[Gray Almond Water] [Fire Salt] [Waterproof Cloth] [Battery]
The supply chest seemed almost unnervingly ordinary, so much so that Yang Tao touched his chin and murmured, "Could this be some kind of transport anomaly?"
He packed all the items into his backpack, yet held the new item, Fire Salt, in his hand.
Fire Salt is a volatile crystalline substance discovered within the Backrooms. When found, the crystals are irregular in shape, ranging from 1 to 5 cm, orange and slightly translucent.
Fire Salt has a low melting point of around 47°C. Once this threshold is reached, the crystal melts into a transparent fiery oil, which can burn effectively even in low-oxygen environments. The oil can be cooled to craft large artificial Fire Salt Ingots.
Most crucially, when thrown, the crystals shatter easily, releasing heat and emitting intense sparks of light, capable of inflicting first- to second-degree burns on anyone struck directly. In the Backrooms, this makes Fire Salt a formidable defensive tool.
"Imagine compressing this into a one-cubic-meter block… exhilarating just to think about."
"I recall there being a Fire Salt mine somewhere… can't remember which level, though. Well, I'll find it when the time comes."
He stowed the Fire Salt in his backpack. Rare on Level 1, it would serve well as a makeshift incendiary device.
Mounting his scooter, he ventured deeper. Supply chests were scarce; it took an hour before Yang Tao found three.
After dispatching the "monster guardians" of the chests, he collected the corpses of Skin Thieves and converted them directly into energy points.
"Ugh, these disgusting creatures again…"
Skin Thieves were abundant across Levels 1–3, so encountering them was nothing unusual.
He called to Erik, "Let's head back."
Summoning a wooden door, they returned to the Main World, where Yang Tao retrieved several bottles of Gray Almond Water from Level 1 and handed them to Erik.
"Keep these for now."
His backpack had once contained Almond Water, but the great explosion had obliterated them all.
Erik accepted the bottles. "Thanks, Yang. My pen is almost out of ink—can you help me find another one?"
"No problem. I'll check Level 2 first; when I get back, I'll fetch you some office supplies."
Yang Tao planned to buy enough notebooks and pens to last Erik indefinitely. Suddenly, he remembered the camera he had promised to purchase but forgotten last time. During the day, he would return to the Conan world to procure everything in one go.
Approaching the wooden door to Level 2, he teased, "You'd better keep your distance. If there's still an explosion, that small frame of yours won't survive. One path only."
Erik immediately ducked behind an oak tree, peeking out with only his head visible.
"All set!"
Yang Tao, impressed, gave a thumbs-up. "You're a real talent."
Cautiously, he opened the door, vigilant. No flames, no explosions—only the lingering smell of scorched air.
Peering inside Level 2, he muttered, "Whoa… everything's burned?"
Previously, the tunnels had been oppressive and chaotic, but now they were a charred wasteland. Blackened surfaces dominated, and the ceiling lights had been shattered by the force and heat. The ground was littered with scorched fragments of incandescent lamps.
"Seems I did something significant… not sure if there are any wanderers or organization members left in this area…"
Before the explosion, perhaps, but afterward, survival was near impossible—unless someone had taken shelter in a room.
Reclaiming Level 2, Yang Tao pulled out a Nuclear Torch from Minecraft, named for its ability to burn indefinitely, providing endless illumination.
Holding the torch, he entered the tunnels, carefully observing. Nothing from his previous deaths remained on the ground—normal, given that fire "deleted" all drops.
The tunnel floor was littered with debris and ash, making the treacherous path even more hazardous.
He struck pipes near the walls with his pickaxe, but no liquid flowed out this time.
"Did it drain elsewhere?"
He frowned slightly; the liquid had been a prime source of energy points. Its absence was regrettable.
"Smile will love this pitch-black environment…"
No sooner had he spoken than a glowing face appeared in the darkness.
Yang Tao paused. Smile thrived in darkness and was attracted to light, and with his ability to draw entities, it was unsurprising to see them here.
But…
Smile congregates in numbers???
The dark faces were not solitary; the minimap revealed more Smile entities approaching from afar.
Yang Tao considered whether their numbers were worth the cost to repair his shield.
"Open the door!"
Softly calling, a wooden door appeared behind him. He raised a middle finger at the approaching Smile faces and retreated inside. Provoked, they surged forward—but no matter their speed, they could not match Yang Tao's retreat to the Main World.
A sudden thought struck him. Leaving the door open, he wondered if any Smile could slip through.
Bang! The entities collided with an invisible barrier, unable to enter. Only the sound of impacts echoed.
They're restricted? Entities can't cross?
A relief—at least he need not worry about them invading his resurrection point.
Grinning mischievously, Yang Tao drew his iron sword and thrust it toward the Smiles outside the door.
"Come bite me! I'll stab again! Come on, fight me!"
Numbers floated above the lead Smile's head, yet it could do nothing against him.
The strange sound it emitted signaled retreat; the gathered Smiles dispersed but lingered in the darkness, fixating on him.
"Clever little things…"
Smile operates in packs, communicates, and even wages war on other entities.
"Short on numbers, huh? Fine—don't leave. I'll fetch some pumpkins, and then we'll have a proper game!"