Chapter 38 - Surviving the Apocalypse, Beginning the Gold Hunt

Chapter 38: Surviving the Apocalypse, Beginning the Gold Hunt

[Warning: A Level 18 Boss is within 500 meters of your position. Due to the significant level gap, the system strongly advises immediate retreat.]

[The location of the dangerous boss has been marked on the map.]

Thanks to the C

orrupted Wasteland Map

, Su Mu quickly pinpointed the boss’s location. A Level 18 boss was a daunting challenge—its level was six times higher than Su Mu’s.

Moreover, Su Mu had already exhausted the Glass Bracer’s skill during his previous battle with elite monsters. Still, his encounter with the Spirit-infused Black Blade had taught him an important lesson:

Level gaps were often deceptive.

Some bosses, despite their intimidating levels, weren’t as overwhelming as they appeared. The Mu Ran, for instance, wasn’t classified as a boss only because it hadn’t been designated that way.

“Boss or not, what matters is the strategy,” Su Mu muttered, his eyes fixed on the map.

As the boss’s location came into focus, a sly grin spread across his face.

“Let’s see if this so-called Level 18 boss lives up to its reputation.”

With the Black Blade hovering by his side, Su Mu began his trek, intent on testing his newfound weapon and claiming the treasures the boss guarded. But there was another reason he couldn’t ignore this boss—its proximity to his shelter.

At just two kilometers away, it was too close for comfort. Once the protective barrier on his shelter wore off, this boss could pose a serious threat. he resolved to eliminate it first, along with any other bosses near his base.

“This armor is pretty handy,” he remarked, glancing down at his newly equipped gear.

The Mu Ran had dropped yet another prize:

[Black Blade Armor]

[Quality: Superior]

[Effect: Reduces the likelihood of being targeted by undead creatures.]

Not only was the armor practical, but it also draped stylishly over Su Mu’s shoulders, granting him the ability to travel through hostile wastelands without constant attacks.

Little Mu Ran puffed out her chest proudly, as if to say, “Of course it’s effective—this used to be mine!”

Su Mu ruffled her hair affectionately, causing her to beam with pride.

Soon, Su Mu arrived at the marked location. In front of him stood a weathered gravestone, its inscriptions blurred by time. The area appeared to lead into an underground tomb.

“Master, I can read the inscription,” Little Mu Ran spoke up, her voice soft yet confident.

She leaned closer to the gravestone and recited:

“This grave honors the lost warrior who bravely stepped forward to protect the village.”

“Alright.”

Su Mu ruffled her hair again, though Little Mu Ran tilted her head in confusion. She could never quite understand why her master alternated between head pats as rewards and flicks as punishment.

Still, her ability to read the language of this world was a pleasant surprise. It would undoubtedly prove useful in the future, especially when dealing with traps or puzzles.

The graveyard wasn’t large; it seemed the warrior had been buried in an open space with little fanfare beyond the gravestone.

“I didn’t expect to be treasure hunting in this world,” Su Mu mused, scratching his nose. In a post-apocalyptic setting like this, such activities felt strangely mundane.

Little Mu Ran tilted her head, puzzled.

“Master, do you think it’s dangerous?” she asked. “If it is, I can help weaken it before you fight.”

Su Mu smiled and shook his head. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, but let’s not take unnecessary risks. We’ll lure it out strategically instead of charging in blindly.”

He glanced at the narrow passageway leading underground. Fighting the creature in such tight quarters would be far too risky.

“Alright,” Little Mu Ran said, though she sounded reluctant. “But if you need my help, just say the word.”

With that, Su Mu devised a plan to draw the creature into the open. He took out the

Scarlet Spirit Orb

, holding it in his hand as it pulsed with a faint but ominous light.

The orb, known for attracting and amplifying the aggression of undead creatures, was the perfect tool for this situation. Placing it near the tunnel’s entrance, Su Mu stepped back, allowing its sinister glow to spread.

The ground trembled slightly, signaling the reaction of nearby undead.

“Master, this orb feels… strange,” Little Mu Ran said, her voice tinged with curiosity. “I think I’ve seen it before—or maybe it’s connected to me somehow.”

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Really? Do you remember anything else?”

Little Mu Ran shook her head, her expression clouded with confusion. “No, just that it feels… familiar. Like it’s part of my past, something important that I’ve forgotten.”

Su Mu chose not to press further. Perhaps the orb held a deeper connection to Little Mu Ran, and in time, she might remember more. For now, the task at hand was to deal with the boss.

The Scarlet Spirit Orb’s glow intensified, and the ground around the gravestone began to collapse.

“Here it comes,” Su Mu murmured, taking a step back.

From the crumbling earth emerged a figure clad in shattered armor. Its hollow eyes glowed faintly as it stepped into the light.

[BOSS: Lost Warrior]

[Level: 18]

[Skills: Self-healing, Dual Sword Cleaving]

[Description: A warrior who lost his homeland, roaming the world with a sense of justice. Yet, not everyone is destined to be the protagonist of a story.]