What on Earth Did They Dig Up?

"First, because of our greed, we may have run into a situation similar to the one in Gershon City." Huozi bowed his head as he reported, sounding a little guilty.

Li Wei thought, Just as I expected. "Oh? Tell me more."

"It all began in the third year after you fell asleep, Master. Before then, all of Zelandia had developed steadily under your guidance. And after Dishana returned to Gershon City, she and Tiger worked together seamlessly. We managed to deal with the inspection squads sent by Gershon City several times, so apart from a slight increase in the mining tax, they hadn't interfered much with our development over the past few years.

"But as your appetite kept growing, Master, we had no choice but to have Tiger and the others speed up the construction of transport tracks throughout Zelandia, so we could keep up with the increasingly deep excavations in the West Mining Area.

"After we broke through into the 13th Layer Cavity Dome Region, we discovered a vast dome region comparable in size to the one beneath Gershon City. The difference was that most of the ore there was exposed on the rock surface. It was an incredibly rich deposit.

"After several of our key people at Hogg Mining discussed it, we decided to risk mining the exposed ore in that dome. We needed to meet the corresponding increase in mineral taxes caused by the population boom.

"But we also discovered large groups of creatures there. They were all common species in the Underdark, but something seemed wrong with them.

"They seemed to have been infected by something, and their bodies had begun to mutate. They were not only violent and irritable, but also extremely aggressive.

"At first, the conflicts were small-scale and didn't seriously affect our mining. But as time went on, a massive Beast Tide suddenly erupted in the 13th Layer Dome Ore Layer. It was as if the creatures didn't care whether they lived or died. Fortunately, our patrols were effective. When we noticed signs that the creatures were gathering again, we immediately pulled back the miners, organized an evacuation, and set up a defensive line at the tunnel connecting to the 13th layer.

"That battle lasted nearly half a month. Almost every miner in Zelandia took turns replacing the exhausted soldiers on the front line."

At this point, Huozi looked at Remlu, standing on Li Wei's claws, with admiration and amazement, then continued:

"In the end, it was Lady Remlu and her Slime army who swallowed up most of the Beast Tide outside our defensive line. That was the only way we managed to hold off the attack. But quite a few slimes in Remlu's group died from damage to their cores, and their numbers fell sharply. So we've basically stopped mining the 13th Layer Dome Ore Layer. And judging by the scale of the last attack, we're in the Underdark, where the Dark Magic Web makes it difficult to use powerful, sustained offensive spells on a large scale. I'm afraid we'll have a hard time holding out against the next attack. Tiger has already suggested that if another Beast Tide comes before you wake up, we should use Goblin engineering bombs to blow up the tunnels to the 12th and 13th layers."

Li Wei nodded, but didn't feel particularly threatened.

Even under the Dark Magic Web, Huozi and the others had held out for half a month without large-scale magical support and without suffering many casualties. It seemed that the Beast Tide had been made up mostly of sheer numbers, with few powerful, high-level monsters.

If that was the case, even if another Beast Tide came, he could just have Remlu take on her Gnoll form while he transformed into a Red Dragon and breathed fire at them.

After that long sleep, Li Wei felt he could breathe fire at least three times a day. He could rest for a day, eat something, and then go right back to breathing fire.

He refused to believe that, in the cramped confines of the Underdark, any non-supernatural creature could withstand three blasts of his dragon breath and not end up cremated.

"If that's all there is to it, then there's no need to worry too much. Have Tiger and Fischer organize a team to clear out the 13th Layer Dome Ore Layer. I'll go take a look first, then decide whether to resume mining."

Li Wei continued, "There's something else, right? Oh, don't tell me that little bitch from the Jadiel Family is causing trouble again?"

Huozi didn't know exactly what "causing trouble" meant, but that didn't stop him from getting the general idea. He promptly offered a somewhat clumsy bit of flattery:

"Your foresight is unmatched, Master. But Dishana successfully seized the Matriarch Position of the Jadiel Family in a coup six months ago, with our covert support. She'd been busy purging her rivals and securing her position as Jadiel Matriarch, but she must think her influence has grown enough lately. She actually asked Zelandia to 'lend' her a Thousand-man Squad to help Gershon City resist the Beast Tide. But at the time, our 13th Mining Area was facing a Beast Tide too, so Tiger used that as a reason to turn her down. She didn't seem willing to give up, though. After we successfully weathered the Beast Tide, she sent Drow to remind us tactfully—twice. And she added a few more demands: another fifty thousand slimes."

"Ah, no wonder she's the ally I chose. She's already eager to become one with us and share everything!"

Imagining Dishana, the Drow, putting on a show of both threats and sweet talk in front of Tiger, Li Wei wasn't angry at all. He even found it amusing. He waved his hand dismissively. "Looks like this Drow needs another lesson. Leave her alone for now. Let her stew."

"Yes!" Huozi thought for a moment, then said, "By the way, Master, there's something else you might find interesting."

"Oh?" Li Wei tilted his head toward his Gnoll Great Chieftain and waited for him to continue.

"Some Orcs were mining deep in the 13th Mining Area when they dug up a huge object. I don't know how to describe it. The Orcs haven't been quite right in the head since then. They keep saying the thing is alive."

"Alive? What on earth did they dig up?"

"I don't recognize it either. It's just huge. Incredibly huge. Also, Tiger and the other Dwarves seem to be acting strangely. They've had the area sealed off and have even been bowing down to it."

"Forget it! You've learned how to keep me in suspense, too. I'll go see for myself. And it's 'incredibly huge'? I'm already pretty huge, aren't I? Surely you didn't dig up a Titan or something?" Li Wei couldn't help laughing.

His body shifted, becoming a Half-Dragon Gnoll covered in heavy crimson armor, with only his eyes exposed. He waved a hand. "Get Tiger and the others. We're going to take a look."

Li Wei had always been decisive. In his Half-Dragon Gnoll form, he plopped the excited Remlu—who kept squeaking "Mlem! Mlem!"—onto his shoulder, then took the Steam Minecart down to the lowest level with Red Robe Fischer, the Dwarf Tiger, and the others as they arrived. The cart had already been laid all the way to the 13th Layer Dome Ore Layer, and rattled along the uneven tracks.

It was worth noting that Tiger looked uneasy. He seemed torn about Li Wei's decision to go underground, but since he couldn't stop him, he remained silent the entire way.

Fischer, on the other hand, was excited. He'd heard about the discovery, but with Li Wei away, Tiger was technically his manager, and Fischer hadn't wanted to go against the old Dwarf's wishes. Now that he could accompany the Boss and see it for himself, he was naturally in high spirits.

Since Li Wei was eager to see the artifact, the powerful fighters didn't waste any time. They followed him, cutting through the scattered monsters in their way, and soon reached the spot Huozi had described.

Li Wei looked up and saw half of a gigantic face, nearly as large as his true form, exposed where one corner of the rock wall had been pried open. It was covered in incredibly smooth Metal Armor.

Its eyes were closed, as if it had died peacefully.

Li Wei was utterly stunned.

"Holy shit! Did they really dig up a Titan?"