Archie left the Skills–Class stand with a disappointed sigh; nothing really stood out to him. A vast majority of the skills were either locked behind high stat requirements or other requirements, such as being a certain race or things just as equally annoying.

  And the cool-looking skills that he fit the bill for were simply too expensive for what they gave in his opinion. While all the passive skills…

  With furrowed brows and a confused expression, Archie went back to the Skills – Class stand. Quickly scrolling through the list, Archie found the skill that he remembered skimming over.

  Sixth Sense (Uncommon):

  Through countless battles, the body cultivates an uncanny awareness—an instinct beyond sight, sound, or logic. When faced with extreme danger, the body moves before the mind can process the threat, slipping past attacks as if guided by an unseen force. Requirements: Physical Combat-focused Class. Price: 150k Tutorial Points.

  Clicking the bottom left corner, Archie read through the reviews of the many people who previously bought the skill from the Bazaar.

  Reading through the reviews, Archie learned a couple nonmentioned aspects about the skill. First, there was a hefty cooldown on it, around a couple days or so, depending on the severity of the danger. Second, you need to have the stats to properly be able to dodge the ‘extreme danger’. And thirdly, you have to trust your battle instincts to the 11th degree.

  All in all, with his current ‘fighting style’ and from what Xelgar told him before he fought with his instincts, getting the skill would only be a boon for him.

  After purchasing the skill, Archie felt his nerves tense up for a second before relaxing, his body seemingly adapting to the sudden addition of his new skill.

  Rolling his shoulders and flexing his palms, Archie felt a noticeable looseness in his body.

  Archie mused before he made his way toward the Tools stand.

  He’d gone to three stands already and already spent a bit over half a million of his Tutorial Points.

  Prior to the Skill–Class stand, he went to go check out the Equipment – Accessories stand and purchased a Spatial Ring that was just about the same size as his Livingwood Propagator.

  Spatial Ring (Rare):

  A band ring made by a talented spatial mage. The spatial effect of the ring creates a 10x10x10 USU cube that can store any non-living being or item within. Effects: Soul-Bound, Self-Repair & Spatial Storage. Provides: +90 Wis & +60 Int. Status: Perfect. Requirement: Lv 75+ & Humanoid Race. Price: 136k Tutorial Points.

  Considering how the Livingwood Propagator was going to be used in the teleporter he was planning to build, purchasing a similarly sized spatial storage to transfer his items into before connecting it was definitely a smart move.

  He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to retrieve anything stored in it if he hooked it up immediately. And if he did, there was a chance that it might destroy whatever he had stored, and that was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.

  Besides, it was pretty cheap compared to other things he’d seen in that shop and a lot more tamer than some of the accessories he saw being offered in the list.

  Archie shivered as he remembered a specific accessory.

  He refused to even think of its name in the sanctity of his own mind and judging by the looks of absolute horror other guys made while scrolling and stopping for a moment, they most definitely saw the same accessory.

  He was pretty sure he saw a couple of guys gagging after seeing it and muttering about why would a guy even attempt to do that to themselves, just for a couple of points of Endurance and Vitality.

  Squeezing his way to the Equipment – Armor stand, Archie only had one goal in mind, buy a new helmet. Preferably one that wasn’t made of metal.

  Why?

  Ego.

  Until he could craft his own masks and helms, he insisted on wearing only non-metal ones. It was a self-imposed rule he placed on himself, perfectly understandable... to himself.

  While he may not have been a smith for long, he was proud of his crafts—even those riddled with flaws and barely functioning. Because of that, he refused to wear or use anything made by a Blacksmith, Forgesmith, or any other forge-related Profession.

  To him, it simply didn’t make sense for a smith to wear another smith’s crafts when they were of the same Grade.

  As the Equipment–Armor list opened in front of him, Archie quickly filtered the items within to his specifications, and after scrolling through the list, he found a few that caught his eye.

  Helm of the Night Stalker (Epic):

  A dark, shadowy hide helm made from the hide and bones of a Nightstalker by an Expert Tanner. This helm enhances the wearer’s vision and senses in low-light conditions while also allowing them to blend within the shadows while worn. Effects: Soul-Bound, Self-Repair, Shadowmeld & Night Vision. Requirements: Lv 80+ & Humanoid Race. Price: 250k Tutorial Points.

  Rabbit Circlet (Rare):

  A simple circlet made from a Briarhopper’s bones, made by a Prodigious Tanner, this helm boosts the wearer’s agility and sensory awareness in fast-moving situations. The headdress grants a 10% increase in Stamina Regeneration and the ability to leap over larger distances while worn. Effects: Soul-Bound, Self-Repair, Enhanced Stamina Regeneration & Rabbit Step. Requirements: Lv 80+ & Humanoid Race. Price: 178k Tutorial Points.

  Headdress of the Savage Ursine (Epic):

  Fashioned from the pelt of a Savage Ursine by a master tanner, this headdress is made of thick, wild fur in dark brown and reddish-brown hues that shift with the wearer’s emotions. The jagged teeth of the ursine are embedded in the front, giving the headpiece a fierce, intimidating look. The headdress grants a 10% increase in Health and a 5% increase in Stamina Regeneration as well as the ability to smell both fear and aggression from others while worn. Effects: Soul-Bound, Self-Repair, Enhanced Health Regeneration, Enhanced Stamina Regeneration & Predator's Nose. Status: Perfect. Requirements: Lv 80+ & Humanoid Race. Price: 300k Tutorial Points.

  To be completely honest, the only reason why the Rabbit Fur Circlet caught his eye was because of how it looked. And if the dimensions were correct, he wasn’t even sure if it was large enough to fit on his wrist.

  The Helm of the Night Stalker was perfect for his ninja tendencies and would fit well with his boots, while the Headdress of the Savage Ursine was just great all around, not to mention it looked badass.

  The Helm of the Night Stalker appeared a bit darker than his boots. The top piece resembled the head of a Shadowstalker, which was probably a relative of the Nightstalker, only just a bit skinnier and with a longer nose.

  The Headdress of the Savage Ursine was the upper head of a reddish-brown bear, its thick, rugged fur extending down to his lower back. The bear’s mouth was fixed in a fierce snarl, showing its sharp fangs, and its yellow hollow eyes at the top gave it a fierce look. Did he forget to mention how badass it looked?

  Plus, it came with the added effect of giving him the ability to smell fear and aggression from others, something the Helm of the Night Stalker didn’t have.

  Smiling, Archie bought the headdress and felt it settle on his head, along with the newfound knowledge of how to detect if someone was afraid or aggravated by their scent. From what he could pick up between the smells of sweat and grime from the people around him, it was clear that many were afraid.

  Not of him, but in a general sense—anticipating what might happen next.

  Moving past the Equipment–Weapons stand, Archie headed toward the Tools stand. The weapons he’d use would be the only ones he’d forged. Besides, his Cragforge Gauntlets of Nature Resonance were in tip-top condition after he’d repaired them, and he was already planning to upgrade them with the metal he’d bought earlier—once he properly settled on the planet he was about to land on.

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  Squeezing himself in the slightly smaller crowd that surrounded the Tools stand, Archie got close enough to the stand for its Tools list to appear in front of him.

  “Oh boy,” Archie muttered as he saw the sheer number of items that he could purchase on the list.

  After scrolling through what seemed to be an eternity and a half, Archie found four items that he decided he would need.

  First was the Basic Workshop, Bralmir ‘hinted’ at for him to purchase.

  Basic Workshop (Rare):

  A portable workshop that provides the user with all necessary tools for their crafting profession once bonded. The workshop automatically supplies basic tools corresponding to the user's Racial Grade, upgrading them as the user evolves until reaching B-Grade, at which point the upgrades cease. The user may also merge their own personal tools with the Basic Workshop, integrating them into the workshop's setup for seamless use. Effects: Soul-Bond, Self-Repair, Compactability & Basic Workshop. Requirements: Crafting Profession. Price: 7M Tutorial Points.

  Seven million Tutorial Points was a solid chunk of his overall reserves. But if what it says is correct, and if the reviews aren’t lying, then it’s well worth it.

  According to the reviews, buying it with Tutorial Points is way cheaper than buying it from the Workshop, not to mention the Reputation Points you needed to build up to even be allowed to purchase it.

  In its compact form, it was as large as a 5x5x5 cm cube, and when sending a surge of your mana into it after tossing it on the ground, the Basic Workshop reveals its full form, which also depends on what crafting profession you have. Which in Archie’s case would be the Forgesmithing Type.

  The Forgesmithing Type would come with a steel anvil, forge, and a floating tool board where a large variety of steel tools needed for forging would be. And under it all would be a stone-tiled floor.

  As he evolved, the quality and levels of his tools would increase to match his progression. For example, right now, his tools, anvil, and forge were at level 50, but once he evolved, they would advance to level 100. They would remain at that level until he reached C-Grade, at which point they would evolve once again.

  Another cool thing would be the ability to merge the tools he’d made or purchased with the Basic Workshop. If they were of higher quality than what was currently equipped in the Basic Workshop, then they would take their place.

  All in all, it was something he was adding onto his cart, especially with the other items that caught his eye.

  Obsidiansteel Anvil (Epic):

  An anvil forged from a giant slab of Obsidiansteel, designed to withstand the harsh forging conditions and the toughest of metals. This anvil is ideal for working with demanding materials, offering exceptional durability and precise craftsmanship. Effects: Soul-Bond, Self-Repair, High Elemental Resistance & Greater Durability. Requirements: Smithing-related Profession. Price: 100M Tutorial Points.

  A hundred million Tutorial Points, the best anvil he could find in the shop that he fit the requirements for. And if the Rocks ‘N Shit book was right, Obsidiansteel was great to have for an anvil, it was essentially indestructible to anyone below A-Grade, so he wouldn’t have to worry about it shattering like his previous anvil.

  Inchoate Titansteel Forge (Epic):

  A forge crafted from Titansteel, designed for the meticulous process of forging metals and ores with precision. Due to the inherent properties of Titansteel, the forge’s durability far surpasses most others, even in its incomplete state. However, this comes at the cost of time efficiency due to its self-repair rune. Effects: Soul-Bond, Self-Repair, Greater External Elemental Resistance, Great Smelting Efficiency, and Greater Durability. Requirements: Smithing-related Profession. Price: 250M Tutorial Points.

  Two hundred and fifty million Tutorial Points.

  This was the best forge he’d found on the list that he could afford—thanks to the coupon, of course. Like Obsidiansteel, it was nigh indestructible to anyone below A-Grade. Unfortunately, much like the Obsidiansteel Anvil, there were no reviews on it. He was relying purely on gut instinct, the descriptions of the metals from Rocks ‘N Shit, and the hope that the System wasn’t scamming him.

  Worst case? He’d just stick with what he had and find someone and scam them with it.

  Explorer's Tent (Common):

  A sturdy tent crafted from expertly tanned hide, designed for explorers who traverse harsh environments. The Frostbear-hide is treated to provide resistance against elemental forces, offering protection from wind, rain, and moderate temperature extremes. Though simple in design, the tent’s structure is slightly expanded internally, providing more space than its outward size suggests. Durable and reliable, it serves as an essential shelter for any traveler. Effects: Self-Repair, Moderate Elemental Resistance, Slight Spatial Expansion, Enhanced Durability. Status: Perfect. Requirement: Humanoid Race. Price: 15k Tutorial Points.

  Nothing much to say other than it was the highest-rated tent that he could find in the filtered list of options he was presented with, well, ignoring the most highly reviewed tent, the King’s Abode.

  King’s Abode (Rare):

  A tattered tent crafted from expertly tanned rat hide. The hide provides no resistance against the elemental forces and exudes the scent of the King Rat, beckoning its rat army. Effects: Soul-Bound & Scent of the Rat King. Status: Worn and Used. Requirement: Humanoid Race. Price: 500 Tutorial Points.

  , Archie chuckled as he read through the thousands of five-star reviews people left for the King’s Abode. Internet Trolls never change, even without the internet.

  Clicking the checkout button in the bottom right, Archie took out his Tutorial Bazaar Coupon, slid it through the designated area on the screen, and confirmed the payment. The total came to 35,701,500 Tutorial Points for the Basic Workshop, Obsidiansteel Anvil, Inchoate Titansteel Forge, and the Explorer's Tent.

  Now onto the last stand, Archie thought as he squeezed himself out of the crowd of people that surrounded the Tools stand and headed towards the Skills – Profession stand.

  Thankfully, the crowd around it had lessened from when he’d seen it prior to heading towards the Tools stand, and he was able to access the Skills – Profession list a lot faster.

  Skimming through the list of skills he was being offered as a Novice Forgesmith, Archie ended up finding three skills that stood out to him.

  Whispers of the Forge (Radiant):

  When the hammer strikes, the metal whispers. By channeling their will into the object, the Forgesmith unlocks the true essence of what they are creating. As the forging process unfolds, the Forgesmith may hear the object’s voice, offering guidance and insights on how to shape it to perfection. As you advance your skills as a Forgesmith, the whispers of the metal grow louder and more frequent. Price: 10M Tutorial Points.

  Runic Archive (Epic):

  Allows the Forgesmith to preserve copies of runes and runic scripts they've etched, storing up to three at a time. With a small cost of mana, these rune and runic script copies can be instantly transferred to any item, as if freshly etched. The more complex the rune or runic script, the greater the mana cost. The number of stored runes is limited to three at any given time, requiring careful selection and management. Price: 500k Tutorial Points.

  Elastic Sizing (Rare):

  Allows the Forgesmith to flexibly adjust runes and runic scripts, bending their size and mana pathways without harming the rune or runic script in any way. Price: 250k Tutorial Points.

  The Whispers of the Forge

  He wasn’t really sure what that meant, but it sounded cool and obscure enough to grab his attention.

  Runic Archive

  And Elastic SizingRunic Archive

  After paying the amount for all three skills, Archie checked his remaining Tutorial Points and clicked the option next to it to store them until the next Tutorial Event.

  With his purchases complete, Archie pulled out one of his newly acquired sandwiches and headed toward the marble pavilion—or at least where he assumed it would be. Using his Vital Sight

  Archie muttered after what felt like an hour of waiting, he stepped onto the pavilion after the last person on it vanished.

  His eyes traced the numerous runes and sigils etched deep into the marble all around him. As he reached the center of the pavilion, he closed his eyes and exhaled from his nose softly, letting out the nerves he didn't know he had and focused on sensing the mana around him as it surged forward, activating the runes and sigils around him.

  he pleaded, hoping the System would have mercy on his poor soul. No one deserved to live on such a planet.

  A moment later, he vanished from the System Bazaar.

  Bralmir released a sigh as he found himself in his newly created base, facing the large window in front of him before turning to his left and toward the wooden pillar on his right, surging his mana throughout the base. Faster than what could be seen with the naked eye, Bralmir’s large log cabin and the moon it stood on stilled for a moment before the trillions upon trillions of nanites shifted seamlessly with ease.

  The once rustic cabin and barren moon reformed, reshaping themselves into a massive, heavily armored spaceship with sleek dark gray metallic plating and glowing green energy lines pulsing along its structure.

  Bralmir lazily walked toward the large window that captured the multiverse before him, raising his right hand and letting it hover in front of his mouth as a multitude of roots grew from his palm, intertwining and transmuting into a rich, deep color before the tip ignited with a soft, glowing light.

  Behind him, the transformation had completed—his cabin and moon now a technological marvel, with extended wing-like structures, intricate mechanical details, and thrusters humming with contained power.

  Reinforced plating at the front and a formidable propulsion system at the rear gave it an imposing presence, blending durability with cutting-edge technology as it drifted silently through the cosmos at speeds that most would find incredulous.

  Bralmir exhaled the smoke from his nose, and the embers that could be seen between the spiraling wooden tendrils that covered his body started to glow with a feverous intensity.

  “Bet,” Bralmir declared as thousands of spells and runic nexuses surrounded him, humming and pulsing with power, each searching for Archie’s signature.

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