Goblin Dependency
Chapter 319 - 168: Rat Swarm_2

Chapter 319: Chapter 168: Rat Swarm_2

Without caring for Xia Nan and someone else standing nearby, they sprinted towards the direction of the sound.

"Don’t rush, I remember the way back, let’s follow slowly."

In hesitation, Wood already patted Xia Nan’s shoulder and followed along.

The control over their pace was exceptionally skillful.

While maintaining a clear view of Iron Head’s every move ahead, they also kept a safe distance for the two to retreat if needed.

Having said this, Xia Nan couldn’t possibly stay alone in the dangerous, dimly lit sewer, and quickly followed.

...

As they gradually approached, the once vague and echoing sound between the corridor walls became clearer.

It was a grand noise formed by countless sharp and piercing "squeaks" overlapping, causing a buzz in the eardrums and a tingling sensation on the scalp.

It seemed as if even the air, filled with humidity, vibrated along with it, stirring ripples on the surface of several filthy puddles on the ground.

Only occasionally, in those brief intervals, could one make out the faint roars and curses hidden deep within the noise.

The Gray Badger Gang’s stronghold was a dried and abandoned reservoir in the Neum Sewer.

In this part, the originally spacious gallery-like corridor felt even grander, resembling a small plaza.

The cleaned pool bottom contained only bare stone bricks, with crude ladders and platforms built against the walls with dark wood brought from outside.

Tents, fire pits, weapon racks... at a glance, it gave off a messy and impoverished impression.

However, if carefully observing the specific structure and possessing relevant knowledge, one would notice the practical functions of these varied constructions.

Though not as imposing and sturdy as those fortresses towering over important paths, combined with the sewer environment, it also possessed defense capabilities far exceeding its appearance.

And this was the reason why those dozens of untrained hooligans could, with their torches and metal weapons, and a few occasionally thrown deterrent fire oil bombs, stubbornly hold on under the siege of countless grey skinned Rats till now.

"Damn it, where’s Hansen? I sent him out to call for help, what’s the situation?"

A middle-aged man aged forty or fifty, draped in a gaudy fur cloak, asked grimly.

"Boss Eight Finger, Brother Hansen is dead. He didn’t even make it to the exit, not a bone left."

A tattooed youth, sweating profusely, shouted loudly without turning, waving the torch in his hand.

"Damn! Hold the line for me! When this is over, I’ll get you a whole month’s supply of Nightingale’s Nest!"

The leader-like middle-aged man known as "Eight Finger" among the hooligans, forced himself to remain calm and stood at the highest point of the wooden platform, encouraging everyone.

But unfortunately, it was of limited effect.

Normally, during turf wars and fights with other gangs, these simple and direct promises might greatly invigorate these barely literate hooligans, boosting their morale and fighting strength considerably.

However, in the current scenario where the entire gang’s survival was at stake, the Gray Badger Gang’s underlings were driven only by their survival instinct, frantically swinging their torches regardless of exhaustion.

"Iron Head, Boss Eight Finger, it’s Iron Head!"

A hooligan at the platform edge, reported excitedly at seeing the bald, sturdy man running out from a nearby passage.

"Good! Good!"

Eight Finger turned back abruptly, looking at Iron Head charging towards them, first ecstatic.

He didn’t mind his already hoarse voice, using all his strength to shout:

"Don’t come here, quickly go outside and call for reinforcements!"

"The Church, sheriff, whatever, anyone will do!"

Then, upon noticing Iron Head stopping in his tracks, hesitation evident on his face, not turning to seek help immediately, he grew angry.

"What the hell are you hesitating for, go now!"

Finally, there was astonishment and bewilderment at seeing two unfamiliar figures in the direction Iron Head came from.

"Gulp."

Standing at the tunnel entrance, Xia Nan felt the vibrations in the air and the constant sharp noises in his ears, watching the countless grey shadows moving on the ground in front of him.

A wave of goosebumps instantly erupted over his entire body.

They were a horde, indistinguishable at a glance, with dirty grey-black fur, large bodies, emitting a strong stench, shrieking and surging – grey skinned Rats!

Almost completely surrounding the wooden platform of the Gray Badger Gang’s base, their massive scale and the repulsively ugly appearance of the large rodents.

At the first moment of seeing the scene unfold, Xia Nan felt an impulse to retreat, stopping in his tracks.

But in the next second, with his will hardened over months of adventure and honed analytical skills, he instinctively suppressed his body’s aversion and resistance.

He began analyzing the situation on the field as comprehensively and meticulously as possible.

First, it could be confirmed that the Gray Badger Gang, under the siege of the rat horde, couldn’t hold out much longer.

They might be leveraging the rats’ fear of fire, using torches and fire oil bottles to intimidate and hinder the attack.

However, these repulsive little creatures living in the complex sewer wouldn’t be as stupid as pigs or sheep in captivity.

Xia Nan could see a few slightly larger grey skinned Rats attempting to leap over the flames, gnawing and pulling at the hooligans’ trouser legs.

And if their balance wasn’t maintained and they got dragged to the ground, they’d be instantly overwhelmed by the rats pouring in from all directions.

Under the gnawing of their strong, forceful jaws, within mere seconds, there’d likely only be bone fragments left.

If the situation continued unchecked, his recently progressing advancement task would also come to a halt with the total annihilation of the Gray Badger Gang.

Should he choose to stand by, seizing the moment while the rats’ attention wasn’t on him, and make a swift escape;

Or lend a hand for the sake of the task, at least save the gang members who knew the location of "Colander" Ben?

His brain raced in thought, weighing the risks and benefits on a balance scale.

And precisely because he contemplated the feasibility of combat, Xia Nan finally realized.

These rats in front of him might not be as dangerous to him as imagined...

Numerous as they were, physically vulnerable, relying on group hunting...

In certain aspects, the rat horde and goblins seemed not vastly different.

Merely substituting the goblins’ crude wooden sticks with the sharp incisors in the rats’ mouths, with the former even possessing slightly higher intelligence, understanding the usage of rudimentary tactics.

Whereas the rats merely knew to swarm and gnaw, with just a few torches able to hold them at bay.

On this basis, if he could, relying on [Teeth Hunting], [Vortex Slash], and robust physical strength, freely maneuver and maintain high-speed movement on a battlefield filled with hundreds of goblins, without worrying about getting surrounded by them.

Then changing the opponent to this rat horde, possibly... it’s the same?

In just a matter of seconds, numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.

In the corner of his eye, he saw Wood standing in place, not retreating either.

Exchanging looks, Wood’s gaze fixed on the rat horde, solemnly nodding confirmed Xia Nan’s thoughts.

Aung——

Amidst the chaotic calls of the grey skinned Rats, a long, high-pitched wolf howl pierced through the air.

In that moment, time and space seemed to freeze.

A grey skinned Rat with darker fur maintained its original half-upright posture, mouth wide open, revealing its two hard incisors as if in a threatening display.

Its scarlet eyes reflected the flickering flames ahead, and a gradually brightening iron-grey sharp glint.

A blade-like fierce gust scattered its fragile fur to shreds, and as blood spurted from its severed wounds, mixed with torn entrails and limbs, it rose and formed a grotesque, blurry roaring wolf’s head in mid-air.

In the blink of an eye, the black-haired figure originally at the entrance had already reached the other side of the arena.

The blade in his hand bore a few warm bloodstains, and blood and flesh fragments dripped silently in the air around him.

Amidst the dense rat horde behind him was a path stretching from front to back, paved with corpses and dismembered limbs.