Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
Crisp footsteps echoed through the dark, silent underground labyrinth.
"Finally here..."
Guided by the fungal carpet plants, Ling Zhan had not taken a single detour. He had not even triggered any monster-summoning mechanisms, arriving at the elite gatekeeper monster without obstruction.
Compared to the muddy, damp, and harsh environment ahead—
The area where the gatekeeper monster lived was undoubtedly far better.
It was an extremely straight passage.
Eerie blue flames burned along both sides, casting the long, deep corridor in a light that made it seem like a realm of ghosts.
At the end of the passage lay darkness.
Strange squeaking noises came from within it.
It was as if some creature was gnawing on something.
Tap!
The instant Ling Zhan stepped into the passage—
Buzz!!
A pair of scarlet eyes suddenly emerged from the darkness at the end of the corridor!
Squeak, squeak!
A chilling, rat-like sound rang out. Then everyone saw a monster nearly three meters tall finally crawl out of the darkness!
"Eek!!"
When the guild spectators saw the monster's true form—
Quite a few low-level female adventurers nearly threw up. Their faces went pale with fright as they repeatedly backed away!
Because...
This elite monster was actually a humanoid creature with a rat's head!
What was even more nauseating was...
Two adventurer corpses, still dripping with blood, hung from the Ratman's sharp claws.
They were mangled beyond recognition, wretched to the extreme.
Their bodies were covered in bite marks from where they had been gnawed.
And in the Ratman's long, enormous mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, it was still chewing something. Dark red blood flowed from the corners of its mouth, accompanied by crisp crunching sounds.
This scene...
Did not stir the hearts of those prodigies competing from various nations in the slightest.