Jake spent some time examining the underground tunnels, noting both the corridors constructed by Skullface's people and the various natural tunnels.

The mines built by the humans were straightforward and easy to navigate, while the natural system of underground tunnels was much more haphazard and difficult to traverse. The mines comprised chambers connected by wide tunnels, making them easy to navigate.

As for the natural tunnels, there were all kinds: some were straight, others undulating, and they all varied in width and length. Some seemed to be entirely natural, while others seemed to have been carved out by the insect-like mutants dwelling underground.

Most of the natural tunnels had low ceilings, forcing Jake to crouch to pass through. In certain areas, the passages were so narrow he had to move on all fours, and occasionally, he faced tunnels so tight that crawling on his belly was the only way to get through.

It didn't take Jake long to explore the man-made mines, as they were straightforward and easy to navigate. The mines consisted of several levels. As he already knew, they were accessible only via the elevator from Level A, but there was no elevator connecting the levels of the mines themselves.

Instead, the levels were linked by angled tunnels. The upper levels were abandoned, stripped of all the mana crystals that had once been found there. In contrast, the middle levels were bustling with captives toiling to extract mana crystals from the rocky walls, all while being closely monitored by armed guards.

The bottom level of the mines was deemed the most dangerous because it was closest to the deeper sections of the underground tunnels where the mutated bugs dwelled. Somewhere below this level was also a hiding place for the resistance fighters. For these two reasons, the enslaved survivors toiling on the bottom level were guarded not by armed bandits but by several mechs.

However, the complex and sprawling network of natural tunnels allowed the mutated bugs to strike not just the lowest level but also the upper levels of the mines. Since most of the natural passages connected directly to the higher levels, the bugs could easily bypass the bottom level altogether.

The expansive and intricate network of natural tunnels took Jake longer to navigate than the mines themselves. His Enhanced Intelligence functioned like a computer, allowing him to memorize each tunnel he traversed and form a detailed map of the underground system in his mind. Thanks to this skill, he could always find his way around, exploring various approaches to each level of the mines without ever getting lost. Eventually, he had developed a comprehensive map of the tunnels, and it was now time to move on to the next stage of his plan of action.

He currently clung to the high ceiling of the chamber on the bottom level of the mines, examining the activity taking place below. The tall ceiling was completely shrouded in darkness, but as an additional precaution, he also had his Cloak ability activated.

For a moment, he stayed perfectly still, studying the scene beneath him. Enslaved survivors swung their pickaxes at the rocky walls, working diligently to extract mana consumables embedded deep within. In the center of the chamber, several heavily armored mechs stood watch, each monitoring a different section of the cavern and keeping a vigilant eye on the enslaved workers.

The enslaved survivors wore tattered clothing, dirt-encrusted and frayed at the edges. Their skin was grimy, and their hair was tangled with filth. They all looked tired, their faces reflecting a desperate resignation, but they had no choice but to obey. Just hold on a little longer, Jake mentally said to them. It'll soon be over.

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While he could attack the mechs right then and there, he preferred to coordinate his assault with the resistance fighters. To do that, he first needed to locate them, which meant he had to explore the deeper underground tunnels.

Jake crawled across the ceiling toward a narrow opening that led to a tunnel. Once there, he navigated through a series of tunnels of various widths, heading deeper into the underground network. It wasn't long before he encountered his first group of mutated bugs.

Those creatures kind of looked like mantises but were the size of full-grown humans. Their hard exoskeletons shielded their internal organs, and in battle, they utilized fearsome pincers and fangs. Additionally, they had dragonfly-like wings that allowed them to fly.

Jake continued to venture deeper underground, slaying every group of oversized bugs he encountered along the way and earning hefty chunks of XP in the process.

He had never come across such creatures in the city, as they obviously dwelled only in the depths of the earth. While he hadn't seen these creatures before, he knew that regular monsters yielded only two types of resources: Brain Matter and Rigidbone. It stood to reason that these bugs would yield the same.

In contrast, elite creatures offered unique genetic materials that could unlock new special abilities for his creations. So Jake kept an eye out for any elite bugs. He hadn't spotted one yet, but he was ready to capture one if the opportunity presented itself.

He was far from his lairs, but it didn't really matter. Even at this distance, he could still establish a mental link with them, allowing him to monitor and control everything inside. He also always carried a tumor in his inventory, which could be placed anywhere, even this far from his lairs.

A tumor could only exist for twenty-four hours, but some time ago, Jake discovered an interesting detail about his inventory: it functioned like a stasis chamber. Everything stored there was effectively frozen, meaning his tumor could remain in his inventory indefinitely without needing to be replenished with mana to extend its lifespan.

So if he encountered an elite mutated bug, he would capture it with a cinch net, then retrieve the tumor from his inventory and attach it to a nearby surface. Once it spread into a splotch of Corruption, he would connect to his main lair and, with a mental command, turn the splotch into a Transfer Maw. He would then use this to teleport the captured bug to his main lair, where his drones would check it for any extractable unique genetic materials.

Jake continued to explore the deeper sections of the underground tunnels, searching for the resistance fighters' hideout. It took some time, but he eventually located it in a spacious chamber illuminated by large mana crystals jutting from the rocky walls.

Clinging to the ceiling, Jake looked down at the survivors below. There were about two dozen, all armed with weapons they had clearly taken from bandits during ambushes. Some of the fighters were busy extracting mana crystals, while others kept watch over various tunnels, clearly performing guard duty in case mutated bugs appeared. The rest of the fighters were resting, sleeping on the hard ground and using their rolled-up jackets as makeshift pillows.

Jake located Samantha, the young woman who led the resistance. She sat on the ground in the middle of the cavern, conversing with a few of her people nearby.

It was time to make contact with them. Jake knew he had to make an appearance, but he needed to do so carefully to avoid spooking the humans. So he crawled down the wall to the ground and turned off Cloak, which he had activated upon finding the resistance's hideout.

None of the humans had spotted him yet, as the light from the mana crystals didn't quite reach the area where he was positioned. As Jake slowly stepped from the shadows, he retrieved the electrolarynx from his inventory and pressed it to his mandible.

With another step across the floor, he fully emerged into the central section of the chamber illuminated by a soft blue light. A couple of humans facing his direction spotted him and instantly tensed up, raising their weapons.

Jake quickly said, "Don't shoot. I'm not your enemy. I'm here to help you deal with Los Demonios once and for all."

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