Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player



The sewer in Pokkir was dark and damp, and footsteps echoed off the dirty, slightly wide walls. Kaizen followed Nix through the tunnel, keeping his senses sharp in the gloomy sewer environment. The acidic smell grew stronger as they advanced, and the sound of water dripping off the dirty walls heightened the tension. However, unlike Nix, Kaizen appeared so calm that he could whistle.

"We're getting closer to something," Nix said, looking around cautiously. "The smell is getting stronger, and the ground's texture is changing. There's more moss. Watch out for Giant Rats; they might be close."

Kaizen nodded and, with the Night Sword still in its sheath, said: "You noticed the change in smell too? That's surprising."

The woman glanced at Kaizen from the corner of her eye and then returned her gaze forward. 'What did he mean by that? He noticed the smell before me? No, that's impossible. I'm an Assassin, and my intelligence attribute is highly leveled up, so my perception should be higher.'

"It seems like we're descending and getting closer to something," observed Kaizen, stopping to examine the walls of the place, noticing some drops of green slime on the ground. "But I still don't see any signs of enemies."

Nix nodded. "Let's stay alert. They could be hiding anywhere."

As the two explored the area, Kaizen noticed that the green liquid seemed to be increasingly present in the tunnels, indicating that they were indeed getting somewhere. With the faint light from Nix's torch, they continued to advance through the sewer tunnels. The acidic smell became more intense, and the green glow of the slime seemed to illuminate their path.

"This slime is getting denser," commented Kaizen, observing the walls and floor partially covered with the green slime.

Nix agreed, keeping her dagger ready for any ambush. "Yes, the concentration of the slime may indicate that we're close to the source of the infection. It's likely coming from a single central source."

As they moved forward, the sounds of crawling and dragging became more audible. Soon, they spotted a large underground chamber where the green slime flowed from a crack in the wall.

"This is where it all begins," said Nix, looking at the slime cautiously. "This crack seems to be the source of the infection, and it looks like we've found the nest of the Giant Rats."

Kaizen observed the place, a large spacious chamber that also had a little water flowing in small channels, and just like the place where he faced the Giant Rats the other time, it interconnected many sewer tunnels, like a central chamber. However, to make matters worse, there were dozens and dozens of these creatures, and most of them seemed already contaminated by the green slime.

"Stay here," Kaizen requested, taking a step forward.

"What? What are you going to do?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to put an end to all of this."

Nix was surprised by Kaizen's determination. She didn't expect him to take the initiative to face all the infected creatures alone. However, she knew he was a skilled player, which was evident when he subdued her effortlessly a few minutes ago.

"Be careful, Kaizen," Nix said, concerned. "These creatures are dangerous, and their numbers are staggering. Don't take too many risks."

Kaizen smiled confidently and waved to Nix. "Don't worry. I'm stronger than I look."

Without further words, he focused and leaped into the chamber ahead. The impact of his boots echoed throughout the infected chamber as he landed on the ground, immediately drawing the attention of dozens of Giant Rats.

With a calm smile, he unsheathed the Night Sword while a series of monster squeals filled the air. The Giant Rats, now aware of Kaizen's presence, charged fiercely towards him. The scene was impressive: a lone player surrounded by a horde of infected creatures moving with ferocity. However, Kaizen appeared serene, his eyes fixed on the enemies in front of him. He knew these monsters could hardly damage him, and in return, he could slay them with one or two strikes.

The Giant Rats advanced, their sharp claws and teeth ready to attack. With fluid movements, he dodged the first monsters' attacks and countered with strikes so swift that it was hard to tell his sword's movement.

Meanwhile, Nix watched the scene with both admiration and concern. She knew Kaizen was skilled, but facing so many enemies at once was a monumental challenge. Normally, dealing with this number of monsters would require a group of at least five very capable players.

Kaizen maneuvered through the battlefield, taking every opportunity to strike the Giant Rats. His Night Sword gleamed amidst the partial darkness of the infected chamber. He seemed to dance among the creatures, evading their attacks with astonishing reflexes. As the Giant Rats fell one by one, Kaizen's expression remained calm and focused. He didn't let the number of enemies faze him. His combat skill was remarkable, and his confidence in his abilities made him even more powerful.

[You killed an Infected Giant Rat. You gained +1500 EXP.]

[You killed an Infected Giant Rat. You gained +1500 EXP.]

[You killed an Infected Giant Rat. You gained +1500 EXP.]

[You killed an Infected Giant Rat. You gained +1500 EXP.]

Seeing Kaizen pushing himself, Nix decided she couldn't just stand by and watch. She joined the fight with her daggers at the ready, attacking the Giant Rats from behind, catching them off guard and increasing the impact of the battle.

Kaizen and Nix made a good team, and she reminded him of how he used to play in the early days, seizing the opportunities created by the moment to defeat his enemies.

In this way, the infected Giant Rats were no match for the combination of strength, agility, and strategy displayed by the two, and one by one, they began to fall, filling the air with their ashes as they were defeated.

...

Edited by: DrHitsuji

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