Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 169 Rat Pack
"what!"

The sudden attack startled Tie Tou, who was standing at the front of the group leading the way for the two.

The bald, burly man with a fierce-looking face trembled with fear when faced with the giant gray rat that darted out of the darkness.

She screamed and staggered backward, her heel tripping over the pebbles on the ground. If it weren't for the support of the wall behind her, she would have fallen to the ground.

With a burst of strength in his arm, he threw the gray rat, which had been pierced through his chest like a skewer, onto the ground.

He casually flicked away the remaining bloodstains from the sword's surface, his gaze sweeping over the rat, which was twitching and growing weaker, its life rapidly slipping away.

Xia Nan looked at Tie Tou beside him, a strange expression on his face.

He still remembered the arrogance the other person displayed when he first met him, especially towards Jeff and the passerby in the tailor shop.

I never imagined that I would be so helpless when facing a slightly larger rat.

Mistakenly believing there was some crucial detail unknown to him, he couldn't help but ask:

"What's wrong? Is there anything special about this rat?"

"No, no, no." Realizing that he seemed to have acted too badly, Tie Tou's face remained pale with shock as he repeatedly denied it.

"It's just... too sudden. I didn't react for a moment. Normally, I would catch and eat these gray rats with the brothers in the gang."

“It tastes really good.” He deliberately changed the subject. “I heard that there are a few taverns in Riverdale that specially hire people to transport some from Newme, and they can sell them for a lot of money.”

"So, it's normal for a rat like this to actively attack humans?"

Looking at the gray-skinned rat lying in a pool of blood, completely dead, Xia Nan asked a question.

He didn't care about what the other party mentioned. As for the gray rat dishes in River Valley Town, before he transmigrated to this world, the original owner of this body had already been treated to a meal by the hunter Magee. He had long forgotten the specific taste, so it probably wasn't very good.

What he's more concerned about right now is whether the rats' proactive attacks on humans are a sign of some kind of danger, and whether they should be on high alert to deal with the potential danger.

"Should be...normal?"

In response to Xia Nan's question, Tie Tou's expression showed some hesitation, and he gave an ambiguous answer:
"Generally speaking, the grey rats in the Newme sewers are much larger than their counterparts, and they often come up there to snatch stray dogs, stray cats, and the like."

"Sometimes, if they appear in large groups, they may cause damage to the property of those noblemen."

"It wouldn't be considered a 'monster,' but if it were really hungry, it wouldn't be impossible for it to attack some creatures much larger than itself in the sewers."

"not to mention……"

As he spoke, he suddenly seemed to remember something, and a look of sudden realization appeared on Tie Tou's face.

"A Feast Under the Moon!"

According to him, the Moon Feast is approaching, and every year at this time, many strange things appear in the sewers. These furry rats seem to sense the increasingly bright moonlight outside, becoming excited and extremely aggressive.

As he explained to Xia Nan, Tie Tou's eyes, which had been dazed and unfocused by the sudden attack of the gray rat, regained their previous brightness, but a hint of doubt and anxiety appeared deep in his pupils.

The approaching Lunar Feast, the sudden appearance of gray rats, the disappearance of guards at their posts...

This made him feel a sense of foreboding.

Meanwhile, Wood remained vigilant and highly focused even before the gray rats appeared.

They also completed the inspection of the surrounding environment at an extremely fast speed.

"There were many rat tracks leading into the depths of the tunnel. I also found some pieces of clothing and relatively fresh bloodstains inside, indicating that someone must have died."

He held the sharp, gleaming dagger in his backhand, gripping it tightly in his palm.

A pair of calm eyes glanced at the iron-gray decapitation sword in Xia Nan's hand.

Though it wasn't outwardly apparent, Wood still felt a lingering sense of surprise.

In just over a hundred days, he transformed from a complete novice who had only recently embarked on the adventurer's journey and had only mastered one combat skill into a professional just like himself, which is astonishing enough.

But to his surprise, Xia Nan reacted just as quickly as he had, who had already achieved a professional level for many years, when faced with the sudden danger.

It even possessed some special ability that he couldn't identify, causing the not-so-slow-moving rat to lose control of its body for a short period of time.

"Isn't he a warrior-type class?"

Recalling the combat skills he knew under the [Warrior] category, Wood wondered to himself.

Of course, despite his doubts, he wouldn't ask Xia Nan such a sensitive question for an adventurer, but would only marvel at the other's rapid progress.

Just as they were about to reach their destination, things took a turn for the worse.

Xia Nan stood still, holding a long sword, his gaze fixed on the depths of the corridor swallowed by darkness.

He pondered in his heart, weighing the pros and cons.

He turned his head, wanting to discuss a few words with the experienced Wood beside him.

Suddenly, a roar of human fury came from the depths of darkness.

A few faint glimmers of light could still be seen.

Standing to the side, Tie Tou, a hoodlum who was feeling uneasy because of his own speculations, suddenly changed his expression when he heard the voice.

Ignoring Xia Nan and the other person standing nearby, he took off running towards the direction from which the sound came.

"Don't rush, I remember the way back, let's follow slowly."

While he was still hesitating, Wood patted Xia Nan on the shoulder and followed him.

He controlled his speed with great finesse.

While being able to clearly see Tie Tou's every move, they also maintained a safe distance for the two of them to retreat and escape.

Having said that, Xia Nan couldn't possibly stay alone in the dimly lit and dangerous sewers, so he quickly followed.

……

As they drew closer, the previously faint and indistinct sounds that had been echoing through the corridor walls became clearer.

It was a massive noise, caused by countless sharp, piercing "squeaks" overlapping each other, which made one's eardrums ache and scalp tingle.

It was as if even the damp air, filled with moisture, vibrated, causing ripples to spread across the surface of several murky pools on the ground.

Only occasionally, through a few gaps, one could faintly hear shouts and curses rising from the depths of the noise.

The Badger Gang's hideout was a dried-up, abandoned reservoir in the Newme sewers.

The already exceptionally spacious utility tunnel appears even larger here, resembling a small plaza.

The cleaned-out pool bottom was left with only bare stone bricks. Against the walls on both sides, simple stairs and platforms were built using dark wood brought in from outside. Tents, braziers, weapon racks... at first glance, it gave a messy and shabby impression.

However, if you observe the specific structure carefully and have the relevant knowledge, you can perceive the actual function of each building.

While it cannot compare to those towering and sturdy fortresses that stand at key points, its defensive capabilities, combined with the environment of the sewers where it is located, far exceed its appearance.

This is precisely why those dozens of untrained thugs have been able to stubbornly hold out against the onslaught of countless gray rats, relying on their torches, metal weapons, and a few oil bottles that are occasionally thrown out to intimidate them.

"Damn it, where's Hansen? I sent him out to get help, how's that going?"

A middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, wearing an extravagant fur coat, coldly shouted with a gloomy expression.

“Eight Fingers, Brother Hansen is dead. He didn’t even reach the exit. There’s not even a bone left.”

A young man with tattoos, sweating profusely, waved a torch in his hand and shouted loudly without turning his head.

"Damn it! Hold the line, all of you! Once this is over, I'll book Nightingale's Nest for you guys for a whole month!"

The middle-aged man, who appeared to be the leader and was called "Eight Fingers" by the thugs, stood at the highest point of the wooden platform, trying to appear calm, and encouraged the crowd.

Unfortunately, its effectiveness is limited.

In ordinary times, when it comes to seizing territory or fighting with other gangs, these simple and direct promises might greatly motivate these petty thugs who can barely read, doubling their fighting strength.

But with the entire gang in such dire straits, and even their survival in question, the Badger Gang's underlings, driven only by their survival instincts, frantically waved their torches with all their might.

"Iron Head, Eight Fingers Boss, it's Iron Head!"

A thug located at the edge of the platform saw the bald, muscular man running out of the side passage and reported excitedly.

"Good good!"

Eight Fingers suddenly turned around and looked at Iron Head, who was charging towards them, and was overjoyed.

Ignoring his already hoarse voice, he shouted with all his might:

"Don't come any closer! Go outside and call for help!"

"Church, sheriff, or whatever, it's fine!"

Then came the anger that followed when he discovered Tie Tou had stopped in his tracks, his face showing hesitation, and he wasn't immediately turning around to seek help.

"What the hell are you standing there for? Hurry up and go!"

Finally, there was the surprise and astonishment of seeing two other unfamiliar figures in the direction Tie Tou had come from.

"Gulu."

Xia Nan stood at the entrance of the passage, feeling the vibrations in the air and the constant shrill noises echoing in his ears, while looking at the countless gray shadows moving on the ground in front of him.

Goosebumps immediately rose all over my body.

Those were countless gray-skinned rats, with dirty gray-black fur, huge bodies, and a strong stench, scurrying and shrieking!

The sheer size of the enclosure, which almost completely surrounded the Badger Gang's wooden platform, combined with the rat's repulsive and ugly appearance.

The moment Xia Nan saw the situation on the field, he felt the urge to retreat and stopped in his tracks.

But the next second, his gradually hardened will and improved thinking ability from more than half a year of adventure made him subconsciously suppress his body's instinct to hate and resist.

Analyze the situation on the field in the most comprehensive and detailed way possible.

First, it is certain that the Badger Gang will not be able to hold out for much longer under the siege of the rats.

They might be able to exploit the rats' fear of fire, using torches and bottles of kerosene to deter and limit the enemy's attack.

But these disgusting little creatures living in the complex sewers are not as stupid as the pigs and sheep in the livestock pens.

Xia Nan could see that several slightly larger gray rats were trying to cross the flames and nibble at the thug's trouser legs.

If one loses their balance and is pulled to the ground, they will be instantly overwhelmed by rats swarming in from all directions.

Under the gnawing of their hard and powerful mouthparts, after a few seconds, only bone fragments would probably remain.

If things continue as they are, my progress in advancing will be halted once again with the complete annihilation of the Badger Gang.

He should have chosen to stand aside and make a quick escape while the rats' attention was elsewhere;
Or should we lend a helping hand for the sake of the mission, at least to rescue the gang members who know the location of the "spittoon" headquarters?

The brain races, placing risk and reward on opposite ends of a scale.

It was precisely because Xia Nan considered the feasibility of the battle that he finally realized this.

Perhaps these rats aren't as dangerous to him as he thinks?
They are equally numerous, equally physically fragile, and equally rely on group hunting...

In some ways, rats and goblins don't seem to be that different.

It's simply a matter of replacing the crude wooden stick in the green man's hand with the sharp incisors in the mouth of a rat. The former is even slightly more intelligent and knows how to use some of the most basic tactics.

The rats, however, only knew how to swarm and gnaw, and a few torches were enough to drive them away.

Given this premise, if one can rely on [Fang Hunt], [Spinning Slash], and strong physical abilities to freely move back and forth on a battlefield with hundreds of goblins, maintaining high-speed movement, one need not worry about being surrounded by them.

If the opponent were the swarm of rats in front of us, it seems... the same thing would happen?
In just a few seconds, countless thoughts flashed through my mind.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Wood standing in the same spot, but not retreating.

When their eyes met, the other person stared at the swarm of rats and nodded silently, confirming Xia Nan's suspicions.

hold head high--

In the sewers filled with the cacophony of gray rats' cries, a long, high-pitched wolf howl burst forth from the air.

Time and space seemed to freeze at this moment.

A gray rat with dark fur remained in its original threatening posture, half-standing with its mouth wide open, revealing its two hard incisors.

Reflected deep within his scarlet eyes were the flickering flames ahead and a sharp, gradually clearing, and brightening iron-gray glint.

The fierce wind, as sharp as a knife, shredded the fragile fur into pieces. Blood spilled from the lacerated wound, swirling and churning upwards along with the fragmented internal organs and severed limbs, congealing into a hideous, blurry, roaring wolf's head.

In the blink of an eye, the black-haired figure who was standing at the entrance had already arrived at the other end of the venue.

Several traces of still-warm blood appeared on the surface of the sword in his hand, and bits of flesh and blood dripped into the air around him.

Behind them, amidst a dense swarm of rats, was a road paved with corpses and severed limbs that ran from front to back.

(End of this chapter)