To make matters worse, Alice, unfortunately, didn’t seem like much help in this situation. First, she was visibly shaken by the chaos around us, and second, her class didn’t appear to be suited for direct combat.
In the end, the responsibility for our defense fell on me and Ethan. I immediately scanned our surroundings. Although the train windows looked sturdy, it was obvious they wouldn’t hold for much longer.
Judging by the intensity of the impacts, they’d be shattering soon—and those rats, massive like polar bears, would come storming in. The idea of being trapped in a cramped train with six giant rats was, to say the least, not appealing.
Either way, I turned my eyes toward the train ceiling. I was looking for something very specific, and to be honest, the odds of finding it weren’t great. Luckily, it didn’t take long before I spotted what I was hoping for.
On the ceiling, something that resembled a hatch stood out. I didn’t hesitate. With a swift motion, I jumped up and grabbed the latch. As I unlocked it, the hatch dropped open with a loud clang, revealing a crawl space above.
I glanced around quickly. Alice was still frozen in place, trembling, unsure of how to respond. Ethan, on the other hand, looked even more overwhelmed than before. The giant rats, as if they had coordinated somehow, were now crowding around the door.
With their enormous heads, they began slamming into it with growing force, the sound of the impacts echoing through the space. Each hit landed harder than the last, as if they were determined to break through at any cost.
“Ethan, distract them! I have an idea!” I shouted, urgency sharp in my voice. This content belongs to NoveI~Fire.net
He locked eyes with me for a second before glancing up at the open hatch. Confusion narrowed his gaze, and with disbelief in his voice, he asked: “What the hell are you planning?”
Honestly, there was no time to explain. Ethan looked like he was at his limit, and with no other option, I decided to act first and explain later. I gathered my strength, gave myself a push, and jumped again, grabbing the edge firmly. In one quick motion, I pulled myself up. As I finally reached the top of the train, I was surprised by how it felt.
It was strange—my female body felt much lighter and more agile, almost as if my movements flowed more naturally than they ever had when I was male. The lightness and dexterity I now possessed caught me off guard, making the action far smoother than I expected.
(I’ll think about that later. Right now, surviving is the priority)
With that thought, I moved carefully across the train roof, each step placed with precision, doing my best not to make a sound that could alert the giant rats.
When I reached the edge, I looked down. I saw seven massive rats, their eyes filled with fury and their teeth bared, slamming their full weight against the train door. It was a terrifying sight.
Acting fast, I activated the [Identify] skill on the rats. Instantly, holographic panels popped up in front of me, displaying their names and levels—just like it had in similar situations before.
[Giant Rat – Level 5]
[Giant Rat – Level 5]
[Giant Rat – Level 4]
[Giant Rat – Level 4]
[Giant Rat – Level 3]
[Giant Rat – Level 3]
[Giant Rat – Level 2]
Their levels weren't as high as I had expected. Sure, there were two level 5s among them, but honestly, I didn't think that was much of a challenge. At least from my perspective, their level didn't seem to affect much. Maybe I was wrong, but based on everything I had observed so far, that was the conclusion I had come to.
The level 5 rat didn’t worry me too much. After all, my experience with these giant rats so far showed that regardless of their level, their behavior and abilities didn’t differ all that much. Pushing those distracting thoughts aside, I gripped my dagger tightly and slowly drew it from its sheath. With barely a motion, I activated [Precise Strike].
In the next instant, the blade, once dull and metallic, shimmered with a soft red glow—imbued with a deadly, hidden power. Now there was only one question left: who should I use the skill on? Its deadliest effect—instant death—only worked on enemies who hadn’t detected me yet. It was hard to imagine I’d stay hidden after taking out the first one.
But truthfully, I didn’t have to think long. The element of surprise would only last a moment anyway. I made the decision instantly—I’d use the skill on the strongest one. It was quick. Instinctual. I didn’t stop to overanalyze. When Ethan was suddenly thrown forward by the force of the door breaking, I didn’t hesitate.
With a sharp, fluid motion, I drove my dagger into the skull of the level 5 giant rat. The effect was immediate—its body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. It dropped hard, kicking up a cloud of dust as its massive weight hit the ground.
*You have slain [Giant Rat – Lvl 6] – Bonus EXP earned for defeating an enemy above your level. 10 TP gained*
*DING! Class: [Assassin] reached Level 4 – Status points awarded*
Within seconds, the notifications popped up, but I ignored them completely—I didn’t even glance their way. My focus was locked on the remaining rats ahead of me. Naturally, the others noticed one of their own had fallen. With guttural screeches, they turned toward me, their eyes burning with rage. Now, only six giant rats remained between me and survival—and they were ready to strike back.