The rat had gone to check up on the other rats, confused at the lack of conflict. It hid in the shadows and turned a corner and it saw it. A person clad in silver and gold heavy armor. It was that human from before. Next to them was another person. The rat then remembered the delicious meal and recognized them. It was the human that it tripped! Why were both of these humans near it? Had they found out about the rat? Then to the rat's fears, the human in armor looked up and saw the rat.
The human then swung a large sharp thing in its direction. The rat had enough time, and began to run away. It looked behind it and saw not just the armored human, but also the meat providing human.
*****
Sheila was about to go further to see the one controlling the rats, but felt a bump into her shoulder.
"Ouch! What was- oh, I'm sorry!" A young boy with messy, black hair and an apron apologized.
Sheila responded, "It's no problem!"
The boy looked strangely relieved to hear that Sheila hadn't really cared. She turned her head back and saw it. It was the source of the dark presence, what looked like a shadow rat. She immediately glared in its direction and drew her sword and dashed at the rodent. It jumped out of the way back to the alley, as she swung down. At this point Sheila realized her blunder, this rat did not feel evil. It simply had a dark presence.
Sheila sheathed her blade and ran after the small dog-sized rat. Maybe this shadow rat was good? Was that possible, weren't all shadow rats evil? But the presence of this one was only dark, probably from its use of shadow magic. As she thought about these things she felt a different presence right behind her. This presence was like liquid, but felt aggression in a deep, dark part of it. She turned her head, and there was the boy with the messy, black hair.
*****
*****
"Ouch! What was- oh, I'm sorry!" Henry apologized.
The heavily armored woman with long, blonde hair responded, "It's no problem!"
Henry was relieved to hear this. Back in the village he was from, he was despised. Even bumping into someone could get him pelted with stones, and onlookers would just laugh. To hear someone not really caring if he bumped into him, made him quite happy and relieved. Just as he thought everything was fine, the woman drew her blade.
At that moment Henry felt fear at this development, afraid that he would suddenly be cut down. He closed his eyes but no pain came, instead he heard a loud noise in front of him. He opened his eyes and saw the woman sheathing her sword, and a slash mark in front of her. Had she cut the ground? He wanted to ask but then she started sprinting away.
"Wait!" Henry said, attempting to get her to stay, but to no avail.
Henry went to run after her. Normally he wouldn't be able to keep up, but his agility stat helped a little. Though, that still wouldn't be enough, so Henry pulled a mortar and pestle out of his [Storage], along with some pesed grass. He began to crush up this substance and felt himself get faster due to his unique skill [Hasty Craftsman].
*****
The rat had been running at full sprint, so how were these humans keeping up!? The rat even used the brand new [Shade Absorb] and [Shadow Enhancement] combo! Before, it had only thought the armored human was dangerous, but seeing the other keep up changed its mind. The trio kept chasing after one another for a while. The humans got a burst of speed in the middle of the chase. During this the rat heard:
[Skills: Shadow Enhancement, Shade Absorb, Focused Muscle Strengthening, and Support Magic have leveled up!]
With the sudden boost in speed, the rat began to lose the humans. Then suddenly both of them also sped up! How!? The rat, frustrated, kept running in desperation. Then a message came that scared the ever loving shit out of the rat.
[Warning: you are down to 15 St.]
FUUUUUUCCCCKKKKK!!!
*****
Sheila kept looking back to see the boy with the messy, black hair chasing after her. How was this boy able to keep up, and why was he grinding up herbs!? Sheila, confused by this, then looked back at the rat and saw a distance being created by the rat, looking like she had to activate her skill [Body Strengthening]. It only provided a slight addition to her amazing muscles, but it was enough to keep up. Suddenly, while running she heard a message sound in her head:
[Skills: Body Strengthening have leveled up!]
Yes! This was what she needed to close the distance! She looked ahead and noticed that the rat had also somehow sped up! She then looked back and saw the boy too! How did they both speed up!? Then she heard an alarming message.
[Warning: you are down to 15 St.]
SSHHHHHIIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!
*****
*****
Henry kept on running, matching the speed of but never surpassing the woman. Suddenly she began to increase in speed. Henry didn't know what to do, but then remembered a certain spell he had. One of the spells from his [Arctic Sea Magic]: [Frozen Step]. This spell created ice beneath the user's feet. Henry activated his spell and ice began to form under his feet. Henry lifted up his left foot and started kicking at the ground with it. While in this sprint, Henry suddenly heard:
[Skills: Hasty Craftsman, Arctic Sea Magic, Alchemy, and Storage have leveled up!]
Henry was happy at these level ups. With this he could definitely catch up with the woman in front of him. That was when he noticed she had also sped up! How did she do it!? That was when Henry heard a worrying message.
[Warning: you are down to 15 St.]
DAAAMMMNNNIIITTT!!!
*****
Sheila's team could not keep up at all.