Kapitel 7: Knight Class
"Someone, please help me!" Ignatius screamed in despair, sprinting down the narrow alleyway as four large, intimidating men pursued him.
Tears welled in his eyes. Did the powerful organization finally find me? he thought, panic coursing through him. But something didn't add up. Why would gangsters be after him? The realization felt like a cruel twist of fate.
Just as despair threatened to overwhelm him, a flicker of hope had appeared earlier—a protector, someone he thought would save him. But that hope crumbled when Nathan, the black rat he had trusted, abandoned him without hesitation.
"I should've never trusted a monster! I'm such an idiot!" Ignatius berated himself, bitterness rising in his chest.
"Why is this guy so fast?!" one of the men barked. He was bald, his head covered in tattoos, as he chased after Ignatius with labored breaths.
"Damn it, catch him already!" another growled. "Before we attract the enforcers!"
Focused on escaping, Ignatius didn't notice the jagged rock jutting out of the uneven ground. His foot caught on it, and he stumbled, crashing hard onto the pavement. He rolled into a wall, pain shooting through his body as his vision spun. Groaning, he tried to push himself up, but before he could regain his footing, the bald man tackled him to the ground.
"No, please!" Ignatius pleaded, tears streaming down his face. "I didn't do anything! I'll give you money—just let me go!"
"Shut up," the bald man snapped, slapping Ignatius across the face. But instead of the satisfying sting he expected, pain flared in his hand. Startled, he looked at his reddened palm. "What the hell? Is this guy made of steel?!"
"Jason, quit wasting time!" one of the others shouted impatiently.
"But why would anyone want this weakling?" another thug questioned, suspicion creeping into his voice. Then, as if struck by an idea, he added, "Maybe he's got some important information!"
Jason grunted, clearly irritated, but he didn't argue. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he pulled out a length of rope and tied Ignatius's hands before slinging him over his shoulder like a sack of grain.
Ignatius squirmed desperately, tears and snot streaming down his face. But just as panic consumed him, his eyes caught a figure on a nearby rooftop.
It was Light.
Relief washed over Ignatius as he stopped struggling. His savior had come.
"There he is," Light said with a chuckle, his voice carrying a calm menace.
Light had arrived earlier, spotting Ignatius being chased by the four tattooed thugs. They looked like the typical street gang, and the sight of Ignatius running, his face streaked with tears and snot, had been almost amusing.
At first, Light was curious to see where they'd take him. But the thought of Ignatius—someone important to him—falling into the wrong hands didn't sit well. If the Witchfinders got hold of him, Ignatius would no doubt spill everything in a panic. Light had realized something crucial about Ignatius: the man wasn't just pretending to be a coward—he genuinely was one.
Deciding to intervene, Light sprang into action, leaping from the rooftop. He landed on one of the thugs with crushing force.
A sickening crack echoed through the alley as the man crumpled to the ground. Blood pooled around his lifeless body, and his neck twisted at an unnatural angle.
The other men froze, horror etched onto their faces. Standing over the body was a monstrous figure—Light in his rat form, standing upright, his fur slick and his eyes glinting with danger.
"Ah, shit! Who the hell is that?!" one of the men snarled, pulling a knife from his pocket.
"Jacob's dead!" cried another, a scarred man with black hair. His voice trembled as he stared at his fallen companion.
"What kind of monster is that?!" Jason roared, his fury drowning out his fear. Seeing his brother's lifeless form, anger overtook him. Without hesitation, he threw Ignatius toward Light, hoping to block the creature's vision.
"You killed my brother, you bastard!" Jason bellowed, charging at Light with a clenched fist. "We're the J Brothers, and you're dead!"
"What…?" Light muttered, startled. He'd only intended to knock the man out—not kill him. But it seemed his Giant's Strength ability had caused far more damage than he anticipated.
For a moment, he hesitated. Then, with a shrug, he dismissed the thought. It didn't matter. He'd planned to deal with the others anyway. Without hesitation, Light disappeared, reappearing behind the black-haired man clutching a knife.
Light's claws extended in an instant, slicing cleanly into the man's chest and piercing his heart.
---
Extendable Claw: A razor-sharp claw capable of extending from the hand, deadly in close combat, and able to pierce most defenses.
---
A notification flickered before his eyes.
---
Enemy Status
Jerome
- Gender: Male
- Race: Human
- Rank: Civilian Class
- Energy: 26
---
Jerome collapsed, lifeless, and Light turned his attention to the bald, tattooed man. Without missing a beat, he dashed forward, running along the wall and twisting mid-air as he aimed a sharp slash at the man's neck.
But Jason reacted swiftly, raising a clenched fist to block the attack.
---
Enemy Status
Jason
- Gender: Male
- Race: Human
- Rank: Civilian Class
- Energy: 40
---
Light's lips twitched as he read the name. J Brothers, huh? Fitting. Shaking his head, he lunged again, but this time, instead of striking directly, he grabbed Jason's head and exhaled sharply near his face.
"Ugh!" Jason recoiled, gagging as the putrid stench hit his nostrils. Momentarily distracted, he lowered his guard, giving Light an opening.
With a flash of claws, blood sprayed across the alley. Jason clutched his neck, his eyes wide in disbelief, before crumpling to the ground.
The last man standing, Joshua, dropped to his knees, trembling. Tears streaked his face as he looked at Light, terror consuming him.
"Please… spare me!" he begged, his voice breaking.
Light crouched in front of him, his expression calm yet menacing. "Why were you chasing him?"
"I—I don't know him!" Joshua stammered. "Some guy in a black robe hired us! He said he'd pay 100 Echo each if we brought him an adult human. I swear, I don't know anything else! Please, let me live—I'll change, I promise!"
Thugs, nothing more, Light thought. Ignatius might not even be their only target. Still, I can't let him go now that he's seen me.
Yet an idea struck him. To survive in this world, Light needed more than strength—he needed followers. As a Ratkin, he couldn't operate freely on the surface, so having someone to act as his eyes and ears would be invaluable.
After a moment of deliberation, Light made his decision.
He extended a claw and nicked his wrist, letting a drop of green blood drip out. Grabbing Joshua's jaw, Light forced his mouth open and let the blood fall inside.
---
Plague Body: A body infused with toxic substances and disease, granting full immunity to poison and infection. Contact with its blood spreads plague-like effects.
---
Joshua's face contorted as his body convulsed violently. Snot poured from his nose, and his limbs jerked uncontrollably. After what felt like an eternity, he stilled, panting, and looked up at Light in horror.
"This is poison," Light said coolly. "It'll corrode your insides, starting with your organs and then your brain, until you lose your mind completely. If you want to survive, you'll report to me every week for the antidote. And if you try to betray me, the poison will kill you instantly."
Light stood, towering over the broken man. The truth was, there was no antidote—his blood was a lethal blend of toxins and disease. But Joshua didn't need to know that.
...
"Thank you, Master!" Ignatius exclaimed gratefully.
"Do you have any idea who hired them?"
Ignatius and Light stood by a man-made hole in the ground, dropping food into it piece by piece. Below, Nyx packed the food back into crates get from The Great Hall.
"I'm not sure, Master," Ignatius replied hesitantly. "But since they wore robes and wanted an adult human, I think they might be part of a cult. Maybe looking for a human sacrifice."
"A cult?" Light narrowed his eyes. He'd read about them in old books—fanatics who worshiped evil gods, performed bizarre rituals, and sacrificed humans. Their beliefs often defied logic, much like stubborn women convinced they were always right.
"Yes!" Ignatius nodded. "The Empire calls them pests, but they never really try to get rid of them."
Light frowned. The fact that cults operated even in the capital city heightened the dangers. Shaking his head, he continued packing supplies into the hole. For now, the cult wasn't his concern.
As Ignatius climbed into the hole, Light's instincts flared. Narrowing his eyes, he looked below the house and locked gazes with a massive rat. Its glowing green eyes stared back at him unblinking.
---
Mutant Rat
- Gender: Female
- Race: Evolved Rat
- Rank: Knight Class
- Energy: 240
---
There were two ways to assess an entity's status: by engaging them in combat or if they willingly submitted as subordinates. The mutant rat had submitted, but it didn't behave like the others.
Unlike the usual rats that rushed to show their respect, this one didn't move. It simply stared at him before disappearing into the shadows.
Light raised an eyebrow, intrigued. A powerful subordinate with strength comparable to Ignatius was unexpected. Yet this mutant rat was different—it showed no deference or loyalty, even in submission.
Light chuckled softly to himself. Things are getting interesting.
....
AN: I actually forgot to update this novel because my fanfiction has become quite popular, and I need to focus on writing more chapters for it instead.
Geschenke
-- Geschenk
erhalten Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein