[Barracks Complete.]
A notification popped up before Light, making his eyes light up with excitement. Satisfaction overwhelmed him—he had been waiting a long time to build this, and now it was finally complete. It felt like watching a tree he had planted finally bear fruit.
A new status screen appeared:
[Barracks]
- Level: 1
- Durability: 100/100
- Buff: (None)
- Units Trained: (None)
- Available Units: Ratkin Soldier, Spearrat
Buffs were self-explanatory—they provided bonuses to soldiers trained in the Barracks. However, Light wasn't sure how to obtain buffs yet. The "Units Trained" section listed soldiers who had already undergone training, while "Available Units" showed the professions that the Ratkin could choose.
Curious, he clicked on Ratkin Soldier, and a new window appeared.
Next to the unit's name was an image of a Ratkin Soldier, clad in silver-plated armor and wielding a silver sword and shield.
---
[Ratkin Soldier]
- Cost: 50 Energy
- Rank: 3
- Training Time: 24 hours
- Equipment: Silver sword, Silver shield, Silver armor
- Description: A well-trained frontline warrior of the Ratkin army, specializing in close-quarters combat. Equipped with durable silver-plated armor and weapons, they excel in both offense and defense. Their rigorous training ensures discipline and resilience on the battlefield, making them a formidable force against enemies.
---
"Damn, that's expensive!" Light sighed.
He only had 100 Energy in his 'wallet,' and now it was completely drained after building the Barracks. He hadn't expected training a single soldier to cost half the price of the entire structure.
However, he quickly regained his composure.
No matter the cost, the Ratkin Soldier was worth it. Not only did it start at Rank 3, making it powerful from the beginning, but it also came fully equipped. That meant he wouldn't have to waste additional resources crafting weapons and armor. Since the Barracks provided equipment automatically, his only concern was how to maintain and repair it over time.
"It looks like I need to hunt more Dark Creatures. I need Energy fast, and luckily, they've already started appearing."
He then shifted his attention to the Spearrat.
---
[Spearrat]
- Cost: 60 Energy
- Rank: 3
- Training Time: 24 hours
- Equipment: Silver spear, Silver armor
- Description: Elite Ratkin warriors trained in spear combat, specializing in both offense and formation tactics. Their long-reaching silver spears allow them to strike enemies from a distance while maintaining strong defensive lines. Clad in silver armor, they excel in countering cavalry, breaking enemy charges, and holding strategic positions on the battlefield.
---
"We currently have 28 Ratkin, excluding Nyx and myself. With that, I can train 28 soldiers. With this force, I could establish a foothold in the Underground City."
Light pondered. Establishing a military presence in the Underground City was crucial. When the Cleansing began and the Churches and the Empire deployed their full forces, he wasn't confident he could defeat them outright.
Even with 28 trained soldiers, he might be able to stall for time, but that was it.
After inspecting the Barracks, he returned to his office in the Great Hall. The Cleansing was approaching fast, and there were still many things to take care of. Despite being a Ratkin living in the sewers, he still had to handle paperwork. It seemed that no matter what world you were in, paperwork remained the greatest enemy.
"How are things on Tunnel 4's side?" he asked his daughter, who was beside him, helping to sort through the documents. Mathilda, his fifth child, was an intelligent young Ratkin with pure white fur.
"Brother Rusttail has already begun construction on the fortress," Mathilda reported. "It should be completed in one month."
"One month?" Light frowned.
"Yes, Father. Unfortunately, we're short on manpower. Big brothers Archibald and Ezekiel took most of our warriors, leaving only a handful behind. Additionally, most Ratkin workers are busy reinforcing our defenses across the tunnels, so Brother Rusttail only has three workers. One month is the best we can do."
Tunnel 4 was the entrance to the Underground City. Light had planned to build a fortress there because it would serve as their final fallback point if things went wrong. If the entrance fell into enemy hands, it would place the entire Ratkin race in grave danger.
"And lastly..." Mathilda started but suddenly paused.
Light looked up from his work. "What is it?"
"We're running low on food," she admitted.
"Don't worry about it," Light reassured her. "I've already assigned Ignatius and Troy to handle it."
"Alright, Father," Mathilda nodded, relieved.
As father and daughter continued their work, the doors suddenly burst open with a loud slam, startling both of them.
"What the heck?! Can't you knock?!" Light frowned, glaring at the intruder.
"I'm sorry, Father," Zues panted, his large frame filling the doorway. "But—we found a human!"
"What?"
...
The battle between the knights and the Skitterling had been raging for a while. Just when it seemed the creature was about to lose, it suddenly revealed its hidden ability.
"Roar!"
Its movements became faster, and the wounds on its body began to vanish. The angrier it became, the stronger it grew.
The knights gritted their teeth as they swung their swords with all their might—slashing, striking, and thrusting—but no matter how hard they fought, their opponent only seemed to grow stronger with each passing second.
"What the fuck are you doing?! Cut off its limbs!" Raginal shouted, his voice laced with frustration and barely concealed anxiety.
"It's using its power!" he continued, raising his gun and aiming at one of the creature's limbs. "The Skitterling feeds on emotions! The more anger and fear you feel, the stronger it becomes—it absorbs your emotions!"
He pulled the trigger.
"Remember the teachings of the Church! God is with us! With His gaze upon us, no monster shall make us tremble! For the God of Light!" Raginal bellowed, rallying the knights.
He may have been just an investigator, but he understood the Church better than these knights. That was the power of an investigator. Knights were warriors who dedicated their souls and bodies to their god—reminding them of their faith would fortify their spirits.
"For the Church! For God!"
The knights' morale surged. Fear and anxiety melted away, replaced by unwavering determination. Their god was watching over them, and under His protection, they had nothing to fear.
---
"It looks like the situation is getting serious," Light muttered. "No matter how many times he shouts, even if their morale rises… they will still lose."
"Father!"
Ezekiel and the others greeted their father, a sense of relief washing over them at his arrival.
"But what do you mean they'll lose?" Mizu asked, frowning. "They've been fighting for minutes now, and it's still uncertain who will come out on top."
"They will lose because that Skitterling is a mature one," Light explained, watching the battle unfold from a distance. "It is intelligent… and cunning."
[Race: Skitterling
Gender: Male
Rank: 5
Energy: 600]
More than that, the monster was at the peak of Rank 5, while the knights were only Rank 4—a gap as vast as heaven and earth.
Light suddenly had a fleeting thought. 600 energy… That amount could be used to train twelve soldiers. It was tempting, incredibly so. However, the risk was too high.
He glanced at his children. All of them were only Rank 2, while Ezekiel and he himself were merely Rank 3. Even the knights, who were stronger, were struggling against the Skitterling. What chance did they have?
After much thought, he pushed aside the temptation. His children's lives were far more important than energy.
"Let's go," he said, turning away.
"Are we not going to do anything, Father?" Ezekiel asked, following closely behind.
"We can't do anything for now," Light replied. "If the humans are defeated, the Skitterling might set its sights on us. We also can't afford to help them—we don't even know their purpose yet. And even if we wanted to, we're too weak. Remember this, Ezekiel: always think before you act. If there's no benefit in interfering, then don't."
He let out a sigh and shook his head. This was the reality for the entire Ratkin race. They were weak—powerless to change anything. Their only option was to survive and endure.
Ezekiel fell into deep thought, his gaze lingering on the Skitterling longer than the others. In the end, he remained silent, and the Ratkin disappeared into the darkness.
---
Meanwhile…
"Huff! Huff! Fuck!"
Raginal panted heavily, his body drenched in sweat as he struggled to run. The knights had lost, and he had suffered a fatal wound. Blood gushed from his injury—if he didn't treat it soon, he would die.
"That fucking Ratkin! I knew it! That damn mutant lured it to us..." he growled, gritting his teeth.
From the very start, he had suspected that Ratkin of leading the Skitterling to them for some unknown reason. With a squad of knights, he had been confident that they could at least wound the monster and force it to flee. But he had severely underestimated its strength.
All the mid-rank knights and even his gun had been useless against it.
'At least I managed to escape…'
But the knights hadn't been so lucky. The deafening roar behind him made it clear—they were all dead.
And now, the monster was coming for him.
"Please, my god! Save me!"
In the darkness, a faint green glow flickered. A massive shadow slithered along the walls, moving with terrifying speed. The sound of crackling limbs echoed through the air as if countless legs were scurrying at once.
A gust of wind swept past as the darkness itself seemed to twist and contort—an abyss opening from within.
Raginal barely had te to react.
"Fuck—!"
The Skitterling devoured him whole.