The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

The morning sun cast long golden streaks across the rubble-strewn streets of Myrta as Adam made his way toward Hilt’s forge, Alice and Azrynn flanking him.

Adam stopped before the blacksmith’s shop, raising his hand to knock on the scarred wooden door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Silence.

Alice’s ear twitched, her dark violet eyes narrowing with impatience.

”Is the owner of this shop dead? There’s no answer.”

Azrynn’s yellow eyes flickered with uncertainty.

”That’s unlikely. We just met her yesterday. She was very much alive then.”

Adam’s brow furrowed. He raised his hand and knocked again, harder this time.

Knock. Knock. KNOCK.

A moment of silence. Then—CRASH. The muffled sound of something heavy hitting the floor echoed from inside, followed by a string of muffled, distinctly colorful curses.

Footsteps, heavy and deliberate, approached the door. It swung open with a groan of protest, revealing Hilt’s disheveled form. Her iron-grey hair stuck out in wild, unkempt tangles, and her leather apron was smudged with soot and what looked like dried ale. She squinted against the morning light, her voice carrying a sharp, sleep-roughened edge.

”So early in the morning and already so noisy. Don’t you have any respect for people who are trying to sleep?!”

Adam blinked, his voice carrying a note of dry amusement as he took in Hilt’s disheveled state.

”We brought your materials.” He paused, letting his crimson eyes sweep over her tangled hair and soot-stained apron. ”Though it looks like you haven’t even started getting ready. Were you planning to sleep through the whole day?”

Hilt’s eye twitched. Her voice rose, sharp and defensive.

”How could I prepare anything?! I didn’t even know if you’d actually come back! Do you have any idea how many people make promises they don’t keep?!” She jabbed a thick finger at his chest. ”I’m not going to waste my time and energy on a promise that might not be fulfilled!”

Azrynn’s yellow eyes narrowed, her voice carrying a cool, measured edge as she stepped forward.

”We did come back. We have the materials with us.”

Hilt’s gaze shifted to Azrynn, her eyes narrowing with skepticism. Her voice carried a note of grudging doubt.

”You really brought them?”

Adam reached into his inventory, his hand emerging with a bundle of high-grade steel ingots.

”High-grade steel ingots, enchanted flux, heat-resistant tools... everything on your list.”

Hilt’s eyes widened, a flicker of genuine surprise passing through them. She took a step back, gesturing for them to enter with a sharp, impatient motion.

”Come in, then. Don’t just stand there blocking the doorway.”

They stepped inside the forge. The space was still cluttered with debris from the collapse, but a small workbench had been cleared. A few tools hung on the wall, their surfaces still coated in dust.

Hilt moved to the workbench, her hand brushing across its surface. Her voice was quieter now, thoughtful.

”You actually brought everything. That’s... unexpected.”

Alice’s tail swayed lazily.

”Did you think we were lying?”

Hilt’s eye twitched, her voice carrying a note of defensive irritation.

”I didn’t think you were lying. I just didn’t think you’d actually follow through.” She paused, her gaze shifting to the stack of ingots. ”But you did. So... I suppose I owe you an apology.”

Azrynn’s voice interrupted gently.

”Let’s just focus on the work. We need the arrows as soon as possible.”

Hilt’s gruff voice cut through the cluttered forge as she shot Azrynn a look, already moving toward her workbench.

”Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time. I’ll get started on the arrows without needing a reminder.” She paused, glancing over her shoulder. ”But don’t expect miracles. Good work takes time.”

Before she could turn fully, Adam stepped forward, reaching into his inventory. He withdrew the Raw Enhancement Stone and the dagger Alice had rejected, holding them out to her.

”Actually, I have one more request. Can you put these two things together?”

Hilt’s eyes narrowed, her gaze dropping to the items in his hands. Her voice carried a note of genuine surprise as she studied the stone.

”This... isn’t this a Spirit Essence Stone? Where did you find something like this?”

Alice’s tail wove a slow, lazy pattern through the air. Her voice carried a note of dismissive nonchalance, though a spark of interest flickered in her dark violet eyes.

”Whatever it’s called. I just want that dagger to be stronger. Can you make it happen?”

Hilt let out a low, thoughtful hum as she took the stone from Adam, turning it over in her calloused hands. She examined the dagger with equal care, her eyes tracing its edge, its balance.

”This is... unusual. The stone is raw, and dormant. And this dagger—it’s well-crafted, but it’s been neglected.” She paused, her gaze shifting to Alice. ”If I combine them properly, I can create something exceptional. But it won’t be quick. And it certainly won’t be cheap.”

Adam’s voice was steady, carrying a note of quiet confidence.

”Cost isn’t an issue. Just tell us what you need.”

Hilt let out a slow breath, her fingers still tracing the stone’s surface.

”Give me three days. I’ll have the arrows ready by tomorrow, but this—” she held up the stone and dagger ”—will take longer. I’ll need to forge a proper blade around the essence stone, align its energy with the dagger’s core, and reinforce the binding.”

Alice’s tail swayed with quiet satisfaction, her voice carrying a note of approval.

”Three days. That’s acceptable.”

Azrynn’s voice carried a note of quiet relief.

”Thank you, Hilt. We appreciate it.”

Hilt waved a dismissive hand, already turning back to her workbench.

”Yeah, yeah. Just don’t get in my way while I’m working. And don’t touch anything.” She shot a pointed look at Adam. ”Especially you. I remember what happened last time you were in my forge.”

Adam raised his hands in mock surrender, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

”I’ll behave.”

Adam’s hands were still raised when a sharp, aggressive knock shattered the quiet of the forge. The sound was followed by a gruff, demanding voice that carried through the thin walls.

”Open up! We know you’re in there! The reconstruction levy hasn’t been paid! You can’t keep avoiding us!”

Hilt let out a long, weary sigh, her shoulders sagging as she ran a hand through her tangled grey hair. Her voice came out low, carrying the weight of exhaustion.

”Haaah... those nuisances again...”