3. Hidden Pathway
Date: July 18, 2025 (Continued)
Just as we were about to leave the cave, Little System suddenly pinged like some old-school keyboard jamming:
[Ding ding! New Terrain Alert: Hidden Pathway Unlocked]
"Huh? What's this again?" I frowned.
"Little System, what you up to now?"
[Don't worry, Master! I detected a hidden route inside the cave~ Might be treasure… or maybe… death trap hehe ]
I rolled my eyes. "This kind of words also can ah?"
Yin turned to look at me, alert. "What's wrong?"
I walked over to the east wall of the cave and gave it a light tap.
It sounded hollow.
I squinted and looked closer. The surface was too smooth
—too perfect, like it wasn't real stone but... a fake wall.
"Little System, behind this got something right?"
[Correct! There's a hidden passage, but got unknown magical interference.]
[Enter at your own risk.]
I looked at Yin.
"Eh, maybe we go in and see? Could be shortcut, or got loot."
He didn't say much.
Just walked forward, tapped the wall, then drew his black sword.
"Stand back."
I pulled Little Bun behind one of the rocks quickly.
"One Style."
With a single slash, the wall cracked open and collapsed with a boom,
revealing a pitch-black corridor behind it.
A cold breeze blew out, thick with the smell of blood and rot.
Little Bun grabbed my sleeve. "Sister… it's so dark…"
I whispered, "Don't worry, I'm here."
Yin frowned. "This scent… there was fighting here."
"Little System, any information?"
[Scanning… Confirmed: Historical Ruins 'Crackrift Tomb'.]
[Not part of base map.]
[Ohoho~ Looks like Jessic-chan's plot armor just unlocked a secret route!]
"Wah, I got special rights ah?"
[You're the transmigrated one!]
[Story must give way to you de~]
"Okay. Let's go in, better than stay outside."
Yin nodded. "I'll go front. You middle. Bun last."
We entered the unknown once more.
The tunnel was deeper than expected.
Grey-blue minerals lined the walls, and now and then we saw faint carvings
—symbols I couldn't read, but they gave me the creeps.
After ten minutes of walking, we started hearing dripping water… and metal scraping.
Yin raised a hand.
''Silence.''
We stepped into a broken hall. Stone pillars had collapsed.
The floor was smeared with old blood, but no corpses.
"Something big happened here."
[Trigger: Cave Intrusion Detected]
I stepped closer, curious. Suddenly, a flash of red light.
A foul stench exploded through the air.
Then they appeared.
First, a pair of glowing red eyes.
Then—a giant rat in shattered chainmail armor.
The Rotfang Rat King.
"Intruders…" it actually spoke. "All of you… are food."
I nearly cursed aloud. Little System spammed alerts like crazy:
[Warning: Level-D Elite Monster "Rotfang Rat King" has targeted you!]
[Warning: Level-E Rat Swarm linked to boss. Collective strength = Level-D]
[Boss Battle Triggered! Confirm to engage?]
"Are you serious?!''
''Isn't one Level-D boss bad enough?''
''Did it really have to bring an entire army along too?"
"Too many Jerry here?!"
"Yin!" I shouted. "Run!!"
But he stood firm, drawing his sword.
"It's locked onto you. We can't escape. We fight.''
I clenched my Rift-Bow.
"Bun, hide behind that pillar now. No matter what you hear—don't come out!"
She nodded and dashed behind the stone.
I took a deep breath.
"Wind Arrow Blade!"
Five blades of wind shot forward, slicing into the charging swarm.
Some rats dropped—but more came, like waves.
The Rat King dashed in like a bullet.
"Look out!"
''One Style!''
Yin blocked with his blade. The clang was deafening. Dust blasted up from the ground.
I leapt back, aimed.
"Eagle Eye!"
Accuracy boost active.
"Wind Arrow Blade!"
This time the wind hit something—it grazed the glowing red scar on the Rat King's chest.
"Hit!" I muttered.
"That's the weak spot!" Yin called out. "Focus there!"
For the next ten minutes, we fought like crazy.
Yin blocked and drew the enemy, I shot from behind, clean and precise.
The rat swarm was disturbingly well-coordinated,
like they had some group chat or something.
I nearly got bitten twice.
The Rat King? Went berserk. Each attack got stronger, faster, more poisonous.
"Almost there…" I muttered.
Final shot. Full power.
"Wind Arrow Blade!"
The arrow sliced clean into the glowing core.
The Rat King screamed and collapsed, melting into black sludge.
The rats scattered, disappearing into the dark.
[Victory!]
[Jessic: EXP +900, Item x1, Title "Rat Hunter" unlocked]
[Yin: EXP +750]
[Item "Rotcore Crystal" acquired! Usable for anti-toxin potion or poison-type skill unlock]
I dropped onto the floor, gasping.
"Woahh. Now I scared of rats already."
My EXP jumped from Level 7 to Level 11 (600 out of 2,000)
And I realised—From Level 11 onwards, every level needs 2,000 EXP.
So what now? Must go mad grinding monsters every day, is it?
But… wait.
Yin got EXP?
"Little System, how come Yin also got experience?"
[Master, Every NPC here also got stat panel but they cannot see.]
[Only I can see.]
[And you can see.]
[Yin's Status Screen]
Name: Yin
Level: 15 (750/2,000)
HP: 631/840
MP: 77/240
Attack: 98 (+40)
Defense: 33
Agility: 82 (+10)
Accuracy: 21 (+4)
Crit Rate: 5
Luck: 7
Party Members: Jessic, Little Bun
[Little Bun's Status Screen]
Name: Little Bun
Level: 1 (0/1000)
HP: 21/21
MP: 5/5
Attack: 1
Defense: 1
Agility: 3
Accuracy: 1
Crit Rate: 0
Luck: 5
Party Members: Jessic, Yin
I stared. Bun's stats were way too fragile.
If anything happened to her…
Yin came over and nodded. "Your reaction time's faster than yesterday."
I gave a tired grin. "Monsters come after me daily—so obviously I need to level up fast, right?."
I brushed the dust off and pulled Little Bun out.
"We won. Time to go."
She was still pale but smiled bravely. "Sister… you were so cool just now."
I ruffled her hair. "Told you, I'll protect you one."
She looked at Yin. "Brother also very strong."
Yin coughed awkwardly, clearly not used to praise.
Me? I just held Bun's tiny hand tighter, thinking:
This world is cruel, yes.
But it also gave me strength.
And… people to protect.
Next stop: Ulann City.
Goal: Find Yin's uncle, get the truth, smack down every monster that dares block me.
Final goal?
Find the way home.
But before that…
I'll clear this world.
One battle at a time.