"Rats, just as I thought." Gelman raised the Flamethrower's nozzle and pressed the button. The flame burst to life with a whoosh. "A whole swarm of fat, stinking rats."
The dozen or so rats that had lunged at Gelman first were quickly swallowed by the flames, as if they had jumped into the fire on purpose. Their squeals grew shrill with pain, and the stench of burning fur filled the air.
The rats left behind were either pushed by the others onto the cave floor, where they fled in panic, or turned around and scurried back into the oval black hole, vanishing from sight.
Gelman aimed the Flamethrower at the oval black hole and sprayed it with fire for a while. When he saw it gradually shrink, he swung the nozzle around and burned the rats darting about at his feet.
Before long, the ground was covered with charred, fat rats, their bodies still flickering with sparks. He estimated there were more than thirty. The rest had all escaped, and the oval black hole had shrunk until it disappeared.
"It seems this swarm of rats sent the three of us to different places in the cave. When they gather together, they can create a 'teleportation cave,' but individually, they're far less threatening."
"Pressure +6"
Gelman had already felt the oppressive weight of the darkness in the rising Pressure Value, but he still didn't quicken his pace. He kept to the same steady rhythm and continued onward.
Walking faster didn't mean he would leave the cave sooner. On the contrary, proceeding cautiously might be safer and save him time.
Along the dark path ahead, he was attacked twice more by swarms of Rats in the Wall.
He dealt with them the same way as before, never letting the disgusting little beasts