at him.
"So I tried to imitate it."
Bromm's expression changed slightly.
Lin Mo continued.
"I've always been interested in forging."
His voice was calm.
"I've been eager to learn it since I was a child."
For the briefest moment...
Bromm's eyes lit up. It was barely noticeable. But Lin Mo caught it.
Success.
He had captured the dwarf's interest. However, Bromm quickly returned to his stern expression.
"Don't call me Master."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"I'm no master."
The dwarf glanced toward his apprentices.
"Those little brats simply enjoy watching me work, so I teach them a thing or two."
Lin Mo almost smiled. Bromm rubbed his beard and sighed.
"Anyway..."
His gaze returned to the sword. The expression on his face became serious.
"You have an interesting way of handling a blade."
He reached toward the weapon. Lin Mo handed it over. Bromm examined it carefully. His fingers ran across the surface. Then his eyes widened.
"Interesting."
He turned the sword slightly.
"This isn't normal."
The surrounding players immediately became curious.
"What?"
"What's wrong with it?"
"Did the newbie actually make something?"
Bromm ignored them.
He stared at Lin Mo.
"Kid..."
His voice suddenly became heavier.
"How much do you know about forging?"
Lin Mo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Bromm's face. The quest was about to begin.
But then—
Bromm's expression suddenly darkened. He looked toward the back of the forge. For the first time, Lin Mo noticed the worry hidden behind the dwarf's stern appearance.
Bromm clenched his fist.
"Damn it..."
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed. Here it comes. The first quest. The hidden quest that would eventually lead to Bromm's true story.
Bromm looked at the sword in his hand. Then at his apprentices. Finally, he looked back at Lin Mo.
"I have a problem."
The dwarf lowered his voice.
"And I'm afraid I can't solve it alone."
A quest notification appeared before Lin Mo.
《Hidden Quest Triggered》
Quest: The Ironheart's Dilemma
Recommended Level: 5
Quest Giver: Bromm Ironhand
Level: 15 Expert Forger
Description:
Bromm Ironhand, an Expert Forger of the Ironroot Forge, has encountered a problem that threatens his work and the future of his apprentices.
The forge requires a special material known as Blackroot Ore to complete an important commission.
However, the mine where the ore is found has recently become infested with Level 5 Rockhide Goblins.
Bromm cannot leave the forge. His apprentices are too inexperienced. The guards are occupied with other matters. Someone must retrieve the ore.
Objective 1: Enter the abandoned Blackroot Mine.
Objective 2: Defeat 5 Rockhide Goblins.
Objective 3: Retrieve 3 pieces of Blackroot Ore.
Objective 4: Return the ore to Bromm Ironhand.
Reward: Unknown
Lin Mo's eyes flickered. This was exactly what he expected. The first objective.
The beginning of Bromm Ironhand's quest chain. The quest itself wasn't particularly difficult. But there was something else.
The weapon.
Lin Mo glanced at Bromm. The dwarf was still looking at him. Then Bromm's gaze shifted downward. Only now did he notice the equipment Lin Mo was wearing.
A Level 1 player.
A Common Cloth set.
And a Common Iron Sword.
Bromm's face immediately changed.
"Wait."
He looked at Lin Mo.
"You're Level 1?"
The surrounding players immediately burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! He just realized!"
"Of course he's Level 1!"
"Bromm gave a Level 1 player a quest meant for Level 5!"
"That newbie is going to get eaten alive!"
"Five Rockhide Goblins? He won't even survive the first one!"
Lin Mo remained calm. He had anticipated this. Bromm stared at him.
"Kid, forget what I just said."
He waved his hand.
"You're too weak."
Lin Mo shook his head.
"I'll do it."
Bromm froze.
"What?"
"I said I'll do it."
Bromm stared at him. Lin Mo's eyes remained unwavering. The dwarf was speechless. The surrounding players began whispering.
"Is he crazy?"
"Definitely."
"Maybe he has a death wish."
Lin Mo didn't care. He already knew what would happen. He also knew exactly what he needed. Bromm sighed heavily.
"You really are a stubborn brat."
He reached behind him. Then he pulled out a sword. The moment it appeared, several players nearby became curious.
The sword looked similar to Lin Mo's original weapon. But there was a noticeable difference. The blade was darker.
Denser.
The metal possessed a faint black-gray sheen, while thin silver lines ran along its surface like veins.
It wasn't flashy. It didn't radiate an overwhelming aura. But there was a certain solidity to it. A sense of balance. Bromm extended it toward Lin Mo.
"Take this."
Lin Mo looked at the sword.
"What's this?"
"Your weapon."
Bromm snorted.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not giving it to you."
He pointed at Lin Mo's Common Iron Sword.
"I recast that pathetic thing."
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed.
His gaze fell upon the sword.
《IRONROOT RECASTED SWORD》
Quality: Common
Level Requirement: 5
Durability: 100 / 100
Attack Power: +25
Passive Effect — Ironroot Tempering:
Increases weapon durability by 20%.
Description:
A Common Iron Sword reforged through repeated heating, hammering, and tempering.
Though it remains a Common-grade weapon, its foundation has been strengthened beyond that of an ordinary Common weapon.
The sword carries the craftsmanship of Bromm Ironhand, an Expert Forger of the Ironroot Forge.
Lin Mo stared at the weapon. This was it. His first objective had been completed. The sword he had deliberately recast was now in his hands.
Although it was still only a Common weapon, its attributes were considerably better than those of an ordinary Level 5 Common Sword.
More importantly... It was the foundation for what came next. Bromm crossed his arms.
"Bring me back the Blackroot Ore."
He pointed at the sword.
"If you return alive, I'll consider teaching you something."
Lin Mo's lips curled upward. A hidden quest had been triggered. The first objective was complete.
And now...
The second had begun.
Lin Mo firmly gripped the Ironroot Recasted Sword.
"I'll be back."
Bromm snorted.
"Don't make promises you can't keep, kid."
Lin Mo turned around. The players in the forge watched him leave. Some laughed. Some shook their heads.
Others simply stared at the strange Level 1 player who had somehow caught the attention of Bromm Ironhand.
None of them noticed the faint smile on Lin Mo's face.
Because unlike them...
Lin Mo already knew where this path would lead.
The road to becoming a master forger.
The road that would eventually uncover the secrets hidden within Bromm Ironhand's past.
And more importantly...
The road that would lead him toward the first major turning point of his journey in Ascension Online.