Ever since its release several weeks ago, the weapon had taken the kingdom by storm. Sales had exploded beyond even my optimistic projections as both military organizations and private awakeners recognized its tactical value. The ability to deliver powerful ranged attacks without requiring years of archery training made it appealing to everyone from city guards to merchant company security forces.

Our family's reputation had soared immensely on the back of this success. The Blackwood name, already prestigious due to ducal status, had gained new recognition as innovators and thinkers rather than just traditional nobility. And more practically, our income had increased dramatically.

The crossbow sales had reached cumulative revenue of nearly one million golden coins in just a short span - an astronomical sum that represented genuine wealth even by royal standards. Market analysis suggested sales would continue climbing as production scaled and distribution networks expanded further.

The engineers and blacksmiths working on production had been begging me for days to create an improved version. The current model was good, but everyone recognized that refinement and enhancement would capture additional market segments willing to pay premium prices for superior performance.

Naturally, I held exclusive rights to any improvements or modifications. I'd claimed ownership of the core design through family patent systems, ensuring that nobody could legally build enhanced versions without my explicit authorization.

Even though improving the crossbow would be relatively simple given my knowledge and capabilities, I'd allowed absolutely nobody else to attempt it - not even our family's master blacksmiths who had decades of experience and unquestionable loyalty.

Not because I didn't trust them with the work. Their skill and discretion were beyond question.

But because this was my bread and butter. This was what helped me improve my crafting abilities, test new techniques, and push the boundaries of what magical engineering could achieve in this world. And fundamentally, these were my creations - well, not really since I'd essentially stolen the concepts from Earth's technological development, but they were still my implementations in this world, my contributions to its advancement.

The intellectual property and creative process belonged to me, and I intended to keep it that way.

I began laying out materials systematically, planning the improved crossbow's specifications.

The original model had used relatively common materials - decent steel for the bow mechanism, standard wood for the stock, basic enchantments for durability and power enhancement. Not because I couldn't make it better, but because for its price point, that was exactly what customers should receive. The weapon needed to be affordable enough for mass adoption while still profitable to produce.

Now I was making something different. A premium model - the Mark II Crossbow that would target elite awakeners and powerful forces rather than general market consumers.

This version would use superior materials throughout. High-grade steel alloys for the mechanism that could handle significantly greater tension forces. Enchanted wood from magical trees that wouldn't warp or crack under stress. Advanced runic arrays that enhanced both power output and accuracy. Improved trigger mechanisms for smoother operation.

Most importantly, dramatically increased penetration power.

The original crossbow could reliably kill Noble-rank beasts and weaker Elite-rank opponents. Useful for common threats, but insufficient against genuinely dangerous enemies.

The Mark II would be capable of killing peak-Elite rank targets and potentially even low Transcendent opponents if the shot placement was perfect and the target wasn't heavily armored. That represented a fundamental leap in lethality that would justify premium pricing and attract serious professional buyers.

I activated the forge and began heating metal stock to working temperature while reviewing the mechanical design improvements I'd planned.

The bow mechanism needed reinforcement to handle higher tension without deforming. I'd use a composite layered approach - multiple thin strips of enhanced steel bonded together rather than single-piece construction. This would provide superior strength-to-weight ratio and allow the mechanism to store more energy without adding excessive bulk.

The trigger assembly required precision manufacturing to ensure smooth, consistent release even under high-tension conditions. I'd incorporate ball bearing components and carefully balanced springs to achieve professional-grade performance.

The stock needed both structural integrity and ergonomic refinement. I'd shape it from Ironwood - a magical tree species with density approaching metal while retaining wood's workability. Enchantments would further enhance durability and provide minor recoil dampening, but that wasn't my field.

Clang! Strike! Shape!

I began working the heated metal with Ragnar's Hammer, and immediately felt the difference compared to standard tools. Each strike landed with perfect weight distribution, the hammer seemingly guiding my hand toward optimal impact points. The metal responded beautifully, shaping faster and more precisely than I'd achieved with conventional equipment.

"This is incredible," I muttered, watching as complex curves formed with minimal effort.

The legendary hammer wasn't just a tool - it was almost like having a master craftsman's muscle memory transferred directly into my hands. Techniques I'd struggled with before suddenly felt natural and intuitive.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

I lost myself in the rhythm of creation, hours passing as I fabricated each component with obsessive attention to detail. The bow mechanism took shape with mechanical precision that would have been impossible using standard equipment. The trigger assembly came together with watchmaker-level accuracy. The stock was carved and shaped into ergonomic perfection.

Between metalworking sessions while components cooled, I inscribed enchantment arrays using specialized tools and magical inks. The patterns were far more complex than the original crossbow's simple durability enhancement - these arrays would increase projectile velocity, improve accuracy through minor trajectory correction, and enhance penetration against magical defenses.

I incorporated knowledge from both Earth's physics understanding and this world's magical engineering principles, creating hybrid designs that leveraged advantages from both systems.

The sun had fully risen and was approaching noon when I finally assembled all components into the completed weapon.

The Mark II Crossbow was noticeably more refined than its predecessor. Sleeker lines, superior materials visible in every component, and an aura of lethal capability that the original model lacked. This was a weapon for serious professionals, not general market consumers.

I loaded a test bolt - also improved with reinforced shaft and enchanted tip - and aimed at the reinforced target I'd set up at the workshop's far end.

Click... THWACK!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.