The Emberfang Tavern
Before heading to the abandoned village, Vergil decided to stop by the tavern across the street from the guild. The Emberfang Tavern, a well-known establishment in Vaeloria, was a favorite spot for adventurers, mercenaries, and travelers alike. The scent of roasted meat, charred wood, and ale filled the air as Vergil pushed open the heavy oak doors, stepping inside.
The tavern's interior was a mix of sturdy stone walls and dark wooden beams, with a large iron chandelier hanging above, casting a warm glow over the space. A roaring hearth dominated one side of the room, crackling flames dancing in the open fireplace, giving the place its namesake. The wooden floor bore the marks of countless boots, scuffs, and the occasional dried ale stain.
Lively chatter filled the air as adventurers swapped stories of their recent hunts, and barmaids weaved through the tables, serving drinks and meals. Despite the noise, there was an undeniable sense of camaraderie within these walls—this was a place where warriors gathered, resting before their next battle.
Vergil made his way to the counter, where a broad-shouldered man with a grizzled beard and piercing eyes stood behind the bar, wiping down a metal tankard. His name was Garrik "The Fang" Bronn, the owner of Emberfang Tavern, a former mercenary who had retired to the life of a tavern keeper.
Garrik looked up as Vergil approached, raising a brow.
"Ah, you're new 'round here. What can I get ya, lad?"
"Something filling but quick. I've got work soon," Vergil replied, resting his elbow on the counter.
Garrik let out a deep chuckle. "Ain't that the story of every adventurer. Got just the thing for ya—Hunter's Stew with Emberbread."
With a nod, Garrik turned to the kitchen, barking out an order before filling a mug with water and setting it in front of Vergil. It didn't take long before a steaming bowl of stew was placed before him. The Hunter's Stew was thick, with large chunks of venison, potatoes, and carrots swimming in a dark, savory broth rich with herbs. Beside it was a small loaf of Emberbread, its crust crisp and golden, while the inside remained soft and warm.
Vergil picked up the wooden spoon and took a bite. The rich flavors hit him immediately—hearty, well-seasoned, and just what he needed. He dipped the Emberbread into the broth, letting it soak before taking a bite. A satisfied hum escaped him as he chewed.
Garrik leaned on the counter, watching him with a smirk. "Not bad, eh?"
Vergil nodded. "Yeah… its good."
The tavern owner's smirk softened slightly before he straightened up. "Good food keeps ya strong. You look like you're about to head somewhere rough. Don't go dying out there."
Vergil finished his meal, wiped his mouth, and stood. "No plans to. Thanks for the meal."
He left a few coins on the counter, adjusted his gear, and stepped out of the tavern. The warm glow of the Emberfang faded as he made his way down the road, towards the outskirts of town. The abandoned village awaited.
The hour-long journey led Vergil through rugged dirt roads and dense woodland, the cool air carrying the scent of damp earth. Broken fences and crumbling signposts hinted at a forgotten past. As he neared the village, twisted vines overtook abandoned homes, their shattered windows staring like hollow eyes.
A heavy silence lingered, the wind carrying a faint, rotten scent.
Vergil slowly walked inside the village grabbing his dagger and unsheathing it.
Vergil kept walking and heard some noise
It was a small rodent almost the size of a cat, it hadn't realised Vergil was there, Vergil lunged stabbing it in the face killing it on the spot.
Authority of Predation Activated
[User has gained 1 Dexterity point]
[User has gained the skills: Lesser Disease Resistance (F-) and Filthy Bite (F)]
The rats kept coming, relentless and unyielding. One by one, they attacked, each strike chipping away at Vergil's stamina.
Something's wrong. These vermin weren't mindless—they were wearing him down. But how? Their intelligence was too low for strategy. So what's controlling them?
Vergil's Wild Instincts flared—danger!
He twisted to the right just as the wall behind him exploded, debris scattering as a massive rat crashed through.
Shit. That's their leader.
Behind it, a swarm of larger rats poured in, their fur matted and scarred, their fangs glistening with filth. Unlike the smaller ones, these creatures moved in coordinated formation, their glowing red eyes locked onto him.
Then, the leader let out a deafening screech.
Vergil's instincts screamed at him—run.
Activating Dash, his speed surged by 10%, and he bolted. The swarm followed, their relentless pursuit echoing through the ruined streets. A rat leaped onto him, its teeth tearing into his sleeve and sinking into his arm. Blood seeped from the wound as Vergil ripped it off and threw it back into the horde.
I don't have time for this. If he stayed and fought now, he'd be overwhelmed. He needed to hide—to come up with a plan.
The village was a maze of ruined homes and narrow alleys, the air thick with decay. As Vergil sprinted through the broken streets, the scurrying of countless claws echoed behind him. The monstrous rat leader, nearly the size of a hound, bounded after him with unnatural speed, its beady red eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
Vergil pushed forward, his body aching from exhaustion. The swarm followed relentlessly, their sharp squeaks forming a chilling chorus. He vaulted over a collapsed wall, but just as he landed, a powerful weight crashed into his back.
SLASH!
A sharp, searing pain tore through him as the rat leader's claws raked across his back, shredding his coat and drawing deep gashes. He gritted his teeth, the warm trickle of blood soaking into his clothes. If I slow down now, I'm dead.
Vergil activated Dash, his muscles burning as he surged forward. A rat latched onto his ankle, its filthy fangs sinking into his flesh. With a grunt, he twisted mid-run, slamming the creature into a nearby wall before tearing free.
Spotting an abandoned house with a partially open door, he threw himself inside, slamming it shut just as the horde swarmed past. Silence. He pressed his back against the wall, chest heaving, sweat and blood mixing on his skin.
His wounds throbbed, but now wasn't the time to stop. He had to think. He had to turn this fight around.
Vergil pulled out a potion from his inventory and read the description:
[Low-Rank Healing Potion]
Can heal basic wounds to a certain degree. Must be poured directly over the wound. Causes immense pain.
Vergil gritted his teeth as he poured the potion over his back, a sharp hiss escaping his lips as the searing pain spread through his wounds.
"Fuck, that hurts," he muttered, exhaling in short, ragged breaths as he tried to steady himself. His stamina was running low.
He forced himself to focus. I need a plan. If I don't take down the pack leader first, I'll just get overwhelmed again.
Opening his system interface, Vergil checked the skills he had gained from the fight. There were no stat points, but the new abilities might still be useful.
[New Skills Acquired]
Lesser Disease Resistance (F-)
Scurry (F-)
Lesser Poison Resistance (F-) (x2)
Nimble Dodge (F-)
Filthy Bite (F)
Vergil raised an eyebrow. So not all the rats had skills, huh?
Activating the Combination System, a large blue panel materialized before his eyes.
[Combination System]
Select the skills you wish to combine.
First Combination:
Dash (F)
Scurry (F-)
Nimble Dodge (F-)
[Combination Successful]
New Skill: Evasive Sprint (E-) (Active)
Enhances the user's speed and agility for a short duration, allowing for rapid movement while instinctively dodging attacks.
Abilities Gained:
Increased Sprint Speed (Dash) – Temporarily boosts movement speed.
Unpredictable Movements (Scurry) – Makes movement erratic and unpredictable, making it harder for enemies to land attacks.
Reflexive Dodging (Nimble Dodge) – Automatically avoids weaker attacks unless completely surrounded.
Limitations:
Lasts only a few seconds.
Ineffective against AoE (area-of-effect) attacks or enemies significantly faster than the user.
Has a brief cooldown before reuse.
"Good. Now for the next one."
Second Combination:
Lesser Poison Resistance (F-) x2
Lesser Disease Resistance (F-)
[Combination Successful]
New Skill: Weak Toxin Resistance (E-) (Passive)
Grants slightly improved resistance to poisons and diseases, reducing their effects but not nullifying them.
Final Combination:
Feral Bite (F)
Filthy Bite (F)
[Combination Successful]
New Skill: Vile Bite (F+) (Active)
A vicious bite that deals minor tearing damage while infecting the wound with bacteria, causing discomfort and potential weakness over time.
Abilities Gained:
Stronger Bite (Feral Bite) – Slightly increased bite force, effective against unarmored targets.
Minor Infection (Filthy Bite) – Wounds become dirtied, causing irritation and a small chance of infection.
Weak Bleeding Effect – The wound slowly oozes blood, prolonging pain and slightly slowing natural healing.
Limitations:
Ineffective against armor or thick hides.
Infection is mild and won't cause immediate harm but could worsen over time.
Bleeding is minimal and will stop naturally unless the wound is aggravated as Vergil sat in the corner of a decayed, abandoned house, his back pressed against the cold, crumbling wall. The floor beneath him was slick with his own blood, seeping from a deep gash in his abdomen. His breath came in uneven gasps, every movement sending fresh waves of pain through his body.
Moonlight filtered through the broken roof in jagged beams, illuminating the wreckage around him—shattered wood, layers of dust, and the fresh corpses of whatever had dared to challenge him. His dagger rested loosely in his grip, its edge darkened with crimson.
Despite the pain, despite the exhaustion, a grin tugged at his lips. His brown eyes, alight with something dangerous, flickered in the dim glow.
"This is getting fun," he muttered, his voice hoarse but laced with undeniable thrill.
Outside, the wind howled through the empty village, carrying the scent of death into the night.
Vergil moved carefully, slipping out through the back window. Leaping onto a ledge, he climbed onto the rooftop of a nearby house, flattening himself against the surface as he peered down. Below, the rat leader and its guards were slowly making their way through the ruined streets.
"Analyze."
A system panel flickered into view.
[OverVermin]
Level: 3
Worth:0
Lifespan- 15 years
Tier 0
Race: Monster
Class: None
Stats:
Strength: 14
Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 7
Intuition-7
Magic Power: 1
Mana Capacity: 1
Passive Skills:
Lesser Pack Leader (F)
Survival Instincts (F)
Hardened hide (E-)
Active skills
Feral Bite (F)
Tail Smack (F-)
Feral Charge (F)
Adrenaline surged (E-)
Vergil's eyes narrowed. It's stronger than the goblins I fought before, but it's only two levels higher.
[System Response]
"User, this is because goblins are categorized as F-, while the OverVermin is F+."
'So its at the peak of its rank i see'
Vergil scanned the rest of the pack. The other rats were all Level 2.
Then, an idea sparked in his mind.
Yeah... that could work.
But first, he needed to rest.
---
After a few hours of recovery and careful observation, Vergil finally saw his chance.
The rat leader had entered a rundown building—most likely an old village hall—separating itself from the rest of the pack.
Perfect.
Vergil moved silently, dropping down from the rooftop. Slipping through the ruined streets, he reached the building and quickly scaled its exterior, stopping at the top. Pressing himself against the surface, he peered through the cracks and broken gaps in the roof.
Inside, the OverVermin was resting.
Reaching into his inventory, Vergil pulled out a small vial—the paralysis poison he had bought from Osric. Uncorking it, he coated his blade in the viscous liquid, watching as it darkened the steel.
Now, all he had to do was strike.
Vergil found a loose spot in one of the plants on the roof and carefully removed it without making noise.
Vergil jumped down and stabbed the rat in the head, the Oververmin screeched
"How do you like that you son of a bitch, its not so fun when your mates ain't here to help you"
"Now let's start round 2!"