Chapter 304: The White Rat
"Whoa, look! Someone actually made it out of the fourth level of Black Rock Spire alive!"
Players on the third level couldn’t help but shout as they watched a lone figure ride out from the fourth level atop a Flame Charger, looking every bit as imposing as the legends made him sound.
The fourth level of Black Rock Spire had always been off-limits. No one could say how many had gone in, but not a single person had ever returned.
Everyone who spent time around the spire knew the rule; do not enter the fourth level before Level 30.
"No way..."
"Did something change down there?"
The crowd erupted into noise and speculation. A few bold and impulsive players rushed toward the entrance without hesitation, while others, swept up by the moment, followed right behind them.
"Ahhh!"
"Ahhh!"
The screams came almost immediately, echoing back out from the depths.
"What’s going on?"
"Did they find treasure or something?"
Curiosity spread faster than fear, and before long even more players poured into the fourth level.
---
Following the coordinates Invincible Strong had sent, Marcus rode at full speed. In less than twenty minutes, he arrived at the Black-Tooth Rat spawn point.
It was a sprawling rat nest, crawling with creatures of every size. Some were no larger than cats, while others were far bigger. Level 20 Bucktooth Rats, Level 25 Yellow-Tail Rats, Level 30 Black-Tooth Rats, and Level 35 White Dog Rats all spawned here in dense clusters.
The experience gain was decent, making it a viable grinding spot.
The problem was the loot.
These rats were notoriously poor, and somehow managed to be obnoxious about it. Aside from useless rat fur and tails, they almost never dropped anything of value. Players often spent more on supplies than they earned, so the area was usually quiet.
"Stone! Over here!"
The Drunkard and Cleaver stood at the edge of the nest, clearly waiting. They waved as soon as they spotted him.
"Still there?" Marcus asked as he rode over.
"Yeah."
The Drunkard pointed toward a small hill not far ahead. Around twenty players had gathered there, all drawn by the same thing.
"It’s a white rat, about the size of a tiger. Spawned in the Level 35 White Dog Rat area. We’re guessing it’s around Level 40. Not many players here, so no one’s been able to take it down."
He spoke as he moved, using Bone Boar Burst Stinger to quickly clear out the weaker rats along their path, opening the way forward.
Marcus drew his Bat Dragon Cloud Sword and cut down the smaller mobs with ease as they advanced toward the hill. This spot marked the boundary between the Level 30 Black-Tooth Rats and the Level 35 White Dog Rats, forming a natural buffer zone.
"Stone, you made it."
Invincible Strong stepped forward to greet him. Along with the Drunkard and Cleaver, the rest of the group was already assembled: DragonBlade, Fate’s Trial, Gloomy Arrow, and Path to Heaven.
"Yeah. What’s the situation?"
Marcus opened the Mad Lion Mercenary Group channel and activated Insight, scanning both the surrounding players and the boss itself.
The white rat stood out immediately.
It was roughly the size of a tiger, its body sleek and almost elegant, resembling an oversized squirrel more than anything grotesque. A faint white mist radiated from its fur, giving it an otherworldly presence. It did not look like something that would drop worthless loot.
Around it clustered packs of Level 35 White Dog Rats, forming a living barrier.
There were about twenty other players nearby, scattered in small groups. None exceeded five members, which made the Mad Lion Mercenary Group the largest and strongest force present.
The other players watched them closely. Some looked envious, while others wore faint, expectant smiles, the kind people had when they were waiting to see someone else fail.
"The white rat isn’t easy," Invincible Strong said. "Two groups already tried. The first had ten people. They got wiped out in minutes. The second had eight and tried to lure it away from the pack. Didn’t work. That thing’s smart. They got wiped too."
That explained the expressions. Nothing entertained a crowd quite like repeated failure.
"From what we’ve seen," he continued, "it can control the other rats, and it casts mid-level Water and Wind area spells. Its attack power is no joke."
He glanced at the surrounding players.
"Most of these guys are just grinding here, either solo or in small teams. They’re waiting to see what happens. A few belong to bigger groups though, and they’ve probably already called for backup. This place is going to get crowded soon."
He wasn’t wrong.
No one here was above Level 30. Dealing with Level 35 White Dog Rats was already difficult enough. Adding an unknown boss on top of that pushed things beyond their limits. Waiting was the sensible choice.
Marcus let out a quiet chuckle. For him, this was nothing.
He had already fought the Bone Boar, the Skeleton Marshal, and even Level 40 mobs on the fourth level of Black Rock Spire. Compared to that, these White Dog Rats barely registered as a threat.
As long as the white rat wasn’t some high-tier Golden boss above Level 50, it wouldn’t be a problem.
"Everyone ready?"
Better to act quickly before the situation became complicated. He had no interest in the other players unless they tried something foolish.
If anyone got greedy and attempted to steal the kill, then they would deal with the consequences.
"Don’t blame me for what happens next," he muttered under his breath.
"We’re ready, Stone."
Drunkard and the others were eager. Their rapid leveling on the fourth level had boosted them significantly, bringing them to Level 28. They wanted to test themselves against stronger enemies, and with Marcus’s powerful support buffs, their confidence had only grown.
"Alright. Let’s move."
There was no hesitation.
Marcus activated Sanctuary Covenant. Given the sheer number of White Dog Rats, and the fact that some of the team had yet to reach Level 30, he decided to play it safe.
Temple Guard Pebble appeared at his command.
There was no need to summon anything else. Drawing too much attention here would only cause trouble. Besides, with Pebble and his own abilities, it should be more than enough.
"Adamant Aegis."
"Shield Guard."
"Knight’s Prayer."
One after another, buffs spread across the group, strengthening them in every aspect. This was their greatest advantage, and the main reason they dared to challenge the white rat at all.
"Charge!"
With the buffs in place, Marcus gave the order.
Temple Guard Pebble surged forward first, drawing aggro with Taunt. The others followed closely, striking down the White Dog Rats that gathered around it.
The nearby players stirred as the group advanced.
A few of them shifted uneasily, clearly tempted. No one liked standing by while a boss was taken down in front of them. Still, the gap in strength was obvious, and most held themselves back.
Not that they expected much. If anything, they were looking forward to watching another group fail.
After all, a ten-man team had already been wiped out. The Mad Lion group only had eight, the odds were not in their favor.
Then the mood shifted. The watching players began to frown.
Unlike the previous groups, Marcus did not charge the boss or attempt to lure it out. Instead, he methodically cleared the surrounding White Dog Rats, carving out space and isolating the white rat from its support.
It was a careful, deliberate approach. And it created an opportunity.
Some of the sharper players immediately understood. Their eyes lit up as the plan became clear.
The biggest obstacle had never been just the boss, but the swarm protecting it. There were too many rats to fight through safely.
But if someone else removed that obstacle... Then the boss would be exposed.
A few players tightened their grip on their weapons, watching closely and waiting for the right moment. As soon as the surrounding rats were cleared, they would rush in, strike during the chaos, and take whatever they could.
Greed clouded their judgment. They saw opportunity, but not the danger.
They had no idea how strong the Mad Lion Mercenary Group truly was, or how little of his power Marcus had actually revealed.
The air filled with the rhythmic clatter of hooves. Before even a third of the White Dog Rats had been cleared, the sound of approaching riders cut through the tension. Players turned instinctively.
A large group, around fifty strong, was charging toward the area.
"Stone, we’ve got company," Invincible Strong said quickly. "They’re organized. All above Level 25. This could get messy."
He had been watching their surroundings the entire time, and now he relayed his observations without hesitation.
These newcomers were clearly a unified force. Their formation was tight, their movements coordinated, and every one of them rode a Flame Charger.
Well-equipped and well-funded.
"Stone, what do we do?"
All eyes turned to Marcus.
The incoming group had already reached the outer edge of the Bucktooth Rat zone, cutting through the weaker mobs with ease as they advanced.
There was no doubt about their target.
"Pull back," Marcus said calmly after a brief glance. "Let’s see what they do first."
He made the decision without hesitation. It seemed this hunt was not going to stay quiet after all.