Survival in the Core: I'm writing a guide for the entire server.

"Let's go and see what this Shadow Orb is."

Lin You started the engine and drove toward the marked location on the minimap.

As the mining cart went deeper, Lin You noticed a change—

The surrounding rocks are getting harder and harder.

When the drill bit of the Gold Miner came into contact with the rock wall, it made a screeching sound and the drilling speed dropped significantly.

Keep in mind that the Gold Digger's excavation level is a full 5!

With a digging level of 5, you're virtually unstoppable up to level 10.

But in the Corruption Lands, even digging ordinary rocks was quite strenuous.

Lin You slowed down and took out a stone that had been automatically collected from the warehouse.

The stones in the Corruption Land are entirely dark black, with an unnatural dark purple sheen on their surface, and feel cold and hard to the touch.

……

Ebony Stone

[Note: Rocks eroded by corrupting forces are exceptionally hard.]

[Additional Information: It can be converted into ordinary rock using "Purification Powder"]

……

"Purifying powder..."

Lin You remembered the second route of the Earth Core Breakthrough mission that she had seen before.

Produce one million units of purification powder to repair the seal of order.

He has already seen the seal of order; now all that's missing is the purification powder.

After driving for about ten more minutes, the mine tunnel ahead suddenly opened up.

The Gold Rush ship sailed into an elliptical space in the Earth's core.

This underground space is not large.

At the very center stood a bizarre altar with a twisted shape.

Rows of sharp spikes, resembling fangs, extend from the edge of the altar, like the gaping maw of some creature.

Above the altar, a purple orb the size of a basketball is slowly rotating.

Dark purple light continuously overflowed from inside the pearl, leaving afterimages in the air.

……

Shadow Orb

[Durability: 100]

[Note: This is a condensation of corrupting power; destroying it will yield some items.]

[Additional Information: Destroying a total of 3 "Shadow Orbs" will awaken the Guardian "World Eater"]

……

"Huh? This thing is actually an item used to awaken the Watchers."

Upon seeing the description of the Shadow Orb, Lin You was slightly startled.

The guardian of the 10th level of the Earth's core is called the "World Eater".

They don't sound like the type to be trifled with.

It's much better than any kobold shaman.

"Three Shadow Orbs must be shattered in total to awaken the World Eater..."

Lin You immediately pulled out his tungsten steel flintlock pistol and aimed it at the jewel wreathed in purple light.

"Since we're going to fight sooner or later anyway, we might as well take some benefits now."

boom!

The bullet burst from the barrel and struck the Shadow Orb with pinpoint accuracy.

A burst of purple light erupted, scattering fragments in all directions, which then dissipated as tiny specks of firefly light.

Several scattered items fell from mid-air and landed on the altar.

The most conspicuous item was a firearm, which was longer than the musket in Lin You's hand.

Along with the bullets, several small bottles of healing potions also fell.

Before Lin You could pack all these things into her backpack...

A piercing scream rang in his ears.

The roar of the same monster seemed to echo from all directions through the passageways.

[Hint: You destroyed the first Shadow Orb]

Lin You shuddered, a sense of crisis welling up inside her for no apparent reason.

He grabbed the items from the altar and stuffed them into his backpack.

Just as I was about to return to the Gold Digger, I felt a vibration coming from the soles of my feet that was gradually increasing in speed!

"There's something underground?!"

Realizing this, Lin You was startled and quickly retreated.

The next second, the spot where he was standing was pierced through by a giant worm several meters long!

……

[Devourer Monster]

[Level: 9]

【Life: 200】

[Skill: Vicious Bite]

[Weakness: Piercing and area-of-effect attacks will deal multiple hits of damage to worm-like monsters]

[Note: Worm-like monsters are most favored in the Corruption Lands, where they dig tunnels beneath unsuspecting victims.]

……

"Damn! Aren't there a lot of monsters in this Corrupted Land?!"

Lin You was startled and, unusually, lost her composure.

Faced with the giant worm emerging from the ground, he immediately raised his tungsten steel musket and infused it with magic.

Elemental Strike: Flame Blast!

boom!!

The shattered shrapnel, imbued with intense fire element, bombarded the Devourer's entire body.

A dense array of damage numbers appeared before Lin You's eyes, too many to count.

When they landed, the monster that had just been terrifying had turned into charred chunks of flesh.

"I see, area-of-effect attacks deal additional damage to different segments of the worm monster..."

After calming down, Lin You recalled the battle just now and seemed to be deep in thought.

He then picked up the Devourer's loot and casually crafted it into a magic card.

You have obtained 5 "Worm Venom Fangs"

You have obtained 2 "Corrupted Flesh"

You have obtained the crafting recipes for "Worm Bait" and "Evil Arrow".

[Card crafting successful! You have obtained "Magic Card: Devourer"]

"There's a lot of new stuff, let's get back in the car first."

Lin You stuffed all her loot into her backpack.

After confirming that nothing has been missed, return to the Gold Miner.

As soon as he got on the bus, a notification popped up in front of him.

[Due to the corrosive aura, the Gold Miner has lost 100 durability points.]

"It seems we can't stay here any longer."

Lin You frowned, started the minecart, and took out a toolbox from the warehouse.

……

Tungsten steel repair tools

Grade: 8 (Green)

[Durability: 200]

[Effect: Can be used to repair minecarts; the higher the minecart's level, the lower the repair efficiency.]

……

This is a repair tool made from tungsten carbide scrap.

This is one of the few ways players can currently replenish the durability of their minecarts.

That's why the "Tungsten Steel Machinery Workshop" dungeon is so popular among players.

Not only are there gold-exchangeable items that can be recycled to earn money.

Even the materials dropped by monsters are very useful.

The price of a piece of tungsten carbide scrap is approaching that of silver ore in the market.

"Phew...that's about right."

After patching the Gold Rush ship, Lin You wiped away his sweat.

In fact, the Gold Miner's base durability is a full 5000 points.

Losing 100 points of durability is at most a minor injury.

But he dared not wait until the mine cart's durability was more than half worn out before repairing it.

"It seems we need to be careful about how long we stay in the Corruption Lands."

After putting away his repair tools, Lin You began to examine the firearms that had fallen when he shattered the Shadow Orb.

The weapon's name is very simple, consisting of only two words—musket.

……

[Musketeer]

Grade: 9 (Blue)

Damage: 70

[Durability: 1000/1000]

[Effect: This weapon increases critical hit chance by 12%]

[Additional Information: You have obtained the crafting recipe for "Musketeer Bullets"]

[Musketeer Bullets: 1 Iron Ingot, 1 Copper Ingot, yields 30 bullets, requires an Advanced Crafting Table]

……

"Such high damage and critical hit rate!"

Upon seeing the properties of the musket, Lin You compared it to a tungsten steel musket.

The tungsten steel musket fires 6 shrapnel projectiles, each dealing 22 points of damage.

While it may seem to deal significantly more damage than a musket, its damage drops drastically when encountering enemies with high defense.

Muskets have higher base damage and can easily break through the current monsters' defenses.

Moreover, the high critical hit rate of 12% can also provide a lot of extra damage.

"The formula for musket bullets is not difficult to make."

"After shattering the Shadow Orb, they also gave me 100 musket bullets."

"This Shadow Orb is quite generous..."

Just as Lin You was getting excited about acquiring a new weapon.

Another chilling, piercing shriek came from outside.

"This is……?!"

Lin You suddenly looked up, her face full of disbelief.

[Hint: The second Shadow Orb has been destroyed]

"Who?!"

……