CHAPTER 7: The Broken Element
The room was silent, save for the soft hum of the forge.
The blacksmith leaned on the counter, eyes narrowing curiously at the faintly glowing crystal in Zodac's chest.
"Which one are you?" he asked at last, voice low.
Zodac hesitated. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because," the man said, gesturing toward the scorch marks still crackling faintly on the floor, "I might know how to fix that little predicament you've got going on."
Zodac considered him for a moment, then sighed. "Wood."
The blacksmith froze. "Wood?"
He blinked, then chuckled in disbelief. "Well, now I've got an even better reason to help you."
Zodac frowned. "Why's that?"
The man exhaled deeply. "Listen, kid — I don't know what's wrong with you. Could be the system itself acting up."
Zodac tilted his head. "A glitch? You're telling me this world's system can malfunction?"
"Every system's got flaws," the man said, shrugging. "Doesn't happen often, but when it does, you don't wanna be the one caught in it. Best you go out there, earn some experience, and level up. Then come back tomorrow — we'll see if it still locks you out."
Zodac nodded slowly. "Thanks, Mr… uh—"
"Boss," the blacksmith interrupted with a small grin. "Just call me Boss."
"All right, Boss." Zodac crossed his arms. "But that doesn't explain why you're helping me. You don't even know me."
The man's expression softened. "Because the last Wood Elemental was a friend of mine. Brave man. Good heart." He paused, eyes clouding with memory. "You remind me of him."
Zodac's voice grew distant. "I'm nothing like him."
He turned and started for the door. The sound of his boots echoed faintly against the forge's stone floor.
Behind him, Boss sighed. "He said the same thing too," he muttered.
When the door closed, Boss reached under the counter and pulled out a small, circular green orb that pulsed softly in his palm. "All right," he whispered. "Time to finish this piece."
The door creaked open again.
"Hey, Boss," Zodac's voice came from the doorway, startling him. Boss quickly palmed the orb out of sight.
"What now?" he asked gruffly.
"Got anything like… a cross bag? Somewhere to keep coins, maybe a map?"
Boss blinked, caught off guard by the mundane question. "Uh… yeah. Third shelf. Take the black one."
Zodac nodded once. "Thanks."
When the door finally shut behind him, Boss stared at the faint green glow seeping between his fingers.
"Wood Elemental, huh?" he muttered. "Let's hope this one survives longer than the last."
Outside the Capital Walls
The plains beyond Sundara stretched endlessly beneath the midday sun. Heroes dotted the fields — some training, others laughing with their crews as they fought low-level monsters that spawned along the edges of the forest.
Zodac sat alone on a grassy hill, watching them from afar.
From here, he could see Rae, the Air Elemental, drawing back a sleek metallic bow that shimmered like glass. The arrows weren't physical — pure currents of wind shaped into glowing shafts of energy. Each shot whistled through the air with terrifying precision, splitting trees and scattering flocks of small creatures.
"Show-off," Zodac muttered, though a part of him admired the craftsmanship.
Not far off, Aiden swung a blazing spear that left trails of fire in its wake. Beside him, a massive greatsword and a pair of crimson blades hovered magically, as if drawn to his will. Each swing ignited the air, burning monsters to ash.
"That must've cost a fortune," Zodac said, half impressed, half envious.
Then came Doma, the Water Elemental — sleek, calculated, dangerous. He wielded a black-blue trident that cut through enemies with terrifying speed. But what caught Zodac's eye was the blade at Doma's hip — made entirely of rippling liquid, yet solid enough to cleave through stone.
Zodac's mouth hung open slightly. "Is that… a water sword? Who even comes up with these things?"
And then there was Jin. Chains coiled around his arms, attached to a massive iron blade that glowed an emerald hue with every strike. His movements were awkward but powerful — each swing sent small monsters flying into the air before shattering into light.
Zodac watched them all, an ache settling in his chest. They were leveling up fast, each already mastering weapons tailored to their elements.
And him?
No weapon. No team. No progress. Just the weight of a crystal that refused to cooperate.
"Figures," he murmured. "I can't even hold a damn sword."
He lay back on the grass, staring up at the pale sky. His thoughts drifted aimlessly until something soft and squishy bumped against his boot.
He blinked and sat up.
A small, round creature — no larger than a pumpkin — bounced gently before him. It was bright orange, with tiny black eyes and no visible limbs. It gave a cheerful boing with every hop.
"What the…" Zodac tilted his head.
Before he could react, a faint blue panel flickered into view in front of him:
CREATURE NAME: BALLOON CLASS: Lower
Organism THREAT LEVEL: Minimal
He arched an eyebrow. "A balloon? That's… creative."
The creature stared up at him with an innocent wobble. He sighed. "Weird little thing."
He turned his gaze back to the horizon, dismissing it.
Then — chomp.
Pain seared through his leg as the creature latched onto him, revealing a mouth full of razor-sharp, serrated teeth.
Zodac's eyes widened. "What the—?!"
The peaceful plain around him erupted into motion.