Night had fallen over Nova Brisa, and the streetlights flickered as if they too feared what lurked in the shadows. Harry and Vinícius walked silently through the southern district streets, light backpacks on their backs, flashlights in hand, and masks covering their faces.
In recent days, they had conducted thorough research, digging through old forums, city hall maps, and forgotten urban legends. They discovered that the southern district was the oldest part of the city and hid several deactivated sewage tunnels, built decades ago and abandoned with the advance of urbanization. It was the perfect place for something — or someone — to hide without drawing attention.
"There's a tunnel nearby," Harry whispered, looking at the map on his phone. "According to the records, it was sealed in the 80s, but they say you can get in through a broken grate in the alley on Santos Ferraz Street."
"You know those stories are never baseless rumors, right?" said Vinícius, trying to keep a light tone but gripping the flashlight tighter.
"That's exactly why we're here." Harry stopped in front of a dark alley. "There."
They both turned on their flashlights and entered. The alley was narrow, with graffiti-covered walls and a smell of mold mixed with old oil. At the end, the grate was there, crooked, with signs it had been forced open many times.
Harry crouched, pointing the flashlight inside the tunnel. It was pitch black, but the dampness and moss along the edges showed it still carried water on rainy days.
"Ready to explore the unknown?" Harry asked, trying to sound calm.
"Always. But if a mutant cockroach shows up, I'm running first," replied Vinícius, adjusting his backpack.
Carefully, they entered the old sewer. The sound of dripping echoed loudly, and the air felt heavier inside. As they advanced, Harry marked the path on a digital map, while Vinícius lit the ground and corners in search of footprints, markings, or any unusual signs.
"Look at this," said Vinícius, crouching. "Scratches on the walls. Recent. Like something... big... passed through here."
Harry looked silently, jaw clenched. He knew they were on the right track — or the wrong one, depending on perspective.
At that moment, they didn't yet know... but they were being watched.
From atop a corroded concrete walkway, a figure remained still, wrapped in a black cloak that blended with the shadows. A hood covered his head, and a black cloth mask hid his face, revealing only narrow eyes, as if of Asian origin. Those cold, sharp eyes followed Harry and Vinícius's every move. He didn't move, not even when a spider crawled over his leg. He simply observed, silent as the darkness itself.
Down below, the two continued their patrol.
"This place is getting weirder..." muttered Vinícius.
Then the necklace, dormant for a long time, began to glow. Harry looked at it, startled, and said:
"Wait..." Harry stopped, raising a hand.
They both fell silent. A muffled sound, like claws scraping concrete, echoed from deeper in the tunnel. Slowly, they pointed their flashlights toward the noise.
And then they saw it.
A monstrous rat emerged from the darkness. It stood about a meter tall and nearly two meters long. Its skin was black and hairless, covered in mutations and strange lumps. Its red, glowing eyes stared at them hungrily. A thick, long tail — longer than its body — ended in a sharp bone, like a spear. Its paws had curved, gleaming claws. And its mouth... drooled thick, almost bubbling saliva.
"W-what the... what the hell is that!?" stammered Vinícius, stepping back and falling on his butt.
Harry narrowed his eyes. That creature reminded him of the demonic dog from days ago. Another monster. Another infected.
"Get up, Vinícius. This is real. Time to fight!" he said, already drawing his knife, taking the dragon kung fu stance, Qi flowing into his hand, ready to summon a fireball.
The rat let out a horrible growl, crouched, then lashed its tail like a whip. The speed was absurd — but Harry, now at the Second Level of the Qi Refinement Realm, reacted in time. The knife intercepted the strike with a metallic sound, deflecting the tail.
The monster didn't retreat. On the contrary, it attacked in a flurry, striking nonstop. Harry dodged, blocked, spun, using his enhanced agility to endure.
Vinícius, still on the ground, took a deep breath, trying to control his fear. He channeled Qi into his palm, shaping water into a blade. When he saw an opening, he cast the spell. But the rat jumped aside, dodging with surprising agility, which gave Harry room to move.
"NOW!" shouted Harry, closing in with the knife.
The creature attacked with its claws. Harry took hits to the shoulder, thigh, and belly. But he stood firm. His right hand was already red, the fireball ready.
On the other side, Vinícius, though panting, concentrated more Qi.
The rat charged again, but was forced to retreat by another of Vinícius's attacks, creating an opening.
"GO TO HELL!" shouted Harry, throwing the fireball at the rat's belly.
The impact threw the monster against the wall with a shrill screech. The skin where it was burned turned thin and charred. Harry didn't waste time. He ran, jumped, and struck with the knife at the burnt spot. The metal pierced easily, spilling dark blood onto the floor.
The rat writhed in pain. Harry jumped back, and the tail narrowly missed tearing off his mask. He spun in the air and landed several meters away.
With heavy breathing and trembling hands, he summoned a second fireball. Now larger, the size of a closed fist. His increased strength from cultivation made the process faster and more intense.
"DIEEEE!" he roared, launching the flaming sphere at the same wound.
The ball hit the critical point and exploded against the rat's body. Flames spread, and a putrid stench filled the air. The monster's flesh crackled as it thrashed and finally collapsed, still burning.
Harry and Vinícius backed away, coughing, hands over their masks.
"If we didn't have these, we'd have thrown up like three times already..." said Vinícius, leaning against the wall.
"I still might throw up," replied Harry, staggering, but laughing nervously.
Silence returned, heavy, as if the sewer itself held its breath.
And above, in the shadows, the hooded man still watched. His gaze had narrowed, and he whispered something only he could hear:
"They're stronger than they look..."