...

Kanji and his peers are torn. Their attention sways between their comatose friend and the monstrous rat leering at them from a distance.

As a drop of sand falls from the hourglass, the rat's tail lifts and it aims.

Cannons on its back unleash a shower of sweat. Dave pushes everyone out of the way and slams his fist into the ground— a dome-shaped wall forms around them.

Inside the shelter, they could only hear a muted viral song— replaced by a cacophony of metal against concrete.

Dave "Yeah. That is fucking bad, man. What is the plan, Kanbro? And is Gwabro okay?"

Kanji "Damn it! She's unconscious! And Izzybot too! How many protocols did she make?"

Diana "Boss! I don't think this shield can last. I'm starting to see cracks."

Kanji "Alright! Here's what we do! Amelia, can you create another copy of the dome and place it over the original? Make it as if the rat isn't doing any damage."

Amelia "That plan sounds bloody good but if we leave. Can't it still see us, lad?"

Kanji "It's okay because we're not going left, right, or forward. We're going...

Kanji gestures downwards. Dave and Amelia understand. Dave traces a circle on the floor, opening up a hole. Amelia's imagination fills with what she knows so far.

The rat realizes its attacks are futile, its blades bouncing harmlessly off the imaginary barrier. A strange tingling sensation runs through its body. Undeterred, it intensifies its thrusts.

In the subterranean room, made of compacted dirt, the group hears only a faint song playing. Dave creates small openings in the walls, letting in a rush of fresh air. Amelia massages her temple as Dave observes.

Dave "Yo, are you okay, Amber?"

Amelia "Y-Yeah. The darn thing made my head spin. But I reckon we are pretty safe."

Claire "What did you do? We don't hear anything up there. Except for the song of course."

Amelia "I changed the bloody thing's sense of touch so it feels like it is hitting concrete. Even if that dome is a bloody fake."

Kanji "Good. Thanks to you and Dave, we got a place to recuperate. Amelia, how long can you sustain the illusion."

Amelia "I believe about an hour but it can be longer if I have a tad bit more energy."

Kanji whips out his tablet device and conjures a portal. In a flash, he retrieves drinks and power bars, setting them neatly beside Amelia's leg. Her expression turns puzzled as she observes the unexpected treats.

Amelia "What? Where were you hiding those?! I'm pretty sure I scanned every bloody thing in there, lad! What's the deal?!"

Kanji "You don't need to know that. Sorry to ask this again, but I want you to sit this one out. Your power is very important for this fight."

Amelia "Alright... if it means I can keep everyone safe."

Diana "So boss how are we going to beat this thing? Head-on or full charge... wait, those are the same things. Ha!"

Kanji "First we need someone to test the waters. Dave and I should go first since we are very acquainted with danger. We need to see if this rat has a gimmick like The Golem."

Dave "Awww Yeah! Me and my bro are about to kick some ass. A rat's ass!"

Kanji "I'm ready when you are. Create a tunnel to the surface. Preferably, somewhere behind the creature. It won't know what hit it."

Dave "I should also close the hole when we leave, bro."

Kanji "You catch on fast. Okay in the count to three. One... Two... Three!'

Emerging from the ground, Kanji and Dave surprise the creature from behind. Kanji swiftly produces an electrified blade on his chain, aiming for one of its eyes. The creature's head shakes violently, unleashing a piercing screech. Dave covers his ear, while Kanji, seemingly unfazed, yawns and glances at Dave, signaling him. Understanding the cue— Dave summons a wave of spikes from the ground, impaling the creature's legs, jaw, and underbelly.

Dave "Got dem! Wait. What the fuck?!"

The spikes retract, revealing that their efforts were not effective. The rat's eyes bore into their souls, while its tail spins, now aiming directly at them.

Kanji "Dodge! NOW!"

A shower of sweat gushes forth from the creature, missing Kanji and Dave. They observe as the sweat transforms into strands of hair. Before they can react, the creature's blades slice the wall, reducing it to diced cubes.

AN "Kanji to your left! Dave to your right!"

Two globs of concentrated sweat graze their lower torsos, adhering to another wall and creating a colossal bush of hair.

Their eyes fixate on the creature's blades as they repeatedly pierce the wall, leaving behind a comb-like pattern of holes.

Kanji "Shit. So that's what it was doing earlier. Dave... let's retreat for now."

Dave "Ok, boss. Get in the hole, dude."

Dave swiftly creates a new opening beside them, and they descend, reuniting with the rest of their group. The rat notices the disappearing hole and becomes momentarily perplexed. A sense of familiarity lingers, but the creature dismisses it. Instead, its attention fixates on the ceiling lights.

Growling, it launches a barrage of sweat projectiles.

AN "Ummm, not to bring you more bad news. But the rat just destroyed the lights."

Sarah "You can't be serious! Really!"

Kanji "That is very bad. Hey, at least. We did learn a couple of things. First of all, the strange cannons on its back, fire sweat. There are two types. A spray and a condensed shot. The spray causes little hairs to grow and makes the creature's blades swing to where they are. The shot creates a large bush of hair which its blade will then thrust till there's nothing left but holes."

Diana "But can we hurt that fucker, boss?"

Kanji "I'm not sure. When we stuck it, there was no injury, unless... Dave, did you notice something?"

Dave "Aha, dude. It is small, but that shit was wacky. The pattern wanky as shit."

Diana "Can you speak English, Icarus?!"

Kanji "I think he means that the patterns on its body distort every time it gets hit. We can go again just to test it."

Azan "Mina and I are going with you. You need all the help you can get."

Mina "Wait! Isn't it like dark-dark out there?!"

Kanji "Oh right. I wish we have more night-vision goggles."

Claire "Ummm, I can make them if you want, Kaney."

Kanji "It's a high risk. Fine. Make only three. Keep the rest of your slots in case we need them."

Claire raises her hands in the air, and three night-vision goggles materialize. Dave, Azan, and Mina snatch and equip them.

Dave "Woah! This is fucking sick! Wait, Cla'bro just where did you-

Claire "Nevermind that, go follow Kaney!"

Dave, Mina, and Azan catch up to Kanji as he leaves a tunnel, tilted up to the surface.

The rat shows no surprise at their arrival and immediately launches four sweat projectiles as their heads pop out. The boys narrowly avoid being hit, but Mina gets struck on her right shoulder.

A quadrant of blades locks onto her, causing her to stumble and retreat. Panic sets in, but then a sudden idea sparks in her mind. She places her hand over her shoulder, and clock symbols manifest on each strand of hair. She watches as they fade, and the blades retract.

The rat hisses, its fur bristling, and its cannon now fires sweat randomly, creating a hazardous field of blades all around. Every second, the minefield inches closer to the group. As Dave runs, his foot applies extra pressure, triggering a wall to spring up behind him. The other wielders notice and quickly take cover behind it.

Kanji "This won't last long! Any ideas, you two?!"

Mina "Oh! I got one! Leave it to me!"

Mina swiftly pulls Dave away and places her right hand on the wall. Meanwhile, her other hand lies flat on the floor. The concrete of the wall starts to mend while the portion on the floor begins to deteriorate.

Kanji "Great job Mina! Now Dave can you attack this thing with a strong attack?"

Dave "I'm a bit tired, bro. But I'll do my fucking best. Here! Eat some more spikes you damn rat!"

Spikes erupt from the floor and ceiling, impaling the creature's entire body, yet it barely reacts. Phasing through the attack, it persists in firing sweat, annihilating the spikes before they can retreat.

Dave "Okay. What the FUCK happened?! Dudes!"

Kanji "I'm getting it now. The creature can only be harmed by something that was newly created. That means we can't use the same attacks on it. I doubt my electricity will work on it a second time. Perhaps I'll try burning it or freezing it. Or maybe-

Azan "Stop. Kanji. I may have a better plan. It will completely mess the thing up."

Kanji "Okay then. Go for it!"

Azan places his hands on his head, and a landscape of his mind reveals an instant ironic scene. The rat notices some of its sweat projectiles vanish into thin air. It scans its surroundings, and then— Splash.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Dave "Ah! NO FUCKING WAY! Dude, that is awesome!"

Kanji "Wow, I have to admit that is quite genius."

Mina "Azzy, how did you think of that?! Now, we win! Right?!"

With smiles on their faces, they witness the rat's own blades tearing through its body, attempting to shave off the excess hair. However, instead of achieving that, the blades uproot the creature, freeing its leg from the ground. In the next moment, the blades start phasing through the rat, generating a spinning aura of slicing and dicing around the colossal rodent.

Kanji "Ummm... Yeeeah. We should retreat. Now!"

The wielders dash towards the hole, pursued by the rat. Fortunate circumstances aid them as they glide on residual saliva, reaching the opening just in time. The rat screeches and frantically scratches the floor, but its efforts prove futile. Exhausted, it lowers its head and rests. All it can perceive are the rapidly spinning blades, resembling a whirling saw. A sense of familiarity resurfaces, and the creature's eyelids slowly close, succumbing to a deep slumber.

AN "Everyone. There's good news. That thing is sleeping right now. Now would be the best time to strike."

Kanji "Also, another good news. Thanks to Azan, the creature can no longer shoot sweat. The sweat for some odd reason doesn't turn into hair anymore. And It lost control of its bladed limbs. So be careful getting close to the damn thing."

Dave "Cool... you said it... bro. I... don't... think I can last another round."

Kanji "It must be quite draining to create those spikes. Not to worry. You can stay here with Amelia. Make sure to share those energy bars."

Amelia "Kanji, do I need to sustain the dome anymore?"

Kanji "Oh yeah, now that I think about it. No, you don't need to. We need to think of something else that can distract it."

Claire "Maybe it is hungry. Try creating fake food lol."

Kanji "They don't have to be complete foods, just scraps... to conserve your energy. Also, make them as realistic as you can. And don't forget to add texture."

Amelia "Got it, lad! What about who's going next?"

Kanji "Yeah, we need someone fast enough and reactive enough to dodge those blades. Or reflect them if possible?"

Sarah "Oh! Me and Noah. We'll fuck that fucker up!"

Noah "Errr... you sure?" "Aw, man. One of these days, I need to tell Sarah not to drag me into things like this. Then again I can't just leave her to do it by herself."

Sarah "Yes, remember that badass black aura of yours that pushes shit away. I don't what emotion that is but my guess is Disgust like you want your enemies to get away from you because they look ugly."

Noah "You read my mind." "Damn it all! Why did I play into that?!"

Sarah "Then what are you waiting for, man?! Let's go kick some ass!"

Dave walks in front of them and hands them Mina's and Azan's goggles. Dave puts his hand against the wall to his right. A tunnel opens up. He then directs his hands pointing to the light at the end of the canal.

Dave 'Your road to Beat The Rat Ville is this way, my dudes."

Sarah and Noah share a chuckle as they depart from the underground. Meanwhile, Diana approaches Kanji's left shoulder, prompting him to glance back and notice a custodian-like expression on her face.

Diana "Ummm, boss. Are you sure that's a good idea? Leaving those two by themselves."

Kanji "Independence and teamwork are the keys to success. I'm testing if they have what takes to achieve these two factors."

Diana "Ah... that's kinda true. Boss, can Claire and I go next? I really want to test my fists against that thing."

Kanji "You'll go when we are able to disable those blades. I don't want you to turn into sashimi."

AN "I understand that you want to help. But look at me, I feel less useful than you."

Diana "AN... AN. Destroying yourself isn't a good way to cheer someone up. Besides, you saved us a couple of times already."

Kanji "Maybe because we are on Earth. We are familiar with this place. Once we leave it, you'll find yourself to have a greater purpose."

AN "Oh... that's good to know. If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask. I'll always be here."

Kanji "One small question. How long do Castastrians live for?"

AN "They live on average, 237 years. Why you asked?"

Kanji "Good at least. We have plenty of time as friends before you pass away."

Cl/Mina "Awww, that's so sweet!"

Meanwhile, on the surface, Sarah and Noah navigate around the creature's slumbering form. It is truly fast asleep. Sarah grins and prepares to charge forward with her ring, but Noah intervenes, placing a restraining hand on her.

Sarah "Noah? What are you doing? Let me go. I want to hack that rat."

Noah "I know. This reminds you of road kill. But here... have this first." "Shit! Shit! Please god, protect her from this monstrous creation."

Sarah becomes cloaked in a shroud of black aura.

Determined, she charges forward, racing through the scattered food scraps. With a powerful swing, she brings her weapon down, slicing the air in three distinct crescent patterns. Her strikes cut deep into the creature's skin, unveiling a peculiar yellow flesh beneath its blue fur. Contrary to what Kanji told her, this time the wound refuses to heal.

Sarah "Huh. That's weird. Did something change?" "Time or damage. One of these is the answer! Noah! give me another-

A colossal tail lashes at Sarah's face, but the majority of the impact is deflected by a burst of darkness.

Nonetheless, the force sends her goggles tumbling off. Noah swiftly reacts, snatching them from mid-air along with her hand. Together, they retreat to one of the corners of the room.

Noah "Okay. That was close." "Fuck! At least Sarah's okay."

Sarah "AAAAH! I can't see! Noah, do you have my cool night goggles?!"

Noah passes the goggles back to Sarah, who quickly puts them on. The two shift their gaze towards the creature, which watches them intently from the corner, seemingly oblivious to the abundance of food scraps strewn about its surroundings.

Noah "Shit. How useless?" "Why didn't the food scraps work? Why didn't they work?!"

Sarah "It's coming! Noah! Quick! Give me more of that aura. A lot more! As much as you can give me!"

Noah notices a lingering trace of fear in Sarah's eyes, a departure from her usual behavior. Concern replaces his own fear, and he watches as a dark blue aura materializes around her. Sarah gazes at it in awe, then unexpectedly embraces him in a tight hug.

Sarah "Thanks. I don't know what this feeling is. But... I feel safe."

Noah "Y-You're W-Welcome." "Oh my god. I'm in heaven!"

Sarah "You can stand back! I will deal with this motherfucker!"

Sarah takes a bold step forward, causing the rat to adjust its position, retracting its tail and pulling back its feet. Like a spinning-bladed comet, the creature hurtles towards Sarah. Her right-hand trembles, but she smacks it with her other hand, mustering her resolve. Jumping into the air...

They collide, and a remarkable event unfolds. Amidst the clash, Sarah witnesses dark blue turtle shells materialize, shielding her from the blades.

Swinging her ring towards the remaining eyes, Sarah's hand gets drenched in sweat gushing from the creature's mouth, causing her to lose her grip on the weapon. Acting quickly, she forms a claw with both hands, desperately striking at the rat's head before succumbing to unconsciousness. Only one eye remains.

Noah rushes in, pulling Sarah away. As he observes a stream of liquid emanating from the creature's eye, he finds himself unable to discern whether it is tears or sweat.

Noah "Ummm. AN. Tell Dave... to you kno-

A hole materializes beneath Noah, and he and Sarah slide down, reuniting with their comrades. Claire assists Noah in laying Sarah on the ground.

Claire "Oh my god! What happened?!"

Noah "We did a lot of shit. I don't know." "Please don't tell me she's dead!"

Kanji "Let me check..... ah. Massive head trauma. It must've happened when the rat's tail hit her... but your aura wasn't enough to block its full effect. But, it'll be fine. She'll be alright after a little rest. Noah, any info you managed to gather?"

Noah "Not sure. I think it was pouring tears or sweat." "Yeah, something like that. I don't know!"

AN "Yeah, I saw that as well. Maybe the creature is vulnerable to emotions. And also its wounds aren't recovering anymore."

Kanji "Okay, good work team. Now, we just need to get rid of those blades. Good thing I already came up with a plan. I need you, Mina, and Azan for this."

Mina/Azan "Wait, us?"

Kanji "Yeah, this plan is simple. Noah, I need to you apply that dark blue aura to Mina. If you don't find a way to do that then just apply the black aura. Azan, you'll be back up for that specific condition. I heard that your suitcase can turn into a shield."

Azan "Yes, a golden wristwatch, it projects a forcefield. Let me guess, you want me to charge in with her."

Kanji "Exactly! Oh... and Mina, you'll use your powers to turn those blades into dust. Literally."

Mina "Sounds good to me! Let's do this!"

The group proceeds through the familiar tunnel, with Azan and Mina staying close to each other, their shoulders touching. Noah follows closely behind, his gaze fixated on the intimate connection.

Noah "Gross." "Ah... I wish I have that kind of relationship with Sarah. I feel happy for them. Maybe I should take notes. It might help me get close to her."

Azan "Em... what did you say?"

Noah ignores him, pretending to look away as they approach the exit. As they pop their heads out, they notice the creature lying in the corner. It acknowledges their presence but makes minimal movement.

Azan "Why is it not attacking us? Is it a new hunting tactic?"

Mina "Nah! No way! Come on, let's beat this thing!"

Azan "Your enthusiasm always amazes me, Mina. Noah, can you make the dark blue aura?"

Noah "No. Only black aura. Take it or leave it." "Sorry, guys. But it is really hard to worry about the two of you all people."

Azan "That's fine. Let's initiate plan two!"

Noah envelops their bodies in a shroud of black aura as they make their daring charge toward the creature. The rodent rises to its feet, assuming a defensive stance, pressing its entire body against the wall.

As they draw nearer, the blades of the creature are deflected. In a decisive moment, Mina leaps into action, seizing two of the blades with a firm grip.

At the same time, Azan activates his forcefield, effectively blocking the creature's tail and the remaining blades. Mina clasps the limbs tightly, causing them to age and disintegrate into dust. Encouraged by the success, she proceeds to seize the rest of the blades, which also crumble to dust within her grasp.

Azan "Yes, got it. Mission complete! Wait! What is it doing?!"

The rat flees with astonishing swiftness, leaving Mina, Azan, and Noah struggling to keep up. Despite their efforts, they find themselves unable to match its speed. Eventually, they concede and retreat back underground.

Kanji "You guys did very well. Leave the rest to Claire and Diana."

The rat's attention is finally drawn to the food scraps scattered on the floor, and it starts voraciously consuming them. The bland, textureless sustenance manages to alleviate the tears streaming from the creature's eye.

Once more, a sense of familiarity washes over it, evoking memories of simpler times and a feeling of home. And so, the rat weeps once again.

It then hears two footsteps from behind, one small and one large.

The rat refuses to let go of this profound sensation. It continues its relentless munching, despite the fact that its stomach never seems to fill.

Diana "This punk is ignoring us. Let's beat it up!"

Claire "I don't know... it looks like it doesn't want to fight."

Diana "Looks can be deceiving, Claire. You just have to kick it to reveal... The Truth!"

Diana forcefully stomps on the rat's head, eliciting a screech of pain. Claire's hands instinctively cover her mouth in shock, and a growing unease settles within her as Diana continues her assault. Deep down, a sense of disquiet starts to gnaw at her, hinting that something is wrong.

Diana "You still eating, huh?! Then eat this!"

She unleashes a barrage of stomps upon the creature, intensifying her assault.

As the sensation of familiarity reaches its pinnacle, the creature crawls toward one of the corners of the room.

Diana "Well. Well. A cornered rat. How fitting. Now die-

Claire "STOP! Diana, why are fighting something that isn't even fighting back?! That doesn't seem fair!"

Diana "Claire you... You're right. I'm sorry, I was so angry at how it attacked our friends that I forgot my oath... an oath to preserve fairness. I'll just... wait until it wants to fight."

Claire "Awesome, I'm proud of you. However, I should be the one to be sorry. I can't believe that I didn't realize it sooner. The key to solving this trial."

Diana "Wait, what do you mean?"

Claire "Look at that."

Diana turns her attention to the creature, witnessing its desperate attempts to claw at the wall. Upon closer inspection, they notice a small crack in the wall... Claire, overcome with emotion, starts to cry.

Claire "You poor thing. How confused you must be... involving yourself with us. We should have checked the room. AN... tell everyone to come up. There's something I want to teach everyone."

The entire squad gathers around Claire, their presence silent and attentive. Each member's thoughts drift as they listen...

Claire "It's good that everyone's here. I... just wanted to say that violence isn't always the answer. Creation isn't meant to be destroyed... they are meant to be loved... to be cherished. Especially those with emotions that run deeper than the oceans."

Kanji "It's a great metaphor for the birth of life. Where did you learn this from, Claire."

Claire "... From an auntie with the greatest smile in the whole wide world. Now, as for this little guy..."

Claire extends her hand towards the massive rat, capturing its attention. Sensing no hostility, the creature ceases its frantic clawing and gazes back at her. A smile forms on Claire's lips as she softly utters the words...

Claire "... Your name is Jeremy... aren't you? Little Guardian of Starry Nights. Here have this... I'm sure you'll like it. You know what! Have two"

In Claire's hand, she holds two blocks of vibrant yellow cheese. The creature cautiously extends one claw at a time towards her offering. Its nose delicately brushes against the cheese, sniffing the enticing scent, and its front legs gently make contact with the food. Up close, Claire witnesses the creature's tears, crystal clear and poignant. After devouring the cheese, the creature, now known as Jeremy, lowers its head. Claire's smile broadens as she pets him.

A burst of orange light envelops Jeremy.

As the luminosity fades, the wielders behold a remarkable change. Before them stands a small, orange rat with endearing cartoonish eyes, adorned with a peculiar symbol on its forehead.

AN "Oh my! That's The Aspect of Creation's symbol. Claire, you got yourself a companion!"

Claire "No... No no no no! This isn't what I want at all! I don't want you to follow us on this dangerous adventure! I want you to be free and live your best life! Why-

[Do you want to set Jeremy free?]

Claire "Ah... oh. Yes, without a single doubt. He deserves it."

Embracing his newfound form, Jeremy leaps onto Claire's shoulder, affectionately nuzzling her cheeks. Then, with a sprightly dash, he scampers into his home. Soon after, he emerges, dragging an Orange battery behind him.