After chatting with his son for a while, Light walked to the side of the Great Hall, considering his next move. He planned to build a barracks beside it, needing to conserve as much space as possible for additional housing for the ratkin.
The sewers were vast, with twelve tunnels leading to different parts of the city—clearly indicating the capital's immense size. Light had divided the sewers into two main areas: the Inner Area, where the Great Hall was the central hub of the entire sewer system, and the Outer Area, which lay beyond the tunnels.
When the Cleansing began, Light anticipated the attackers would enter through the Outer Area first, giving him precious time to prepare defenses.
He was also devising a long-term plan: to transform the entire sewer system into a dungeon. If he could achieve this, the swarm would have a much better chance of survival, with the dungeon's traps and defenses helping to resist their enemies and buy time for escape. However, the plan was still in its infancy—he needed more resources and manpower to make it a reality.
"Father, look what I found!"
A ratkin named Ever approached, holding a small, writhing shadowy mass in his hands. The strange object appeared to be a bundle of trash, and it emitted a foul smell. Yet, as Light examined it more closely, he realized it was alive, struggling to escape Ever's grasp.
---
Stink Shadow
Race: Shadow
Rank: Civilian Class
Energy: 26
---
Over time, Dark Creatures had begun to emerge naturally in the sewers, drawn by the decay and darkness. Light knew this was precisely why the Cleansing existed—to eliminate such threats before they grew out of control.
Light's eyes narrowed as he turned to Ever. "Call your big brothers here. I have something important to discuss."
The emergence of Dark Creatures posed a double-edged problem. On one hand, it made the living area increasingly dangerous. Light had no idea how powerful these creatures might become over time, and their presence could jeopardize the Ratkin's survival. On the other hand, they offered a significant opportunity—Dark Creatures carried energy that could be harvested, a resource Light desperately needed.
Before long, three ratkin appeared before him: his eldest children.
Kratch, the largest in intellect, stood at the forefront. Beside him was Speedo, a smaller ratkin with exceptional agility—a perfect embodiment of their race's nimble nature. Finally, there was Broadspine, the largest of them all, a towering figure whose immense physical strength made him the most powerful in brute force.
Light surveyed his children with a determined expression. "Listen closely. We have much to discuss about the future of this place—and the dangers that lie ahead."
He almost forgot about the Dark Creatures so now he needed to plan about it.
---
Do you want to build the Barracks?
Cost: 100 Energy
---
He nodded immediately,
---
Barracks - Under Construction (1%)
---
The ratkin workers began constructing the barracks, following the blueprint provided by the system. With only ten workers available, he decided not to convert more of his ratkin into workers, as he planned to reserve the rest for a combat force.
He turned to his children. "Speedo, I want you to scout the entire area. Create a map and gather information about any Dark Creatures you encounter. Take some Ratkin with you, and if you sense any danger, retreat immediately."
Then he shifted his gaze. "Broadspine, keep all the tunnel entrances guarded. Once that's done, coordinate with Speedo to secure the area."
Finally, his eyes fell on Kratch. He paused for a moment before continuing, "Kratch... follow me."
Broadspine and Speedo nodded and moved to carry out their tasks. Before leaving, they cast eager glances at the barracks as it began to take shape. Broadspine's eyes lit up, and he clenched his massive fist with a grin, his excitement obvious. He gave Speedo a heavy pat on the shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance.
"Don't worry, little Speedy! Broadspine got your back. You see trouble? I smash it!" He flexed his arms dramatically as if to prove his words. "Or… uh… carry it away, maybe. Whatever works!"
Speedo blinked, looking slightly dazed from the shoulder pat. "Right… thanks, Broadspine," he muttered before quickly scurrying off, leaving the big ratkin chuckling to himself.
"Speedo so fast! I call him 'zoom-zoom rat." Broadspine laughed, unaware of just how loud he was being. Then, realizing he still needed to guard the tunnels, he scratched his head. "Now where was I? Oh, yeah—guard time! Nobody messes with Broadspine's tunnels!"
...
"Where are we going, Father?" Kratch asked, following closely behind.
"We are going to the surface," Light replied. The thought of the Dark Creatures being born and the Cleansing event looming just two months away weighed heavily on him. If he did nothing, the Ratkin would be caught in the middle of a war between two powerhouses.
His goal now was to locate the mutant rat he had seen months ago. Light had realized that mutant rats were incredibly rare—so rare, in fact, that it seemed Nyx might be the only one in existence in this city. He had scoured the sewers for months without finding another, and the mutant rat with Knight-class strength he had been tracking had vanished without a trace.
Light sighed deeply. Perhaps he was growing careless, but the problems kept piling up, leaving little room for error.
"Kratch," he said, breaking the silence. "Go to the library. Gather all the knowledge you can about Dark Creatures and how to deal with them. Also, collect information about the churches. Be cautious and avoid drawing attention to yourself."
Kratch nodded solemnly, his eyes glinting in the dim sewer light.
As they continued walking through the narrow tunnels, dimly lit by flickering torches, Kratch suddenly froze. His ears twitched, and he frowned deeply.
"Father, look here," he called out, pointing at the wall.
Light stopped and turned toward the spot Kratch indicated. His sharp gaze fell on strange, glowing symbols moving along the wall like living worms. They were unfamiliar, yet there was an undeniable sense of magic radiating from them.
He raised his hand cautiously, intending to study them more closely, but his instincts screamed danger. He jerked his hand back just in time, his heart pounding.
"What is this?" he muttered, staring at the writhing symbols. "They are dangerous..."
As if in response, the symbols pulsed, their glow shifting from white to an ominous dark hue. The torchlight flickered violently, and a chilling wind howled through the sewer. Then, the symbols stopped moving, their light fading into the darkness.
A deep, echoing crack resounded from behind the wall. It wasn't the sound of stone breaking—it was mechanical, a grinding, metallic noise. Moments later, a button appeared, blending so perfectly with the wall's color that it would have been nearly impossible to notice without careful observation.
"Father, should we push the button?" Kratch asked, adjusting his glasses. "According to a book I read, there's a high chance this could lead to a hidden area."
Light glanced at him. Kratch had never seen this before, and neither had Light. The button's sudden appearance was strange and suspicious.
Without a word, Light reached out and pressed the button. A clicking sound echoed through the sewer, followed by a low rumble. Behind them, the sewer water began to drain slowly, revealing a hidden entrance beneath the waterline. The entrance was protected by raised walls that kept the remaining sewage from flooding in. A set of stairs spiraled downward into what appeared to be an endless abyss of pure darkness.
A faint breeze drifted up from below, carrying the scent of damp stone and something ancient.
"Let's prepare before we go in," Light said, his tone cautious. He didn't know where the stairs led or what dangers might await them below. It wasn't worth risking a reckless descent without being properly armed.
He took one last glance at the shadowy staircase before turning to Kratch. "Bring Ignatius here, along with a few free ratkin. I'll stand guard until you return."
Kratch nodded quickly, hurrying off into the dimly lit sewer tunnels. As his son disappeared from view, Light turned back to the entrance.
Unable to resist his curiosity, he stepped cautiously into the hidden stairwell, though he didn't descend far. With his enhanced night vision, he could see that the staircase spiraled down into the depths. The lack of light didn't bother him, but the steady breeze coming from below hinted at an open space far beneath.
His instincts told him that whatever lay below wasn't just a simple hidden chamber.
Minutes later, Kratch returned, accompanied by Ignatius and a few other ratkin. Each of them carried makeshift weapons, and some held torches, their flickering light casting long shadows across the damp walls.
Seeing them ready, Light motioned for the group to follow him as he began descending the spiral staircase.
The descent was slow and cautious. No one spoke, the silence broken only by the faint whistle of the breeze from below and the echo of their footsteps on the stone steps. In the oppressive darkness, the torchlight flickered and danced, casting eerie patterns on the walls.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached the bottom. At the end of the staircase stood a steel door. It was pristine, its surface gleaming faintly in the torchlight, as though it had been cleaned just moments before.
Light hesitated for a moment, then reached out and pushed the door open.
His eyes widened slightly at the sight before him.