“Oh my God…. Oh my lord… What am I going to do now?” The voice that pronounced these words was completely void of emotions. However, judging by the restlessness of its owner it was clear that something bad had happened. Ace had just recently met Luciel the day before. She needed someone to translate a note in ancient Valan Runic language for her, but after finishing with his task, Ace didn’t quite expect to be summoned again by Lady Merlin’s daughter so soon. “Did you request for me, Lady Luciel” Ace bowed as he excused himself through the sorceress’s lab. “Oh yes! Yes, Yes! Come here!” Making his way to a table that was apparently freshly stained, Ace noticed that the lab was a complete mess. “Hum. May I ask if you need of my assistance? “That’s exactly why I have asked for you.. Huh. Ace?” Nodding in reassurance that that was indeed his name, Ace heard what Luciel had to tell. “Well… you see. I was currently doing some research on a powerful magical compound that would help us synthesize buffing magic. However, I accidently dropped one of the potions into a lab rat and it immediately grew out of proportions.” Ace’s interest quickly grew towards the story. “I tried catching it before it escaped, but it was all in vain.” As she took a breath and accommodated her witch hat back into place, Luciel pointed her finger at Ace. “I need you to help me get rid of that beast! The potion it received is quite dangerous and will most likely turn the rat into a threat to the people of Crocus. I need you to track down the rat and hunt it for me as quickly as possible.” Ace simply nodded in agreement. “I understand. I’ll be taking my leave in this instant.” As Ace made his way out of the lab, he could hear Luciel’s final words. “Please remember to bury it well once you’ve killed it!! We wouldn’t want other animals getting infected for consuming the chemicals off the rat’s corpse!”

About 6 hours had passed since he left Luciel’s quarters and still no leads. Ace was beginning to lose his patience. Just before he decided to turn back and postpone the hunt for the day, Ace heard a ruckus in the vicinity. “I swear I’m not lying!! I saw it with my own two eyes!!! It was hugeeee…. A-And it was dragging a dog with it!! It was 1 meter, NO! 2 Meters long! I’m telling you! I swear I’m telling the truth!” An old lady desperately tried to convince a gathered crowd of people that saw her with eyes of disbelief. They didn’t quite believe a word which she said. Monsters in Crocus? Impossible. However, the struggle of the lady was actually just what Ace had been wanting to hear all day long. “Excuse me. I’m sorry. Coming Trough..” Ace tried to open a path as he pushed people from the crowd that surrounded her. “Excuse me. It seems as if you saw some sort of beast, am I right?” Disconcerted, the lady simply nodded as she silently observed the Rune Knight. “My name’s Ace. I’m a Rune Knight. I’m currently on the hunt of a dangerous magical creature that is on the run here in the streets. Was the beast that you saw by any chance an oddly proportioned Rat?” The lady’s eyes immediately filled with tears of joy after hearing Ace’s question. “YES! YES IT WAS! I swear I’ve never seen such a big rodent in my life before! And not only that! But it was completely crazed… Looking for food he grabbed a dog and ran for it after killing it!” The crowd instantly gasped. For some reason, now that the swordsman was here, the lady’s story possessed complete credibility. “Would you know by any chance where was it going?” The old lady took a breath of air before answering. “It went towards the west side of the city. I’m sure it was heading towards the old abandoned house that lies at the outskirts of Crocus! Please young Knight, get rid of it before it reproduces!” Ace smiled at the granny. She had nothing to worry about. He had been tasked with hunting the beast. And that is what he was doing. After all, he finally had a lead.

Ace followed the lady’s instructions until he finally found the place. Up in the distance, the trail of radioactive green disappeared within an abandoned house. “This definitely is the place.” The sky had turned grey by now. The search for the rodent had definitely taken longer than what he would have personally preferred. However, there was no use on thinking about these kinds of things. After all, Ace was now certain where his pray was. The only thing he needed now was to find a method to lure it out and hunt it for once and for all. As he carefully made his way to the abandoned building, he noticed the surroundings. From a young age he had learnt that the key to success is always caution. No matter how strong you are, or how powerful your attacks can be, there is no meaning to all of that if you did not have the ability to execute a plan without fails. The first step to strategy though, was knowing your battlefield. Grass had grown freely all around the property. An assortment of weeds, plants, rocks, vines, and other kinds of herbs Ace did not distinguish had grown without proper care or order. This could pose a grave problem. With vegetation that covered up to his lower torso, Ace’s mobility was seriously in a disadvantage. The first plan to lure the rodent out had now passed to a second plane. Upon further examination, Ace found the perfect opportunity he was looking for. At one of the house’s sides was a crack on the wooden body. It was high enough to get him to the second floor, and it was coincidentally near to a boulder that would allow the swordsman to jump into it with ease.

As he carefully made his way up the rock and into the house, Ace tried not to make any sounds that would alert the rat of his presence. Once he made it safely inside, he took a peek inside. The second floor was also largely made out of wood. However, time and weather had managed to wither it down to the point that a great portion of the second floor had collapsed on its own. This was advantageous for Ace though, as he now held the higher ground and great visibility to the lower floor. With just a quick glance down through the ground crevice, Ace finally saw it.

It was grotesque, to say the least. The body of the rat had completely mutated to form an amorphous beast that aggressively bite into a dead dog. Its legs and arms had grown to the point that it stood at one meter of height. However, the most impressive of all was the 2-meter-long tail that quickly whipped from one side to another, forming a loud sound with each movement. Ace however, was now prepared. He silently grabbed a brick that he had previously found and proceeded to get closer to the rodent. Still on the second floor, the plan was to get close enough in order to assault it from above. As he did though, he would prepare in case something unforeseen happened. Gathering magical energy on his hand, Ace placed a Locis on the surface of the wall to his right. At the same time, he activated his Sica Salire spell, as two 10 cm. long blades grew from the bottom of his feet. Using them as support to move through the roof, Ace placed slowly his right foot on the wall, and then his right one. By now, he was completely attached to the wall, with an open space below him with gave directly to the first floor. Making his way through the wall, Ace grabbed the brick with his right hand as he prepared to commence his attack.

Meanwhile, the mutant rat feasted itself upon its poor prey. It was completely consumed by the bloodlust. Fully unaware of its surroundings, the large and sharp teeth of the rodent tried to separate the meat from the bone with frenzied excitement. As the blue haired mage observed this scene, he could only think of one thing. “What kind of sick dangerous potion was the one that Luciel was using!?” Without further delay, Ace decided to finally jump down upon his prey. Even if he had completely planned his attack, what happened next caught him off guard. Swinging the brick above his head and onto the face of the rat, the beast’s psycho reflexes kicked in at the last instant. What was supposed to be a clean hit to the head, turned into a half hit as he stroke the back of its torso. While he fall from the second floor, the rat was able to look at the imminent danger and powerfully swung its tail at Ace’s direction. Meeting his body mid-air, Ace could only twitch in pain as he received the powerful blow from the animal. Even if he too had hit it with the brick, it was far from over. A horrible screech instantly filled the room as a half enraged, half disoriented bloody rat felt the pain on its back. Face to face with ace, the beast instantly dashed towards him. Pressing his palms together, Ace quickly enchanted a barrier of floating swords to fend off the rodent’s attack. ”Prístino!” The vicious bite and flurry of scratches was met with squared array of blades that stopped the attack of the rat on its tracks. As it bought time for Ace to create some distance between them, he would chant another spell. “Second Virtue: Templanza!” The Locis he had previously placed instantly glowed in a golden light before a sharp spearhead chain flew from its insides directly to the rat’s back. However, the animal wouldn’t even notice it. Or at least. Not yet.

After finally destroying the barrier of swords, the beast charged once more towards Ace. Unluckily for it, the fight was already over. Extending his right arm, Ace chanted a spell for the last time with a smile of confidence. “First Virtue: Pericia…” His voice tone was calm. Holding both hands together and separating them, a golden sword materialized in his grip. Just before the rat closed the newly created distance between both of them, Templanza’s effect finally kicked in. The chain that was attached to the back of the rat had finally surpassed its 5-meter length. As if an attack had come from nowhere, the chain that had pierced its tough hide immediately disappeared, damaging the skin and inner body of the rodent. As it tumbled after losing balance, Ace used this opportunity to grab the sword that he had previously summoned and stabbed the rat on the head. After a couple of seconds, the animal was finally dead.

Ace was proud of himself. It was the first time since coming to Fiore that he was able to use his magic properly. For some reason, it seemed as if the atmosphere or the ethernano concentration was different from that of Peregrande. He had noticed before back at the Rune Knight headquarters. However, he didn’t know the reason as to why using his magic seemed like a heavier task. Either way, that had been no impediment for him to accomplish his mission of the day. After remembering Luciel’s words, the blue haired swordsman dragged the corpse of the rodent through the ground and into a hole he had previously found. Making use of his physical strength, Ace buried the animal with great effort. He was exhausted. He was dirty. The splashes of the radioactive green blood of the beast had stained his boots. Ace was done with the task that he had been requested with. However, before even thinking about rewards or reports. He needed a bath.

-EXIT-
[2047/2000]

MP: 375/500: