Adventurer of Many Professions

Raymond felt his stomach turn as he forced himself to stay calm, swallowing down the bile that threatened to rise in his throat. He'd seen some unpleasant things before, but the sight before him was unlike anything he'd encountered.

Just a few feet away lay a corpse in tattered clothing, half-devoured and decayed almost beyond recognition. The body was covered in wriggling white maggots that crawled in and out of hollow eye sockets, torn cheeks, and rotting flesh. It was a grim reminder of what could happen to any adventurer who dared these dangerous places.

One look at the remnants of the armor and the long sword lying nearby told him this wasn't some lost townsfolk but an adventurer, just like him. A white nameplate was attached to the torn waist armor, marking him as a White Porcelain-level adventurer, the same rank as Raymond and Sylph.

This unfortunate soul had been here for a job, just like them, but clearly had met a grim fate. The long sword by his side was a basic one from an ordinary blacksmith's shop, and his armor, just standard leather; not nearly enough to withstand a horde of mutant rats. He was probably a swordsman, or perhaps a warrior who couldn't afford heavier armor, here on a low-level mission for the reward, just as Raymond had been. But unlike Raymond, he hadn't been lucky.

Raymond knelt by the body, reaching for the nameplate with a somber expression. The name engraved on it read, 'Petar Kerr, swordsman.'

He slid the nameplate into his leather pouch, then glanced down at the sword. Though it was simple, it still held value; worth around seventy to eighty silver coins, a small fortune for most adventurers. Raymond picked it up, feeling the weight. The blade was nicked and worn, showing signs of a fierce battle, but still, it was worth something. It felt wrong to leave it here, a reminder of a life lost.

"Raymond… maybe we should go back?" Sylph's voice was small, trembling with barely-contained fear. She'd regained her composure somewhat, but her eyes were wide, fixed on the corpse with clear horror. She stayed several feet away, unwilling to come any closer.

Raymond nodded. He could see the wisdom in retreating. Although Petar's equipment was basic, it didn't mean he'd been weak. Swordsmen were generally stronger than fighters at this stage, even without special skills. It must have taken at least three or four mutant rats to bring him down, maybe even more.

As much as he wanted that final mutant rat kill to awaken his new profession, he knew there was no point in risking their lives. The brutalized corpse at his feet was a stark reminder that overconfidence could lead to death.

"Alright, let's head back," he agreed, casting one last, wary glance at the shadows around them.

But as he stood to leave, a chilling sound echoed through the sewer. A rustling of claws on stone, mingled with low, guttural growls, reverberated from every direction. Raymond and Sylph froze, eyes darting around as green, glowing eyes appeared in the darkness, one by one, until a dozen pairs stared back at them, each filled with a feral hunger.

Raymond's heart raced as he realized the horrifying truth, they were surrounded by mutant rats, and more seemed to be coming from deeper in the tunnels, the faint glimmer of eyes multiplying in the shadows. They had stumbled right into the nest of these creatures.

No… this whole sewer system was their nest.

Now, he understood what had happened to Petar Kerr. This was no simple ambush; this was the lair of the mutant rats, and anyone who wandered too far faced the wrath of the entire horde.

"Ray-Raymond…" Sylph's voice trembled as she clung to his arm, her face pale with terror. "W-what… what should we do?"

Raymond's mind raced, his heart pounding as he assessed the situation. They were hopelessly outnumbered, with no clear way out. But panic wouldn't save them. He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the sewer, trying to locate any possible escape routes or defensive positions.

"Sylph," he said, his voice low and steady, trying to keep her calm, "I need you to get ready to use your Explosion Magic."

Her eyes widened. "B-but you said—"

"I know what I said," he interrupted, meeting her gaze with a fierce determination. "But this is different. We're not fighting a few rats, we're facing a swarm. If we don't thin them out quickly, we'll be overrun."

Sylph swallowed hard, nodding, gripping her magic wand with both hands. "I… I can do it. I'll hit as many as I can."

Raymond squeezed her shoulder, a small reassurance in the face of the nightmare surrounding them. "Good. I'll keep them off you as best I can. When I give the signal, unleash everything you've got."

The rats were closing in, their twisted bodies and snapping jaws filling the narrow passageway, blocking any hope of escape. Raymond planted his feet, gripping his dagger with renewed resolve. He knew they were up against impossible odds, but he wasn't about to give up.

"Get ready?" he asked, keeping his voice steady.

Sylph took a deep breath, her grip tightening on the wand. "I'm ready."

The first wave of rats lunged forward, their claws scraping against the stone as they charged. Raymond met them head-on, kicking one back with a forceful strike and slashing another across the face. He was quick, but they were relentless, snapping at his legs and clawing at his arms.

Although Sylph's Explosion Magic was immensely powerful, it wasn't enough to deal with the current situation. The mutant rats weren't clustered together; they were scattered in groups of three or four across multiple sewer passages, making it impossible to take them all out with a single spell.

Raymond felt the weight of the tension in the air, but he forced himself to remain composed. Panic would only make things worse. The mutant rats were fast, and with how far they had ventured into the sewer system, escape was no longer a viable option.

"What's the range of your Explosion Magic?" Raymond asked, his voice steady despite the hammering of his heart. His eyes darted between the mutant rats, anticipating their next move.

Sylph gripped her metal magic wand so tightly her fingers turned white. "The explosion… it can cover about five meters," she stammered, her voice trembling.

"Five meters…" Raymond muttered, mentally calculating their options. They needed a plan, and they needed it fast.

But before he could speak, something shifted in the mutant rats' behavior. They stopped their frantic movements, turning their attention to one of the sewer passages. Every single glowing green eye was fixed in the same direction, their collective focus unnerving.

"What are they…" Raymond's voice trailed off as a sound reached his ears. A deep, guttural growl echoed from the passage, accompanied by the heavy scraping of flesh against stone, like something enormous being dragged.

He turned toward the source of the noise, his eyes widening in horror as a massive shadow emerged. Slowly, the creature stepped into the faint light of his white stone, revealing itself fully.

It was a mutant rat, but unlike any they had seen before. This one was grotesquely large, its bloated body sagging with layers of filthy, hanging flesh. Its stubby legs were incapable of supporting its massive frame, causing its sagging skin to drag along the sewer floor, creating the awful sound they had heard. The skin beneath its body was raw and festering, the constant friction leaving patches of exposed, rotting flesh. Maggots squirmed in and out of the wounds, adding another layer of revulsion.

If the smaller mutant rats were the size of babies, this one could stand as tall as Raymond if it reared up on its hind legs. Its green eyes glowed like lanterns, filled with an eerie malice that sent a chill down Raymond's spine.

For a brief moment, Raymond froze, his instincts screaming at him to run. He didn't hesitate a second longer.

"Run!" he shouted, grabbing Sylph's arm and pulling her along. There was no time for explanations; only survival mattered now.

Sylph stumbled after him, her face pale with shock. "Raymond, that thing… it wasn't real, was it?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief. The image of the hulking creature was burned into her mind. "How can a rat… be that big?"

Raymond didn't respond. There was no need. What they'd seen was all too real.

A deafening roar erupted behind them, shaking the very walls of the sewer. Raymond chanced a glance over his shoulder and immediately wished he hadn't. The tunnel behind them was filled with a sea of green eyes, dozens of mutant rats racing after them, their teeth bared and claws scratching against the stone. And amidst the swarm was the giant mutant rat, its massive frame standing out like a grotesque leader among its kind.

What made Raymond's blood run cold wasn't just the sight of the massive creature; it was how it moved. The smaller rats weren't running alongside it; they were 'carrying it'. The smaller rats worked together, supporting the weight of their king, their movements coordinated as they surged forward.

"They're carrying it…" Raymond muttered, a chill crawling up his spine. "Like it's their leader…"

"What?" Sylph gasped, her terror mounting as she realized the implications. "Are you saying they're intelligent? That they're working together because of… 'it'?"

Raymond's mind raced. The possibility was horrifying. If the giant rat was controlling the others, it meant they were up against something far more dangerous than mindless creatures. This wasn't just a swarm, it was an organized force led by a thinking predator.

"We have to get out of here," Raymond said, his voice firm despite the fear gnawing at him. "Whatever that thing is, it's not just a rat; it's their king."

Sylph clung to him, her hands trembling. "What do we do? Explosion Magic won't work if they're spread out like this, and I can't take them all down at once!"

Raymond thought quickly, his eyes scanning the tunnel ahead. They needed to slow the swarm and buy themselves some time. "Save your magic for when they're close," he said. "We'll have to lure them into a tighter space. If we can bottleneck them in one of these passages, we might stand a chance."

Sylph nodded, though her fear was still evident. "Okay… okay, I'll do it. But you better not let them get me first!"

Raymond smirked grimly, despite the dire situation. "Not a chance. Stick close, and get ready to run again when I say."

With that, they surged forward, their only hope lying in the unpredictable twists and turns of the sewer. The sound of countless claws scraping against stone echoed behind them, punctuated by the ominous growls of the giant mutant rat.

Raymond's thoughts raced as they ran. 'Whatever that thing is, we can't face it head-on. But if we're smart, we might just survive this.'

The chase had begun, and every second mattered.