MMORPG: Rise of the Primordial Godsmith

Chapter 40 An Unexpected Task

Whoosh!

Just as he had finished saying those words, a large screen appeared in front of Tristan, which he turned around to allow Valyr to see what was on his screen. To no surprise, Valyrʼs mouth went slightly agape at the sight before him, not expecting Tristan to have already gotten so far even though he had just recently ascended to Rank 2.

ʼAside from the progress he has made in the Combat Technology Tree, almost all of the necessary Basic advancements he would need until he reached Rank 5 has already been unlocked. On top of that, heʼs already begun unlock Intermediate advancements,ʼ Valyr could not help but think to himself, wondering how the man before him had obtained so much Technology Points even though he was still at a low rank.

As someone who took the Blacksmith class in his previous life, Valyr knew very well that the progression in the Technology Tree, specifically the Production and Innovation branches of the Technology Tree, was what mostly dictated the limits of a blacksmith. Although it would seem easy to progress through those two branches at first, with each advancement only needing a couple points at most, once one continued to progress further and further into their respective trees, it wouldnʼt be a surprise if one needed hundreds to thousands of Technology Points just to advance one level. Naturally, the same could be said for the Combat Technology Tree, which also contained its own unique quirks and bottlenecks.

Nevertheless, that was the reason why he looked at Tristanʼs Technology Tree with a slightly agape mouth, to which the latter misinterpreted as awe and surprise, but mostly curiosity towards what Valyr was looking at. Closing up the screen, Tristan went ahead and explained to him, ”What Iʼve shown to you is the Technology Tree, specifically, the Technology Tree that you might have in the future.”

”There are three major branches to the Technology Tree: Combat, Production, and Innovation. However, as a blacksmith, youʼll allocate most of your points towards the Production and Innovation branch,” he continued. ”Now, open up your Technology Tree and head to the Production branch.”

Lightly nodding in response to those words, Valyr went ahead and did what he was told, prompting a screen to appear before him not long after.

————

[Technology Tree | Production Branch]

Available Technology Points: 45

- - costs 1 TP to unlock

- - costs 1 TP to unlock

…

- - costs 1 TP to unlock

————

At that moment, a great plethora of choices appeared before him, forming a long list of things he could unlock if he ever so chose to. Seeing Valyrʼs engrossed expression as he looked at the screen, Tristan went ahead and snapped him back to reality. ”Now, I want you to unlock . After that, try to unlock the things that appear after that.”

”Alright.” Inwardly nodding in response to those words, Valyr did what he told, consuming a Technology Point to unlock the thing Tristan told him to unlock.

Ding!

[You have unlocked the advancement .]

[As you have met the prerequisites, you have unlocked the following advancements: , , , , .]

As he read through the notification he had received, he spared a bit of his attention towards the Technology Tree, noticing that five smaller branches had extended out of the advancement he had unlocked, a somewhat surprised expression appearing on his face because of that.

Simultaneously, on the inside, Valyr could not help but let out a groan, feeling that their pace in exploring the Technology Tree was incredibly slow. Of course, he knew that he could setup his Technology Tree to the point that it would allow him to start forging equipment as soon as possible. After all, his memories from his past life were still intact for the most part, including the part where he went through the necessary advancements in his Technology Tree.

However, even though he had shown Tristan that he had the talent and potential, the latter only knew him as that. He did not know that the knowledge and the experience of an expert blacksmith at all. With that in mind, Valyr went ahead and used one Technology Point each on the advancements that had just been unlocked, knowing that these advancements wouldnʼt unlock as he had to unlock a few advancements on the Innovation branch before that.

Ding!

Sure enough, a notification appeared in front of him soon after, telling him the same exact thing he had in mind while unlocking the five advancements.

pAn,Da-n0v e1,c [You do not meet the necessary prerequisites to unlock the advancement.]

”Tristan, it says that I donʼt meet the necessary prerequisites,” Valyr said, to which Tristan lightly smiled in response. It was as if he was waiting for Valyr to say those words.

”Now, you might be wondering: What do I need to unlock since thereʼs nothing else to unlock in the Production branch?” said Tristan soon after.

As Valyr nodded, he then replied with a grin, ”Well, hereʼs the thing. The reason why I told you that a blacksmithʼs Technology Tree will mostly focus on progression between the Production and Innovation branch is because… you canʼt progress in the Production branch if you advance enough in your Innovation branch!”

Knowing what kind of expression Tristan wanted to see, Valyrʼs eyes widened in surprise as he headed to the Innovation branch of his Technology Tree. Looking at the advancements that he could currently unlock on the Innovation branch, Valyr could not help but look at Tristan and tell him, ”But thereʼs only one advancement here.”

Ding!

————

[Technology Tree | Innovation Branch]

Available Technology Points: 44

- - costs 1 TP to unlock

————

Hearing Valyrʼs words, Tristan lightly chuckled. ”Go ahead and unlock it. Youʼll see.”

As a curious expression appeared on Valyrʼs face, he spent one Technology Point on the only advancement available on the Innovation branch, a notification sound resounding in his mind soon after.

Ding!

[You have unlocked the advancement .]

[As you have met the prerequisites, you have unlocked the following advancements: , , , and more.]

Watching multiple branches extend out of the unlocked advancement in slight shock, Valyr looked at Tristan with faux surprise, giving off the feeling that he was wondering how the latter knew something like that was going to happen.

Although Valyr already knew, Tristan went ahead and explained in a slightly prideful tone. ”It may not seem like it, but the advancement you just unlocked is the first advancement every being will unlock in the Innovation branch if they want to progress through the various levels of technology. Itʼs just like how unlocking would allow you to progress through the levels of mastery in blacksmithing.”

”Anyways, since you now know the basics of progressing through the Technology Tree, go ahead and unlock the necessary advancements from the Innovation branch so you can unlock the ones on the Production branch,” he continued. ”In fact, thatʼs the reason why I gave out a reward of 15 Technology Points on the quest since thereʼs so much to unlock before we can really start forging.”

”Well, you did get triple the rewards from that quest, so itʼs up to you on how you allocate the remaining Technology Points you have after that.” Tristan shrugged his shoulders once he was done. Just as he was about to head to the furnace at the back of the smithy, Tristan stopped in his footsteps before turning to look back at Valyr, who was going through the various advancements on the Technology Tree.

”You know what? Let me give you your next task while you do that.” With that, a screen appeared in front of Tristan and interacted with it. A few seconds later, a notification sound echoed in Valyrʼs mind as he went ahead and opened it.

Ding!

[You have received a new quest: An Experienced Blacksmithʼs Suggestion (2).]

Just as he had begun reading through the questʼs description, his eyes could not help but widen in shock as he could not help but look at Tristan.

”Are you serious?! I donʼt even know how to wield a hammer properly!”