Water droplets fell regularly from the ceiling—drip, drip—forming puddles.
The heavy thud of work boots splashing through those puddles echoed off the cave walls.
This was the first underground level.
The starting point of Abyss Miner, where the lowest of the low gathered.
I gripped the pickaxe tighter with tense hands.
With my Strength stat at 11, it definitely felt lighter.
With my previous pathetic body, just carrying this iron pickaxe on my shoulder would have left me gasping for breath.
I carefully stepped forward, scanning my surroundings.
Glowing stones embedded in the darkness scattered a faint blue light, and beneath them, countless miners moved like swarms of ants.
Clang-! Clang-! Thud!
The sounds of rocks being shattered echoed endlessly.
Everyone's eyes were either dead or gleaming with murderous intent.
Some swung their pickaxes bare-chested, showing off their muscles, while others squatted in corners, smoking cigarettes.
"Hey! Watch it, you bastard!"
"Fuck off. Keep your eyes down."
Over there, two guys who'd bumped shoulders were grabbing each other's collars.
The atmosphere was tense, brutal.
The guards were right.
This was a lawless zone.
I hunched over, trying not to draw attention, and headed deeper inside.
The muddy ground squelched, tugging at my boots.
Ahead, in the darkness, a bluish glow caught my eye.
A jelly-like blob rolling across the floor.
Abyss Moss Slime
A round body with two dots like eyes stuck on it.
Undigested moss floated around inside.
"...Honestly, it's fucking cute."
I'll give credit where it's due.
Even in the comic, I thought the artist nailed the moss slime's cuteness.
The real thing was even better.
The jelly blob wobbled toward me—unless you had a heart of steel, how could you even hit it?
It didn't run when it saw me.
Instead, it looked up with curious eyes, making a sound like "Pbuu?"
Just looking at it was healing.
No wonder female readers spammed comments like "Don't kill our jelly chub ㅠㅠ."
But.
"Sorry, but you gotta die."
Healing's healing, but business is business.
"Big bro's in a hurry."
Without hesitation, I raised the pickaxe and brought it down.
Splat-!
The pickaxe blade sank into the slime's crown.
Like popping a water balloon, blue slime goo splattered everywhere.
"Kiiing!"
Its death cry was short.
The formless slime spread across the floor like melted ice cream.
A shiny stone remained inside.
Moss Stone.
Junk loot from killing moss slimes.
There was some foreshadowing it might be useful, but it never paid off by the end.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Progress: Abyss Moss Slime defeated (1/100)]
"Phew... manageable."
The vibration buzzing through my hands was thrilling.
Guilt over killing something cute?
Fuck that noise.
I slung the pickaxe over my shoulder and headed deeper.
I inspected the walls.
Amid the dark rock, there was a reddish vein.
Iron ore deposit.
"Alright, let's give it a shot."
I psyched myself up and swung down.
Clang-!!!
"Argh!!"
The pickaxe bounced back, sending excruciating vibrations up my arm.
I thought my palms were torn open.
Almost dropped it.
"Huff, huff."
My palms stung.
The rock?
Just a white scratch mark.
Not even cracked.
"What the hell! Why won't it break?"
As I stood there dazed, a skinny old man working silently beside me clicked his tongue.
"Tch. That's what happens when you just brute-force it."
A withered old man, ribs visible, but his swings were mechanically precise.
"Look at the rock's grain, you idiot. Aim for the cracks. Blindly smashing just wrecks your wrist."
The old man swung lightly, like demonstrating.
Thud.
No real force, yet the rock corner split, dropping iron ore.
Then he went back to work without a glance.
"Time is money. If you wanna earn an extra penny, stop standing around and move."
I bit my lip.
Embarrassment surged.
A little stronger, relying on stats, and now getting lectured by some old geezer.
But he wasn't wrong.
It's not just about strength—you need technique to read the rock's grain and hit weak spots.
I picked up the pickaxe again.
This time, more gently, targeting cracks like he did.
Clink. Clink. Clang.
After dozens of hits, the rock finally split, dropping iron ore chunks.
"Haa... just this much?"
Palm-sized iron ore, two pieces.
1,000 of these?
Vision went dark.
Forget succubi—even getting to floor 7, I'd die of old age on 1.
"Gotta get down faster..."
I'm not grinding like this just to get stronger.
I have a clear goal.
The succubi on underground floor 7.
"Succubus sis..."
Just thinking about it made my crotch heavy.
The author fucked the plot, but damn, the female designs were perfection.
Especially the Succubus Queen, floor 7 boss.
That pale skin barely covered by leather bondage.
The contemptuous sneer as she cracked her whip.
Yet craving semen.
Pure horniness incarnate.
Top 3 fap scenes of my life.
"Wait for me. I'm coming."
If Luna hates me, I'll make that sis kneel at my feet.
For that, I need to build specs here first.
Of course, there's a problem.
The comic never finished.
Setting-wise, the abyss mine goes to 100 floors, with primordial darkness and sealed gods deeper down.
They awaken, world ends, etc.
Cliché as fuck.
But who cares.
Author hiatus'd mid-floor 15 raid.
"Fucking bitch."
The curse slipped out.
Dropped endless bait and ran, that bastard author.
Floors below 15? Total unknown.
No one knows what's there, what monsters.
Probably the author regretted it mid-draw.
"Why'd I make it 100 floors? When will I finish?"
So he bailed.
"Whatever. I only need floor 7."
I gritted my teeth and resumed swinging.
Clang! Clang! Thud!
Kill slimes on sight, mine rocks, repeat.
Mining, slime jumps out—flinch, fall, smash it.
Lost track of time.
Body soaked in sweat, palms blistered, burst, repeat.
Shoulders felt dislocated.
Back ached like it might snap.
"Fuck... who said fantasy mining's an easy gig."
Some novel said mine grinding pumps stats easy.
This is torture.
⚔ STATUS UPDATE ⚔
📈 Repeated labor has slightly increased muscle strength. 💪 Strength +0.1
"Huh?"
Eyes lit up.
Just 0.1, but it rose.
'Knew it. Mining grind's the way. Top tier.'
Grind is training.
Body adapts to the repetition.
"Heh heh heh."
Pain vanished... nah, still hurt, but motivation surged.
Proof it's not wasted effort.
That's when it happened.
"Gaaah!!"
A scream from the corner.
Turned to see a miner rolling on the ground.
A black shadow pounced on him.
Kieeek-!
A bat.
Red-eyed cave bat.
Supposed to appear from floor 2 per comic—why on 1?
Damn hiatus author, plot holes too.
'Wait, not a comic anymore. Maybe that's why?'
This world matches the comic so far.
Starving bat wandered up from below for food.
Meanwhile, it clawed the miner's face.
Blood spurted from wounds.
Miner flailed with pickaxe, but bat dodged nimbly, attacking relentlessly.
Other miners? Pathetic.
Not one helped.
Stopped work, laughing like it was a show.
"That guy's struggling with one bat."
"Daily wage all gone to hospital bills."
"Yo, think it'll eat his eyeball?"
They're insane.
Man's hurt, but they bet instead of help.
Human trash.
Miner barely chased it off with a rock.
Face bloodied, one eye half-shut.
He staggered up, but no one approached.
Just thieves snatching his half-mined ore.
Chills ran down my spine.
This is the food chain here.
Weak get eaten, hurt get discarded.
'Comic didn't show this. Nothing but fucking bastards.'
Then the bat turned.
Tasted blood, seeking easier prey.
Its gaze met mine.
'Fuck.'
Staring at me.
No one around.
Kieeek!
It dove.
Black wings slicing air.
"Fuck off!"
Swing reflexively.
Cleaved air.
Bat circled my head, testing.
It knew.
I was bat food.
Swoosh-!
Claws grazed my cheek.
Burning pain, blood trickled.
Vision spun.
Laughter from around.
"Look at the newbie dance."
"Bat chow."
No help.
Up to me.
Heart pounded wildly.
Fear and rage mixed.
You damn beast.
Not enough with miner scum—you too?
Bat dove again.
Aiming nape.
"Die!!!"
Eyes wide, tracked its path.
Ducked, thrust pickaxe haft up.
Like baseball bat.
Thud!
Dull impact in hands.
"Kik..."
Slammed to ground.
Wings broken, flapping.
No chance to fly.
Rushed, stomped.
Work boot crushed skull.
"Die! Die! Die, you fucker!"
Crunch. Crunch.
Bones snapping.
Blood soaked pants, but no stop.
Until it was mush.
"Haa... haa..."
Panting, looked around.
Onlookers smacked lips, back to work.
Disappointed faces.
Hoped I'd die.
'Fucking bastards.'
Spit bloody saliva.
Survived.
Hands shook, gripped pickaxe harder.
Can't break now.
Walked back to wall.
Claim my share.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Ninety-eight... ninety-nine..."
My form was zombie-like now.
Palms burst, bloody crusts; shoulders not mine.
Skinny old man, scar-faced jerk—all clocked out.
Just me and a few diehards.
Sack heavy with iron ore.
About 100 pieces?
Far from 1,000, but today's limit.
Push more, I'd drop dead.
But last goal first.
Corner, dark crevice—dumb slime rolling.
Exactly 100th.
Cute moss slime, but to me, just trait fodder.
Dragged heavy feet over.
It licked wall moss, oblivious.
"Bye."
No feeling.
Mechanically swung down.
Squish.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Condition met: Defeated 100 Abyss Moss Slimes.] [Reward 3: Acquired 'Trait: Earth's Blessing'.]
That instant.
Warm energy rose from my soles.
"Huh...?"
Like soaking feet in hot bath—languid warmth spread through me.
Muscle aches vanished, ragged breath steadied.
Felt like the earth pushing me up.
⚔ TRAIT ACQUIRED ⚔
🌿 Trait: Earth's Blessing
✨ Effect: When standing on the ground, stamina recovery greatly increases and fatigue decreases. All actions performed with feet planted on the ground receive a bonus.
"Whoa... insane."
Smile crept up.
Legs were jelly moments ago—now power surged.
Broken.
Mine labor cheat skill.
'Not just mining.'
Unless flying, fights and moves are ground-based.
Gates in real world have ground too.
Basically, stamina regen, fatigue reduction, bonuses almost everywhere.
Huge payoff for effort.
"Heh heh heh."
No one around, laughed out loud.
Worth enduring when others quit.
This? Mining speed doubles, easy.
24/7 possible, maybe.
Slung iron ore sack over shoulder.
Heavy.
But with Trait: Earth's Blessing, felt much lighter.
"Off to clock out, fuckers."
```