Chapter 12

The dead rat fell backward to follow its head. And its friends in the far intersection roared, dropping whatever they’re carrying and bolting towards him. Teri looked at Yayoi and then Taku, a bit amazed, but he couldn’t let them see that. He scoffed instead, hoping that it would downplay her grand display of skill. But it was too awesome. Teri had to admit.

“Nice,” Teri started, his brain unable to find a better compliment.

“Thanks,” Yayoi replied. “You feeling a bit relaxed now?”

“Much better.”

Teri kept his head straight and shoulders loose. He was, in fact, still very nervous. He could kind of glean that the rats didn’t wear some kind of armor, clearly relying on its tough fur—which makes Yayoi’s feat of cutting one down even more painful to admit. Bladed weapons aren’t the best option, but he didn’t have that anyway. Spikes might work, but the range is the issue. It's more likely that he'll have his throat ripped out before he could drive one deep into his enemy’s skull. So, the good ol’ spiked wooden club is still his best option. But then, something else caught his fancy.

“Taku, we’ll go with the plan. You ready?”

“Yep.” Taku moved forward, raising his staff. “No enemies at the back. Yayoi, you’re in charge of watching it for now.”

“Got it.”

“Also, Teri,” Taku continued. “She’s watching us, so feel free to go all out, okay?”

“Wait, why are you telling me this?” Teri glanced at his best friend. The monsters were coming. “And now?”

“Your feats are my feats. If you look cool, I look cool.” Taku gave him a thumbs up, with Yayoi both giving them an approving and amused nod. “See? Go gettem, tiger.”

“Go, take a crack at it,” Yayoi added. “I’ll step in if I need to.”

The rats will get his ass in about fifteen seconds. Ignoring the sudden pressure placed upon his shoulders and the guarantee of Yayoi stepping in to save his life should it need be, Teri moved forward, raising his shield and letting go of his spiked wooden club to pick up the dead rat’s weapon. At first glance, it was a simple metal rod with a wrapped leather handle, but its shaft split into four blunt ridges, each growing more pronounced as they neared the striking end.

Teri waved his new weapon, keeping his head forward as the rats drew in nearer. “Hey Taku, what’s this weapon called?”

“A bar mace?”

“Awesome.”

Teri took his stance. He has to look cool. But what does that even mean? Does he have to slaughter these rats? Should he fight them off without taking any damage? Or would it actually be cool if he just said here, right here, right now, that he needs the help of his best friends? No, that wasn’t it. Yayoi was cool. And somehow, thinking back about the time when she made the wind move along the corridors to see if there were enemies made Teri smile. She felt her presence back then, and at the same time, it made him feel his own. And now that sensation of sensing his own presence remained, this time it felt a little more tangible. It felt like it was covering him, and the more he focused on it, he started seeing things differently. His thoughts were quiet. Fear. Confidence. Even himself. Gone. He felt more in control, weirdly. He felt a bit more… deliberate, powerful.

“Bind!”

Taku bound the first rat, causing the second one to stumble. The third rat was able to jump over both of them and recover its speed. Monstrous, really. And it’s really stopping at nothing to get his ass.”

“Can weee sandboxx the brand voiiiceeee to uuup its toonal uppcyccleee? Weee needd to buuuubble-wraaap the deliveerabless beforeee the roolloout,” the third rat said with its somewhat high-pitched yet guttural voice. It kept its speed as it started running on two legs, baring its yellowish teeth and two bloody claws that could only dream of shredding Teri’s body to pieces.

It would’ve had a better chance if it kept running on all fours.

Teri dashed and shield-slammed the rat before it could generate any further momentum. It lost its balance. And now, it had to take a step back, giving Teri the time to break its face open with his new weapon.

“A bar mace, huh…” Teri chuckled as he felt his weapon’s ridges break through its nose, its teeth, and the front of its skull. “I like this.”

He puffed out a breath, feeling a bit of warmth from his right shoulder and elbow. But it doesn't matter right now. He moved upwards, kicking the second rat right before it was about to get up.

“Let's piiiiivot to taaaakeeeee thiiiiissssss low-friiiiictionnnn enerrrrgy tapppp. It’s emmmmmooootionaaally actioooooonaaaaable—”

Teri broke the second rat’s face too.

The last one. Teri took another step forward. His nose started bleeding. The fear. The pain. It’s still not here. So, it doesn’t matter. He gripped the bar mace with both hands. His vision turned red. Hot tears of blood started running down his face. He planted his feet and crushed the immobilized rat’s head with one swing.

It’s done. Teri let out a long breath, finally finding the time to shift his focus out of the feeling enveloping his body. His body burned with pain. He coughed out blood and fell on both knees. He was about to fall, but Taku was able to grab his shoulder and heal him before he completely lost the feeling in his body. He regained his strength, little by little, as the warm, golden light enveloped him.

“You would’ve been more badass if you kept standing up.” Yayoi moved past Teri and stood guard over their party. “However, you did kill two rats on your own. So, I’ll give you that. That was cool, Teri.”

“Wait, it’s not three?”

“Nah.” Taku helped Teri up. “Apparently, it doesn’t count if I helped.”

“There are rules?”

“Yes,” Yayoi replied. “I just made them. Earlier. While you were fighting. You’re on the lead, by the way. I will have to change that soon enough.”

Teri wiped the blood from his face, smiling. “Are there any other enemies around?”

“There shouldn’t be. The intersection is clean, even the paths leading south and further east,” Yayoi glanced at Teri and Taku. “I also suggest going straight in your starting area and taking a longer break there for now.”

“I think so too,” Taku added.

It would be unfair for Teri to disagree, though he didn’t feel that great about the thought dragging his party members down. But of course, their safety is more important. “Okay. Let’s check whatever it is they dropped in the intersection first. Then, we’ll head straight into the starting area. I have some things I need to explain.”

“Yeah, me too.” Yayoi smiled at Teri, a pure, confusing one, as she took the lead to temporarily serve as their party’s vanguard. “About that power… I thought it was natural, so I didn’t explain much of it. There’s something that you two need to know.”