“Damn everything to the lower planes, and curse the lower planes to hell itself!” I swore turning and running as fast as I can back the way I came. My running and pain resistance immediately kicked in and I started pumping more mana into regeneration which slowly started to dissolve the venom. A veritable carpet of the creatures were swarming behind me. And no matter how fast I was pushing myself, channeling [Running] to the max I heard them slowly catching up behind me.
My legs burning I backtracked, the rats seemingly converging from all directions as I ran. Some even managed to get in front of me despite me not seeing any of them on my way. I mostly barged over them, swinging my daggers if they got within striking distance. But no matter how fast I was running I could tell they were quickly converging on me. Desperate I looked around and thought desperately, as some rats jumped to scratch at my armour. Stopping on top of a bridge in a panic I flexed my aura, remembering the pressure brought to bear on me by my father and Lady Xing and emulating it to the best of my abilities. Immediately the rats stopped running pressed to the the ground. Some of those closest even dropping dead at the pressure. However I could immediately feel the pressure draining me as rats ran over the top of one another to get closer until they either backed up or were unable to move further due to my aura.
Congratulations you have killed mutated rat Level 6
…
Congratulations you have killed mutated rat Level 9
Mutated rat Classes were not absorbed
Sighing at relief reading that I slowly backed up, retreating back towards the exit watching the rats scramble around in panic. The rats seemed to be able to withstand the pressure about 3 metres away however any closer and they would succumb, however the stronger ones were able to make it even closer, some attempting to jump at me before collapsing. As I retreated they followed the wall of rats throwing themselves atop one another in their attempts. They were clearly prepared to rip me limb from limb however unable to do so due to my aura, and the numbers were not something I was able to overcome, seeing as there appeared to be no end to their numbers. Attempting to break this impasse using my shadow skills or other abilities was pointless, as they immediately walked through it unharmed. So backing up step by step, the pain mounting was the only solution. It was a race, would my aura fall or would I be able to make it back to the ladder first.
Gritting my teeth as I walked I threw more mana into regeneration and directed it towards my head to see if it would help with the burden any, and whilst it did relieve a slight amount of pressure it immediately sunk my mana down by almost half. But that was okay, I thought as I turned the last corner, the pressure continuously grinding me down. Just a little further. My attempts were clearly weakening as the rats closed the distance, but it would be enough. Taking the biggest steps I could I retreated the last hundred or so metres in a rush, as I felt the pressure in my head reaching a breaking point. However as I reached the ladder to escape a loud barking noise echoed through the tunnels. Immediately the rats all retreated back surrounding the area around the ladder but not coming any closer, clearly preventing me from going anywhere else. Carefully with one hand on the ladder I lowered my aura, feeling a wave of relief as the rats stayed at their distance. Then as I watched a rat larger than the others stepped forward. And when I identified it I almost gasped in surprise.
Mutated Rat Beta Level 15
The rats have a leadership system now? I thought shocked. I had never heard about anything like this before! And I had asked lady Xing if there was anything I needed to know before I came down and she had never mentioned anything like this! I faced the creature gripping both daggers tightly with hands slick with sweat. I also kept my back to the ladder prepared to rush up it and take my chances if necessary. The Rat in front of me made me pause however from leaving immediately. It was almost twice as large as any of the other creatures, and it’s movements conveyed speed, and its jaws seemed significantly more powerful, however most concerningly I saw a spark of intelligence in its eyes. Not human intelligence by any means but a measure of cunning that concerned me greatly. It seemed to stalk me, it’s beady eyes following me closely, as I tracked it. I crouched slightly in preparation to lunge at it and immediately it pounced. Small sickle like claws raked at me as I awkwardly dodged away. Swinging my daggers at it in a poor attempt at a parrey. The Beta easily dodged my attempt even midar it athletically rotated itself between my striking daggers. As it landed it barely paused before charging at me, hissing and growling as it did so. I stabbed down, managing to cut a glancing blow on its side but as a result my arm was in striking distance and it bit down on my wrist. Reflexively I almost dropped the knife as I felt it punch through the softer leather around my hands like a hot knife through skin. I tried to stab it with my other knife in my off hand, however it let go almost immediately. My skin felt very hot where the bite was and immediately I pushed as much mana as possible into regeneration hoping to get whatever contaminant the Rat put in him out. The corresponding burn he felt as his regeneration attempted and seemed to barely overcome the toxin confirmed my choice. More prepared I set myself and we clashed in a whirl of striking blades and flashing claws. Lunging and stabbing out I managed to get some more weak ineffective strikes against its sides, managing to get it to bleed however dealing no significant harm. In return however I had managed to avoid any other bites of my own, managing to protect myself with the tougher leather bracers. The Rat glared, eyes shining with malice clearly in pain from the cuts I had inflicted. Some of the rats around the ring edged closer, and I put my hand back on the ladder. I wanted to kill this animal, and it was clearly willing to fight me one on one but I was prepared to leave with nothing if I needed to.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Barking at the rats that dared encroach on its fight it immediately sprung back at me, but I was prepared. I dodged its leap and managed to drive a dagger fully into its side, finally doing some significant damage to the animal. however the dagger became lodged in its side and as I tried to drag it out with the momentum of its lunge it seemed to catch on something and it was ripped out of my hand.
The rat roared in anger and pain, it’s eyes glowing red as it charged back at me, attacking quicker and with raw fury, it’s claws before doing minimal damage dug into my armour. I stabbed it with my other dagger straight into its eye and it ignored the damage, throwing itself at me with a reckless abandon. I gasped and pain coursed through me as it managed to bite down through a joint at my knee, and causing me to drop to the ground, the knee suddenly unable to support my weight. My hand shaking wit the crippling pain coursing through me I managed to grab the dagger stuck in its side. Viciously with force I didn’t know I possessed I ripped it out dragging the blade along its stomach disemboweling it. The animal let out a vicious scream before finally collapsing to the ground, dead.
Gasping in relief I stumbled over and picked up the corpse, dragging out the knife stuck in its eye and putting the corpse in my storage ring. To prevent the remaining rats from bothering me, as I noticed some were coming back to attack me seeing I was injured, I reactivated my aura. Immediately the rats began to disperse, and within seconds only the blood on the ground showed they had ever been there at all. I also used my remaining regeneration to heal myself up from the bite. Slowly I climbed back out of the sewers my leg still throbbing in pain. Resealing the cover I limped back around to the front of the adventurers guild.
Walking around I got some nasty looks on the busier road, clearly the smell I was emitting was quite unpleasant. Ashamed I quickly ducked in the entrance. Slinking in I hoped to avoid scrutiny as I walked over to the task board, an old wooden cork board running the length of a wall with hundreds of pages scattered haphazardly along them. Some weathered with age and some completely new. There appeared to be no rhyme or reason to there placement with a brand new rat extermination quest next to a worn task for the capture of a live fairie. A woman in nothing but a robe and a man wearing a chain mail shirt and a mace attached to his belt examined the wall for listings. Scanning the room I noticed that all the damage that lady Xing had caused seemed to be completely gone, although some bumps and bruises remained on the patrons. Most of them however seemed to be trying to find solace in their drinks as new faces continued to tease them, seemingly in an attempt to gather more information about what had happened the day prior.
Gosh that feels like a lifetime ago I thought rubbing my shoulder, a phantom pain flaring up. Examining the tasks I found various creatures that would be much better for my skill set I currently had for a low level creature that I could fight one on one or in small groups, such as a new mission in the centre of the board for the elimination of two giant salamanders under level ten that had made their residence just outside the city. Reading these I cursed lady Xing under my breath. Scanning the rest of the board I came up completely empty, there seemed to be no mention of any other rat other than the standard mutated rat quest. I cursed softly, reading the listings in disappointment.
I did not kill this animal to get the same thing as a regular rat I fumed, and marched up to the reception desk.
“Hello Glenda, how… fortuitous it is to see you today I said, feeling slightly guilty as I saw her hand shaking.
“How may I help you today” Glenda squeaked at me looking as if she would rather be anywhere else, her eyes darting around the room and not meeting my eyes as if hoping someone would come and save her from me.
Dumping the corpse of the rat on her desk I responded “I was doing the kill 100 Rats task and they seemed to be organised at least somewhat around this rat. I want to know if this is normal and if there is a different task for this animal.”
Glenda stared at me. Stared at the rat. Stared back at me. “You would be willing to verify that in front of a truth orb?”
I had never used one of those before but in regards to this I had nothing I needed to hide. “Absolutely” I confirmed.
“Please come with me” Glenda said grabbing the rat and sounding much more confident as she lead me up the stairs.
“Where are we going?” I asked curiously looking around at the much nicer rooms, what appeared to be a small library and at the end of the hall.
“Well to the guildmasters office of course” do you think we leave that lying around?” Reaching the end of the hall she knocked loudly on the solid oak door.
“Come in” a familiar voice called, inviting no disagreement.