I Only Tame Dragons

The price had soared past 15 Aurum before Horizon even blinked. He shook his head in disbelief. This is insane.

Yet something clicked in Horizon's mind as he watched the crowd fight tooth and nail for Eldrin's services.

The path to riches wasn't just in the competition or the quests—it was through forging like he had thought.

The sight of Aurum and Bullion being tossed around like spare change was proof. If he could master this craft, Horizon wouldn't just win battles; he'd build his own fortune and fill his lair with untold wealth.

"Well, that's the gist of it," Nyx purred, stretching lazily. "I went through quite a bit of trouble back in Drakha to gather all the recipes I needed to fill my lair with the treasures I wanted." She yawned, her small form curling up snugly atop Horizon's head.

It was as if she could read his thoughts, slipping effortlessly back into sleep with a mischievous smirk, leaving her words to linger in the air like a secret only she knew.

Resolved, Horizon turned away from the stage, no longer interested in the auction. There was no point in watching the absurd bids climb higher if he didn't have any money to bid.

Instead, he strode toward the Forging Studios, ready to speak with an Elven representative.

If he couldn't bid for Eldrin's services, then he'd create his own path—starting now. Experience exclusive tales on empire

There was no time to waste. The fires of the forge awaited.

The Forging Area was buzzing with activity, teeming with players from the ARK, their presence unmistakable among the native inhabitants of Eldrasil.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

There was a certain tension in the air, the kind that clung to the edges of every glance. The locals of Eldrasil shared a common look of disdain for these outsiders, just as they did in every other territory where players had infiltrated.

To the inhabitants, the players were disruptors, strangers meddling in lands they could never truly belong to.

It wasn't just a matter of status or skill—it was about presence. If your Charisma (CHA) wasn't high enough, most of these inhabitants wouldn't even consider speaking to you.

They bore an unspoken grudge against players, and with good reason. Too many had come from the ARK, trampling over their world without regard. Only those with exceptional charm or influence could even hope to earn their trust.

Luckily for Horizon, his CHA was already in the 320 range, high enough to soften the usually frosty stares from the locals.

Where others might have been met with sneers and cold shoulders, Horizon received nods and fleeting smiles, marks of grudging respect.

The same couldn't be said for the other players loitering around the Forging Area—most of them were met with indifference at best and thinly veiled hostility at worst.

As Horizon made his way toward the Elven staff managing the Forging Studios, he passed a long line of players already queued up to rent their stations. Several of them were huddled in small groups, strategizing, no doubt, with their guild blacksmiths.

After all, the competition lasted two grueling months, and any items found or forged during that time would be theirs to keep. It wasn't just about winning; it was about outfitting their guilds with the best gear, and having a skilled blacksmith on hand was crucial.

The top-tier guilds had all brought their best Forgers, ensuring their equipment stayed in peak condition throughout the contest.

Forging Life Skills were notoriously difficult to acquire. Horizon had heard rumors that there were fewer than ten player Forgers across all of Eternia, and not a single one had reached the coveted Master level.

The true masters of the forge still belonged to the inhabitants, their skills honed over centuries.

For players, advancing in Life Skills was an arduous path—most didn't even make it past intermediate. The progress was slow, the grind endless, and the rewards often not immediate enough for those chasing power.

That's why most players opted to buy their gear from Eternian Forgers rather than pursue the skill themselves. It wasn't just about stats or levels; it was about survival in a world where every advantage counted.

The few players who had chosen to devote themselves to forging were bound by their guilds and territories, too focused on maintaining their equipment to ever dream of entering competitions like this. Their stats simply couldn't compete, having invested in crafting rather than combat.

The guilds had brought their best—but the real masters were still the inhabitants.

"What?! Ten Bullions to rent a Class-A Forging Studio? That's insane! Who would ever pay that kind of money?" one player exclaimed, disbelief evident in his voice.

Horizon listened quietly to the conversation while the elven staff at the counter sneered.

"That's 10 Bullions per day," the elf replied with a scornful look. "If you can't afford it, stop holding up the line and move along."

"Out of the way," another player said, stepping forward confidently. He tossed a gleaming Crystal onto the counter and addressed the elven staff. "Here's one Aurum. We'll rent your best forging studio for the next ten days."

The crowd fell silent, jaws dropping as they processed what just happened. One Aurum—equivalent to 100 Bullions—was casually handed over like it was nothing.

"That crest on his armor . . . That's the Martial Union. They're a second-rate guild," someone murmured, causing ripples of recognition through the group.

"No wonder they can drop that kind of cash without hesitation," another player muttered in awe.

Curiosity piqued, another player in the back asked, "Do you have something like . . . one Bullion per day?"

Many players nodded in agreement. Paying 10 Bullions per day just to rent a Forging Studio? That was outrageous! With that kind of money, they could easily buy a low-grade silver weapon or even a decent piece of equipment. Spending it all just to use a forge seemed insane to most of them.

The elven staff sighed, clearly irritated by what he saw as a bothersome question. "Yes, there's the Class-D Forge," he said flatly, rolling his eyes.