Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: [Abyss Miner] Got Too Strong
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"Hoo."
I looked around.
The scenery wasn't much different from the first floor.
Giant glowing stones embedded in the ceiling and walls everywhere emitted a bluish light, so visibility was no issue.
'No need for torches or anything like that yet.'
According to the original story's setting, you only needed torches or lanterns around the tenth floor when the glowing stones started thinning out. This was to be expected.
I slung the hexagonal rod over my shoulder and trudged deeper in.
Clang! Clang!
Faint pickaxe sounds echoed from afar.
Definitely quieter than the first floor.
That meant fewer people—and more experienced miners gathered here.
"First things first, track down some signs."
I had no idea where that old timer Hans had gone.
But the second floor's layout was more complex than the first, with higher monster density.
If an old guy like him had ventured deep, there had to be traces left behind.
Bloodstains, a broken pickaxe handle—anything.
'Just stay alive, you old coot.'
I owed him for the mining tips.
I scanned the ground intently as I pressed forward.
That's when it happened.
Rustle.
Something moved in the darkness.
A sharp scraping sound, like claws raking rock.
'Here they come.'
I halted and gripped my hexagonal rod firmly.
The sound drew closer, revealing gleaming shells.
Clacking pincers as they approached.
Crabs the size of a grown man's torso.
Their bodies covered in tough shells, pincers sharp enough to snip rock clean off.
"Clack clack, click!"
Three of them.
They spotted me and charged, foaming at the mouth.
They scuttled sideways at a decent speed.
"Alright, time to loosen up."
I rushed forward.
[Earth's Blessing] activated, amplifying the force from my soles against the ground.
The lead one raised its pincer high.
Aiming to smash my thigh.
Ting-!
I casually deflected the pincer with my rod.
"That all you got?"
I sneered and hoisted the rod overhead.
Iron-Shell Crabs weren't true steel, but damn tough.
Still, my Strength stat of 23 + the Black Iron Hexagonal Rod's destructive power + [Clubbing (F)] skill bonus.
Put it all together?
"Shatter!"
Krunch-!!
A thunderous crack as its carapace exploded, yellowish fluids splattering everywhere.
"Next."
I swung the rod sideways at the remaining two, frozen in shock.
Thwack!
One flew off like a home-run ball, smashing into the wall.
With two down in a flash, the last one backed away in fear.
Not letting it go, of course.
"Where you goin', buddy?"
I chased it down and smashed its crown.
Clean finish.
"Hoo."
I shook off the rod and eyed the corpses.
Smashed beyond recognition.
Even I was a bit surprised.
Already this strong?
'No time to mine, but I gotta grab this.'
I pulled a dagger from my pouch and rummaged through the crab corpses.
Carapaces too shattered to use.
"Here it is."
I sliced open the pincer joints.
Firm muscle chunks hidden in the white flesh.
'Iron-Shell Crab Claw Muscle.'
The protagonist mentioned it in passing in volume 3 of the original.
Used in stamina recovery potions.
Tastier than lobster too, supposedly—but whatever, it sold for good money.
"Let's collect."
I carved out portions from all three and stowed them in my bag.
Searching came first over mining, sure—but no way was I leaving empty-handed.
I moved on.
The paths narrowed and grew more tangled the deeper I went.
Forks everywhere.
"Which way?"
Scanning the floor, I sensed faint signs of life from one passage.
Humans.
I approached cautiously.
Three or four miners sat resting.
Muscular guys, each with scars, rough faces.
Decent gear too.
Fitting for second-floor breadwinners.
"Who're you?"
One bolted up, aiming his pickaxe as I neared.
Eyes full of suspicion.
"Just a passing miner. Looking for someone."
His gaze swept my gear—eyes widening.
Black Iron Hexagonal Rod on my back, gleaming leather armor.
Plus the fresh monster fluids reeking off me. Not an easy mark.
"Newbie? Nah, you look familiar..."
He furrowed his brow, then snapped his fingers.
"Ah! You're that guy! The one who half-crippled Viper on the first floor."
Word spread fast.
Made sense—no bigger news in these tight circles.
"That's me."
"No shit, for real. Pretty boy like you packs a punch."
He lowered his pickaxe, relaxing.
The other miners eyed me with interest.
"Heard about you. Viper pissed himself crawling away? Serves the bastard right."
"But already down to the second floor? You registered like four days ago, right?"
A mix of surprise and respect in their stares.
Not bad.
In this world, strength was your calling card.
"Yeah, something like that. Anyway, seen a scrawny old geezer? Name's Hans."
Straight to the point.
The miners exchanged glances.
"Oh, that cranky old fart? Yeah."
"When?"
"Yesterday? Day before? He was poking around the second-floor entrance, so I told him to get lost if he had a death wish."
The guy scratched his chin beard, recalling.
"But his eyes were totally gone. Muttering to himself, ignored me and headed deeper."
"Which way?"
"Toward zone 3. Acid worm nest—we avoid it. Crazy old man went right in."
Zone 3, Acid Worms.
Info acquired.
"Thanks."
I bowed and turned to leave when he called out.
"Hey, newbie."
"Yeah?"
"Watch out there. Those acid worms spit like pros. Melts gear in seconds."
"Appreciate the advice."
I waved and headed into the zone 3 passage.
A decent chat.
Skill earned respect anywhere.
The sour vinegar stench hit as soon as I entered zone 3.
'This is it.'
Floor and walls pitted from melting acid.
Traces of acidic solution.
Shoo-!
Green liquid flew from ceiling cracks.
"Fuck!"
I leaped aside on reflex.
Sizzle!
Where I'd stood, the liquid hit, white smoke rising as rock melted.
"Insane—that'd melt skin and all."
Looking up, worms writhed on the ceiling.
Earthworm-like, but arm-thick.
Drooling acidic saliva nonstop.
Grotesque bastards.
"Keeek!"
They opened maws at me in unison.
Green phlegm rained down.
'Nowhere to dodge.'
Impossible to evade all in this narrow tunnel.
Then I'd power through.
[Trait: Steel Body (B)]
[Bones and muscles harden, greatly boosting physical durability and strength. Gains resistance to physical impacts. Status ailment resistance increases. Strength stat bonus (+7)]
I trusted Steel Body.
Status resistance should shrug off these second-floor trash mobs.
I spun the rod like a propeller and charged.
"Raaah!"
The whirling rod batted away incoming liquids.
But not all.
Droplets splashed my shoulder and arm.
Sizzle.
"Ugh!"
Stung a bit.
Just that.
'Works great.'
Armor blocked the rest—no sensation there.
It got a little damaged, but fixable later.
This was doable.
I kicked off and leaped up.
"Get down here, you shits!"
Smashed a ceiling worm with the rod.
Thud!
Squishy impact—it plummeted.
It writhed to spew acid, but my foot was faster.
Splat!
Stomped it flat.
Green goo splashed, ignored.
Dropped the rest one by one.
Once down, they were slowpokes.
Sandbags, basically.
Thud! Thud! Splat!
Five down in seconds.
The tunnel reeked of acid and burst guts.
"Tough little fuckers."
Catching my breath, I pulled an empty vial from my bag.
One reason I'd hunted them.
'Acid Sac.'
In their throats—valuable alchemy ingredient.
Could apply to weapons for poison properties too.
I pried open a dead worm's maw and carefully extracted the sac.
Burst it by accident, and even Steel Body wouldn't save the cash.
"Nice, five secured."
Bottled and bagged.
Back to tracking.
Footprints amid the melted floor.
Hans?
Hoped so.
Following led deeper, to zone 4.
Zone 4: cave spider habitat.
'One thing after another.'
Shook worm goo off the rod and hurried on.
Zone 4 hit with spiderwebs slapping my face.
Sticky, gross.
Ceiling and walls draped in white silk.
Lurkers in the dark, webbing prey to slowly drain fluids.
No poison, but nasty.
Rustling from all sides as they emerged.
Dozens of red eyes gleamed in shadow.
Black shapes skittering on eight legs.
"A lot of 'em."
Seven?
Make it ten.
They spat webs simultaneously.
Shoo! Shoosh!
White threads sought my limbs.
"No chance!"
I twisted away, batting webs with the rod.
But too many.
One snagged my left ankle.
Snag.
Two spiders exploited it, leaping at my throat with fangs bared.
"Bullshit."
Leg caught didn't mean hands were.
Smashed both heads with the rod.
Dumbasses.
The ankle web tore free with raw strength.
Boosted power shredded tough silk easy.
Stats rose with intense fights.
Addictive part of hunting.
Cleared the spiders and gutted them.
[Spider Silk Gland]
Silk glands in their abdomens.
Used for cloth or ropes—high demand for durability.
"Money here too."
Harvest neatly and store.
Passing the nest, the ground shook.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Heavy footsteps.
Rock bits tumbled from walls.
Rounded the corner: massive bulk blocking the path.
Not quite a bear—more rock heap mossed over.
Three meters tall, paws shattering boulders.
"Groooar!"
It spotted me and roared.
"Ugh, breath."
Might wonder how to take that bulk, but it had a weakness.
Manga lore: big, slow movements.
Belly below navel, mossless spot—vital.
"Come on, bear cub."
Twirled the rod tauntingly.
Raging bear charged, rearing paw to smash.
Boom-!
Ground cratered.
But I was gone.
Rolled aside.
"Opening!"
Thrust rod tip into its solar plexus.
Thud!
"Gurkk!"
Bear retched back.
Not done.
Leaped, targeting knee joint.
"Snap! Crack!"
Crack! Crack!
"Raaagh!"
Double strike buckled its knee.
"Bye-bye."
Jumped full swing at its skull.
Wham-!!
Dull crunch of caving bone; bulk toppled with a thud.
"Worthless shit."
Felt it earlier—monsters were pushovers.
Too strong now.
Harvested its bile.
No explanation needed.
Bear bile pricey even in reality; monster version? Nobles went nuts for virility rumors.
"Should I eat this?"
Yeah.
Gonna be a sex machine someday—stock up on stamina boosters.
Beyond the Moss Bear spot, deeper tunnels beckoned.
There.
"Ugh..."
Faint groan, pained and raspy—aged voice.
"Old man?"
I bolted toward the sound.