Chapter 2 – The Awakening of the Divine Blacksmith
The searing pain in his skull slowly faded, leaving Ryden gasping for breath. His vision was still blurry, his mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened.
Memories of his past life surged through his thoughts—his name was Kaizen Kurogane, a high school student from Earth. He had died in a tragic accident, only to wake up in an unfamiliar place surrounded by the scent of burning coal and molten metal.
His body felt… strange. Weak. Smaller.
Still dazed, he lifted a trembling hand to his forehead, wiping away the cold sweat that had formed from the intense pain. The moment his fingers touched his skin, his entire body stiffened.
His face felt different.
His fingers trailed down to his cheeks, then to his arms, and then to his chest.
(What the hell…?)
His breathing quickened.
He sat up suddenly and looked down at himself.
His clothes were oversized, his arms thinner than he remembered. His legs were short, barely able to reach the ground from where he sat. Panic surged in his chest as he scanned his body, trying to make sense of what was happening.
With shaky hands, he touched his face again—his jawline was rounder, softer. His voice, when he muttered to himself, was higher than it should have been.
Then, it hit him.
He had become a child.
(How… how old am I?!)
Ryden scrambled to his feet, his legs wobbly as if he wasn't used to walking in this body. He staggered toward a small piece of polished metal resting on a nearby workbench, using it as a makeshift mirror.
What he saw made his stomach drop.
A young boy, no older than eight years old, stared back at him.
He had short, slightly messy black hair, round but sharp golden eyes, and a face that still carried traces of baby fat. His hands clenched the edge of the workbench, the unfamiliarity of his reflection making his heart race.
(Why… why am I a kid?!)
His mind reeled, trying to process the situation. Not only had he reincarnated, but he had gone back to the body of a child? Was this some kind of mistake?
His breathing slowed as he forced himself to calm down.
(Okay… think, Ryden. Think.)
There had to be a reason for this. If this world was anything like what he suspected, then maybe he had been reborn years before the main events of One Piece even began. That meant he had time—time to grow, time to get stronger.
Still, being in an eight-year-old's body made everything more complicated. His strength was pitiful, his stamina nearly nonexistent, and worst of all—he was at the mercy of whoever had taken him in.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment.
(First things first, I need to figure out where I am and who that man is.)
The Blacksmith's Forge
The heavy sound of hammering filled the air.
Ryden turned, finally taking in his surroundings. The workshop was small but well-equipped, with metal scraps, tools, and weapons scattered around. The heat from the forge made the air thick and stifling, and the walls were darkened from years of exposure to smoke.
At the center of the room, a muscular, rugged man stood before an anvil, hammering away at a glowing piece of metal. He was clad in a worn-out leather apron, his arms covered in burn scars, his expression focused and determined. Sparks flew with every strike, illuminating his stern face in the dimly lit workshop.
Ryden swallowed hard.
(He looks strong… is he the one who took care of me?)
His eyes wandered again, scanning the area, until he spotted something near him—a blacksmith's hammer lying on a workbench.
It was nothing special. The handle was wooden, slightly worn from years of use, and the metal head was covered in soot. But something about it caught his attention.
Almost instinctively, he reached for it.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hammer's handle—
Ding!
A sharp chime echoed in his mind. His body jolted, and suddenly, lines of text appeared before his eyes.
[SYSTEM AWAKENING....]
[Initializing]
[Ding!: The Divine Blacksmith System is Awakened
A translucent blue panel materialized in front of him. His eyes widened in shock as he read through the information displayed.
[Status Panel]
Name: Ryden Vulcan
Age: 8
Occupation: Apprentice Blacksmith
Physique: Weak (Below Average)
Strength: 3
Agility: 2
Endurance: 4
Crafting Proficiency: 0
Forging Mastery: 0
Combat Ability: 0
Observation Proficiency: 0.01
(What… what is this?)
His stats were horrendous. Everything was at rock bottom, with his physique labeled as weak. His crafting proficiency, forging mastery, and combat ability were all at zero.
But something stood out—
[Observation Proficiency: 0.01]
What did that mean?
Before he could figure it out, the blacksmith suddenly spoke.
"Oh? You're awake?"
Ryden flinched.
The man didn't even look up from his work. His voice was deep and rough, carrying the weight of experience.
"You should rest more, boy. Your body isn't strong enough to handle the heat of the forge just yet."
Ryden remained silent.
The man sighed, finally setting down his hammer and glancing toward him. His sharp eyes studied him for a moment before he gestured toward a wooden chair near the workbench.
"Go sit down."
Ryden hesitated. He had so many questions, but his body still felt weak, and standing for too long was exhausting. Without responding, he walked over to the chair and sat down.
The blacksmith nodded in approval before resuming his work.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Ryden watched closely.
Each strike of the hammer sent sparks flying. The metal glowed bright orange as it was shaped and molded under the blacksmith's skillful hands. His movements were precise—every hit calculated and controlled.
It was… mesmerizing.
Suddenly, a small notification appeared before Ryden's eyes.
[Observation Proficiency +0.01]
His breath caught.
(Just by watching… my stats are increasing?)
Curious, he continued observing.
The blacksmith adjusted the heated metal with tongs, then struck it again, refining its shape. His grip on the hammer never wavered, his stance firm.
[Observation Proficiency +0.01]
[Observation Proficiency +0.01]
Ryden's heart raced.
(So that's how it works… this system lets me grow even without touching the hammer.)
A slow smile crept onto his lips.
If he could improve just by watching, then he would watch everything.
For hours, he observed every motion, every strike, every tiny adjustment.
[Observation Proficiency +0.10]
The forge remained filled with the rhythmic sound of metal meeting metal.
The blacksmith finally placed the finished blade into a barrel of water. Steam hissed as heat met the cold liquid, sending mist into the air.
Then, without looking at Ryden, the man spoke again.
"You'll start working tomorrow."
Ryden blinked.
"You'll learn the way of the forge," the blacksmith continued. "Whether you like it or not."
Ryden clenched his fists.
His path had been set.
And with this system…
He would become something more than just an apprentice.