Rodent Giant Rat
Black had barely taken a few cautious steps forward when a cold announcement rang out from the Celestial Will:
[Announcement: The novice Lily was killed by the level 1 vicious beast Rodent!]
He froze.
Another death.
The second rookie gone—and this one in a group formation, no less.
That meant trouble. Real trouble. Whatever Lily's group ran into, it wasn't something a beginner party could handle.
Without wasting another second, Black turned. He abandoned his original route, veering off toward a quieter path—one with the fewest tracks. The logic was simple. Fewer people meant fewer chances of rescue… and more chances someone was dead.
His thoughts drifted back to earlier.
When he had extracted Kael, he'd gained an innate ability. But when he'd killed the level 1 Razor Rabbit, he'd only received two points in Strength. That alone confirmed it—humans gave talents, but beasts gave attributes.
Level 1 beasts were too weak to have innate powers, but their physical stats were clearly enhanced. If that was the case, then Lily's body… it might still be valuable.
If he could get to it first.
So he stuck to the emptier trail. Riskier, sure—but the payoff could be worth it. Besides, he had no way of knowing where the others were heading anyway. This was the best he had to go on.
He gripped both of his blades tighter and moved.
[Announcement: Novice Zack was killed by a level 1 vicious beast rodent giant rat!]
Another one?!
Also killed by a giant rodent.
Black's stomach turned. Two deaths—likely in the same spot. Whatever those people stumbled into, it was worse than he thought. A coordinated party shouldn't lose one member, let alone two.
Should he keep going?
His instinct said no. But his gut… his gut said this might be the best opportunity he'd get.
Risk and reward, right?
He gritted his teeth and pushed forward, weaving through tall grass and dense shrubbery like a shadow. Every step was measured. Every sound, every crunch beneath his boots, made his heart clench.
This world wasn't a game anymore.
One misstep here and he was gone. There were no do-overs, no extra lives.
Only death.
A full quarter-hour later, he reached a low-lying depression between hills. Even before he got close, the scent of blood hit him.
Thick. Metallic. Fresh.
He dropped low, crouching behind a veil of weeds and leaves, inching toward the scene.
What he saw when he finally reached the edge nearly made him stop breathing.
The clearing was a disaster zone—claw marks torn through the dirt, bushes shredded, footprints stamped deep in the mud. Chaos. Violence. A real fight.
And at the center of it all lay two bodies.
One was a man—a fat guy, dressed in a cook's uniform, sprawled on his side like a discarded sack of meat.
The other was a woman in a black skirt, her limbs twisted unnaturally, face half buried in blood-soaked earth.
The air reeked of death. Blood painted the ground in wild streaks.
Black's pulse quickened. As sick as it made him feel… he was right.
Two corpses. That meant two chances.
Two possible talents.
Still, he didn't move.
Not yet.
Because just a few feet from the bodies, something else was still breathing.
A massive rat—easily a meter long—lay there, its dark gray fur slick with blood, teeth bared in a permanent snarl. Its body pulsed with raw, violent energy despite the injuries across its frame.
The rodent was dying—but not dead.
Black recognized it immediately.
That was it. The level 1 vicious beast: Rodent Giant Rat.
He'd pieced enough together now to understand the rules of this place.
Beasts had brute force—roughly 3-star combat strength—but no innate powers.
Humans, though? Humans got talents.
It was a crude kind of balance. A bloody trade-off.
Black, as of now, was only ranked at 1-star power.
Normally, that giant rat would destroy him.
But this one… this one was mangled. Its back legs were broken, several gashes leaking blood down its sides. Clearly, it had been ambushed by a group—and barely survived.
And now?
Now it was ripe for the taking.
Perfect.
He lowered his stance and began creeping forward, blades drawn tight to his sides, using the tall grass as cover.
Five meters.
Four.
Three.
Two…
Just as he crossed the final meter, the beast stirred.
Its blood-matted eyes snapped open, nostrils flaring as it raised its head with a sudden jolt.
Black didn't hesitate.
He lunged.
His left blade slashed across the air, driving straight toward the creature's throat.
Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!!
The rat shrieked in rage, trying to twist away—but it couldn't move. Not properly.
Its rear legs were useless.
Still, it swung.
One massive claw lashed out, striking his steel blade with terrifying force—
Pa!
The knife went flying from his hand.
But Black was already in motion.
From his right, a second glint of steel flashed through the air, arcing toward the creature's exposed neck.
Puff!
The tip sank deep.
The beast's thick fur parted like wet paper under the blow.
A scream tore from the rat's throat, sharp and violent—
SQUEAK!!!
Blood erupted in a hot jet.
Black yanked the blade free, twisting as he pulled.
HHHGHK!
The rat gurgled, convulsing violently, before finally collapsing with a wet, lifeless thud.
Just like that, it was over.
A beast that had taken down two humans and needed a full party to fight had just been finished off… by him.
Om!
A flash of white light burst from the corpse and surged into his chest.
[Success! Killed a level 1 Rodent Giant Rat — gained +30 Energy Points!]
A warm, tingling sensation flowed through Black's limbs, soaking into his core.
At the same time, a faint display flickered in his mind:
[Level: 1 (30/100)]
So—thirty energy per level 1 beast. He needed a hundred total to hit level 2.
It was a slow grind… but this was a start.
A good one.
Smiling faintly, he stepped forward and placed a hand on the creature's cooling body.
Flash.
A soft white light pulsed beneath his fingers.
That feeling again—that strange, soothing warmth curling inside his bones.
[Soul Leech Success! Gained +2 Dexterity!]
Nice.
His Agility stat was now sitting at 11—above the average adult. That kind of boost could save his life later.
But there was more waiting.
Two more bodies, to be exact.
Black turned, breath still a little ragged, and stepped toward the woman's corpse.