James lunged toward the most severely wounded of the giant rats, a feral determination flashing in his eyes. He paid no heed to the claws and gnashing teeth of the other three beasts encircling him. His fists and the sickle in his hand moved in perfect tandem, raining down blows like a violent storm against the giant rat.
Blood spattered everywhere, painting the ground and James's tattered clothing. The giant rat beneath him let out a shrill squeal, curling up tightly, using its thick, iron-hard fur as a shield against the relentless assault. Despite its defensive stance, it was clear that James had the upper hand.
Suddenly, James's eyes flashed crimson. The word "Fear" pulsed in his mind, and a shudder ran through the giant rat. Its trembling body went rigid before it instinctively stretched out, revealing the one part it had fought so hard to protect; its soft underbelly.
A sly grin spread across James's lips. His right hand tightened around the handle of his sickle, and with a swift, deadly motion, he slashed across the rat's vulnerable belly. The wound tore open, deep and savage, a river of blood gushing forth like a crimson fountain, spraying across James's body. The rat let out a piercing scream, jolting out of its fear-induced paralysis, writhing in agony as it fought to escape.
"Squeak!"
The dying rat's desperate struggle spurred its companions into a frenzy. The other three lunged at James with renewed fury, their claws tearing into his scarecrow-like body, shredding the straw bit by bit. The excruciating pain threatened to pull him under, clouding his thoughts as his vision blurred. It felt like his very life was being ripped away, piece by piece.
At that critical moment, something shifted. A skill in James's arsenal glowed brightly in his mind.
[Life Harvest: Causes massive damage to the enemy, ignoring defense. Can only be used when the opponent's health is below the damage threshold.]
The mechanical voice echoed in his ears, and despite the dire situation, James's lips curved into a grin. He had gambled; and won.
His eyes flickered toward the dying giant rat, its life hanging by a thread. The rats sensed something ominous, their beady eyes narrowing in sudden apprehension as they instinctively recoiled. But it was too late. James raised his sickle high, his expression twisted into a villainous sneer that belonged more to an antagonist in a bad TV drama than a hero.
"Life Harvest," he murmured, his voice dripping with dark satisfaction.
The rusty sickle shimmered with a blood-red glow, and in an instant, that light surged through the rat's body. The creature went rigid, its eyes wide with terror as all strength drained from its limbs. Its body collapsed to the ground, the life fading from its dilated pupils.
[Host is absorbing Life force. Growth value +7. Current host growth value: 104/100. Requirements for promotion met. Do you wish to promote?]
The voice rang in James's mind like a sweet melody. His heart pounded in anticipation as he mentally confirmed the upgrade.
[Host is upgrading… Upgrade complete. Congratulations! Host has advanced to G-level superior species. Current growth value: 4/1000. The next upgrade will provide an evolutionary route. Please continue to work hard.]
[Congratulations! New skill acquired: Straw Binding.]
A flood of notifications filled his thoughts, but James had little time to savor them. The surge of power that accompanied his promotion coursed through his body, filling every fiber of his being with a raw, untamed energy. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and a primal urge rose within him.
He wanted to roar. To unleash the full force of this newfound power.
The battlefield was his, and the rats stood no chance. The real hunt had only just begun.
A powerful aura, several times stronger than before, surged from James's body and rippled outwards, like the shockwave of a bomb. The three remaining giant rats immediately sensed the shift, their instincts screaming at them to retreat, to flee from the predator in front of them.
[The three giant rats have become afraid of the host, gaining growth value +0.6.]
James's eyes gleamed with lethal intent. Without hesitation, his figure blurred, moving so quickly it seemed like he teleported. In a blink, he appeared right in front of one of the rats, his sickle gleaming as it sliced through the air. A thin line of red appeared on the rat's throat, so precise it was barely noticeable at first. But in the next second, its Life force began to drain away.
[Host is absorbing Life force, growth value +8.]
Without pausing, James sprang into the air, landing in front of another giant rat that had been backing away in fear. His fist shot forward, striking the rat's face with brutal force. The sound of shattering bone echoed as the rat's skull caved in, its sharp front teeth snapping like brittle twigs. The massive creature crumpled to the ground, its body convulsing in its final moments.
"Much stronger," James murmured, watching the broken rat slide down. "This punch could probably pierce through a metal plate... or at least, it would have when I was still human."
[Host is absorbing Life force, growth value +6.]
James turned to the last rat, now desperately trying to scurry away. The creature's fear was palpable as it scrambled, its paws clawing at the dirt, trying to escape the nightmare that was James.
But there was no escape.
With a faint smile, James calmly raised his left hand, pointed toward the fleeing rat, and whispered in his mind: Straw Binding.
The new skill felt natural, as though he had wielded it for years. From his arm, several strands of straw shot out with terrifying speed, wrapping around the rat like ropes. But these weren't ordinary ropes; no, they were far stronger, practically unbreakable. The rat squealed in terror, thrashing wildly, but no matter how much it struggled, it couldn't free itself from the straw's grip.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
The giant rat's cries grew more frantic, but its struggles were futile. James strode over to it, a cold smile on his lips. He reached out and placed his hand on the creature's trembling body, feeling its shudders under his palm. The rat, now powerless, seemed to tremble even more in anticipation of what was to come.
"Heh, weren't you so brave just moments ago when you were tearing me apart?" James chuckled darkly, his voice laced with cruel satisfaction.
Then, without hesitation, he swung his sickle one final time. The blade smashed into the giant rat's skull with a sickening crunch. The rat's body went limp instantly, its life force drained away.
[Host is absorbing Life force, growth value +6.]
James stood there for a moment, staring at the lifeless rat at his feet. "The growth value from these mid-level G-class creatures is less than I expected," he muttered to himself, a slight frown creasing his brow. "And the promotion doesn't heal my wounds either."
This was different from what he had read online. James couldn't help but wonder if he had somehow ended up with a faulty system. The thought lingered, though he brushed it aside for now.
With a deep breath, he stood up, surveying the chaos around him. The once peaceful melon field was now a battlefield littered with corpses. But then something in the distance caught his eye; movement. Several more giant rats were rushing toward him, drawn by the scent of blood and death that permeated the air.
He glanced at the fallen rats around him, and a smirk crept onto his face.
"Scout rats, huh? Quite the fitting name," he said softly, his tone amused. He inhaled the sharp metallic scent of blood mixed with the strange odor in the wind. Then, with a wry smile, he added, "Thanks for bringing me so much growth value, Scout Rats. You've done me a real favor."
The hunt wasn't over yet.