The Crimson Flame Mining Zone was a sea of fire, its underground veins pulsating with raw magical energy. Miners moved tirelessly, extracting the world's most valuable resource—Mana Crystals.
Standing at the entrance, Aaron gazed at a colossal, rune-etched monolith floating in the air—the Core of the Mining Pool. This stone monument housed the computational power that governed the entire mining zone. To participate, one had to stake assets in order to gain mining rights.
"In this world, wealth isn't earned through labor—it’s determined by computing power."
Aaron had grasped the fundamental rule of this world: every competition was bound by smart contracts on the blockchain. The more computational power one had, the greater their share of the mining rewards.
A translucent interface hovered before him, displaying real-time mining data:
- Total Mining Pool Power: 50,000
- Daily Pool Output: 10,000 Mana Crystals
- Your Power: 200 (0.4%)
- Estimated Daily Earnings: 40 Mana Crystals
"Too low," Aaron frowned. This was nowhere near enough to fuel his future ambitions. If he wanted to thrive, he needed to increase his power and claim a bigger stake in the mining economy.
As Aaron strategized, a man in a black-and-gold robe approached, flanked by armored guards. A crimson emblem gleamed on his chest—a high-ranking node holder, a sign of dominance over a massive share of the mining pool.
"A newcomer, hoping to claim a piece of our pie?" the man sneered.
Aaron met his gaze calmly. "Who are you?"
The man smirked. "Dagus. The second-largest power holder in the Crimson Flame Pool."
With a flick of his fingers, a holographic interface materialized, showcasing his stats:
- Dagus' Power: 15,000 (30%)
- Estimated Daily Earnings: 3,000 Mana Crystals
Aaron's 200 power was laughable in comparison to Dagus' 15,000. The gap was insurmountable.
"You should leave while you can," Dagus chuckled. "The big players have already divided the spoils. Newcomers like you? At best, you’ll pick at our scraps."
Aaron said nothing, his gaze fixed on an option on the mining interface—"Stake Assets to Increase Power."
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The rules were simple: anyone could stake Mana Crystals or valuable magical assets to boost their power and increase their rewards.
Aaron quickly assessed his resources. He had 100 Fire Crystals won from his last battle. If he staked them now, he could drastically increase his computing power.
Without hesitation, he selected "Stake" and confirmed the transaction.
A system notification appeared:
- [Stake Successful]: 100 Fire Crystals
- [Power Increased]: 200 → 1,200
- [Estimated Daily Earnings]: 40 → 240 Mana Crystals
In mere seconds, his power had multiplied sixfold.
The surrounding miners exchanged shocked glances. Even Dagus' arrogant smirk faded.
"Smart move," he admitted. "But it’s not enough."
With a wave of his hand, a new contract materialized in the air—a Mining Pool Challenge Contract.
- [Mining Pool Challenge]: Power Duel—Winner Takes 50% of the Loser’s Staked Assets
- [Challenger: Dagus] - Power: 15,000
- [Defender: Aaron] - Power: 1,200
Aaron's expression darkened. This wasn’t just a duel—it was a death trap.
If he accepted and lost, half of his staked assets would be forfeited, leaving him with almost nothing. But once a blockchain contract was signed, it was irreversible.
Still, contracts were fair, and as long as he could find a way to shift the odds, he had a chance to win.
Facing overwhelming odds, Aaron swiftly accessed his blockchain wallet, scanning his remaining resources.
He grinned. "Not enough power? Then I’ll borrow it!"
Opening the "Computing Power Lending Contract," he pledged his remaining 50 Fire Crystals as collateral and took out a loan of 20,000 power from the network.
- [Power Loan Successful]: +20,000
- [Collateral: 50 Fire Crystals]
- [Interest: 5%]
The moment the contract executed, Aaron’s power skyrocketed to 21,200—surpassing Dagus!
Dagus' smug expression instantly vanished. But the contract had been signed—there was no turning back.
The Mining Pool Core began processing the challenge, comparing their power levels.
The gathered miners held their breath, waiting for the final verdict.
Moments later, the smart contract executed automatically:
- [Challenge Results]: Aaron Wins!
- [Dagus Loses 50% of His Staked Assets]
- [Aaron’s Power Increases to 28,750!]
The entire mining zone erupted in shock!
A mere newcomer had just toppled a major player using nothing but strategy and smart contracts!
Dagus' face twisted in rage, his fists clenching. Without another word, he turned and stormed away.
Aaron watched as his mining rewards skyrocketed, a newfound realization forming in his mind:
"In this world, brute strength alone isn’t enough. Those who master the rules… are the true kings."
This single battle had catapulted Aaron to the top of the mining hierarchy. The other power holders were now watching him with wary eyes.
But Aaron wasn’t satisfied.
The mining pool was only one piece of the puzzle. If he truly wanted to control this world, he had to go further.
He needed to build his own on-chain empire.