Chapter 10: Copepod Throng

While thinking through my past and future, I slowly continue to drift through the tunnels. Above me, the gray stone walls slide in and out of view. Excluding when I passed through a section of red brick, the view has not changed, and I have not moved at all. However, I did discover that I can make my body either halt and not drift along the water or allow it to simply move with the water as it pleases. Anyway, that’s not particularly important; what is important is I have been able to ponder some things. Sitting up, a purple wall suddenly appears.

I swing my hazy head in a disapproving manner. ‘Earl, I beg of thee, will thou stop giving me the same recommendation? This has to be the tenth time now! I am well aware of what thou wishes of me.’

'I am surprised I actually succeeded in setting a limit. I did not expect a response, to be honest.’

Glancing around the tunnels, I notice that I seem to be back at the red brick area where I consumed my first rat. In the distance, I recognize the section of missing bricks where the huge gray rat was digging.

‘I wonder if another rat has moved into the old nest. This might be a good opportunity for another meal!’

I raise myself and move in the direction of the hole, regrettably fueled by the thought of the delicious flavor. Yet, once I am near, I am astonished to find the once small hole now looks big enough to fit a large dog. The few bricks that were missing are now dozens as they are scattered all about the tunnel. Nearby I notice there are two new holes of similar sizes.

‘Did something down here dig these… Perhaps, they just collapsed? Nay, that’s really unlikely!’

Abruptly, I hear something shriek from within the hole, so I immediately retreat to the end of the tunnel. The first thing that walks out leaves me dazed. It’s a rat, but it’s a rat that is even bigger than the one I first found here, and that’s the least remarkable thing about it. What has me questioning my very eyes is that this rat seems to be walking on two legs, similar to an elderly man with a really bad hunch. It stands around two feet tall, and its gaze and mannerisms seem so unusually emotional for a rat that it is almost scary. Though, its current expression reminds me of a man who was caught by his wife sleeping with a harlot, simply complete and utter ruin. Just as I am about to attempt to soothe my mind, more of these elderly rats march out from the other three holes. Around five in total, and each one seems to be carrying something.

They all gather in the murky water and lovingly caress the objects they carry. From the other end of the red brick tunnel, I hear a loud squeak, and something begins to walk this way. As the thing approaches, it stomps and throws water about as if it is trying to intimidate the little old rat people.

Finally, it steps into view, and due to how revolting and wretched its appearance, I nearly flee on impulse. It’s around seven feet tall and also hunched over like the others. However, excluding that, it is entirely different from them in nearly every other way. To start, it seems to be missing large chunks of its flesh along with random bald patches with big sickening scabs scattered about its body. Its teeth bulge from its mouth as if too large, and on its back, vertebrae protrude from its flesh. Yet, worst of all is the big black boils that cover it, constantly leaking and spewing black pus at random.

It stops and squeaks loudly at the other five rats. The five rats all glance at one another as if reluctant before holding up their paws. The wretched rat reaches out and seizes one of the things from an elderly rat. Just barely, I can make out a struggling and hairless baby rat as the wretched rat tosses it into its mouth with a crunch. The elderly rat drops its arms and waddles away in defeat. This same sight repeats four more times until the wretched rat saunters away while the five elderly rats simply watch its tail disappear into the distance.

‘...Well. I am not certain what to think of everything I just witnessed. But Earl, I want thou to know I do not accept any responsibility and place all blame on thou. This undoubtedly has something to do with the paste that thou made out to be harmless. I unmistakably recognize that wretched rat as the baby and the five rats as the rats who were there when I returned. Their fur has the same patterns, and the wretched rat is missing the same pieces of flesh. Also, I shall hear nothing about how it was I who had forgotten the baby rat.’

Of course, Earl does not answer, so I take it as his acknowledgment that this is all his fault.

‘Ah, now I may rest easy knowing that I am not to blame for this. Yet, I would be lying if I said I did not feel pity for the elderly rats. I shall keep an eye on the situation, but I have little intention of involving myself in something like this given my own situation.’

Just when I am about to leave, I notice something. One of the elderly rats seems to be fiddling with a familiar object. Focusing on it, I discover it seems to be using its teeth to shape a small tree branch.

‘Tree! Green! Perhaps, it has just been bad luck, but thus far, the few times I have been to the surface, I have yet to spot a single tree. Yet, this rat has one… I bet they may know of a nice forest I can plant my seed!’

However, my eyes fall onto my Erysichthon value, which has risen to fifty after scouting the night before and then floating around the tunnels.

‘Aye, but first, I shall hunt more normal rats, so I can be prepared if the elderly rats go on the move.’

Around five-thousand steps or three hours later, I manage to track down five rats. My Erysichthon drops to three, I collected ‘1.6’ Nebula and ‘0.6’ Vitrum. This puts me in a comfortable place to watch the elderly rats.

‘The hunt went so well that my ‘stat’ things increased! Aye, it is as if the Cosmic System is saying “Thou hast done well Constance!”’ I poke at my hazy chest boastfully as my thoughts wander. ’Still, the rats are not giving me Essence. A bit disappointing as Essence seems to be very important.’ Just as I am about to return to the elderly rats, I hear a squeaking nearby. Obscuring my eyes with my hands, I notice a small mouse. ‘I believe I have room for one more…’

Faster than I expected, the cattail strikes the mouse ending it immediately. A purple wall appears, but I push it away due to a large blue wall looming behind it.

‘Oh how exciting! This is one of those skill things the Cosmic System mentioned! Unlike the stats, this one was explained to me. Though, I was not expecting a choice. ’ Reading through the two options, I choose surprisingly quickly. ‘I do not know how I feel about being offered something that refers to me as “a creature,” but I certainly believe it is the better option for me. More importantly, I cannot allow something so silly to hinder my survival. I shall never allow myself to return to the Tenebrous Place, so I wish for the second option, please, Cosmic System.’

‘I have seven-days to get it to a Novice “rank.” Is that difficult? I do not actually know. Hmm, I had planned to return to the elderly rats, but perhaps I should focus on my stats and skill? I know where they live, so they cannot go too far, surely… Aye, it certainly seems the smartest thing would be to get a bit stronger in case something like that disgusting rat chooses to attack me.’

Suppressing my urge to return to the elderly rats, I retreat to an area upstream from their homes—the same area I was practicing previously. So as before, I set up the red bricks and commence practicing with my cattail.

‘I shall continue this for as long as I can mentally bear it.’

…

…

…

I believe several hours pass before I get too bored to endure, almost immediately, a new blue wall appears. Staring at the blue wall, I contemplate its meaning. ‘Only Strength and Agility progressed once again. I can only assume that the type of training decides what ‘stats’ improve, and if that is not the case, then I have nary an idea of how it works. Still, I am happy to see my skill also has advanced… But how high must I progress for it to become the ‘Novice’ ranking?’

Suddenly nearby, I hear the sounds of hissing.

‘What… What is that noise!?’

Spinning around, I notice some movement from the nearby murky water. The surface of the water ripples as creatures that seem to be a cross between a shrimp and a roach crawl from the liquid.

‘Geh! Those creatures are disgusting!’

The tiny crab-roach things lump together, forming a grotesque union of the creatures. Reaching a height of around three-feet, the mass crawls upon one another. Seemingly attracted to my presence, they surge toward me, resembling something akin to an ocean wave.

‘Nay! Do not come near me!’

Grasping a brick with the cattail, I hurl it at the mass, causing a sickening crunch to echo. The creatures hiss in unison while consuming their fallen brethren. Panicked, I grasp more bricks, flinging them toward the abomination one after another. After throwing the last brick, I notice a wet mass of the creatures splattering nearby. I suppress my disgust and place knowledge above my own sentiments.

The tendrils scoop the liquid into the cattail. A taste or feeling that is, sadly, very pleasant, spreads through my body.

‘I am uncertain if that information was worth it!’

While the copepod throng feasts upon their fallen brethren, I flee to reassess my situation. I find that my speed seems faster than before—likely thanks to my improvement in Agility. I turn a corner, glancing back to see the copepod throng returning to the murky water as if they were never there.

‘...Are they yet another creature that was born from the paste? Earl, thou has caused yet more problems! How could thou allow such a thing to happen?! Nevertheless, just know I forgive thou.’ Having teased Earl to my satisfaction, I glance back at the water. ‘But, what could those creatures have possibly been before the paste? I have never seen anything like them before. More importantly, I actually received Essence from that creature? Could I actually defeat it?’

While musing ways to destroy the creature, I resolve to first revisit the elderly rats to see what I may learn from them. However, I have a feeling I shall be back here in the near future.