1. Seven Days of Transformation: The Rhythm of the Iron Pickaxe
[Time: Day 14 since arrival]
Seven days had passed since the devastating sandstorm.
The surface world had returned to calm.
But Link had not.
For seven days, he had almost vanished from the world above.
Except for returning to the surface every two days to restock torches and organize supplies, he spent all his time deep underground.
No day.
No night.
Only rock, ore veins, and the endless echo of metal striking stone.
Clang—!
The pickaxe struck.
Sparks burst into the air.
Clang! Clang!
The rhythm became steady—like a heartbeat.
Deep in the cave, the air was damp and heavy.
Torches flickered along the walls, their light swaying with underground currents.
Shadows stretched and twisted, like something alive in the darkness.
Link had long lost count of how many tunnels he had carved.
There was only one thought left in his mind—
There was still ore ahead.
So he kept going.
▍Mining Logic
He no longer dug blindly.
Instead, he followed a precise and efficient system:
Pause → Scan → Decide → Dig
The [World Observation Atlas] activated.
Ore veins appeared like glowing veins beneath the surface.
Silver. Iron. Cavities. Danger zones.
Everything became visible.
"Thirty meters below… a hollow space."
"To the right… ore."
He adjusted his direction.
Not a single swing was wasted.
If the ore was below—
He would dig straight down.
Crack—!
The ground gave way.
His body dropped instantly.
Wind roared past his ears.
But Link remained calm.
Midair—he slammed his pickaxe into the wall.
Screech—!
Sparks exploded.
His fall slowed.
He landed safely.
This was a skill he had earned through near-death experiences.
Now—
It was instinct.
▍Darkness and Monsters
Without torches, the darkness was absolute.
Not just unseen—
But something that pressed against the mind itself.
Click.
A torch lit.
Light spread outward.
Shapes emerged.
A zombie staggered forward.
Link didn't step back.
He stepped in.
One swing.
Crack.
Bones shattered.
A bat dived from above.
He didn't even look up.
A backward swing—
Perfect hit.
He was no longer being hunted.
He was clearing the path.
▍The Spider Nest
On the sixth day, he entered an unnaturally quiet area.
No slimes.
No zombies.
Only webs.
Endless white webs.
"…Spider cave."
The [Wiki] interface opened:
High speedPoison damageGroup attacks
The next moment—
A shadow dropped from above.
The enchanted boomerang flew instantly.
Smack!
Direct hit.
The spider didn't die.
It lunged faster.
Link stepped back—onto a wooden platform he had prepared.
The spider missed.
The next second—
The boomerang returned.
Piercing through.
Thud.
The corpse hit the ground.
Link glanced at his hand.
Steady.
No tremor.
"…Getting smoother."
▍The Lava Layer
On the seventh day, he broke through a wall.
A wave of heat hit him.
Below—
A lake of molten lava.
The air shimmered.
Everything glowed red.
He didn't rush in.
Instead, he built platforms.
One plank at a time.
Step by step.
Because he knew—
Falling meant death.
As the platform extended—
A faint red glow pulsed within a crack in the rock.
A Life Crystal.
His breathing slowed.
Then quickened.
The pickaxe struck faster.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
At that moment—
He wasn't mining anymore.
He was evolving.
2. Five Heartbeats: The Evolution of Life
The first Life Crystal rested in his hand.
Cold—
Yet beating.
Thump—
Thump—
Without hesitation, he absorbed it.
Pain exploded instantly.
His heart tore—then rebuilt.
Blood surged.
Bones trembled.
He dropped to one knee.
Breathing heavily.
Then—
He stood.
"Not enough."
Second.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth.
Each absorption brought greater pain.
But greater strength.
When the fifth crystal settled—
Link clenched his fist.
The air cracked.
His body had changed completely.
Now—
Falling no longer meant death.
Monsters were no longer threats.
3. Treasure Explosion: Gifts from the Underground
The underground had begun to reward his madness.
First golden chest—
[Band of Regeneration]
Warmth spread through his body.
Wounds began to heal.
Second—
[Cloud in a Bottle]
He jumped.
Before landing—
He jumped again.
"Double jump…"
Then came a flood of loot:
Iron bars. Silver bars.
Shurikens. Potions.
And—
An enchanted boomerang.
It flew out and returned.
Tearing through the air.
Doubling his range.
Coins piled up.
Until finally—
15 gold coins.
"The underground…"
"…is feeding me."
4. Silver Armament: The Limit of a Mortal
On the seventh night, Link returned to the surface.
The furnace roared to life.
Silver melted.
Flowed.
Hardened.
The final hammer strike fell—
Clang!
The silver armor was complete.
Cold. Radiant.
He removed his broken iron gear.
And wore the new set.
Defense: 13
HP: 220
Outside the window—
Demon Eyes circled.
But now—
They were just resources.
Link gripped his silver sword.
His gaze was calm.
Cold.
Focused.
"This week…"
"…was worth it."
He looked toward the forest.
"Next—"
"It's your turn."