Thomas stared at the [Explosives Crafting] skill description in disbelief. "This is less ''explosives crafting'' and more ''bomb making,'' isn''t it?" he muttered.


    Focusing his attention, he opened the [Explosives Crafting] skill interface. A dense list of explosives filled the screen, much like the crafting menu at the medical station. There was, however, a crucial difference. While the medical station, bathroom, and kitchen automatically produced items once the materials were supplied, [Explosives Crafting] was entirely manual. The list provided detailed recipes, procedures, and precautions for each explosive, essentially a comprehensive, step-by-step instruction manual. Thomas would have to craft everything himself.


    This realization left him stunned. His eyes scanned the top entries: nitroglycerin, mercury fulminate… "Holy crap! Are you kidding me? Making this stuff myself? That''s a death wish!" He finally understood why the skill boosted crafting success rates and reduced accident chances. This was the kind of thing that could blow you to smithereens.


    For a moment, Thomas felt a pang of regret. But he quickly rallied. The skill was rare, one of only two he possessed. The other, [Stealth Operations], was a passive ability. He had to at least try.


    He contacted Howie Wang in the forest zone, ordering a 0.8 x 1.2 meter workbench, a wooden chair, and a four-tiered wooden shelf for beakers, test tubes, and chemicals. Howie, ever efficient, completed the order in ten minutes. Thomas traded him another bowl of Nourishing Mutton Stew as payment. Lumber was a precious commodity these days, and Howie wouldn''t have taken the order from just anyone.


    Upon receiving the furniture, Thomas rearranged his hideout. He cleared the corner where he stored fuel, placing the workbench and chair there. The shelf went against the opposite wall. The displaced fuel and lumber were piled in the hallway between the entrance and the living area. He wasn''t about to risk blowing up his fuel supply.


    Ready to begin, Thomas opened the [Explosives Crafting] skill list, searching for a suitable first project. His gaze settled on one entry: Nitrocellulose. The description read: Nitrocellulose has wide applications in various fields, including but not limited to military products, coatings, printing, and more.


    Thomas was somewhat familiar with nitrocellulose. His pre-apocalypse fascination with firearms had taught him it was a key ingredient in gunpowder. Its relatively low risk made it perfect for a first attempt, and he had all the necessary materials.


    He gathered the beakers, measuring cups, glass stirring rod, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and cotton from the shelf and brought them to the workbench. He checked the temperature in the corner. Being farther from the living area, it was noticeably cooler, which was intentional. 10°C. Perfect.


    Taking several deep breaths, Thomas began. Following the instructions, he prepared an ice bath. He measured out the precise amounts of nitric acid and sulfuric acid, pouring them into a beaker. The beaker immediately heated up. His heart leaped. Anyone who''d dabbled in explosives knew that heat and light were bad signs.


    He quickly plunged the beaker into the ice bath, stirring vigorously with the glass rod until the temperature returned to normal. Then, he carefully added the pre-weighed cotton, immersing it in the acid mixture and stirring gently. The beaker warmed again, and he repeated the cooling process, maintaining a temperature between 10°C and 20°C. He breathed a sigh of relief.


    Now, all that remained was to wait. After fifteen minutes, the nitration process was complete. Using the glass rod, Thomas transferred the nitrocellulose to a large beaker and headed to the bathroom. He rinsed the nitrocellulose repeatedly, six or seven times, then drained the excess water. He filled another beaker with fresh water, added a pinch of baking soda, and stirred to dissolve. He immersed the nitrocellulose in the solution, stirring gently to neutralize any remaining acid. He rinsed it again with clean water and tested it with pH paper to ensure neutrality.


    Finally, he blotted the nitrocellulose dry with paper towels and returned to the workbench. He carefully spread the fibers on a wooden board to dry. Only then did he truly relax. This was the least dangerous explosive, and he''d still been on edge. He knew it was mostly first-time jitters. With practice, he''d become more comfortable.


    Perhaps it was an effect of the Apocalypse Game, but within minutes, the nitrocellulose was completely dry. Surprised, but more curious about the results, he gathered the dried material. He placed a thumb-sized piece on the floor tile and pulled out a lighter.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Click!


    With a flicker of anticipation, he touched the flame to the—


    —nitrocellulose.


    "Whoosh…"


    The nitrocellulose flared brightly for an instant, then vanished, leaving no smoke or residue. If Thomas hadn''t conducted the experiment himself, he would have dismissed it as a hallucination.


    "Yes!" he exclaimed, a surge of satisfaction washing over him. While the burning nitrocellulose hadn''t produced any tangible effect, the successful test filled him with a profound sense of accomplishment. This [Explosives Crafting] skill was incredible! If he could synthesize nitrocellulose, what other explosives were within his reach?


    His mind flashed to a scene from a pre-apocalypse action movie. The protagonist, trapped in prison, used a piece of chewing-gum-sized emulsion explosive to blast a hole in the wall and escape. He vaguely recalled the actor''s name: something like… Jason Statham.


    An idea sparked. Thomas quickly scrolled through the [Explosives Crafting] skill list, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "This will do nicely."


    <b>Remote-Detonated Emulsion Explosive</b>


    Requirements: Ammonium Nitrate x2, Sodium Nitrate x3, Petroleum Jelly x1, Paraffin Wax x1, Urea x1, Emulsifier x2, Sensitizer x1… Mercury x1, Nitric Acid x2, Ethanol x3… Cell Phone x1, Electronic Components x4, Lithium Battery x1, Capacitor x1…


    Instructions: Combine ammonium nitrate… in the water phase tank according to the specified ratios…


    The complex list of requirements gave Thomas pause, but he was determined to acquire the Arctic Snow Lotus tomorrow. He checked his shelves, only to find he was missing a crucial ingredient: ammonium nitrate.


    He posted a request in the regional chat. A reply came quickly.


    [Andrew Jackson: Legend Smyth, you looking for fertilizer?]


    [Thomas Smyth: ??? No, I need ammonium nitrate.]


    [Andrew Jackson: Ammonium nitrate is fertilizer. The commercial stuff is treated, but I have pure ammonium nitrate.]


    This was news to Thomas. After some questioning, he learned that Andrew''s starting location was near a fertilizer plant. He''d looted it early on, securing a supply of raw ammonium nitrate. Thomas was amazed. He''d encountered survivors with starting resources like fuel, lumber, and ore, but never fertilizer.


    Intrigued, he quickly finalized the trade, exchanging a bowl of Nourishing Mutton Stew for 100 pounds of ammonium nitrate. Just as he was about to end the conversation, another thought struck him.


    [Thomas Smyth: You said you cleared out the fertilizer plant. Did you find any fertilizer or anything that promotes the growth of rare plants?]


    His question seemed to surprise Andrew. Three minutes passed before a reply arrived.


    [Andrew Jackson: Well, Legend Smyth, you already have a rare plant! I do have something that boosts rare plant growth – [Image: Type I Plant Growth Solution]. Is this what you''re looking for?]


    [Image: Type I Plant Growth Solution]


    Type: Rare Item


    Effect: Exclusive growth solution for rare plants. +100% growth speed, +100% growth consumption.


    Duration: 7 days


    Description: A mass-produced plant growth solution developed in the early stages of Titan Labs. Highly cost-effective.


    Note: Ensure adequate nutrient supply after application. This is crucial.


    "Huh…" Thomas stared at the item description, astonished. He''d asked on a whim, expecting nothing. Yet, here it was. And Titan Labs… another new lab name to remember. He refocused on the growth solution.


    +100% growth speed meant double the growth rate. If he used it on the Breathing Pothos, it would produce offspring every day and a half instead of every three days. Over seven days, that meant at least four new cuttings.


    He paused, then shook his head. That wasn''t quite right. He''d acquired the Pothos yesterday. In two more days, it would produce its first offspring. With the solution, it could potentially yield five new cuttings over seven days. Five new cuttings, plus the mother plant, made six. The Oceanborn gene-enhancing potion required two. He''d have four left over.


    "This is…" Thomas was ecstatic. But he needed to secure the solution first. Tamping down his excitement, he carefully composed his reply.


    [Thomas Smyth: That works. I''ll trade you three bowls of Nourishing Mutton Stew for it.]


    Andrew''s response, however, made him frown.


    [Andrew Jackson: I''ll give you the solution for free. I just have one request. If your plant produces any extra fruit or cuttings, I''d like one.]


    This was unexpected. Under normal circumstances, sharing a cutting wouldn''t be a problem. But the next disaster was a flood. His hideout would be submerged, and he''d need the Breathing Pothos for oxygen.


    He considered his options.


    [Thomas Smyth: I can''t agree to that for just this solution. Its effects are average, and I won''t have any extra cuttings to spare.]


    Thomas anxiously awaited Andrew''s reply, a flicker of hope in his eyes. He was gambling that Andrew had a more potent growth solution. If there was a Type I, there had to be a Type II, Type III, and so on.


    Silence hung heavy in the chat. After a while, Thomas turned to the workbench, preparing the materials for the emulsion explosive. He wanted the solution badly, but he knew this was a game of psychological tug-of-war. He could picture Andrew on the other side, equally tense, waiting for him to crack.


    But Thomas chuckled softly. He did want the solution, but he held the trump card: the rare plant. It would grow without the solution, albeit slower. Andrew, on the other hand, had no use for an abundance of growth solution without a rare plant to use it on. He couldn''t exactly drink it.


    Thomas wasn''t sure if he was the only one with a rare plant, but they were undoubtedly scarce. And that was the foundation of his gamble.