Sato began walking slowly along the tunnel. The small stones embedded in the walls gave off a faint, ghostly light—just enough to keep him from stumbling blindly into the dark. The passage was vast and endless, stretching deeper with every step. The air grew colder, heavier, carrying the smell of wet stone and something older… something metallic, like dried blood.
He tried to stay calm, but a quiet unease settled in his chest. Something felt wrong. The tunnel was too quiet. Too still. He walked faster, his boots echoing softly against the stone.
After passing several large boulders, a strange sensation crept over him—like invisible eyes watching from the shadows. Then he heard it: low, skittering sounds. Something moving. Scratching. Scurrying.
The tunnel was wide and dark. The dim glow wasn't enough to see clearly. Sato stopped, gripping the Asam Sword tightly in both hands now—his left arm fully regenerated, fingers flexing with unfamiliar strength.
The skittering grew louder. Closer.
Then, from the darkness ahead, a shape burst out.
A massive rat-like creature lunged straight for him.
Sato reacted on instinct—raising the sword just in time. The monster's jaws clamped down on the blade instead of his throat. It snarled, shook its head violently, then released and retreated a few steps, glaring at him with glowing red eyes.
Sato stared.
It was huge—at least the size of a large dog. Its fur was matted and dark reddish-brown, teeth long and yellow, claws curved like daggers. But its skin… it looked hardened, almost armored, glinting faintly under the dim light.
"Damn it… what the hell is this thing?" Sato muttered, his voice shaking slightly with adrenaline and fear.
The creature lunged again.
This time Sato was ready. He sidestepped and swung hard.
The blade struck its side—but the sound was like metal hitting stone. Sparks flew. The creature barely flinched.
"Son of a… its skin is too tough," Sato hissed, frustration rising. "My strike didn't do anything."
The monster attacked once more—this time aiming low, slashing at his leg.
Its claws raked across his calf.
Pain flared. Blood welled up.
Sato staggered back, but he expected the wound to close quickly—Regeneration had been working fine.
Instead… his leg went numb. Heavy. Like it was falling asleep. He could barely move it.
A blue window appeared in his vision.
[Alert: You have been afflicted with Paralysis.]
The affected body part will not recover until you obtain an antidote or eliminate the source of the poison.
Sato's eyes widened.
"You bastard," he growled, anger mixing with rising panic. "Not only is your skin tough—you're poisonous too?"
The rat-thing circled him, red eyes glowing, waiting for him to weaken.
Sato gritted his teeth.
No time to hesitate.
He lunged.
The creature dodged, but Sato was faster now—Agility carrying him forward. He brought the sword down hard on its head.
This time the blade sank in.
The monster screeched, thrashed once, then collapsed, black blood pooling beneath it.
[Congratulations! You have defeated Hard-Skinned Underground Rat (Level 20).]
[EXP gained: +300]
[Congratulations! You have obtained Hard-Skinned Rat Claw (Material).]
Sato stood there, breathing heavily, staring at the corpse.
His leg finally returned to normal. The poison's grip loosened, and the wound closed under Regeneration's slow, painful work. Sato flexed his foot, testing it. The ache lingered, but he could move freely again.
He turned to the tunnel ahead, staring into the darkness.
What else is waiting down there? he wondered, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach. More of those things? Something worse?
Then, without warning, the same crawling sensation swept over his body—like invisible eyes boring into him from the shadows.
The skittering started again.
This time, it was louder. A chorus of claws scraping stone. Multiple. Many.
Sato's senses sharpened. He tensed, sword ready.
The wound on his foot had been minor; it healed almost instantly.
From the darkness, another rat lunged.
Sato was ready. He sidestepped smoothly, letting it sail past.
But as he dodged, a second one burst from the shadows on his other side and raked his leg again. Fresh pain flared. Blood welled up.
Sato staggered, gritting his teeth.
A third leaped straight at him.
This time he was faster. He ducked low and thrust upward. The Asam Sword sank into the creature's throat. It gurgled once and collapsed, black blood pooling.
One down.
Another came from behind.
Sato spun, swinging hard. The blade caught it across the side—not deep, but it staggered the beast and sent it crashing into the wall.
He straightened, breathing hard.
Then he saw them.
Dozens of red eyes glowing in the dark.
"Damn it… five more of these bastards," he muttered, frustration and fear mixing in his voice.
But the eyes kept multiplying.
Ten.
Twenty. Or... more than that
Sato's heart sank.
Too many.
He turned and ran.
He knew fighting them head-on was suicide. The best chance was to escape, to find a better spot, to think.
His legs pumped, but the fresh wound slowed him. Poison burned in his veins again. His movements grew heavier.
He needed to think fast.
If they attacked one by one, he might have a chance. He had noticed—their hides were tough, but the skull was vulnerable. A direct hit there could end them.
But with so many… it was impossible.
And their claws were poisoned. Every scratch would make things worse.
The skittering grew louder. They were closing in.
Then—a new notification flashed.
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 10.]
[You have gained +3 Stat Points.]
Sato almost laughed—bitter, exhausted.
At least it came when I needed it, he thought. Just when I was wondering what to do. This might make things a little easier.
He focused on the panel, hand shaking.
What do I need most right now?
He needed to move. To dodge. To survive.
+2 Agility
+1 Endurance
The change hit him instantly.
His body felt lighter. Faster. The fatigue in his muscles eased. His steps grew surer, quicker.
He ran harder.
The tunnel narrowed ahead. He squeezed through a crack between boulders, hoping it would slow the pack.
The rats tried to follow, but their bulk got stuck.
Sato pressed his back against the stone, chest heaving.
For a moment, silence.
The rats waited.
Patient. Hungry.
One wrong move, and Sato knew it would be over.
Running like this is useless. It would only tire me out faster, he thought bitterly to himself. His chest heaved, lungs burning. Every step sent fresh pain through his wounds. The poison from their claws still lingered, dulling his reflexes, making his limbs feel heavy.
He stopped.
The skittering slowed, as if the creatures sensed his hesitation.
One rat lunged from the shadows.
Sato reacted on instinct—thrusting the Asam Sword straight into its open mouth. The blade punched through the soft palate and into the brain. The creature convulsed once and dropped, lifeless.
But the others didn't wait.
They swarmed.
Sato's improved Agility saved him from the worst of it. He twisted, dodged, parried. Claws grazed his side. Teeth snapped inches from his throat. He slashed low, catching one across the belly. It screeched and fell.
Another bit his left arm—hard. Pain flared. Blood flowed.
He swung again, but a second rat raked his left leg. The poison burned instantly—his knee buckled.
He staggered.
A third leaped from the front.
Sato ducked under the attack, stabbing upward. The blade sank into its chest. It dropped.
He backed away, breathing hard.
More came.
He was surrounded.
Claws tore his shoulder. Teeth sank into his calf again. Poison coursed through him. His vision blurred.
He swung wildly, forcing them back a step.
But they were relentless.
He retreated, blood trailing behind him, until his back hit the tunnel wall.
No more room.
Panic rose in his throat.
I need something… anything, he thought desperately. They're wearing me down. Waiting for me to collapse.
Then he remembered.
Veyra.
The way she had moved—fast, precise, cutting through multiple enemies in a single breath.
A flash of memory: her axe blurring, bodies falling.
Sato's eye widened.
That's it.
He gripped the sword with both hands, knuckles white.
He closed his eye.
Focused.
Something pulsed inside him—faint, but there.
He waited.
The rats sensed weakness. They charged.
Five of them at once.
Sato felt it—blue threads in the air. Lines of movement. Paths of attack.
He opened his eye.
And moved.
The sword flashed.
Not one slash.
Not two.
Three.
In a single, fluid motion—impossibly fast.
The first strike caught the lead rat across the throat.
The second sliced through the next one's chest.
The third severed the third's spine.
All three dropped at once, heads tumbling, bodies collapsing in a spray of black blood.
Sato stood there, breathing hard, sword still humming with faint blue light.
[Congratulations! You have unlocked Single Slash Lv.1 (Active Skill)]
A single, extremely fast and precise strike. Mana cost: 10 per use. Cooldown 5 second
A tired, feral grin spread across his face.
He looked at the remaining rats.
"Come on," he whispered.