Fang Quan's paws twitched nervously as he followed the scarred rat deeper into the tunnels. The dim light barely illuminated the twisting path ahead, and the air grew colder, damp with the scent of earth and mildew. His mind was racing, and he couldn't shake the older rat's words.
"Wait," Fang said, his voice trembling. "You said no human has succeeded. How many of us… have there been?"
The older rat didn't stop walking, his tail dragging lazily behind him. "Too many to count," he replied, voice low. "Some last weeks. Others make it months. None have returned to the human world."
Fang felt a chill run through him. "So, what happens to them?"
"They forget," the scarred rat said, glancing over his shoulder. "After a while, they stop caring about being human. They forget who they were and become just like the rest of us."
Fang stumbled, his claws scraping against the rocky ground. "Forget? No. That's not going to happen to me."
The older rat chuckled, a dry, hollow sound. "They all say that at first."
Fang clenched his tiny fists. "I'm different."
The older rat stopped abruptly, turning to face him. His eyes glinted with something unreadable. "Different? You're lazy, careless, and self-centered. Just like every other human who's ended up here. What makes you think you'll succeed where they failed?"
Fang opened his mouth to argue, but the words caught in his throat. He wasn't exactly the heroic type. Skipping classes, gaming, and avoiding effort was basically his life's mission. But this… this was different.
"I'll figure it out," Fang said, more to himself than to the rat. "I have to."
The older rat's gaze softened, just for a moment. "Maybe. But it won't be easy." He turned and continued walking. "Come on. You'll need to meet the others. And remember this—choose your side carefully. There's no going back once the war starts."
Fang followed, the weight of his new reality settling on his small, furry shoulders. The faint sound of distant chattering echoed through the tunnels, growing louder with each step.
They entered a large, cavernous space bustling with activity. Rats of all sizes were everywhere—carrying supplies, sharpening makeshift weapons, and whispering in hushed tones. Fang's jaw dropped.
"This is…" he trailed off, staring at the organized chaos.
"Welcome to the front lines," the scarred rat said. "The revolution's already begun."
Fang's heart sank. He wasn't sure what he'd expected, but it wasn't this. "What do I do now?"
The older rat smirked. "Survive. And maybe, just maybe, you'll find a way to be different."
The rat sighed as he went on the meet his comrades, preparing to introduce Fang Quan when one of them spoke up.
"Who's the newcomer? One of them humans I bet? Ren he's the tenth one this week!"
Ren sighed as he sat on his hunches, beaconing Fang Quan to come forward.
"Comrades meet…what's your name kid?"
"Fang Quan.."
"Alright, comrades..meet Fang Quan, newest member of the trope. Fang Quan meet, Shu, Yan, Bo, Jin, Liu, Mo and those three beautiful ladies are Mi, Ru, and Xue. We are the frontliners, the rest of the trope are outback, you'll meet them later.."
Fang Quan's whiskers twitched nervously as he stepped forward, the eyes of the gathered rats locking onto him like predators sizing up their prey. Their gazes ranged from curious to indifferent, and a few even looked annoyed. He felt like a piece of cheese in the middle of a trap.
The rat who had spoken earlier—Shu, judging by Ren's introduction—snorted and crossed his arms. "Another one? Honestly, Ren, why do we keep taking these soft humans in? They never last."
Yan, a wiry rat with a patchy coat, smirked. "I give him a week before he's begging to be eaten by the crows."
Bo, a burly rat with a chunk missing from his ear, laughed, the sound deep and rough. "Nah, three days. Look at him. He's shaking already."
Fang scowled, his pride flaring despite his fear. "I'm standing right here, you know."
Jin, a sleek black rat with a sharp gaze, tilted his head. "Got a bit of a spine, huh? Don't get cocky, kid. Spine doesn't mean much down here."
Ren raised a paw, silencing the chatter. "Enough. Fang Quan isn't the first human to come through here, and he won't be the last. But he's here now, and that means he's one of us. Whether he makes it or not is up to him."
Fang took a shaky breath, glancing at the three female rats Ren had pointed out earlier. Mi, Ru, and Xue were huddled together, whispering and occasionally glancing at him. Mi, the smallest of the three, gave him a tiny nod of acknowledgment. Ru and Xue, however, looked less impressed.
Mi piped up, her voice soft but steady. "Welcome, Fang Quan. Don't let them scare you too much. The first few days are the hardest."
Ru rolled her eyes. "If he survives the first few days."
Xue gave a sly smile. "I bet two days."
Fang clenched his teeth. "I'm not going to die!."
Bo chuckled. "Bold words, kid. Let's see if you can back them up."
Ren sighed, rubbing his scarred face with one paw. "All right, enough with the betting. Fang Quan, you'll need to learn quickly if you want to survive. Stick close to me for now. If you want to prove you're different, this is your chance."
Fang nodded, though the knot in his stomach tightened with every passing second. He wasn't sure what terrified him more—the rats or the growing realization that survival wasn't going to be as simple as finding a clever loophole.
Ren's eyes softened slightly. "And one more thing—down here, it's not about being the smartest or the strongest. It's about endurance. The ones who last are the ones who understand what's worth fighting for."
Fang's ears flattened as he muttered under his breath, "Endurance, huh? Well, I've endured finals week before… How much harder can this be?"
Shu, overhearing, let out a bark of laughter. "Finals? Oh, you're in for a treat, human. Down here, every day is life and death."
Ren turned, beckoning Fang to follow again. "Come on. We've got work to do. Welcome to the revolution."
Fang sighed, trudging after him, the weight of his new reality settling even deeper. "Great," he muttered, tail dragging behind him. "I always wanted to be part of a rodent uprising."