The arrow whistled towards the mutated rat, and penetrated deep into its eye. Dying a silent death, its companions failed to notice I have started my attack. I pulled back to my hiding place and pulled out another metal arrow from the inventory.
I peeked out again and released. The second victim was picked out as easily as the first. It was facing me sideways, and the arrow carved deep into its jaw, giving it instantaneous death. However, unlike the previous attempt, the assassination didn't go unnoticed.
As soon as the remaining rats started hissing, I hid myself away. There were three more in the pack, still too many for someone with a bow. My next shot would determine if going with such a primitive weapon was not a blunder.
Titus, unlike me, showed no sign of fear, and was cozily curled up near me. Unfortunately, I could not do the same. I knew if I screwed up, the rats would be coming for me, not for their fellow rodent.
My heartbeat was deafening as I reloaded the bow again. This time on the left side of the stack of barrels, I leaned out and in a moment of folly, aimed at the first target I saw and not the nearest one. I wanted to pull back at the last second, having no confidence with my newly acquired archery skills. I have only started learning the day before, when I returned from my first run into the area.
It only ruined the shot and the arrow grazed the mutated rat's chin, and proceeded towards the metal pile.
In a stroke of luck, the sound of the collision between the metal arrow and the metal scraps, distracted the pack, giving me time to gather myself.
Braver and calmer, I managed a steadier aim, and dealt with the nearest rat to me. Before the two could pivot their heads, I made another shot and downed yet another.
The last one finally saw my position, but too late. The raging beast charged at me, and though intimidating, actually made things easier. Not only did it close the distance, it also presented its head right in front. It met my arrow head on, and the pack was finished.
Smiling ear to ear, I emerged out of hiding to claim my spoils. I woke Titus up and guided him through the reins. My helmet showed no sign of nearby packs being alarmed, thanks to the silent weapon.
'Rat Bone Bow' it was called, and I didn't think it would solve my ammunition crisis. Such a primitive weapon was inferior from the pistol in both fire rate and damage. I would need to make headshots, as body shots inflict too little damage.
But it had a redeeming feature: metal arrows were extremely easy to produce. A Low-Grade metal scrap could make two and the leftovers from the day before, gave me 50 arrows.
I also realized it was more practical. Unless, I have unlimited ammo, going into a level 2 area guns blazing is a death sentence. Mutated rats, I observed, were more sensitive to sound, and I have never stealthily dealt with them using the pistol.
Gunpowder x42, Rat Poison x18, and Rat Fur x2, the first pack of the day yielded decent loot. But it was not enough for me to call it a day, not after knowing how efficient the bow was.
A part of me resisted against it, it was a daring idea: to go deeper into the wasteland without the support of Caesar, which I have instructed to remain outside the area. Though I have also arranged for it to intervene, should it hear gunshots.
My curios and daring nature prevailed. And alone with my mount, I proceeded to the next pack of mutated rats. Being a scaredy-cat will lead me nowhere.
Eight mutated rats, my next encounter, involved the largest pack I have seen since the tutorial. Only this time, I had no Caesar and no pistol. Faced with a tougher challenged, I decided to try another approach. A safer one.
I chose a mound distant enough that they wouldn't hear me climb it, but not too far enough that the bow would be out of range. A technique I wouldn't have dared to use without the threat detection of the advanced helmet.
Reaching the peak, a better view was presented to me and the threats hidden by the obstructions below, were fully revealed. There were packs of mutated rats and common rats in every single direction. A single gunshot and all of them would come down at me.
I gulped down nervously, and tried to shake the fearful thoughts off my head. I failed, they were too near, too real, for me not to consider failure.
But I was able to maintain composure. I have seen the giant centipede, and the fear I felt then was far greater. And if I only learn to act when it is safe, I fear I might not survive this place. Forcefully, I shifted my gaze away.
A sound mind, despite the nervousness, proved vital to success. Perched on that mound, I soon found out how elevation did not only provide relative safety but better firing position, and because I did not let fear overwhelm me, I was able to take advantage.
When it started raining arrows, the mutated rats did not know where to look for the attacker. And with their inferior brain, they weren't too smart to look up or scatter away. To further worsen their plight, they listened to their instinct and formed a defensive circle, where they were whittled down helplessly. It would have been effective against any other predator, but not against me.
All my arrows made their mark, as I grew confident with every shot. Such lethality and done with almost no noise.
The bow was a game changer.
The second half of the day was as successful. I returned to base about three hours before sundown, bringing with me two unconscious rodents, and enough gun powder to create more than a hundred bullets. I spent the remaining daylight hours to tame the rats.