Chapter 4: Crystal

Light.

A warm, flickering glow danced on stone walls.

Kiyoshi groaned as his eyes fluttered open to the soft glow of a campfire. His head throbbed—not from pain, but from confusion—and his body felt oddly light.

"What… happened?"

He pushed himself up slowly, realizing he was no longer in the cave. He was back in the base, lying near the fire. The stone walls, the flickering torch, the scent of burning wood—it was all familiar.

A voice broke the silence.

"You died."

Kiyoshi turned his head.

Sam sat at a table, scribbling in a worn leather notebook, not even glancing up.

Kiyoshi rubbed his temples, groaning.

"Damn... that boulder always gets me in the game. And now here too? I'm pissed…"

He sat down, holding his head as the memory of the chest, the click, and the sudden shadow flashed before him—and then, blackness.

"Wait… my stuff!"

His eyes widened. He flicked his hand in the air.

Inventory: Opened.

He held his breath, scanning the grid. The ores, torches, Vitalis Band, Return Draught—everything was still there.

"Thank goodness I'm in Nomad Mode… but…"

He glanced at the bottom corner.

His coins: Gone.

"Damn… lost all my money."

Relief mixed with frustration. At least he hadn't lost progress—but getting crushed like that was a risk he couldn't afford.

Shaking off the shock, he stood with determination.

"Yeah. Lesson learned. Let's craft some weapons and armor first before going back."

He moved quickly, setting up a workbench near the wall and stoking the furnace. Molten silver flowed into bars, its heat kissing his face. Nearby, the rhythmic pounding of a heavy anvil echoed as he worked.

He went to work.

A Silver Broadsword gleamed in his hands—a solid, sharp blade with good reach.

Next, a Silver Pickaxe—stronger, faster, perfect for deeper mining.

He crafted a Silver Helmet and Chainmail, their polished metal reflecting the firelight. Then, with his remaining resources, he forged Iron Greaves to shield his legs.

"There are no armor stat boosts in the beginning, so mixing up some armor's not bad," he muttered as he fastened the greaves.

His fingers traced the Vitalis Band on his wrist.

"I don't have plus stats on this… I need to not die so I can save money for upgrades later."

He tightened his grip on the sword, its weight promising protection.

"I'm all set. Let's go back."

His eyes locked on the cave entrance, where torchlight danced on the dark threshold.

No more mistakes.

No more traps.

This time, he was ready.

Kiyoshi returned to the place where he had died. The cave was silent, shadows stretching long and dark. A faint shimmer caught his eye.

"Coins… still here? That's great!" he exclaimed, eagerly scooping up the floating gold and silver.

He turned back to the chest—the one that had tricked him.

"Let's try this again."

He opened it cautiously.

Inside: Iron Bars, Rope, a Healing Potion, and—

"A Cloud in a Bottle? Whoa! I can double jump now!"

He quickly equipped the accessory to his gear, excitement bubbling up.

Kiyoshi jumped.

Nothing happened.

He tried again. Still nothing.

"This is harder than I thought…"

One more try.

As he leapt into the air, he focused, willing it to activate—and with a sudden burst of cloud, he was propelled slightly upward.

"Whoa!"

He landed with both feet firmly on the ground, eyes wide.

"That was amazing."

After catching his breath, Kiyoshi mused aloud:

"You know, this Cloud in a Bottle isn't just a flashy trinket. It grants me the ability to double jump—a burst of air that lets me defy gravity for a split second. With this, I can reach higher ledges and bypass traps that would normally be fatal. I must master this skill if I'm to survive these depths."

Buoyed by his new ability, Kiyoshi continued deeper into the cave, mining more ores and opening scattered chests. The rhythm of exploration returned—dig, search, gather, survive.

Eventually, he found a rocky ledge and sat down to rest, catching his breath. His eyes closed for just a moment—

A gentle glow illuminated the darkness. When he blinked, a small, radiant figure fluttered before him.

"A butterfly? No… a fairy?"

It hovered, glowing with soft, colorful light, then floated a short distance before pausing.

"It wants me to follow?"

Intrigued, he rose and followed the creature through narrow tunnels and winding paths.

Suddenly, it stopped and spun in the air, then burst in a flash of light, revealing a large, glowing red crystal nestled in the stone.

"A Heart Crystal?!"

Excitement surged through him. He rushed over, striking it with his pickaxe.

The crystal shattered, and for a heartbeat, panic set in.

"Wait—where is it?!"

Then he saw it—a floating item, hovering before him. He reached out and grabbed the Heart Crystal, cradling it in his hand.

Raising it high, the crystal dissolved into glowing energy. A warm surge spread through his body.

His health: 110 HP.

He clenched his fist, energy pulsing within.

"This is getting exciting."

He felt invincible—until suddenly, a sharp pressure underfoot.

"Huh?"

He looked down.

"Shi—"

A sharp click rang out.

In an instant, an arrow shot from the wall, piercing his back.

Pain exploded through him. He staggered as more arrows hammered into his body, his HP dropping fast—110... 70... 40... Each thud was a stark reminder of his vulnerability.

With trembling hands, he grabbed his Return potion and downed it in desperation. A blinding flash of light enveloped him, erasing the agony as he was pulled back.

Base.

Sam looked up, startled, as Kiyoshi collapsed onto the stone floor.

"Kiyoshi?! What happened?!"

Kiyoshi tried to focus on Sam's worried face, but everything blurred. The last sight he could manage was Sam's concern before darkness claimed him once more.

[End of Chapter 4]