As Leon and Luna continued their journey through the foul, labyrinthine tunnels, the air became increasingly thick with the stench of decay and sewage. The further they ventured, the more aggressive the plague rats became, their glowing red eyes piercing the dim light. These creatures weren't just mutated; they were infected with a vile plague, which made them even more dangerous.
Leon motioned for his sewer demon servant to move ahead, ensuring their path remained clear. The demon slashed through the thick filth and the ever-present sewer water, keeping it from splashing onto Leon and Luna. Despite the creature's efforts, the oppressive atmosphere was hard to ignore.
Suddenly, the sound of scurrying claws echoed down the tunnel. A swarm of plague rats, larger and more vicious than before, appeared from the shadows. Their diseased flesh was rotting, exposing sharp, yellow teeth and oozing wounds. These rats were more than just physical threats—they carried the plague in their very being.
Their furry bodies had more pus-filled spores than fur, making them even more dangerous.
"Get ready," Luna warned, her tone steady but serious.
"You always fight them using this tunnel?" Leon asked, speechless, while preparing his Aether Magic.
"No, I usually just sneak past them, but with you here, it's difficult to do," she said. Leon nodded.
"I'll try to help as much as I can," Leon said, and Luna nodded in return.
After all, the rats in front of them ranged from Tier 1 to Tier 2, with even the weakest among them being at least Level 50, while he himself was just Level 2 after absorbing the power sources earlier in the tunnels.
The rats charged at them in a frenzy, but Leon's sewer demon servant leapt forward, smashing the first wave of rodents with brutal efficiency. Its claws ripped through the plague-ridden creatures like a whirlwind, and soon, the air was filled with the sickening crunch of bones and flesh.
Luna didn't hesitate. She charged in as well, brandishing her weapon—a blade crackling with dark energy. She slashed through several rats in a single swing, each strike feeling more powerful as She absorbed the glowing orbs of physical essence that the rats dropped.
"...leave some for me" Leon said speechlessly, while he directed the Demonic servant to kill all the rats too, as he did, Leon hastily took in the cores but didn't absorbed them as he started giving them to luna.
"Who was saying I should leave some for you?" Luna asked, stepping closer to him with a smirk.
"Well, even if I level up, it won't make much of a difference, but if you did, it will. You go ahead, and I'll support you," Leon said, his face expressionless.
Luna nodded, acknowledging that he was right.
Suddenly, notifications appeared:
[Host donated 13 Mid-Ranking Tier 1 Power Sources]
[Host received 13 High-Ranking Tier 1 Power Sources]
Leon grinned slightly. 'hehehe, of course I did it for this, My beautiful Charity System.'
Leon then hastily absorbed all of them, as he felt the surge in strength as he level up.
"These rats are like walking power-ups," Leon commented with a grin, feeling the surge of strength course through him.
In this world each level up rewards 10 stat points, Leon looked at the accumulated points and put them al in Intelligence for now.
As he need more mana, higher the intelligence more the amount of mana as well as mana regeneration.
"These rats are like walking power-ups," Leon commented with a grin, feeling the surge of strength course through him.
Luna fought beside him, her movements quick and precise, using her "Night Lord" abilities to dispatch the rats with ease. Shadowy daggers flew from her hands, striking multiple targets at once. She was efficient, wasting no energy as she moved gracefully through the swarm.
As the swarm continued to attack, Luna's strikes became faster, more precise. Each orb she absorbed increased her physical capabilities—her speed, strength, and endurance all enhanced by the raw power within the orbs.
While Leon too kept power leveling up, thanks to Plague Demon, The demon he summoned after unsummoning the sewer demon, they can fight without worry of any disease as it made sure none of them are infected while it also aids in battle.
More rats came from all sides, but Leon and Luna didn't back down. The sewer demon, relentless in its assault, tore through the creatures like a force of nature. Its claws shredded through flesh, sending black blood spraying across the filthy stone walls. The plague rats, despite their numbers, stood no chance against the combined might of Leon, Luna, and the demon servant.
By the time they reached a clearing in the tunnel, the floor was littered with the disintegrating remains of the plague rats. The tunnel, once filled with the stench of filth and decay, was now quiet, save for the soft hum of the absorbed power.
Leon looked at Luna, who was wiping sweat from her brow, and grinned. "Not bad, huh? We've gained a ton of physical sources."
Luna nodded, catching her breath. "Yeah, but we can't get too comfortable. There might be something worse waiting for us further in."
"True," Leon agreed, his eyes scanning the dark tunnel ahead. "But with these new power boosts, I'm feeling confident. Let's keep going."
Luna looked at eager Leon and shook her head while she also followed after him.
As Leon and Luna made their way deeper into the tunnel, the atmosphere around them began to change. The stone walls, once damp and cracked, started to glow faintly with eerie runes, pulsing with an otherworldly light. The air grew colder, and the faint echo of distant growls reverberated through the narrow passage.
Luna paused, eyes narrowing. "Something's not right," she muttered.
Leon, sensing the shift as well, glanced around. "This doesn't feel like a normal tunnel anymore."
"yes, those Runes they weren't here before" Luna nodded and said pointing at the runes glowing like an beacon in dark tunnel.