I, the Weakest Human, Start with a Hundredfold Bonus Talent！ - Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Chapter89-Mine No. 3
“Back then, I was around your age, in my twenties, still young. Even though so many years have passed, I still can’t forget it.”

Old Mac lifted his head, gazing at the sky as memories surfaced in his eyes.

“When my father and I entered the mine to gather forging materials, the Shadows of the Past suddenly appeared. The storm they brought with them was so fierce that it turned the sky a dim yellow, obscuring the sun with wind and sand.

The storm forced my father and me to stay in the mine pit. My father, trying to find a way out, left me alone in the pit and ventured out on his own. It was then that I saw the Shadows of the Past.”

Old Mac let out a long sigh. It was clear from his expression that this was a haunting memory.

“I remember vividly, its massive form, as if it were an amalgamation of countless species and different monsters. It had the body of a giant, the eyes of a hungry wolf, limbs like a tiger, and a long chain tail like a whip that cracked sharply against the ground with each strike.

It appeared before me so suddenly, its gray-black eyes fixed on me. In that instant, my mind went blank, and I stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do.

But strangely, it didn’t kill me. To this day, I don’t know why. My father, however, never returned after he walked into the storm.”

After recounting his memory, Old Mac lowered his head, seemingly immersed in his emotions. Seeing this, John and the others exchanged glances.

“Since then, have you ever had close contact with the Shadows of the Past again?”

Old Mac shook his head and smiled bitterly. “Since then, although it has appeared again, I could only observe from a distance, never having the chance to get close. I’ve told you everything I know. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

Old Mac let out a long breath, finished his drink, and looked at John with a hopeful gaze.

“So, when can we set off?”

“You… you believe me? Even after what happened yesterday?”

“I’ve already answered that. I only believe what I see with my own eyes. So let’s not waste any more time. Let’s head to the mine.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of fervor appeared in Old Mac’s eyes. Clearly, the existence of the Shadows of the Past had become an obsession for him.

“I’ve already prepared the mine cart. Let’s go! It will take about half an hour to reach Mine No. 3 in the Blazing Plains. But before we set off, we need to prepare food and water. Sandstorms can arise at any time in the Blazing Plains. If we get trapped without sufficient water and food, we’ll starve to death!

But don’t worry, I’ll handle these preparations. Just give me an hour, and we’ll be ready!”

Old Mac gave John and the others no chance to refuse as he got up and left the Adventurers Guild. Seeing this, Exiled Immortal scratched his head and asked, “John, should we tell him that we actually don’t need food or water?”

“Let him be. Didn’t you see the look in Old Mac’s eyes? He’s like a devout believer who has long accepted being called a heretic. Suddenly meeting people like us who understand him probably makes him very happy.”

John could somewhat empathize with this feeling.

Both he and Old Mac had experienced things that others couldn’t or wouldn’t believe.

In comparison, Old Mac was luckier than John.

At least he found a group of players willing to listen and believe him.

But who could John share his long-burdened grievances with?

In less than forty minutes, Old Mac returned, carrying a backpack taller than himself, filled with food and drinking water, along with some resources needed for mining.

“Let’s go!”

…

After getting on the mine cart, John realized that some races in the game world had also developed technology. Undoubtedly, the dwarves were among the best at this.

The Creator took away their height but gave them strong bodies and nimble hands in return.

Most importantly, they possessed an almost miraculous ability to utilize minerals.

It seemed every dwarf was born a natural blacksmith.

No matter what kind of ore it was, they could craft anything you wanted with their extraordinary skills.

The mine cart beneath them was a testament to this.

At first glance, it looked like a small truck, only much smaller, with a heavier chassis and caterpillar tracks for wheels, capable of withstanding small sandstorms.

“Mac, did you rent this mine cart, or did you build it yourself?”

“Rent? Of course not! If a dwarf can make something with their own hands, they never rent it. I built this mine cart myself. In fact, most of the mine carts in Talcavano were made by me!”

Old Mac’s eyes were filled with pride as he spoke of this.

In fact, apart from the matter of the Shadows of the Past, Old Mac held a very high status in Talcavano.

A powerful, skilled blacksmith with an imaginative mind was extremely popular, something John didn’t need much understanding to appreciate.

“Old Mac, I have a question. What do you use to power the mine cart? An engine? What fuel does it use?”

“It’s a magical device, crafted by my own hands. As for fuel, it uses coal essence.”

Alright, another magical device.

John shrugged and stopped asking questions.

Half an hour passed quickly as the mine cart entered the Blazing Plains.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, and without the help of heat-absorbing bracelets, John and the others would have been roasted alive.

However, John noticed that Old Mac wasn’t wearing a heat-absorbing bracelet.

His shiny forehead was covered in sweat, which dripped down, soaking his hairy chin.

“Mac, aren’t you wearing a heat-absorbing bracelet? This level of heat must be tough to endure.”

“Ah, I’m used to it. The temperature during forging is much higher than this, so it’s not a problem. As for those heat-absorbing bracelets, they’re just glorified radiators with no technical value, yet they sell for a ridiculous price of twenty thousand. It’s an insult to craftsmen. If I made them, I could create something far superior in no time!

Alright, here we are. This is Mine No. 3.”

Old Mac walked to the edge of the mine and looked down.

It was a massive pit with a diameter of several kilometers and a depth of over a thousand meters.

Above it, a gigantic drill roared, and the huge scaffolding and mechanical arms on either side of the pit produced a cacophony of sounds.

The noise blended with the wind, creating a background music for this world, noisy and piercing.

For John and the others, the piercing noise was highly uncomfortable, but Old Mac was evidently used to it.

As he unloaded his backpack, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

“We’re taking the lift down!”

“What did you say?”

John could only see Old Mac’s furry mouth moving but couldn’t hear what he was saying.

“I said, we’re taking the lift down!”

Old Mac pointed to the lift beside him, and John and the others finally understood. They entered the lift, which began to descend slowly.

At last, John could see the full extent of the mine.

Numerous densely packed mine tunnels were attached to the vertical walls of the enormous pit, resembling a Zerg hive from a sci-fi movie.

He wouldn’t be surprised if countless bugs started swarming out of the tunnels at any moment.

“Mine No. 3 has only been developed in the last few decades. Before this, Mines No. 1 and No. 2 were nearly exhausted and had become infested with monsters, making them increasingly dangerous as habitats!

But even so, you need to be cautious. Those monsters are like seeds buried deep underground; no matter how you clear them, they will keep appearing!

However, seeing as you all are professional adventurers, if we encounter enemies that are difficult to handle, I will protect you!”