The morning sun filtered through the infirmary's small windows, casting warm streaks of light across the room.

  Noah stirred slightly, blinking as the golden rays greeted him. The soft sounds of his teammates waking filled the quiet room—Victor groaning as he stretched, Leah and Emma murmuring softly, and Daniel muttering something incoherent as he rubbed his eyes.

  "Morning, everyone," Noah greeted, his voice slightly rough from sleep but carrying a calm tone.

  Leah smiled faintly, still lying on her cot. "Morning. How are you feeling?"

  "Tired, but I'll live," Noah replied with a chuckle. "Looks like the blood worked wonders for you all."

  Victor swung his legs over the side of his cot, wincing slightly. "Yeah, I can't believe how much better I feel. Still sore, but nothing compared to yesterday."

  Emma nodded in agreement. "I thought we'd need weeks to recover."

  Daniel yawned loudly, standing and stretching. "Alright, enough morning chatter. I don't know about you, but I need food and something better than this herbal tea smell."

  Noah chuckled and stood, rolling his shoulders to shake off the lingering stiffness. "Let's head to the tavern. We can use the beast's tooth from the hunt to secure rooms for the day again. We need proper rest and a decent meal before anything else."

  The group nodded in agreement, gathering their belongings. Noah grabbed his longsword before leaving with the others.

  The tavern was bustling when they arrived, the scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat wafting through the air.

  The noise of chatter and laughter filled the space as villagers and hunters gathered to share tales of their hunts and enjoy a hearty breakfast.

  The warm interior of the tavern felt just as welcoming as the last time they were here, with wooden beams and sturdy tables that spoke of a place well-used by travelers and locals alike.

  The group approached the counter, where the familiar tavern lady greeted them with her ever-present warm smile.

  Her auburn hair was tied back into a neat bun, and her apron was dusted with flour, evidence of the morning's busy cooking.

  "Ah, you're back," she said, her eyes glancing at the group's tired faces. "Seems like yesterday was a rough one for you all. Welcome back. Did the hunt go well?"

  Noah placed five beast teeth on the counter, offering her a faint smile. "We managed, somehow. We'll need rooms for the day again. This should cover it, right?"

  The lady nodded, her hands swiftly sweeping the teeth into a small wooden box behind the counter. "It'll cover it just fine. I'll prepare your rooms again, but… judging by the state of your tired expressions, perhaps a good meal is in order before you settle in?"

  She subtly pointed toward their tired faces.

  The group nodded in unison, their stomachs already growling at the tantalizing scent of food wafting from the kitchen. Noah glanced at the others, giving a slight shrug.

  "She's not wrong. A proper meal would do us some good before anything else."

  Victor sighed, running a hand over his face. "Agreed. I'm starving. Let's eat first and talk later."

  The tavern lady smiled warmly. "Take a seat. I'll have something hearty brought over. You need it after such an intense day."

  The group made their way to a corner table, the chatter and clinking of plates filling the air around them.

  Noah took a seat with his back to the wall, his longsword leaning against the table. Victor, Leah, Emma, and Daniel settled around him, their tired bodies showing just how much they needed this break.

  Moments later, the tavern lady returned with platters of roasted meat, fresh bread, bowls of thick stew, and mugs of water. The sight of the steaming food lifted their spirits instantly.

  "Eat up," she said with a smile before heading back to the counter.

  The group wasted no time digging in, the sound of chewing and satisfied sighs replacing their earlier silence. It was only after a few minutes that Noah leaned back in his chair, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

  "So," he began, his tone serious. "We need to talk about our gear."

  Victor looked up from his plate, raising an eyebrow. "You mean the fact that most of ours is either broken or completely useless now?"

  Noah nodded. "Exactly. Leah, Emma, your bows are gone. Victor, your shield and sword shattered against that beast. Daniel, you lost most of your knives in the last fight."

  Daniel groaned, leaning back in his chair with exaggerated exasperation. "Don't remind me. It feels like I'm going into battle naked without them."

  Leah frowned, resting her chin on her hand. "We can't just go out there again without proper weapons. The next fight could kill us if we're not prepared."

  Emma's voice was quiet but resolute. "W-we can't keep using makeshift gear. It will just end up breaking against these beasts."

  Noah nodded, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Exactly my point. We need to get new weapons, but more than that, we need weapons that can handle this world. Regular metal won't cut it anymore—not against beasts of this caliber."

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  Victor crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "The question is, how? We've got beast parts from the hunt, but is it enough to barter for proper equipment? And can the blacksmith here even make gear strong enough?"

  Noah tapped the table thoughtfully. "That's something we'll have to find out. Garrick mentioned that Soul Beast materials are valuable for crafting. If the blacksmith knows how to work with them, we might be able to get something at E Rank Uncommon grade."

  Leah looked skeptical. "But even if they can craft something, won't it cost more than we can afford right now? We only have a few beast teeth and claws left after paying for our rooms."

  Daniel smirked, leaning forward. "Then we'll just have to make a deal. Maybe they'll let us trade labor or future hunts for gear. It's not like they have a ton of hunters around here."

  Emma hesitated, glancing at Noah. "Do you think… they'd be willing to work with us?"

  Noah shrugged. "It's worth a shot. But we'll need to be careful about what we ask for. Prioritize weapons and a shield first since those are our biggest weaknesses right now."

  Victor nodded in agreement. "Armor can come later. If we can't fight, it won't matter how much protection we have."

  Leah sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Alright. We'll talk to the blacksmith after this. But let's be clear about what we need so we don't make a mess. I'll need a new bow, something durable and reliable."

  Emma nodded. "Me too. And arrows… we'll need plenty of those."

  Victor cracked his knuckles. "A sturdy shield and a decent sword for me. Nothing fancy, just something that won't shatter after one fight."

  Daniel grinned, his usual cockiness shining through. "And I need knives. Lots of them. Preferably ones that can actually do some damage."

  Noah chuckled. "Sounds like a plan. And I'll need to replace this longsword. It barely survived that last fight. Something stronger—something that can take a beating and keep going."

  The group nodded, the excitement of new gear beginning to replace their earlier exhaustion.

  The conversation turned quieter as they focused on finishing their meal, each of them silently thinking about how their new gear would feel.

  When the last of the food was gone and their plates pushed aside, Noah stood up, grabbing his longsword. "Let's head to the blacksmith. The sooner we sort this out, the better."

  "Oh, by the way, where did you put all the loot from that bear?" Daniel asked curiously.

  Noah smirked, "That's—a secret."

  He couldn't just tell them about his inventory, not until they had awakened themselves so they could better understand this power.

  "Aw, come on, man, don't be stingy now," Daniel continued asking.

  Victor shook his head. "Leave it. If he has them safe, then that's good enough. We should move now."

  The others nodded their heads and followed him out.

  …

  The group stepped out of the bustling tavern into the bright morning light, the cool breeze carrying the faint scent of dew and smoke from nearby chimneys.

  Villagers moved about with their daily work, some carrying bundles of firewood while others chatted in groups near market stalls.

  Noah glanced at a passing villager and stopped him with a polite nod. "Excuse me, do you know where the blacksmith's shop is?"

  The man scratched his head, his weathered face thoughtful. "Aye, it's just past the market square. Head straight through, then turn left by the well. You'll see a forge with smoke coming out of the chimney. Can't miss it."

  "Thank you," Noah said, giving a small nod of appreciation.

  The group followed the man's directions, weaving through the market square.

  Stalls displayed a modest amount of goods: fruits, vegetables, dried herbs, and the occasional trinket. Leah's eyes lingered on a rack of arrows for sale, but she shook her head and continued walking.

  As they neared the well, the rhythmic clang of metal striking metal became audible, growing louder with every step.

  Soon, they spotted the forge, its chimney puffing out dark clouds of smoke. The building was sturdy, built of stone and timber, with an open area where a burly man hammered away at a glowing piece of metal, with a few apprentices working in the back.

  Noah slowed his pace and turned to the group. "I need to fetch the materials we'll use. You guys go ahead and introduce yourselves to the blacksmith. I'll join you in a minute."

  Victor raised an eyebrow. "What are you up to?"

  "Just something I need to handle," Noah replied, his tone teasing.

  Victor shrugged. "Alright, don't take too long."

  The others headed toward the forge while Noah stepped away, scanning the area for a quiet spot.

  He found a small alley between two houses, hidden from view. Checking to make sure no one was watching, he opened his system inventory, the familiar interface flashing before his eyes.

  With a thought, he began withdrawing the materials:

  Slot 1: Rockhide Bear Scales (x12)

  Slot 2: Rockhide Bear Talons (x4)

  Slot 3: Rockhide Bear Blood (1 Flask)

  Slot 4: Rockhide Bear Meat (x5 Portions)

  The items materialized in front of him, neatly stacked. The scales gleamed faintly in the sunlight, their texture tough and rugged.

  The talons were razor-sharp, glinting menacingly, while the flask of blood seemed to shimmer with a faint bloody energy. The portions of meat were thick, each cut wrapped in coarse cloth.

  Noah quickly gathered the items, wrapping them in a spare sack he had tucked into his pack. With a satisfied smile, he stepped out of the alley, adjusting the bundle over his shoulder, and made his way back to the forge.

  …

  When Noah returned, the group was already talking to the blacksmith, who looked toward him as he approached. The man was as solid as the anvil he worked on, with broad shoulders, a thick beard, and soot-streaked arms.

  His hammer rested against the workbench, and he was inspecting Victor's shattered shield with a critical eye.

  "This is barely scrap now," the blacksmith said, his voice deep and gravelly. "Looks like you fought with an Uncommon Grade beast, huh?"

  Victor nodded. "Yeah, an E Rank Uncommon-Grade Rockhide Bear. It did a number on all our gear."

  The blacksmith raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you're stronger than you all look, huh, surviving against an Uncommon Grade when y'all haven't even awakened your classes."

  But he soon snorted, inspecting the shield. "But you are all also foolish to dare fight that thing with this gear. Regular steel won't hold up against beasts like that. You're going to need something tougher—soul-forged or beast-infused materials. Expensive work, though."

  Noah stepped forward, placing the wrapped bundle on the workbench. "Maybe this will help," he said, unwrapping the cloth to reveal the Rockhide Bear materials.

  The blacksmith's eyes widened slightly as he examined the haul. He picked up a scale, running his calloused hand over its surface. "Rockhide Bear, huh? Good quality. These scales are tough—perfect for reinforcing armor or shields. And these talons…" He lifted one, inspecting its edge. "Sharp enough to forge into weapons that'll pierce even Uncommon Grade E Rank beasts' hides."

  He uncorked the flask of blood, sniffing it cautiously before nodding in approval. "And the blood… potent stuff. Can be used to strengthen the forging process as well. You've got enough here to make some decent gear, but it'll take time."