The crafting interface glowed in front of Finn's eyes, projected from Pebble's twin blue lights.
It looked remarkably similar to the games he had played for years, but somehow more intuitive, more alive. The copper ore he had just collected sat in his inventory, represented by a small icon showing three gleaming chunks of reddish metal.
"Alright, host, pay attention because this is important," Pebble said, his voice taking on a lecturing tone. "Crafting is split into two main categories: guided crafting and manual crafting."
"For now, you will be using guided crafting, which means the system does most of the work for you."
Finn nodded, his eyes fixed on the interface. "And later I can do it manually?"
"Correct! Once your crafting skill reaches a certain level, you will unlock the ability to craft without system assistance."
"That is when you can really start experimenting and creating unique items. But first, let us cover the basics."
The system window shifted to display the recipe for a Basic Iron Pickaxe. Underneath, Finn could see the required materials listed in neat rows: five iron ore, two wooden planks, and one leather strip for the handle grip.
"See this recipe? Right now it is locked because you do not have the materials. But here is the beautiful part about your SSS-Rank system." Pebble's eyes brightened with what could only be described as pride.
"Your crafting menu includes a material substitution feature. For basic recipes, you can use similar materials as temporary replacements, though the resulting item might have slightly different properties."
"Wait, so I could use copper instead of iron?"
"Exactly! The pickaxe would be weaker and wear out faster, but it would work. However, I recommend we gather the proper materials."
"Lucky for you, this tutorial cave has everything you need. Iron veins are deeper in, and there are some old wooden support beams you can harvest for planks."
Finn felt that familiar itch returning, the same compulsive need that had driven him through countless hours of gaming. But this time it was different.
This time, every swing of his pickaxe would produce real results, real progress. He could feel his heart rate picking up with anticipation.
"Show me where the iron is," Finn said, already turning toward the deeper sections of the cave.
For the next hour, Finn mined with the kind of focused intensity that would have worried any reasonable person. His stone pickaxe rose and fell in steady rhythm, each strike perfectly angled thanks to the system's guidance. Copper, tin, and small amounts of coal fell into his inventory as he worked his way through the cave's outer chamber.
[Copper Ore obtained! Quantity: 5]
[Tin Ore obtained! Quantity: 3]
[Coal obtained! Quantity: 7]
[Experience Gained: 30 points]
The notifications kept coming, each one triggering a small rush of satisfaction. Pebble had stopped talking after the first few minutes, seeming content to let Finn work. The little rock just sat on his shoulder, eyes glowing steadily as the system tracked every action.
When Finn finally reached the iron vein Pebble had mentioned, he paused only long enough to admire the dark gray streaks running through the stone before attacking it with renewed vigor. The iron was harder than the copper, requiring more strikes, but that just made obtaining it feel more rewarding.
[Iron Ore obtained! Quantity: 8]
[Experience Gained: 50 points]
[Level Up! You are now Level 3!]
The level-up notification brought a visible change. Finn felt a surge of energy flow through his body, his muscles feeling less tired, his breathing easier. Even the pickaxe seemed lighter in his hands.
"That is the benefit of leveling up," Pebble explained. "Your physical attributes improve automatically."
"Strength, endurance, perception, all of it increases as you level. At your current rate, you will hit level five before nightfall."
Finn grinned, wiping sweat from his forehead. "What happens at level five?"
"The tutorial restrictions lift. You will gain access to the wider cave network, more dangerous areas with better resources, and your first crafting specialization choice. But let us not get ahead of ourselves. You still need wood for that pickaxe handle."
The wooden support beams were exactly where Pebble said they would be, old and weathered but still structurally sound. Finn used his stone pickaxe to carefully break them down, and the system automatically converted the wood into usable planks.
[Wooden Planks obtained! Quantity: 12]
With all the materials finally gathered, Finn opened the crafting interface again. The Basic Iron Pickaxe recipe was now highlighted in green, indicating he had everything needed.
"Just select the recipe and confirm," Pebble instructed. "Your first guided craft is always free in terms of time."
"Normally, crafting takes a few minutes depending on complexity, but the system will speed through it for tutorial purposes."
Finn selected the recipe. The materials in his inventory glowed and seemed to dissolve into particles of light that swirled around his hands. He watched in fascination as the particles condensed and reformed, iron shaping itself into a pickaxe head, wood becoming a smooth handle, everything fitting together with perfect precision.
[Crafting Complete!]
[Basic Iron Pickaxe created!]
[Quality: Common]
[Durability: 100/100]
[Mining Speed: +25%]
[Experience Gained: 100 points]
The finished pickaxe materialized in Finn's hands, solid and real. It was heavier than the stone one, better balanced, and when he took a practice swing, he could feel the difference immediately. This was a proper tool, something that would last.
"Now you are getting it!" Pebble said enthusiastically. "With that pickaxe, you can mine faster and tackle harder materials."
"Your progression speed is already impressive. Most new miners take three or four days to reach level three. You did it in under two hours."
Something shifted in Finn's brain at those words. Three or four days versus two hours. He was progressing four times faster than normal, maybe more.
And this was just the beginning, just the tutorial area with basic resources. What could he accomplish in the deeper caves? In the advanced mining zones?
That old familiar hunger awakened fully. The same drive that had kept him clicking through ninety-six hours of gameplay, the same obsessive need to optimize, to progress, to see just how far he could push himself. Except now there were no arbitrary daily limits, no energy systems to restrict him, no server maintenance to interrupt his flow.
"Pebble," Finn said slowly, a slightly manic edge creeping into his voice. "How many caves are in this network?"
The system guide seemed to hesitate, his glowing eyes dimming slightly. "Well, there are the tutorial caves, then the intermediate network with about twenty connected chambers, and beyond that, the advanced depths with over a hundred mapped locations, not counting the unexplored regions."
"And I can access all of them?"
"Eventually, yes, but you should pace yourself and focus on proper progression instead of rushing ahead without adequate preparation or understanding of the inherent risks involved in deeper exploration."
Finn was already moving deeper into the cave, his new iron pickaxe ready. "You said level five unlocks the wider network, right? How much experience do I need?"
"About 400 more points, but seriously, you should take a break soon and familiarize yourself with other system features before diving into more intensive mining activities."
[Iron Ore obtained! Quantity: 6]
[Experience Gained: 60 points]
Finn did not take a break. Instead, he discovered something wonderful about his SSS-Rank system that Pebble had not mentioned yet.
Every time he mined a resource, there was a small chance of obtaining bonus materials. Sometimes he would strike a copper vein and get not just copper, but also tiny gems or rare metal fragments that other miners might never find.
[Copper Ore obtained! Quantity: 4]
[Bonus: Small Sapphire obtained!]
[Experience Gained: 45 points]
The bonus drops were addictive. Each one felt like winning a lottery, a small burst of dopamine that drove him to mine the next vein, and the next, and the next.
Hours blurred together. The twin suns outside completed their arc across the sky and began to set, painting the cave entrance with orange light that Finn barely noticed.
[Level Up! You are now Level 4!]
[Level Up! You are now Level 5!]
[Tutorial Complete!]
[Advanced Mining Network Unlocked!]
[New Feature Unlocked: Resource Detection]
[New Feature Unlocked: Mining Efficiency Boost]
[Achievement Earned: Speed Demon]
[Bonus: Experience gain increased by 10% for 24 hours]
Finn stood in the middle of the tutorial cave, surrounded by empty ore veins he had completely stripped clean. His inventory was packed with resources.
Copper, iron, tin, coal, various gems, even some gold he had found in a hidden vein near the back wall. The stone pickaxe had broken hours ago, but his iron one was still going strong at sixty percent durability.
"Host," Pebble said quietly, his voice tinged with something between awe and concern. "You have been mining for eight hours straight."
"You cleared the entire tutorial cave network. All three chambers. Most people take a week to do what you just accomplished."
Finn looked at his hands. They should have been blistered and aching, but they felt fine, just slightly tired. The level-ups had kept him going, each one refreshing his stamina and pushing him forward. He checked his status window.
[Name: Finn Grayson]
[Class: SSS-Rank Miner]
[Level: 5]
[Experience: 247/500]
[Strength: 18]
[Endurance: 20]
[Perception: 15]
[Mining Skill: Beginner Level 8]
[Crafting Skill: Beginner Level 3]
Level five in eight hours. Skills progressing rapidly. Resources overflowing.
And according to the map that now displayed in his system window, there were at least twenty more caves waiting for him in the intermediate network, each one promising better materials and faster progression.
"Where is the next cave?" Finn asked.
"Finn, you need to rest. Eat something. Sleep. Your body might feel fine now because of the level-ups, but you are still human. You still need basic care."
Finn finally looked away from the glowing veins deeper in the cave and met Pebble's concerned gaze. The little rock had a point.
He had died once already from pushing himself too hard. But this time felt different. This time he was not destroying himself, he was building something real.
"Okay," Finn said, though his fingers tightened on the pickaxe handle. "I will rest. But first thing tomorrow, we hit the intermediate caves. Deal?"
Pebble sighed, a sound like wind through stone. "Deal. But we are setting up proper meal breaks and sleep schedules. I am not letting you die again on my watch."
Finn smiled and headed for the cave exit, already planning his route through the intermediate network, calculating optimal mining paths and resource gathering strategies. He was level five now, barely started, and already he could feel that old obsession settling in like a comfortable familiar weight.
This time, though, there was no game over screen waiting. Only endless caves, infinite resources, and a progression system with no ceiling. He was going to become the greatest miner this world had ever seen.