As the group ventured deeper into the dungeon, the map they acquired became their most prized possession. It wasn’t a straightforward layout – corridors twisted and turned in on themselves, rooms branched off randomly, and staircases led to dead ends.
Every so often, the flickering shadows of the torchlight would catch the glinting eyes of Kobolds. They lurked in the darkness, watching, waiting for an opportunity to strike. But with Sera’s strength, Anders and Zayzal’s skill, and Kaldrik’s magic, they were dispatched with relative ease.
One particularly narrow corridor was dotted with pressure plates. "Traps," Anders muttered, pointing to the ceiling where spikes seemed to await any unwary footstep.
Sera picked up a small stone and threw it onto a plate. Immediately, a pit opened beneath it, revealing a monstrous worm with nasty-looking teeth wriggling and waiting for prey to fall. "Not just traps," she remarked, "but living ones."
After successfully navigating the pressure plates, they stumbled upon a secret chamber concealed behind a rough stone door. Within were chests filled with armor – leather vests that felt as light as air but strong as metal, chainmail that was intricately crafted, and helms that bore symbols of a double-headed eagle*.
The team took a moment to equip themselves, knowing that better protection would be essential for whatever lay ahead. However, the villagers didn’t receive anything as Zayzal, Sera, Anders, and Kaldrik were doing most of the work
Hours seemed to meld together as they traversed the dungeon. Their food and water supplies dwindled, and fatigue weighed heavily on their limbs. Several times, they had to fend off Kobolds, who appeared to be growing in number and coordination. The little creatures were learning and adapting to their tactics.
One room, one that was completely out of place, appeared to be a serene garden. A spring bubbled in its center, surrounded by moss-covered stones and flowering plants that emitted a soft, ethereal glow. It would've been a perfect place to rest were it not for the stone golem that rose from the ground the moment Zayzal approached the water.
The battle was fierce. The golem, while slow, was nearly impervious to their attacks. But with strategy and teamwork, they managed to topple the creature, using its own weight against it. As it crumbled, it revealed a chest containing potions of varying colors and a beautifully crafted dagger, which Sera quickly claimed. They used that time to rest and recover.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they stood before a grand door. Massive in scale, it stood at least 3 meters tall and had a carving of a black plague mask on it. This was undoubtedly the boss room.
"We made it," Anders panted, leaning on his spear.
But Zayzal, pointing to the emblem, had a concerned look. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting a bad feeling about this one.”
Even Kaldrik’s normally cold, blue eyes had narrowed upon seeing the plague mask.
“The fact that the dungeon is giving us the option to turn back is already a bad sign,” Sera remarked, having already caught her breath. She was decked out in all kinds of armor–leather, chainmail, helmet, and armguards. With her as the tank, they were able to bulldoze through most of the dungeon.
She wasn’t aware of what the symbol represented, so she wasn’t worried about what was on the other side, unlike the others.
After contemplating various plans and guessing what might be on the other side of the door, Kaldrik glanced back at the villagers, shook his head with a smirk, and made his way forward. “No point in standing around here jerking each other off. I’m not leaving until every rat here is dead.” He put emphasis on “rat”, making everyone narrow their eyes.
Then, he pushed on the door before anyone had a chance to stop him. It slid against the rough stone ground before it opened, revealing a large open room with torches lining the walls. Piles of bones littered the area, and a scent of death pervaded their nostrils, forcing them to take a few steps back as they readied their weapons.
Suddenly, high-pitched squeaks filled their ears, and they knew exactly what they were facing.
In the center of the room, the rats swarmed like some sort of amorphic eldritch creature. Amidst the writhing mass, an immense rat stood proudly, its size comparable to a human, with black fur and eyes that glowed an ominous shade of red. Its teeth dripped with nasty purple venom, while its claws looked like they had been corrupted.
The sheer number of rats was overwhelming, a sea of vermin stretching almost as far as the eye could see. They climbed all over one another, their hissing and squeaking echoing throughout the chamber, making their skin crawl.
There was no mistaking it - this was the dungeon's boss, and it was unlike any challenge they had faced so far.
For a split second, the room was silent. A heavy weight of dread and anticipation settled over everyone. The villagers, eyes wide with terror, clung to each other, their earlier bravado gone.
Zayzal, switching to his short sword and dagger, took a deep breath, readying himself for the onslaught. Anders, drawing out a long knife, felt sweat trickle down the side of his face.
Kaldrik, who had moments before been so eager to charge into the room, now stood frozen, taking in the horrific sight. The smirk that had graced his lips only moments before had vanished, replaced by a grim frown.
Sera, despite being the most armored and prepared, couldn't suppress a shiver. She might have been ignorant of the symbolism behind the plague mask, but the reality of the situation was clear. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.
“It's... it's like a nightmare,” whispered one of the villagers, her voice trembling.
“Oh, hell no! Get me out of here!” Someone screamed and attempted to turn around and escape, but he felt someone grab the back of his neck.
“I don’t think so.” Kaldrik’s cold voice entered his ear, causing him to shiver. Then, without warning, he tossed the poor village man into the boss room. He stumbled about, trying to catch his footing, before he realized what had just happened.
“Y-You!” He glared at Kaldrik, his eyes full of hatred. “YOU BASTARD! I’ll fucking kill-! UGH!”
Before he could even finish his sentence, a swarm of rats had already scurried over to him, digging their teeth into his skin. They climbed all over each other, reaching every inch of their body as they ripped out chunks of his flesh.
Everyone watched in horror at what just happened, but Kaldrik just watched cooly. He formed a fireball in his hand and tossed it at the writhing, screaming pile of flesh. Instantly, the tower of vermin was ignited, followed by the screams of the villager and the screeches of the rats. A few more fireballs landed on them for good measure, and it didn’t take long before they all lay dead on the ground.
The group stared in horror at the charred remains of the villager and the rats. The smell of burned flesh and fur permeated the air. Kaldrik, unaffected by his actions, turned his back to the scene.
“Foolish,” he spat, eyes glaring at the group. “We can't afford any weakness or hesitations.”
“That was too cruel,” Zayzal growled, his grip tightening on his weapons. “He was one of us.”
“Was,” Kaldrik retorted coldly, “Now, he's just bait.”
A moment of tense silence hovered between them, each of them fighting the urge to confront Kaldrik for his heartless action. They were interrupted by Sera’s firm voice, snapping them back to the dire situation.
“We don't have time for this!” She yelled, pushing past the shocked adventurers and putting herself between them and the approaching swarm. “Kaldrik, you and I will have words after this, but for now, focus on the damned rats!”
As if on cue, the horde charged. The sheer number of rats created a wave of fur, teeth, and aggression, rapidly closing the distance. Zayzal, his dagger and sword shining in the dim light launched into action beside Anders, both cutting down any rat that dared get too close.
Sera’s concentration was palpable as she invoked her talent, [Barrier Constructor]. A shimmering dome-like force field appeared around Sera, Zayzal, and Anders, providing a protective shield from the horde. However, the sheer force of the rats’ assault caused cracks to appear in the barrier, a testament to the overwhelming numbers they faced.
The giant rat, seeing the three safely ensconced within the barrier, let out a monstrous roar. It surged forward, its massive size giving it an advantage, and it began to slam against the barrier, causing it to crack further.
Sera braced herself and, with a determined yell, charged the giant rat. She lunged at it with her axe swinging wildly, aiming for its vulnerable points while using her armor and weapons to deflect the attacks of the lesser rats.
The villagers, paralyzed by fear, were soon swarmed just like their previous companion. Their screams of agony echoed throughout the chamber as they were eaten alive.
With eyes cold and devoid of empathy, Kaldrik seized the opportunity to use his destructive magic. Channeling his power, he conjured a series of fireballs, launching them into the masses of rats. Each explosion incinerated rats and villagers alike, leaving behind charred remains.
“Get clear!” Kaldrik yelled to the villagers who could still move, throwing more fireballs towards the rats that swarmed over their companions. But his words fell on deaf ears; terror had taken hold.
The chaos that ensued in the chamber was a cacophony of fire, screams, and the relentless squeaking of rats. Torchlight glinted off metal as Anders and Zayzal dashed around the horde, their blades slicing through the air as they cut apart rat after rat.
Meanwhile, the giant rat focused its attention on Sera. Every strike she made with her axe was met with a vicious swipe of its enormous claws or a snap of its venomous jaws.
Whenever Sera managed to find an opening, landing a hit on its thick hide, the beast retaliated twice as fiercely, forcing her to jump back and reposition.
Zayzal and Anders tried to flank the beast, hoping to divide its attention, but the creature was surprisingly intelligent. It would lash out with a massive claw, forcing one of them back while simultaneously dodging another of Sera’s blows.
Taking advantage of the distraction the others were providing, Kaldrik channeled his mana as flames danced around his fingers. He didn't aim for the giant rat just yet; instead, he hurled fireballs at clusters of rats that were busy feasting on the fallen villagers.
He noticed that whenever one was bitten, eerie purple veins began to spiderweb across their flesh. They twitched and writhed as a viscous substance oozed from their wounds, giving off a nauseating stench.
‘Tch. I doubt that’s good.’ He clicked his tongue and launched a few more fireballs, ensuring that the villagers caught fire. Kaldrik continued to stay in the backline, using the others in front of him as bait, but as the villagers were overrun, the swarm was turning its attention to him.
He kept a ring of fire around himself, keeping the stragglers at bay, but a few managed to get through, forcing him to stomp and crush them.
As time passed, the situation grew more dire. The number of rats seemed unending, and every time they turned one area into a charred wasteland, more would flood in.
Anders, in a desperate bid, threw an orange potion that had a mushroom cloud label on it, something they found earlier. It burst into a group of rats and the explosion created an opening for the giant rat.
Seeing its chance, the creature lunged at Zayzal, its maw open wide, dripping with the same sickly venom that its smaller brethren had.
As Zayzal was ducking for the attack, the rat’s claw caught him on the shoulder, sending him sprawling.
As it moved in for the kill, Sera roared in defiance and hurled herself at the creature, her axe swinging down with all her might. The blade bit deep into the rat's hind leg, drawing a pained squeal from the beast.
Kaldrik seized the moment. Flames spiraled around him, merging into a single, massive fireball. With a shout, he hurled it at the giant rat, the flames engulfing the creature. It shrieked in agony, the flames searing its hide and burning away its fur.
But even as the giant rat thrashed, the smaller ones took the opportunity to surge forward. The remaining villagers, paralyzed by fear, were swiftly overrun. Purple veins and the sickly secretion became an all too common sight.
Anders and Zayzal tried to fend off the swarming rats, but fatigue was setting in. Even with the former’s new strength and the latter’s [Adaptability], this was too much. Realizing the direness of their situation, Sera let out a battle cry and began to hack her way toward her friends, her axe a blur of motion.
She used the last of her remaining mana to cast a barrier around them, preventing the rats from overwhelming them.
The giant rat, though severely burned, wasn’t down yet. It limped toward the two weakest, Zayzal and Anders, wanting to eat them alive!
Seeing this, Zayzal’s mind worked harder than it ever has, searching for a solution.
‘Fuck! What can we do?! There’s too many of these things!’ He thought as he kept slashing away through the barrier. Cracks were starting to form in it, and it wouldn’t be long before it shattered.
He eyed the giant rat before an idea suddenly came to mind.
‘Tch! It’s a bit risky, but if we can take the big guy down, it’ll make our lives a lot easier.’ He clicked his tongue.
“Anders! Ready your spear and aim for the giant rat’s eyes!” He yelled over the echoing squeaks.
“Yes, sir!” Anders didn’t even hesitate and grabbed his spear.
The two held it in one hand and pulled back, ready to throw. Mana gathered around their chest and shoulders, wanting to make the most out of this attack. More and more cracks appeared on the barrier as the rats gnawed through it, until eventually, it shattered.
“NOW!” Zayzal yelled. His arm exploded forward as the spear shot through the air until it dug into the rat’s eye. Anders did the same, but his spear missed the mark and penetrated its nose. The giant rat stopped and screeched in pain, causing all the smaller rats to freeze for a second.
They took this chance to jump back, running atop the sea of rats so as not to get flooded by them.
However, this was the chance they needed. With a loud, victorious shout, Sera leaped up into the air and brought her axe down onto its skull. She smashed and smashed repeatedly until brain matter and bone shards erupted from it. The rat let out one final squeal before it fell to the ground with a resounding thud.
As soon as that happened, the smaller rats immediately went into a frenzy. Without their leader, they went crazy. They stopped focusing on the intruding humans and began to munch on anything near them, resorting to cannibalism.
‘What the hell?!’ They all thought but weren’t complaining. Taking this opportunity to clean up, the team sprung into action and began the slaughter.
It was only a few minutes later when all the rats eventually died, leaving behind a heavy scent of iron and burnt flesh. By now, all the villagers had died, leaving Kaldrik, Zayzal, Sera, and Anders the only ones alive.
“Fuuuuck! I never want to see rats again.” Anders sighed as he collapsed on a spot that wasn’t covered in blood.
“...That makes two of us,” Sera replied through heavy breaths, leaning against the rat boss.
Kaldrik didn’t say anything and just looked around with an expression of disgust. He took out a blue potion and downed it, but nobody thought anything of it.
Meanwhile, Zayzal walked toward the end of the room, where a blue crystal and a large chest were sitting. He hummed in thought and muttered, “Let’s make sure they’re gone for good then.”
Once he closed in on the crystal, he reached out his hand to destroy it.
Suddenly, a fireball shot by, nearly hitting his hand.
“What the hell?! Kaldrik!”
***
[A/N–Double-Headed Eagle: Symbol of the Holy Roman Empire. Since Kobolds and goblins and things existed in Germanic countries around the Middle Ages, I think equipment from the Holy Roman Empire makes sense.]
As the group ventured deeper into the dungeon, the map they acquired became their most prized possession. It wasn’t a straightforward layout – corridors twisted and turned in on themselves, rooms branched off randomly, and staircases led to dead ends.
Every so often, the flickering shadows of the torchlight would catch the glinting eyes of Kobolds. They lurked in the darkness, watching, waiting for an opportunity to strike. But with Sera’s strength, Anders and Zayzal’s skill, and Kaldrik’s magic, they were dispatched with relative ease.
One particularly narrow corridor was dotted with pressure plates. "Traps," Anders muttered, pointing to the ceiling where spikes seemed to await any unwary footstep.
Sera picked up a small stone and threw it onto a plate. Immediately, a pit opened beneath it, revealing a monstrous worm with nasty-looking teeth wriggling and waiting for prey to fall. "Not just traps," she remarked, "but living ones."
After successfully navigating the pressure plates, they stumbled upon a secret chamber concealed behind a rough stone door. Within were chests filled with armor – leather vests that felt as light as air but strong as metal, chainmail that was intricately crafted, and helms that bore symbols of a double-headed eagle*.
The team took a moment to equip themselves, knowing that better protection would be essential for whatever lay ahead. However, the villagers didn’t receive anything as Zayzal, Sera, Anders, and Kaldrik were doing most of the work
Hours seemed to meld together as they traversed the dungeon. Their food and water supplies dwindled, and fatigue weighed heavily on their limbs. Several times, they had to fend off Kobolds, who appeared to be growing in number and coordination. The little creatures were learning and adapting to their tactics.
One room, one that was completely out of place, appeared to be a serene garden. A spring bubbled in its center, surrounded by moss-covered stones and flowering plants that emitted a soft, ethereal glow. It would've been a perfect place to rest were it not for the stone golem that rose from the ground the moment Zayzal approached the water.
The battle was fierce. The golem, while slow, was nearly impervious to their attacks. But with strategy and teamwork, they managed to topple the creature, using its own weight against it. As it crumbled, it revealed a chest containing potions of varying colors and a beautifully crafted dagger, which Sera quickly claimed. They used that time to rest and recover.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they stood before a grand door. Massive in scale, it stood at least 3 meters tall and had a carving of a black plague mask on it. This was undoubtedly the boss room.
"We made it," Anders panted, leaning on his spear.
But Zayzal, pointing to the emblem, had a concerned look. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting a bad feeling about this one.”
Even Kaldrik’s normally cold, blue eyes had narrowed upon seeing the plague mask.
“The fact that the dungeon is giving us the option to turn back is already a bad sign,” Sera remarked, having already caught her breath. She was decked out in all kinds of armor–leather, chainmail, helmet, and armguards. With her as the tank, they were able to bulldoze through most of the dungeon.
She wasn’t aware of what the symbol represented, so she wasn’t worried about what was on the other side, unlike the others.
After contemplating various plans and guessing what might be on the other side of the door, Kaldrik glanced back at the villagers, shook his head with a smirk, and made his way forward. “No point in standing around here jerking each other off. I’m not leaving until every rat here is dead.” He put emphasis on “rat”, making everyone narrow their eyes.
Then, he pushed on the door before anyone had a chance to stop him. It slid against the rough stone ground before it opened, revealing a large open room with torches lining the walls. Piles of bones littered the area, and a scent of death pervaded their nostrils, forcing them to take a few steps back as they readied their weapons.
Suddenly, high-pitched squeaks filled their ears, and they knew exactly what they were facing.
In the center of the room, the rats swarmed like some sort of amorphic eldritch creature. Amidst the writhing mass, an immense rat stood proudly, its size comparable to a human, with black fur and eyes that glowed an ominous shade of red. Its teeth dripped with nasty purple venom, while its claws looked like they had been corrupted.
The sheer number of rats was overwhelming, a sea of vermin stretching almost as far as the eye could see. They climbed all over one another, their hissing and squeaking echoing throughout the chamber, making their skin crawl.
There was no mistaking it - this was the dungeon's boss, and it was unlike any challenge they had faced so far.
For a split second, the room was silent. A heavy weight of dread and anticipation settled over everyone. The villagers, eyes wide with terror, clung to each other, their earlier bravado gone.
Zayzal, switching to his short sword and dagger, took a deep breath, readying himself for the onslaught. Anders, drawing out a long knife, felt sweat trickle down the side of his face.
Kaldrik, who had moments before been so eager to charge into the room, now stood frozen, taking in the horrific sight. The smirk that had graced his lips only moments before had vanished, replaced by a grim frown.
Sera, despite being the most armored and prepared, couldn't suppress a shiver. She might have been ignorant of the symbolism behind the plague mask, but the reality of the situation was clear. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.
“It's... it's like a nightmare,” whispered one of the villagers, her voice trembling.
“Oh, hell no! Get me out of here!” Someone screamed and attempted to turn around and escape, but he felt someone grab the back of his neck.
“I don’t think so.” Kaldrik’s cold voice entered his ear, causing him to shiver. Then, without warning, he tossed the poor village man into the boss room. He stumbled about, trying to catch his footing, before he realized what had just happened.
“Y-You!” He glared at Kaldrik, his eyes full of hatred. “YOU BASTARD! I’ll fucking kill-! UGH!”
Before he could even finish his sentence, a swarm of rats had already scurried over to him, digging their teeth into his skin. They climbed all over each other, reaching every inch of their body as they ripped out chunks of his flesh.
Everyone watched in horror at what just happened, but Kaldrik just watched cooly. He formed a fireball in his hand and tossed it at the writhing, screaming pile of flesh. Instantly, the tower of vermin was ignited, followed by the screams of the villager and the screeches of the rats. A few more fireballs landed on them for good measure, and it didn’t take long before they all lay dead on the ground.
The group stared in horror at the charred remains of the villager and the rats. The smell of burned flesh and fur permeated the air. Kaldrik, unaffected by his actions, turned his back to the scene.
“Foolish,” he spat, eyes glaring at the group. “We can't afford any weakness or hesitations.”
“That was too cruel,” Zayzal growled, his grip tightening on his weapons. “He was one of us.”
“Was,” Kaldrik retorted coldly, “Now, he's just bait.”
A moment of tense silence hovered between them, each of them fighting the urge to confront Kaldrik for his heartless action. They were interrupted by Sera’s firm voice, snapping them back to the dire situation.
“We don't have time for this!” She yelled, pushing past the shocked adventurers and putting herself between them and the approaching swarm. “Kaldrik, you and I will have words after this, but for now, focus on the damned rats!”
As if on cue, the horde charged. The sheer number of rats created a wave of fur, teeth, and aggression, rapidly closing the distance. Zayzal, his dagger and sword shining in the dim light launched into action beside Anders, both cutting down any rat that dared get too close.
Sera’s concentration was palpable as she invoked her talent, [Barrier Constructor]. A shimmering dome-like force field appeared around Sera, Zayzal, and Anders, providing a protective shield from the horde. However, the sheer force of the rats’ assault caused cracks to appear in the barrier, a testament to the overwhelming numbers they faced.
The giant rat, seeing the three safely ensconced within the barrier, let out a monstrous roar. It surged forward, its massive size giving it an advantage, and it began to slam against the barrier, causing it to crack further.
Sera braced herself and, with a determined yell, charged the giant rat. She lunged at it with her axe swinging wildly, aiming for its vulnerable points while using her armor and weapons to deflect the attacks of the lesser rats.
The villagers, paralyzed by fear, were soon swarmed just like their previous companion. Their screams of agony echoed throughout the chamber as they were eaten alive.
With eyes cold and devoid of empathy, Kaldrik seized the opportunity to use his destructive magic. Channeling his power, he conjured a series of fireballs, launching them into the masses of rats. Each explosion incinerated rats and villagers alike, leaving behind charred remains.
“Get clear!” Kaldrik yelled to the villagers who could still move, throwing more fireballs towards the rats that swarmed over their companions. But his words fell on deaf ears; terror had taken hold.
The chaos that ensued in the chamber was a cacophony of fire, screams, and the relentless squeaking of rats. Torchlight glinted off metal as Anders and Zayzal dashed around the horde, their blades slicing through the air as they cut apart rat after rat.
Meanwhile, the giant rat focused its attention on Sera. Every strike she made with her axe was met with a vicious swipe of its enormous claws or a snap of its venomous jaws.
Whenever Sera managed to find an opening, landing a hit on its thick hide, the beast retaliated twice as fiercely, forcing her to jump back and reposition.
Zayzal and Anders tried to flank the beast, hoping to divide its attention, but the creature was surprisingly intelligent. It would lash out with a massive claw, forcing one of them back while simultaneously dodging another of Sera’s blows.
Taking advantage of the distraction the others were providing, Kaldrik channeled his mana as flames danced around his fingers. He didn't aim for the giant rat just yet; instead, he hurled fireballs at clusters of rats that were busy feasting on the fallen villagers.
He noticed that whenever one was bitten, eerie purple veins began to spiderweb across their flesh. They twitched and writhed as a viscous substance oozed from their wounds, giving off a nauseating stench.
‘Tch. I doubt that’s good.’ He clicked his tongue and launched a few more fireballs, ensuring that the villagers caught fire. Kaldrik continued to stay in the backline, using the others in front of him as bait, but as the villagers were overrun, the swarm was turning its attention to him.
He kept a ring of fire around himself, keeping the stragglers at bay, but a few managed to get through, forcing him to stomp and crush them.
As time passed, the situation grew more dire. The number of rats seemed unending, and every time they turned one area into a charred wasteland, more would flood in.
Anders, in a desperate bid, threw an orange potion that had a mushroom cloud label on it, something they found earlier. It burst into a group of rats and the explosion created an opening for the giant rat.
Seeing its chance, the creature lunged at Zayzal, its maw open wide, dripping with the same sickly venom that its smaller brethren had.
As Zayzal was ducking for the attack, the rat’s claw caught him on the shoulder, sending him sprawling.
As it moved in for the kill, Sera roared in defiance and hurled herself at the creature, her axe swinging down with all her might. The blade bit deep into the rat's hind leg, drawing a pained squeal from the beast.
Kaldrik seized the moment. Flames spiraled around him, merging into a single, massive fireball. With a shout, he hurled it at the giant rat, the flames engulfing the creature. It shrieked in agony, the flames searing its hide and burning away its fur.
But even as the giant rat thrashed, the smaller ones took the opportunity to surge forward. The remaining villagers, paralyzed by fear, were swiftly overrun. Purple veins and the sickly secretion became an all too common sight.
Anders and Zayzal tried to fend off the swarming rats, but fatigue was setting in. Even with the former’s new strength and the latter’s [Adaptability], this was too much. Realizing the direness of their situation, Sera let out a battle cry and began to hack her way toward her friends, her axe a blur of motion.
She used the last of her remaining mana to cast a barrier around them, preventing the rats from overwhelming them.
The giant rat, though severely burned, wasn’t down yet. It limped toward the two weakest, Zayzal and Anders, wanting to eat them alive!
Seeing this, Zayzal’s mind worked harder than it ever has, searching for a solution.
‘Fuck! What can we do?! There’s too many of these things!’ He thought as he kept slashing away through the barrier. Cracks were starting to form in it, and it wouldn’t be long before it shattered.
He eyed the giant rat before an idea suddenly came to mind.
‘Tch! It’s a bit risky, but if we can take the big guy down, it’ll make our lives a lot easier.’ He clicked his tongue.
“Anders! Ready your spear and aim for the giant rat’s eyes!” He yelled over the echoing squeaks.
“Yes, sir!” Anders didn’t even hesitate and grabbed his spear.
The two held it in one hand and pulled back, ready to throw. Mana gathered around their chest and shoulders, wanting to make the most out of this attack. More and more cracks appeared on the barrier as the rats gnawed through it, until eventually, it shattered.
“NOW!” Zayzal yelled. His arm exploded forward as the spear shot through the air until it dug into the rat’s eye. Anders did the same, but his spear missed the mark and penetrated its nose. The giant rat stopped and screeched in pain, causing all the smaller rats to freeze for a second.
They took this chance to jump back, running atop the sea of rats so as not to get flooded by them.
However, this was the chance they needed. With a loud, victorious shout, Sera leaped up into the air and brought her axe down onto its skull. She smashed and smashed repeatedly until brain matter and bone shards erupted from it. The rat let out one final squeal before it fell to the ground with a resounding thud.
As soon as that happened, the smaller rats immediately went into a frenzy. Without their leader, they went crazy. They stopped focusing on the intruding humans and began to munch on anything near them, resorting to cannibalism.
‘What the hell?!’ They all thought but weren’t complaining. Taking this opportunity to clean up, the team sprung into action and began the slaughter.
It was only a few minutes later when all the rats eventually died, leaving behind a heavy scent of iron and burnt flesh. By now, all the villagers had died, leaving Kaldrik, Zayzal, Sera, and Anders the only ones alive.
“Fuuuuck! I never want to see rats again.” Anders sighed as he collapsed on a spot that wasn’t covered in blood.
“...That makes two of us,” Sera replied through heavy breaths, leaning against the rat boss.
Kaldrik didn’t say anything and just looked around with an expression of disgust. He took out a blue potion and downed it, but nobody thought anything of it.
Meanwhile, Zayzal walked toward the end of the room, where a blue crystal and a large chest were sitting. He hummed in thought and muttered, “Let’s make sure they’re gone for good then.”
Once he closed in on the crystal, he reached out his hand to destroy it.
Suddenly, a fireball shot by, nearly hitting his hand.
“What the hell?! Kaldrik!”
***
[A/N–Double-Headed Eagle: Symbol of the Holy Roman Empire. Since Kobolds and goblins and things existed in Germanic countries around the Middle Ages, I think equipment from the Holy Roman Empire makes sense.]
