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Chapter 32: Ratmen
🕑 Added 2025-01-28 12:39:51 +0000 UTC“Chest! Where are you!” James muttered to himself as he impatiently looked high and low for a treasure chest.
He was so close to reaching 1,000 coins.
The horde that escaped earlier went north of the cave James had entered, but the path branched. James chose the other path while attaching his spider thread there to mark which path he had ventured.
James regretted going through the portal. The luxurious office space from the first floor had turned into a dingy cave, dark and damp. James renewed his determination to clear this floor as soon as possible. But first, he wanted to find a chest.
Soon, he was greeted by two Ratmen who were guarding a chest at the end of the corridor. James prepared his axe as the Ratmen prepared their shields and spears.
A golden glow shimmered on one of the Ratman’s spears.
James’ heart leaped as he dodged the incoming golden meteor to the side.
He had overreacted. Anticipating the spear to curve toward him like that Sahuagin elite warrior’s attack, he braced his axe beside the spear.
James glanced at the other Rat soldier.
These soldiers weren’t like the ones before. They were a bit more unorganized—like children waiting for their turn. The rat stood there, squeaking.
James smirked.
Thinking this would be an easy win, he launched his own axe skill. The rat shielded itself with its wooden shield.
James grinned, thinking his axe would crush that measly shield.
His grin disappeared when he saw the shield glow golden.
James was confident in his strength. Just like when he was fighting Kouki or the angel, he thought he could overpower his enemy if their skills clashed.
But he was wrong
. His axe bounced like a pinball as soon as the strike connected. The vermin soldier squeaked in glee. Its turn had come, and it charged with its own skill.
James spun his body sideways. If not for his improved stats, that golden meteor might have penetrated his flank, inflicting a fatal wound.
Such an acrobatic maneuver came at a cost. James slipped and fell on his shoulder.
The vermin didn’t let the chance slip past them. After the one who unleashed a skill pulled back, the other took its place and launched another skill.
James gripped his crossbow. With a twang, the bolt flew without any skill backing it. It stabbed right into the eye of the approaching vermin. The golden glow flickered out as the vermin squeaked in pain. It dropped to the ground, letting go of its shield and spear as it clutched its eye.
Looking at it reminded James of the first Sahuagin he had met.
James stood up while the other Rat Spearman was still occupied.
Now that he had seen what they could do, he was no longer afraid.
“Damn, that shield skill has screwed me twice now.” James cursed as he launched himself toward the soldier.
The soldier tried to charge with its spear, but without skills, James had nothing to fear. He swiped the spear aside with his orc hand and aimed his axe at its head.
The rat squeaked as it shielded itself. Like before, James’s axe was thrown back.
However, this time, he was ready.
He unsheathed his sword from his back and plunged its blade into the vermin’s neck.
James was surprised as the vermin moved its shield toward the blade.
This time, his sword embedded itself into the shield. It didn’t bounce like his axe, and no golden glow flashed on the shield.
James kicked the Ratman in its unprotected flank, freeing his sword as the shield splintered into two pieces.
The Rat soldier fell to the ground.
An axe was swung at its neck. It raised the other half of the shield, but without skills, it was useless.
The axe went through and cleaved its neck. It died without letting out another squeak, for James had aimed directly at its throat.
James panted.
Fatigue began to build up as the prolonged battle took a toll on him.
However, before he could rest, he had to finish off the other Ratman.
The Ratman stood up, but without an eye, James easily diverted its spear and cleaved its neck.
“What the heck? That was harder than I thought. That rat’s shield skill must have been better than even the fallen angel’s!” James sighed as his body began to cool down.
Now that he had finished off these rats, it was time for the chest.
After nudging it from afar, James opened it using his spider thread from a distance.
Of course, as if mocking him, the chest didn’t react—there were no traps inside.
After peering inside, James cursed, for it didn’t contain the coins he desperately sought.
[Congratulations, you have obtained two weapon skill scrolls. What skill would you like to upgrade?]
“I can upgrade any skill I want?” James pondered.
He had gotten a skill scroll before, but it upgraded a specific skill.
[Yes, that is correct. This skill scroll lets you choose what skill you want to upgrade, instead of a random upgrade like the previous skill scroll.]
“So, either a bow, sword, or axe. The most obvious choice is the axe, but damn…”
James winced as he looked at his status. He had Novice Axe Mastery Level 2, Beginner Sword Mastery Level 7, and Beginner Bow Mastery Level 7.
No matter what skill he chose, he wouldn’t get a new skill unless he paid a sum to the system.
“System, how much do I have to pay for one level of axe mastery?”
[You would need 400 coins to upgrade your axe mastery for each level until you reach Level 5. Then, you would need 800 coins per level until you reach Level 10.]
“Shit! That’s half of my money! I want that Chimera skill!” James cursed.
After thinking for a while, he sighed. “Let’s keep it for now. I’ll use it if either one of my skills gains a level.”
[This particular skill scroll must be used once found. If not used within two hours of its discovery, it will disappear.]
“What?” James glanced at the system notification before him.
He never thought the system would screw him like this. If only he had thought about it for a moment—even though skill scrolls had a physical appearance when he opened the chest, the system had quickly taken them inside.
[The scroll must be used immediately upon discovery. If there are any choices, survivors are given a maximum of two hours to decide.]
“Fuck you!” James banged his axe against the blue system notification. His axe flew past the ethereal blue box.
James sat down, trying to calm himself. He was forced to choose.
Once again, the world was never on James’ side.
James chose his axe skill half-heartedly. It was a logical decision. The higher the skill, the harder it was to level up.
After seeing that his Axe Mastery had indeed gone up to Level 4, he pondered whether to waste 400 coins to upgrade his axe skill further.
This time, he chose not to upgrade it. He didn’t know what Level 5 Axe Mastery would grant him, but he needed that Chimera skill upgraded.
He needed more extra slots from the monsters he killed.
James retraced his steps and went to the other cave.
This time, a lone treasure chest sat there, waiting to be opened.
Of course, James didn’t open it immediately.
From afar, he nudged it with his ice magic.
As soon as the ice touched it, the chest sprang open. Arrows coated with green goo flew from it toward the cave ceiling.
“I knew it!” James hissed.
A smirk grew on his face as he saw the arrows stuck to the ceiling.
After checking that there were no more surprises, James inspected the chest.
[Congratulations! You have found an EXP scroll. You have leveled up two times to Level 35.]
[Name: James
Age: 35
Sex: Male
Level: 35
Coins: 800
Stats:
STR: 123 (up 8)
DEX: 114 (up 3)
Magic: 68 (up 6)
Mana: 760 (up 40)
Skills:
Novice Axe Mastery Level 4 (Powerstrike, V-Slash) (up 2)
Beginner Sword Mastery Level 7 (Hurricane)
Beginner Bow Mastery Level 7 (Quickshot)
Magic:
Mind Flay
Mana Sonar
Unique Skill:
Chimera:
Goblin Stomach (Iron Guts) (Stomach Slot)
Mana Core (Water Spell: Ice Spear, Water Manipulation, Magic +60, Mana +1000) (Extra Slot)
Orc’s Left Arm (STR+10%) (Arm Slot)
Eyes of Mana (Mana Sense) (Right Eye Slot)
Golem Arm of Valhalla (STR+30%, Physical Resistance +30%, Negative Trait: Repairable, Mana -200) (Right Arm Slot)
Sahuagin’s Webbed Feet (+10% Dexterity in Water) (Leg Slot)
Sahuagin’s Lungs (Underwater Breathing) (Lung Slot)
Golem Core (Poison Resistance) (Negative Trait: Mana -250, Magic -10, Repairable) (Heart Slot)
Orc’s Torso (Torso Slot)
Orc’s Head (Head Slot)
Shadow Snake Fang (Intermediate Life Leeching) (Mouth Slot) (New)
Jumping Spider’s Spinneret (Thread Creation) (Extra Slot 2)
Equipment:
Leather Armor Set (+10 DEX)
War Axe
Longsword
Crossbow
Waterspout Dagger
Mask of Identity
Leather Bag
Sphere of Fethusiane
Cloak of Dark Night
“Shit! Where are the coins?” James said impatiently.
He had just gotten an enormous amount of EXP, but it didn’t console him in the slightest.
After looking at the chest, he found three bulbous metal arrows inside. Each had a hollow space at its tip. As James wondered how to use them, the system kindly provided an answer.
[Congratulations, you have obtained Pocket Arrows. The arrows will be added to your shop. You can purchase them for 100 coins per dozen.]
“That’s double the price of normal arrows! What do they do?”
[Pocket Arrows can store liquid inside. Whether it is poison or corrosive liquid, the arrows will be resistant to it.]
“Great! Now I can use my poison arrows properly. It can hold corrosive liquid too, right?”
[The poison and corrosive liquid produced by your fang and Sphere of Fethusiane will only last for a few minutes even inside a Pocket Arrow. It is not recommended to use Pocket Arrows without specialized poison or corrosive liquid.]
James sighed.
He had been disappointed too many times today to feel like cursing anymore. He merely picked up the metal bolts and walked away, looking dejected. The winding cave had one path left. James didn’t know what surprise awaited him at the end, but he was ready.
No matter what came at him, he was ready to face it.
