Chapter 10: The Heavy

The newly formed group slipped out of Breeze Village at night and leaped over the wooden wall by requesting the village guards to let them climb the watch tower. Surprisingly, when Uno requested them, the guards gave their permission. Everyone on the crew was a bit intrigued by this.

When the entire team had left the village. Fortunately, the swarm is not as serious as it was the day before. Something appears to have happened that has impacted the swarm. Uno then walks calmly towards the swarm, pulling out a dagger.

Indigo was taken aback and said, "You got a dagger? Where did you even get that.... and be careful, you might attract the swarm."

All of the survivors, including Indigo, are with no weapons. He assumed Uno's weapon was the wooden stick in his back because there were actually some branches in the field.

Uno turned looking back and waved his hand, signaling 'No worries,' before continuing to go towards the swarm.

Indigo and the others were hesitant to follow, but they did it anyway. Ryouta suddenly sneezed, "Achoo!"

The entire crew was taken off guard, and Fatima said, "You dumb fucker!" and instantly ready for a fight. Ryouta apologizes, "I am sorry guys."

The sneeze attracted the swarm, which shrieked before rushing toward the source of the noise.

Uno was startled by the sneeze but ignored it and continued walking towards the swarm. Indigo glanced at Uno and was a bit stunned by his calm demeanor.

"Up ahead" Emily reminded everyone.

.

The swarm is approaching them, but once they notice Uno, numerous faint for some reason, and most escape.

What they witnessed stupefied the team. "What the hell just happened?" Ryouta blurted out.

Uno then dashed towards the swarm and started stabbing the grass rats while saying, "You guys, get your fill."

Sqwelp! Shunk! Plorkk!

ding!!!

Sqwelp! Shunk! Plorkk!

ding!!!

Sqwelp! Shunk! Plorkk!

ding!!!

Indigo and the crew exchange glances before following Uno's instructions. The grass rats are killed by breaking their necks, repeated blows to the head, or being smashed with a stone.

While the crew clears out the grass rats, they are making their way east.

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The crew's 'Eternal Rest' service lasted approximately two hours, or until there were no more grass rats in sight. Uno slain 233 Grass Rats and 22 Alpha Grass Rats. Uno also used his [Urge] ability every five minutes, [Heaven's Authority] every twenty minutes, and [Frenzy] twice. Uno's energy point recovery is significantly enhanced, and it has the ability to offer [Urge] and [Heaven's Authority] without running out of energy points.

Uno turns around and asks, "Are you guys leveled up to 2?"

Everyone confirmed that they had reached level 2. Uno continues, "Let's get ready, we will hunt that 'Rat-Man' you guys met."

.

They got to the rat lair after approximately an hour of traveling. They were delayed thanks to grass rats, who are more active at night.

When they were carrying out the raid earlier, it only took them a little over an hour to make their way to this rat lair, according to Indigo.

In this particular instance, the rat lair is somewhat different. There was a massive rat hole in the center. According to Indigo, when they originally discovered the rat lair, the large rat hole was not present, but when they raided it the next day, a massive rat hole appeared. They overlooked it because their total number is roughly 700, but as they were slowly clearing the rat lair, an enormous rat man emerged in the massive rat hole and charged at them, pulverizing the frontline.

.

DING!!!

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𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐭

- Exterminate the Lair

𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: ???

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞: None

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

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Uno disregarded it and entered the rat lair to do a 'service.' Then, glancing at Uno, Xu Chu expressed to the team, "I prayed for our safety and be blessed by heaven's luck."

Uno alerted the grass rats inside the rat cave, but when they confronted Uno, the grass rats completely lost morale. Uno smiled and stabbed the helpless rats.

Sqwelp! Shunk! Plorkk!

ding!!!

Sqwelp! Shunk! Plorkk!

ding!!!

For a brief while, the rest of the crew were taken aback before following Uno's lead.

Sqwelp! Shunk! Plorkk!

ding!!!

A loud disturbance was heard, and something emerged from the massive rat hole.

.

DING!!!

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𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐭

- Exterminate the Lair

- Slain Rukko "Heavy" Grass Rat

𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: ???

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞: None

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

___________________________________________

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Uno sprinted towards the newly arrived challenger, assessing the opponent for information.

.

DING!!!

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[𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧]

Name: Rukko "Heavy" Grass Rat

Level: 5

Energy Points: 240

Core Stats:

- Strength: 22

- Agility: 12

- Endurance: 26

- Intelligence: 12

- Wisdom: 10

Ability Skills:

1. ???

2. ???

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

___________________________________________

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"Hmm... Dumber but stronger. Let's wrap this up quickly," Uno decided.

Uno instantaneously initiated [Urge], [Heaven's Authority], and [A+: Frenzy] to end the combat before it ever began. When Uno activated [A+: Frenzy], his arms and legs were shaded by a hazy crimson glow.

Rukko "Heavy" Grass Rat sensed the threat and applied its abilities. Rukko's physique grew larger, with a brown aura emanating from its torso. Rukko roared, knocking all of the rats and crew off their feet.

ding!!!

[Due to your Wisdom attribute, you are resistant to Rukko's taunting skill]

Uno's eyes widened and he smirked as he tightened his grasp on [Rat's Tooth] and lunged towards Rukko.

Rukko swiped at Uno, but he was too slow. Uno appeared to Rukko's left side and cut him with the dagger. In terms of total fighting strength, Uno is more powerful, more durable, and quicker than Rukko in PEAK condition. Furthermore, Uno's attacks are more lethal.

Uno began slicing Rukko in the left torso, sprinted towards his right torso, vaulted over the back of his neck, and delivered more stab strikes.

Each strike was boosted by [A+: Frenzy] and benefited from the title bonuses of [Bane of the Grass Rat]. Each stab in the back felt hefty; the first made Rukko dizzy, and the second numbed him till he fall.

.

DING!!!

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𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐊𝐊𝐎 "𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘" 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐀𝐓

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐄𝐗𝐏

___________________________________________

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"Hm... I see." Uno nods to himself, having deduced that unique creatures like Ruscuro and Rukko are not affected by the title [Bane of the Grass Rat] and that a certain degree of Wisdom Attribute may withstand crowd control effects.

"That man is absurd. We cannot even harm it earlier," Ryouta expressed from a distance away from the conflict. The entire crew was caught dumbfounded by the fight.

Indigo is looking at Uno and appears to be contemplating something.

Uno then begins to clean up the rat lair. Indigo approaches the crew, saying, "Y'all, focus now; thanks to Uno, we can just farm these rats to level up." Everyone agreed and scattered so they could start farming.

Sqwelp! Shunk! Plorkk!

ding!!!

Thud! Thud!

ding!!!

.

The rat lair was swept of grass rats in about thirty minutes or so, and this was a pretty massive lair. Because of how simple it is to murder one, Uno majority killed grass rats of the lair. Uno was responsible for the deaths of 158 Grass Rats and 24 Alpha Grass Rats.

.

DING!!!

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𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃: 𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐭

𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐃: Muscle Hypertrophy (Unique Skill Book)

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Uno wonders what Muscle Hypertrophy is, and a book appears in his left hand. The cover of the book was similar to [Rat's Resiliency], but proper, and a prompt appeared.

.

[𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧] [𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧]

.

Uno quickly selected [Check Information] because he has no idea what it is.

.

___________________________________________

Passive Skill: [𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲]

Skill Description: Muscular hypertrophy is Rukko's unique ability. It refers to an increase in muscular mass. This is frequently accompanied by a gain in muscle size and strength. Rukko is famous for digging enormous holes and inadvertently causing muscle hypertrophy through heavy-duty burrowing. You will obtain +5 Strength and +8 Endurance. Furthermore, when performing bone-creaking strengthening activities, it is possible for one to improve Strength and Endurance.

___________________________________________

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"Shit!" Uno said, his eyes widening as he smiled. Uno quickly learned the passive skill. Then Indigo approaches Uno and says, "You seemed pleased with your reward, so... where do you go from here?"

.

DING!!!

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𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

You slayed Rukko "Heavy" Grass Rat

𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐃: The Four Rat-Men [Knowledge Book]

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"Hm... This was unexpected," Uno thought. Then, in his left hand, a grey book appeared. Indigo was likewise taken aback and inquired Uno, "Is that a skill book?"

"This?" Uno said, "This is a clue as to where I will go shortly."

Uno examined the grey book, selected [Check Information], and a holographic screen showed up.

.

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[𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧]

Item Name: The Four Rat-Men of the Wilderness [Knowledge Book]

Item Description: This is a knowledge book that will lead and tell you the location of the Four Rat-Men.

___________________________________________

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Uno swiftly [𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧] the knowledge book, which dissolved into grey dust and was absorbed by Uno.

Indigo and the team were stunned once more. This is their first interaction with it.

.

DING!!!

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[𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐁𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐄𝐃 𝐀 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊]

Item Name: The Four Rat-Men of the Wilderness

Mission Description:

The Four Rat-Men are the Trail of Villages' apex beasts. They signify strength, agility, endurance, intelligence, and wisdom when combined.

Requirements:

- Slain Roscuro "Screamer" Grass Rat (𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃)

- Slain Rukko "Heavy" Grass Rat (𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃)

- Slain Rixxi 'Tunnel' Grass Rat

- Slain Rullo "Whisker" Grass Rat

𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: Savior's Pendant

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞: None

Note: This will be added to your Mission List automatically.

___________________________________________

.

Uno anticipated this, but he didn't expect a complete explanation of who the four rat-men were. Uno predicted it to be clues, but it was a full-fledged mission.

Uno spotted a gust of wind producing a pointed shape and moving northwest; it seemed to be directing Uno where to go.

"We can go our separate ways and take you rest in the breeze village," Uno expressed to the team. "I believe you can survive for yourselves by now, particularly with Indigo."

"Yeah, I actually received a Title named Rat Predator, which made me even stronger," Indigo responds.

Uno nods to Indigo and starts leaving, saying, "Okay good. Take care, you guys.."

Indigo's eyes looked to be considering something, but he answers with a nod.

Uno bolted, and the team lost sight of him after a few minutes.

.

The crew moves on with their journey back to the village. Emily said after a considerable distance, "That's sweet revenge."

Fatima and Ryouta simply laugh it off.

Xu Chu smiles and nods.

Indigo chuckled. Then he came to a halt and said, "Everyone, I have something to say..."