by Jackson Bale
Franky---frowns,---feeling---his---skin,---finding---that---its---texture---has---changed---to---something---between---tree---bark---and---leather.---Heck,---his---sense---of---touch---is---practically---nonexistent---now.---But---for---all---his---grumbles,---if---the---potion---does---what---it---is---supposed---to---do,---then---who---is---he---to---argue,---especially---if---it---means---that---he---has---less---of---a---chance---of---getting---killed.
“So,---mind---giving---me---a---rundown---on---these…---rats?---I---would---like---to---know---what---they---can---do---or---even---what---they---look---like.”
Brock---stops---and---looks---back,---eyes---widening---in---understanding,---“I---completely---forgot---that---you---were---summoned---and---you---wouldn't---know,”---he---says,---rubbing---his---temples.
“Right,---we---call---them---rats,---but---that's---short---for---direrats…---um,---you---know---what---rats---are,---right?”
Franky---nods.
“Well,---direrats---are---the---same---thing---except---that---they---are---much---larger.---Usually---up---to---two---feet,---though---an---adult---male---can---be---as---tall---as---three.---The---females,---if---allowed---to---live---long---enough,---can---get---to---the---size---of---five---feet.”
“Shit,---and---we’re---going---to---fight---a---swarm---of---them?”---Franky---curses.
“They're---not---as---dangerous---as---they---may---seem,”---Brock---adds---in,---waving---his---arm.
“The---females---don't---fight,---usually---preferring---to---run---while---the---smaller---rats---defend---or---hunt.---Luckily---for---us,---the---rats---have---a---hard---time---getting---through---armor---and---hardened---leather.---On---top---of---that,---they---aren't---very---smart---and---are---quite---cowardly.---They---only---attack---in---unorganized---groups,---which---means---I---will---be---the---primary---target.---Your---job---will---be---to---make---sure---that---Siberia---and---Turnock---are---left---alone.”
Franky---thinks---on---that,---looking---at---the---[Shield---Warrior],---noticing---that---his---armor---covers---his---whole---body,---leaving---nothing---exposed.---If---what---he---says---about---them---is---true,---they---shouldn't---be---able---to---harm---him.
“I---understand.---Stay---back---and---engage---anything---that---gets---past---you.”
Brock---nods---before---turning---around---and---heading---down---the---earth---tunnel.---Only---five---minutes---pass---by---before---Franky---notices---the---smell---of---urine---and---feces.---Apparently,---the---rats’---home---was---very---close---by.
Not---a---minute---after---the---first---sign---of---the---smell,---Franky---starts---to---hear---sounds.---Chittering---sounds,---legs---quickly---tapping---on---stone.
“We’re---very---close,”---Brock---whispers.
And---right---after---the---whisper,---a---loud---squeal---is---heard,---immediately---followed---by---several---dozen---more.---The---rats---had---been---notified.---The---sound---of---chittering---legs---intensifies.
“Shit,---get---back,---they’re---charging.---They---shouldn't---be---charging!”---Brock---yells,---his---eyes---staring---forward,---his---shield---aimed---towards---the---approaching---sound,---axe---at---the---ready,---unsheathed.---Franky---moves---slightly---back,---making---sure---the---[Bard]---and---[Mage]---are---behind---him.---Franky---copies---Brock’s---stance.
A---moment---after,---Franky’s---nerves---are---on---edge,---the---sound---getting---louder.---A---second---passes---and---he---sees---the---rats,---sprinting---out---of---the---darkness,---squeaking---and---yelling,---their---feet---striking---the---ground---at---an---unorganized---rhythm.
But---the---sound---of---several---feet---tapping---the---ground---is---replaced---by---music,---a---soft---melody.---Then---everything---starts---to---slow---down,---a---message---pops---up---at---the---side---of---his---vision.
You---are---under---the---effect---of---[Melody---Of---Increased---Perception]
Perception---speed---increased---by---37%---while---music---is---playing.
The---music---is---making---him---think---faster,---allowing---him---to---react---faster.---Turnock---is---buffing---the---whole---team.
But---it---doesn't---end---there.---From---the---corner---of---Franky’s---vision,---Siberia---extends---her---staff,---eyes---glowing---as---a---ball---of---blue---mana---flies---forward,---impacting---the---ground---in---front---of---Brock.---Ice---coalesces,---forming,---spreading---quickly---in---complicated---patterns,---all---in---front---of---him.
And---then---the---rat---horde---comes,---walking---over---the---ice---thirty---feet---away---from---Brock.---Then---Twenty---feet.---Fifteen…
And---then,---when---they---reach---ten,---Brock---activates---a---skill.
“[Paralyzing---Impact],”
His---shield---starts---to---glow.---He---extends---his---axe---and---then---smacks---the---side---of---it---on---his---shield.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM*
Like---a---cannon---going---off,---vibrations---of---sound---discharge---from---his---shield,---stopping---the---swarm---in---their---tracks.---Their---screeching---intensifies,---shaking---their---heads---in---utter---pain.
Only---now---does---Franky---realize---that---the---impact---of---sound---was---drowned---out---by---the---[Bard]’s---music,---seemingly---protecting---the---team---indirectly.
And---right---as---the---rats---are---regaining---control---of---their---bodies,---the---ice---on---the---ground---begins---to---glow---before---exploding---into---spikes---of---ice---and---killing---many---of---them,---wounding---several---more.
Confusion---quickly---spreads---through---the---large---group---of---rats.---They---don't---understand---what---is---happening.---They---smell---blood,---their---brethren---screaming---in---pain.
And---then---Brock---steps---forward,---axe---at---the---ready.---His---body---tenses,---mind---relaxed---and---organized.
But---he---stops---due---to---a---loud---screech,---one---similar---to---the---first---one---is---heard---behind---the---swarm.---The---swarm---stops---yelling,---going---silent---as---their---eyes---turn---around,---towards---the---darkness---they---had---come---from,---a---darkness---Franky---is---solely---keeping---back---with---his---glowing---armor.
A---massive---rat---steps---into---the---light,---its---size---seemingly---eight---feet.---The---rat---dwarfs---anyone---on---Franky’s---team.---Even---Brock---is---over---a---foot---shorter.---The---beast---trudges---forward,---its---eyes---gleaming---with---intelligence.
And---then---Franky---notices---it,---a---horn---on---the---monster’s---head.---A---massive,---green,---crystal-like---horn.
“[Analyze],”---he---calls,---activating---his---skill---on---the---new---arrival.
Dungeon---Enhanced---Direrat---Level---57
A---normal---female---direrat---had---been---chosen---by---the---dungeon---to---ascend.---Its---size---has---been---increased---drastically---as---well---as---being---given---the---ability---to---manipulate---its---young.
The---rats,---now---calm,---turn---their---heads---toward---Brock.---They---move---forward,---keeping---their---distance---away---from---him---while---expanding---out,---moving---to---the---sides.---All---the---while,---the---Level---57---Direrat---mother---stalks---forward---slowly.
_____
Fear.---It---is---an---evolutionary---reaction---that---has---a---tendency---to---activate---the---human---fight---or---flight---response.---From---there,---the---human---would---follow---one---of---two---reactions.---Either---they---will---run---away---from---what---is---causing---such---fear---or---they---would---attempt---to---combat---it.
And---if---Franky---wasn't---right---now---surrounded---by---allies,---he---would---have---turned---and---started---running.---A---response---that---Franky---believes---few---people---would---call---cowardly.---In---actuality,---not---running---would---be---considered---idiotic.---Nobody---from---his---world---would---be---expected---to---even---think---about---fighting---a---giant---overgrown---rat---who,---with---some---difficulty,---could---p
robably---swallow---him---whole..
Well…---except---for---Thoric.
A---smile---forms---on---Franky’s---face---as---he---lowers---his---stance.
Thoric---would---probably---call---it---cute,---and---then---try---to---tame---it.
*Schreeeeeeeeeeeeeee*
With---a---sound---that---could---split---ears,---the---mother---screams.---Immediately---after,---like---a---switch---being---flipped,---the---Direrats---charge---at---once,---most---jumping---at---Brock---while---the---rest---scuttle---around---him,---aiming---for---the---backline.
A---backline---Franky---must---protect.
As---the---first---rats---get---near---his---position,---one---jumps---into---the---air,---aiming---for---his---face.---But---Franky---had---panicked,---he---didn't---expect---it---to---jump.---Luckily,---his---passive---skill---[Defensive---Instincts]---kicks---in,---his---shield---going---up---and---smacking---the---rat---away.---The---sound---of---crushing---bones---breaks---him---out---of---his---stupor---as---Franky---regains---his---posture.---A---rat---attempts---to---move---past---him---and---he---activates---a---skill---of---his.
“[Flickering---Strike]!”
His---sword---flicks---out,---slicing---the---hind---legs---of---the---rat,---severing---its---ability---to---move.
The---strike---had---been---fast---and---powerful,---but---his---aim---was---slightly---off.---The---rat’s---back---legs---had---been---cut---off.---The---rat---immediately---starts---to---squeal---in---pain---as---blood---spurts---from---his---severed---limbs.---Franky’s---mind---stops,---some---of---the---blood---had---struck---his---face.
And---then---something---hits---his---leg,---biting---down.---Pain.---It---awakens---him---again.---He---turns---towards---the---source---of---the---pain.---A---large---rat,---one---of---the---grown---males---had---penetrated---the---leather---padding---between---his---steel---armor---pieces.---Unlike---Brock,---Franky’s---armor---doesn't---cover---his---whole---body---with---steel,---more---a---combination---of---leather---and---metal.
With---the---pain---helping---him---to---regain---his---senses---and---the---adrenaline---flowing---through---his---body,---Franky---moves---his---sword,---stabbing---the---rat---between---the---eyes,---killing---it.
He---then---kicks---it---off---and---regains---his---stance,looking---around,---noticing---the---battle---had---shifted.
In---front---of---him---is---Brock,---surrounded---by---dead---rats,---his---armor---completely---covered---in---blood.---He---moves,---axe---swinging---down,---ripping---through---another---rat.---His---movement---is---mechanical,---quick,---efficient,---like---a---farmer---harvesting---wheat.---The---rats---cannot---penetrate---his---armor,---they---are---not---a---threat---to---him---but---merely---livestock.
*Schreeeeeeee*
The---mother---rat---screams---angrily,---taking---hold---of---Franky's---attention.---The---mother’s---lower---body---is---encased---in---ice,---ice---which---is---constantly---flowing---up,---attempting---to---freeze---her,---but---the---mother---constantly---breaks---through.---For---the---time---being,---it---is---slowing---her---down.
“I---cannot---hold---her---off---forever!”
Turning---around---towards---the---voice,---Franky---notices---the---elf,---her---staff---and---eyes---glowing.---The---staff---is---pointing---towards---the---mother---rat.---She---is---stalling---it,---spending---enormous---amounts---of---mana.---Her---eyes---are---looking---at---him,---pleading.
Next---to---her---is---the---[Bard],---two---dead---rats---before---him,---a---bloody---hatchet---in---his---hand.
“Kill---the---rats,---we’re---gonna---need---Brock---for---this---one,”---the---dwarf---yells---before---dropping---his---axe---and---picking---up---his---guitar.
Nodding---in---understanding,---Franky---runs---to---Brock,---swinging---his---sword---and---killing---a---rat---which---had---been---trying---to---fruitlessly---eat---through---Brock’s---back---plate---armor.
Brock---grunts---in---acknowledgment---as---he---slices---into---another---rat,---ripping---through---the---bone---and---muscle---with---ease.
Franky---joins---in,---covering---Brock’s---back,---his---own---sword---slashing---away,---slaying---rats,---killing---blows---abound.---A---couple---of---moments---go---by---and---all---the---rats---lay---dead---around---them,---none---had---chosen---to---run.---All---had---surprisingly---chosen---to---fight.
“I---can't---anymore,”---Siberia---yells---before---slumping---on---the---ground,---her---mana---spent.
And---then---the---ground---trembles.---Franky---turns---around,---spotting---the---mother---charging,---enraged---that---her---children---had---all---died.
Brock---reacts---quickly,---pushing---Franky---away---before---raising---his---shield.
“[Shield---Stance],---[Heavy---Stance],---[Hardened---Bones]!”
He---yells,---activating---several---skills,---his---body---and---shield---aglow.---A---moment---after,---the---mother---rat---slams---into---Brock.---Brock---skids---back,---but---only---a---couple---feet.---He---had---stopped---the---charge.---The---mother---rat---is---surprised,---especially---considering---she---is---much---larger---than---him.
Taking---the---opportunity,---Brock---strikes---forward,---his---axe---ripping---into---the---mother---rat’s---chest,---creating---a---large---deep---gash.
But---that---only---enrages---her---further---as---she---gets---on---her---back---legs,---rising---up---several---feet.---She---swings---her---claws,---striking---Brock,---forcing---him---to---play---defense.---She---doesn't---stop,---her---claws---quickly---flicking---out,---bashing---against---Brock’s---shield,---each---strike---sounding---like---a---hammer---striking---steel.
Brock---is---forced---to---take---a---step---back.---And---then---another.---And---another.
Realizing---that---Brock---is---losing,---Franky---gets---up,---having---been---pushed---into---the---ground.---He---grabs---his---sword---and---shield---and---runs---forward,---slashing---at---the---distracted---mother’s---side,---drawing---blood.
The---mother---rat---screams,---turning---to---Franky.---But---it---was---too---late,---a---distraction---had---been---made.
“[Rupturing---Screech]!”
A---ball---of---sound---forms---in---front---of---the---[Bard],---his---hands---working---quickly,---the---ball---creating---a---screeching---sound---similar---to---nails---on---a---chalkboard.---The---[Bard]---strikes---his---instrument,---the---ball---accelerating---forward,---impacting---the---mother---rat---in---the---face,---exploding---in---sound.
The---sound---was---disgustingly---loud---and---horrible,---but---it---was---condensed.---Blood---starts---to---flow---out---of---the---mother's---ears.---Brock’s---axe---whips---out.---Another---gash---forms,---this---one---deeper---than---the---last,---but---still---not---fatal.
The---mother---screeches---louder---and---turns,---attempting---to---run---away.---As---she---turns---and---starts---to---run,---the---shadows---at---the---dark---edge---where---light---does---not---take---hold---flicker.---Something---rockets---through---the---air,---some---kind---of---ball.---It---accelerates---and---impacts---the---mother’s---face.---An---explosion---similar---to---a---grenade---goes---off,---forcing---the---mother---to---the---ground,---her---face---scorched.
“Don't---let---her---escape,”---yells---Brock---as---he---dashes---forward,---axe---at---the---ready.
Franky---follows---right---after,---but---unlike---Brock---he---notices---the---mother’s---long---ears---twitching.
Her---hearing---has---already---recovered.
As---Brock---nears,---the---prone---mother---turns---quickly---and---jumps---forward.---Brock---raises---his---shield,---but---the---mother---rat---had---learned.---Her---limbs---flick,---quickly---grabbing---the---shield.---She---lifts,---picking---Brock---up---as---well---before---throwing---the---shield---and---the---[Shield---Warrior]---at---the---wall.---The---impact---is---accompanied---with---the---sound---of---breaking---bone.
The---mother---screeches---again,---watching---as---Brock---attempts---to---stand---back---
up.---She---was---faster,---her---body---landing---on---top---of---him.
Brock---screams---in---both---surprise---and---pain.---She---grabs---the---shield---and---rips---it---out---of---his---grasp.
As---she---throws---the---shield---away,---Franky---uses---the---slight---distraction---to---jump.---The---mother’s---ears---twitch,---her---head---swivels,---revealing---a---scorched---face,---but---it---was---too---late.
“[Blinding---Block],”---Franky---yells,---his---shield---starting---to---glow.---He---slams---it---into---her---face,---the---impact---creating---a---light---similar---to---a---flashbang.---Franky---jumps---away,---the---mother---starting---to---scream,---her---hands---on---her---face.---The---mother---rat---had---been---blinded.---The---pain---she---feels---is---severely---debilitating.