The hunt was proceeding more or less as I hoped it would.

To start with I preferred to use a cautious approach to lure the rats out either one at a time, or if I could not manage that, then in smaller more managable groups. After the initial fight I had with the rats earlier I had hoped that all the rats would be within a similar range of levels. Luckily, this proved to be the case with none of the rats I found being higher than me in level.

Advancing deeper into the surrounding barrows the fights that ensue are stimulating, but hardly a challenge and for the most part very brief. It seemed pretty evident to me that my earlier run-in with the essence leeches was making these rats seem like nothing more than fodder for my ascent to higher levels, at least so far. Still, I had noticed that although I have now killed several of them, I still have not gotten enough experience to hit my next level. This of course, made me think that I had probably only gotten so many levels from the essence leeches simply because it had been necessary to kill so many of them.

Granted, had the rats had grouped all into one large force like the essence leeches had, then I am completely confident that I would not be able to stand a chance against them. I would be like a lone moose set upon by a pack of wolves. I surveyed my surroundings, determined to let no such thing happen.

I quietly stalk through the barrows towards my next hopefully unsuspecting victims. At this point my clothes where of course are covered in dirt and blood and I had noticed something odd. There is no blood on my actual skin, just dirt.

Every drop of blood that had come into contact with me so far had for lack of a better word seemed to somehow been absorbed into me. On some level it was actually very disconcerting, but at least I did not feel noticably different afterwards.

'This must be a secondary benefit of my upgraded talent’ I thought.

Not that it helped all that much since I was still covered in filthy clothes that I had been wearing not only for my hike, but since I got here. The silver lining of landing in the pond prior was that it probably washed off a good deal of sweat that the draconian rodents no doubt would have been able to otherwise use to track my presence even easier.

Sensing something off, I paused and started listening again for the vicious oversized rodents. After waiting a moment and sensing no movement I continue to make my way through the remaining barrows that I could find. Though, as I tapped on one barrow after another with my club I repeatedly get no response from any nesting or sleeping residents. Not so much as a whisker showed from any of the open entry ways.

"Had I had killed them all?" I wondered.

I picked up the pace of my search, abandoning my slow methodical approach. I made my way through the barrows once more, stopping several times to check the bodies for any possible rewards.

I found nothing of value among the bodies. I conclude that either I am just extremely unlucky or prehaps monsters that do not have an elite status simply do not grant rewards other than experience.

Looking around to find a direction to search next I decide on a dense growth of brush opposite from where I had began my assault on the barrows. Making my way over I stepped through what is a massive high brush hedge as carefully as I could. I manage to only get caught once by the shirt, which I count as a small victory.

Once I get myself untangled and out of the infernal plants I inspected the new view and found myself pleasantly surprised with the change in scenery. I was in a secluded glade that for the most part is clear of foliage or anything else remarkable except for what I took for a cave or entrance that led down that you could probably easily drive a entire school bus into. The glade itself had several breaks in the canopy yet the lighting is still several degrees lower than that outside of the small area, but just enough for a novice tracker such as myself to make out some somewhat fresh tracks leading into what I would call the hole which must be a cave of some sort.

Resigning myself to searching for any surviving rats, I hope that if I do not find any fleeing survivors then at least that I might find their elite and with it the chance for another reward.

I made my way to the entrance and what I am able to see further in causes me feel much better. There, sprawling along the walls inside of the entrance are what appear to be stones that are emitting a low level luminescence. Granting enough light for me to find my way without bumping into any cave walls.

Following the walls inside the cave I walk the descending path as carefully and quietly as I can. My senses focused both in front of me and above. Some might call me paranoid, but hanging from the ceiling are stalactites of all sizes and I have really never liked cramped spaces that could collapse in on me.

Brushing my concern of being crushed to death aside, I continued on my way down the tunnel until I reached what appeared to be a large cavern chamber. From the entry way of the chamber I saw what could possibly be a major concern. The chamber is quiet large, with enough space that fitting a hundred of those damn rats in there would not be a problem. The icing on the cake, however is that there are several dozen groupings of nests that are filled with eggs. The eggs have what appear to be veins on their surface that a pulsed with a faint red light. Having previously seen the reptilian features of the rats and their glowing red eyes I reasoned that this is where they spawned their progeny.

Not seeing any movement in the chamber I crept forward until I got to one of the nests and picked up an egg.

A notification sprang up.

???? Egg

Durability 50/50 Armor 300 Health 10/10

Single Use Consumable: User may gain a 1 stat increase on random attribute.

Feeling nothing but glee due to my absurd luck I hit the egg with the side of my knuckle, not perturbed in the slightest by eating it raw. To my chagrin the egg does not even so much as crack though, I tried again with the same result. Figuring it had something to do with the durability and armor I put the egg down on the ground and gave it a small hit with my club.

Nothing.

I check the notification again and see that its durability and health have not moved in the slightest. As I frown to myself it occurs to me to try to use my talent ability on it, so I pick the egg back up and cradling it in both hands I concentrate on sucking the life from it, within seconds the red light on the shell dims and I get a new notification.

???? Egg Consumed

+1 to Wisdom

HA! Success! Now I wont have to worry about starving to death. I love it when a plan comes together.

Is what I would have been thinking, if at that moment I had not heard a blood chilling roar from the far side of the chamber.