As the red bone key turned, the blast gate rumbled deeply and slid open.
A visible wave of white cold air surged out, like living tentacles licking everyone's skin.
"So cold."
Quinn shivered, gripping her sword hilt tighter. "Boss, the aura here is wrong. Much more dangerous than above. Should we send a scout first..."
"No need."
I cut her off. My tone carried an unquestionable confidence—or rather, arrogance.
I patted my brand new tactical stab-proof vest and pointed to the ten-man squad behind me, armed to the teeth.
"Look at our gear. Carbon fiber compound bows, armor-piercing arrows, flashbangs, and Molotovs I brought from Reality." I smiled, eyes shining with a blind faith in firepower. "With this generation gap in weaponry, the things down here are just unevolved beasts."
The smooth sailing of the last few days had made me float.
From slaughtering zombies like chopping vegetables, to wiping out the Black Shark Gang, to building an arsenal—everything went too smoothly. I felt like the protagonist of this world. With the System and supplies from Reality, there was no dungeon I couldn't flatten.
"Shadow, lead the way." I waved my hand. "Full speed ahead."
Shadow walked point. He wasn't relaxed as usual. Every step was heavy, tail tucked.
"Victor," Shadow's voice echoed in my head, warningly. "Put away your arrogance. The smell here is ancient. Evil. Your toys might not work."
"Relax, I know what I'm doing." I brushed him off, not taking it to heart.
The team entered the contaminated zone.
Walls covered in thick dark-red creep, hanging with white cocoons.
Hiss...
Hissing from above. A dozen "Cave Hunters" darted from the shadows, fast as lightning.
"Ambush!" Quinn yelled.
"Don't panic! Free fire!" I shouted commands, even finding time to comment. "Let these natives see the power of modern industry!"
Thrum! Thrum! Thrum!
Dense bowstrings sang.
The advantage of gear was on full display. The agile hunters were skewered by AP arrows before they could reach us, falling like rain.
Less than a minute. Fight over.
Floor littered with corpses. Us? Zero casualties.
"Haha! Boss is mighty!" "These bows are amazing! One shot, one kill!"
The squad cheered excitedly. The tension broke completely. Looking at the corpses, fear vanished, replaced by worship of the gear and blind trust in me.
I smiled too. The thrill of controlling everything inflated my ego further.
"See?" I raised an eyebrow at Quinn and Shadow. "This is a stomp. Clean up, we push deeper! Straight to the boss!"
"Boss, should we rest? Everyone used a lot of stamina..." Quinn suggested.
"Rest for what? Maintain momentum!" I waved my hand, ignoring tactical caution. "While they haven't reacted, we take out their nest!"
Victory went to my head.
I thought this was a simple harvesting game.
Little did I know, I was leading these brothers who trusted me, step by step, into the Reaper's slaughterhouse.