Wasteland Hideout: Upgrading from the Sewers

Chapter 164: The Threat of Hidden Rats, The Metamorphosis Period

After Yu Yuan left the motel main guest room, everything about Star Duke vanished along with it.

Yu Yuan also had a rough guess about how Star Duke had silently approached the shelter.

If nothing went wrong, it was either through an item similar to invisibility or a title ability similar to the Concealment in his [Neighborhood Shadow].

He also understood that as the rankings of players launching invasion wars became higher and higher, their strength would become increasingly troublesome to deal with.

Rare Artifacts were also not as scarce as he had imagined; what was truly scarce were those powerful Rare Artifacts capable of making it onto the Rare Item Leaderboard.

For those Rare Artifacts without rankings, among the Veteran Players, perhaps they were no longer a secret.

With this understanding, Yu Yuan took out the [Ceasefire Token] he had previously obtained from opening the Newbie Treasure Chest.

Activate and use it.

[Ceasefire Token has been activated. Ceasefire duration: 7 days]

With the appearance of this notification, Yu Yuan no longer had to worry about player invasions for the time being.He looked at [Defense - Spiked Trap] on the Virtual Light Screen.

It was time to construct this facility. Star Duke's appearance had ultimately made Yu Yuan feel a renewed sense of crisis.

And he also needed to digest the spoils of war.

Johnck Zoo underground laboratory.

Command center.

"The Rat's traces have been captured again. Duration: 3.6 seconds. This time, the location of its appearance is the Orleans Hotel in District 11."

"Just now, the Animal Tamer has arrived at Red Shore Park, where the Rat previously appeared, and discovered a corpse that has been mostly devoured. The remains of the corpse have been confirmed to be the python that escaped from the zoo earlier," the technician's reporting voice echoed in the hall.

"This Rat's evolution speed is too fast. Its rate of evolution has broken all our experimental records."

"Damn it! It devoured so many spiritual organs at once. It's already lucky it didn't explode from spiritual conflict, yet it's still evolving this quickly," several missionaries whispered among themselves.

Preacher Miller listened to his colleagues' discussion and also frowned.

The appearance of this Rat happened before he and the Saint arrived in Green Forest City.

It was an accidental product of a sacrificial ritual performed by the previous Saint who was in charge of the Aurora Animal Assistance Association here.

And yet, after all this time, the bones of the previous Saint have already dissolved, but this rat not only hasn't died, it's living more and more comfortably.

This is somewhat unbelievable.

"Cold Crow, what kind of ritual was Missionary Moga performing back then that could create such a troublesome mutated creature?"

"Miller, we really don't know about this matter. Back then, Saint Moga performed the ritual alone in the room. He said it was a new attempt and forbade us from disturbing him."

Missionary Cold Crow showed a look of recollection.

"The ritual was performed in District 9 at the time. Later, it seemed the ritual failed, and Saint Moga fell into a coma during that ritual. Cold Bamboo and I were guarding outside. Hearing the commotion inside and realizing something was wrong, we opened the door and immediately brought Saint Moga back. But halfway, he..."

"We initially didn't know about the existence of the Rat. After some time, Hogg from the Eastern City Police Station suddenly reported to Green Robe.

He said maintenance workers in the sewers saw a giant rat down there. After investigation and examination, they finally found the room where Saint Moga had performed the ritual.

Only then did we connect that Rat with Saint Moga. After that, Hogg also tried to capture that rat, but unfortunately, all attempts failed, and it became increasingly cunning. Then you and the Saint arrived."

"All of this was also reported to the Saint at the time."

Listening to their descriptions, the Saint lightly tapped his fingers on the chair.

Then he picked up that half-sheet of blueprint with ritual symbols drawn on it again, falling into thought.

After a long while, he looked up again at the several men.

"Notify everyone: from now on, don't provoke that rat. This Rat may have already entered its metamorphosis period."

Metamorphosis period!

When these three words were spoken, the other missionaries showed puzzled expressions. Only Missionary Miller's face revealed a look of horror.

He looked at the Saint in shock, his mouth slightly agape as if wanting to ask something.

Seemingly noticing his gaze, the Saint just gave a slight nod. Miller's heart instantly surged with turbulent waves.

"Saint, what is a metamorphosis period?" Cold Crow asked, looking puzzled.

The Saint, however, slightly shook his head.

"It's somewhat complicated. You just need to know that out of ten thousand Spiritual Creatures, not even one might enter a metamorphosis period!"

Cold Crow's face showed delight, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

"Doesn't that mean the Rat is extremely rare and precious?"

The corner of the Saint's mouth revealed a mocking smile.

"Rare? It is indeed rare... but it's not something we can covet..." His gaze swept over Cold Crow and the other missionaries.

"I'll only say this once. If you don't want to die, no one should provoke it during this time."

"Also, relay this message to Hogg of Black Shield. Tell him to control his subordinates well. Otherwise, when they die, don't blame me for not warning them."

The Saint's words poured a basin of cold water over Cold Crow and the others' heads, instantly sobering them up.

The Saint's meaning was already very clear.

Now, that Rat was no longer something they could deal with. In fact, its strength had already exceeded their ability to handle.

But... how is that possible!

With deep confusion, Cold Crow, facing the Saint's warning gaze, still closed his mouth.

"It's actually the metamorphosis period. That rat... actually entered the metamorphosis period. Doesn't that mean, once it completes its metamorphosis, it will become..."

Miller didn't dare to think further.

Although even among Spiritual Creatures that enter the metamorphosis period, very few can complete the metamorphosis, it has ultimately crossed the most difficult step and has a promising future.

Thinking of this, Miller already felt somewhat unable to sit still. He instinctively felt this matter wasn't that simple.

But Cold Crow and the others had already begun to have some other thoughts.

Although they didn't understand the significance of the metamorphosis period, the Saint's solemn attitude alone already explained everything.

A mutated creature being rare represents powerful strength, and powerful strength represents power...

But how to find that rat?

Soon, the several missionaries left one after another to convey the Saint's meaning.

Miller finally looked at the Saint.

"Saint, has that rat really entered the metamorphosis period?"

Looking at Miller's gaze, the Saint chuckled lightly.

"Pretty much, eighty or ninety percent sure!"

"Then why did you tell them about this?" Miller was very puzzled.

Tch...

The Saint laughed disdainfully.

"Miller, I didn't expect you to be flustered too. Let me ask you, did you find the intruder who infiltrated the laboratory a few days ago?"

"N-no!"

"What about Lilith's body?"

"No!"

"What about the lost potions and data?"

"A-also no!" By now, Miller was already sweating on his forehead. At the same time, he seemed to understand the Saint's meaning.

"You mean... lure the snake out of its hole?"

"Hmph... Since you understand, go prepare quickly!"