The Mad Rat’s Lab

‘Hyeeeeeeeeeeyaaaah!’

The monster’s sudden shout startles Diq, who jumps back to gain some distance, but the monster is faster. It grabs Diq’s arm and sinks its teeth into his flesh.

“Aaaah! S-sir orc! What’s this thing!?”

I have no idea. But as the person my subordinates rely upon, I can’t show my bewilderment.

“Hmm…” I stop my face from contorting into a grimace. “...I have no idea. This is new.”

Did the Evil Mastermind know I was coming? He must have prepared this for me, as he always does. I haven’t heard anything about these monsters on the forums yet, and I made sure to check them before coming.

He must have known I was coming!

But… how? I even changed my invasion day and time! It shouldn’t be possible!

It doesn’t matter. I must follow the first rule when facing the unknown in this damned dungeon: run away.

I can’t do that! Not when I’m so close to victory! Not when my subordinates are eagerly awaiting my instructions! Not when today is the day I swore I’d recover my lost orc pride and surpass the Evil Mastermind’s plans once and for all!

I can’t hesitate. I must show off my superior skill and battle sense.

Almost by instinct, my body moves towards the monster as I swing my axe. Killing your opponent is always the path to victory.

Unless it explodes, burns you, reflects the damage it takes, or worse, multiplies… Aaagh! How much I hate this damn dungeon! I shouldn’t be considering such things, just smashing the opponent in front of me!

My battleaxe splits the air with a loud swish. The monster, a weird mix of a spider and a humanoid white mass, like a cartoon, can’t react before the attack hits.

I watch the HP bar of the monster fall slightly, less than I expected from how weak the monster looks. At least the monster didn’t explode.

But what surprises me more is the fact that the monster doesn’t make a cry like they usually do.

Instead, three cries reach me, from different directions.

‘Ouch!’

‘Aaaaaah!’

‘Iyeepah!’

“From above…? Huh,” I snort, raising my head towards the ceiling.

There’s nothing there. There’s nothing I CAN SEE.

The Evil Mastermind won’t trick me again! I’ve suffered this plenty of times to know there’s something dangerous right above me!

I launch a Phantasmal Weapon, and it hits something. For an instant, another one of those white spider-like creatures appears, makes one of those cries, and immediately disappears once more, running away.

“Nice try. Better luck next time, huh, huh, huh!”

Lame. Surprise attacks and ambushes are lame. A real warrior fights without fear of dying, from the front!

As all this happens, Diq and Krut fight the first monster, eventually driving it away as it disappears like the one I hit with my skill.

‘Hyeeeaaaaaaaaah!’ The monster screams one last time before it disappears from our sight.

At least four monsters. The two we saw, and the two we only heard. But there are more. My expertly trained ears and eyes can hear their steps everywhere and see their bodies hidden in the shadows, observing our every move.

“We’re surrounded,” I announce in a grave tone.

“W-what!?” Diq reacts dramatically. “Then we must go back! We can still find another way…”

I cross my arms, glaring at him from above. “What ‘other way’. You know this is the last path available.”

“Ah! You’re right…”

There were two paths, but we failed to cross the first. No, we didn’t fail. I chose to keep everyone’s sanity intact by ignoring the cat. By pushing through the puzzle with brute force, we would be playing right into the Evil Mastermind’s plan.

We orcs aren’t dumb. We value strength and fair play above everything else, as everyone should do, but we aren’t dumb. We know following his plans is the worst thing you can do.

“Oh, according to the log, the monsters can use poison… I’m still taking damage from it. Maybe we should come back after knowing more.”

“Hmm…”

Ignoring Diq’s plea to go back, I scan the surroundings for dangers and monsters.

This room is the size of a large school gymnasium. Regardless of where you are, you can hear any noise. The previous shouts have alerted every monster to our presence.

There is plenty of machinery and stasis capsules, metallic stairs and platforms, as well as cables and large liquid pipes. They pose no obstacles to monsters who can climb the walls like spiders, but are a significant obstacle to us.

After a while of thinking, I kiss my biceps and turn towards my companions.

“We’re breaking through. This might be how we achieve victory, or how we die, but we won’t go back. We might triumph, suffer, or even die, but we won’t give the damn Evil Mastermind the pleasure of seeing us running away with our tails tucked between our legs. Are you with me, or are you not?”

“I’m in.”

Diq hesitates to answer. But after Krut nods, he too agrees with my decision.

“I’ll do whatever you say, Sir Orc. I’ll follow you even if everyone else thinks you’re crazy!”

Crazy? Me!? Those Mad Cultists are the crazy ones, not me!

I seriously nod, acknowledging their courage and resolve. “Good. Orc companions until we die, as it should be.” I put my fist forward, towards the centre of our group. “Green Gang!”

Krut and Diq look at me with bewildered faces. It’s the first time I’ve done this. A signal of true comradeship. The true testament of pure orc friendship and acknowledgement.

They’re going to suffer the same as I, in the same conditions. I can’t keep treating them as sacrificial pawns. They’re true warriors who have grown under my tutelage. From now on, they won’t be my followers, but my true, honour-bound comrades.

The first to react is Krut. He nods solemnly, repeating my words and placing his fist against mine.

“Green Gang.”

Diq, on the verge of tears, also places his tiny fist, touching ours.

“Sir Orc, I-I… Gr-green Gang!”

After our short ceremony, I turn my head towards the direction my instinct is telling me to go. All my muscles twitch in excitement at the prospect of our last battle, for good or bad.

I stretch my arms and twist my neck, getting ready for what’s to come.

“Alright. It’s time to wreak some havoc. Follow after me, I’ll leave my back to you. Whoever lags behind the group will be abandoned, understood? Huh, huh, huh! We won’t let anything stand in our way!”

“Yes!”

“...”

Kissing my biceps one last time, I get my battleaxe ready and rush forward with a shout, “Let’s go, huh, huh, huh! Aaaaaaaaaaahh…!”

“...A-aah, Aaaaaaaah!”

“...”

I cross the distance to the metallic stairs in the blink of an eye. There, I find the first monster.

The monster launches a spider web at me, but I split it into two with my axe. In the same move, I smash my weapon on the monster’s head.

‘Atchaaa!’‘Weeeeeeeeei!’‘Trololooooo!’ ‘Mirimaaaan!’

Like before, several pained cries come from our surroundings, but the monster remains silent, and its HP bar stays pretty high.

The monster observes me from up close. Its head sways from one side to another, and its whole body shakes. It’s gross, and it makes me feel like the monster is mocking me. The question mark on the monster’s chest flashes green.

“Stop being annoying and die!”

I activate Mighty Blow to kill the monster with one strike, but as soon as the edge of my axe touches the monster’s skin, it disappears like the ones before him, leaving an annoying ‘Eeeeei!’ behind.

“Tsk. Stop teleporting and fight me!”

*Pop!*

An unexpected popping sound like that of a balloon startles me. I reflexively turn around to defend myself, just in time to watch as one of the white spider monsters explodes into tiny copies of itself, all with a green question mark in their chests.

Diq is alternating between looking at me and the copies. “S-sir Orc, I… I don’t know what happened. I aimed my spell there, but this guy suddenly appeared, exploded, and more appeared…”

It’s like that cat!

“We don’t have time for this.”

I pick up my pace. Diq and Krut, as well as our single remaining support orc and troll, follow after me.

The monsters must have gotten angry after the first death, because they start attacking us aggressively. They shoot spells from any angle, appear and disappear at will, all the time making those annoying cries.

‘Achawabunga!’ Shouts one before releasing a swarm of Magic Missiles towards us.

‘Hyeee!’ ‘Owaa?’ ‘Byoing!’ When I attack another one, an unexpected burst of lightning hits me, in retaliation for the damage taken. Immediately after, it disappears from my view.

“Light Beam incoming.”

Krut warns us just before a laser beam, like those of the turtles, floods the passage, giving us just enough time to hide before the spell hits us. Here, we lose our last support orc.

Fireball, Chain Lightning, Light Beam, Acid Bubble, Aegis, Invisibility, Poison Sting… and that’s just the active skills I’ve recognised! There are also times when the monster I attack takes almost no physical damage, or when it explodes after dying.

We, the players, can somehow keep up with the chaos, but our troll, despite its immense durability, can’t do anything. Its AI collapses, unable to keep up, and the troll dies soon after, leaving the three of us alone.

Why do the monsters keep coming in and running away? Why do they scream all the time? My eyes are about to burst!

And how can they use so many skills!?

Not even those monsters at the maximum level can learn that many skills!

Furthermore, I know how the Evil Mastermind thinks. He wouldn’t allow his monsters to be mistaken for another one, unless that’s their gimmick. He hates it when players mistake them or use an incorrect name.

But then… why do all the monsters look identical, and the name displayed on top of their heads is the same, even when all their skills are different!?

It makes no sense! Nothing here makes sense!

I force myself to make a serene face as I scream internally. I can’t allow my comrades to know how confused I am right now…

Despite all the chaos, we keep pushing forward. We climb up and down stairs and find gaps to cross wall after wall of stasis chambers.

We also fight hard.

One by one, despite their multiple tricks, the white spider monsters die. Most of the time, it happens when they suddenly appear in the middle of a skill’s trajectory, getting themselves killed.

“I can feel it in my muscles!” I shout to motivate everyone. “We’re close to the exit. We’re halfway there, huh, huh, huh!”

‘Heyhaaah!’

Right after I say so, a monster appears next to Diq and immediately throws a spider web at him.

Diq can only watch as the sticky web approaches him. We can’t afford to stop now. If he gets hit by this and immobilised, we’ll have to leave him behind.

We all saw what happened to the troll after it got snared… It wasn’t pretty.

“S-sir Orc, I—Whaa…?”

Before the web can touch Diq, Krut shoves him away. But the skill is aimed in such a way that Krut is the next target. After saving Diq, there’s nothing he can do to avoid it.

“Krut! Why did you—”

“Go. Leave me,” Krut watches us with sad eyes. “You’re more useful to our leader than I am.”

“T-that’s right, but…”

Orcs never abandon their teammates, unless they choose to sacrifice themselves. It would be an insult to ignore their last wish.

“Let’s go, Diq. We’ll honour his decision.” I pull Diq with me, leaving Krut behind.

‘Oyoyoooo!’‘Ayyyyyyah!’ ‘Ohioo?’

An avalanche of attacks comes from all sides simultaneously, aiming at the same spot: at Krut, who can’t move.

I turn around and resume running, refusing to watch my teammate’s last moments.

“We’ll never forget his sacrifice.”

“N-never!”

We continue moving forward, but with a member missing, our formation starts faltering. No one can block the monsters and attacks coming from behind. I start taking damage, and our advance slows down.

“Sir Orc, at this rate, I…”

“I know.”

Despite the monsters we killed, we too have lost everyone else in our group. We’re at a numerical disadvantage.

“Haaaa…” I gaze at the ceiling.

Is this another one of the Evil Mastermind’s plans? To slowly whittle away at our numbers? At our hopes and dreams? To slowly exhaust us, until we lose even the will to continue moving forward?

The light dims, taking us by surprise. Immediately after, loud sirens start to sound, almost bursting my eardrums, and red lights pop out from the walls and ceiling.

“Sir Orc, what’s going on?”

“...”

I don’t know! I fucking don’t know, okay!? Stop asking already, because I have no idea what’s going on at all!

Is this also part of his plans? The plans to crush my will to keep trying? Why is new stuff popping up all the time?

When things take a sudden turn for the worse, it’s usually because the Evil Mastermind has decided to show up. To join the dungeon defence in person.

Why did it have to be today?

Why did it have to happen to ME!?

“No. We aren’t going down today. Today is the day I finally win…”

“Sir Orc. The monsters. They have stopped.”

“... Huh?”

I was lamenting my luck, so I didn’t notice until Diq said it. The white spider-like humanoids have stopped moving altogether.

This is our chance. I knew luck wouldn’t abandon me today! “Diq, ignore everything else and let’s go. This is our lucky day, huh, huh, huh!”

Finally, a stroke of luck!

I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m sure that this is something the Evil Mastermind has designed. But this time, it went wrong, huh, huh, huh! Instead of crushing us in despair, he made our invasion easier!

Our speed multiplies severalfold now that we have no obstacles. I lift Diq off the ground to increase our speed, sprinting towards the direction my muscles are guiding me to.

“Sir Orc, look there! Something is dripping off the ceiling!”

Diq points at a white blob dripping down a ventilation grate. The amorphous mass moves as if alive, looking for prey. Mixed among the white gooey mass are several HP bars.

It looks like a game bug.

NOT. MORE. NEW. THIIIIIIIINGS…! AAAAAAGH! I’m tired of them. I’m SICK of them!

I pick up my speed even further. But the difficult terrain forces me to take many turns. As time goes on, more and more of that white substance floods into the room, until several passages are completely blocked.

When we get too close, the gooey mass starts spewing fire at us, like a dragon.

“Sir Orc, the dungeon core…. It’s right there!”

I follow Diq’s finger to the beautiful purple light of the dungeon core. Aaah… How long has it been since the last time I could see this dungeon’s core?

I knew it! Today’s the day…!

But, as if to crush all my hope, the passage to the dungeon core is almost fully covered by the gooey mass. The mass pulls together, closing the gap, until the purple light disappears from our view.

“Noo! That’s… It can’t be. Impossible…! Right in front of us…”

I drop to the floor, letting Diq fall to the ground with me. But, instead of despairing, he stands up and places a hand over my shoulder.

“Sir Orc… Do you still have the last resort skill we talked about?”

He must be talking about the skill we prepared for a last-ditch effort in case we faced an unbeatable monster.

“Skill…? I do. Why?”

“Please, use it now.”

But that skill… How can it help us in this situation?

“Sir Orc, do you believe in me?” Diq asks. “I believe in you. I know you’ll achieve greatness one day, and I’ll be there to see it. That’s why… That’s why I don’t mind giving up my life if it’s so you can achieve your goal.”

He starts casting a spell with a smile on his face. “Don’t worry. I’ll make your dream come true.”

I stand up. Diq looks imposing despite its small size. What a true comrade. And to think I’ve been treating them as disposable sacrificial pawns until today…

I’m sorry. I’ll never forget your sacrifice…! I swear upon my orc honour!

Following his instructions, I activate my skill and place myself in front of the passage blocked by the gooey mass.

“Huh, huh, huh… Thanks, Diq. Today, I will achieve victory for all of us. For you. For Krut... And for Dag. To all of you who sacrificed yourselves to give me a chance.”

“Go, and crush this dungeon’s core once and for all, Sir Orc.”

With those words, Diq releases the spell aimed at me.

Strong wind currents form around his hand, growing in intensity and shooting off towards me. When the spell hits me, I’m blasted towards the gooey mass, smashing into it with a disgusting squelch.

Fire erupts all around me, but thanks to my skill, I don’t die. This skill is a true ultimate. Invulnerability and damage reflection at the same time, but after the effect ends, my Max HP will become 1.

The last thing I can see of Diq is his body falling to the ground, killed by his own spell after hitting me.

But his spell continues.

The winds keep pressing me into the mass. At the same time, the spell pushes the mass forward, opening a path towards the dungeon core. This is Hurricane, one of the most powerful area and displacement skills.

As soon as a gap in the passage opens, more gooey mass fills it. I end up buried in it as the wind keeps pushing us forward.

Our speed slowly increases until, like a clogged pipe, all the contents get out at the same time with a loud *Splooosh!*.

I stand up. Around me, everything is white. The whole room is filled with that buggy monster.

And right in front, the dungeon core.

The gooey mass is forming a perfect semicircle around the dungeon core, unable to approach any further, leaving just me and the dungeon core inside a white dome.

“Huh, huh, huh. Huh, huh, huh! HUH, HUH, HUH!”

How long has it been? Days? Weeks? It sure feels like years.

“Huhuhuhuhu…! Did you see this, Evil Mastermind!? Did you SEE it!? I won! You did everything you could to stop me, and even then, I emerged victorious!”

I gloat, slowly approaching the dungeon core.

“There’s nothing I can’t overcome! There’s nothing WE can’t overcome! Together, we’re invincible, huh, huh, huh!”

Without Diq, Krut, or Dag, I wouldn’t be here today.

“Did you know? You made a huge mistake, Evil Mastermind, huh, huh, huh! Arena monsters can’t approach the dungeon core. Unless you place the arena core within ten meters, the monsters can’t approach!”

I can feel all my muscles screaming in happiness. Has there ever been a joyous day like today?

“You thought your last invention would bring me down, but you failed! You forgot the basics! Huh, huh, huh! Your own plan backfired against you! It’s thanks to you that we got so far!”

How does it feel to lose like this, huh? How does it feel to make a mistake at the last moment, huh?

How does it feel to know that the reason you lost is your own overconfidence?

“Huh, huh, huh! I must thank you for trying so hard to stop me. But even so, I told you, didn’t I? That I would crush you one day! I told you that it didn’t matter how hard you tried. Eventually, I would beat you. And now, you can only watch as I crush your dungeon co—”

Suddenly, a heavy object hits me from above with a *Plof!*.

Below my feet, I see a corpse beside mine.

“... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”