Pickaxe & Axe

Grashok’s stomach growled, and he glanced over at the cut of lynx meat he had set on the flat stone near the fire to slowly cook. it looked ready and he tore off two sizeable chunks of meat—one for himself and one for the cub, who eyed him eagerly. The wolf pup caught the thrown meat in mid-air, settling in to gnaw contentedly while Grashok devoured his own piece.

The taste was gamey and tough, but it filled the emptiness in his belly. A gulp of water from the newly‑formed mana pool left him feeling steadier.

Wiping his hands on the coarse fabric of his tunic, his attention turned to the crafting table. It was a crude thing—little more than a splintered bench with uneven legs—but it represented possibilities. He scrolled through the list of potential crafts, though much of it was still greyed out, requiring resources or skills beyond his reach.

Crafting Menu:

Stone Pickaxe

Stone Axe

Stone Knife

Wooden Shield

Crude Armour

His eyes lingered on two options that would make gathering easier: a Stone Pickaxe and a Stone Axe. Both were simple enough to craft, but would save him endless time and frustration when collecting wood and stone.

Grashok selected the Pickaxe first.

Craft Stone Pickaxe?

Cost:

Stone: 2

Wood: 1

He pressed accept, but instead of the instant gratification he hoped for, a familiar notification popped up:

Crafting Stone Pickaxe Started!

Time Remaining: 30 minutes

Penalties: Skill Penalty (-30%), Dexterity Penalty (-20%)

Bonus: Tool Boost (+5%)

Estimated Time: 45 minutes

“Of course...” he muttered, irritation flaring. Even with the hammer, there were still penalties. The thought of another progress bar made his shoulders slump, but he knew the tools would be worth it in the long run.

He began tapping at the frame of the pickaxe, the sound of metal on stone ringing faintly in the still air. The progress bar inched forward painfully slowly, though the small 5% boost from his hammer gave him a flicker of satisfaction amidst the monotony.

The cub wandered over, sniffed at the bench, then lost interest and returned to its bone.

Grashok pressed on, and after what felt like an eternity, the final ding echoed in his ears.

Stone Pickaxe Complete!

Added to Inventory: Stone Pickaxe (Quality: Low)

He repeated the process for the Stone Axe next, tapping away once more, each strike accompanied by notifications of the same penalties.

Finally, after another round of exhausting labour, the axe was done.

Stone Axe Complete!

Added to Inventory: Stone Axe (Quality: Low)

Both tools were rugged, with rough edges and crude craftsmanship, but Grashok admired them nonetheless. The weight of the stone pickaxe felt right in his hands, and while the axe was far from refined, it would certainly do the job when it came to chopping wood.

Though the process had been slow and frustrating, he felt a measure of accomplishment. These tools would make future tasks quicker, and at least he wouldn’t be hacking at stone or wood with his bare hands anymore. He sighed, rubbing his tired arms.

"Finally... something useful," he said aloud, glancing at the cub who was curled up contentedly beside the fire, asleep after their meal.

He tucked the tools into his inventory and sat near the fire himself, letting its warmth ease his body. There was still much to do, but for tonight, progress had been made.