The rats were closing in. Fast.

Ethan’s heart pounded in his chest—no, the rat’s chest—but the feeling was all too familiar. He had never been a runner, not in his old life. He’d always been the guy stuck in one place, suffocating under the weight of everything. But here? There was no choice.

This was survival.

As he raced through the mine, dodging pickaxes and upturned carts left behind by whoever once occupied this place, he felt the swarm gaining on him. The air was thick with their squeals, their claws scraping the stone, each one getting closer by the second.

Hey! Ethan yelled to the only sentient being that would hear him. Any chance you’ve got a trick up your sleeve to help me out here?

You’re a Legendary Hat, not a miracle worker. Keep running. I'm sure you'll think of something. You humans always do.

He pushed the rat’s body harder, his tiny legs burning with the effort while the swarm surged forward - a mass of fur, teeth, and claws.

Bring up my skills! he screamed in his mindscape, his floppy hat-form being nibbled at by the nearest foe. This disease-bag's gotta have something it can do to fight back, right?

That, I can show you:

Host: Cave Rat (Level 1)

Stats:

HP: 10/10

MP: 0

WILL: 0

STR: 5

PER: 5

SPD: 25

CHA: 2

[Skills known]

Hide (Grade F),

Skitter (Grade F)

Detect Life (Grade F)

Bite (Grade F)

Ethan narrowly avoided the nibbling teeth of a rat that launched itself at him from the shadows.

Ok, skills. One of them’s gotta work here. I’m thinking…this!

Skitter (Grade F)

Adrenaline surges through you, giving you a momentary surge of speed.

SPD: +30/10 secs

Ten seconds is all I need.

Ethan focused on the skill and willed it to activate. Without another thought, his Host’s body zoomed across the hard, craggy floor. Ethan felt as though he were gliding on dank, filthy air, as he was carried into another shaft away from the horde.

But they’re still pursuing…let’s see…

Hide (Grade F)

You blend into the shadows, evading your opponents.

Chance of success: 20% (x2 in total darkness)

I’ll take it, Ethan thought as he found a dilapidated mine cart and jumped inside it. We’re going stealth mode…

He then heard the rat swarm enter the shaft behind him, their noses sniffing the air, seeking out their prey.

He closed his three eyes. He didn’t move any of his new muscles.

Hide…Success!

Ethan breathed a sigh of relief as the rats filed out of the room, each breaking off into different levels of the shaft. He finally had a moment to think about what the hell was going on here.

Even though, in the corner of his eye, the timer that signaled the beginning of his [Bounty] was still ticking down…

Time until [Bounty]: 23:15:00

He needed to act – and act fast. He needed a stronger host than this little rat. He wasn’t gonna get far on running and hiding alone.

But first – he needed some answers.

Alright, Mr System, Ethan began. Spill it. What’s the deal, here?

He felt hesitation nipping at the corner of his mind.

As your System guide, I’m afraid some details of your predicament are considered [CLASSIFI-]

That ain’t gonna cut it, Ethan snapped. Look, you’re in my head now, so that means you probably die if I die, right?

My feelings have never – that is – do not come into this.

All I can tell you is that you were a suitable candidate for regeneration. A new [Archon] was needed. That’s all. The last one…didn’t quite work out.

And what, pray tell, is an Archon?

I’m afraid that information is [CLASSIFIED] [Hat]

Should you survive your Bounty, I am sure you will find the answer.

Ethan slumped back, his rat form resembling his human couch-potato stance back home.

So, what can you tell me? he asked.

I can provide detailed information on your skills and abilities, as befits the purpose I was created for.

I am also at liberty to discuss geographic details of this world.

Or, if you prefer, I shall simply be your lovable sarcastic guide.

Something tells me that last option’s your default setting, Ethan moaned, stretching his hat form atop his furry Host. But, alright, I’ll bite: where the hell am I?

You are currently in the Kingdom of Westerweald, the name of the landmass in the western reaches of Argwyll.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The current ruler of this land is King Lysandus IV.

Currently, you reside in one of the King’s abandoned mine-shafts. There was a troll problem a while ago…

Troll problem? Ethan mused. Now that sounds like a creature worth possessing…

Ethan climbed the mine cart and dropped to the ground, checking for any enemies nearby.

Ok, he thought. I’ve got 23 hours until I’m a walking target, and a cave full of rats with a potential troll. If I’m gonna have a chance of surviving, I’m gonna need to possess that big boy. But I gotta get this rat trained up. As a Level I, I’m not gonna make it.

Certainly, [Hat]

And to increase your levels, you will have to gather Spirit Cores.

Which come from killing, Ethan finished.

Afraid so.

You don’t have a problem with that sort of thing, do you? I understand you humans tend to enjoy your previous ‘morality’.

Ethan grunted as he activated his Hide skill again, keeping to the shadows as he formed a plan in his mind.

Guess we’ll find out, he replied.

----------------------------------------

Ethan-the-hat drove his rat Host through the winding shafts of the mine, intent on finding some prey.

You know, I don’t feel right about just taking over your whole personality, little guy, he told his (probably uncaring) Host. Least I can do is give you a name. How about…Theodore?

Theodore the newly christened rat didn’t react to this.

Ethan quickly worked out the stats of the rat – classic RPG stuff, no problems there. The skills too – they were self-explanatory. When he activated [Skitter] he got a quick little boost of speed. When he activated [Bite], he felt his new baby-blade teeth bare themselves for an attack.

You ain’t the strongest, Theo, Ethan thought, hoping that some semblance of his host’s consciousness was there to hear his praise. But you make up for it in speed…I’d probably do a marathon of this place if it would do anything to increase your skills.

Ethan was quickly realizing that this world – wherever it was – certainly didn’t run on Bethesda RPG rules. He drove Theo on and on through the dilapidated remains of the shaft, finding broken pieces of machinery and mining equipment, and his [Skitter] skill didn’t increase one bit.

The System hadn’t lied, then. He needed killing. And plenty of it…

In a new shaft, skittering around an overturned mine-crate, was a cabal of five rats - each one of a similar shape and size to him.

We just found our first targets, Theodore. Ready for action?

Having literally no say in the matter, Theodore merely blinked his dead-eyes and scampered forward.

[Skill Activated: Hide]

Ethan kept to the shadows, embracing the deepest recesses of the shaft’s darkness as though he was born to it. He crept round the edges of the rat assembly until he saw one of them sniff the air and come towards him, interested to meet the new arrival.

His mates seem distracted by whatever’s in that mine cart. Should be easy pickings.

He felt Theodore’s spirit wrestle against him ever so slightly as their unsuspecting victim stood on its tiny legs and sniffed the air again, its eyes unable to pick out the stalker hiding in the shadows before it.

Oh, Theo, Ethan mumbled. This is no time for nostalgia. Listen, you help me and I’ll help you. We’re gonna level you up till you’re the strongest rat that’s ever scurried around these parts!

Ethan moved his host back, kicking some stones outside the shaft in order to draw the unsuspecting rat further away from his friends. The rat took the bait, not noticing its stalking cousin slowly creeping towards its back, eyes trained on its furry neck.

Now!

[Bite: Activated]

Sneak Attack Bonus!

DMG: x2

Theodore’s teeth shone in the dark and sank into his cousin rat’s neck with pinpoint precision. Ethan forced him to bite down until the blood of his victim clotted every fang, and only when the creature went limp did Ethan withdraw back into the dusk, just in time to see another rat who’d heard all the commotion scurry towards his fallen brother.

Ready for some more Theo? he sneered. And, to his surprise, his little Host leapt with no small amount of glee.

When the slaughter was over, Ethan stood over the dead pack of rats with satisfaction, small chunks of their innards stuck to his teeth. He then decided to prospect his newly acquired Spirit Cores:

[Theodore the Cave Rat {LVL 1}]

Status: {Possessed} by [Hat] {Legendary}

[Spirit Cores: 6]

I get the main idea, he mused as he picked pieces of blood-clotted fur from between his teeth. Levelling in this world works on a kind of ‘point-buy’ system. For every Spirit Cores I have, I can spend it to increase stats and skills.

You seem to have adapted well, [Hat]

Surprisingly well, for a human.

I've often thought that there's no use dwelling on your circumstances, Ethan replied, matter-of-fact. Work the problem, find a solution, and implement a strategy.

Spoken like a man who often finds himself against the clock.

Ethan couldn't help but smirk in his rat-form. You don't know the half of it.

Ethan then looked through his stats and skills, realizing quickly that the current costs to increase stat points was only one Spirit Core, while the cost to increase [Skills] was much higher.

And I’m gonna hazard a guess that the cost gets bigger with every upgrade I give myself or my host…otherwise I could just kill fifty rats in this place and make myself a walking, furry little HP tank right now.

Ethan decided to test out his theory, increasing the HP of his reliable (and hopefully not too mentally scarred) little host by a single pip.

Host: Theodore the Rat is now a {Rat: Level 2}

[HP: +1]

[HP: 11/11]

[Spirit Cores] to Increase: 2

Current [Spirit Cores: 4]

Gotcha, Ethan nodded, bloody specks of his enemy’s dried blood flying from his flaring nostril. Looks like I’ve got a lot of work to do here before I’m ready for the outside world.

You have no idea

Hey, why me, anyway? Ethan suddenly found himself asking. You said I was a ‘suitable’ candidate to become this ‘Archon’. What the hell does that mean?

It means nothing, really.

You can only be what you’re supposed to be.

Kaedmon’s Law.

Say what?

Sorry, further information is considered [CLASSIFIED]

Ethan was already getting tired of this thing…

That sounds…super cryptic. What about my old life? I had…y’know, stuff going on.

…

You would really wish to return to your home?

Hey, come on, Ethan challenged – the single eye on his rim blinking in complete denial while his host merely stood, staring at the fallen rats and their gradually pooling blood. I’ll have you know that the me back on earth was an upstanding, model citizen. I had career prospects. Expectations. Primary Action Objectives…

…shit. Can’t even convince myself, never mind this snarky bastard.

Ethan instead turned his attention back to the reality of the mine shaft, observing his fallen kills with no small degree of satisfaction. Ordinarily, he’d have probably vomited at the sight before him – five once living rats torn apart by teeth that he owned – but he was strangely unperturbed by the whole thing. In fact, gulping down their blood felt as natural as filling himself with Mountain Dew during a midnight gaming session.

You know something? I think I might have found my true calling. Maybe I’m an assassin at heart.

The [Archon] generally has no moral compass.

Nothing inherently wrong with that. When it comes to survival, morality is a luxury one cannot afford.

Ethan was inclined to agree in principle. He began investigating the mine cart that had the fallen rats so intrigued. Right now, he saw nothing but the fuzzy outline of an object – it was like a thin sheen of camera static covered it, denying him the ability to comprehend what the thing even was, never mind what it could do.

I mean, it looks like a sword, Ethan observed. But who the hell can be sure in a new world? System! Skill me up! Let’s pull up my Appraisal.

[Skill Activated]: Appraisal (Rank F)

You can identify plain items with the {Common} identifier. You can also identify the name and LVL of enemies.

Ethan watched as the fuzzy static slowly dissipated into the dank air to reveal the item that had the rats so interested:

[Item: Silver Dagger] {Common}

DMG (Base): 10-14 (Piercing)

SPECIAL: Especially effective against Undead

Now that’s a shiny we could use, eh Theo? Too bad it’s not exactly rat-shaped. Lack of opposable thumbs might just be our downfall, my furry friend.

As Theodore-the-rat-wearing-a-demonic-wizard-hat looked at his stubby claws with shame, the System decided to chime in with something useful:

[Skill: Transmogrification] (Grade F)

This skill allows you to morph an item to better suit your current [Host]

You can currently Transmogrify items of [Silver] quality or lower.

As Ethan read these simple words, desire formed in his heartless, threadbare chest. Desire that was strong enough to look passed the System menu screen and watch as the dagger slowly altered its shape before him, shrinking and filing itself into a thin silver tooth that slotted quite nicely on to one of Theodore’s front fangs.

The new weapon was just what he needed. He’d make a killer out of this rat, yet.

That thought stuck with him for a moment. Only a moment, before he realized he was on a timer, here.

Time until [Bounty]: 22:45:00

He didn't have time to mess around. But he liked to think that somewhere in their shared mindscape, his little rat friend was also appreciating his new silver tooth. So many things in this little place the guy called home were eminently pierceable, after all. And he’d just gotten the upgrade of a lifetime.

Stick around, Theo, Ethan told his trusty host. We’re just getting started here.