Screech! A rat lord screamed at Ethan, showing its sharp white teeth as it circled around the edge of the hole. Tack...tack...tack. Small pebbles rolled off the edge, dislodged by its clawed feet as it circled around Ethan.
Clank! Ethan gripped his kusarigama tightly. Beast type monsters were smart. They had used the terrain aptly, creating a large hole in the ground for Ethan to fall into. And now, he was surrounded. He could see about 10 rat lords staring down at him hungrily, their brown eyes fixed on him as they watched him closely.
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[Mana Sense(G)]
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Ethan kept his eyes open as he used his mana sense on the monsters. Screech! Squeak! The rat lords screamed, baring their fangs at Ethan. Mana Sense wasn't undetectable. The monsters could sense that the human in front of them was doing something. And they didn't like it.
Ethan's eyes bore into the monsters, his entire body tensed as he stared at them, waiting for them to make a move. Every single monster here was F-2 rank. They were a rank higher than the Rat Lord he'd fought in the SMEPT. And there were 9 of them. There was no way he could take them on. Especially when he was in a disadvantaged position like this place.
Screech! The monsters grew more agitated by his mana sense as they started circling him faster. Ethan frowned. Why weren't they attacking him? The best chance to pounce on him should have been when he had first fallen into the trap. That was when he was the most vulnerable. Why were the waiting for so long? What were they waiting for?
SCREECH! Suddenly, a loud screech echoed throughout the air. Ethan's eyes shot around wildly, searching for the source of the sound. What was that noise? It sounded different from the usual sounds these rat lords made. Maybe it was a....
Screech! Skitter! The rat lords' paws scratched against the dried grass as they started moving. Whoosh....whoosh....whoosh. Ethan's kusarigama swung faster and faster as he prepared himself. This pack of monsters was moving, getting ready to attack him. And the sudden screech earlier? He knew exactly what it was.
SCREECH! Another scream rang out through the air. Screech! Screech! Squeak! The rat lords grew excited, waving their claws through. They had been commanded by their alpha. SCREECH!
A rat lord jumped into the hole, claws outstretched as it rushed towards Ethan. Clank! He swung his kusarigama through the air, twisting his chain forwards as he aimed for the monster. Clang! The rat lord raised its arms, deflecting the weapon with its claws as it rushed downwards.
Ethan clenched the chain tightly. The weapon had dealt no damage. The rat lord was drawing closer! Whoosh! It swung its claws, aiming for Ethan's face as it sliced through the air. He dived forward, ducking underneath its blow.
Screech! The rat lord screamed as it dug its claws into the ground, slowing itself down. Ethan glanced upwards. All the other monsters were circling around him. None of them had jumped inside to join their comrade. They all stared at him, watching his battle as if it were some kind of a spectacle. As if he was a gladiator.
Well, if they wanted a show, he'd give it to them. Clank! His kusarigama shot in an arc, heading towards the Rat Lord. Screech! It pounced into the air, avoiding his blow as it jumped forward. Scratch! Its claws crashed into the floor barely missing Ethan.
Whoosh! He jumped backwards, throwing his kusarigama once against as he tried to land a jot on the monster. Clank! He missed. The monster was just too fast. Whoosh! Ethan jumped to the side as the rat lord shot forward, claws outstretched as it headed towards him. Rip! "Arghh!" He'd been hit! Three small wounds ran along his stomach, tearing through his combat suit.
He stumbled backwards, trying to avoid the monster. Screech! It pounced one last time, aiming to finish the job. It bated its teeth at Ethan as it shot towards him. Clank! His kusarigama shot out, trying to connect with the monster's white fur. Screech! The rat lord screeched at him as it bared its teeth. Perhaps it was angry. Perhaps it found his feeble attempts amusing. This creature was an entire rank beneath him. It was too easy to deal with. It was enjoying this hunt.
Clank! Whoosh! Suddenly, Ethan twisted his hand, throwing the kusarigama upwards. "I'm in the the Combat Club, motherfucker!" The rat's eyes widened. Splotch! Screech! The rat screamed in pain as they scythe blade rushed upwards, planting itself in its chest. Slam! The monster sailed through the air, landing on the rocky ground as it flailed its claws wildly.
Clank! Ethan tightened the chain, pulling it towards himself. Screech! The rat screamed in pain. Clank! The chain loosened as the rat's body slid towards Ethan. He gripped the base of the scythe blade tightky, staring at the monster as he gripped its fur.
"Beasts....." Ethan yanked the blade upwards "....are dumb." Screech! The rat lord screamed in pain as the kusarigama blade sliced through its entire body. Thud! Splat! It fell down onto the floor, blood dripping along its entire body as its breaths ceased. It eas dead.
Ethan stared at its corpse hatefully. If he'd revealed the full extent of his combat capabilities, the rat lord wouldn't have let its guard down. A wave of pain cut through his stomach. He winced slightly. Evidentky, he couldn't take on an F-2 rank monster unscathee. Well, that was. The gap between the F ranks wore more than twice that of the G ranks.
He glanced upwards. The rat lords had stopped circling him. Their eyes were trained on him, now more watchful than savage. The death of their pack member wasn't something they had expected. Yet, they didn't act spontaneously.
SCREECH! Suddenly, the loud sound echoed throufh the gate once again. Screech! Screech! Screech! The rats echoed the soumd, regaining their original vigour. Ethan gripped his kusarigama tightly. He'd already surprised ome rat lord. He couldn't do the same to the rest of these monsters.
Thump! Thump! Thump! The rat lords jumped into.the hole, falling around Ethan as they landed around him. Ethan turner around, staring at the monsters as he tensed his body. Fighting 8 F-2 rank monsters at once. It wasn't impossible. But extremely tough. And there was a high chance of him dying.
Ethan's blue eyes mwt thwir mellow brown eyes. They had wanted a spectacle. A show. And he'd given them one. But now, it was time to dispose of the audience.