Ch. 10 – Great Lushwood Forest

With that, he reached the entrance of the forest and carefully secured his bike in the parking area.

Approaching the entrance gate, Yves was greeted by vigilant guards standing watch. They approached him, and one of the guards presented a QR code on a digital device. "Scan this, please," the guard requested.

Yves took out his mobile phone, activated the scanning app, and hovered it over the QR code. A green checkmark appeared on his screen, indicating a successful scan. The guard inspected the information and nodded, signaling approval.

As he prepared to enter, the guard offered a friendly warning. "Just a heads up, mate. It's safe around here, but don't wander too deep into the inner area. Stronger monsters lurk there, and things can get dangerous. The deeper you explore, the more powerful the monsters you'll come across."

With the guard's cautionary words in mind, Yves decided it was the perfect time to summon his pet monster. A subtle movement of his hands, and Taro materialized at his side, ready for whatever lay ahead.

"Stay close, Taro, and be vigilant. We're here to test out your new skills and also to deal with some monsters. It's our chance to see just how strong you've become."

Taro emitted a soft squeak, almost like an affirmation, and Yves grinned. Yves reached into his exploring bag and retrieved the sharp obsidian dagger. The weapon gleamed in the dappled sunlight as Yves inspected its blade.

As Yves and Taro ventured deeper into the forest, the air became thicker with the scent of earth and moss. The towering trees cast long shadows, creating an atmosphere of mystery.

After about three minutes of walking, Taro's ears perked up, and he emitted a low growl, signaling the presence of something ahead. Yves tightened his grip on the obsidian dagger, and together, they cautiously approached the source of the disturbance.

As they rounded a cluster of large ferns, a sizable creature came into view. It was a rat but unlike any ordinary rat. This one stood almost as tall as Taro, covered in shiny silver fur that shimmered in the filtered sunlight.

Its eyes blazed a menacing red. The rat's long whiskers twitched with agitation, and its tail, as lengthy as its body, tapered to a sharp point.

Taro's instincts kicked in, and he emitted a warning growl, positioning himself between Yves and the imposing rodent.

Yves squinted his eyes, quickly focusing on the imposing rat monster before them. His talent activated and the information panel about the creature popped up.

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⊂ Numbing Rat ⊃

Grade: Black Iron-order

Realm: ★★★

Species: Rattus Numbra/Silvus

Special Trait: Double Dose

Affinity: Venom

Ability: Paralyzing Bite, Paralyzing Scratch

Evolution Route: Numbing Tail Rat

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"It's a Numbing Rat." Yves muttered, sharing the information with Taro.

Feeling the urgency of the situation, Yves hastily tapped the abilities section in the panel to reveal the description of the Numbing Rat's skills.

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Ability:

⊂ Paralyzing Bite ⊃

: Numbing Rat delivers a venomous bite that carries a paralyzing magic that makes the target numb and unable to move temporarily. This powerful bite is designed to leave adversaries vulnerable by inducing a brief state of paralysis.

⊂ Paralyzing Scratch ⊃

: Using its sharp claws, the Numbing Rat scratches the target, injecting venom that causes a paralyzing effect similar to its bite. The depth and precision of the scratch influence the level of numbness and temporary immobility inflicted.

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Yves nodded, absorbing the information. "Taro, I think you can handle this rat. Just be extra cautious. This Numbing Rat has a paralyzing bite and scratch. You can't afford to get caught by those. Just aim for quick, precise strikes. Keep an eye on its movements and be ready to dodge."

Understanding Yves' words, Taro crouched, his gaze locked onto the Numbing Rat. The silver-furred monster, sensing the impending threat, launched the first attack. It lunged forward, aiming to sink its venomous teeth into Taro.

With a swift sidestep, Taro avoided the incoming bite of the monster. The Numbing Rat's attempt to catch Taro only resulted in snapping at empty air.

Taking advantage of the rat's confusion, Taro activated his skill, Eclipse Blitz Dash.

In an instant, shadows wrapped around him, and he seemed to blur, leaving only fleeting glimpses of his form. The Numbing Rat struggled to track Taro's movements, swiping at shadows in vain.

Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Taro reappeared, claws coated with shadow magic ready.

Taro's claws moved like streaks of darkness, leaving trails of shadow in the air as he slashed at the Numbing Rat. The skill, Shadow Claw Slash, landed with accuracy.

The shadows left behind by Taro's attack clung to the Numbing Rat's flank, forming a distinct black mark. Surprisingly, there was no sign of blood leaking from the wounds.

Yves observed with fascination, realizing that this absence of blood might be attributed to the lingering shadow realm effect of Taro's skill.

As Taro's claws connected with the Numbing Rat, a sharp cry pierced the air, revealing the creature's distress. The cry held pain and frustration, echoing through the forest, showing how much Taro's attack hurt.

Driven by rage, the Numbing Rat, despite its slowed movements, retaliated with sudden energy. The monster swung its tail and launched a flurry of claw strikes, aiming to counter-attack against Taro.

Taro, staying alert, saw the attack coming. With a quick assessment of the situation, he knew instant action was necessary. Taro performed a spin, his body twisting and turning, evading the incoming tail swing with a hair's breadth.

As the tail whooshed past him, Taro strategically repositioned himself, bracing for the impending onslaught of the Numbing Rat's claw strikes. He daringly extended his claws to meet each approaching strike, creating a resounding symphony of metallic clashes in the forest.

Yves, standing at a safe distance, watched the fight intently. He resisted the urge to intervene, knowing that this battle was not just a test of Taro's current fighting capability, but also an opportunity for him to gain valuable experience.

Despite not directly participating, Yves was not idle. His keen eyes scanned the surroundings, ever observant in every direction.

He gauged the terrain, assessed potential hiding spots, and monitored for any signs of other creatures in the vicinity. Yves understood that the forest was full of surprises, and maintaining vigilance was crucial

As the battle continued, Taro sensed a chance to show off one of his abilities. Activating his unique skill, Shadow Mirage, multiple Taro replicas appeared, mirroring his every move as he darted around.

The Numbing Rat, already struggling to keep up with Taro's speed, got even more confused seeing these shadowy copies. Its red eyes scanned the scene, trying to figure out which Taro was real.

Seizing the opportunity, the real Taro made his move. He aimed his sharp claws right at the Numbing Rat's neck. The attack was swift and accurate, Taro's claws went through the thick fur, hitting a vital spot.

The Numbing Rat let out one last cry, and with Taro's strong attack, the battle reached its end. The rat fell to the ground, defeated. Taro stood there, victorious over his fallen opponent.

Taro turned his gaze towards Yves, who approached with a satisfied smile. Yves gave Taro a thumbs up and commended him.

"Well done, Taro. That was a nice fight. Your skills are really shaping up, and you handled that Numbing Rat brilliantly.

Taro emitted a pleased squeak, seemingly enjoying the praise of his master.

Seeing the defeated Numbing Rat, Yves decided to make the most of the situation. He patted Taro on the head and said. "Good job, buddy. Now, how about you guard the area while I collect some useful parts from this Numbing Rat? We might be able to sell them later."

Taro nodded, understanding his master's instructions. As Yves crouched down to the corpse of the defeated Numbing Rat, he carefully examined the creature.

"Though I might not be an expert on this particular monster, I know a thing or two about general rat-type monsters. In the market, the incisors, claws, and tail usually fetch a good price. So, let's salvage these valuable parts."

With his sharp obsidian dagger in hand, Yves cautiously began the process of extracting the sought-after components. He moved his dagger with care, mindful not to damage the valuable materials.