After clearing the zombie waves, the roots went underground to absorb the bodies peacefully.
James was also pleased with the skill evolution of his house. He made a quick estimate of the requirements for the skill's second evolution. It would take more zombies than the previous batch.
James couldn't help but sigh for those zombies that would be ripped apart by his house in its range.
James quickly went inside after clearing a few zombies that were away from the house range.
"Spiritual Energy Strands – 83"
James enhanced the house immediately to level 3. There were no additional change other than to increase time for protection against F-rank zombies to 20 hours. He had figured out that the enhancement of its skill had led to the drastic change in the protection against F-rank zombies.
"Spiritual Energy Strands – 83-->13"
James had a quick question and answer session with the system regarding his E-rank enhancement.
James had to enhance every of his basic attributes to 30. He was not shocked, knowing that the ranked hunters were beyond reason in his previous life.
There were a lot of variables that he had encountered in this life such as the slight emotions in zombies, sudden emergence of a mutant dog and an F-rank zombies.
With these turn of events around him, James had made the decision to become strong before it's too late.
James looked inside the house and found no one in the living room. He could hear the faint sound of metal clanking from the basement.
James went down there quickly to figure out the situation. He found out that there were all kinds of strange shapes of metal scattered everywhere on the ground. His father and neighbor both were moving a huge rolled iron sheet towards the anvil beside his mother, who was wearing a blacksmiths outfit.
James was too shocked to see his mother in this situation.
There were a lot of things he didn't understand. The basement in which he was never allowed to enter was a homemade forge. The metal bodies were of all shapes, types, and density that are available in a forge usually.
James rubbed his head with dripping sweat, asking his mother, "Uh… Mom, what's this all about?"
There was sudden silence in the forge and everyone looked at James.
After hearing James' voice, his mother ran towards him with a bundle of blueprints and asked him, "You came at the right moment. Alita and your father can't carry those sheets easily, and you know about your father's back pain. We were just thinking of using your help in moving the metal sheets."
James didn't reason much with his mother and went forward to take over the bundle of metal sheets from his father and Alita.
James' father and Alita almost didn't believe his physique to lift the metal sheets that weighed more than 40 kg by himself without any effort.
His father thought, "Was he always this strong?"
James' father had always given him the basic trainings of a soldier to survive in any condition. He would sometimes beat him up to discipline him, which made James cry, always.
After he picked up the metal sheets and stood there absentminded, his mother shouted at him, "What are you doing there standing like a foolish person!? Just Bring those over to the forge."
James dropped off the metal sheets on the ground and helped his mother with whatever help he could assist with.
The metal sheets were cut into equal pieces of long rectangular shapes. They were thrown into the forge, stacked on each other. After a few minutes, the bright yellow of the hot metal sheets was revealed. Without any delay, his mother hammered the sheets a few times and the pieces were merged, forming a new metal bar.
The shortened time of heating the metal, a few hammers to stack the metal sheets and an instant cooldown. These strange phenomena shocked James, as he knew that heating the metal itself takes a lot of time, let alone the hammering and cooldown of the material.
Seeing the puzzled expression on his face, his mother started explaining about the situation.
"The fire in this forge is not a normal one. It is a godly fire that I got from my skill's rank enhancement 3 days ago."
James questioned without any delay, "But when did you learn the forging, mom?"
His mother answered, "Uh… I don't know. I just knew everything about forging after I received the Skill."
The thought of 'There was such an effect?' arose in his mind. Before he could ask more, the system relayed a message in his mind.
"Host, The skills vary in several aspects. You might feel it too in the future."
They stopped the conversation and his mother started hammering the piece of metal again into a sheet.
James didn't interrupt her and quietly sat beside his father. His father was in a weak state from all the heavy work.
His father sighed and spoke, "I am proud of you, son." with a cheerful smile on his face.
James spoke with a heavy but polite tone, "I will protect you all."
After the short conversation, his father headed straight to his bed.
James was still puzzled about the forge, which made him ask about it from the system.
"Item – The Forge of Gods
Rank – S
Owner – Emily Smiths
Description – It can be summoned anywhere as long as the owner is acknowledged by it. The grade of the produced goods will be determined by the will of owner's dedication during its creation."
After the forge's detailed description, James let his heart at ease to find out no side effects.
He didn't think much and was already heading towards his mother. Before he could reach the forge there was a reaction from his house that made him ponder over it again softly, "Really?"
He muttered almost silently, "Is there really such an effect? Are you sure about it? Fine I will try to do it."