Derek Smith stood up from his awkward position and, ignoring the lingering pain in his legs, slowly moved to one of the cavern's corners. He didn't separate his sight from his dear hammer that waited for its creator to take it and return home.

"Come here, my little treasure," Derek quietly muttered with a grin as he reached his hands towards the replica.

Just as he touched Mjoolnir's stout handle wrapped in brown leather, a sudden notification appeared.

[Mjoolnir (lvl 7)] (Soulbound, Rare): A hammer forged by a Mastersmith. The strong emotions and dwarven nature of its creator secretly resonated with Ether and gifted the weapon some peculiar characteristics.

Requirements: Level 5, 15 STR, 4 FES, [Derek Smith] can ignore all of those (including the FES requirement).

Damage: 14-17 (Physical, Blunt)

Mass: 33 kg

Durability: 28/29

Traits: The creator [Derek Smith] can always ignore this weapon's Requirements, and he can track it if lost. When Equipped, the hammer increases the effectiveness of all forging when used by [Derek Smith]. [Mjoolnir] can evolve together with its creator.

Holy cow, this is amazing! Derek felt genuinely happy. Not because of the stats of the weapon, but because even the System acknowledged his sentiments toward his masterpiece! The efforts he spent on forging this hammer were rewarded in the most unexpected way.

As he picked this heavy square-headed short hammer, another notification appeared.

Do you want to equip [Mjoolnir]?

Derek tilted his head. Because he already held the weapon just alright, even before responding to the holographic message. Maybe Equipping it "officially" would change something?

Yes, I want to Equip it, he mentally answered.

Immediately, hot energy flowed through his fingers towards the hammer in his hands. A peculiar connection formed between him and Mjoolnir, but, if asked, Derek wouldn't know how to explain this feeling in words.

He slightly swung the weapon and immediately noticed the difference from before "Equipping" it.

"Grrrrrr..." A low and not-so-distant growl echoed through the cave. Mesmerimised by multiple new findings, he almost forgot that unknown creatures got closer and closer to him with each passing minute.

Derek bent his body down and touched the ground with his free hand.

Shit, the closest one is thirty meters away from the entrance towards here, the dwarf noted. The other three are at least sixty meters away.

From what he could see, this cave chamber didn't have any other tunnels connected to it than those four "occupied" by growling creatures. It meant that if Derek wanted to escape here, he needed to cross paths with at least one of those beings.

There are enough stalagmites and boulders for me to hide, so maybe I could just distract the thing and enter the tunnel without any confrontation. The question is - where could I get any bait?

In the first place, Derek didn't know much about his opponents. What would distract them? As he surveyed his surroundings, the dwarf noticed an elongated black object lying under a boulder.

Maglite flashlights are famous for their high quality, so it shouldn't be broken, right? Derek approached the item, hoping for the best.

Fortunately, after tinkering with the flashlight for ten seconds, he made it work.

Okay then, let's hope that whatever this thing is, it'll be curious about a source of bright light.

Derek thought of a simple plan - he'll leave the Maglite far away from the tunnel through which the creature comes. The boy himself will hide behind stalagmites. Then he'll slip away behind his opponent's back while it inspects the "bait". This course of action should allow him to avoid any risks whatsoever.

It can work, Derek thought as he left behind the flashlight and concealed himself.

Before he could use his "vibration senses", as he named them, Derek heard something slithering through the cavern.

"Grrrrrrr..." a growl resonated through the cave chamber. Its source was only twenty meters away from Derek, but he couldn't see the creature because a large stalagmite separated them.

The boy could hear his foe slowly advancing towards the sole source of light in this dark place. Apparently, the plan worked.

Derek started to carefully sneak around boulders and stalagmites towards the, now unobstructed, tunnel entrance.

Should I try to eat some rocks beforehand, just in case? Derek didn't forget about his two other, for now unused, Talents.

As he slowly advanced ahead, the dwarf took some stones from the ground and placed them in his mouth. He wasn't sure about their actual composition, but he assumed they weren't very hard, maybe 3-4 on the Mohs scale.

It tastes like shit... as he swallowed them whole, a disturbing thought visited him. And the scariest part was the fact that it could be not just a metaphor...

You have consumed some minerals! Do you want to digest them for nutrients or to store them for future use?

To store... Derek answered as he tried to hold back his vomiting reflex.

I guess even stones should be cleaned before you can eat them safely, he made a note to himself.

Currently Stored Minerals: 0,1/8 kg

Ugh... he couldn't help but feel sick, knowing that he'd need to experience this taste again.

After Derek placed another stone in his mouth, he noted with surprise that it didn't taste as bad.

Maybe I was just unlucky on my first attempt? He placed another bunch of rocks and almost spat them all out a second later.

It took him another three attempts to learn how to choose the better tasting stones.

You live and learn, I suppose... the dwarf concluded as he checked his Talent menu.

Currently Stored Minerals: 1/8 kg

I don't have the time to consume more, Derek told himself. It seems that the creature already reached the flashlight.

The dwarf prepared himself mentally to leave his cover and sneak into the tunnel. With only five meters between him and the entrance, he hoped that he wouldn't be noticed. He placed the flashlight about 30 meters away from the tunnel, so Derek did have some confidence to run away even if his plan failed. It seemed that whatever this thing was, movement speed wasn't its forte.

As the dwarf peeked from behind a stalagmite in the flashlight's direction, he couldn't help but freeze.

What the fuck is this monster?!

Derek expected to see a giant snake. He wouldn't be that surprised if something like Lamia from fantasy stories waited for him. But what he saw made him doubt his enhanced dark vision.

Derek silently observed the being unlike anything he had ever seen. Its slim black two-meter-long body squirmed towards the bait as a snake. But the upper half of its body stood vertically as a human would. Some grey smokelike substance leaked from its black liquid-like exterior and completely surrounded the lower end of its "tail".

From his angle, Derek couldn't see the head at the top of the monster's sturdy neck. But he could see the two other heads at the end of its arms...

Half a meter above its central head floated a holographic number of bronze color and a green Healthbar.

Nine? He looked at the symbol. Level 9?! I doubt I can fight it with my Level 1...

Just as the dwarf regained his composure, the flashlight twinkled a couple of times and then went out completely.

Why? Derek thought, agitated. The flashlight had enough energy to work for many more hours!

This situation reminded him of his cellphone, which stopped working prematurely as well.

The monster turned both of the "hand-heads" towards the still peeking dwarf, scrutinizing him with its creepy eyes that shined with blue light.

"Grrrrrrrahhh!" the two heads growled as the thing bounced in a strange slithering motion towards Derek.

Knowing that the monster noticed him, the dwarf rushed to the tunnel without even looking back. Even if Equipping his heavy hammer made it easier for him, its 33 kg of weight still slowed the dwarf down. With his short limbs, he couldn't move much faster than an average human, even if he was really athletic by human standards. Add to that his still hurt legs, and it wouldn't be surprising if even a twelve-year-old could outrun him.

As he sprinted, Derek could hear the monster chasing him, slithering at an even pace.

The distance between the two decreased slowly but surely. It was only a matter of time before the dwarf would be forced to meet his foe head-on.

I can probably outrun it if I drop Mjoolnir... Derek thought. Considering the current difference in speed, he needed to be only a little bit faster.

No, I can't do it! The Mastersmith in him resisted. This is my greatest creation. Even the heartless System acknowledged our bond! Dropping Mjoolnir would be no different than abandoning a comrade. Moreover, this is my only weapon. How could I protect myself without it?

"Grrrrrrraaahhh...." the monster behind Derek roared with all three of its heads. It seemed to be annoyed by the fact that it still didn't catch its prey yet, so its pace increased.

Just as the dwarf contemplated if he should turn back and fight, a new notification appeared in the corner of his sight.

You have regained 10% of your HP. Your body is supported by Ether again!

As he read the message, Derek could feel as if his body solidified. As if something supported it from the inside. The pain in his legs all but disappeared. He regained his peak condition!

I don't really understand what is going on, but the timing is perfect! Derek rejoiced as he put more force in his legs.

"Ghiiiiiiii!" The creature didn't like this change.

The dwarf ran at his full capacity, and the monster no longer got closer. But how could racing at full speed with 33 kg in your hands be easy? Even with his much higher than that of a normal human endurance, Derek started to feel exhaustion after five minutes or so. And his pursuer, while being a little slower, seemingly showed limitless stamina.

Despair started to crawl into his heart as Derek navigated complicated paths of the dark tunnels.