Monster Tribe

What kind of monster could possibly be attacking this pack of Black Rat?

With the strength Moss currently possessed, there was absolutely no way she could face such a massive swarm of Black Rat head-on!

Unless she used her speed to kite these Black Rat and spent a few days picking them off in smaller batches, she stood no chance.

Moss hid in a corner, watching the pack of Black Rat gradually draw closer to her position, and thought to herself:

At a rough glance, there are still nearly two or three hundred of them. Given the frenzied nature of these Black Rat, at least half of them would have to be killed or wounded before the rest would flee.

A total swarm of over four hundred Black Rat—to be able to drive such a massive group out!

Moss felt that even the two-meter-tall giant lizard she had encountered earlier likely couldn't handle facing over four hundred Black Rat alone!

It was highly probable that whatever was driving this swarm wasn't just a single monster.

In other words... a monster tribe?!

Moss was shocked by her own speculation, and she was certain these monsters were definitely not Slime!

During her five months of research and observation, she had discovered that the Slime in the sewers did not congregate in groups!

Or rather, they didn't consider other Slime to be their own kind!

If two Slime met, there was only one outcome: they would devour each other!

After devouring one another, a new, stronger Slime would emerge; this was the Slime's method of leveling up.

Moss had been quite surprised when she first discovered this rule, as in her impression, Slime usually appeared in clusters!

But after a period of observation, Moss quickly discovered the reason.

It was due to their extremely weak souls, which left Slime with almost nothing but instinctual consciousness!

Without intelligence, they could not develop the tribal consciousness possessed by intelligent beings!

Perhaps there were high-level Slime in this world capable of gathering others, but there were certainly none in these sewers!

Moss had once discovered traces of humans in a certain area, along with the remains of a Slime that hadn't yet vanished—it had been a Slime over a meter in size.

Clearly, the people of this world knew the characteristics of Slime and would periodically come to the sewers to clear out those that grew too large!

Moreover, the formation of a Slime was related to its surrounding environment; the sewer environment could never nurture a Slime capable of breathing fire!

I never expected there to be other monsters here. I thought it was only Slime, and they're monsters that can control fire, at that!

Moss marveled inwardly, feeling a mix of excitement and faint unease.

It was common knowledge that methane gas was inevitably produced in the sewers!

During her five months of exploration and research, Moss had discovered quite a few sections where methane had accumulated.

If that methane were to be ignited, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The sewers would certainly suffer severe damage, and it was possible that even the city above would be affected.

Squeak, squeak, squeak—

The pack of Black Rat in the distance was still approaching rapidly, and Moss could already hear their incessant, overlapping cries.

The cries of the Black Rat were different from Moss's own voice; they were sharp, piercing, and very unpleasant to hear.

She had to suppress her thoughts and focus on the situation at hand.

I'll hide for now. This isn't the time to settle scores with these guys.

Moss sensed the Magic Power within her and realized she had already consumed quite a bit, so she decided to avoid the brunt of the danger!

Breath Holding! Stealth!

As the two talents activated, Moss's entire body seemed to merge into the darkness.

Her breathing vanished, and even her heartbeat slowed.

Climbing!

Moss's Magic Power adhered to her limbs, making her hands and feet feel as if they were coated in glue, allowing her to cling tightly to the smooth sewer wall.

Soon, Moss climbed to the top of the sewer, where there was a recessed passage.

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish...

Squeak, squeak...

Rustle...

Moss stood silently in the overhead passage, watching the Black Rat scurry past, and thought to herself:

I wonder if the people up there know that fire-attribute monsters have appeared in these sewers, and if they'll send people to clear them out...

As the swarm of Black Rat moved away, the once-noisy sewer returned to silence.

However, Moss didn't move immediately; she was considering whether she should continue forward!

The Black Rat swarm was already considered a major power in the sewers, and their strength was not something an ordinary creature could face head-on!

When she had set out to return, Moss hadn't intended to cross paths with these Black Rat at all.

She just wanted to find a slightly warmer place in that sewer to help her survive the winter.

Furthermore, with her current strength, she wouldn't be in any danger as long as the entire Black Rat swarm wasn't mobilized; she could definitely escape or counter-kill them!

But now the situation had changed; a force potentially stronger than the Black Rat swarm might have appeared in her home sewer.

Their strength was unknown, their numbers were unknown, and she didn't even know what kind of monsters they were!

Moss stared at the dark passage ahead, her thoughts racing, her body frozen as if pinned in place.

But gradually, Moss began to smile, a faint laugh accompanying her muttered words.

"Hehehe... interesting. I can't just leave without taking a look now, can I? Will these new monsters bring me a surprise?"

She lowered her body from its standing position and continued toward her intended destination.

Speed Enhancement!

Moss transformed into a black shadow once again, though this time her speed wasn't as fast as before!

Just in case, Moss abandoned the idea of reaching her destination within a single day!

To conserve enough stamina and Magic Power to escape, she spent a full five days on this trip!

"Achoo...! Ugh, woooo~~~"

Moss got up from Little Ball, let out a fierce sneeze, and rubbed her body, shivering.

"So cold! It's been getting colder these past few days; my Cold Resistance even leveled up to III!"

Only five days had passed, yet the temperature had dropped so much, especially today—it was a cliff-like plunge!

She had been frozen awake this morning, something Moss hadn't expected at all!

Moss felt very fortunate; luckily, she still had Little Ball and a piece of tattered cloth to use.

Otherwise, if she had slept directly on the ground, the icy floor would have drained a massive amount of her body heat, and she would have fallen ill, if not died.

Although Little Ball was also cold to the touch as a Slime, it was insulating and wouldn't absorb the heat from Moss's body.

She rubbed her body, exhaled a puff of cold air, and slowly made her way to the edge of the flowing sewage river!

Gulp!

Taking a shallow drink of water, Moss felt as if she were swallowing ice cubes!

"Hiss—this hellish weather!"

The temperature in the air must have been near zero degrees now; she even saw some puddles beginning to frost over!

Enduring the cold, Moss drank a few more mouthfuls of water to replenish her fluids.

Summoning the food she had prepared earlier from her Pet Space, Moss ate while speaking to Little Ball beside her.

"We're finally arriving today. Another kilometer or two, and it should be the entrance to the sewer where I was born."

Puyo!

Home! Master's home?

Little Ball's cheerful voice echoed in Moss's mind, filled with a curious, half-understanding tone.

"Ah, that's right! My old home... I just don't know what it's like now."

Moss stuffed the remaining food into her mouth and said, her voice muffled.

Fed and watered, it was time to get back on the road!

Moss retracted Little Ball and lowered her body, shaking off the water droplets that had gathered on her at some point.

Speed Enhancement! Stealth!

Swish!

In the darkness, a nearly imperceptible black shadow flashed by.

Moss no longer slowed her pace, running at full speed.

Within a few minutes, Moss had arrived at her destination... or rather, its entrance!

"We're here. This must be it!"