Chapter 13: The Abyss Trial Grounds

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Shirley replied, “We’ve secured the spices as well. After some discussion, one will be sent to Baron Bapon for auction. Miss Vivian plans to use the auction as an opportunity to show off. Another will be used to befriend the court mage Favna, which the Baron desires as well. That frost rose in the flower shop where I work was cultivated by her. I’ve met her, and learning from her is also my wish. I’m using this letter delivery as a chance to study in her mage tower’s library for a day. Right now, I’m transmitting messages to you through the enhanced magic effects of her tower.”

A big shot! This situation is unfolding so smoothly it almost makes Dashun—no, this damned fat guy—quite greedy. He’s not only eyeing Vivian but also that female star. That fatso is really something!

Dashun was a bit resentful, “Such a big figure and they only let you study for one day?”

Shirley hurriedly said, “Even one day is extremely valuable. Now, let me teach you to recognize the mana stones. There are six kinds: wind, fire, water, earth, light, and darkness. Find the heaviest one first—that’s the Earth stone. Then find the lightest—that’s the Wind stone. Have you found them?”

Dashun immediately compared the weights of the stones: “Found them!”

At the same time, he found it hard to believe: “You learned the spatial formation so quickly?”

“The mage tower’s wisdom blessing made me feel a bit smarter. Besides, the spatial formation you mentioned is basic from the books. The difficulty lies in acquiring the mana stones.”

Damn, if that’s really this impressive, then even one day of study is no small feat.

Dashun’s confidence soared: “Dear, keep teaching!”

“Next, find the one with the most black—that’s Darkness. Then, hit the three stones other than wind and earth together; the one that sparks is Light…”

Dashun tested each as instructed and successfully identified all six stones.

“Prepare the formation. The sequence and timing must be precise!”

There’s a timing requirement too? This isn’t something a player could figure out by trial and error.

Dashun set up a group first: “Let’s wait until this elevator passes before setting the formation. I’m afraid the elevator might come down midway.”

“That works.”

Dashun noticed another detail: once he teleports away, the next big shot arriving would see the exposed formation—clearly indicating someone had been here.

He quickly piled sand and stones around the formation, building a half-man-high “ring-shaped mountain” to be flattened by the elevator, which would automatically cover the formation.

Not knowing where the teleport would take him, and worried about losing contact with Shirley, he gave some safety instructions: “Dear, you’re making a big scene leaving town. Surely bad guys will be watching. Can you avoid them?”

“Indeed, the road had two barriers set up when we left town. I can avoid bad guys—just by disguising myself.”

Dashun was stunned: “Disguising?”

“Yes, like the Cinderella legend. A girl looks entirely different before and after makeup.”

Well… she does look like an ordinary NPC, hard to recognize.

Dashun shared his thought: “Then next time we go on missions together, you can dress up beautifully. Off-duty, you can be Cinderella, how about that?”

Shirley smiled: “So romantic and fairy-tale-like, interesting! Okay, let me teach you the steps. Remember them clearly, and we’ll review later. First, place the Light stone in the first star position to warm up for five minutes, then place the Darkness stone in the fourth star position for five minutes…”

Dashun carefully recorded everything.

Finally, the elevator arrived, heavily flattening the ring-shaped mound around the formation.

Once the elevator left, Dashun immediately checked—it had perfectly buried the formation!

He quickly dug it up again and rebuilt the ring-shaped mound, confirming every detail: “I’m ready!”

“Then start. Place the Light stone first…”

Dashun handled everything cautiously, placing all six mana stones in position. Knowing the method made the seemingly simple formation quite manageable. Suddenly, light rippled and twisted beneath the water.

“Stand right in the center of the formation! The mana stones will teleport with you. These stones are extremely expensive; each teleport lightens them a bit, but they can recharge. You must remember to bring them along.”

“Understood!”

The next moment, Dashun felt the space around him warp and shimmer in light. Then the scene shifted—blazing red light surged forward, and the sound of mining filled his ears.

—System alert: Warning! You have entered the first level of the Abyss Trial Grounds. You must put forth your full effort to pass the trial.

Dashun was stunned. This is the lava scene from the opening animation! He quickly tried to contact Shirley: “Shirley, can you hear me?”

But only silence followed; communication was indeed severed.

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As the teleportation light faded, Dashun saw a large group of half-man-high, red-skinned, pointed-eared level-one imps mining in a fiery underground pit. At the center was a small lava pool about the size of a well, with several mine shafts branching out from the pit’s edges.

They suddenly looked up at Dashun, then all stared at the mana stones at his feet—teleported with him!

Dashun hurriedly picked them up. They were indeed lighter, but combined still weighed over 100 units.

The imps surged forward, waving their pickaxes and shouting!

Damn! Without hesitation, Dashun sprinted toward one of the mine shaft entrances.

But carrying over 100 units weighed him down, doubling his stamina consumption. He also realized a bigger problem: as a notorious red-name player, death means dropping all equipment and items—these six stones would be lost! And he didn’t know where he’d respawn; if it’s back in town, the trip would have been wasted.

His only option was to find a corner in the tunnel to fight one-on-one, avoiding being surrounded. These level-one imps should be about half as strong as a level-one player. Even if they had mining picks, he had 5 defense points. If he could break their picks, he’d have weapons…

Entering the tunnel, Dashun was shocked to find rows of level-one imps mining. They glanced at him but didn’t join the attack.

Got it—they only attack if they see the mana stones. Also, maybe as a red-name player, they consider him part of the same faction?

Soon Dashun spotted a broken, abandoned mine cart leaning in a corner of the tunnel. The angle and height were perfect for climbing up and holding a defensive position.

—System alert: You are overburdened. Climb failed! You have gained climbing proficiency.

Damn! At this critical moment, it was because he lacked climbing skill!

The imps closed in, clearly not giving him a second chance to climb. Dashun had to rely on the mine cart and corner to face them. Though he wouldn’t be surrounded there, it meant fighting two or even three at once.

One imp raised its pickaxe to strike!

Suddenly, the camera zoomed in on the pickaxe handle.

—System alert: You triggered the mastery-level mining pick combat effect!

What? Dashun had no time to think and instinctively grabbed the pickaxe handle—snap! A progress bar appeared!

—System alert: You triggered the Mining Pick Disarm effect! Note: This effect allows you to seize the opponent’s mining pick, except for those insured and bound to the owner.

Holy hell!

Dashun was incredulous! Disarm is normally a warrior skill, only making enemies unable to use their weapons temporarily. This, though, was outright robbery—like looting equipment! Or does it only work on pickaxes?

The imp panicked and tugged hard, pulling the pickaxe back. The progress bar shifted slightly toward it, but clearly it was no match for Dashun’s strength—strength here depends on burden capacity!

Another imp swung down from the side. The camera zoomed in again!

Dashun caught this pickaxe with his other hand!

Now it was two against one, with two tug-of-war bars. The three-way stalemate drained stamina. Luckily, these two kept the other imps at bay, blocking them from joining.

Caught in this deadlock, Dashun’s mind raced. Even if he exhausted their stamina, his own would be nearly gone, leaving him defenseless against continuous attacks from behind. He had to find a way to recover stamina—there was only one way: drain their stamina so they couldn’t fight, but never let them fully give up, keeping them stuck here…

Realizing this, as the imp’s progress bar neared depletion, Dashun deliberately loosened his grip.

As expected, the imp forced itself back a bit. Dashun tightened again, pushing the bar to the limit. For two minutes, this ebb and flow drained the two imps’ stamina until they were gasping on their pickaxes like crutches. Dashun’s stamina began to recover.

At this moment:

—System alert: Congratulations! Your exceptional wisdom has allowed you to integrate advanced fishing techniques. Your Advanced Fishing skill upgraded to level 2! Achievement rewards: burden +1, stamina +1.

…

Damn!!

Dashun was stunned. This was even more absurd than disarm! Training fishing in such an unrelated scenario? Indeed, fishing techniques require controlled release and tension, so this counts as transferable skill. The game’s freedom is truly incredible!

With the two imps exhausted and bouncing in place, a third imp squeezed in from the right and swung its pickaxe down!

Dashun had to free his right hand to catch this new pickaxe, anxiously watching the imp he had just released gasping nearby.

The only plan now was to alternate his left hand between the two gasping imps, breaking their rhythm to prevent simultaneous attacks…

Finally, the imp caught its breath and launched an attack. Dashun loosened his left hand to catch again, while the released imp rested.

Good, the rhythm was staggered.

Dashun’s right hand loosened and tightened repeatedly, wearing down the third imp. His left hand handled two at once, constantly parrying attacks. His fishing skill proficiency soared, triggering another alert:

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—System alert: Congratulations! Your Advanced Fishing skill upgraded to level 3! Achievement rewards: burden +1, stamina +1.

In this three-way exhaustion stalemate, the +1 burden and stamina from achievements tipped the scales slightly in Dashun’s favor. His right hand finally wore down the third imp’s stamina.

Now, the three imps in front of Dashun were fully exhausted, forming a human barricade. Dashun, like a circus performer juggling apples, alternated catching the three pickaxes with both hands while his stamina slowly recovered.

At that moment, a powerful, beast-like roar echoed through the tunnel!

Dashun was shocked. What’s going on?

The imps panicked, screaming and rolling as they fled the tunnel back to the mining pit. The imps still mining began swinging their picks feverishly, the clang-clang sound nonstop.

Only the two imps Dashun held onto released their picks reluctantly and erupted in a last desperate struggle before collapsing to their knees, wailing.

—System alert: You have convinced two imp miners to follow you. Do you accept?

Dashun was stunned! Could he actually recruit minions? These mobs were not only unusual but intelligent?

Hearing the approaching roar growing louder, Dashun didn’t hesitate and accepted.

—System alert: Congratulations! You now have your own servant troops. You have unlocked the Team Legion attribute: Command Power! Your current Command Power: 0.

Command Power: Enhances the overall state of party and legion teams.

…

Damn! The legion command attribute activated!

Command Power is an esoteric attribute, randomly boosting certain stats of team members with low values, functioning like a passive team buff that cannot be dispelled. The higher the total Command Power of a team, the stronger the overall effect. Legend says that at a certain threshold, one attains an aura; beyond aura is domain; beyond domain is godhood. Thus, Command Power is a deity attribute! Paladins naturally possess aura skills, so Command Power is a destined attribute for them…

The two imps released their pickaxes, and Dashun was holding two picks, one in each hand!

—System alert: Congratulations! You have mastered the beginner combat skill “Mining Pick Disarm” at level 1. You can seize enemy mining picks for your own. Achievement rewards: health +1, stamina +1, burden +1, block rate +1%.

—System alert: Congratulations! You have mastered the combat-production skill “Dual Wield Mining Picks,” allowing you to use two picks simultaneously for mining and combat. Achievement rewards: health +1, stamina +1, burden +1, hit rate +1%.

…

Damn, he had mastered so much! Dual wielding is also a warrior skill! No miner before has ever wielded two picks simultaneously for mining. This is the mark of a master. Master-level breakthroughs bring greater freedom, and the higher the level, the simpler it becomes. This continually shatters Dashun’s shallow understanding from open beta!

The imps squealed warnings.

Dashun understood: time to run! Seems like following the imps back to the pit was the only option.

But the two imps were exhausted and could only drag their picks along. Dashun’s stamina was low too; he couldn’t carry them. So he gave the picks back to them and let them run on their own.

As soon as they took their picks, they scrambled toward the pit.

Suddenly, Dashun felt something was off.

—System alert: Unfortunately, your two servants have defected.

Damn it! He had barely been their leader for a few seconds!

Dashun ran back to the mining pit and saw the imps busily mining with renewed vigor, no longer glancing at him. He realized the newcomer was the overseer! He guessed why the two had knelt earlier—losing a pickaxe was a capital offense.

Well, he didn’t really know what was going on here or what he was supposed to do. Losing the two minions wasn’t a big deal; mastering these skills was already a huge gain. And just because the ordinary imps don’t attack him doesn’t mean the overseer wouldn’t. If they forced him to mine, that would be disastrous.

His only choice was to escape through another tunnel entrance, find a hidden corner, and sit down to eat and recover stamina, clearing hunger. He feared the imps in the tunnels would rush to steal any food. He also noticed his rations were running low—he had auto-consumed some while idling in a flooded pit earlier.

Soon, the pit echoed with the roar of a giant beast, thunderous whip-cracks, and imp screams.

Apparently, mining couldn’t be delayed, and punishment was severe! Brutal indeed!

This made Dashun suddenly alert: if delaying mining or losing picks means being hunted, would killing some miners or recruiting two minions mean the overseer would chase him across the entire area?

In any case, he had to figure out what the “Abyss Trial Level 1” was truly testing. The lack of clear mission objectives meant this was a real hidden quest. He also needed to find food—surely these imps had a mess hall or something. As long as he had enough food, he could stay here and train his skills to the max…

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