Chapter 9: A Servant and A Master

Wang Lei collapsed to the ground, clutching his stomach. His face twisted in pain as sweat poured down like a fountain.

Only now did he realize the gravity of what he had done, lead was a poisonous metal. While small amounts might be safe under controlled conditions and with proper supervision, what Wang Lei had consumed was an entire chunk of raw lead ore.

The fact that he was still alive was nothing short of a miracle. A dose that large should have stopped his heart instantly.

He had to thank his skill, Ore Consumption, for that.

Gradually, the pain in his stomach began to subside, enough for him to stand and stagger back to the chair, though it drained a considerable amount of energy. Even that simple movement left him gasping for breath.

"Haah… haah… Damn it. This is because of my own foolishness!" Wang Lei growled through clenched teeth.

In truth, Wang Lei had a wealth of knowledge about metals and minerals. A mistake like this would have been unthinkable for him in the past.

Before discovering the massive debt his father had accumulated, Wang Lei had been passionate about learning everything related to mining.

He had memorized an entire book on minerals, their appearance, shape, color, texture, composition, every detail, down to the smallest nuance. He prided himself on not missing a single thing.

But knowledge was meaningless if he couldn't apply it. When he asked to accompany his father to the mining site, he was flatly refused.

Miners always had to be on constant alert for the dangers lurking within a mining site. Every step they took was made with caution and vigilance.

They had to carefully select excavation points. Even if inspections took several weeks, no one complained. One wrong move could result in being buried alive.

They also had to watch out for toxic zones; areas filled with hazardous dust produced by ores such as lead or arsenic.

It was because of these dangers that Wang Lei's father never allowed him to come along to the mining site. Wang Lei was just a young boy at the time, and exposure to such an environment could have had serious effects on his health.

On one hand, his father was pleased that his son showed such a strong interest in mining but on the other, he was still a parent. No matter how passionate Wang Lei was, his father never intended to put him in harm's way.

Still, that alone wasn't enough to stop Wang Lei from pursuing his interest. It took countless attempts to persuade his father; he even came close to begging on his knees.

Fortunately, his father came to an agreement before that happen. He agreed to let him go along in a condition that he will not be entering the mining site, he can only observe how the miners went out of the cave along with carts of ores.

It has already been two years after he lose that enthusiasm.

"If I had just stuck with it, none of this would've happened…" Wang Lei lamented.

But no one could truly blame him for the decision he made. At the time, he believed that his current career path wouldn't be enough to pay off his father's overwhelming debt, so he strayed toward a different one.

It was a well-reasoned judgment made after much consideration, not a choice born from mere impulse.

Sure, he might have made better use of that knowledge now, especially since it complemented his current skill but it's not like he could've predicted any of this would happen.

Wang Lei let out a weary sigh. "…What's the point of thinking about it now?"

Hmm? He raised an eyebrow. The pain's gone?

The twisting sensation in his stomach, the one that had felt like it was being turned inside out, had completely vanished. In its place was a strange, weightless feeling, as if he were floating on clouds.

What is this sensation? Wang Lei wondered, a mixture of curiosity and caution in his expression.

[The poison has been neutralized by the skill: Ore Consumption.]

[You have obtained the skill: Poison Resistance LV.1.]

"What the…? A skill?" Wang Lei blinked, stunned. "How did I suddenly get a skill?"

His question hung in the air, unanswered.

"Status!" he muttered quickly, unable to contain his curiosity.

[Name: Wang Lei]

…

[Poison Resistance LV.1]

[Description: Harmful substances within the body will automatically be purified.]

"Hmm… I don't understand a single thing about this," Wang Lei muttered, squinting at the screen as he rubbed his chin in confusion.

It wasn't that he didn't understand the words, it was just too vague. What did it mean by purified? Did it completely erase the poison? Or did it somehow transform it into something else?

"Why do they even bother putting a description if it's going to be this vague anyway?" Wang Lei grumbled, not directing his complaint at anyone in particular, he just needed to vent.

"How am I supposed to use this skill if I don't even know what it actually does?!" he shouted in frustration.

With a resigned sigh, Wang Lei closed the screen, giving up on trying to make sense of it. Still, there was one thing he was certain of: the skill would be useful if he ever consumed poison unknowingly.

After setting the matter aside, Wang Lei turned his focus back to the table and began devouring the coal ores. He grabbed one after another, stuffing them into his mouth without pause.

It didn't take long before the entire pile disappeared. All those ores that had once made his bag swell like an overstuffed balloon were now gone, as if they had never existed.

Burp!

"Ahh… That was satisfying!" Wang Lei said gleefully, patting his bloated stomach.

Of course, he hadn't eaten all those ores just to fill his belly. What he was really waiting for was the floating screen that finally appeared before him.

[Defense +6]

"That's it?!" Wang Lei shouted, slamming his palms against the table. "I ate more than three times the amount I did yesterday, and all I get is a measly six points?! Are you kidding me?!"

Steam practically burst from Wang Lei's head.

Fuming, he reached out and tried to grab the floating screen in front of him, only for his hand to pass right through it. The screen flickered, splitting into two for a second before vanishing entirely.

Perceiving this as a personal victory, Wang Lei grinned ear to ear, satisfied.

But just as he was about to celebrate—

Ding!

The exact same screen reappeared before his eyes, as if mocking him.

"YOU DAMN ^%$#@*%!!"

***

Meanwhile, in Yellow City, a place nestled just below Yellow Peak Mountain.

A man sprinted desperately through the streets, cradling a child wrapped in pure white cloth. It didn't allow even a sliver of sunlight to touch the child's skin. Behind him, a horde of human-like monsters with rotting flesh pursued relentlessly.

The man moved with incredible speed, each step propelling him a distance that would normally take several strides for an average person.

"Curses!" he hissed, glancing over his shoulder. The zombie-like creatures showed no signs of slowing. Their rotting bodies flailed but moved with terrifying persistence.

"If it weren't for those bandits, this mission wouldn't have been so damn difficult! Curse them! I swear, once we get out of this mess, I'll pay them back a hundredfold!" the man growled, his voice laced with fury.

A deep crease formed on his temple as his brow tightened. His eyes were wide, blood vessels clearly visible, streaks of rage and exhaustion etched into his face.

But then, the child in his arms shifted beneath the cloth, rustling softly.

The murderous aura around the man vanished instantly, replaced by a flicker of panic.

"M-Master, I apologize if I disturbed your sleep. Please, continue resting. We'll arrive at our destination shortly," he whispered, his voice now tender and careful.

The child, still seemingly drowsy, lay completely still, breathing in a soft, steady rhythm.

I must remember to stay quiet… I can't afford to anger my master, the man reminded himself silently.

He continued running through the streets when, suddenly, a massive figure appeared in the distance ahead.

That is…? The man narrowed his eyes, focusing on the silhouette.

Towering at over seven feet tall, the creature's body was packed with bulging muscles, its skin as pale as paper. In its hands was the bloodied carcass of a massive beast, its mouth smeared with fresh blood as it devoured its prey.

Sensing the man behind it, the creature slowly turned its head. Its eyes locked onto him, and a sinister grin stretched across its bloodstained face. The man was next.

But rather than panic, the man simply frowned, not out of fear, but irritation, as though the creature's presence was nothing more than an unwelcome nuisance.

"Geez… Just how many First Order Zombies does this city have? This is the fifth one I've run into," the man muttered lazily, as if annoyed more than alarmed.

"Still, I can't let it keep chasing me like the rest of those things. Even if it's a low-level one, it's still strong—and it'll make way too much noise if I let it run wild."

He sighed, glancing at the still-sleeping child in his arms. "Well, I have no choice then. I can't let them disturb my master's sleep."

He kept running, completely unfazed by the muscle-bound zombie blocking his path. Without breaking stride, he raised one hand, palm facing the creature.

"Oh, Fire God, heed my call,

Lend me your righteous flaming spear,

Pierce the foes that stand before me…"

As he chanted, flickering wisps of flame sparked to life in the air, swirling around his hand. They twisted and converged, forming a large, blazing spear that hovered in front of him, its fiery tip aimed directly at the zombie, as if warning it to stay still and accept its fate.

The muscle-bound zombie, seemingly unaware of the death looming over it, continued to grin at the man. It inhaled sharply, preparing to unleash a thunderous roar.

The man's eyes widened. I won't let you!

"Flaming Retribution!"

Fwoosh!

The attack was too fast for the eye to follow.

In an instant, the zombie's upper body was completely obliterated. Deep orange flames engulfed what remained, its lower half reduced to a burning husk, the fire crackling hungrily in the silence that followed.

The flaming spear continued its deadly flight. If left unchecked, it would eventually strike something, and the resulting explosion would be catastrophic.

Of course, the man wouldn't allow that to happen.

He quickly raised his hand, forming a gesture with two fingers pointed toward the fleeing spear. With a grunt of effort, he redirected its path upward.

The spear obeyed, veering off course and shooting skyward, higher and higher, until it pierced through the clouds.

Then, it exploded.

A blinding burst of flame lit up the sky, as if a second sun had suddenly ignited above the city.

The man let out a deep sigh of relief as he glanced down at the bundle in his arms, grateful the explosion hadn't disturbed the master's slumber.

With the muscle zombie reduced to ashes and nothing obstructing his path anymore, after he grabbed the white orb that formed above the zombie's body, he pushed forward, his strides swift and unwavering.

Far ahead, looming like a guardian of the heavens, stood a colossal mountain. Its peak was hidden, swallowed by thick white clouds, making it seem as though it pierced straight into the skies.

"That's the Yellow Peak…" he murmured, eyes narrowing with determination. "We're almost there, Master."