NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: Big Rats
They stepped into the narrow tunnel, noting how the architecture had shifted abruptly. The crumbling palace walls and ancient carvings were gone, instead the path had transformed into a rough earth tunnel.
It was dark, devoid of the luminous fungi that had lit their way earlier, and they quickly struck up their torch, casting flickering shadows against the walls. The flames stretched ahead, barely illuminating the tunnel's end.
John swallowed, feeling a chill settle into his bones. There was something wrong about this place. An ominous weight seemed to press down on him like a silent warning from the Dungeon itself. He gripped his sword tighter then glancing at the others to see if they felt it too.
They advanced with deliberate caution. Marik and his turtle led the way, the latter walking along with a surprising speed that seemed unnatural for a that kind of creature. Watching it, John reminded himself once again that these Beasts weren't bound by the laws of normal animals. They were Dungeon-born who imbued with abilities and qualities that made them strange and powerful.
The silence stretched and almost feels oppressive. No skittering of rats anymore, no rustling of hidden Beasts. Just a deep quiet. John's skin prickled. Something was wrong. It was too quiet.
"Be careful," Irene whispered with eyes that keep looking ahead.
The others gave small nods, each tightening their hold on their weapons.
After several tense minutes, they arrived at the tunnel's end, stepping through a fractured stone wall into another chamber of the ancient palace. This room was much the same as the others, aged stone pillars and faded carvings greeted them from a long-lost civilization. But here, something else waited.
Two enormous figures stood in the center of the room, each the size of a grown man. Massive rats, far larger than any they'd encountered before, their red eyes glowing with hunger. They bared long, yellowed fangs and their claws scraped against the stone floor and releasing a menacing scratch. The creatures' mangy fur bristled as they focused on the intruders.
"Oh, there it is," Marik muttered, bracing his shield, his voice was calm despite the tension.
Inky growled beside John, sensing the situation.
One of the giant rats snarled, before it lunged forward and slashing down its claws.
Marik surged forward, meeting the lunging rat head-on with his shield raised high. The creature's full weight crashed against him but Marik stood his ground and barely flinching under the impact.
John watched in awe, the force of the blow look strong enough yet Marik held his ground as if it were nothing. So he was that strong!
"Move!" Irene shouted then run to Marik's side. Her blade slashed and finding the rat's thick hide but only grazing its surface.
Before they could recover, the second giant rat charged with red eyes that locked onto them. Now both beasts were attacking with their fangs bared and claws scraping against stone.
John took a steadying breath. He knew charging in blindly would be reckless; he don't have any proper training with his sword and would be no match for these creatures in direct combat.
Instead, he glanced down at Inky, reaching out through their mental link.
"Inky, use your skill," he instructed.
A line of text appeared before John's eyes:
Inky is using Dark Shroud!
The shadows in the room thickened around John and Inky, shrouding them in a dark and near-invisible veil. Hidden within the deeper shadows of the chamber that not lightened up by the torches, John moved quickly and silently, weaving his way to the back of the rat facing Marik. His breathing slowed and he allowed himself a quick glance at the text that appeared in his vision as he activated his Beast Insight Vision.
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You activate Beast Insight Vision (Novice stage 7/100).
Species: Dungeon Rat Brute
Rank: Common Beast
Strength: Moderate
Agility: Moderate
Endurance: Moderate.
Weakness: Eyes, neck.
Special Abilities: Frenzy Charge, Hardened Claws
Taming Method: Dominance, Empathy Bond Ritual.
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John's eyes narrowed as he focused on the rat's exposed flank, pinpointing the sensitive spots on its neck and eyes.
But he still have a problem. He just realized how vague the stats his abbility showed him. They only show him their stats in vague detail like High, Moderate, or Low, Not an exact number and John sure that a "Moderate" from a Common Rank Beast is different from "Moderate" of Rare Rank Beast.
He have to figure that out later.
Moving in silence, John slipped behind the first rat, his body cloaked in shadows from Inky's skill so he is undetectec. He then drove his sword directly into its eye.
The creature let out a blood-curdling shriek, thrashing wildly as blood poured down its face. Without hesitating John plunged his blade repeatedly into its neck, cutting through fur and flesh until the rat's movements stopped and its body collapsing lifelessly onto the stone floor.
John took a quick, steadying breath. The urge to try taming it flickered in his mind but he pushed it aside. There was no time to risk such an attempt now.
"Aim for its neck and eyes!" he called out, his voice carrying across the room.
Irene hearing the shout even though she have no idea where John is. She immediately adjusted her stance but the second rat, enraged by its companion's death, turned on her with new aggression.
It swiped with fierce claws, catching her off-guard and throwing her backward into the shadows. Her torch clattered away, its light flickering out as it hit the floor.
"Dammit," John muttered under his breath. Without hesitation, he darted toward the second rat with his body still invisible in the darkness. The beast whipped its head around, nostrils flaring as it searched for him, but it couldn't detect a thing.
Then, from the shadows, Inky sprang forward, sinking his fangs into the rat's neck. The creature snarled, trying to shake off the unexpected attack but John seized the opportunity. He lunged in from the other side, his sword stab deep into the rat's exposed neck.
"Hold back. Don't kill it!" he murmured to Inky through their link, controlling the creature's urge to kill.
Inky released his grip slightly, his dark eyes gleaming with restraint, as John prepared to attempt the next critical step.
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You are now able to Tame the Dungeon Rat Brute with Dominance!
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