It began when the sky cracked —
not thunder, not lightning — but like glass, splintering into glowing shards.
One moment, Kenju was walking home from school, his headphones on, mind lost in dreams of fantasy games.
The next —
he was falling.
Not onto pavement…
But into a swirling maelstrom of fire, shadow, and blinding light.
---
[System Notification]
You have entered the World of Arvandir.
Welcome, Challenger.
---
Kenju's scream joined hundreds of others.
All around him, people were falling — friends, strangers, entire crowds — raining from the broken sky, landing inside glowing summoning circles spread across a vast forest valley.
Above them, a giant black sun pulsed with ominous energy, soaking the world in a dark violet hue.
The air was thick with mana. And panic.
Before anyone could even speak, the voice returned:
[System Notification]
Choose your Primary Skill:
▸ Swordmaster
▸ Mage
▸ Shieldbearer
▸ Blacksmith
Kenju's eyes widened.
> "This… this is like a game."
He didn't hesitate. His hand reached out toward Swordmaster — but just before he could touch it…
The option glitched and vanished.
[System Notification]
Skill Chosen: Blacksmith
Skill Grade: F
Assigned Automatically.
Good luck.
He blinked.
> "Wait… what?! No, no, I didn't choose that!"
Nearby, some boys from school — the loud, cocky type — burst into laughter.
> "Blacksmith? Are you serious?"
"Bro's gonna be forging spoons while we're out hunting dragons!"
"Try not to die before dinner, metal boy!"
The mocking burned in his ears.
Kenju's fists clenched.
His pulse pounded.
His dreams of being a hero… shattered in a second.
> I don't have strength. I don't have spells…
But I'm not useless.
[New Skill Acquired]
Reinforce Material – Lv.1
[Item Received]
Rusty Iron Fragment
Sticky Slime Essence
[Inventory Unlocked]
Storage Limit: 1 Cubic Meter
A cold breeze stirred. Kenju opened his palm.
In it — a chipped, ugly fragment of metal.
Useless, right?
And yet… it glowed faintly in his hand.
Kenju exhaled slowly — and smiled.
> "Let them laugh."
"They think they've won."
"They just gave the wrong guy a forge."
🔥 Next: Chapter 2 — The Slime and the Spark