Chapter 42: Chapter 42: A Trapped Rat Spoils the Bait

The sound of rapid footsteps echoed out.

Pant pant

Wheezed breaths strung out the dry chords of two figures dashing through the darkness.

Huff huff

"Which... way?" a hurried voice called out in between croaked gasps.

Huff huff

"Um..." the other figure responded as the two figures had come across an earthen wall with a sign pointing to both the left and right with a smiley face right underneath.

The faint flickering flames barely illuminated the sign as the figures tried their best to choose the best path.

Finally, the figure continued, "Umm... I think-"

GRRRRR

A deep growl stirred from behind them, within the stained shadows, away from the barely comforting light let off by the dying torches.

GRRRRR

"Run!" the other figure called as they both ran; however, they ran in split directions as a path was never called out.

Distraught, both could only look behind them in fear and worry, yet selfishly praying that whatever beast lurked in the shadows... would choose the other instead.

SWOOOOSH!

The creature whizzed down the right path whilst still concealed within the shadows as if the flames were afraid to even reveal its dastardly figure.

The figure who asked 'which way' was now shrieking.

"Aaghhhh!! Nooo!! Help!!!"

Screams of agony and calls for help reverbed through the cave alongside pained cries and vicious growls.

The subtle splatters of viscous liquid sounded out across the passageway walls, which in turn bounced through the air, a reminder to the other figure that he had forsaken that which he called his brother and that he was truly alone.

Huff huff

With teary eyes and burning lungs, the figure continued on.

The rapid pitter-pattering of his sluggish footsteps echoed through the cave, playing along with the cadence of his friend's scream that still rang crystal-clear in his mind.

Ughhh...

Tripping over a small crack in the ground, the figure tumbled along the floor till he finally laid still on his stomach, his face head down to the muddy floor.

Muffled sobs soaked into the earthen floor as the figure slowly rose to his knees.

The torch flames along the walls barely illuminated the figure's face, a boy looking to be only 15 years of age.

His wheat-colored skin was caked in mud, and his unkempt neck-length blonde hair was clumped with blood and dirt.

Tears pooled from his pink and puffy eyes.

His lips quivering lips barely parted as a shaky hushed whisper escaped his mouth, "Why?"

The flames surrounding the boy swirled and danced as if a gust were brewing within the cave.

whoosh.

They went out, and a familiar yet horrifying sound croaked out behind him.

GRRRRRRR

"Mom..." the boy cried out in a hushed sob as his head sulked downwards, "I'm sorry."

Screams of agony filled the cave, alongside the sound of cracking bones and pleas for mercy.

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"Hmmm, are you sure we're going the right way, Oz?" a wheat-skinned boy with black hair and honest inky-black eyes asked.

"Trust me, Zee!" Oz responded with a confident smirk, "I'm gettin' us outta here!"

Zee, in turn, sighed as he followed behind, "Fine, let's just hope we can make it out of here before all the spots are filled."

The boys had been wandering around for about 15 minutes and, shortly after choosing a path, had started to hear screams and inhuman cries.

It was a wonder how the boys kept such a lax tone within this treacherous, maze-like place.

Regardless, the two continued onwards, a skip in their step as they hymned along and a slight smirk on Oz's face as he thought back to his conversation with Zee just a few moments ago.

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Only 5 minutes into choosing a path to venture down, the boys had noticed something amiss.

As they walked ahead, the smell of damp mud became mixed with that of blood, and a bad premonition spread among the pair.

GRRRRR

A low growl sounded up ahead as the two prepared themselves in combat stances.

Up ahead and out of the shadows, a 4 legged beast emerged.

It was green with brown spots speckled along its body; however, what Oz saw next made his eyes widen in shock.

-

[Creature: EarthCat]

[Level: 5]

[Realm: 1]

[Proficiency: Medium]

-

Oz seemingly froze, and upon seeing this, Zee began to panic as the usual calm, and collected friend of his now seemed to have frozen in fear.

"Hehehehehehe..."

Zee's eyes widened in confusion and concern as Oz began to chuckle to himself before maniacally laughing into the air, "HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Seems the upgrade wasn't for nothing," Oz muttered as he slowly walked forward.

Zee, however, called out to him, "Oz, wait!"

His friend has no weapon in hand and would surely be ripped to shreds if he were to take on a random beast with his bare hands.

A slight smirk spread across Oz's face as he opened up his "new and improved box" and brought up his own stats.

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[UNAVAILABLE: System Fragmented]

[Collect Other Half to Confirm]

-

"Heh, just like before," he grimaced to himself.

Part of the reason he was so unsure of his results was, not only did he honestly not know where his true strength was, but also that he felt something brewing within, something... strange.

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The past few days, when the boys had been training, not only did it feel like parts of his strength were missing, but in return, his senses had been enhanced as if compensated.

'That time I lost all my senses...' now, even in this dark cave, Oz could see perfectly clearly as if the bright blue sky was fully illuminating throughout.

This applied to all of his senses, and though he felt some of his former strength was missing, in place of that was renewed control and awareness of his body.

"Heh," he chuckled before diving into a full sprint.

REEEEE

The creature hissed at him as it looked down on its prey, trying to approach it first.

It swung its razor-sharp claws at him, yet before they even made contact, Oz swiftly stepped to the side and, in one fluid motion, delivered a powerful hook to its stomach.

POWW!

The creature was sent tumbling across the muddy floor, yet, Oz would not let such an opportunity go lightly.

As it skidded across the floor, he closely followed behind, delivering a soccer-style kick to its jaw, sending it tumbling along the floor like a spinning top.

Finally, he timed his leg, forcefully stomping down onto its face as it spun.

BANG!..

BANG

BANG

BANG

Oz repeatedly slammed his foot down until the beast's head was little more than a pile of push.

Zee watched from the same spot where he stood still now.

The weak lights of the dull torches cast a haunting look onto the friend he thought he knew.

"O-Oz?.." he called out weakly.

"Hmm?" Oz looked over, "oh, don't worry about this, Zee. In that hell hole, this is the least I had to do to survive."

Zee nervously nodded his head, 'I know Nana told me not to talk about what happened in the Dung Den with him because it might be traumatic, but...' he gazed at the blood splattered across his friend's clothes with some bits even being tangled in his fuzzy white hair.

The boy slowly sighed as he looked away, 'but at least we're alive.'

Oz came up to him, which Zee barely noticed upon looking away, as slight shivers ran down his spine, 'am-am I next?"

His pupils shrunk as fear blared through his eyes.

WACK

"Ow, what was that for?!" Zee grasped the top of his head that Oz had just whacked.

Oz then put both hands on his hips as he pouted at his friends, "lighten up, will ya. I ain't gonna hurt ya. Plus, though I don't remember much, I know you're like a brother to me, so I'm gettin' us out of here alive."

Hicc hicc

Zee's eyes began to water as he rubbed his head, to which Oz shot a look of confusion, 'the fuk is up with this kid now?'

Zee then lunged forward into Oz's chest and gave him a tight hug as tears fell down his face, "baaaahhhh, I'm sorry Oz! Even after you saved my life, I doubted youuuu~"

As Zee bawled into Oz's bloody shirt, the chocolate-skinned boy just looked up with a smirk on his face, 'heh, so he's one of those sentimental types. Welp, makes it easier, I guess.'

Finally, after a few minutes, Zee finally let go as he sniffled and continued to rub his runny nose.

Oz smiled while looking at this, 'Good, this means he'll be even easier to use for THAT than I thought.'

"Anyways, Zee," Oz spoke up, "I know it's dangerous here, but just leave it to me!" he spoke while confidently pointing to himself.

"That's no fair, though!" Zee argued while pouting his lips, "We both trained together. I don't want to only rely on you!"

Oz then grasped his chin and stared off at the ceiling like he was thinking deeply, "Hmmm, fine, but let me lead the way, and I'll let you know when to strike. Sound fair?"

With that, he reached out his fist, to which Zee put out his fist as well, fist-bumping his friend, "Fair!"

Oz then turned and continued walking through the cave and stepping over the body, a pleasant sound filled his ears after eliminating the creature, and thus he checked the "mysterious box."

There was quite the splendid surprise.

-

[Experience Gained]

[Experience Witheld]

[UNAVAILABLE: System Fragmented]

[Collect Other Half to Confirm]

With that, a smirk spread across Oz's face, 'so this is supposed to be a test? Nonono, for me, this is simply a feast.'

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________________________________________________________________________________________

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA

FINALLY, YOU BOIS DUNNO HOW LONG I BEEN WAITING TO GET HERE!

SOME OF YALL MIGHTVE BEEN WONDERING WHERE THE SYSTEM STATS WERE AND ALL THAT, I DIDN'T FORGET BUTT THIS ONLY MAKES IT ALL THE SWEETER!

ITS TIME FOR CARNAGE AND IT WILL ENSUEE

MWAHAHAHAHAAA

THE SLOW BURN THESE PAST CHAPTERS WILL CHURN INTO HELLFIRE SO BE PREPARED BOIS!!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA- OH AND THANKS FOR READING ;3

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