Chapter 5. Dungeon (1)
Rattle.
Pushing through the rubble at the construction site, I collected the mana stone and loot the monster had dropped. A fist-sized glowing gem, and what looked like one of the teeth from its maw as spoils.
"Ugh, the smell..."
My stomach churned, but I gritted my teeth and picked them up anyway. For this haul, dropping the train from the sky had been worth it.
I retreated from the site, grabbed my cart again, and returned to the tracks. Activating the skill, I resummoned the train onto the rails.
Whoosh—thud!
The train settled lightly onto the tracks, its exterior looking pristine. Even after plummeting from dozens of meters onto concrete, there wasn't a single scratch, not even chipped paint. Its durability really wasn't just hype.
"The inside's the problem."
I cautiously opened the door and stepped in.
"Damn it..."
As expected, the interior looked like a bomb had gone off. Plates from the kitchen were scattered across the floor, sofa cushions flung everywhere. The furniture was bolted down, so no major disaster, but it was still a total mess.
My focus wasn't on the dishes, though.
"Donggle!"
I bolted through car 1 to car 2. My precious new roommate, whom I'd just adopted. If that little glass tank had shattered, I wouldn't forgive the monster—even though it was already pulp and smoke, and dropping the train had been my call.
Next to the armory, on the table. There was the tank.
"Phew..."
I let out a sigh of relief. Some water had sloshed onto the table, but the tank itself was intact. Peering inside, the green moss ball was bobbing around, probably startled.
"You're doing fine."
I tapped the tank reassuringly, then wiped up the spill, topped off the water, and hurriedly tidied the train. Once everything was back in place, it looked spotless again.
"Now, time to check the armory."
Finishing up, I headed straight there. I'd stacked the rebar and lumber from the site neatly in one corner of car 2. Materials were plentiful now.
I stood before the silver fabrication machine.
Weapon Crafting - Blunt Weapon
Special Materials: Steel Teeth, Mid-grade Mana Stone
These hard-won materials deserved it, so I slotted in the monster's tooth and mana stone as extras. A mid-grade mana stone—I considered using it for fuel, but since I was going all-in with the tough monster parts, I figured it'd boost the weapon. No skimping on something to protect my body.
Begin crafting?
Time Required: 10 minutes
"Let's do it!"
Whirr—clank, grind!
The machine roared to life. Sparks flew, metal shaved—filling car 2 with noise. I sat by the tank, watching anxiously with Donggle. It seemed to be trembling too. Or at least, that's what I told myself.
Ten minutes later.
Hiss—
Steam vented as the machine's door swung open.
"...Oh."
I hefted the hefty blunt weapon. I'd never trained with swords, and bows weren't my thing, so blunt it was. Good choice.
The weight felt like it could smash concrete walls on a downward swing.
Whoosh!
Yet it swung smoothly too. Lighter in motion than at rest, almost.
"Solid."
I nodded in satisfaction, hanging the flail in the armory display. Next up: armor. My tracksuit was comfy, but one monster claw would shred it. A hardhat from the site wouldn't cut it.
The armor tab needed leather, iron, wool. Filed that away for later.
"Hm...? Oh, this."
Something gleamed on the floor. A silver ring—the worn one I'd gotten pushing that first monster with the spike.
I'd shoved it somewhere before. On a whim, I slipped it onto my left index finger.
"Whoa?!"
The instant it fit, my body felt light—like shedding a heavy winter coat. I hopped in place; air time felt longer, movements snappier.
"This is legit an item?"
With monsters and skills around, items made sense. I pulled out my smartphone and logged into the Survivor Gallery. Searching "item," "drop," "gear" brought up dozens of posts.
Title: Anyone get loot dropping from monsters?
Caught something goblin-like earlier. Only its necklace remained after the body vanished. Seems monsters drop items beyond mana stones.
"As I thought..."
My hunch was right. I flexed my ringed hand, gazing out the window. Weaker physically as a woman, but gear could bridge that.
Rattle.
Lounging on the sofa scrolling the gallery, a cheerful clink came from the cockpit exhaust. My dutiful spike had shoved a monster and fetched a mana stone.
"Auto-hunting is god-tier."
I marveled. Once you taste it, going out manually feels like a chore. But greed has no end.
I pulled up the hologram panel, scanning exterior mods. Spike alone was decent, but more gear...?
[Auto-Intercept Turret]: Requires 3 months fuel
[Drone Hangar]: Requires 5 months fuel
...
"...Not easy."
I smacked my lips. Fuel was ample now, but not for that much. Upgrading the spike was cheapest at 2 weeks' worth. No clue what it'd do, though...
"To amp up auto-hunting, I'll have to hunt manually after all."
To make money, you need money—even in the apocalypse. Spike was comfy, but manual fights netted near-100% mana stones. Bitter, I refreshed the Survivor Gallery.
One title caught my eye.
Title: Is this a dungeon? (Photo of a shimmering black rift on a collapsed building wall)
Spotted this on the street, got close—sucked right in. Suddenly in a damp cave-like space. Freaked out, backed out quick. Could escape, thankfully. Everyone be careful.
"Dungeon."
I zoomed the rift photo. Classic game/novel portal—tougher monsters, but solid rewards.
I glanced at the hefty toothed flail in car 2.
Spike farming has limits.
My heart pounded. Time for risks.
"Maybe I can pull it off?"
Memorizing the rift, I stood. Flail, ring. Worst case, ram with the train. Dungeons seemed worth a shot—especially mobile via rails.
Tracking Incheon Subway Line 1 rails, I spotted it under a streetlamp: an alien black rift shimmering.
"Found it."
I slowed the train, stopping near the entrance. Identical to the post—space torn open.
"Hoo."
Heart racing. Exiting always jittered me. Fingering the silver ring, I grabbed the toothed flail from the armory.
"Here goes."
Deep breath. I stepped out, approaching the rift.
Bzzz—!
Vertigo flipped my vision. Eyes open: damp, mossy stone walls. Unknown cave.
Stepping lightly inward, presences stirred.
"Kreek! Kee-kee-kik!"
Green-skinned dwarves burst from shadows. Three goblins, rusty daggers and crude clubs in hand, cackling together.
Staring blankly, our eyes met.
"Kee-eek!"
The lead one raised its dagger, charging with a stab.
Before, their stride baffled me—but
Pop—!
I sidestepped left effortlessly. Feet like springs, body feather-light.
"My body..."
Light. The ring's doing. Confidence surged.
Now attack.
"Hup!"
Dodging into a waist twist, I swung the shoulder-slung flail. Saw-toothed brutality sliced air.
Whoosh—!
The sound alone differed. The goblin hastily raised its wooden shield.
Mistake.
Crack—!
No dull thud. An explosion. The flail's serrated teeth shredded the shield like paper, crushing the goblin's skull.
"Kk, kreek!" "Agh!"
Goblin death cries overlapped my shocked yelp at the gruesome sight.