After using the Berserker skill, the user often experiences aftereffects—feeling drained, muscles aching, and the body sluggish from the strain.
The enhanced strength and resistance during battle always came at a price, but Alex hadn't pushed himself to the limit, so the exhaustion remained manageable.
Fortunately, the skill had also accelerated the effects of the Anti-Poison Potion, speeding up his recovery. Though a lingering fatigue crept in, he was in better shape than expected—still ready to fight.
Wrapping up the F-rank mana cores and the carcass of the unknown creature, which he now dubbed, "I should call you the Mutant Carrion Rat." he muttered.
Alex moved toward the massive archway entrance from where the Mutant Carrion Rat had attacked him. This time, he extinguished his torch, walking in complete stealth.
After silently advancing for a few minutes, he entered what appeared to be a massive chamber.
As Alex crept silently through the massive archway, the air inside the chamber felt different—denser, almost suffocating.
The faint glow of moss lining the walls cast an eerie light over the vast space, revealing what seemed like a lair far larger than any tunnel he had passed through before.
The ceiling stretched impossibly high above, while the stench of decay clung thick in the air, making it clear this was no ordinary part of the cave.
At the center of the chamber stood a colossal Mutant Carrion Rat, far more grotesque and intimidating than the one Alex had fought earlier.
Its bloated body was swollen to unnatural proportions, covered in matted fur that clung to its sickly, oversized form. Fat rolls sagged over its legs, and its skin looked stretched, as though it might burst at any moment.
A set of small, glowing red eyes gleamed with a twisted intelligence—sharper and far more menacing than the other mutant he had encountered. Despite its bulk, its movements were deliberate, almost calculated, as if it was in complete command of the horde surrounding it.
Smaller Carrion Rats scurried at its feet, gathering in droves around the massive creature. It was as though they were drawn to her presence, compelled by a primal instinct to protect their queen.
Their movements, though frantic, were organized, hinting that this creature held a terrifying level of control over them.
Alex's instincts flared. He didn't know exactly what this oversized mutant rat was, but the way the chamber was laid out and the coordinated behavior of the smaller rats told him everything he needed to know: this was the heart of the infestation.
The strange chamber felt like a breeding ground, with nests made from bones, scraps, and rotting remains scattered about. This wasn't just a hideout—it was the source of the plague.
The colossal rat wasn't just another mutant. It was something far more dangerous, even if Alex didn't fully realize it yet.
Not having been noticed yet, Alex seized the opportunity and silently casted
A cold, black mist spiraled out from the magic circle, quickly expanding and sweeping across the chamber.
The horde of Carrion Rats froze in place as the creeping ice enveloped them, their frantic scurrying silenced in an instant. Their grotesque bodies were trapped within jagged black ice, frozen mid-motion as if time itself had stopped.
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[The Host has killed a F rank Monster] X59
[+870 XP and +59 SP]
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The colossal Mutant Carrion Rat let out a guttural snarl, its red eyes widening as the dark frost crawled up its swollen limbs.
For a moment, the massive creature struggled, its bloated body resisting the cold's grasp. But the ice magic was too swift, too powerful. The black ice encased its grotesque form, trapping it in a shimmering prison of frost.
Alex's breath remained steady as he watched the entire chamber fall into an eerie, frozen silence. The once chaotic lair was now still—every creature locked in the icy grasp of his spell.
'I might have struck first and gained the upper hand, but that colossal rat is undeniably powerful. It's only a matter of seconds before it breaks free from my spell.' He thought, knowing full well this was only a temporary advantage.
And he was right. The massive Mutant Carrion Rat began to tremble within its frozen prison, cracks spiderwebbing across the surface of the black ice.
With each heaving breath, the creature's bloated form pushed against its icy bonds, chunks of ice falling away as its raw strength slowly broke through.
A deep, guttural growl echoed through the chamber, the vibrations shaking the ground as its glowing red eyes flared with fury.
Alex knew his time was running out. Without hesitation, he gathered his mana, channeling it into his next attack. The dark magic circle at his hands crackled with energy as he overcharged his
The orb of concentrated dark mana swelled, growing larger and more volatile, pulsating with destructive power, ready to be unleashed.
His eyes locked onto the massive rat, waiting for the precise moment to strike. Every second felt like an eternity as the creature fought against its frozen prison, and then—just as the last shards of ice shattered from its hulking frame—Alex launched the overcharged
The air whistled as the dark projectile hurtled forward, aimed directly at the beast's exposed head.
The projectile struck the Mutant Carrion Rat dead center, the impact rippling violently through its massive body.
The sheer force of the blow sent the hulking beast staggering backward, its claws scraping the stone floor as it struggled to maintain its balance. A guttural roar tore from its throat, echoing through the chamber, but there was no denying the damage—the overcharged
The rat teetered on the verge of collapse, clinging desperately to the last shreds of life.
Alex didn't give it a moment to recover. Before the creature could regain its footing, he unleashed a rapid barrage of
Each one struck with deadly precision, pounding into the rat's bloated body in an unrelenting onslaught. The impacts tore through its thick hide, leaving gaping, dark wounds in their wake.
With each successive hit, the creature's roars weakened, its massive form trembling under the continuous barrage. It was as if its life was being drained with each strike, its once fearsome presence reduced to nothing more than a quivering shell.
Finally, with a final agonizing shudder, the Mutant Carrion Rat collapsed. Its enormous body slumped onto the icy floor, the last remnants of its strength fading away.
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[The Host has killed a D rank Territory Boss Monster]
[+500 XP and +25 SP]
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The chamber fell into a deep, eerie silence once again. The terrifying monster that had once ruled this part of the Poison Mist Forest was now nothing more than a lifeless heap on the frozen ground.
"Well, that was easy—and kind of boring. I was expecting a bit more of a struggle, but I guess I've gotten stronger." Alex shrugged, his tone laced with nonchalance.
As his eyes swept the chamber, they fell upon the scattered remains of various creatures—and even humans. The sight was grotesque, a chilling reminder of the death and decay that pervaded this lair.
Among the carnage, he noticed bodies marred with small teeth marks and deep claw scars, telltale signs of the Carrion Rat's gruesome feast. The horror of their last moments lingered in the air, sending a cold shiver down his spine.
But as he surveyed the area more closely, something caught his eye—a few of the human remains looked relatively fresh, less decayed than the others.
While most of the corpses had been reduced to bones and rotting flesh, one in particular stood out. A faint, unsettling aura clung to it, a nauseating sensation that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Compelled by curiosity, Alex stepped closer to the body. It was draped in a black robe, the fabric still surprisingly intact despite the surrounding decay. The robe's fine craftsmanship hinted that its wearer had been of some importance, perhaps a powerful figure in life.
But it wasn't the robe that held his attention—it was the ring on the corpse's finger. The ominous-looking band shimmered with an eerie glow, its design intricate and unsettling.
As Alex fought the urge to turn away from the grotesque sight, a sudden system notification echoed in his mind, halting him in his tracks.
The familiar chime pierced through the nauseating atmosphere, sharp and clear, pulling his focus despite the instinctive urge to flee from the unsettling scene.
His eyes snapped toward the floating message, its presence almost a relief in the oppressive chamber.