The Second Rat Hunt — And an Unexpected Ascension

Arion stood panting in the foul-smelling passageway, staring at the system notification that had granted him a single experience point. One point. He felt a vein in his forehead start to throb violently.

"One point?" he whispered to himself, his voice echoing in the suffocating silence. "One point! I risked catching the plague for a single experience point! I could've gained more EXP by tripping and falling on my face dramatically!"

For a moment, he thought of giving up. He thought about going back to the empty dwarven workshop, sitting by the cold furnace, and waiting to starve to death or be found by the Emperor. That sounded like a more dignified end than chasing another rat.

But he looked at his status window. 249 / 250.

He was so close. This was the temptation — the trap the system laid for him. He knew he couldn't stop now. It was the curse of all gamers: the almost-full EXP bar was stronger than any heroic speech.

"Damn you, system," he growled, wiping his filthy face with the back of his grimy hand. "You win this time."

He forced himself to move, back into the filthy lower tunnels. He was no longer a hunter seeking glory — he'd become a pest exterminator, performing the world's least glamorous job. He triggered his Vibration Sense every few minutes, not with excitement, but with dull resignation.

"Rats… more filthy rats…" he muttered with every pulse. "Why can't I find a small imp, or even a giant worm? Anything… anything but rats."

After half an hour of humiliating searching, he found it. Another vibration — quick, sharp, and erratic. But this time, there was something different. There were many smaller vibrations around it.

He crept toward the source. In another sewer chamber, he saw the scene.

It wasn't one rat. It was a family.

A massive mother rat, slightly bigger than the last, was curled up on a pile of garbage. Around her, six or seven tiny, pink, squirming baby rats squeaked sharply.

Arion felt a fresh wave of disgust wash over him. "Wonderful. I've reached a new level of depravity. Now I'm about to commit a rodent family massacre. The bards will sing tales of my heroism for this."

This time, though, he decided to handle it smartly. No more humiliating chases. He'd learned from his failures.

"The plan starts now."

He focused on his skills. He didn't have many — but he had a brain.

First, he used Minor Telekinesis. He didn't target the rat — he targeted a pile of rusty metal scraps on the opposite side of the chamber. With careful focus, he lifted a piece and dropped it.

CLANK!

The sharp metallic crash made the mother rat jump up, turning toward the noise, baring her teeth and hissing a warning. The distraction had worked.

In that instant, Arion struck.

He didn't run clumsily — he triggered his Enhanced Sprint skill. He moved faster, his steps firmer and surer. In the blink of an eye, he closed the gap.

The mother rat didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. She turned to attack — but Arion's sword was already coming down.

It wasn't a wild or desperate swing. It was a single, clean, decisive stroke — aimed straight at her neck.

A quick, efficient execution.

He stood over her corpse, the tiny baby rats still squeaking, ignorant of their fate. He looked at them for a moment, feeling a flicker of… pity?

"No. You're just EXP." He shook his head and ended their suffering quickly.

Then he stood in the silence, waiting.

Ding~

> [You have killed a Giant Sewer Rat.]

[+1 EXP]

[Current EXP: 250 / 250]

He closed his eyes in relief. The nightmare was over.

But what happened next was completely unexpected.

Ding~ Ding~ Ding~

A cascade of bright blue windows exploded in front of him, lighting up the dark chamber like fireworks.

> [Congratulations! You have leveled up!]

[Current Level: 5]

[You have gained 20 free Attribute Points!]

[HP: 400 → 500]

[MP: 450 → 600]

That was expected. But the next window made his heart stop.

> [Skill Evolution: Vibration Sense!]

Due to repeated, desperate, and creative use, your basic skill [Vibration Sense (B)] has gained enough experience to evolve!

[Vibration Sense (B)] → [Status Vision (A)]

New Description: You can now see other people's status windows, their basic attributes, what they like, what they hate, or how they feel about you! The success rate for reading someone far above your level (50 levels higher) has increased. For anyone less than that, you can see their base stats — but not all their secrets. Full stats are visible only for targets within 20 levels above you.

Arion stared at the window, his mouth slightly open. Reading other people's feelings and status? That meant… this skill had become insanely powerful.

"I can't even imagine how many ways I can use this…" he whispered. "Could I… could I finally become a true strategist? Plan my battles based on my enemy's stats and state?"

A wave of excitement surged through him — a rush he hadn't felt since he'd nearly defeated a world boss back in his old game. All the exhaustion and humiliation vanished. It had all been worth it — every filthy rat, every vile stench, every moment of despair… it all led to this moment.

He looked down at the mother rat's corpse. "Thank you for your sacrifice," he said with strange sincerity. "You were a pitiful foe — but the most important one I've faced yet."

He turned away, ignoring the darkness and the stench. He no longer saw this place as a grave or a sewer — but as the starting point.

He walked back with steady steps toward the dwarven workshop, his mind alive with ideas and plans.

He was no longer hunting just to survive.

It was time to build.

It was time for strategy.