Chapter 2: The mines of despair

The transition was jarring. One moment, Tims was in the cramped confines of his family's cottage; the next, he was standing in a dimly lit, cavernous space. The air was thick with the metallic tang of ore and the damp, earthy smell of deep rock. Rough-hewn wooden beams supported the low ceiling, and the flickering glow of bioluminescent fungi cast long, dancing shadows.

He looked down at his virtual avatar. It was a gaunt figure, clad in tattered rags, a crude pickaxe clutched in its calloused hands. A notification popped up in his peripheral vision:

> [Welcome to the Mining Colony of Xylar-7. You are a designated laborer. Begin mining operations immediately.]

>

Tims frowned. Laborer? He had expected some kind of character creation, a choice of classes or skills. But it seemed he had been thrown into the deep end, his avatar already assigned a role. He glanced around. Other figures, equally gaunt and ragged, were hacking at the rock walls, their movements mechanical and lifeless.

A gruff voice echoed through the cavern. "New meat! Get to work! We don't pay you to stand around."

A hulking figure, its face obscured by a grimy helmet, lumbered towards him. It was an NPC, but its movements and speech felt surprisingly realistic. Tims realized that the advanced AI of Nexus Epoch was far more sophisticated than he had imagined.

He quickly grasped the situation. He was in a mining colony, a virtual labor camp, and he was a slave. He gritted his teeth, suppressing a surge of anger. He had to play along, at least for now.

He moved towards the nearest rock wall and began to swing his pickaxe, the virtual impact jarring his senses. The ore he was mining was a dark, crystalline substance, its surface shimmering with faint energy.

> [Obtained: Xylarite Ore x1]

>

Another notification popped up, displaying the ore's stats and value. This was how he would make money, he realized. By mining and selling ore.

Hours passed, each swing of the pickaxe a monotonous repetition. The other laborers worked in a trance-like state, their eyes vacant. Tims, however, observed everything, analyzing the colony's layout, the guards' routines, and the flow of ore.

He noticed that some areas of the mine yielded richer ore deposits. He also observed that the guards were less vigilant in the deeper sections of the mine. A plan began to form in his mind.

As the virtual day drew to a close, the laborers were herded into a cramped barracks. Tims found a quiet corner and accessed his inventory. He had accumulated a small amount of Xylarite Ore, enough to buy some basic supplies. He also noticed a "Skills" tab. He clicked on it.

> [Skills: Mining (Level 1), Endurance (Level 1)]

>

He realized that his avatar's skills were directly related to his actions. By mining, he had improved his mining skill. By enduring the grueling labor, he had improved his endurance. He understood the LitRPG elements of the game.

He spent the rest of the night studying the game's interface, learning about its mechanics and systems. He discovered that Nexus Epoch was a vast, interconnected multiverse, with different planets and dimensions, each with its own unique resources and challenges.

He also found information about the game's economy, its player-driven markets, and the ways to convert in-game currency to real-world money. He knew then, he would escape the mines, and he would use everything he learned to become powerful.

As the first rays of virtual dawn filtered through the cavern's entrance, Tims rose, his eyes gleaming with determination. He was no longer just a laborer. He was a player, and he was ready to change the game.