Adventurer of Many Professions

Chapter 31 Broken Bones!

The long sword shattered in Raymond's hands, leaving him defenseless. His pupils constricted with shock, and without a second thought, he released the broken hilt, instinctively trying to retreat. But the giant mutant rat had no intention of giving him a chance to escape. Its enraged green eyes locked onto him, and it raised a massive, filthy claw, aiming straight for his head with lethal intent.

Raymond's options were limited, and time was running out. He raised his left arm in a desperate attempt to block the incoming strike, bracing himself for impact.

Snap!

Pain exploded in his arm as the rat's claws tore into his leather armor, sending a shudder through his entire body. He let out a low, guttural cry, the force of the blow causing his arm to drop limply by his side. The armor had barely managed to shield him from having his arm completely torn off, but the claws had sliced through deep enough to leave three savage cuts, and he could feel the bone in his forearm crack under the pressure.

The rat's strength was overwhelming, far beyond anything he'd encountered before. Even with his newfound [Warrior] class, Raymond realized he was outmatched. The creature's power and speed were simply too much for him to handle on his own. He felt a wave of despair begin to creep in, but he quickly shook it off, refusing to give in.

His gaze hardened. If he was going down, he would go down fighting.

As the mutant rat prepared to strike again, Raymond spotted a momentary gap in its stance, a vulnerability in the wound on its side where its intestines were spilling out. Without hesitation, he pivoted on his left leg and swung his right leg around in a powerful whip kick, aiming directly at the gaping wound.

Bang!

His foot connected with the rat's exposed abdomen, and the wound tore open further, intestines and filth spilling out in a sickening spray. The giant rat screeched in agony, its body writhing as it stumbled, momentarily thrown off balance.

Seizing this brief opening, Raymond quickly accessed his skill panel, his mind racing. There it was Bone Crusher, the skill he needed. He didn't hesitate, mentally selecting the "+" beside it, and a surge of knowledge flooded into him, almost like a memory coming to life. He suddenly knew exactly how to execute the move, as if he had practiced it a thousand times before.

The rat was still reeling, its massive body convulsing in pain. Raymond's focus sharpened, his instincts kicking in with a sense of purpose. His right hand curled into a fist, the energy of Bone Crusher coursing through him, guiding him. The magic within him flowed into his arm, amplifying his strength far beyond its usual limits.

With a determined cry, Raymond lunged forward, his fist tearing through the air, an afterimage trailing as he brought it down toward the rat's head with all the force he could muster.

Crack!

The punch landed with a sickening sound, and the giant mutant rat's skull shattered under the impact, the bone caving in as if it were brittle clay. The creature let out one last, agonized shriek before collapsing to the ground with a final, resounding thud.

Raymond stood there, breathing heavily, his fist still clenched, unable to believe what he'd just accomplished. He stared at the now-lifeless body of the mutant rat, its head crushed beyond recognition. He'd done it; he'd taken down the beast with a single blow.

"Skills… they're really that powerful," he muttered, awe creeping into his voice. Now, he understood why there was such a vast difference between those who possessed skills and those who didn't. The Bone Crusher skill had taken him from a desperate fighter to a lethal force, turning the tide of battle in a split second.

But before he could fully revel in his victory, a chilling sound reached his ears.

"Gah… gah…"

He spun around, his senses on high alert. In the shadows, pairs of glowing green eyes began to blink open, staring at him with an unnerving intensity. The other mutant rats, the ones that had been knocked out by Sylph's explosion, were beginning to stir, shaking off the remnants of the blast.

Raymond's heart pounded. He was already battered, his left arm useless, his only weapon destroyed. And now, a new wave of danger was awakening around him.

Raymond noticed something peculiar almost immediately. The remaining mutant rats weren't charging at him as he'd expected. Instead, some of them began to back away, their eerie green eyes widening with… fear?

"They're scared," he realized, his mind racing. They had witnessed him defeat the giant mutant rat, their leader, and now they feared him. The realization sparked a surge of confidence, but he knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

Some of the rats still snarled at him, their fangs bared, clearly undecided about whether to attack or flee. Raymond understood that if he showed even a hint of weakness, they'd sense it and likely overwhelm him in seconds. His left arm was useless, his body bruised, and he had Sylph to protect. Any sign of hesitation, and it would be all over.

So, he took a few purposeful steps forward, his expression steely and unwavering. The mutant rats closest to him hesitated, their growls faltering as they began to back away, though they didn't completely flee.

Raymond bent down, keeping his gaze locked on them, and picked up the broken hilt of his sword. The sight of him wielding even a broken weapon was apparently too much for the rats to bear. With a collective, anxious "gulp," they turned and scampered off, disappearing into the shadows, their tails tucked between their legs.

As the last of them vanished, Raymond's strength finally gave way. He collapsed to the ground with a groan, every muscle in his body screaming in exhaustion.

"Raymond… are… are you okay?" Sylph's voice came from behind him, shaky but full of concern.

He looked over to see her struggling to stand, her face pale with worry. She must have watched the entire battle, helpless and terrified as he fought the giant mutant rat alone. She'd seen the brutal injuries he'd sustained, and it was clear she felt some of the desperation he'd managed to conceal.

Raymond forced a weary smile. "I'm fine," he replied, his voice hoarse. But he knew they couldn't linger here. The sewer was still dangerous, and who knew if more mutant rats or another giant one, would come crawling out of the shadows.

Pushing himself to his feet, he approached Sylph, helping her to steady herself against the wall. She was still too weak to walk on her own, and they needed to get out fast.

After a quick glance around, Raymond knelt down, motioning for her to get on his back. "Come on up. I'll carry you. We need to move quickly."

Sylph looked surprised, hesitating as her cheeks turned pink. "Ah… are you sure? Your arm…"

"Hurry up," he urged, casting a wary glance back down the tunnel. "Those rats could come back any moment."

Shuddering at the thought, Sylph didn't argue any further. Carefully, she climbed onto Raymond's back, her arms wrapping around his neck to hold on.

Raymond grunted as he stood, shifting to support her with his good arm. He moved as quickly as he could manage, his boots splashing through the foul water as he made his way toward the distant light of the exit. His mind was entirely focused on escape, but Sylph, clinging to his back, found herself acutely aware of every bump and movement, her face growing warmer with each step.

Eventually, the light grew brighter, signaling their way out. Raymond's shoulders finally relaxed as they neared the exit, the weight of tension lifting as the promise of safety drew closer. As his mind eased, he became more aware of Sylph on his back, the warmth of her presence, and the softness pressed against him.

Flustered, he tried to adjust his posture, slowing his pace slightly, his back straightening as he attempted to create a bit of space.

"Hey! Raymond!" Sylph squeaked, tightening her arms around his neck as she felt herself slipping. "What are you doing? I'm going to fall!"

Startled, Raymond quickly bent forward again, steadying her. "Sorry… I, uh… just thought we were almost there," he replied, doing his best to sound nonchalant. "You… uh, can probably get down now, right?"

Sylph hesitated, her face hidden against his shoulder. "I… I still feel a little weak," she murmured, holding on a bit tighter instead of letting go. Then, almost shyly, she leaned her head against his back, feeling his warmth and heartbeat through his armor.

Raymond's face turned red, but he held his tongue, focusing on getting them both out of the sewer. There was something oddly comforting about having her there, her trust in him evident in the way she clung to him.

Finally, they emerged into the light, the cold, fresh air hitting them like a wave. Raymond's tense muscles loosened as he stepped out of the sewer, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. They had made it out alive.

As he lowered her gently to the ground, Sylph looked up at him, a small, grateful smile on her face. "Thank you, Raymond," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He smiled back, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "Anytime, Sylph. Just… let's just avoid giant mutant rats from now on, yeah?"

They shared a quiet laugh, the harrowing events of the sewer behind them. But in that moment, standing side by side, they both knew their bond had grown stronger through the battle they'd survived together.