I woke up under the shade of a tree, soft grass cushioning my aching body. The scent of earth and dew clung to the morning air, and sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled golden patches across my skin. Every muscle throbbed with dull pain, a reminder that I had barely survived the Crystal Dragon's wrath.
But I was alive.
More than that, my mind buzzed with something new.
I remembered everything.
The weapon. The blueprints. The theory. The elf girl in white—White, as she called herself—had shown it all to me in that mysterious dream realm. Like downloading data straight into my brain, I now understood the complex mechanisms and magic that would allow me to create a weapon strong enough to slay the Crystal Dragon.
And strangely enough, it felt... easy.
White had explained why. My crafting skill wasn't about technical know-how. It was intuitive. As long as I knew the blueprint and had the materials, the magic system in this world would do the hard part. Like snapping together puzzle pieces or clicking "craft" in a game menu. My skill bypassed the normal steps.
"This really is like a game."
I muttered, brushing grass off my skirt as I stood.
"Just need the recipe, and boom—magic does the work."
It brought back memories of late-night crafting games back home. Chopping wood, mining ores, building absurd machines with virtual materials. I used to think it was all a waste of time.
But now? That "waste of time" might just save this world.
Still, no matter how game-like this place felt, the pain and fear I'd experienced were real. The weight of what I had to do pressed down on me.
"No more running," I whispered.
I checked my satchel. It was a magical pouch that functioned almost like an inventory, gifted by an old merchant I'd met early in my journey. It held a random assortment of monster parts and herbs, but none of the specific materials White had described.
According to her, I needed two main things. First, Mana ores to serve as the weapon's magical power source. Second, A sturdy metal base, something durable enough to handle massive magical output.
White had mentioned that a material called Greytile, produced in a town of the same name, would work well as the base.
It wouldn't be easy to gather. But I wasn't the same girl I had been. I had faced death. I'd come back stronger.
White's voice echoed faintly in my memory:
"You don't have to do it alone. Ask for help. This world isn't just cruel—it can be kind, too."
I smiled.
"The guild! Rebecca!"
Rebecca was the Guild Master-in-training. A bit stiff sometimes, but sharp, and always willing to help. If anyone had access to rare materials or could point me in the right direction, it was her.
I was about to take off when I noticed something important: my reflection in a puddle. My ears. Long, pointed—my elf form.
Crap.
In some regions of this continent, elves were seen as demonic. There were places where just showing my face would get me arrested—or worse. I couldn't risk that.
I focused, activating my transformation skill. A gentle light shimmered over my head, and my ears shortened, becoming human-like.
"There. Normal enough."
Then I summoned my flight skill—a gentle lift of wind beneath my feet, and I soared through the sky toward Greytile Town.
…
The Guild Hall of Greytile was nearly deserted. Most of the adventurers had already been deployed to subjugate the Crystal Dragon. Only a few staff remained.
I landed outside and ran straight in, ignoring the stunned looks from the few clerks still present.
"Rebecca!" I called out, panting. "Where's Rebecca?"
One of the receptionists blinked. "She's in the strategy room. You can go in—"
I didn't wait.
…
Rebecca was seated at a large table, poring over maps and reports. Her chestnut hair was tied neatly, and her red mantle marked her status. She sighed and adjusted her glasses.
"Rebecca!" I shouted as I burst in kicking the door.
She looked up. "Mayu? You're supposed to be on the front lines. What happened? Any reports?"
"No time to explain. I need your help," I said quickly. "I need mana ores and other rare materials. Urgently."
Rebecca frowned. "That's... quite the request."
"I know. But it's important. I need it to craft a weapon strong enough to defeat the Crystal Dragon. Please. Anything you can spare. Any information."
She went silent, staring at me hard. Then, slowly, she nodded.
"Greytile Town has an old mine. It hasn't been used in years, but the mana ores are still there."
My eyes widened. "Really?!"
"I'm not sure what you're planning, and it sounds crazy, but... my gut tells me to believe you. I'll trust you. Just save the town."
"I will. I swear."
Rebecca gave orders to her people immediately.
Her guild staff and the remaining miners helped me dig through the old mine. It was dangerous, dark, and damp. Monsters lurked in the deeper shafts, but I pushed forward, using every skills and trick I had.
Hours passed.
Sweat clung to my back, my legs ached, but I emerged with everything I needed.
Back at the guild courtyard, the materials were piled high—shimmering blue mana ores, slabs of Greytile alloy, and crystallized magic stones.
Rebecca and the others watched as I raised my hands and activated my crafting skill.
A light enveloped the materials.
Magic surged.
With a brilliant flash, the materials lifted into the air, spinning and combining. Metal shaped itself. Crystals fused. Runes engraved themselves with light.
In seconds, the weapon materialized before us—a sleek, long-barreled cannon.
Rebecca's jaw dropped.
"What in the world just happened? The materials were just lying there a second ago! They... transformed?!"
"World of magic, right? Nothing's impossible," I muttered, still stunned.
"Why are you in disbelief?"
"This is the first time me doing this. I used the crafting skill manually before."
Rebecca pointed at the weapon. "Are you sure that's enough mana ore to power it?"
I nodded. "White said it should be more than enough. This thing can bring the dragon down. But... we have a problem."
"White? Who's that? Also, what is the problem now?"
"The adventurers. They're fighting the dragon on the east mountain, right? If I fire this weapon, the blast might hit them too. We have to evacuate them, now."
Rebecca's eyes widened. "And you're telling me this NOW?!"
"I was busy gathering materials!" I shot back.
"Fine! I'll send my fastest scouts to warn them. But you better be right about this."
I looked at the weapon, then at the horizon where smoke curled into the sky.
"I have to be. For all of us."
Everything was ready. It was time to end the crystal dragon.