L99VL 10

Chapter 10

Thunk—

A wide cavern.

Even the torchlight behind her couldn’t reach some corners, leaving them in red-tinged darkness. A chilling sound echoed through the space.

The sound of a blade piercing leather, shattering bone, and sinking deep into flesh.

-Kii, kii…-

Thud—

For just a moment, she looked away at the sound of something hitting the ground. In that instant, the body of the Rat Warrior, pierced through the heart, collapsed.

-Kyaaaak!

The remaining one, seeing Leona along with its fallen comrade, bared its teeth.

Its already large size, amplified further by its fur, made it appear even more threatening than a regular Ratman. Unlike the Ratman, it was genuinely intimidating—but that was all.

Shwaaak—

Leona immediately drew her sword from the corpse and swung it at the creature lunging toward her with claws.

If she didn’t end this quickly, Eric would be in danger.

Prepared to take a hit if necessary, she swung in a wide arc.

Whooooo—

A shadow darkened above her head. She felt a chill and quickly dodged.

Kwaaaaang—!

Cough, cough! Ugh…

A massive object fell right in front of her with a deafening crash.

Stinking water splashed everywhere, and the dust cloud made her frown. When she noticed the shattered floor where she had been standing just moments ago, cold sweat ran down her back.

-Krrrrr…-

A roar closer to a beast than a rat.

Through the dust that was quickly settling, she spotted the creature that had been hanging from the ceiling earlier. It looked down at her, drooling, and she adjusted her stance.

‘…It’s bigger than I thought up close. Is this really a Ratman?’

From outside the cavern, it was impossible to tell, but while it had been hanging from the ceiling, it felt much larger.

Unlike the Rat Warriors, its eye level matched hers even though it was walking on four legs like a beast.

Sometimes, a mutant is born among monsters that surpasses the species’ usual limits, commonly referred to as a “Named.”

This one seemed like it was exactly that—a Named.

‘Good. This works in my favor. Rather than running toward Prince Gongja…’

Clatter—clatter—

No more distractions. She needed to end this quickly before Eric got caught in the crossfire.

Then, from afar, something flew toward the monster, and Leona turned her head in surprise.

“This way!”
“P-Prince Gongja! Why… ugh!”

-Gwoooaaar!

Thunk— Thunk— Kwoong—

At that moment, the Named stared at Eric with incomprehensible eyes, and Leona rushed forward to intercept, moving hastily.

‘Idiot! Staying still would have helped, why…!’

Perhaps it thought it was helping because she looked in danger. Whatever the reason, it only complicated things, and she bit her lip in frustration.

‘This one is different from the Ratmen…’

-Kyaaaak!
“Ugh!”

Just as she tried to leap at the Named to grab it, a Rat Warrior suddenly leapt from the side with a terrifying shriek. Leona instinctively stopped and raised her sword.

Ka-ga-gak—

The blade struck claws, sparks flying.

‘Damn…’

Whoooom—

At the same time, the monster in front of Eric leapt toward him.

“Prince Gonga—!”

Kwaaaaang—!

Cough! Ugh…

At the cavern entrance, Eric had been blown away by the sheer impact of a massive object falling. Rolling across the floor, wounded, he finally got back on his feet.

‘Damn it. I wasn’t even hit directly; the shockwave alone knocked me down. My body’s basically paper.’

He staggered forward, picked up the torch he had dropped earlier, and surveyed the dark sewer.

He had managed to lure the monster far away, and as soon as he saw the Named approaching, he ran without looking back. Any hesitation, and he would have been torn to pieces inside the cavern.

Luckily, the sewer tunnel was too narrow for such a massive creature to rush in, or it would have been impossible.

‘I guess this works for now. The difference in stats is huge, so even following the strategy isn’t easy.’

The difference between his Agility 3 and the creature’s 53 was massive. Even a mere Agility 13 Ratman’s attacks would require prediction and preemptive movement. A Named, four times stronger than a normal Ratman, was a whole different story.

Click—

He had to remain within the realm of prediction at all times. One mistake could cost his life. But still, he didn’t need to be hyper-tense. Despite his weakened body, experience clearing Nightmare-level difficulty had prepared him for this.

‘Still, if it comes into this narrow sewer, it won’t be able to fully use its Agility.’

Swish—

He drew his sword and focused on the collapsed entrance where Morbus had previously collided, sharpening his weapon.

Honestly, he didn’t need to intervene to defeat the Named. Even with two Rat Warriors, Leona could have handled it alone, especially since the monster was visibly injured, bones showing.

‘But I can’t just let it go. Why else would I have come all this way?’

Giving up the Named’s loot was out of the question. The real goal was the reward it would drop, which would help him win the upcoming duel.

‘Just hold on until Leona joins. No need to keep it busy for long.’

-Gwoooaaar!

Kwaaaang—!

He crouched in preparation, waiting for the attack. The monster smashed through debris and lunged.

‘Hah, looks tough, just like it appears.’

The massive creature crawled quickly through the narrow tunnel, pushing against the walls with all four limbs.

-Kwaaaak!

‘Now!’

Eric carefully observed the approaching monster, then saw its arm swung far back and threw himself forward without hesitation.

Kwa-ga-gak—
Whoooom—

Sparks flew as the claws scraped violently against the wall. The attack barely missed his head, passing the spot he had been standing moments ago. Seeing deep scratches carved into the walls, cold sweat ran down his face.

‘…Brutal. Even a slight hit could kill.’

Despite being injured, it was still a Named. Its destructive power exceeded expectations. Eric quickly regained his composure.

The narrow space worked in his favor—its high Agility couldn’t fully come into play.

He calmly slashed at the exposed ribs.

Chhheak—!

‘Ugh! What kind of muscles…’

The blade sank between thick muscle instead of cutting through completely. Eric grimaced in disbelief.

‘I didn’t expect to finish it in one hit like a Ratman, but I didn’t think I couldn’t even cut through muscle.’

Fuhwaaak—
“Uwaaah!”

With a final effort, he pulled the blade free, forcing it through the muscle. Blood gushed like a fountain, splattering the walls and floor with greenish fluid.

“Ughh!”

He blocked just in time, feeling sharp pain in his thighs and feet.

‘…I can handle this.’

The agony of burning flesh was intense, but pain was bearable. Death would be worse. His <Unyielding> trait helped him endure.

‘The sword’s fine. Push forward!’

The blade remained sharp despite the blood.

-Gwoooaaar!

Kuung— Thunk—

The wounded monster thrashed in pain. Eric clung to the wall to avoid being swept away, eyes locked on the enraged Morbus, baring its teeth like a beast.

-Grrrrr…-

-Gwoooaaar!

Kwa-ga-gak—

The creature, eyeing him, swung its arm like a whip toward the wall Eric was against.

‘Good. This pattern is easy if I just stay low… ugh!’

As he went to crouch, his legs suddenly stiffened.

Ding—

[You have been poisoned by <Neurotoxin>!]
[The affected limbs’ movement is restricted for a certain period.]

‘N-Neurotoxin? Already…’

A feature common to Named Ratmen. Eric had expected it but not so soon. He hadn’t even been scratched directly; the toxin came indirectly from acidic blood damage.

‘Damn it, is my low stat making the poison act faster? Why now!’

Despite the setback, he couldn’t give up. He lowered his upper body and angled the sword over his head to deflect the massive arm.

Chheeeak—!
-Kwaaaaargh!

Trusting in <Unyielding>, he prepared to endure despite near-death.

The monster’s arm froze inches from him with a heavy thud.

“Prince Gongja! Are you okay?!”

Eric’s heart pounded, but he knew it was his chance.

‘Almost too late!’

Thanks to Leona joining late, Morbus’ focus shifted.

“Hup!”

The neurotoxin’s effect was fading. Eric sprang forward, attacking the monster struggling in the tight tunnel.

Thunk—