As soon as the flare is shot, the Steel Teeth Rats start to come out of the hole and the nest as if on cue and started attacking.
It is more than 300 rats that are coming out and we are just 28 hunters who has to fight against them.
Four of the rats come at me and these rats are more ferocious that the ones that attacked us before and I started hearing screams from the people around me now and then.
They are either shouting to show their anger or determination or they are screaming because of the pain they are getting from the injuries caused by the rats.
The four rats that come at me starts attacking with more anger and I could see a lot of openings, but I can't attack them without getting injured myself.
If I go in to kill 1, the other 3 will gravely injure me. Already 2 volunteers have died trying to do it and I don't want to be the 3rd. So I just held my ground defending the attacks.
I keep dodging mostly instead of defending as I couldn't defend all of their attacks with just my Red Blade. I couldn't do anything better than dodge.
SWOOSH.. PUCHI..
An arrow came and pierced one of the Steel Teeth Rats I am fighting killing it instantly. I looked at the side the arrow came from and I couldn't stop the smile that appeared on my face.
It's my sister Zaana who has shot the arrow. I continue to dodge the other 3 rats that are hell bent on killing me. Another arrow pierced and took the life of another rat.
I looked at Zaana and nodded to let her know I can handle the rest of the rats I am fighting. She smiled and nodded back at me before aiming her bow at another rat that is far from me.
Looks like she has come with the back-up we requested from the city to help us with the extermination of the rat's nest.
I focused on killing the 2 rats I am fighting now. The pressure on me has reduced after the help I got from Zaana who reduced their numbers in half.
I suddenly fell energetic and my tiredness started to fade away. I also fell a new wave of energy coursing through my body and it is getting stronger along with my mind.
'I am levelling up.' I thought and I felt happy. This will help me take a step closer to becoming powerful. I will be able to use my skills more in battle and have better chance to survive this battle and the missions and hunts I will take part in the future.
The level-up will take a minute to complete. It will increase the attributes. I will have to learn to use my new attributes and power soon so I can use it to the fullest without wasting them.
"Congrats on the level-up Alex" I heard Dawn wishing me from my side after the level-up was completed. I could sense the pride in her voice and happiness on her face.
I just replied "Thanks" with a wink which made her blush. She tried to control her blush, but couldn't. She immediately moved aside in a pretence of helping her fellow teammate who needs help.
I swing my sword at the rat that jumped at my chest. The Red Blade hit it's neck killing it instantly. It didn't take me another minute to kill the last rat I was fighting.
I looked at the battlefield to see if I can help anyone, but thanks to the back-up, the battle is in our control and can be won easily unless another group of rats join the fray.
I sensed movement in the underground and tried moving away from my place only to be stopped by Max who just shook his head indicating I can't move from my position without the order.
"We got incoming" I told him to which he replied "Look around kid, we have got the incoming."
"This is different. There is at least 400 rats coming at us from the tunnels underneath. Most of them are equal to your power level, maybe grade D rats." I said with stern voice.
"You sure kid? This was supposed to be an F grade mission." He said to me with clear surprise in his tone.
Yes, it was supposed to be an F grade mission, which means there shouldn't be any grade D monsters or even grade E animals involved, but grade D rats are on their way making this mission equal to grade D which we didn't volunteer for.
Even with my new power, I won't be able to stand against a grade E monster, it will be suicide if Max goes against a grade D monster which will kill him within a few minutes.
"We have a few Low-D hunters watching us, they will handle the stronger ones. You focus on the monsters you can kill Alex" Max told me looking at my concerned face.
He knew I am not afraid like the other volunteers who are fighting with their life on the line by the second. The fact I know the incoming and still standing shows how strong my courage is.
I infused the energy into my sword and again went to fight the rats that are around me helping my teammates along with Dawn.
After the level-up, it has become a bit issue for me as I have not gotten used to the new attributes which will take a few hours in normal situation and I don't have the time to get used to it, not in the middle of a battle.
I could see the rats keep coming out of the hole and the nest entrance even now filling their ranks as we kill. It has been an hour we have started fighting and still the number of rats we are fighting hasn't reduced, even by a little.
I looked at the storage in the hunter watch to check the free space. I have been storing the rats I have killed so far so I can harvest them later.
It is the same thing all the volunteers are doing as they want to get extra credits from this mission.