The pickaxe struck the rock wall again and again.
Though it seemed unbelievable, in just a few seconds the thickness of the rock wall was visibly decreasing.
Once a space large enough for two people had been carved out, Arthur immediately began digging upward with his pickaxe.
Soon, a hollow cavity formed inside the rock wall.
Arthur poked his head out and took several deep breaths.
I almost suffocated underwater…
Still shaken, he glanced back at the water's surface, then continued digging upward without stopping.
Some might consider this digging method foolish, but—
There were never any natural paths underground in Terraria. Paths only existed because people dug them.
Besides, the Copper Pickaxe was merely a bit slower.
Ding—
With a crisp sound, the pickaxe finally broke through.
Holding a torch, Arthur peered into another vast open space.
And within this cavern, the most eye-catching sight was the railway tracks laid across the underground.
This was Terraria's underground cabin and minecart track system.
Clearly, human settlements had once existed here, constructing these tunnels to exploit underground resources.
Arthur stepped forward and gently ran his hand along the rails.
At this depth… it shouldn't drop straight into lava if I ride it.
With that thought, he summoned a basic minecart, something every Terraria resident could use.
With this, he could explore the area along the tracks.
Arthur sat down and pulled the lever.
The minecart began to move.
As it accelerated, its momentum became enough to crush most enemies in its path.
Just like now—
A massive, gelatinous creature appeared ahead.
Monster Name: Mother Slime
Containment Level: No Containment Needed
Attack Method: Physical
Description: These massive slimes are vital to the slime species' life cycle and are often seen escorting smaller slimes deep underground.
"Plop."
…
The minecart rolled straight over it, and sticky gel splattered onto Arthur's mouth.
"Ptooey—"
Arthur grimaced and wiped the disgusting substance off the expensive suit issued by Lobotomy Corporation.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something—
A faint red glow.
The next second, the minecart screeched violently against the rails.
Arthur immediately jumped out, planting torches around the area before stepping closer.
Before him stood a heart-shaped crystal, about half a person's height.
The surface of the pink crystal pulsed with a steady red glow in the darkness.
Don't disappoint me…
Arthur raised his Copper Pickaxe and swung it down with force.
The crystal shattered instantly, the glow fading away, leaving behind a palm-sized core.
Arthur carefully picked it up, his heartbeat quickening.
That was right.
Everything he had done up to now was for this.
Item Name: Life Crystal
Grade: ALEPH
Effect: Consumable. Permanently increases maximum life by 20.
(Each user may consume up to 15 Life Crystals, for a total increase of 300 maximum HP.)
Description: Do you truly have the heart to shatter such a beautiful crystal in the darkness?
Did he have the heart?
Of course he did.
Seeing the description perfectly match his memories from the game, Arthur finally relaxed.
The crystal felt warm in his palm—fragile, almost organic, as though he were holding an actual heart.
Then Arthur clenched his hand.
The Life Crystal shattered, dissolving into pink fragments that seeped into his palm.
There was no pain.
Instead, a warm current flowed through his body and into his heart.
Permanent… maximum HP.
Arthur opened his status panel.
Name: Arthur
Identity: Employee (Training Department)
Level: 3
Courage: 2 HP: 58
Prudence: 3 SP: 56
Discipline: 3
Justice: 2
EGO Accessory: Gaze of the Evil Thing (Neck)
EGO Equipment: Decisive Heart, Grinder MK4
His maximum HP had increased by 20—rising from 38 to 58.
And if someone could consume all 15 Life Crystals…
That would be over 300 HP.
In Lobotomy Corporation, a Level 5 employee usually only had 85–100 HP.
At maximum potential, his durability would rival certain bosses from Library of Ruina.
Arthur swung Decisive Heart a few times.
There was no noticeable increase in strength—only vitality.
I'll need real combat data.
His gaze shifted toward two slimes bouncing around in a distant pool.
Half an hour later, inside the Oak House.
The sound of teleportation echoed beside the bed.
"Back?" The Guide set down his teacup, unsurprised.
Arthur had been gone for eight hours—right on schedule.
"Yes."
Arthur was filthy from head to toe. His once-neat suit was torn and stained; he truly looked like someone who had just crawled out of the underground.
Yet his mental state was excellent.
"How was it?"
"Not bad. Got quite a lot," Arthur said while checking his inventory.
Gel, Torches, Lesser Healing Potions, Ironskin Potions, Aglet (Movement Speed +5%), Spear, Grenades…
And the Aglet—an accessory from Terraria—was classified as an EGO Accessory?
That surprised him.
"You need to take items out of your inventory," the Guide said calmly. "Only certain items can exist as loose objects in this world. If you can't carry everything, you can store it in the chest under my bed."
Arthur nodded.
There was no need to bring out items like gel or torches.
He only kept several bottles of Ironskin Potion and Lesser Healing Potion.
At that moment—
A system notification appeared.
Work complete. Work result: Good.
Not as excellent as last time, but still acceptable.
Especially since his work for the Guide now involved more than just energy collection for Angela.
Permissions from the Control Department activated.
Behind him, the oak door slowly creaked open.
The gate had opened.