Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: [Abyss Miner] Polluted Ore Slime
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"Hoo."
The familiar scent of earth and dampness pricked at his nose.
He passed through the entrance where the sounds of pickaxes echoed, heading straight for the sparsely populated deep layers.
A zone where ordinary miners wouldn't even dream of venturing, beyond the reach of glowstone light.
The first floor of the Abyss Mine, deep layer.
"Big bro's coming, you little shits."
A predatory smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.
A few days ago, he'd stumbled in clueless and gotten his ass handed to him.
Back then, he'd genuinely thought he was done for.
But things were different now.
"Status window."
Just looking at the status window made him feel full.
Back then, he was a fresh noob miner, total cannon fodder.
A mere graze could've been fatal, so running was the smart play.
Now?
Strength more than doubled, and Steel Body gave him tank-like armor.
Agility hadn't budged much from all the mining, but it had gone up a bit.
Plus the Black Iron Hexagonal Rod and his protective gear.
"This is basically a free pass."
Confidence pierced the heavens.
Variant monsters on the first floor? Snacks for him, who could chew through second-floor mobs.
Crunch, crunch.
Walking through the darkness, something squishy brushed his foot.
"Puu?"
The little guy looked up at him with big, sparkling eyes, rubbing against his leg.
An Abyss Moss Slime, unique to the first floor.
It rubbed against his leg, oblivious that he was an enemy.
"Ha, look at this guy."
Honestly, it was fucking adorable.
Those dumb eyes, the jelly-like texture.
If they made plushies of these, chicks would go nuts.
But.
"Sorry, kid. Big bro's got itchy palms."
Splat-!
The hexagonal rod slammed down mercilessly.
The jelly blob exploded in all directions.
With practiced motion, he scooped up the shiny pebble and pocketed it.
"All money, baby."
He still didn't know what it was for.
In the original story, it was mentioned as useful later but ended up as a MacGuffin.
But every penny counts— it'd come in handy someday.
Plus, after massacring a hundred for Earth's Blessing, he now reflexively smashed any he saw.
Habits are scary like that.
"Puu? Puuh!"
"Kkueeng?"
The deeper he went, the more slimes swarmed.
Deeper layer ones were darker and bigger than the outer ones.
They approached with curious eyes.
"Outta the way, outta the way! Big bro's busy!"
Thwack! Thwack! Splatter!
Every swing of the rod sent jelly chunks flying.
The impact felt satisfying.
Beating them was oddly stress-relieving.
Amid the slime massacre, a familiar sight came into view.
Eerie purple light leaking from rock crevices.
And the low humming vibration from within.
"Found it."
The place from his memory.
Peering inside, it was unchanged.
In the center of the vast cavern, a purple crystal hovered, slowly rotating in midair.
Guarding it below: a grotesque, massive blob.
Its dark purple body studded with sharp ore shards like weapons.
If regular moss slimes were cute puppies, this was a rabid pit bull drooling madness.
Unbelievable for a first-floor mob, even on second look.
"Grrr..."
It sensed him, body shuddering.
Last time, he'd bolted at that sound.
"Not running today, you fucker."
He strode in boldly.
The ores embedded in its body bristled toward him.
Whoosh-!
First strike went to the ranged attacker.
One ore shard shot out like a bullet.
'I see it.'
Last time, he couldn't react; now, the trajectory was clear.
Thanks to boosted agility.
He could dodge.
But he didn't.
Wanted to test it out.
[Trait: Steel Body]
How badass was this fancy-named trait?
Clang-!
He raised his left arm to shield his face.
The shard pierced the leather guard on his forearm, grazing skin.
"Ugh."
A dull impact transmitted.
But that was it.
No tearing flesh or shattered bone.
Just bruise-level pain.
The physical resistance wasn't hype.
"Tickles, you shit! My turn now!"
He kicked off the ground, closing distance in a flash.
Swung the rod back for a full swing.
Aim: dead center of its body.
"Die!"
Thud-!
A heavy impact echoed through the cave.
The rod sank deep into the slime's body.
"Kieeeek!"
It writhed with a grotesque screech.
The gooey body rippled, absorbing shock—but not all.
Embedded ores rained down.
But as expected of a variant.
A few outer ores shattered, but no critical.
Shoo-shoo-whoosh!
It spun, firing shards everywhere.
AoE attack.
"Whoa? Shit!"
Couldn't block all.
He covered his face with his hands.
Eye hit would suck.
He knew Steel Body was good, but eyes weren't steel.
Rat-tat-tat!
Shards pelted armor and guarding arm relentlessly.
Stinging.
"Fuck you, that hurts!"
Steel Body or not, pain was pain.
Its body was tougher than expected.
Regen? It healed fast despite hits.
Ores dropped, but regen was insane.
He had Earth's Blessing for sustain, but this'd take all day.
Needed a decisive blow.
Then, he remembered something buried in inventory corner.
"Oh yeah, that."
Leftovers from Viper takedown.
Half left?
Backpedaled quick, creating space.
Pulled out red spray can from inventory.
"Taste some chemical warfare, monster fuck."
As it swelled to fire again.
Hiss-!!!
High-pressure gas blasted capsaicin extract at its body.
Sure, slimes had no eyes or nose—but biology meant something'd react, mucosa or skin or goo components.
"Kieeeek! Kyaaak!"
Holy shit, it worked great.
Gooey skin reddened, bubbling fiercely.
"Effective!"
Goo melted, slowing it; writhing stopped shard fire.
Churning body revealed hidden red core inside.
"There you are."
Tucked empty can away, gripped rod two-handed.
Twisted every muscle.
Full power of superhuman Strength 23.1 incoming.
"Die!"
Kicked off, leaping.
It extended tendrils to block—ignored.
Trusted his trait.
Smack!
Tendril whipped side before strike landed.
"Fuck!"
Hurt more than thought.
Still jammed rod into core.
Thruuud-!!!
Pierced squishy flesh; felt hard core shatter.
Crack.
Red light flashed; massive body exploded.
Dark purple goo splattered everywhere.
"...Haa, haa."
Landed, panting raggedly.
Side throbbed.
Pressed—ached, but trait saved bones, luckily.
"Whoa, fuck... tough bastard."
First-floor mob with insane tankiness.
No spray, no gear/traits? Wouldn't have scratched it.
Definitely not first-floor level.
Downed half potion, sprayed side and hit spots.
Pain eased soon.
Potion quality solid.
Floor littered with debris.
One stood out: fist-sized red-glowing stone pulsing softly.
Item: Variant Slime's Core
Mine mana and polluted energy fused in this variant core. Potent mana conductor; imbues weapons with poison and corrosion attributes when processed.
"Oho."
Fitting for a strong foe—attribute item.
Poison and corrosion, too.
Blacksmith embed in rod? Graze-only flesh-melting monstrosity.
Pocketed core, looked up.
Time for main prize.
What the slime guarded.
Cavern center: massive purple crystal still hovering.
Closer, more mystical.
Surface hummed with vibration.
"What the hell is this?"
Reached tentatively—hesitated.
Touch and boom?
Scrutinized; system unhelpful.
Item: ???
Crystal condensed from Abyss energy. Unknown power resides within.
Question marks.
Uneasy, but curiosity surged.
'Not in the original.'
Never appeared in story.
Usually, touching these = bad cliché.
Non-protags possess = demon-possessed or insane.
But.
'Unknown power, it says.'
How to resist?
High risk, high return.
Industry standard.
"Fuck it. Touch and bounce if sketchy."
Fingertip met cold surface.
Then.
Zap-!
Static spark; crystal blazed intense light.
"Gah?!"
Blinded like solar punch.
Yanked hand—stuck like glued.
Energy from crystal surged up arm into body madly.
Hot.
Lava in veins.
"Aaaagh!"
Scream burst out.
Heart raced wild; head throbbed to split.
Body-twisting agony.
How long?
Pain vanished like a lie.
"Huk, huk..."
Eyes open: crystal gone; purple spiral tattoo on palm.
And floating messages.
'Magic Power +15?'
Insane.
All-day mining barely nudged strength+agility by 1; this was 15 in one go.
Plus skill and trait.
"Lucky me."