C17 Chapter 16 – The Stone Pickaxe
Morning sunlight bathed the island in a warm golden glow.
The waves gently rolled onto the shore while birds sang among the trees.
Aiden stepped outside his hut and stretched.
His first stop, as always, was the wheat field.
The tiny green sprouts had grown another few centimeters.
"They're healthy."
He pulled out a few small weeds growing around the crops.
The soil was beginning to dry, so he carried water from the pond using his clay bowls.
After watering the field, he walked around the camp.
Everything looked organized.
The storage box kept his materials safe.
The workbench stood firmly beside the hut.
The camp finally looked like the home of a survivor.
Aiden smiled.
"I've come a long way."
---
After breakfast, he placed several pieces of Iron Ore on the workbench.
He picked one up and examined it carefully.
"I've already found iron..."
"But I can't mine much of it with a Stone Axe."
The ore was buried deep inside solid rock.
Trying to chop it with an axe would only damage the tool.
"There must be a better way."
Almost as if responding to his thoughts, the System appeared.
New Blueprint Unlocked
Stone Pickaxe
Requirements:
- Strong Branch ×1
- Hard Stone ×2
- Plant Fiber Rope ×4
Description:
A basic mining tool designed to break stone and gather ore.
Aiden's eyes lit up.
"Exactly what I needed."
---
He gathered the materials immediately.
Finding a suitable branch took several minutes.
The handle needed to be straight, strong, and comfortable to hold.
The stone head required even more care.
He rejected several pieces before finding two that were dense enough.
Back at the workbench, he began crafting.
The process was more difficult than making the Stone Axe.
The head had to be balanced.
If one side became too heavy, every swing would waste energy.
Nearly an hour later, Aiden stepped back.
The pickaxe looked simple.
But sturdy.
Craft Successful
Stone Pickaxe
Rank: F
Durability: 120/120
Mining Efficiency: +35%
Stone Gathering Speed: +25%
Builder EXP increased.
Aiden swung it through the air.
It felt heavier than the axe.
"This should work."
---
Without wasting time, he returned to the rocky hill where he had discovered the Iron Ore.
Standing before the exposed vein, he raised the Stone Pickaxe.
Clang!
The impact echoed across the hill.
Small stone fragments scattered onto the ground.
Aiden struck again.
And again.
Each swing chipped away another piece of rock.
Sweat soon covered his forehead.
Mining demanded far more stamina than cutting trees.
After nearly twenty minutes...
A piece of Iron Ore finally broke free.
It rolled down the slope and stopped near his feet.
Aiden picked it up with a smile.
The System quietly updated his Collection Book.
No flashy reward.
Only progress.
"I prefer it this way."
He continued mining until he had collected five pieces of Iron Ore.
By then, his arms felt heavy.
His breathing had become rough.
He decided to stop.
"Knowing when to rest is just as important."
---
On his way back, Aiden noticed something strange near the stream.
Several smooth stones lay scattered across the water.
One of them shone with a faint blue color beneath the sunlight.
Curious, he picked it up.
The System reacted.
New Resource Discovered
Mana Stone Fragment
Rank: Uncommon
Description:
A small fragment containing traces of natural mana. Often found near water after heavy rain.
Possible Uses:
- Crafting
- Magic Equipment
- Mana Research
Current Uses:
Unknown.
Aiden carefully stored it inside the storage box after returning to camp.
Another mysterious material.
Another piece of the world's puzzle.
---
As evening approached, Aiden repaired the edge of his Stone Axe using the workbench.
He also cleaned his tools and organized the newly mined ore.
While working, he noticed something.
The more often he used his tools...
The smoother his movements became.
The System wasn't making him skilled.
Practice was.
That realization made him smile.
---
After dinner, he sat beside the campfire with his Survival Journal.
The flames danced quietly in the cool night air.
He wrote carefully.
Survival Journal – Day 12
- Every tool has its purpose.
- The right equipment saves time and energy.
- Mining is harder than woodcutting.
- Rest before exhaustion becomes weakness.
- Small discoveries today become great opportunities tomorrow.
He closed the journal.
Above him, thousands of stars filled the night sky.
For a long moment, Aiden simply watched them.
Then...
A shooting star crossed the heavens.
At the same instant...
A faint golden light flashed deep within the Ancient Echo Valley.
It lasted only a heartbeat.
But this time...
Aiden saw it.
He slowly stood.
"...So it wasn't my imagination."
The island was calling him.
He simply wasn't ready to answer it... yet.
