Deja Wu!

The remaining strange rats, undeterred by death, scurried over the bodies of their fallen kin. Their eyes gleamed with malevolence as they closed in on Jessica and Lucy, moving swiftly like shadows, their claws scratching the dirt.

Squeak! A pair of daggers sliced through the air, aimed at the throats of the advancing rats. But these were no ordinary creatures. One of the rats curled up its body in a grotesque twist, shielding its vital organs just in time. The daggers met its hardened back, carving deep gashes into the creature's tough hide, exposing bone beneath its fur, but it still lived.

Just then, Jessica gasped in agony. She glanced down, horror spreading across her face. A rat had latched onto her left leg, its razor-sharp teeth biting down into her flesh, sinking into bone. She stifled a scream, her hands shaking as she gripped her dagger and plunged it into the rat's skull. With gritted teeth, she pried the creature's jaws open, casting it aside.

But before she could regain her footing, another rat lunged from the shadows behind her, its beady eyes locked on the vulnerable back of her neck. Time seemed to slow as its sharp teeth gleamed in the dim light, descending like a predator ready to strike.

A sudden movement broke the air. A slender hand flashed out, intercepting the rat mid-attack. There was a sickening crack as bone met the rat's force, and Lucy's face twisted in pain. With a fierce cry, she hurled the creature away, blood dripping from her now-crippled hand.

"Lucy, no!" Jessica gasped, her voice choked with disbelief as she stared at Lucy's mangled hand. Her throat tightened, words failing her as tears welled in her eyes.

Lucy managed a pained smile, her face pale but determined. "Don't worry about me. We're in this together." She wrapped her uninjured arm around Jessica's shoulders, her dagger gleaming in her left hand. "Let's finish this. Together."

"Together," Jessica echoed, pulling her bloodstained dagger from the rat's lifeless body. Her eyes blazed with defiance as the surviving rats closed in, undeterred by their fallen brethren.

But before they could strike again, a strange, grating sound filled the air, like a shoe scraping against asphalt. It was harsh, unsettling, and unnervingly close. Both women stiffened, but before they could react, pain erupted at the base of their necks. Darkness swallowed them whole, and they collapsed, unconscious.

From behind, James stepped forward, catching both women before they hit the ground. He let out a long, weary sigh, glancing at the strange rats still lingering nearby. "You really left me no choice, did you? If I hadn't stepped in, I'd be the one stuck fighting these damned things alone," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

James, towering and scarecrow-thin, was an imposing figure. He easily lifted both women by the waist with one arm, their bodies hanging limp. His other hand clenched into a fist, his eyes narrowing on the rats that still dared to remain.

"And thanks to you two," he added with a smirk, "I've leveled up. I'd hate for you to wake up and find me cleaning up the rest without you."

The surviving rats hissed and screeched at him, their sharp teeth bared. But they hesitated. Something about James's aura made them wary. The higher-level energy he radiated was enough to keep them at bay, though their fury was palpable.

Suddenly, one of the larger rats, unable to contain its rage, charged at him. Its oversized jaws gaped wide, ready to tear into flesh. But James didn't flinch. With a swift, almost casual motion, he reached out and grabbed the rat by its snout, his fingers digging into its fur.

Squeak! There was a sickening crunch as he crushed the creature's head in his grip, blood spurting out in all directions. The rat's body went limp, falling lifeless to the ground.

[Host is absorbing Life force, growth value increases by +0.1, +0.2, +0.1...]

The system's cold voice rang in James's mind as the rat's death fueled his strength, granting him an additional 1.2 growth points. Even the fear the other rats felt added to his power.

[4 monster rats (G-grade inferior) become afraid of the host, and the host's growth value increases by 0.4.]

James's lips curled into a faint smile. "Fear counts too, huh?" he mused, more to himself than anyone else. It wasn't clear how the system calculated fear, but if it worked in his favor, he wasn't about to complain.

The remaining rats, chittering nervously, seemed to sense the shift in power. Their high-pitched squeals grew frantic as they communicated amongst themselves. Suddenly, one rat broke ranks, fleeing in a blur of motion. The others quickly followed, scattering like dust in the wind.

James watched them go, shaking his head slightly. "Cowards," he muttered, though there was no malice in his voice. His focus shifted to the unconscious women in his arms. "You two owe me one," he said softly, carrying them toward safety.

"This…" James muttered, startled by the bizarre sight unfolding before him. The strange rats, which had been so fierce and unyielding moments ago, were now fleeing in panic, faster than rabbits. It was a complete shift, and he couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and frustration.

"Wait, wait!" he shouted, waving his arms at the retreating creatures. "Where's all that ferocity now? You were just tearing into them a second ago, and now you're running like your tails are on fire! Don't go! My growth value!"

As if in response to his plea, the familiar mechanical voice of the system echoed in his mind:

[Host is devouring Life force, growth value +0.1, +0.1, +0.1…]

Despite his efforts, after ten minutes of chasing the rats, James found himself sitting cross-legged beneath the shade of a large tree, breathing heavily and stroking his chin in deep thought.

Out of the dozen or so rats, he had managed to kill only seven before the rest scattered into the wind, vanishing without a trace.

"Let's see," he murmured to himself, thinking back to the system messages. "The Life force of a typical monster rat ranges between 0.7 and 1.4. The red-haired repellent rats, though, have slightly higher Life force, around 1.2 to 1.6. And the trick is to absorb the Life force immediately after they die; otherwise, it fades quickly. That's a pretty small window. Even if I didn't land the killing blow, as long as there's a bit of life force left, I can still absorb it."

He frowned, considering the strange mechanic of absorbing fear as well. "Fear-based growth... lower-grade G creatures only give me about 0.1 growth value when they're afraid of me. It's something, but not much. Not really worth chasing them down."

James glanced over at the two unconscious women resting against the base of the tree. A sigh escaped his lips.

Before everything changed, he had spent years in the military, dealing with hardened mercenaries who'd do anything for money. He had grown to despise their ruthlessness. But at the same time, he couldn't deny his respect for the bond soldiers shared, a loyalty forged in life-or-death situations. These two women reminded him of that camaraderie, even though they had met in these strange circumstances.

With surprising gentleness, considering his straw-like hands, he clumsily bandaged the wounds of the two women. It was awkward and slow, but effective enough to stop the bleeding. Once satisfied, he sat back and opened his system panel.

[Host: James

Body: Scarecrow

Rank: G-class mid-quality

Growth value: 82/100

Talent: Life Desire (E), Fear Devouring (E)

Skills: Fear (G), Life Harvest (G)]

He examined his stats, then glanced once more at the two women leaning against the tree. His lips pressed into a thin line as he let out another sigh, this time heavier.

"I'm too soft-hearted," he muttered, shaking his head. "These two are G-class mid-quality, just like me. If I were to absorb their Life force… I might be able to advance straight to the next level." The thought gnawed at him, tempting him. His eyes lingered on their still forms, considering how easy it would be.

But then he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his straw hair. "No, no. I'm always too soft-hearted… can't bring myself to do it," he mumbled, more to himself than anything. His voice trailed off into a tuneless hum, as if trying to push the thought from his mind. "Too soft-hearted~, I carry all the weight on my shoulders~…"

With that, he rose to his feet, glancing toward the nearby rat nest. If what the sisters had mentioned earlier was true, there was a powerful Rat King somewhere in the area. That meant the remaining rats likely served under this king. Now that their nest was in ruins, it was only a matter of time before the Rat King sent more scouts to investigate.

Instead of chasing down the scattered stragglers, it made more sense to wait. The rats would come to him soon enough.

He cast a final glance at the sisters, his straw body creaking slightly as he adjusted his posture. They had, unintentionally, helped him quite a bit. By fighting the rats, they had enabled him to collect valuable growth points and even saved him from a disaster he wasn't ready for. But at the end of the day, they had their own mission, and he had already repaid them by tending to their wounds and bringing them to relative safety.

He certainly didn't owe them anything more.

Plus, there was another pressing matter. In his current form; a walking, talking scarecrow; it would be a disaster if they woke up and saw him. Humans weren't exactly known for their rational reactions to the strange and unnatural. The last thing he needed was to get stabbed in the back by a pair of frightened survivors.

Whether they were devoured by some passing monster rats or managed to escape on their own was no longer his concern. He had done enough.

As he turned to walk away, however, a voice echoed in his mind. It wasn't the system this time. It was Lucy's cheerful tone, as if playing on some distant radio.

"Dangdang~ It is now 11:00 a.m. on June 17, 2091, Central time~."

James paused mid-step, the sound bringing with it an unexpected wave of deja wu. He shook his head, dispelling the thought. There was no time for sentimentality. Not now. He had a Rat King to hunt.