Part 1: The Amphibian Advantage
Ren stood at the edge of the black pool, the water reflecting the carnage behind him. The smoke from the burnt goblins still hung in the air, stinging his eyes.
"If the Chief comes," Ren muttered, "he'll come with an army. I can't hold this room."
He needed to disappear.
Ren took a deep breath—habit from his human life—and jumped into the cold water.
Splash.
The shock of the cold was instant. He sank into the darkness. Panic flared for a second as the water filled his nose, but then, his body reacted.
The [Amphibious Lungs] trait he had absorbed from the Giant Sludge Toad activated.
Ren felt a strange fluttering sensation on the sides of his neck. Slits opened up—gills. The crushing need for air vanished. He inhaled the water, and instead of choking, he felt oxygen filtering into his blood.
"This..." Ren thought, blowing a bubble, "is convenient. Gross, but convenient."
He summoned his Pink Glow Stick (which was still active in his inventory status) and held it out. The pink light illuminated a submerged tunnel leading deep under the rock foundation of the dungeon.
He kicked his legs. His webbed feet propelled him forward with surprising speed. He wasn't just swimming; he was gliding.
Part 2: The Hidden Grotto
The underwater tunnel was narrow and winding, lined with sharp rocks and pale, blind cave fish that darted away from his light.
Ren swam for what felt like ten minutes. If he were human, he would have drowned five times over.
Eventually, the tunnel angled upward. The water grew lighter, glowing with a soft, natural blue luminescence.
Ren broke the surface.
He gasped—switching back to lung breathing instantly—and pulled himself onto a sandy bank.
He looked around and his jaw dropped.
He was in a small, enclosed cavern, completely cut off from the rest of the dungeon. The ceiling was low, covered in high-concentration Mana Crystals that provided the blue light. The air was sweet and rich with mana.
There were no tunnels leading out. It was a cul-de-sac. A pocket formed by an air bubble deep in the earth.
"A hidden room," Ren whispered, his voice echoing softly. "No monsters. One entrance through the water. It's perfect."
This wasn't just a hiding spot. It was a Base of Operations.
Part 3: Establishing Home Base
Ren did a quick sweep of the grotto. It was roughly the size of a school classroom. The floor was soft sand. In the corner, a fresh spring of water trickled down the wall into the pool, providing fresh drinking water.
He sat down on the sand, finally allowing his adrenaline to fade.
He was safe. For now.
"Okay. Status check," Ren said.
He looked at his body. He was covered in dried blood, oil, and slime. The rag around his waist was practically disintegrated. He was essentially a naked, green killing machine.
"I can't conquer the world looking like a hobo," Ren declared. "I have dignity. I have... a Collection."
He opened his Inventory.
[MP: 52/52]
"I need clothes. But summoning a Cosplay outfit or normal clothes feels like a waste of mana if they don't offer protection."
He looked at the loot he had carried over: Leather Armor Scraps from the Hobgoblins and the Toad's Leather Hide.
"I am a Tinkerer," Ren reminded himself. "I should build, not just buy."
He accessed his [Crafting Intuition].
[Crafting Menu Opened]
[Available Materials:]
Tough Toad Skin (Water/Poison Resistant)
Hobgoblin Leather (Durable)
Bone Fragments
Ren needed tools.
"Manifest: Sewing Kit." (Cost: 1 MP).
"Manifest: Heavy Duty Scissors." (Cost: 2 MP).
He sat cross-legged on the sand and began to work. His hands moved with a speed and precision that felt alien to him. He cut the Toad skin, measuring it against his own body. He used the Hobgoblin leather to reinforce the joints.
Part 4: The Tinkerer's Set
Hours passed. The silence of the grotto was broken only by the snip of scissors and the scratching of needles.
Finally, Ren held up his creation.
It wasn't pretty. It was a patchwork of green and purple leathers, stitched together with fishing line (leftover from the traps). But it was fitted perfectly to his goblin physiology.
He put it on.
A sleeveless tunic made of Toad Skin (to protect his chest), pants reinforced with Hobgoblin leather, and a hood to cover his goblin ears.
[System Notification]
[Item Created: Toadskin Rogue Armor]
[Rank: Common+]
[Defense: 8]
[Effect: Minor resistance to acid and poison.]
[Bonus Experience: Crafting Skill Level Up!]
Ren nodded, satisfied. He looked less like a monster and more like an adventurer.
"Now," Ren said, looking at the pile of Monster Cores he had looted. "Let's see if I can break the game mechanics."
He picked up a Rank E Monster Core (Red).
He picked up his Rainbow Pocket Knife.
"The knife is my summon. It's technically 'Mana' given form. Can I fuse them?"
He held the core against the blade.
"Tinker."
[Skill Activation: Tinkerer's Touch]
[Target: Summoned Item (Low Rank)]
[Material: Monster Core (Fire Attribute)]
[Compatibility: 50%]
[Fuse? Y/N]
"Yes," Ren grinned.
The Monster Core dissolved into red light and was sucked into the cheap metal of the knife. The rainbow finish on the blade darkened, shifting into a swirling pattern of crimson and oil-slick black. The handle grew warmer.
[Fusion Complete]
[Item Evolved: Ember-Edge Pocket Knife]
[Rank: Uncommon]
[Effect: Blade deals +5 Fire Damage. Can ignite flammable objects on contact.]
"Oh," Ren's eyes sparkled. "I can enchant my toys."
Part 5: Comfort in Hell
Ren was exhausted. The crafting and the fighting had drained his mental stamina, even if his MP was full.
He looked at the sandy floor.
"I refuse to sleep on sand."
He checked his Mana. 49/52 MP.
He opened his Inventory. He went to the [Furniture / Bedroom] tab from his old apartment list.
[Item: Memory Foam Mattress (Single)]
[Summon Cost: 10 MP]
"Worth it."
"Manifest."
A pristine white mattress poofed into existence in the corner of the cave. Ren then summoned a Fleece Blanket (All Might Pattern) for 2 MP.
He flopped onto the mattress. It was soft. It smelled like his old apartment—fabric softener and stale air.
Tears pricked his eyes. It was a stupid, small luxury, but it made him feel human again.
"I will survive this," Ren whispered into the pillow. "I will get strong. I will clear this dungeon. And then... I'm going to find a place where I can display my figures properly."
He closed his eyes.
For the first time since arriving in Asura Terra, Ren slept soundly.
But while he slept, deep within his status window, the text under [Unique Skill: The Otaku Collection] flickered.
[New Feature Unlocked: Daily Gacha (Free Spin)]
[Time remaining until reset: 00:05:00]
Ren snored, unaware that his cheat skill was about to give him his first freebie.
End of Chapter 9
Summary of Assets:
Current Status: Sleeping (Safe).
Location: The Hidden Grotto (Underwater access only).
Equipment: Toadskin Rogue Armor (Equipped), Ember-Edge Knife (Fire Element).
Current MP: 37/52.
Pending Event: Daily Gacha Reset (5 minutes).