"Iron Ore (Resource): A common ore that can be slted into iron bars."
Leon looked at the iron ore in his hand, recalling the silver-white rock he had just struck over a dozen tis. Flexing his slightly numb fingers, he quietly tucked the ore into his backpack.
With his regular pickaxe, mining at this depth was becoming noticeably harder. The rocks and ore veins here resisted his swings, and progress was slow.
It was about ti to visit Clint and upgrade the pickaxe’s strength. Leon planned to take advantage of his good luck today, collect as much iron ore as possible, and upgrade straight to a steel pickaxe.
By now, he no longer felt the cold air in the mine. The constant labor had him burning energy nonstop, his muscles working in rhythm. The heat from his own body kept the chill at bay, leaving only a refreshing coolness.
The only thing worth complaining about was the boiled eggs he’d brought as snacks. They were warm when he pulled them out, but the mont he peeled them, they turned cold in an instant.
That alone showed how frigid the air down here was. Still, to Leon, it wasn’t unbearable. If anything, it proved just how much his physical condition had improved—perhaps enough to go through winter without a heavy coat or down jacket.
He kept chipping away at blocks of frozen stone. Now and then, he would pull out his Galaxy Waterlon Knife to deal with the occasional Frozen Sli or Dust Sprite that crossed his path. Ti slipped away between the steady rhythm of work and quick bursts of combat.
"Long periods of combat have made you stronger. Your combat level has increased by one.
During battle, the drain on your stamina made you realize that high-quality food could give you a better recovery. The recipe for the Root Platter has been unlocked.
You have received the God of War’s blessing. Your physical strength has been enhanced."
"Root Platter (Dish): Irresistibly delicious. Restores a large amount of stamina and grants 3 Attack for five hours. Ingredients: Cave Carrot ×1, Winter Root ×1."
"Now that’s sothing," Leon muttered, the corners of his mouth lifting.
Among all the recipes unlocked by the system, this was the first special buff dish he could make right away. Winter Roots usually only appeared in the soil of Stardew Valley during the winter, but the monsters past level 40 in the icy section of the mines also dropped them.
For example, Frozen Slis often dropped not only the ever-useful Sli Jelly but also Winter Roots—two of them, their tops curled like little vines.
Combined with the Cave Carrots he’d been stockpiling, Leon had enough ingredients for at least two Root Platters. He wasn’t overly concerned about the 3 Attack bonus; what mattered was the massive stamina recovery. In many situations, stamina was far more valuable than a slight boost in damage.
Reenergized, Leon went back to mining. His stash of Cherry Bombs ran out quickly. He didn’t like to waste them on a single block of iron ore, but when several ore nodes were clustered together, it was worth it. Iron ore wasn’t just tough—it also sent a jarring shock through his hands when struck, leaving his palms tingling. If he had to smash every block by hand, his hands might go numb by the end of the day.
The deeper he went, the tougher the rock beca. Even regular frozen stone took two or three swings to break at first, but by the ti he reached level 49, it needed four or five.
The temperature also dropped sharply past level 49. Even with his enhanced physique, Leon broke out in goosebumps, and a slight stuffiness crept into his nose.
That was a sign of an oncoming cold. Not willing to risk it, Leon decided to push straight for level 50. He dug out the final staircase with all his strength and slid down.
The first thing he did upon landing was restore power to the elevator. When the button for level 50 lit up, he let out a breath of relief and turned his attention to the treasure chest in the center of the floor.
Another gift from Mr. Qi for the brave who reached this depth.
Inside was a pair of brown leather boots, lined with soft white fleece.
"Frozen Soil Boots (Footwear): 2 Defense, 1 Immunity. The plush lining keeps your feet warm, and the rugged soles let you walk steadily on ice."
This was clearly an upgrade from the leather boots Linus had once given him. Without hesitation, Leon pulled off his stiff, icy rain boots and slipped into the Frozen Soil Boots.
Warmth spread instantly from his feet. The blood in his toes, sluggish from the cold, began flowing freely again. The fleece inside was incredibly soft, like slipping his feet into a cat’s embrace.
As his feet ward, the chill left his body as well. His teeth stopped chattering, and his movents loosened. Confidence returned.
"These boots are sothing else. No wonder Mr. Qi put them here as a reward."
Leon bounced in place, savoring the comfort. His thoughts drifted—Mr. Qi was probably upstairs in the casino above Sandy’s store. If he had ti, maybe he should head to the desert to et him. It never hurt to have a powerful friend.
Feeling revitalized, Leon pressed on, finding the staircase down to level 51.
Monts later, he climbed right back up.
"Are you kidding ? Why is it so much colder on level 51?!"
Grumbling, Leon stepped into the elevator, hit the button for level 0, and returned to the surface.
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