Legendary Shelter Survival Guide

Chapter 329 The first Ingot

The day passed as Lucas made steady progress with the molds and the crucible, with Sarah's eager assistance.

Most of the day was spent on that and other menial tasks, which were taking longer due to the lack of proper tools and workstations. Despite the delays, Lucas waited patiently for the mold and crucible to reach the perfect texture.

By nightfall, another hut was ready for use. Lucas assigned it to Mike after giving him the choice between keeping it for himself or letting Jerry have it. It was a mutual decision between them.

The night passed quickly, but Lucas didn't sleep. Instead, he went near the canal to study his teleportation circles for a few hours. When the sun rose, he left the studies and began training his body.

Having reverted to the physical state of his 15-year-younger self, all the muscle training he had done was effectively erased. Lucas could feel the strain—his stats were still there, but his body struggled to handle them.

For now, Lucas relied solely on his techniques and experience to manage. While those alone were formidable, they were still a far cry from his full potential. Following the Overseer's advice, Lucas had stopped using the chaotic energy from his mark, so he could only control it through training and handling monsters.

After finishing his training, Lucas returned to the shelter, drenched from head to toe. He quickly changed into fresh clothes before joining the others for breakfast.

It was during breakfast that Lucas finally revealed the upcoming winter to everyone.

Some reacted with concern, while others appeared confused. Sean, ever the optimist, expressed his excitement about seeing snow again, but his parents knew better. They understood the harsh reality that awaited them.

Winter here wouldn't be like the winters on Earth, where central heating made indoor living comfortable. This would be a season of survival, and they had no adequate resources to combat the cold.

After some discussion, Lucas shared his plan, and everyone agreed to approach their tasks with even greater urgency.

The following days were spent constructing huts within the shelter, with John and Mike leading the efforts. At the rate of one hut per day, there were still many more to go, but progress was steady. Mike's proficiency improved significantly as he took on this large-scale project.

Meanwhile, Lucas gave Sean a practical lesson on runes, having him observe as he etched simple heat runes onto the inner walls of the shelter's defenses. Afterward, Lucas worked with John to refine his leatherworking skills. To demonstrate, he crafted an uncommon grade pouch from leather scraps, showing John the proper techniques.

John, already experienced, picked up several new tips. His maturity and quick learning made him a promising student, though Sean's youthful energy and inexperience required a different approach.

Finally, Lucas and Sarah took the mold and crucible out of the clay oven.

Lucas inspected the mold, running his fingers over its surface. "This is ready," he declared. It was hot yet not hot enough. The crucible, however, needed further work. It required blast heating for a few more hours before it could be used.

Lucas assigned the task of heating the crucible to Sarah, while he went to sort through the ores to separate the good from the bad.

The days were peaceful overall, with no immediate threats to the territory's safety. However, the same couldn't be said for everyone. Tessa was dealing with repeated goblin attacks, despite Lucas having provided her with keywords to communicate with them.

Years of working with ores had made Lucas proficient enough to determine the melting requirements of each one with a single touch.

"At this stage, we'd usually need specialized tongs for the crucible, but I've got a skill that lets me manage without them."

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked, tilting her head.

Lucas smirked, his confidence evident. He extended his hand toward the crucible, and a faint shimmer of energy surrounded his fingers.

"This," he said as the crucible slowly lifted into the air, suspended by an invisible force. "My manipulation skill extends to all my crafts. It's not as flashy as combat abilities, but it's perfect for precision tasks like this. And, keep this between us for now, alright?"

Sarah nodded, watching in awe as Lucas guided the crucible into the furnace's opening. The ores began to heat, their surfaces glistening as the metal separated from impurities.

"That's incredible," Sarah admitted. "You make it look easy, but I'm sure it's not."

"It's just practice," Lucas replied, adjusting the dial to increase the temperature slightly. "Do something long enough, and it becomes second nature. That's what I want to pass on to all of you."

Sarah's expression grew determined. "I want to learn that."

Lucas gave her an approving nod. "You're already on the right path. Stay consistent, and you'll get there."

As the ores liquefied into a molten glow, Lucas carefully skimmed the slag off the top, discarding impurities into a nearby bowl. Sarah observed his steady movements, impressed by his precision.

"Don't you ever feel overwhelmed by how much needs to be done?" she asked quietly.

"All the time," Lucas admitted with a faint smile. "But I've learned to break things into smaller steps. One task at a time, and eventually, progress shows. Besides," he added, "I'm not doing this alone. Having all of you here makes all the difference."

Sarah nodded, her expression softening. "You're right."

When the crucible was ready, Lucas poured the molten metal into the mold. A faint hiss of steam rose as the liquid cooled and began to solidify.

"That's it for now," Lucas said, stepping back. "We'll let it cool overnight and see the results tomorrow."

"Do you think it'll turn out well?" Sarah asked, her curiosity evident.

Lucas nodded confidently. "I'm sure of it. This is just the beginning. Soon enough, we'll have everything we need to build and improve this place—one step at a time."