A dense fog slowly descended, leaving behind only the metallic scent of blood wafting through the air. The remains of the Elite Mutant Rat still simmered on the cold corridor floor, their stench mingling with the dungeon’s dampness.

I glanced at Darius, and he returned my look. We were both still shaken by the intensity of our last encounter. Although our bodies were exhausted, adrenaline left us no room for rest.

"My thought this would be easier," he muttered, wiping the blade of his dagger against his pant leg. "Even with my talent that gives me +50% to my stats, I still didn’t have enough strength to easily slice through that rat’s skin." He paused for a moment, looking at me with a slight smile. "And next time, before you get the brilliant idea of dismembering monsters, at least give me a heads-up so I can prepare."

I rolled my eyes, but a smile lingered on my lips. "Maybe next time you try destabilizing your opponent’s energy—let's see how you fare without blowing everything up within several meters." After a moment, I added with a light sigh, "By the way... thanks for the cover. Without your shield, I'd be covered in blood and the innards of that rat right now."Darius chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No problem. Just try not to blow us up along with the monster next time."

[SYSTEM]

Battle concluded. Gained: 1200 EXP (Ashira: 650 EXP, Darius: 550 EXP).

He furrowed his brows as he glanced at the system notification. "How is it that you got more EXP than I did?" he asked, tilting his head toward me. "I was on the front line, blocking that filth’s attacks!"

I burst into laughter, leaning against the wall. "Maybe the system appreciated my finesse and control over chaotic energy—not just your dagger-swinging," I replied with a wink.

He sighed dramatically. "Next time, I'll destabilize the energy and you can play shield. Let's see who racks up more points then."

I shrugged, glancing at my stats with satisfaction. "Probably the system just summed up the EXP from all those rats I obliterated in the tunnels," I quipped with amusement. "But honestly, I’m not cut out for fighting so many at once. My mana reserves are too low for that. I’d rather focus on stronger opponents."

Darius raised an eyebrow. "With your agility?" he laughed softly. "You won’t be able to keep up with stronger opponents long enough to track them properly, not to mention dodging their attacks."

He fell silent for a moment, as if analyzing our previous battle. "Although... maybe there's a way to work this out. At the start of the fight, I'll try to inflict as many shallow wounds as possible on these elite rats. If I manage to land enough, you could harness your chaotic energy and pierce into their bodies like you did last time."

I nodded, seeing the sense in his plan.

"After quickly dispatching the elite, we'll handle the rest of these little rats," he added with a confident smile. "Although, there will be a multitude of them on the battlefield, so it might turn out to be troublesome. We have to act fast before they overwhelm us."

I liked that plan much more than running around as a living lure. After all, I could focus on what I did best instead of fleeing from a horde of mutants.

We moved on, straining to catch every whisper in the darkness. Along the way, we encountered ordinary rats, but this time Darius wasted no time—dispatching them with one swift move before they could close in.

It wasn’t long before another elite rat blocked our path. Its red eyes gleamed in the dim light, and its massive body moved with an astonishing grace. At that moment, a swarm of smaller rats burst forth from the side corridors, beginning to surround us from every angle.

The elite rat let out a terrifying, piercing roar, activating its ability. Its body began to emanate a dark, pulsating energy, and the smaller rats suddenly gained incredible speed and aggression. We knew we had to act swiftly before the situation spiraled out of control.

Darius lunged forward immediately, moving with the precision of an experienced warrior. His dagger gleamed in the dungeon’s weak light as he deftly delivered a series of shallow yet accurate cuts along the monster's sides and back. Every slash was meticulously planned, aimed at weakening the elite rat and setting it up for my attack.

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

The monster roared furiously, its red eyes blazing with wild rage, and its powerful jaws nearly clamped down on Darius’s shoulder. Nevertheless, he moved with astonishing grace, dodging the brutal attacks of the foe with precise ease—as if he could predict every move the beast would make.

Meanwhile, the smaller rats, roused by the elite's roar, began closing in from all sides. Their claws scraped against the stone floor, and their eyes glowed with a sinister gleam. They weren’t just targeting me—their teeth and claws aimed at Darius as well, forcing him to constantly balance between attacking the elite rat and evading the strikes of the lesser foes.

The way he handled the chaotic fight was nothing short of astonishing. Every movement was precise and fluid, as if he were anticipating not only the elite rat’s actions but also the attacks of the entire frenzied horde. He dodged blows with an almost superhuman dexterity while striking exactly where it was needed. The atmosphere grew thick with tension, and the echo of breaths and monster groans reverberated off the walls, intensifying the feeling of being cornered. I knew we had only a moment before we were completely surrounded.

Seeing my opportunity, I began to evade the smaller rats that tried to reach me—their claws barely grazing my legs. Still, I focused on my task: I concentrated chaotic energy, allowing it to flow from my hair down to my hands. I could feel the power pulsing beneath my skin, ready to be unleashed.

I reached for the energy gathered in my hair, slowly channeling it into my hands. I concentrated on compressing a large amount of chaotic energy into a small, precise stream, just like before—a stream that took the form of a thin, purple needle pulsating with chaotic potential. I activated the Eye of Chaos along with my energy analysis ability, fixing my gaze on the wounds inflicted by Darius.

I knew I had to wait for the perfect moment, though that wasn’t easy while constantly on the move, dodging the smaller rats’ attacks. Their claws nearly brushed against my legs, forcing me into sudden evasive maneuvers. Yet I kept my focus on the task, watching Darius’s fight intently and waiting for the right moment to strike.

When Darius executed a sudden dodge, forcing the elite rat to slam into the damp corridor wall, I saw my chance. I raised my hand, aiming precisely at one of the wounds on the monster’s side. I could already feel the chaotic energy pulsating in my hand, ready to strike. However, a sudden movement from the side caught me completely off guard—a smaller rat lunged at me unexpectedly.

Instinctively, I leaped aside, barely avoiding its claws, but in that unplanned movement I lost my aim, and the energy needle shot off in a completely different direction. Instead of striking the elite rat, the needle embedded itself straight into the eye of one of the smaller rats. The creature exploded immediately, scattering chunks of flesh in every direction, and I felt frustration welling up inside me.

I muttered a quiet curse under my breath, forced to refocus. Quickly, I repeated the entire process, compressing another dose of chaotic energy into a precise needle. For a moment, I couldn’t find the right opportunity— the smaller rats kept attacking, and the elite rat was not easily caught off guard.

"Darius! Lift him into the air!" I shouted, straining to be heard over the clamor of battle.

Darius reacted instantly. He summoned his shield, but at that very moment as he did so, the elite rat lunged at him with its jaws wide open, aiming straight for his head. Darius executed a lightning-quick sidestep, and the beast’s massive fangs snapped shut just next to his ear. Without hesitation, he dove under the creature’s body, using its momentum to his advantage. He positioned himself right beneath its belly—the optimal spot for a counterattack.

Then, tensing every muscle, he slammed his shield with all his might into the creature’s soft underbelly. The powerful blow lifted the rat into the air, sending it soaring upward with such force that the beast collided with the corridor ceiling.

That was the moment I had been waiting for. I fired the energy needle without hesitation, taking advantage of the open wounds on the monster’s body. The needle plunged deep into one of its injuries, destabilizing its energy from the inside.

The rat roared in pain, its body beginning to convulse violently, and then it swelled rapidly, as if it were about to burst. And burst it did—the beast exploded with a deafening crash, scattering innards and chunks of flesh in every direction.

Darius managed to raise his shield just in time, protecting himself from the wave of debris. I, unfortunately, was not so lucky—blood and the remains of the elite rat splattered all over me from head to toe. I could feel the sticky liquid trickling down my face and shoulders, and the smell of meat and blood filled the air.

I looked over at Darius, who, behind his shield, appeared almost impeccably clean. Meanwhile, I stood there, covered in the gore and entrails of the elite rat, struggling to recover from the explosion. Seeing my condition, Darius quickly moved toward the remaining rats.

When the last rat finally fell lifeless, Darius turned to me with a slight smile, his shield still gleaming with pristine cleanliness.

"Well, great," I muttered irritably, glancing at his spotless appearance. "Next time, I get the shield."

[SYSTEM ]

Congratulations! You have defeated the Elite Mutant Rat.

Gained: 1000 EXP (Ashira: 650 EXP, Darius: 350 EXP).