Chapter 27: Earth-Attuned Creature Appears

Shaken by Master Seda, Gao De showered and returned to his workshop.

"Good thing he waited until now," he muttered, feeling oddly lucky. He had spent his money, learned new spells, and made preparations over the past two weeks.

Seda's confinement order had effectively removed his escape option. Only one path remained.

"Screw him!" Gao De snarled. He refused to be defeated by an old, dying man.

He took out the Hidden Mist Fang, purchased for four gold pieces.

His limited magical knowledge didn't include Mist Shroud, so he was unfamiliar with its effects. But it was a 1-Circle spell, holding immense potential.

"It doesn't sound like an offensive spell, but…" he mused. He needed to repair the Fang to find out.

Gao De held the Fang, focusing his will, activating [Mend+].

Mana flowed from him, his fingertips glowing faintly. The worn runes on the Fang began to glow, the lines extending and merging, as if an invisible hand was repairing them.

After five minutes, sweat beaded on Gao De's brow. He inhaled sharply as the glow faded, but the Fang was not fully repaired. Only a small portion of the runes had mended; most remained broken, requiring more mana.

His mana reserves were depleted.

"Repairing a 1-Circle artifact with my current mana reserves isn't a quick job," Gao De had anticipated this. The Ring of Guidance had been challenging; the Fang would be even more so.

His greater concern was the effectiveness of [Mend+]. It was a cantrip, while the Fang was a 1-Circle artifact. It was a considerable difference in power levels.

"The enhanced Mend is potent, but it must have limitations. A cantrip can't fully repair a high-level artifact."

But thankfully, it worked to some degree.

"About ten days," he estimated, "It's not ideal, but it's doable."

He carefully stowed the Fang, sat cross-legged, and resumed his training.

After his training, Gao De returned to his room and lay down to rest.

Before he could fall asleep, he heard strange sounds.

Screech! Screech!

They resembled rat squeaks, but far too high-pitched and jarring in the quiet garden.

Alert, Gao De sprang up. A faint smell of decay accompanied the noises.

"What is it?" He felt a cold dread.

A piercing scream came from a nearby room.

"AAAAAH!"

Followed by another, filled with terror.

The screams startled everyone awake, including Amy.

He fumbled to light his lamp, then looked at Gao De, "What's going on?"

"Something's wrong," Gao De said gravely, using [Mage Hand]. A spectral hand appeared and extinguished Amy's lamp.

He rose, cautiously opening his door a crack. Using the dim candlelight from the hallway, he peered towards the source of the screams – another apprentice's room.

The door was shut, leaving him unable to see what transpired inside. The screams stopped abruptly.

Silence descended, lasting only a moment.

BOOM!

The door shattered into splinters.

A monstrous silhouette emerged from the wreckage.

In the dim light, Gao De saw its outline: wolf-like, but with distinct rat features.

Large ears, brown eyes that gleamed with malevolence, long, sharp fangs, and dark green fur that shimmered with a cold, resilient sheen. Muscles rippled beneath its fur, suggesting both strength and agility.

It was far larger than any normal rat, nearly two meters long and a meter tall – more like a wolf.

"An earth-attuned creature!" Gao De was shocked. This wasn't his first encounter with such creatures, but the Grey-Eyed Rats and Darkfen Lurkers were weak. This creature was different, possessing overwhelming power.

The giant rat scanned its surroundings, its gaze settling on a nearby door that was now open; two apprentices peered out. The screams had awakened everyone, though not all had been as cautious as Gao De.

"Squeek!"

The giant rat lunged at them.

Gao De watched in horror. The rat was impossibly fast. The two apprentices froze in terror as the creature charged. They were doomed.

"Beast!"

A raspy but powerful voice echoed from the end of the corridor.

The air crackled with intense energy.

A bolt of pure flame shot through the air, scorching the air and striking the rat.

The creature instinctively reacted to the threat, abandoning its intended prey and attempting to evade the attack.

But the projectile struck its flank, engulfing it in flames.

"Squeal!"

The rat shrieked, its tough hide resisting the spread of the fire. The intense heat, however, intensified its rage. It charged towards the source of the attack, a figure emerging from the shadows: Master Seda!

Only Master Seda possessed such power.