Peace reigned in the mine for three days following the supervisor's arrest. But this peace was like the silence before a storm.
Vikram and Master Yu were working in a secluded section of the mine. Vikram had now become accustomed to the 'Low-Breathing' technique. With every breath, he drew small amounts of energy from the air, slowly increasing his physical strength.
Suddenly, a deep rumbling sound echoed from beneath the ground.
"Earthquake?" Vikram asked, pausing his pickaxe.
Master Yu pressed his ear against the wall. His face turned pale. "No... that isn't the sound of shifting stones. That is the sound of claws. And it's not just one or two; there are thousands of them!"
Before Vikram could comprehend the situation, the ground in front of them burst asunder. Amidst clouds of dust, giant creatures with black, metal-like skin emerged. They were rats the size of dogs, covered in iron-like scales, with eyes as red as blood.
[Iron-Scaled Rat – Primitive Level]
"Run!" Master Yu shouted.
Chaos erupted in the mine. Laborers threw down their pickaxes and scrambled toward the exit. The guards drew their weapons and began attacking the rats, but the sheer number of the creatures was overwhelming; they were swarming like a black tide, devouring everything in their path.
One rat pounced straight at Vikram. Its teeth spun like a saw.
Vikram didn't back down. A hunter's glint appeared in his eyes. "Why run? This is free food!"
He pulled the same old dagger from his waist and utilized 'Phoenix Movement' with his newfound strength. He dodged the rat's attack, leaped into the air, and landed directly on its back.
Squelch!
His dagger sank deep between the joints of the rat's skull. The rat writhed once and went still.
[Primitive Creature 'Iron-Scaled Rat' hunted. No Beast Soul gained. Meat is edible.]
[Origin Gene +0]
"Shit! No soul," Vikram said in disappointment, but his hands didn't stop. He tried to stuff the dead rat into his 'Pocket Dimension' (System Inventory), but remembered it wasn't working here. He quickly extracted the rat's 'Life Crystal' and shoved it into his pocket.
Master Yu, hiding behind a rock, was stunned by Vikram's agility. "You're crazy! That's an entire army!"
"Master, look closely!" Vikram said, kicking another rat away. "These rats aren't attacking us... they are running from something, or looking for something."
Vikram was right. Instead of killing the laborers, the rats were madly digging at the mine walls, specifically in the direction of the 'Forbidden Zone'—where the 'Blue-Blood Spiders' lived.
Just then, a massive explosion occurred. The main wall of the mine collapsed.
From amidst the dust, a terrifying shriek echoed that scared even the rats. A gigantic figure emerged from the darkness. It wasn't a rat. It was a spider, but its size was equal to that of a small house. Its body was made of blue crystal, and arcs of lightning-like energy coursed through its eight legs.
[Blue-Blood Spider King – Mutant Level]
Vikram's heart raced. "Mutant... the first Mutant of this world!"
While the other laborers and guards fled toward the exit to save their lives, Vikram's eyes were fixed on the tunnel behind the giant spider, the place from which it had emerged.
A strange golden light was emanating from there.
"Master," Vikram said amidst the noise of the crowd. "Where there is a King, there is surely treasure. This spider has come out... which means its nest is empty."
Master Yu's eyes widened in shock. "You... you are thinking of going into its nest? It will eat us raw!"
"It's busy with the guards right now," Vikram said with a smile. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we reach there, we could find resources that will free us from this slavery forever. Are you coming with me, or will you wait here in hiding to die?"
Author Note: "If you like the story, please vote with Power Stones! It helps me write faster."