Episode 23 – Cave First, Fortune Later
Published on November 1, 2025 by admin
Eshmund woke up feeling refreshed. Thankfully, just as he had hoped, this time the body conditioning didn’t leave him burning with fever.
“How did it go?” he asked.
“It was successfully completed,” Sage replied. “But we’ll need to run a few tests.”
The conditioning was a success, but there was no precedent for this kind of physical enhancement. Without a direct comparison, there was no way to measure his progress. A test was necessary.
“What kind of test? Strength?” Eshmund asked.
“Yeah. Start by breaking that wooden plank over there with your bare hand.”
A faint glow appeared in his vision as Sage marked the item – a chopping board resting on a nearby table.
Eshmund frowned. “…That’s the chopping board.”
“Well, do you want to test it or not? That’s the only plank solid enough for this. Unless you feel like making a trip to town to buy one first?”
Eshmund sighed and walked over, picking up the board. He lined up his strike and –
CRACK!
The board snapped clean in two, splitting like dry firewood.
Sage immediately marked another target. “Alright, next test. Punch that tree trunk.”
Eshmund turned to see a subtle highlight around a thick tree. He walked over. “Do I go all out or…?”
“Just a normal punch. No fist techniques, no energy – just raw strength.”
THUD!
The sound was like a sledgehammer striking wood. He pulled his fist back, revealing a small crater several inches deep in the bark.
“Ah… Sorry, tree. This is for research purposes,” he muttered.
“Next test – let’s head to the creek,” Sage instructed.
They walked to a rocky area near the water, where smooth cobblestones were scattered around. Sage marked one of them – a football-sized rock.
“Try punching that one. Same as before – no skills, no energy, just raw strength.”
Eshmund struck the stone.
CRACK!
The rock split in two.
Another mark appeared. “Alright, that one.”
Eshmund punched it – another clean break.
“And that one.”
CRACK!
“Also that one.”
Eshmund narrowed his eyes. “Bro… are you messing with me?”
Sage paused. “…Oh, yeah, yeah – alright, that’s enough.”
Eshmund shook out his hand, flexing his fingers. “My hand is red.”
“But not broken. That means it’s fine,” Sage replied.
Eshmund exhaled. “So? How do I compare to others?”
Sage paused for a moment before responding. “Based on my own judgment and the samples we’ve collected before, your stats should look something like this…”
Sage displayed a status window containing Eshmund’s information:
Eshmund frowned. “That doesn’t seem very convincing. What’s your basis?”
In response, Sage displayed a series of charts filled with numerical data.
“A typical adult human has a base strength of around 10 points,” Sage explained. “Some are weaker and have even less than that.”
“You can split stone pretty easily with your fist, which is something an expert-level martial artist should be capable of. That places you around that level.”
“A martial expert is said to be capable of fighting ten normal men simultaneously and lifting ten times the maximum weight a regular person can manage.”
“Given that, your strength should be at least 90 points compared to an average human’s 10.”
“For now, this is the best estimate we can make. We need more data to refine the accuracy,” Sage concluded.
“well, there’s nothing we can do right now, except to wait for more data”
“Unfortunately yes,” Sage affirmed
Since there was nothing he could do to improve Sages reading accuracy of his stats at the moment, Eshmund decided to let it go.
He brewed some tea and paired it with bread for breakfast. The warm, soothing aroma filled the air as he took slow sips, enjoying the simple yet comforting meal. After finishing, he stepped outside and made his way to the herb field.
Even though the system reported that everything was in good condition, he still preferred to check on the plants himself. Walking through the lush greenery, he found it relaxing to watch the herbs thriving under the sunlight. Their vibrant leaves looked fresh and full of life, almost appetizing in their healthy glow. The blooming flowers attracted bees, their tiny wings buzzing as they worked tirelessly to collect nectar. The scene was peaceful – almost meditative.
There were no classes today. It was the equivalent of a weekend on Earth, giving him time to focus on his own projects. He had already planned to work on the basement, dig a pond, and build some worktables using concrete. But before that, he needed to do his morning training.
He started with a warm-up, running laps around the field before moving into the basic exercises his grandfather had taught him. After completing the routine, he shifted to training his Phantom Steps . His body moved effortlessly, and before he knew it, he had completed 20 laps without even feeling fatigued. Encouraged, he pushed himself further, reaching 50 laps with surprising ease.
Eshmund paused, catching his breath. I expected an improvement, but this…. he thought. The sheer increase in his endurance and agility was still surprising, even though he had anticipated changes from his body’s reconditioning.
Not satisfied yet, he decided to push his limits by training Phantom Steps while simultaneously practicing the Four Kings Fist Technique . Combining footwork with precise and powerful strikes took immense coordination and stamina, but he moved smoothly, his body adapting naturally. It wasn’t until he had completed 120 laps that he finally felt his energy drain.
Exhausted, he collapsed onto the soft grass, allowing himself to rest. His breathing was heavy, but his body recovered at an astonishing rate. The stamina regeneration from his improved physique was far beyond what he was used to.
After resting, he took a refreshing shower at the workshop’s wash area before heading into town to gather supplies.
He needed tools, wooden planks, wooden beams, and nails for his basement project. As he walked, he remembered the rusty knife he had found in the lake. Might as well take it to the pawn shop and see if it’s worth anything. he thought.
Reaching into his space pouch, he pulled out the knife and examined it as Sage displayed the information.
“The price is quite high for a rusty knife,” Eshmund muttered to himself.
With that, he made his way to the pawn shop.
When he arrived, he was in luck – there were no other customers inside. The shopkeeper, a young girl around 16 or 17 years old, sat behind the counter, tinkering with a formation plate. Scattered across the table were beakers filled with an unknown blue liquid, tangled copper wires, and an acidic scent that stung his nose.
She was so focused on her work that she didn’t even notice him enter. Eshmund cleared his throat with a small cough to get her attention.
She blinked and looked up, startled. “Oh! Sorry about that, customer. What can I help you with?” she asked, setting the formation plate aside.
“I’d like to sell this,” Eshmund said, placing the rusty knife on the counter. “The gold alone should be worth at least 2,000 points. The gem is beautiful – shouldn’t that add another 2,000 points?”
The girl picked up the knife, scrutinizing it closely. Without hesitation, she swung it down and hacked it against the wooden floor a few times. The rusted blade, already weakened by corrosion, broke free from the handle. She barely reacted, as if she had expected it.
Nxt, she dipped part of the golden handle into the blue liquid from one of the beakers, letting it soak for a few seconds before pulling it out and rinsing it with clean water. She inspected it again, running her fingers over the surface.
“3,000 points,” she said flatly.
Eshmund raised an eyebrow. “Only 3,000?”
“The handle is pure gold, but it’s dented, and the decorative engravings are damaged. It’s only good for melting down,” she explained. “As for the gem, it has scratches, making it look dull. It’ll need polishing – maybe even recutting into a different shape.”
She folded her arms and looked at him with a professional air. “3,000 points is fair. It lets us make a profit, and you don’t lose too much. I’m being generous.”
Eshmund sighed. Sage estimated 3,200 points for it. A 200-point difference isn’t worth arguing over.
“Fine,” he said, reaching for his token to finalize the transaction.
Just as he was about to receive the payment, Sage’s voice echoed in his mind.
“There are a few items here that contain materials we need for the new system. Collecting them will speed up the process of building the Builder Bots.”
Eshmund paused. “Alright, show me.”
His vision flickered as virtual markers appeared over several items in the shop.
Eshmund turned back to the shopkeeper. “Can I exchange for items instead of taking points?”
The girl nodded. “Sure, go for it.”
He gathered the three items Sage had marked and placed them on the counter. Their total cost came to 1,200 points, leaving him with 1,800 points credited to his account after the exchange. Surprisingly, the Boric Ink was the most expensive at 700 points, while the Bauxite Ore cost 400 points and the Magic Core Dust was only 100 points.
As they left the shop, Sage spoke again.
“From the Boric Ink, we’ll extract Titanium and Boric Metal – both crucial materials for the new builder bots. Boric Metal is quite rare.”
Eshmund nodded. ” Magic Core Dust – With that quantity at that price, it was ridiculously cheap .”
“We are lucky,” Sage said. “From the Magic Core Dust, we’ll extract X-Mineral – the primary circuit component for the nanobots and their system.”
Eshmund frowned. “It still baffles me that the main material is cheaper than those complementary one. ”
“Last time I planted the Red Veined Horse Cabbage, I also mixed a few sack of Magic Core Dust in the soil. I got them from Carlan’s Item shop for a very cheap price.” He added.
“It’s because people don’t know how to extract the valuable component from the dust,” Sage explained. “If they did, they’d probably use it in talisman-making instead of relying on Boric Ink.” Sage said
Eshmund smirked. “Well, more for us then.”
With his business done at the Pawn Shop, he headed to the Construction Department to purchase wood planks, beams, and plywood. Eshmund planned to use them as molds for casting concrete furniture for his workshop and the basement.
Back at the herb garden, Eshmund stepped into the workshop, his mind set on the task ahead. Before starting, he dismantled the crystal light lamps installed in the workshop, carefully storing them in his space pouch for later use. The workshop would be a bit dark without them, but it wouldn’t be a big problem, he planned to replace the lighting anyway. The workshop’s sliding windows can be left open if he need lighting. He want to use those the cystal lights lamp below ground.
He moved toward the far corner of the workshop, where several concrete floor tiles had yet to be installed, leaving a patch of bare earth exposed. Taking a sturdy shovel from his storage pouch, he drove it into the soil without hesitation.
With his Expert-level martial strength, the task was almost effortless. Each swing of the shovel sliced through the ground like a hot knife through butter. Within minutes, a sizable hole had formed. As he worked, he gathered the loose dirt into sacks, carefully storing them in his space pouch to keep the area clear.
The deeper he dug, the darker it became. Once he reached a depth where natural light no longer reached, he retrieved one of the crystal lamps from his pouch and mounted it on the wall of the hole, illuminating the space with a soft, bluish glow.
Eshmund dug downward for 30 meters, reaching a depth that ensured stability while giving him enough space for his plans. Once satisfied, he shifted his focus. Instead of going deeper, he began tunneling horizontally, carving a passage toward the rocky hill behind the workshop.
The further he went, the firmer the soil became, a sign he was nearing bedrock. Occasionally, he encountered large boulders, which slowed him down. However, instead of struggling to break them apart, he simply loosened them and sucked them into his storage pouch.
Eshmund had tried testing the limits of his storage pouch before, but he still couldn’t determine its maximum capacity – his energy levels weren’t high enough to fully analyze it. However, its near-limitless storage greatly speed up the excavation process.
Hours passed as he expanded the underground space, carving out a chamber approximately 20 meters wide and 4 meters high. It was spacious enough for his current needs, but there was still much more work to be done
To ensure proper ventilation, Eshmund dug several vertical shafts in specific locations, leading up to the surface. These would act as air vents, allowing fresh air to flow in and preventing stale air buildup.
Even though the chamber’s ceiling showed no immediate signs of collapse, leaving it unsupported was too risky. He began reinforcing it by constructing concrete support pillars using the iron rebars and wire mesh he had purchased earlier.
To create the ceiling’s framework, he used the wooden beams, planks, and plywood that he bought before. These temporary supports held up the dirt ceiling while he covered it with wire mesh and plastered it with cement. Once the cement fully set, the structure would be strong enough to bear the weight of the earth above.
With Sage’s assistance, he identified the critical load-bearing points that required additional reinforcements. Despite having precise calculations, the process was frustratingly slow – unlike the Construction Department, he had no way to accelerate the concrete drying process. Until it fully hardened, he had to leave the wooden beams in place for extra support.
Rather than waste time waiting for the concrete to cure, Eshmund focused on another essential task – the drainage.
He dug horizontal tunnels connecting the main chamber’s floor to the cliffside outside. These drainage tunnels would ensure that rainwater or groundwater wouldn’t accumulate inside. Instead, any water would be funneled safely outside, preventing potential flooding.
After that, he turned his attention to carving out additional rooms, shaping the underground space into a fully functional living area.
A small bedroom, providing a private place to sleep.
A kitchen area, for preparing food.
A shower room and toilet, ensuring proper hygiene.
Storage space, to keep tools and supplies organized.
The underground chamber was slowly transforming into a self-sustaining hideout.
By the time he finished for the day, his stomach was growling. He had barely eaten, only taking small bites of bread and sipping plain water while working. His entire body was covered in sweat and dirt, but the sight of his progress made it worth the effort.
He leaned against one of the newly placed pillars, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Not bad for a day’s work, he thought, glancing around the dimly lit underground chamber.
There was still a lot to do, but for now, he was satisfied.
“Sage, double-check everything. Make sure the structural integrity is solid.”
Sage immediately began scanning the chamber, analyzing the reinforcements, ventilation, and drainage systems.
Eshmund exhaled, relieved. His underground project was far from finished, but today was a major step forward.
“Watch out, folks! a bat guy just got his bat cave,” Sage announced. “Now all he needs is… an obscene amount of money.”
Eshmund chuckled. “Nah, that’s what the butler’s for. He handles the cash while the master takes care of the bad guys.”