"L-L-L-Lord, I-I-I-I need to p-pee!"
Aminos trembled as he led the way into the pitch-black cave.
The darkness was absolute, making it impossible to see potential threats.
"Don't worry. Just keep moving. Shir and I will handle the healing," Li En reassured from the rear.
This was a coal mine—using fireballs or torches risked triggering an explosion or fire.
Aminos gripped his stone hammer tightly, tapping the cave walls with a stick to navigate by sound.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Each step was cautious, each movement deliberate.
Finally, they reached a dead end.
"Lord, it's a dead end! Let's go back!" Aminos turned, grinning with relief.
Then—
Red dots glowed in the darkness behind him.
"Haha, Lord, did I do well?" he bragged, oblivious.
Li En and Shir reacted instantly.
"Purify!"
Shir's staff erupted with blinding light, illuminating the cave—
Revealing a man-sized spider looming over Aminos.
[Name: Giant Spider (Elite)]
[Race: Insect / Spider]
[Level: 3 (Tier 1)]
[Strength: 9, Agility: 12, Intelligence: 5, Spirit: 3, Constitution: 4]
[Skills: Fear (Induces panic), Web Shot (Restrains targets), Venomous Bite (Inflicts poison)]
The light disrupted the spider's attack.
Enraged, it lunged—
"MAMA HELP!"
Aminos screamed, falling backward and narrowly dodging the strike.
"Ice Bolt!"
Li En's spell struck the spider, dealing damage but failing to freeze it.
The spider retaliated, sinking its fangs into Aminos' shoulder.
"I'M DYING!"
Toxin burned through his veins, sending him into a panic.
Li En stepped forward, trading blows with the spider.
"Ice Bolt! Ice Bolt! Ice Bolt!"
The spider, resistant to cold, slashed with its scythe-like legs.
Li En healed himself with Shir's copied skill—
"Pain, Go Away!"
Shir cleansed Aminos' poison and fear, then healed his wound.
Shamefaced but determined, Aminos grabbed his hammer—
"FOR HONOR!"
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each swing crushed the spider's skull.
[–80]
[–80]
[–80]
Overwhelmed, the spider flung Aminos aside and charged Li En—
"Ice Bolt!"
The final spell shattered its head.
[You defeated Giant Spider (Elite). Party EXP +32.]
[Level up! You are now Lv. 3.]
[First Elite Kill achievement unlocked! Reward: Golden Contract ×1 (Chance to tame creatures).]
Aminos stared in disbelief before erupting:
"WE WON! HAHAHA!"
His cheers echoed through the cave.
[Territory member: Yak-man Aminos' Loyalty +10. Current: 90.]
Li En smirked, dismantling the corpse.
[Giant Spider corpse detected. Dismantle?]
White light converted it into loot:
[Spider Silk (White) ×10] (Elastic and durable—usable for clothing, bows, fishing rods.)
[Venom Sac (Green) ×1] (Apply to arrows for poison attacks.)
[Spider Meat (White) ×10] (1 Meat = 2 Food.)
Perfect. Combined with the wolf bones, they could craft poison arrows.
Exiting the cave, the system updated:
[Coal Mine: Claimable.]
[Claim?]
Li En selected [Yes].
Golden light flooded the mine, revealing glowing orange crystals lining the walls.
Now, they could extract coal.
[First Coal Mine Claim achievement unlocked! Reward: Iron Pickaxe (Green) ×1, Sorting Table (Green) ×1.]
Li En handed the pickaxe to Aminos.
"Aminos."
"Y-Yes, Lord?"
"This mine is ours—yours as much as mine. From now on, you guard it."
Li En's gaze was firm.
"Transport coal to camp. Keep our fire burning. Can you do it?"
Aminos' single visible eye gleamed with resolve. He took the pickaxe and bowed deeply.
"I swear it, Lord."
His demeanor had shifted—loyalty hardening into devotion.
With the mine secured, Li En and Shir returned to camp.
It was time to upgrade the fire and expand their population.