Chapter 45 - Evolution

"Just do it! It's our only chance!! Quick! The boar spirit is already getting attacked by the rats!" A determined look was seen in Niko's eyes.

Niko had to use Zheng instead of his ratmen, simply due to the fact that although he raised his intelligence, which allowed him to control much more spirits, currently he was not used to controlling so many at one time. He needed time to adjust and experience this, and with his plan, he needed every bit of concentration he had.

Niko could feel the rats climbing his table and some were already on it. This was his last chance to actually do something, otherwise, they would be done for.

Zheng frowns as he grits his teeth and jumps on top of the boar that was near his table.

"Go!" Niko yelled as the boar began to run towards the stairs.

"What the hell are you doing?? What is your plan here?!" Zheng who was crouched on top of the boar to keep balance asked loudly as his heart was about to explode in fear.

"Get the attention of that piece of crap rat! If you are able to, attack it! His attention must solely be on you! If I succeed we can live through this!" Niko said as he looked towards the wise rat-man standing on top of the stairs.

As the boar charged towards the stairs, Niko could feel a piercing pain coming from his legs, as the rats were beginning to bite it. Niko wasn't the only one going through this, however, as Fumito, and Ivanic was also feeling the pain. Niko, Fumito, and Ivanic stomped on the rats over and over, feeling meat and bones beneath their feet. It was a temporary delay to the painful bites, as after stomping one, more would come.

Niko focused on the boar that charged forward, using its tusks to throw rats aside as it continued moving. As it got near the stairs though, things become complicated, which caused everyone witnessing this to feel a cold chill in their bodies. The boar was slowing down as it moved forward, and the ghastly green color it once possessed, began to become dimmer and dimmer.

"Shit! Zheng if you can attack it! I need a few more seconds!" Niko yelled. His heart was racing as fast as a cheetah's, the anticipation was completely nerve-racking. This was it, if he succeeded in his plan, they would live, if not, death was their only other option.

Niko could already feel many rats climbing up his legs, biting, and drawing blood. He was feeling, nauseous, dizzy, and disoriented, however, due to the sheer will to live, he stayed on his foot and focused on the wise ratman. Niko even summoned some of his other ratmen ghosts to stand on top of the table with him, and maybe draw the rats to themselves.

Seeing the boar coming closer and closer, a mocking look came upon the wise rat's face, as he once more, raised his staff towards Zheng.

Seeing this, and knowing that the boar probably would not advance much further, Zheng gritted his teeth, and lunged towards the wise ratman, with his claws ready to slash.

The staff on the hand of the ratman had other ideas though, as it began glowing a dark green color, and just like before, a dark green slimeball flew from the tip of the staff, towards the lunging Zheng. The slimeball was the size of a basketball, and the impact that could make would surely be extremely powerful.

Seeing this, Zheng's face showed signs of acceptance, as the slimeball was much faster than he had expected. The slimeball clashed with his chest sending him flying back down the stairs. As he fell he was able to take a last look at Niko, and in his eye, there was a complicated expression, but before Zheng could even hit the ground and fall into a sea of rats something was happening.

Niko was focused on the ratman as his plan was about to come to fruition. As the ratman attacked Zheng, something behind the wise ratman was taking place.

A ghastly orb crashed against the ground with a bang, once more killing a rat bellow it, and as it floated back up into the air, cracks began to appear throughout the whole orb, and in an instant, a flash of powerful green light was emitted from it, revealing a mantis that was a head taller than an average human. As the wise ratman turned and witnessed this, it was already too late to react. Such an unpredictable event, definitely caught him by surprise, and this surprise would cost his life. The mantis raised the sharp scepter-like arm, and slashed towards the neck of the wise ratman, completely sending the head which possessed a surprising expression down the stairs.

As soon as the wise ratman was decapitated, the rats that surrounded everything, began to disappear with a poof sound.

The lifeless body of the wise ratman fell to the ground, and so did Niko. As his mission succeeded, and the rats that had been tearing his lower body apart disappeared, he no longer could hold on, as he felt his world going dark, and his body becoming weak. Before he closes his eyes though, several messages appeared in his mind, from several level-ups to territory accomplishments, and Niko could even feel the world-shaking around him, He was unable to examine these things further as his mind went black causing all of his spirits to vanish as well.