A bright flash erupted from the arrow as it sliced through the air, heading straight for the massive rat that was about to reach Noa. The instant the arrow struck the creature's head, a brutal explosion followed.
The giant rat's skull shattered instantly, spraying blood and chunks of brain matter everywhere like a gruesome downpour. Its body crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, motionless and completely lifeless.
One of them was down — which meant there were only four left. I stayed hidden, my male body pressed against the rusted pipes, watching closely, waiting for the perfect moment to act. Meanwhile, my female body was still in a desperate sprint, my muscles burning from the effort.
Every step felt like a bigger struggle, and honestly, I could already feel myself reaching my limit. The exhaustion was unbearable, and the urge to collapse was creeping in like a shadow ready to consume me if I dared keep running.
Focusing my vision from Noa's perspective, I glanced quickly behind me. Those vivid red eyes were still locked on me, glowing in the dark with relentless intensity, showing no regard for their fallen comrade.
Or rather, I wasn't even sure if these things were capable of thought—let alone the concept of having "comrades" at all. As I got lost in that thought, a sudden flash of light flickered by my side. Before I could react, the strange light struck another rat nearby. In a heartbeat, its head exploded just as brutally, sending blood and brain matter flying through the air.
It was grotesque and horrifying, but all it did was make my eyebrows twitch slightly. Strangely, the sight didn't bother me. Without hesitation, I kept running, a simple thought crossing my mind: (Another one down. That leaves three) I paused briefly.
Then I shifted my focus back to Justin's field of view—my male body—still waiting for Noa to pass me. The giant rat, a level 5—the strongest among those Noa had scanned—was the last of the group.
Tension hung in the air as I remained still and patient, waiting for my chance. My dagger glinted ominously in the dim light, a deep crimson glow reflecting off its blade and contrasting with the surrounding darkness.
I waited silently, my breathing steady, eyes tracking every movement around me. When the second-to-last giant rat came close enough, I sprang into action, soundless and swift, gliding down to the ground like a shadow.
In a single, precise motion, I drove the dagger deep into the monster's skull, the force of the blow sending it stumbling and collapsing to the floor. The rat, still in full sprint, tumbled forward, its body rolling with the impact.
With a swift, deliberate motion, I yanked the blade free, the sound of metal scraping against bone echoing for a split second. I didn't waste time. I refocused—this fight was far from over. Without hesitation, I charged forward, my eyes locked on the next target. After dropping another rat, only two remained.
Adrenaline surged through me, and my body moved on instinct. My speed kicked up—barely noticeable, but faster—driven by the intensity of the moment. I darted toward the next giant rat.
Within seconds, I was right behind it. My eyes flicked forward to Oliver. He met my gaze and, without a word, returned it—a simple gesture, but enough for both of us to understand. No more instructions needed. I shifted my focus to Noa, preparing for the next move.
With a sudden pivot, I stopped in my tracks. The giant rat chasing me was dangerously close. Its red eyes, burning like flames, locked onto me with a heat I could feel on my skin. But the moment didn't last—something whizzed past me, breaking the looming confrontation.
A soft breeze stirred my long hair—and Noa's too, as dark as the surrounding night. And then, the rat's head exploded. A shower of gore and flesh rained down, a grotesque display of blood and meat spraying all around. The other rat, just behind, let out a strange and terrifying roar, a sound that sent a chill through the air.
Without hesitation, it lunged at me, completely unfazed by its companion's death, launching a merciless attack like nothing had happened. From Noa's perspective, I dodged the charging giant rat with ease, throwing my body to the side. A moment later, a figure appeared atop the creature, and my dagger sliced through its thick, dark hide.
The blow landed clean, blood spraying onto the blade and dripping heavily as the rat, visibly wounded, clutched the wound in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. Its eyes now burned with even more hatred, glowing with a fury that felt almost tangible. But that rage didn't last long—
Justin, occupying my male body, emerged from the shadows. He leapt with deadly accuracy, slamming his dagger straight into the rat's skull. The sound of the strike was followed by an eerie silence. And just like that, the rat collapsed to the ground, unmoving.
I stood there for a moment, catching my breath as both Noa and Justin—my female and male selves—locked eyes. It still felt surreal to see myself from two different perspectives. But there was a strange comfort in it too.
One thing I realized: even though each body represented a different state, there was an upside—if one got sick, the other wouldn't. That, at least, was good news. But my relief didn't last long. I glanced at my remaining mana: Mana: 15/129
(I really need to get better at managing my mana, I thought, letting out a sigh) I thought, as a sigh escaped my lips: (I don't even want to imagine what would've happened if I'd run out in the middle of this)