Gamers of the Underworld

Panda Novel

NotWearingPants’ post had many comments.

[Midnight Sprouts: Hahahaha, is that Brainiac? Not that good-looking. Not as handsome as Sherlie.]

[OoIce MapleoO: Using physics to negotiate bends? Any science students care to explain… (●—●)]

[Burying Shepherd Dog: Too bloody sick! Your content isn’t censored]

[Sister’s Destiny: I suspect you are driving a car. I would like to get into your car to check your credentials. Can I have Beta Tester status?]

[Bohemian Cat: Such a cute Beetlemon, and you hacked it?]

[EY Raining Dawn: What physics nonsense! It’s impossible to use the leg brakes! The gamers’ legs cannot reach the ground. I’m guessing the Beetlemon ran in a straight line, collided into the bends, and the cycle repeated]

[Nameless Bro: I suspect NotWearingPants is a mole of the game producers]

[Staring into the void: Try barbecuing the egg of the Houndhead Men. You might discover a new Dungeon dish and obtain the alias of Master Chef?]

[Snowy Winter Night: Are the lousy producers stalking the forum? Open up the Second Beta—! (Shrill scream of a Groundhog)]

[Apostle419: A logical analysis. Is the Pet System released?]

[Chirping Sounds: Anyone drawing an album? Sherlie and the Skeleton Brainiac.]

…

The gamers were responding well to NotWearingPants’ post. After Sherlock finished reading NotWearingPants’ post, he browsed other content in the forum, looking for opinions and compliments.

From the posts, it was easy to see the gamers’ requirements, then they could be added to future “Version Updates.” The Building Blueprint Audit in the previous update was a suggestion Sherlock saw in the forum.

For those who criticized the Dungeon, Sherlock was emotionless. He deleted their posts and banned them forever.

He was a superior Devil without emotion.

…

Tiny pebbles vibrated in sync with loud booming sounds on the road that was hardened by heavy weight. A Beetlemon with black cilium stepped hard on the ground and buried the pebbles deep.

The strong Beetlemon trudged in the tunnel and followed the northern direction.

Green Goblins, each holding a shovel or pickaxe, sat in the chairs that were fixed on the Beetlemon. A black sash criss-crossed on their bodies and was acting as a safety belt.

To ensure that the passengers were not flung out during the high-speed movements of the Beetlemon.

Underneath the Goblins’ feet, on top of the Beetlemon’s shell, were the words “Winterfell Official Beetlemon No.188.”

A gliding Wyvern swept past their heads, and they exclaimed in shock.

The Wyvern overtook the running Beetlemons one by one in the spacious underground tunnel.

The Wyvern flapped its wings and flew higher. The view of the tunnel became clearer.

White vines criss-crossed on the walls of the tunnel, illuminating it.

The north-heading Beetlemons carried passengers and cargo, while the criss-crossing Beetlemons carried soil, ore, or other cargo.

Scattered soil was stomped by the Beetlemons behind, and it created a dust cloud, making the entire tunnel hazy.

The tunnel, which was crawling with the white vines, was a busy transit for cargo transportation, and the end of the tunnel was like a huge dark Hades pit.

Surrounding the huge pit was a circle of magical searchlights. The magical lights infiltrated the pit, penetrated the broiling dust clouds, and illuminated a few hundred meters into the pit.

There were lots of tents and makeshift sheds around the pit.

On the walls surrounding the pit were descending spirals of plank walkways and platforms.

The plank walkways were spacious enough to accommodate Giants. They lumbered while carrying heavy boxes of soil or ore as they made their way up the walkways.

Countless Goblins and Gnomes were seen below the mine shaft, wielding tools as they mined noisily. On the walls of the mine shaft were the large words—”Many rules for construction, efficiency is the number one rule. If mining does not follow regulation, the Dungeon Lord will be sorry.”

And—”Winterfell Ancient Ruins No. 85 Excavation Location.”

Or other similar words.

On a platform at the bottom of the mine shaft was a high tower with three Mana-amplified trumpets that were aimed at the working Underworld creatures in the mine.

A large, fat Groundhog with a yellow metal helmet squinted its eyes while its tiny legs supported a huge, round body. The Groundhog swayed side to side as it walked towards the loudspeakers at the top of the high tower.

At the side was a helmed Orc, who was assembling a dismantled piece of magical equipment. When he saw the Groundhog, he quickly asked, “Supervisor, it’s time for rest. Can we go?”

The large, fat Groundhog said in a deep voice, “No, we haven’t finished the schedule for today. The bosses at the Merchant Alliance are not happy. Within ten days, we have to find Ancient Ruins No. 85. Continue with the digging and complete the assembly of the detector. Install detectors at all excavation points!”

“Ah, I have to shout for overtime again…” After the Groundhog finished speaking, the Orc muttered a complaint and continued working.

That Groundhog walked to the loudspeakers and inhaled deeply. His furry chest was enlarged by the breath intake. Then, he shouted into the microphone with his deep male voice, “Ah—!”

The loud scream of the Groundhog was amplified by the loudspeakers, and it pervaded the pit. The workers heard the scream and worked more furiously.

At the bottom steps of the mine shaft, a helmed Goblin was hitting the hard ore rocks with his pickaxe. After hearing the supervisor’s overtime call, the Goblin’s working speed became faster.

As he hit the ore rocks with his pickaxe, a white object was revealed underneath the rocks.

The Goblin shouted for his nearby comrades to take a look. Before long, tens of Goblins gathered to watch.

A Goblin went to look for the supervisor, while the rest started cleaning up the area.

A large white Rune appeared in the deep pit, and the Goblins shouted excitedly. At the side, a white Skeleton hand broke out of the soil. More and more Skeleton hands appeared from the soil, and Skeletons started crawling out.

…

Another peaceful day in the Eternal Kingdom Dungeon.

A Goblin grabbed his own severed arm as fresh blood dripped to the ground. He followed his companions and chatted merrily as they walked to the Lich’s Burial Hall. This name was given by the gamers, and a signboard was placed at the entrance.

All the buildings of Eternal Kingdom, with the exception of the Dungeon Core, were painstakingly built by the gamers. Before the game producers had given official names to the buildings, the gamers had already named them.

For example, Mufasa’s Dual Use Kitchen, Beginner’s Training Plaza, Eternal Kingdom Main Door, Weapon Storage, Living Quarters, Dungeon Lord Main Hall (Dungeon Core Main Hall), and Main Hall Plaza.

The gamers also assigned names and placed signboards to other buildings and empty spaces.

Nobody dared to fix any signboards at the Blacksmith Shop. Even if Simba didn’t smash the signboard, the line of gamers waiting to improve their equipment would dash out angrily and hack anyone who made a racket.

Two warning signboards were placed a distance away from the Blacksmith Shop.

Though there was no fighting among the gamers, and they appeared united, there were no rules prohibiting the gamers from challenging each other.

When Sherlock stood at the Dungeon Core Main Hall entrance and gazed at the slanted signboard “Dungeon Lord Main Hall”, a gamer with four arms, wielding three Short Swords and a Shield, and whose head had the words NotWearingPants above it, ran and shouted, “Gosh! I obtained the Dark Modification BUFF! It’s very cool!”

NotWearingPants ran behind Sherlock. His two additional hands swung the Short Swords wildly since he wasn’t used to them yet.

The gamers gathered around him excitedly as they gaze at him with envy and jealousy.

Sherlock waited for the gamers to leave before he extended his hand to straighten the signboard. Then, he noticed the unfinished map of Eternal Kingdom that was drawn on the wall.

Sherlock glanced at it a few times before ignoring it. Then, he walked into the Dungeon Core Main Hall.

He noticed a roll of newspaper and a letter on the table.

The newspaper had the words “Winterfell Monthly Digest.”

The letter had the written words “To Eternal Kingdom Dungeon Lord Sherlock—Winterfell Business Unit.”