Guided by Eamon's instructions, the troop retraced their path through the dense foliage, moving swiftly through the forest canopy.
Eamon led the way, choosing their route carefully to minimize the risk of detection.
Finally, they reached the familiar perch atop the towering tree. Scaling the branches with practiced ease, they settled into their positions.
They maintained their vigil on the comings and goings of the rat groups in the nest. Unfortunately, the groups were standard, consisting of no fewer than five rats each. Eventually, after about a dozen minutes, a trio of rats emerged from the nest.
Eamon's pulse quickened with excitement as he watched the rats.
"Well, Malakai," Eamon murmured, leaning slightly toward him, "we'll soon see if our weapons hold up against these creatures."
With a silent signal, he motioned for Malakai and the zombies to follow the rats' movements.
Eamon positioned himself at the forefront of the group alongside Malakai, gaining a better perspective to observe the three rats.
Their dark fur seemed to absorb what little sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above. Their sharp claws left behind a trail of impressions.
They used the footprints left by the rats to follow them when visibility was low. Keeping their distance and leaving the zombies at the rear to avoid detection, they followed the rats through the dense undergrowth, their footsteps muffled by the layers of fallen leaves and soft earth.
They watched the rats foraging for food, their sharp claws digging into the forest floor in search of sustenance. Eamon made a mental note of the seeds and fruits the rats consumed.
As the rats moved deeper into the forest, their movements became more purposeful, and they regularly sniffed the air and the ground, as if excited by an irresistible scent. Eamon watched with growing interest.
Then, they spotted it: a majestic rabbit, its silver fur glinting in the sunlight as it moved through the undergrowth.
Its imposing size made it as large as the giant rats, reminiscent of the stature of a wolf on Earth.
Eamon, astonished by the creature's size, wondered if all the animals in this strange place shared such immense proportions.
One of its hind legs seemed mangled, and there was a deep gash across its back, with its fur stained with blood at the wounds.
The rats wasted no time in pouncing on their prey, their instincts driving them forward with relentless ferocity.
Eamon's grip tightened on his spear. He couldn't let them damage the body of this new specimen.
"Go for the biggest one!" Eamon commanded the zombie rat, his tone firm, as he gestured towards the largest rat.
Instantly, without waiting for Malakai to intervene, the undead creature sprang into action, launching itself at the massive rat with terrifying speed. With a guttural growl, it seized the rat, its jaws clamping around the creature's neck in a vice-like grip. The rat emitted a high-pitched shriek of terror.
The other rats recoiled precipitously at the sight, forgetting about the rabbit.
Focusing his attention on Malakai and Cassandra, Eamon shouted, "Take out the rat to our right!". He added "Fred, will assist me with the last one !".
Malakai glanced at Fred to relay Eamon's order before lunging towards his designated prey with Cassandra.
Meanwhile, Eamon charged towards the remaining rat, his spear held firmly in his grasp. With a violent thrust, he aimed for the creature's eye, incapacitating it with a single, precise blow. The rat recoiled in agony, its pained hisses filling the cavern, but before it could retaliate, Fred joined the fray, driving his spear deep into the creature's abdomen.
The wounded rat writhed in agony, its desperate movements bringing its jaws dangerously close to Fred. Sensing the threat, Eamon moved with lightning speed. With a swift strike, he plunged the tip of his spear into the base of the rat's neck and pressed down to prevent it from biting Fred.
Together, they managed to topple the rat onto its side and positioned themselves on the opposite side of its legs. They used all their weight on their spears to pin the creature down, preventing it from moving.
As the rat writhed in agony, Eamon and Fred remained at a safe distance from its powerful teeth, which could easily crush bone, and its sharp claws, capable of tearing through flesh with ease.
The creature's struggles grew weaker until finally, it lay still.
Eamon turned to assess the situation of the battleground and noticed that his undead had swiftly dealt with the two remaining rats while he was engaged in combat.
As he searched for the elusive silver rabbit, his gaze fell upon Malakai.
"Malakai, find that silver rabbit and bring it back here," commanded Eamon.
Malakai nodded and darted off into the nearby underbrush, disappearing from sight. Moments later, Malakai returned, dragging the limp body of the wounded rabbit. He deposited the creature's body at Eamon's feet.
The dying creature struggled feebly, but Eamon knew he needed every attribute he could absorb to survive.
Eamon's hand firmly grasped the base of the rabbit's skull, his fingers sinking into the soft fur. With a deft and calculated twist of his wrist, he applied swift and forceful pressure, targeting the delicate vertebrae. There was an audible crack as the bones gave way under the sudden strain, and the rabbit's body immediately went limp.
Eamon leaned over and tapped into his absorption power, drawing energy from the rabbit's body. As the energy flowed into him, he felt a surge of strength coursing through his veins, his muscles tightening and becoming more defined.
He felt a newfound fluidity in his movements, and his coordination improved significantly. Sensations sharpened, he felt every fiber of his being, gaining a heightened awareness of his body's capabilities. With each passing moment, he felt his physical prowess expanding, his muscles growing more resilient and powerful.
Eamon couldn't help but grin with satisfaction at the results of absorbing the creature's essence.
Turning to the three remaining rats, Eamon was tempted to absorb all three, but he hesitated because he had more mental energy than necessary to transform one into a summon.
He was aware that he already had an effective undead horde. However, he considered the potential dangers of being separated from them. Absorbing all the bodies would bolster his strength, enabling him to fend for himself if he were ever alone. Moreover, he could eventually summon a more powerful creature in the future.
His undead horde gathered the corpses of the three rats before him.
Without further ceremony, he approached the middle corpse and activated his absorption power. However, for the first time Eamon's absorption power reacted abnormally in the presence of the two closely positioned bodies and began to absorb all three simultaneously.
Before he could withdraw his hand, Eamon entered a trance-like state as he began to absorb the essence of the three rats at once. Their bodies withered before him, his own body trembling violently as their energy flowed into him. Bones creaked and broke, only to rebuild themselves within his own body. With each absorption, his senses heightened, amplifying the pain he endured.
A scream of agony escaped his lips as he tilted his head back, seized by uncontrollable spasms. Then, in a fleeting moment of ecstasy, he experienced a rush of euphoria before the pain engulfed him once more. The phases repeated faster and faster until he finally lost consciousness.