After the fight, Light sat in a dim corner of the sewer, reluctantly gnawing on one of the dead cats. His expression was grim, his teeth clenched as he forced himself to take a bite. The texture was rough, and the taste… not terrible. His eyes widened slightly in surprise.
It wasn't gourmet by any means, but to a starving man, or Ratkin, it was tolerable.
"Huh… not bad, I guess," he muttered.
As he chewed, his gaze grew distant. He realized there was so much he had to figure out: his survival, the system, and most pressing of all, how to increase the Ratkin population. Deep down, he understood his purpose—clear and undeniable. He was meant to establish a new race in this world.
Expanding the Ratkin population was one of his highest priorities. By increasing their numbers, he could grow stronger, escape the sewers, and build a new home, an advanced kingdom for Ratkin, something akin to Earth.
Perhaps the goal came from his refusal to live like a mere rat, or maybe it was the echo of his human past. Either way, his main objective remained: escape this place and create a kingdom.
But how was he supposed to grow the Ratkin population?
Mating? With who? Another rat? He was the first Ratkin to exist in this world, so naturally, no female Ratkin had been born yet. Maybe a human female? But would they even be willing?
'But… don't tell me I have to do it like a goblin. Am I supposed to kidnap a human and force them?'
The thought made him shudder. He may have become a Ratkin, but his heart was still human. Just thinking about it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He wasn't a criminal. He wasn't that kind of monster.
"Don't tell me I have to… with a rat?" Light's face twisted in disgust at the idea, a cold shiver running down his spine. Desperate for answers, he swiped at the system screen.
Moments later, he froze. The half-eaten cat slipped from his fingers, but before it even hit the ground, the swarm of smaller rats around him descended, tearing it apart in seconds.
"Fuck…" he cursed under his breath.
The system was as clear as daylight. To breed more Ratkin, he had to mate with a female rat. But not just any rat, it had to be a mutant, to ensure the offspring would be viable. Regular rats wouldn't survive the process. They'd die, unable to withstand his overwhelming… essence.
Even with the explanation, Light shook his head violently. "Nope. Not happening. No way."
His body might have transformed into that of a Ratkin, but his mind was still human. Just entertaining the thought made his stomach churn. He feared that crossing that line would cost him his sanity.
Shaking off the troubling thought, Light decided to clear his mind by exploring the area. He stood up, and the swarm of rats trailed behind him, though he paid them no attention.
He was still hungry, despite having eaten two and a half cats, but he had already lost his appetite. Now, his focus shifted to more pressing matters, namely, survival.
The sewer was eerily quiet as he moved forward. The faint sound of dripping water echoed in the distance, broken only by the occasional skittering of claws and the rhythmic gnashing of rat teeth. For some reason, the darkness felt oddly peaceful.
"If I'm in the sewers, should I train in martial arts and have a turtle as my disciple?" he mused.
Light hummed a soft tune as he walked, trying to push the distracting thoughts to the back of his mind. Survival came first; everything else could wait.
Then, suddenly, he stopped.
'What is that?'
His glowing eyes narrowed, focusing on a faint pair of green lights flickering in the darkness. They were unblinking, growing larger as they moved toward him with alarming speed.
[Name: ???
Gender: Female
Race: Mutant Rat
Rank: Rank 1
Energy: 26]
With the sound of chattering teeth, the mutant rat emerged from the shadows. She was massive, three times the size of a normal rat, with a sleek white coat, thorny spines running down her back, and glowing green eyes that pierced the darkness. Her sharp, gleaming teeth caught the dim light, sending an involuntary shiver down Light's spine.
The mutant rat approached cautiously, sniffing at his feet before climbing up his body with surprising agility. Light tensed but sensed no hostility. His King's Aura ensured that all rats, or anything within the muroid family, submitted to him instinctively.
He didn't move. He simply watched in silence.
The creature crawled onto his shoulder, her curious snout sniffing at his ear before scuttling down to his arm. She paused there, glancing at him with an almost intelligent gleam in her eyes, as if seeking permission.
Light raised a brow, intrigued. "What are you up to?"
He extended his palm, half out of curiosity, half in caution. The mutant rat sniffed his wrist briefly—then, without warning, bit into it.
"What the hell?!"
A sharp pain shot through his arm as blood welled from the wound. The mutant rat greedily lapped at it, her glowing eyes narrowing in satisfaction. Light reacted on instinct, shaking his arm violently and tossing the creature off.
"What the heck? Don't tell me you're trying to eat me!"
The mutant rat landed softly, cushioned by the swarm of smaller rats that rushed to her side. She didn't seem hurt. Instead, she looked up at him with those glowing green eyes, calm and watchful.
Light clicked his tongue in irritation and turned to walk away. "Damn rat. I should've known better than to trust—"
Before he could finish, a notification flashed before his eyes:
[Congratulations! You have unlocked a new function.]
[Description: When a mutant or other muroid drinks your blood, they become your loyal follower.
- A male mutant rat will undergo racial evolution.
- A female mutant rat will become a half-Ratkin, undergoing transformation and eventually giving birth to a new Ratkin after absorbing the essence of your blood.
- The bonded rat gains increased intelligence and loyalty toward the bondholder.
- Time until birth of new Ratkin: 24:59
Note: You can toggle this effect on or off at will.]
"Huh?" Light blinked, confusion flickering in his eyes. Blood Bond Ritual? But what caught his attention was the second effect.
'Wait... I can make them give birth to Ratkin just by offering my blood? What the heck, System? Why didn't you tell me this earlier? Oh… this must be one of the system's hidden functions. Either way, it's great. I won't have to do it manually anymore.'
He felt an unexpected wave of relief wash over him, and the weight on his shoulders seemed to vanish. Letting out a deep sigh, he quickly searched for more details. Unfortunately, the new function lacked any further explanation.
After some time and effort, he uncovered the reason: as the progenitor of the Ratkin—the very first of his kind—he was a special case. His existence resembled what many might consider a god's, though in reality, he was still weak. Even so, his bloodline carried unique abilities, one of which allowed the creation of Ratkin through the offering of his blood essence to mutant rats.
The Blood Bond Effect granted him control over all rats and murine creatures, turning them into loyal followers. One of its abilities enabled female mutant rats to give birth to new Ratkin by absorbing his blood essence. Male mutants, on the other hand, would undergo an evolution that made them stronger and capable of reproducing with female half-kin, though the success rate was less than fifty percent.
A wide grin stretched across his rat-like face, sharp white teeth glinting under the sewer's dim light. He was completely unaware of how unnerving his smile had become.
With surprising gentleness, Light picked up the mutant rat he had tossed aside earlier, handling her as if she were a prized treasure. He caressed her fur absentmindedly and continued deeper into the sewer.
'You must work hard.'
Now that he had found a new way to grow his race's population, his mood soared, and he couldn't stop grinning.
As he ventured further, Light suddenly came to a halt, his brow furrowing. A faint glimmer caught his eye in the distance. As he approached, the light resolved into torches mounted along the damp, moss-covered walls. Their flames flickered, casting dancing shadows behind him.
Moments later…
"Someone lives here?"
He squinted at a small wooden hut cobbled together from planks and cardboard. Outside, a large metal can sat next to a clothesline strung with worn garments and undergarments. It wasn't entirely unexpected—sewers sometimes sheltered the desperate—but to build a home down here took a kind of grit few possessed.
Raising his hand, Light pointed toward the hut. A chorus of squeaks responded, and a swarm of rats scurried forward to investigate.
They returned moments later, squeaking their findings: the hut was empty.
Cautiously, Light stepped closer, instructing a few of the rats to patrol the surrounding area in case of hidden dangers. He gently placed the mutant rat on the ground, then peered inside the structure.
The interior was sparse: a small lamp, a rickety wooden desk, and a decaying foam mattress stained with dark, ancient marks. A lone chair sat in front of the desk, where a book lay beside an ink-stained fountain pen and the lamp.
"Judging by the style… this has to be man-made." Light sat down in the chair and gazed at the book before slowly opening it.
...
October 23, Year 872 A.R.
I didn't think it would come here. Why would it? Our town was nothing—just a forgotten speck on the map. But it came. The monster. The thing. It tore through the streets like a tempest of teeth and shadow. I saw it—its writhing, unnatural form twisting in ways that made my stomach turn. It devoured my family.
Father screamed until his voice cracked like glass. Mother didn't even have time to run—it was on her too fast. My little sister... I don't want to write this. I don't want to remember.
I want revenge. That's what I tell myself. But I can't even lift a blade without my hands shaking. I'm pathetic. A coward. My legs ran before my mind even caught up. I left them behind.
And now, they're hunting me. Not the monster. Not the thing that feeds on the light of the living. No—they are. The men in black coats, with brass goggles and masks that gleam like polished bone. They say nothing, but their footsteps echo behind me, closer, faster than my heart can beat.
What do they want from me? I didn't do anything. I'm not the monster—I'm not! Shouldn't they be fighting it? Saving the others? Why me? Why won't they stop?
I can hear their boots outside the inn. They've found me. I shouldn't be writing this. I should be running. I should—
…
The rest of the entry trailed off. The ink was smeared, as if the pen had been snatched away mid-sentence. A chill crept down Light's spine, but curiosity pushed him to flip through the remaining pages. To his surprise, every page after the first was blank.
Even stranger was the writing itself. The characters were unfamiliar, not from any script he recognized—yet somehow, he could read them perfectly.
A thought crossed his mind. 'Could I write in it, too?'
Grabbing the pen, Light scribbled his name—Light—onto the next page. The letters flowed naturally, as though the language had always been part of him. He let out a low chuckle, the sound echoing off the sewer walls.
"I really can write in this language... Is this some kind of perk from being the Ratkin ancestor?"
He closed the book, brushing the thoughts aside. Whatever it was, the journal didn't seem important. Just someone's tragic story—nothing useful to his survival. He set it down without another glance.
Surveying the room again, Light considered its potential. Though small and crude, it could serve as a temporary home. With a bit of cleaning and repair, it would do.
He gently placed the mutant rat on the mattress, brushing some of the grime away with his hand.
"It just needs a bit of work," he said with a nod. "If the owner doesn't mind sharing with a Ratkin, they'll have a monster ally in return."
Glancing at the still-sleeping mutant rat, Light opened his system interface. Navigating to the building section, he found most options grayed out, locked behind level requirements, or needing more Energy.
But one stood out.
[The Great Hall
Type: Special Structure
Available Units: Ratkin Workers, Stormvermin (Special)
Passive Effects:
+10% efficiency to all Ratkin labor (gathering, crafting, repairing)
+5% intelligence to all Ratkin units
-3% construction time for all buildings
-3% resource cost for production
Cost: Free (Automatically constructed upon establishing the first settlement)
Description:
The central hub of the Ratkin race, overseeing utilities, strategy, and labor. It serves as the heart of operations, enabling resource management and expansion. Trains Ratkin Worker Units, responsible for gathering resources, cleaning, construction, and storage.]