Chapter 1: Dungeon Survival Game!

[In a sealed, honeycomb-like dungeon]

The confined space was filled with a burnt smell, and the lack of air circulation made it incredibly stuffy.

"Where am I?"

Nick slowly opened his eyes, the dryness of his lips causing slight discomfort.

The scene before him was not his familiar bedroom.

He pushed himself up with his hands and stood up.

With a hint of caution in his eyes, Nick surveyed his surroundings. The space was only a few square meters in size. Someone with claustrophobia would undoubtedly find it unbearable.

Dirt and rock surrounded him on all sides, as if a fire had ravaged the area. The cracked mud on the walls looked like it could collapse at any moment.

Even the ground was riddled with cracks, devoid of any sign of life.

Nick had no idea what might exist outside.

And the unknown was often the most terrifying.

The sense of danger deep within Nick prevented him from acting rashly. Although he didn't know why he was in this 'dungeon,' he had to stay vigilant.

To safely escape, he would need to remain cautious at all times to deal with any potential hidden dangers.

Finally, Nick's gaze fell upon a miniature, somewhat antiquated altar on the ground. He didn't know what it was for, but it might have something to do with how he ended up here.

He bent down and picked up the miniature altar, feeling a chill the instant it touched his hand.

And in the next moment.

A black window quietly appeared before Nick, somewhat similar to a game's attribute panel.

Most of the functions were dimmed, but the [Chat] function was glowing.

"This is..."

Nick frowned slightly and gently tapped the [Chat] function.

The next moment, two translucent sub-options popped up: [World Channel] and [Regional Channel].

Seeing this, Nick had a rough guess.

It was very likely that he wasn't the only one who had arrived here.

He gently clicked on the World Channel, and countless messages flooded in, instantly filling the chat.

They were in all sorts of languages, but they were ultimately translated into a message that Nick could understand.

"Don't think this dirt is too thick, it's actually pretty easy to dig..."

"It must be the shovel!"

"I was accidentally bitten by a red scorpion in the next cave, and now the wound is getting worse. Is there a doctor who can tell me what to do?"

"I dug up a big bottle of water in the next cave, and I didn't see any of those disgusting bugs..."

"Everyone, the environment here is even more dangerous than you might imagine. I almost died at the hands of a monster!"

The messages from others in the World Channel made Nick's eyes turn serious. He opened the Regional Channel and found even more messages of this nature.

If it were just isolated incidents, he might not have paid much attention.

There are always people trying to stir up trouble. But with so many real examples before him, Nick had to take it seriously.

From the numerous messages he gathered from the chat channels, Nick gained a further understanding of his current predicament.

Besides the creatures lurking in the dungeons, it was even possible to find food and weapons by digging.

"..."

Just then.

Not just Nick, but countless others heard a mechanical, emotionless synthesized voice in their minds.

[Welcome to the Dungeon Survival Game. As you can see, you are all trapped in dungeons.]

[Survival is your only goal!]

[If you want to survive, please remember the following.]

[1. The earth blocks your way, but you can dig through it with the shovel in your hand. You only have 10 chances each day. Entering the next dungeon counts as completing the current dig.]

[2. Please do not discard the Rune Base lightly. Here, only the Rune Base can provide you with temporary peace!]

[3. The world you are in is connected by dungeons of various sizes. Choose your digging direction carefully!]

[4. After entering the next dungeon, the way back will be sealed. Do not attempt to return to the previous dungeon. Like chess, every choice is crucial!]

[5. Dungeons may contain survival supplies, but they may also contain dangerous dungeon creatures. Defeating dungeon creatures may yield unexpected rewards.]

[6. Scavenge for resources as much as possible. It's not shameful to be a locust.]

[7. There is no law and order in the Dungeon Game. If you happen to meet others, perhaps you can team up or trade, but death is not out of the question!]

[8. The Rune Base is bound to the attribute panel and can be opened when needed.]

[9. The dungeon world also has day and night.]

[10. The final interpretation right belongs to this game.]

...

After the mechanical synthesized voice completely disappeared, Nick's face became serious as he began to digest the information he had.

As for why he was here.

Nick didn't know, but if he wanted to survive, he had to keep exploring the dungeons.

All human order had collapsed in this absurd game. To survive, one had to give it their all.

While being wary of the dungeon creatures, he also had to be wary of so-called "others". With survival resources extremely scarce, human nature couldn't withstand even the slightest test.

It was very possible that someone would kill for a bottle of water or a piece of bread.

He had to guard against all potential dangers.

Nick glanced at the shovel in his hand and took a deep breath. From the instructions of the Dungeon Game, he had a clear understanding of his own situation.

Every decision he made from now on could determine his life or death!

No one could guarantee whether food or death awaited Nick in the next cave.

"Just surviving is a challenge!"

Nick murmured softly.

He licked his dry lips. Just staying in this hot and humid environment, his body had already shown slight signs of dehydration.

If he continued to stay put, the only outcome awaiting Nick was heatstroke.

To survive in the dry and hot dungeon world, replenishing water had to be the top priority. Otherwise...

He might die of dehydration before the dungeon creatures even got to him.

Finally.

Nick made up his mind. It was better than standing here hesitating. He might as well give it a shot and find that sliver of hope from fate.

He picked up the shovel and looked at the four directions he could dig.

Without any hints, Nick could only hope that the goddess of fate would be on his side.

It would be best if he could obtain survival supplies in the next dungeon.

However, when he looked at the wall above his head, a pale blue translucent screen appeared before him. It wasn't a digging choice.

It was a hint.

[Dig 7 meters upwards, and you will find 1L of pure water!]