Chapter 10: The Darkfire Stone Mine
Flame Slime, a level 2 creature, also bearing elemental attributes!
Compared to a common level 1 slime, this flame slime’s aggressive intent was unmistakably stronger.
The moment Han Xing appeared, it opened its small O-shaped mouth, a blazing fireball seemingly brewing inside.
Han Xing did not underestimate it and quickly put distance between them.
The next second, a finely forged iron arrow, charged with power, suddenly burst forth.
Buzz!
The bowstring stretched taut, emitting a vibrating hum through the air.
The arrow flew fast and true, striking the flame slime squarely on the forehead.
Puff!
The attack landed.
The slime’s two round eyes suddenly widened, as if startled.
“Puff! Puff!”
Two fireballs shot toward Han Xing at speeds matching that of the arrows.
At that moment, Han Xing moved.
In a flash, he dodged the slime’s attack.
The special effect of his spatial backpack kicked in now.
An added 4 points to agility raised his total agility to 8!
This was nearly the level of an average level 3 hunter!
Crack! Crack!
The fireballs missed their mark, exploding on the ground beneath Han Xing’s feet and scorching two patches of earth black.
Han Xing nocked another arrow and began to draw.
One second later, the powerful strike effect of his fine iron longbow took hold.
Han Xing clearly felt that this shot carried greater destructive force than before.
The flame slime was preparing a second volley of fireballs.
Buzz!
The bow’s “power shot” effect triggered, and the iron arrow pierced deeply into the slime’s body, inflicting greater damage.
The arrow’s momentum carried through, and with a “piercing” effect activated as well, it pierced completely through the creature!
The slime’s attack abruptly ceased; the previous blow had left it gravely wounded.
Han Xing’s eyes brightened.
Strike while the iron is hot!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Iron arrows flew one after another without pause.
Though the level 2 flame slime was formidable, it could not withstand Han Xing’s relentless assault.
When the seventh arrow hit, the flame slime froze in place, then its body began to swell.
“Damn, it’s about to explode!” Han Xing’s face changed instantly. Having experienced this once before, he didn’t hesitate to sprint backward.
He retreated all the way to the edge of his territory.
At this moment, the slime’s body swelled to the limit, like a red balloon ready to burst.
Then, with a loud pop, it exploded!
Sparks flew everywhere, and the slime shattered into fragments.
[You have slain Flame Slime Lv. 2, gained 20 experience points.]
Finally defeating the creature, Han Xing glanced at his experience bar, which had reached 80% of level 1.
He began approaching the flame slime’s territory.
Where it exploded remained several glowing red stones and some transparent substances.
Those transparent materials were ether, a resource only magical creatures like slimes would yield.
Picking up the items, a system prompt appeared.
[Acquired Fire Stone x4, Ether x8, Slime Mucus x17.]
[Fire Stone: A mineral containing intense heat energy, seemingly useful for crafting special devices or serving as a fire starter.]
Han Xing integrated the four cubic meters of sky island into his territory, expanding it to 4 meters by 5 meters, totaling 20 cubic meters.
This area was neither large nor small; in some first-tier cities on Blue Star, it would qualify as a spacious home.
However, his territory was rather bare, adorned only by a low berry bush.
While observing his land, Han Xing casually noticed the four newly merged blocks seemed different.
They were rocky geological blocks.
The bluish-gray stones bore dark red speckles that emitted increasing warmth as Han Xing approached.
“Oh?” Curiosity piqued, he stepped onto the rocks and uncovered their secret.
The dark red speckles buried beneath the stones were continuously radiating heat.
“Could this be some kind of ore?”
His interest stirred, Han Xing decided to mine the dark red stones.
Mining would damage the territory’s area, and in severe cases, the land might fragment and scatter in midair, shrinking his holdings.
But if the ore proved valuable, sacrificing a few blocks was worthwhile.
Han Xing resolved to mine but lacked pickaxes in his backpack.
He accessed the trade channel and exchanged materials for several iron pickaxes.
Rolling up his sleeves, he began to dig.
Clink! Clink! Clink!
The sound of metal striking stone echoed high above.
“Eighty! Eighty!” Han Xing chanted to the rhythm.
Stone fragments scattered, and after a few minutes, the hidden dark red ore was revealed.
A system prompt appeared.
[Dark Fire Stone: A rare ore seemingly imbued with a peculiar energy, capable of emitting sustained heat and powering certain devices.]
[Note: When a certain quantity of Dark Fire Stone accumulates in one area, it may give rise to a unique elemental creature.]
Reading this, Han Xing understood.
That slime must have been born from the Dark Fire Stone, growing stronger by absorbing heat.
But clearly, it had not yet matured enough before Han Xing targeted it.
Han Xing picked up the stones.
[Acquired Dark Fire Stone x12.]
After mining, a wave of emptiness washed over Han Xing’s body.
His biological clock was reminding him it was time to rest.
...
Night fell, bleak and watery, and the temperature plunged sharply.
A chilly breeze made one instinctively tuck their neck.
The first day in this world was ending, and many survivors’ territories had grown to three or four cubic meters—still cramped, but enough to lie down and sleep.
Of course, if you didn’t sleep soundly, you’d be on your own.
Many survivors curled up, shivering in the cold air.
Compared to them, Han Xing’s situation was much better.
In his 20-square-meter territory, there was no risk of falling.
He placed two Dark Fire Stones at opposite ends, which not only provided light but continuously emitted warmth, like a stove glowing in the freezing cold.
At the center stood the berry bush, stripped of many branches, quietly swaying as the wind rustled its leaves.
Leaning against the bush, Han Xing lay back and gazed up at the star-studded sky.
Sleeping so high up was a strange sensation.
It felt as if he could reach out and touch the heavens, with clouds drifting nearby.
Before drifting off, Han Xing upheld a habit from Blue Star: checking messages.
Though without a phone, he could still access the local network to read other survivors’ chats.
Most survivors had finished their day’s exploration, and the chat channel grew livelier.
They discussed how to sleep on the first night.
“Anyone want a shovel? You can dig a hole and bury yourself, so you won’t fall while sleeping.”
“Rope! I have some rope to tie yourself in place, so you don’t toss and turn!”
“Anyone want glue made from slime mucus?”
…