Renzo stepped out of his apartment building and into the cool morning air.
The city was already awake.
Cars filled the streets. People rushed to work. Somewhere in the distance, a siren wailed briefly before fading into the noise of traffic.
Everything looked normal.
Peaceful.
But Renzo knew the truth.
In just a few weeks, the first tutorial gates would begin appearing across the world.
And nothing would ever be the same again.
Renzo slipped his hands into his pockets as he walked down the sidewalk.
Inside his right hand was the small item he had forged earlier.
The Focus Ring.
A simple silver ring born from scrap metal.
Kensei-Ryu spoke in his mind.
"So this is your grand plan?"
Renzo raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
The sword god sounded amused.
"The chosen champion of two divine beings… is about to sell jewelry."
Renzo snorted.
"It's called investment."
Vulcanos spoke calmly.
"Gold is a necessary resource."
Renzo nodded slightly.
Exactly.
Weapons cost money.
Armor cost money.
Even entering certain dungeons required supplies.
And right now…
Renzo reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.
He opened it.
Thirty-two dollars.
He sighed.
"Yeah… definitely need money."
Kensei-Ryu laughed.
"The legendary blacksmith begins his journey with thirty-two dollars."
Renzo ignored him.
Instead, he stopped in front of a small building.
A rusted metal sign hung above the door.
Hunter's Pawn & Gear
The place looked exactly the same as he remembered.
Old.
Dusty.
And run by a man who only cared about profit.
Renzo pushed the door open.
A small bell rang.
Inside, the shop smelled like oil and metal.
Weapons were stacked along the walls.
Broken shields leaned in corners.
Old armor pieces hung from hooks like forgotten relics.
Behind the counter sat an older man with gray hair and sharp eyes.
He looked up as Renzo entered.
His gaze immediately dropped to Renzo's status bracelet.
"F-Rank?"
His voice sounded bored.
"What do you want?"
Renzo walked up to the counter.
Then he placed the ring on the wooden surface.
"I want to sell something."
The man leaned forward.
He picked up the ring.
For a moment his expression didn't change.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"Hm."
He turned the ring slowly in his fingers.
Then he looked at Renzo again.
"Where did you get this?"
Renzo shrugged.
"Made it."
Silence filled the shop.
The man stared at him.
Then he laughed.
"Kid… you expect me to believe an F-Rank made this?"
Renzo didn't react.
Instead he crossed his arms.
"Check it."
The man frowned slightly.
He pulled out a small scanner from under the counter and placed the ring under it.
A faint blue light scanned across the metal.
The screen blinked.
Then displayed the result.
Item Detected
Name: Focus Ring
Rank: F
Effect:
• Slight increase to mental concentration.
The man's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Well… I'll be damned."
He looked back at Renzo.
"You really made this?"
Renzo simply shrugged again.
"A little practice."
Inside his mind, Kensei-Ryu laughed loudly.
"Practice, he says."
Vulcanos spoke quietly.
"A wise choice."
The shop owner placed the ring back on the counter.
"Alright kid."
He leaned back in his chair.
"I'll give you fifty dollars."
Renzo didn't hesitate.
"Deal."
A moment later, the money changed hands.
Renzo slipped the bills into his pocket.
Fifty dollars.
His first profit.
Not bad for something made from scrap.
As Renzo turned to leave, the shop owner spoke again.
"Kid."
Renzo stopped.
The man looked at him carefully.
"If you make more stuff like that… bring it here."
Renzo smirked faintly.
"I might."
Then he walked out of the shop.
Outside, the sunlight felt a little brighter.
Renzo glanced down at his hands.
The same hands that had carried weapons for twenty-three years in his previous life.
This time…
They would create them.
Kensei-Ryu spoke.
"So the blacksmith begins his business."
Renzo smiled slightly.
"For now."
He looked toward the distant skyline.
Toward the place where the first dungeon gates would appear.
His fingers tightened slightly.
Soon…
Very soon…
The real game would begin.
And this time—
Renzo Valerius would not be a porter.
He would be the one forging the future.