"Okay, we'll head to a low WTR—World Transformation Rate zone. I already used a pair of binoculars and spotted an area where it was easy for us to gain coins. The Au Lac Park, over there—those infected rats called Rotten Fangs are running rampant," Tilus said, pointing at the park nestled behind the collapsing city.
In truth, Tilus didn't know if the place was safe to farm coins. That information came from the journal.
"R-RATS?!" Jasmine jolted upright.
"Oh right, Jasmine's afraid of rats," Leon burst into laughter.
"Can we hunt something else?" she pleaded.
"Nope," Tilus grinned.
"The infected in the streets aren't weak either. If they attack in a group, we'll be in trouble. Avoid them or take them down one by one."
"Alright, let's get moving. I wanna test these daggers out," Leon said, twirling the blades between his fingers.
"We're leaving tomorrow morning. Night time is a terrible time—the infected are stronger then. You saw how fast they moved last night compared to this morning, when they were sluggish. Also, choose your weapon if you haven't. We're going out there, and we're not gambling our lives," Tilus said, eyes drifting down the now-abandoned street.
"Fine, tomorrow then," Leon yawned.
As the team selected their gear, Tilus checked the sword he bought from the shop. William had a bow—Tilus expected a sword, but then again, William loved playing at a safe distance. He was usually an ADC in MOBA games. Ben wielded an axe, of course—he was always about heavy damage. Meanwhile, Jasmine held her sword up to her face like she was praying to her ancestors.
Jasmine eyed William's bow. "Maybe I should swap with you?" she asked, half-hopeful.
William shook his head with a small smile. "We stick to the plan."
After dinner, the group decided to leave early the next morning. The faint rustling of bushes and distant cries of the infected filled the air as they departed. The morning sun barely peeked through the thick haze, casting an eerie glow over the abandoned park.
"We're almost there, everyone," William said, walking ahead with a smile to ease the tension.
"You know, rats aren't the only threat here," Tilus reminded them.
"I still think this is a bad idea," Jasmine muttered under her breath.
Leon smirked, slapping her roughly on the back. "Don't worry. We've got your back." He twirled his dagger again.
"We move together, and everything will be fine," William added.
Ben cracked his knuckles, axe swinging idly at his side. "I'll carry you guys. No worries."
The group moved through the underbrush carefully, boots crunching leaves and twigs. The scent of rot grew stronger—flesh and decay clinging to the air like fog. A low growl echoed from ahead.
"Infected," Tilus signaled, raising his hand. The group froze, weapons at the ready.
A lone infected man stumbled out from the shadows of the trees, torn clothes fluttering in the breeze. His eyes glowed with hunger, mouth full of yellowed teeth. Without hesitation, Ben swung his axe, aiming for the head. The infected dropped—but the axe got stuck. By the time Ben yanked it free, more cries echoed through the trees.
"Looks like we're not alone," Leon said, grinning despite the danger. "Come on."
The group spread out, each engaging their own targets.
Tilus darted forward. His sword slashed into an infected man—then stuck. He didn't have much strength to begin with. That was something he had to fix.
The good thing about this cursed system? You could upgrade skills during combat as long as you had enough coins.
A small screen popped up. He didn't bother to read it—just focused on the ringing in his head.
[Level 1 Strengthen – Cost: 100 coins]
[Skill: Strengthen (Level 1) has been learned]
[Increases strength and endurance by 30% for 2 minutes]
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
Tilus wrenched the sword free and slashed again, this time cutting cleanly through the infected.
[You have killed an infected man]
[50 coins rewarded]
William loosed arrows from his bow. Most missed. When they hit, they barely had stopping power—until the bow glowed green. A skill. Tilus didn't know what it was, but the glow said enough.
Jasmine hesitated, her sword trembling. The grotesque figure before her sent chills down her spine.
"I—I can't do this," she whispered, stepping back.
William noticed. "You're fine. Focus on hitting—we'll help."
Leon struggled too. Daggers were flashy, but crude weapons like Ben's axe were far more effective against the infected at low levels. Thankfully, Ben's brute strength carried the team.
"Thanks, Ben," Jasmine said, catching her breath.
"You're welcome," Ben replied, eyes locked on the next wave.
He bellowed, swinging his axe in a wide arc, decapitating two infected in one blow.
"Die!" He said as he kept swinging his axe
As the fight raged, the group pushed deeper into the park. More infected came, but they dealt with them faster now, their coordination sharpening.
"We're at the center of the park already, Tilus," William said, scanning the area.
"Yeah, they would—"
Then they heard it.
A blood-curdling screech echoed through the trees.
"Rotten Fang," Tilus growled, eyes narrowing. "They're here."
From the shadows, a pack of infected rats emerged—mutated, grotesque, and far more dangerous than anything they had faced. Their beady eyes glowed with malice, elongated fangs dripping with venom.
The group tensed, gripping their weapons.
"Take them down!" William shouted, his bow glowing green again as it unleashed a flurry of arrows. It hummed like a swarm of bees, dropping several rats in quick succession.
Jasmine's hands shook, but she steadied herself.
"Just treat it like a game, Jasmine. A game." And she managed to cut a few down.
Leon danced like a shadow, his dagger flickering through the chaos. A blur, he left devastation in his wake.
"Come on, you ugly bastards!" he shouted, dodging a snapping jaw.
Ben charged, axe cleaving through the swarm with brutal efficiency. Each swing sent rats flying. His expression was grim.
"You don't stand a chance," he muttered, splitting another in half.
Tilus moved with deadly precision, weaving through chaos, targeting weak points and delivering clean, lethal strikes.
"You guys are doing well. Keep it up. Fall back if you need help. Stay in formation!"
The battle was brutal. The air filled with screeches, squelching flesh, and the clash of steel.
But they held on. Together.
Finally, the last Rotten Fang twitched—then went still.
The group stood amidst the carnage, panting.
"Well," Leon said, wiping his dagger on his pants, "that was fun."
Jasmine glared, sword still shaking in her hands. "Fun? FUN? I'm covered in rat blood!"
William chuckled, slinging his bow over his shoulder. "You did good, Jasmine. Didn't panic too much."
"Shut up," she muttered—but she was smiling.
Tilus sheathed his sword, eyes scanning the eerie silence.
The ground trembled—no, growled.
A bass-heavy quake rolled beneath their feet like a beast stirring below. From the cracked concrete ahead, something clawed its way up.
A scream—deep, guttural—ripped through the underground air, freezing their blood.
From the dark emerged a rat.
Not the kind you stomp with a boot. No, this one was nearly four feet tall, with coarse, necrotic fur and eyes like rotting garnets. It towered over its kin like a bloated monarch, ten times the size of the infected rats they'd fought before.
A horde swarmed behind it. Feral. Hungry.
Then a system window popped up in front of their vision:
[Rotten Fang King]
[An evolved infected rat that grew stronger as the WTR had gone up.]
Tilus's voice cut through the static in his mind.
"Kill the Rat King. Then we retreat."
"Huh? Why?" Jasmine's blade hand paused mid-swing.
"It's rallying the swarm. Kill it, they scatter," Tilus said without a blink.
"Got it." Leon didn't wait.
He dashed forward like an arrow loose too early.
"Leon! Don't be reckless!" William shouted.
"Relax, it'll be a—"
But he never finished the sentence.
The Rat King charges forward like a train. Its jaws latched onto Leon's shoulder with a sickening crunch. Leon's scream echoed through the tunnel, sharp enough to slice into bone.
Blood sprayed.The rats surged at him as he falling to the ground
Ben roared and slammed his axe into the ground, creating a shockwave that gave them a moment's space. He stood firm like a dam against a river, buying time. Jasmine and William try to move forward but they are cornered as the rats keep coming at them. If it going on like this they will all die here.
"William, cover me! I will retrieve Leon" Tilus yelled, eyes locked on Leon's collapsing health bar.
[Leon HP: 10%]
"On it!" William aimed a charged shot, blasting the lead rats off balance.
Tilus sprinted, Strengthen Level 1 activating. He can feel his muscles adjusting to his new strength even if it is temporary. He charged forward and grabbed Leon by the collar,r then dragged him back.
"Got him! We're moving! Ben covers us."
"Busy!" Ben grunted, axe blurring as he swatted the rats like gnats.
"Jasmine! Hurry"
"Argh—fine! Hold on!" she groaned, vaulting past the swarm to flank Tilus.
Together, they hauled Leon's limp frame. Tilus fished into his pouch with a shaking hand.
A glowing pill.
[Pill of Life used]
[Target: Leon]
[Effect: Suppressing C-Virus, Regenerating HP...]
"Ben, carry him! We'll cover!"
Ben didn't argue—just hoisted Leon like a sack of bricks and barreled toward the exit of the park. Everyone managed to escape death.
Back at the safehouse, the silence was short-lived.
Ben snapped first.
"The fuck were you thinking, Leon?!"
His voice echoed off the cracked kitchen tiles. Fists clenched. Shoulders trembling. "You nearly got us all killed!"
Leon flinched. A nervous chuckle escaped. "C'mon, we're still breathing, right?"
That's the wrong answer, Leon.
Ben stepped in, towering over him. "That's not the point, dumbass! You don't get to gamble with our lives!"
Tilus opened his mouth, but William beat him to it, stepping between them with a calm hand on Ben's arm.
"Calm down, Ben. Leon screwed up, and yeah, we paid the price. But we're alive. That means we've still got a shot."
Jasmine nodded. "We don't have time to be divided."
Ben growled, but exhaled—rage cooling into a simmer. "He better not pull that shit again."
Leon, for once, had no comeback. He looked down, rubbing the shoulder still tender from the Rat King's bite.
"...Thanks," he said at last. "For the pill. You really saved my ass."
Tilus didn't look at him. Just replied flatly.
"I used a pill of life on you, and now I'm one short."
Leon blinked. "Wait—what?"
"I used mine on you. That was our own safety net. We can't survive if the C-Virus gets to us," Tilus said. "So tomorrow, we go back. I will kill the Rat King and buy another. 500 coins."
Silence.
Then William clapped his hands like it was a team meeting. "Alright! Operation Rat Regicide, round two. We're in, right?"
Jasmine groaned. "Can't be helped..."
Ben crossed his arms, sighing. "More headaches because of you, Leon."
Leon winced. "Yeah... yeah, I know. I'll help and stick to the plan."
Tilus met his gaze and said
"Then don't screw it up."