Chapter 468 469-Battle with the Wolfrats
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n?Meanwhile, outside Rodel City, within two small hills as indicated on the map, Howard had arrived near the habitat of the wolfrats.
nThe taller hill was named “Taso,” and the shorter “Tami.”
nCurrently, Howard was in a valley on Taso.
nThough referred to as “small hills,” they were not short by any measure, with relative elevations reaching hundreds of meters and extending for several kilometers, making them more akin to a series of elevated lands than mere hills.
nThe vegetation here was lush, unlike the predominantly herbaceous plants found in the plains, with many tall trees scattered throughout.
nWolfrats, a social and predatory species, had little sense of territory, inhabiting valleys that also served as the overlapping territories of several low-tier spellbeasts.
nDespite their individual weakness, through unity, cunning, and recklessness, the wolfrats carved out a niche for themselves in a fertile valley, thriving and multiplying.
nThe information on the quest was, in fact, outdated.
nThe quest had been posted for a while, likely over a month.
nBut even in just a month, given the wolfrats’ rapid breeding capabilities, they could produce a new generation, with some individuals nearing maturity.
nSo, when Howard approached the valley, he didn’t find the seven to twelve wolfrats mentioned in the quest, but a massive group of over twenty.
nIf the quest remained unclaimed, in half a year, the wolfrats could completely overrun the valley and begin to expand further.
nBy that point, the problem would surpass what a preparatory-level magus could handle.
nIf Howard were indeed just a preparatory-level magus, he might be contemplating whether to retreat at this moment.
nAmidst the moonlight, wolfrats become more active than during the day, as deep night and early morning are their prime times for activity.
nAlthough they move around at other times, they seldom wander under direct sunlight due to their aversion to it.
nNow, Howard’s primary concern was how to negotiate a higher reward for the quest.
nHunting quests like this one don’t typically offer adventurers much room to haggle, unlike tasks of a more laborious nature.
nYet, the idea of exerting extra effort without an increase in pay left him feeling uneasy.
nPerhaps he could leverage the additional wolfrat carcasses to his advantage?
nWith this thought, Howard’s hand gripped the hilt of the straight sword on his back, slowly drawing it from its sheath.
nThe sound of the blade sliding out was prolonged and gravelly, gleaming under the moonlight.
nLike the Ripper Mk II, this sword was another masterpiece by Greg.
nStepping out from the concealment of shadows, Howard’s gaze drifted towards the source of the rustling noises deep within the valley.
nOne pair, two pairs, three pairs…
nDozens of crimson eyes gradually lit up in the darkness.
nThe shrill cries of the beasts exploded through the air.
nWolfrats, a subspecies of spellbeasts, can weigh over seven kilograms as adults, with speeds matching those of mountain cats, bite forces surpassing wolves of equivalent weight, and lengths ranging from one to one and a half meters.
nNocturnal by nature, they don’t enter deep sleep during the day, remaining alert and energetic.
nThese social creatures typically have a rat king in each colony, whose strength is comparable to that of a low-tier spellbeast, capable of using mana to accelerate.
nCovered in grey, they are also known as “greyfangs.”
nIn many regions, wolfrats are considered more fearsome than wolves and tigers.
nThey are omnivorous, daring to consume anything and everything.
nFor ordinary people, encountering more than three wolfrats in the wild is a fact more terrifying than coming face to face with wolves or tigers.
nExperienced hunters understand that although wolves and tigers are fearsome, the pain from their attacks is brief.
nWolfrats, however, are different.
nSmaller in size but more ferocious in nature, they swarm their prey, biting frenziedly.
nThe agony of being torn apart persists until the moment one breathes their last.
nWith a flick of his wrist, Howard’s straight sword danced, spinning a flower of silver blades, its petals the brightest in the dark.
nThe wolfrats did not initiate an attack.
nDozens of crimson eyes glittered in the darkness, hesitating, assessing.
nWolfrats possess an extraordinary intelligence, not just in survival and hunting but in many other aspects.
nThey could sense the abundant mana within Howard and acutely perceive the vast disparity in individual strength, understanding clearly that zero individuals could stand against Howard on their own.
nIt was this keen intuition that had made them the rulers of this valley.
nSo they gathered, then dispersed.
nIndividuals coalesced into a group, countless groups forming a larger whole.
nThey created an encirclement, silencing their sounds and footsteps, retracting their fangs and claws, using the dim moonlight to cloak their forms.
nBit by bit.
nEver so slowly, they drew closer, aiming to seize the initiative at the moment of attack, to choke their opponent’s throat at the first wave of assault.
nThe valley fell silent, save for the faint whisper of the wind, but this did not signify the end of the battle.
nOn the contrary, it was the rare calm before a storm.
nHoward realized he had underestimated these little creatures that had managed to establish themselves here.
nWhile the combat strength of an individual might not match even that of a dog, their collective force could indeed become a deluge that drowns the world.
nMana sensing expanded outward, enhancing Howard’s senses under its stimulus.
nHe could hear the subtler sounds of the wind, even the rustling of grass leaves; he could see fainter glimmers of light, including the transient red sparks in the underbrush; he could smell more complex scents, like the faint bloodiness mingling with the aroma of green grass and earthy musk.
nThe traces of the wolfrats were laid bare under his perception.
nThe battle was lost by the wolfrats before it even began.
nYet, the necessary rituals could not be omitted, as a form of reverence for the natural balance.
nThus, Howard stood silently in place, waiting until the first attack descended.
nThe shriek from the beast’s mouth, the scratching sound of its claws against the ground, the slight noise as its fur broke through the air—all these complex signals flooded Howard’s brain in a short span, accepted without restriction, processed at astonishing speed, and ultimately synthesized into outcomes.
nHe closed his eyes.
nA colorless panoramic view unfolded before Howard.
nAdvance half a step, turn and swing the sword, the blade forming a forty-degree angle with the ground, unleash two-
nthirds of the arm’s strength.
nLike the information panel in an MMO, countless battle-related messages flashed through Howard’s mind—calculated, integrated, utilized, and then formed into new data.
nIn this peculiar state, Howard couldn’t exactly describe his sensations, almost losing his sense of self amid the deluge of internal and external data inundating his consciousness.
nYet, this was a feeling more exhilarating than any climax, with every element of the battlefield now firmly within Howard’s grasp. .
nHe might not comprehend the signals exchanged among the wolfrats, but by observing each creature’s distinct movements and postures, he could predict the entire pack’s movements with prophetic clarity.
nThis went beyond “Hyperawareness,” pushing Howard further into an extraordinary abyss.
nHe didn’t understand how it all happened; he merely expanded his mana to enhance his perception, and then, like waves, more information surged in.
nNow, Howard was the deity of this battlefield.
nThe blade, infused with mana, glowed faintly.
nThe mana blade wasn’t activated, but the sheer sharpness of the sword itself was wholly sufficient.
nWolfrats continued their fearless assault, even as more than ten of their number lay dead at Howard’s feet.
nThe rat king had yet to join the fray, blending into the swarm, meticulously studying Howard’s every move, trying to analyze any vulnerability.
nAlthough Howard couldn’t make direct eye contact, he sensed its distinctiveness through its actions.
nSmarter, stronger—these were the minimal requirements for an exceptional ruler.
nIn the natural selection where only the victors survive, such a king always signifies the rise of its species.
nFor humanity, this was no good news.
nMore and more wolfrats seemed to emerge from nowhere, and Howard had a vague feeling there was something more behind this, but it was merely an intuition, hardly even evidence.
nThirteen, fourteen, fifteen…
nHoward silently counted both the number of wolfrats and their attacks.
nThe former steadily decreased, while the latter’s increment gradually diminished.
nWith casualties surpassing two-thirds, the wolfrats still pressed their attack—a scenario utterly inconceivable for human armies.
nWhy such desperation? Why persist in futility without repentance?
nEven if only half survived, that would be sufficient for them to seek a new habitat.
nYet, they did not choose this path; instead, they bravely faced their ferocity, lying in a mix of shrieks and blood upon the ground after the battle.
nIn the end, only the rat king remained before Howard.
nThe strongest individual had yet to make a move.
nIt had seen through the inevitable course of the battle from the beginning.
nThis was a futile struggle, yet absolutely necessary.
n𝘳𝘦.𝒸𝑜𝘮
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