Chapter 086: Plague Rat King!

In the dark, damp sewer pipes, the air was thick with an unpleasant odor, mingled with the stench of blood. 

Daphne, having regained her strength after a brief rest, wielded her blood-stained butcher's knife with renewed vigor. She slashed fiercely at the mutated rats before her, the blade cutting through flesh with precision. 

Blood splattered onto her face, adding an unexpected ferocity to her delicate features. Yet, this blend of beauty and violence gave her a unique allure. 

For those with significant talents, like Daphne, combat in the early days of the apocalypse was a necessity that would never cease.

Though her talent was by no means weak, her current mental strength was limited. Aside from being able to identify her enemies, she lacked the power to form the amethyst gemstones that could both harm foes and protect her. Still, her enthusiasm for battle remained high.

With each level gained, free attribute points could be allocated to improve her mental strength. Her Amethyst Eye ability required 10 points in mental power to unlock its next stage, but Daphne currently had 6—5 from her innate talent and 1 from her recent awakening. 

Reaching level 3 would allow her to further enhance the Amethyst Eye, and by level 5, she could equip the precious Faceless Skin, a highly valuable item. 

The importance of the Faceless Skin lay not just in its attributes but also in the fact that it didn't occupy a slot reserved for other equipment. In essence, wearing it gave her an extra piece of gear compared to others—a significant advantage.

While Novak remained passive, simply observing, he couldn't help but admit that Daphne was quite capable. Combat prowess and leadership skills were vastly different abilities, but it was no surprise that, in her previous life, she had risen to prominence among so many powerful figures. 

The underground pipes seemed endless. Their labyrinthine structure was filled with twists and turns, making it easy for someone to get lost. But Novak, seasoned by decades of survival in the apocalypse, had already taken precautions. He purchased a map through the system and carefully marked each step, ensuring they wouldn't lose their way.

His caution proved wise. Without it, they could easily have gotten lost in this sewer maze.

Kill!

Destroy!

These primal actions were, in truth, the best way to relieve pressure. 

Modern society had been like a leash, suppressing the primal instincts of humanity. But with the arrival of the apocalypse, that bestial nature had been unleashed in full force.

With Novak's protection, the group slaughtered the hundreds of large rats as if they were nothing more than dogs. The evolutionary warriors, armed with their new equipment, thought the task was almost too easy. 

In the dimly lit passage, their faces were alight with excitement. Despite the soreness in their arms from swinging their weapons, none of them felt tired.

The thrill of killing was intoxicating.

What made it even sweeter was the lack of any real danger. Watching their strength grow with each battle was an experience beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

The mutated giant rats, though formidable and as large as small tanks, were no match for Novak's presence. He ensured they didn't get even a single step closer to his group.

In a short span of time, nearly everyone had leveled up, reaching level 2, with some even nearing level 3.

However, leveling up through the Cosmic Will was no easy feat. Though they worked as a team, experience points weren't distributed freely. Instead, they were awarded based on each individual's contribution to the fight.

Daphne earned the most experience, and for good reason. Each time one of the calf-sized giant rats appeared, she would identify it with her Amethyst Eye ability. Under the judgment of the Cosmic Will, even this act of identification was considered a contribution to the battle.

If experience were distributed solely based on inflicted damage, many support-class talents would never level up. 

Daphne had begun to understand the satisfaction that came from being led by a powerful figure like Novak.

However, upon reaching level 2, she saw the requirement for her next upgrade—a staggering 1,000 experience points, ten times more than before. The sheer difficulty made her feel a fleeting sense of despair.

In a short span of time, the team's experience points skyrocketed, and for many, the next level-up was just within reach—less than a hundred points away. 

For ordinary people, such rapid progress was unimaginable. Yet, amidst this joy, Novak suddenly stopped in his tracks while navigating the sewer.

"What's wrong?" Daphne asked, her voice filled with concern.

Novak raised a hand, a sudden gesture that stood out against the darkness. Only when the bright flashlight illuminated the area ahead did everyone understand why. At the end of their line of sight, a figure lay still on the ground.

The group tensed up.

It was another rat. Yet, unlike the usual mutated rats, this one wasn't particularly large, more akin to the size of an average mutated rodent. But what struck them all with fear was its fur—not the typical gray-black, but an eerie, sickly green that exuded a strange and terrifying aura.

Around the rat's body were the remains of skeletons and corpses. Some were human, while others appeared to be zombies.

The overwhelming stench in the air made even Novak, who wore a mask, frown in disgust. The others were visibly more disturbed.

This is a BOSS.

Even Daphne, who wasn't familiar with gaming terminology, recognized the danger immediately. The rest of the group knew it as well—if they struggled against ordinary giant mutated rats, then this Plague Rat King was far beyond their capabilities.

The sight of its menacing green fur sent shivers down their spines. Were it not for Novak standing firmly in front of them, many would have turned and fled at the first chance.

Just days ago, none of them would have believed that a mere rat could instill such fear. But now, the reality was undeniable.

Daphne quickly activated her Amethyst Eye ability to analyze the creature's attributes. Her purple-tinged pupils glowed faintly as she called out to Novak:

"Novak, this is the Plague Rat King, a level 7 boss. Strength: 27. Agility: 33. Constitution—" 

Before Daphne could finish, Novak had already appeared in front of the unsuspecting Plague Rat King.

With a single kick, he sent it flying into the air.

In the next moment, his metallic claws gleamed as they pierced through the giant rat's skull.

In less than a second, the Plague Rat King dropped into the pipe with a wet plop.

"Constitution…" Daphne's voice trailed off, still in shock.

Meanwhile, Novak bent down to retrieve an item dropped by the slain boss. Glancing back at the stunned group, he spoke in a calm, almost casual tone:

"It's fine. You can keep going—I'm listening."