The Dark Ascendant

The crisp morning air carried a faint chill as Raj and Dorean walked along the dirt path leading to the southern farmlands. The sun had just begun its ascent, casting long shadows across the fields. Raj adjusted the strap of his satchel, his mind calculating every variable. This was his first mission, a simple extermination task, yet something about the situation felt off.

Dorean strode beside him, his sword sheathed, hands resting behind his head in a relaxed manner. "You're awfully quiet, Raj. Nervous?"

Raj didn't look at him. "Nervousness is an emotional response. I prefer analysis."

Dorean smirked. "Analysis, huh? Well, let's see if your books help when the claws come out."

Raj ignored the remark. Knowledge was his weapon, and today he intended to prove it.

As they neared the farm, the signs of disturbance became apparent. Broken fences, claw marks on wooden posts, half-eaten crops strewn about. A group of farmers stood near the entrance, their faces taut with unease.

An older man with a weathered face and calloused hands stepped forward. "You the guild folk?"

Raj nodded.

The man spat to the side. "Damn rats. Big ones. Mean ones. Killed two of my hounds last night."

Raj's gaze swept across the farmland. "How many have you seen?"

The old farmer scratched his head. "Hard to say. We don't see 'em until it's too late. They don't just eat—they Just kill ."

Raj's brows furrowed. That wasn't natural behavior. He crouched, inspecting a patch of disturbed soil near the barn. Small, clawed footprints. But there was something strange—an irregular pattern. The creatures weren't just running. They were circling.

Dorean watched with a bemused expression. "You gonna study the dirt all day, Scholar?"

Raj stood. "No. I'm ready."

The old man gestured toward a partially collapsed barn at the far end of the field. "They nest in there."

Dorean clapped Raj's shoulder. "Go on, then. Let's see how well a Scholar hunts."

Raj shot him a glance but said nothing. If Dorean wasn't going to interfere, that suited him just fine.

The barn loomed before him, its wooden beams splintered and rotting. A foul stench seeped from within—a mixture of decay and something… unnatural. Raj placed his hand against the wood, feeling its damp texture. The walls bore deep scratch marks, some larger than an average rat's.

.

His fingers instinctively traced the Sunforged Sutra's patterns in his mind, feeling the faint warmth of Sun Aura within him. His training that morning had heightened his awareness. He could feel… something. A presence inside the barn. Watching. Waiting.

A flicker of movement.

Raj turned, just in time to see the first Rat leap at him from the shadows.

The Hunt Begins

Raj sidestepped, his body moving before his mind fully registered the attack. The rat was the size of a small dog, its eyes glowing red, its teeth unnaturally long and jagged.

It hit the ground, twisting, its movements too fast, too aggressive.

Raj didn't hesitate.

His dagger flashed, aiming for the creature's throat.

A clean cut. The rat spasmed once before collapsing, blood pooling beneath it.

Another movement—left flank.

Raj ducked as a second creature lunged. This one was larger. More muscular. It twisted in midair, trying to correct its trajectory, but Raj was already moving.

He grabbed a loose wooden plank from the barn wall and swung.

The impact sent the creature crashing into the dirt. Dazed but alive.

Raj drove his dagger down—straight into its skull.

Silence.

Then, the scurrying of multiple feet.

More were coming.

Dorean, still standing near the barn's entrance, gave a low whistle. "Not bad. You might actually survive this."

Raj barely spared him a glance. His focus was on the creatures emerging from the barn.

Insightful Decipher

Four. No—five of them. Their bodies larger than natural. Their movements unnervingly coordinated.

Raj analyzed their approach. The two on the left moved in tandem, covering each other's blind spots. The three on the right spread out, circling.

They weren't just attacking. They were hunting.

Raj tightened his grip on his dagger. He had to break their formation.

The first lunged.

Raj dodged left, then instantly reversed direction, tripping the second creature mid-lunge. It collapsed into the dirt, momentarily stunned.

The third tried to bite his ankle. Raj stomped down hard on its skull. A sickening crunch.

The remaining two hesitated.

Raj exhaled slowly. Sun Aura pulsed through his limbs, heightening his reaction speed. He felt lighter. Sharper. Stronger.

They sensed it too.

The first tried to retreat.

Raj didn't let it. He lunged forward, closing the distance in an instant. His dagger flashed—straight through its spine.

The last one bolted toward the barn, screeching.

Raj's eyes narrowed. It wasn't running in fear. It was alerting something.

A deep, guttural growl resonated from within the barn. The wooden walls shook as something far larger than the others stirred.

Raj stepped back, his instincts screaming danger.

Dorean finally moved, folding his arms. "Looks like you woke the big one."

Raj exhaled. His muscles ached, his breath came heavier, but his mind was sharp. The Sunforged Path had enhanced his endurance—but against a larger opponent, he'd need more than endurance. He'd need strategy.

The barn doors creaked.

A pair of glowing crimson eyes stared from the darkness.

Then, it stepped out.

The Alpha Rat.

Easily the size of a wolf, its body twisted and deformed, muscles bulging unnaturally. Patches of fur were missing, revealing raw, pulsing flesh. Its teeth were jagged, too long to fit its maw.

But what unsettled Raj the most—its eyes held intelligence.

It wasn't just a beast. It was something more.

Dorean smirked. "I'd help, but you seem to have it under control."

Raj didn't respond. His grip on the dagger tightened.

This… was the real test.