"Wow, Jessica! When did you even notice it?" Lucy exclaimed, her eyes wide in surprise as she stared at the strange rat lying motionless with a dagger cleanly piercing its skull. She bent down, yanked the dagger from the rat's head with a wet squelch, and wiped it on James's tattered clothing without a second thought. Then, with a smile, she handed the blade over to Jessica, as if the whole thing were routine.
James felt like crying inside. Are you serious? Why me? A storm of emotions swirled in his mind, a thousand divine beasts trampling his thoughts. He had just been standing there, minding his own business, and somehow, he was the one getting caught up in this mess. He hadn't even provoked this young lady!
Despite his silent complaints, something gnawed at him even more than his frustration: shock. Jessica; she was fast. Scarily fast. He hadn't even realized the rat was there, let alone had time to react. How did she manage to spot it and strike with such precision? Humans weren't supposed to have that kind of speed. Not like that.
"If you weren't so careless, how did you not see it with your strength?" Jessica's voice cut through his thoughts. She took the dagger from Lucy with a sharp slap to the younger girl's hand, her stern tone leaving no room for argument. "Be more careful."
"Hehe, got it, Jessica!" Lucy pulled a face, feigning innocence, but Jessica was having none of it. She shook her head, sighing, and turned her attention back to the fallen rat.
That's when she froze. There, atop the creature's head, was a tiny wreath made of twisted branches. Jessica's eyes narrowed in realization, her heartbeat quickening.
"Oh no, this isn't good," she muttered, her voice tight. Her hand shot out, slapping Lucy's arm with urgency. "We've got to move. Hurry, now!"
Lucy's playful expression vanished in an instant. She shifted her grip on the submachine gun she had slung across her shoulder, her eyes scanning the area with newfound focus. "It's too late," she said quietly, her tone grim.
The surrounding melon fields erupted into a sudden rustle. James's heart raced as he watched the two women stand back to back, submachine guns at the ready, scanning the shadows between the plants.
"I've always warned you to be cautious, and yet here I am, caught by my own mistake." Jessica gave a bitter smile. "These aren't just normal rats. If they're here, that means the Rat King must be nearby. And if that's the case, it's likely at least a low-grade F-level creature. We're trapped."
Lucy tried to keep her voice steady, reassuring despite the tension building around them. "Come on, Jessica, don't worry! You've got me. And remember, the books say the Rat King doesn't join the fight easily. We're just dealing with some low-level G-class monster rats and a few of those repellent rats. We'll fight our way out, no problem."
Before they could say more, the sound of rustling grew louder, and suddenly, several strange rats the size of small dogs burst out of the nearby bushes, their eyes gleaming with hunger. They charged straight for Lucy.
Unfazed, Lucy raised her submachine gun, her movements fluid and practiced. She squeezed the trigger, unleashing a fiery spray of bullets. The rats didn't stand a chance. One by one, they collapsed in a heap, their bodies riddled with bloody holes.
Unlike the earlier encounter with James, these rats didn't seem to notice or care as their companions fell around them. More and more swarmed from the melon field, determined to overrun the two women. But the sisters stood their ground, submachine guns steady, never missing a beat. Each burst of fire painted the ground in a grim display of blood and fur.
James, who had been standing uselessly on the sidelines, felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Watching them fight so efficiently, he couldn't help but feel a pang of relief. Thank the heavens I didn't try to cross them…
He sighed, deciding it was best to keep a low profile. "I should just stay out of this," he muttered to himself.
But then something caught his eye. Floating in the air, almost imperceptible, was a strange energy; a vibrant, pulsing Life force rising from the bodies of the slain rats. It swirled through the air, shimmering and ethereal. James blinked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. What in the world…?
As James stared at the shimmering Life force that lingered in the air, slowly dissipating with every passing second, he suddenly felt a strange thirst rising inside him. His mouth went dry, his body tingling with an uncontrollable desire to absorb that energy. His instincts screamed at him to act.
His gaze flicked to the fierce battle between the two sisters and the relentless wave of strange rats. His mind raced as he clenched his fists, teeth grinding in frustration. Damn it, he thought. Let's do this!
With a quick decision, James flung himself down into the melon field, his body going limp as if he'd been knocked out. He let out a silent exhale, fully embracing the surge of energy around him. Thirst for life, he thought with burning intensity.
Suddenly, a robotic voice echoed in his mind:
[Ding! The host is absorbing Life force. Growth value: +0.1, +0.2, +0.1...]
James's eyes widened in delight. It was working! As he absorbed the Life force, his growth value steadily climbed. He couldn't help but feel a rush of exhilaration. So, I can devour Life force and convert it into growth value? The thought filled him with greed, and the satisfaction of watching the numbers rise was intoxicating.
His eyes drifted back to Lucy, who was still fighting off the horde of rats, her face a mix of focus and determination. Oddly enough, the once-annoying girl didn't seem so bad anymore. He even felt a little thankful she was there. After all, without her, he wouldn't be reaping these benefits so easily.
[+0.1, +0.2… Current growth value: 10/10. The host meets the evolution requirements. Upgrade?]
Is that even a question? James thought with a smirk. He didn't hesitate for a second, mentally selecting the "yes" option.
[Host is evolving... Evolution complete. Congratulations! The host has evolved into a G-level medium-quality alien species. Current evolution value: 0/100.]
An overwhelming force surged through James's body, every fiber of his being buzzing with newfound power. The straw that made up his scarecrow-like form began to shift and squirm, the friction creating a rustling sound. His tattered, worn appearance started to change; holes once pecked by crows were now filled with fresh, sturdy straw. He felt whole, stronger than he had ever been.
James clenched his fists, feeling the raw strength coursing through his body. He was faster, more powerful, sharper in every sense. The difference between his previous state and this new, mid-grade G-level form was night and day. He wondered in awe, If mid-grade G-level creatures are this strong, what would it feel like to evolve into a high-grade creature? Or even an F-level?
His eyes gleamed as he looked at the swirling Life force still hanging in the air. He could feel the straw on the back of his head bristling, almost itching to consume more.
[Host is absorbing Life force... Growth value: +0.1, +0.1, +0.2...]
James quickly noticed that the Life force from these monster rats was far richer than that of ordinary strange rats. Every bit he absorbed boosted his growth significantly. His hunger for power grew insatiable.
Meanwhile, things weren't going so well for the two sisters. Their submachine guns, once their most reliable defense, had been torn apart by the gnashing teeth of the attacking rats. Their bulletproof vests were shredded in multiple places, sharp claws leaving deep gashes across their bodies. Both of them bore wounds severe enough to expose bone, their faces pale from the effort of holding off the relentless assault.
"Jessica, leave me behind and go" gasped Lucy, barely able to catch her breath. Her submachine gun had long been replaced with a blood-streaked military dagger, her movements slowing with every strike. "You don't have to keep being a mercenary."
"Sister, you know I'm hopeless with directions," Lucy replied with a wry smile, even as she hacked down another rat with a swift swipe of her dagger. "I'd never make it out on my own."
James, now a mid-grade G-level creature, observed the two women closely. He realized they were mid-grade G-level as well, though their abilities were heavily reliant on their now-ruined submachine guns. Without them, they could barely keep up with the tide of low-grade G-level monster rats.
As he continued to devour the remaining Life force floating in the air, James's growth value shot up to 71.4 points. He licked his lips, his eyes flicking between the sisters who were barely hanging on and the few remaining monster rats.
What should I do next? A dark thought crossed his mind. Would he help them? Or perhaps… finish them off and take everything for himself?