Chapter 6: Ironwood and Intent
The knotty ironwood log lay in the small, dusty patch behind Ren's hut like a slumbering beast. It was thick, dense, and exuded an air of stubborn immovability. His flint knife, which had served him adequately for softer woods, felt laughably insufficient for this task. Crafting the [Wooden Training Dummy (Basic)] was going to be an ordeal.
[Knotty Ironwood Log]
Quality: Poor (due to knots, but inherently Very Durable material)
Properties: Extremely Hard, Difficult to Work, High Durability.
System Comment: Hope you packed a lunch. And a spare knife. And maybe a chisel you don't own yet.
"Charming," Ren muttered, picking up his flint knife. "Let's see what [Basic Woodworking Lv. 1] can do against you."
He'd mentally reviewed the 'blueprint' the system had provided when he unlocked the training dummy crafting option. It was simple enough in design: a thick central post for the torso, perhaps a slightly rounded top for a 'head,' and maybe two shorter protrusions for 'arms' if he was feeling ambitious. The primary goal was a stable, durable target that could withstand repeated strikes.
He started by trying to strip the rough bark. The flint knife skittered across the surface, barely making a scratch. Each attempt required significant pressure, and his hands quickly began to ache.
[Attempting to work Ironwood with Flint Knife. Material Hardness significantly exceeds Tool Capability. Crafting progress: Minimal. Tool Durability decreasing rapidly.]
After half an hour of strenuous effort, he'd managed to peel off a few stubborn strips of bark, revealing the pale, incredibly dense wood beneath. His flint knife, however, now had a noticeable chip in its edge.
[Flint Knife (Poor Quality) Durability: 65/100]
"This isn't going to work," Ren sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. He needed a better tool, or a different approach. He remembered Old Man Hemlock using a heavy mallet and chisels. Ren had neither.
He looked at the log, then at his spear. The spear point, while not exceptionally sharp, was hardened wood. Could he use it to score the bark, then pry it off in sections?
It was unorthodox, but worth a try. He carefully used the tip of his [Rough Wooden Spear] to etch deep lines into the remaining bark, then levered against them. Chunks of bark, larger than before, began to break away. It was still slow, but it was progress.
[Ingenious use of available tools! Minor INT EXP gained. Basic Woodworking Lv. 1 (EXP: 15/100)]
It took him most of the morning, alternating between scoring with the spear tip and peeling with the knife (which he now used more sparingly, for finer work), just to strip the bark from the main section he intended to use for the dummy's torso. His SP had dipped significantly, and his arms throbbed.
[Flint Knife (Poor Quality) Durability: 40/100]
[Rough Wooden Spear Durability: 85/100 (Tip slightly blunted)]
Next came shaping. He needed to flatten the bottom so it would stand stably. This involved even more tedious scraping and chipping. He imagined what a proper saw or axe could do in minutes, tasks that took him hours. But this was his reality. The system provided the knowledge and the framework; the execution was all on him.
As he worked, he thought about Nen. His current struggles with a simple piece of wood highlighted his physical limitations. Nen users could enhance their physical strength to superhuman levels. Some could probably shape this ironwood with a single, aura-infused strike. The thought was both daunting and motivating. He was building his foundation, one scraped sliver of wood at a time.
By midday, after consuming his [Fresh Bread Roll] from Elara for a much-needed SP boost, he had managed to shape a roughly cylindrical torso section and flatten the base enough that it could stand, albeit a little drunkenly.
[Basic Woodworking Lv. 1 (EXP: 50/100)]
[Wooden Training Dummy (Basic) - Progress: 40% (Torso Shaped, Base Stabilized)]
System Comment: It vaguely resembles a log. A very lumpy log. Keep going.]
He decided to take a break from the woodworking to do his daily physical conditioning. The familiar burn of push-ups, sit-ups, and squats was almost a relief after the frustratingly slow progress with the ironwood. His STR of 10 allowed him to complete his repetitions with better form and slightly less strain than before.
[STR: 10. Consistent training is showing minor results. You can now lift slightly heavier rocks with only moderate grunting.]
After his exercises and a short rest, he returned to the ironwood. He decided against trying to add 'arms' for now; just getting the torso and a semblance of a head would be a victory. He focused on smoothing the main body, removing the worst of the lumps and knots with his increasingly dull knife. Each knot was a battle, the grain of the wood swirling around it, resisting his efforts.
He thought about the [Basic Combat Stance] and his spear. Having this dummy would be invaluable. He could practice his thrusts, test his accuracy, and learn how to generate power. He pictured himself moving around it, his spear a blur, striking true every time. This visualization, this intent, seemed to focus his efforts.
Late in the afternoon, as the shadows began to lengthen, he finally felt like he was making significant headway. The torso was smoother, the top slightly rounded. It wasn't pretty, but it was solid.
[Basic Woodworking Lv. 1 (EXP: 95/100)]
[Wooden Training Dummy (Basic) - Progress: 90% (Main structure complete. Requires final smoothing and stability check.)]
One final push. He used the flat of his knife to scrape away any remaining splinters, and spent a good twenty minutes adjusting the base, ensuring it wouldn't topple with the first decent strike.
Finally, a satisfying chime:
[Crafting Succeeded!]
[Wooden Training Dummy (Basic) x1 created!]
Quality: Poor (Due to crude tools and low skill with difficult material)
Durability: High (Thanks to Ironwood)
Properties: Stable, can withstand repeated moderate impacts.
System Comment: It won't win any beauty contests, but it'll take a beating. Probably more than your knife can at this point.
[Basic Woodworking Lv. 1 (EXP: 100/100) -> Basic Woodworking Lv. 2 (EXP: 0/200)]
Description: Your ability to shape wood has noticeably improved. You can now attempt more complex (though still basic) wooden items with slightly better results.
New Crafting Options Unlocked: [Simple Wooden Stool], [Basic Tool Handle (Wood)], [Wooden Buckler (Reinforced)].
+50 Character EXP! (Crafting Difficult Item + Skill Level Up Bonus!)
Level: 3 (EXP: 220/400)
[Flint Knife (Poor Quality) Durability: 15/100. Critical. Further use risks shattering.]
Ren stared at the training dummy. It was about four feet tall, thick and solid. It was, as the system noted, lumpy and uneven, but it stood firm. He'd made it. His hands were raw, his muscles ached, but he'd wrestled this thing into existence from a stubborn log. The 50 EXP boost was a huge bonus.
He propped his nearly shattered flint knife carefully in a corner of his hut. He'd have to find a new one, or perhaps a better stone to knap one from. Or maybe, with his improved [Basic Woodworking], he could craft a decent handle if he found a suitable piece of metal for a blade somewhere. That was a problem for another day.
Right now, he had a training partner.
He picked up his [Rough Wooden Spear]. He faced the dummy, settling into his [Basic Combat Stance Lv. 2]. He took a breath, focusing his intent. This wasn't just a log anymore; it was an opponent, a target.
He started with slow, controlled thrusts, aiming for different points on the dummy's 'torso.'
Thud. Thud. Thunk.
The ironwood barely vibrated. His spear, however, felt the impact.
[Basic Combat Stance Lv. 2 (EXP: 100/200). Strikes are connecting. Focus on transferring power from your legs and core through the spear tip.]
[New Mundane Skill Discovered: [Spear Proficiency (Basic)] Lv. 0 (EXP: 5/50)]
Description: Basic familiarity with wielding a spear-type weapon. Governs accuracy, damage, and attack speed with spears.
Comment: You're not poking your own eye out. That's a start.]
A new weapon proficiency skill! This was exactly what he'd hoped for. He grinned, a genuine, tired smile. The system rewarded targeted practice.
He spent another hour with the dummy, moving around it, practicing thrusts, simple parrying motions (imagining an incoming attack), and trying to integrate his footwork with his spear movements. His [Basic Combat Stance] EXP bar filled steadily, and the [Spear Proficiency] bar began its slow climb.
[Basic Combat Stance Lv. 2 (EXP: 150/200)]
[Spear Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 0 (EXP: 25/50)]
He was learning how the spear moved, how it felt to strike a solid object, how to recover his balance quickly. The dummy, bless its lumpy ironwood heart, took every hit without complaint.
As dusk settled, Ren finally called a halt to his training. He was physically spent but mentally exhilarated. He'd crafted a vital piece of training equipment from challenging materials, leveled up a key crafting skill, and unlocked a weapon proficiency.
He thought about the new crafting options. A [Wooden Buckler (Reinforced)] sounded very appealing. Defense was just as important as offense. That would be his next [Basic Woodworking] project.
Before collapsing onto his mattress, he did a quick review of his day. He'd pushed himself hard, and the system had responded. The path to Nen was still shrouded in mystery, but he felt like he was laying solid, essential flagstones along the way. Each skill point, each stat increase, each crafted item, was a testament to his will to survive and grow stronger in this dangerous, new world. He was no Gon, no Killua, but he was Ren. And Ren was a grinder.