Chapter 10 Problem in The Basement

The threat was gone, and the Cat Boss left, defeated. But Koji's triumph didn't last long his heart sank as he heard the ominous scraping and clawing sounds emanating from his basement as if some evil force was nibbling at the wood. The hairs on the back of his neck stood as he wondered what kind of monstrosity could it be.

As Koji descended into the basement, the ominous sound of wood being clawed and scraped filled the air. He recognized it immediately, and his heart sank with dread. He hastened to a makeshift door that he had erected to block the tunnel leading to the neighboring vending machine. He knew that the source of the sound was on the other side, waiting for its chance to get in.

Koji's heart raced as he approached the door, knowing deep down that this encounter would not end as peacefully as his previous one with Cat Boss. He braced himself for the worst, knowing that what lay behind the door was no ordinary creature. A Rat. A monstrous and savage beast that lived solely to devour, with no other purpose but to eat, breed, and kill.

 Koji could feel his palms sweating as he reached for the doorknob, his mind racing with thoughts of how he would defeat the creature and protect his home.

Koji cautiously creaked open the door, his heart racing as he peered down the dimly lit corridor. His eyes widened in horror at the sight that greeted him in the distance - The Rat. This monstrous creature loomed before him, easily twice Koji's size and moving in a jerking, unpredictable fashion. Its bloodshot eyes and bloody mouth, frothing with white foam, sent shivers down Koji's spine. The Rat was sick, but still incredibly dangerous.

Koji had always relied on mouse traps to deal with the occasional small rodent problem, but he had never encountered a true rat before. The tiny traps he had on hand would be no match for such a formidable foe, so he knew he had to come up with a new plan. His trusty needle rapier would be useless against such a beast.

Koji rummaged through the clutter in his basement and his eyes fell upon an old nail, towering over him in size. His mind began to race with ideas, and soon he had a plan. He fashioned the nail into a harpoon, and with his magic, he constructed a makeshift soda-powered cannon from an old bottle, a valve, and some discarded parts. After assembling the contraption, he positioned it carefully in front of the door.