Arin stumbled back, staring at the grotesque beast before him. Its blood-red eyes glowed with malice, jagged teeth glinting as saliva dripped onto the sand. It let out a harsh squeak, its cry echoing through the air.
Arin's heart skipped a beat as the sand beneath his feet began to tremble again.
"No… no, no, no!" he whispered, stumbling back further.
With a loud rumble, the ground split open, and more of the creatures emerged. One, two, five—soon, ten of the grotesque rats stood before him, their piercing cries echoing as they turned their heads toward him.
"You've got to be kidding me," Arin groaned, his voice trembling. "Ten of them?!"
-[Correction: X2 Aggro is in effect. The Host is experiencing double the standard encounter rate. Current target count: 10.]-
Arin shot a glare at the invisible entity in his head. "You call this a punishment? It's a death sentence!"
-[Complaints are irrelevant. Survival is mandatory.]-
The creatures began to advance, their serrated teeth glinting ominously. Arin's pulse pounded in his ears as he turned and bolted, the hot desert air stinging his throat with every breath.
"Running. Yes, running is good," he muttered, his legs pumping furiously as the beasts pursued him.
-[Warning: Slowing down will result in severe danger.]-
"Damn you! You think I don't know that?!" Arin snapped, coughing as the scorching air burned his lungs.
-[Exacting Punishment: Aggro increased to X3]-
Rumble…..
The ground trembled and 5 more carnivorous rats popped out of the ground and joined the pursuit.
"Hold up, I was just joking, it's just a joke, Can't you even take a single joke!" Arin almost tripped over the instant he saw 5 more carnivorous rats that were chasing after him.
"Why on earth did I get such a 'wonderful system"' At this rate I'll become rat food before ever getting the chance to go back home" Arin didn't know whether it was the burning air or the system's cruel nature that pained him the most.
He chanced a glance over his shoulder, his stomach twisting as he saw the rats burrowing into the sand.
"Oh, come on! They can dig too?!"
The system responded in its usual detached tone.
-[Reminder: X3 Aggro activated. Targets will relentlessly pursue until neutralized.]-
Arin nearly tripped, his breath catching in his throat. "Fifteen? Fifteen?! Are you trying to kill me?!"
-[Host's survival is dependent on their ability to adapt. Failure to comply will result in immediate termination.]-
Arin's mind raced. His lungs burned, his legs felt like lead, and his options were running out. "Adapt? Adapt to what? Being eaten alive?!"
-[Host is advised to utilize available resources and strategize. Engage or perish.]-
Arin's gaze darted around the barren landscape. Jagged rock formations loomed in the distance, their sharp edges glinting in the sunlight. An idea struck him.
"Okay, rocks. I need to reach the rocks," he muttered, veering toward the formation. His legs screamed in protest, but he pushed on, the rats' shrill cries spurring him forward.
The creatures burrowed again, and Arin felt the vibrations beneath his feet.
"Damn it, they're faster underground!" he hissed, desperation clawing at him.
The first rat emerged, launching itself at him with a piercing shriek. Arin twisted his body, narrowly avoiding its serrated teeth. He tore off his shirt, wrapping it around his left arm as a makeshift shield.
"Let's see how you like this," he growled, holding his ground as the rat lunged again.
The creature sank its teeth into the cloth-bound arm, its jaws locking tight. Arin gritted his teeth against the pain, his free hand darting to the rat's neck. With a surge of adrenaline, he twisted sharply, snapping its spine.
The rat went limp, its body disintegrating into a cloud of ash.
Arin stumbled back, his chest heaving. "One down… fourteen to go."
The system's voice returned, colder than ever.
-[Improvement noted. Efficiency required. Remaining targets closing in.]-
Before he could respond, another rat burst from the ground, its teeth aiming for his Achilles tendon. Arin leaped aside, his bare feet skidding on the sand.
"Too close!" he barked, lunging for a jagged rock. He hefted the sharp stone just as another rat charged, hurling it with all his strength. The makeshift projectile struck the beast's head, sending it sprawling.
But the others were relentless. They surged forward, surrounding him in a tightening circle.
"System, I can't do this!" Arin shouted, his voice cracking. "There's too many of them!"
-[The Host will not survive without decisive action. Utilize terrain to limit mobility. Aim for critical areas.]-
Arin's eyes darted to the rocks again. "Limit their mobility… okay. Okay!" He scrambled toward the formation, narrowly dodging another attack. The rats followed, their speed reduced as they struggled to maneuver around the jagged terrain.
One beast leaped at him, its teeth snapping inches from his face. Arin grabbed its tail, slamming it against the rocks until it dissolved into ash.
The others hesitated, their cries growing frantic as they circled him.
-[Observation: Targets exhibit caution when numbers are reduced. Exploit this hesitation.]-
Arin gripped another rock, his knuckles white. "Exploit hesitation? Sure, easy for you to say!"
The rats charged together, a writhing mass of fur and teeth. Arin swung wildly, the sharp edge of the stone cutting into flesh. He fought with everything he had, but his strength was waning.
A searing pain shot through his leg as one rat sank its teeth into his calf. Arin screamed, collapsing to the ground.
"System, help me! I'm going to die!"
The system's voice came, cold and resolute.
-[Command override: Engage. Grip the beast's neck. Twist sharply.]-
Arin obeyed without hesitation, his hands finding the rat's neck. He twisted, the creature's body disintegrating in his grasp.
Not waiting for the others to catch up, Arin quickly resumed his pace. The blood-red desert stretched endlessly before him, every grain of sand shimmering under the oppressive heat. Just as he gained a semblance of distance, another carnivorous rat burst out of the ground behind him, its serrated fangs glinting in the harsh sunlight.
"Ha! Too slow!" Arin shouted, his voice tinged with adrenaline. He twisted his body sharply, narrowly avoiding the creature's snapping jaws. Its teeth clicked together, missing his Achilles tendon by the smallest margin, the rush of air from its lunge chilling against his sweat-slicked skin.
The rat hit the ground with a frustrated squeal, its claws raking the sand in fury as Arin darted ahead. His movements were frantic yet calculated, each step kicking up plumes of fine crimson dust. The creature sank back into the shifting sands, its body disappearing as if swallowed whole by the desert.
But it wasn't finished.
Arin felt a chill creep up his spine, a sensation far too eerie for the sweltering heat surrounding him. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder and froze for a fleeting moment. The rat had re-emerged, its head poking out of the dunes like a sinister sentinel. Its blood-red eyes locked onto him, brimming with frustration and an unsettling intelligence.
Eight more of its grotesque companions followed closely, their bodies partially hidden beneath the sand as they moved in a silent, menacing pursuit. The faint tremors beneath Arin's feet hinted at their speed, far greater than his own.
"Damn it," Arin muttered, his chest heaving as the scorching air burned his lungs. His mind raced as he tried to formulate a plan. The creatures weren't just chasing him—they were hunting him, calculating their moves with a predator's precision.
For a brief second, he faltered, his exhaustion threatening to overtake him. But then he heard it.
-[Warning: The host cannot afford to hesitate. Adapt or perish.]-
The system's cold, mechanical voice cut through his panic like a blade. Arin gritted his teeth, his legs surging forward as if powered by sheer defiance. Despite the system's harsh tone, he clung to its guidance like a lifeline.
-[Alert: The creatures are coordinating. Prepare for an ambush.]-
The system's words sent a jolt of dread through him. Arin scanned the landscape ahead, spotting a jagged outcrop of rock rising from the sand like an island in a sea of blood. It wasn't much, but it was something—a chance to break their relentless assault.
"Alright," Arin muttered under his breath, his determination hardening. "Let's see who gets to who first."