The rustling sounds from the depths of the cave grew clearer, like countless tiny claws scraping against the stone walls, each scratch probing the taut nerves of Ning Yu and Mu Xue. The wolf pack's clawing and the bear's growling seemed to be suppressed by this eerie noise, leaving only the chilling crawling sounds and the two's rapid heartbeats in the cave.
Mu Xue's hands were icy cold, gripping Ning Yu's arm tightly, her knuckles white. She swallowed, her voice dry as she asked, "What is it?"
Ning Yu didn't answer. He didn't know either. The unknown is the most terrifying. He gripped the dagger tightly, its cold touch calming him slightly. The system hadn't given any hints, which made him even more uneasy.
"Did you hear that?" Mu Xue's voice trembled, tinged with fear.
"Shh..." Ning Yu gestured for her to be quiet, while listening intently. The rustling sound grew closer, accompanied by a nauseating stench, like rotting flesh mixed with the smell of damp earth, making it almost impossible to breathe.
In the darkness, pairs of green eyes flickered, like will-o'-the-wisps, drifting erratically. Their numbers increased, gradually coalescing into a chilling net of light that slowly approached them.
"So many..." Mu Xue's voice was almost inaudible, and she instinctively shrank behind Ning Yu.
Ning Yu's heart sank. He shielded Mu Xue behind him and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I will protect you." Although his voice was calm, his hand holding the dagger trembled slightly from the force.
He picked up a sharp stone and held it in his other hand. A dagger was effective against close-range enemies, but against so many unknown creatures, a projectile might be more effective.
They retreated slowly, trying not to make a sound. The cave entrance was blocked by wolves and bears; they were now trapped, with nowhere to go.
The stench in the air grew stronger, and the green eyes drew ever closer. Ning Yu could even hear their heavy breathing and the rustling sound of their claws scraping the ground.
Suddenly, a sharp scream shattered the silence of the cave, like the cry of a baby, yet with the ferocity of a wild beast. Immediately afterward, countless green eyes surged in like a tide, surrounding them.
Ning Yu took a deep breath; he knew a battle was inevitable. He hurled the stone in his hand at the nearest pair of green eyes. The stone struck its target precisely, producing a muffled thud. However, the green eyes only flickered briefly, not disappearing. Instead, they fueled the ferocity of the surrounding creatures, who let out even sharper hisses and moved even faster.
"Prepare for battle!" Ning Yu roared, shielding Mu Xue behind him. He raised his dagger high, his gaze fixed firmly on the surging green light ahead. He could feel Mu Xue's body trembling, but he had no time to comfort her, for he knew that they were about to face a life-or-death battle.
“Ning Yu…” Mu Xue’s voice was tinged with despair.
Ning Yu gripped her hand tightly; he could feel the sweat on her palm. Just then, he felt the ground beneath his feet tremble slightly, and a heavier breathing sound came from the depths of the cave, accompanied by a teeth-grinding sound of bones grinding together… Ning Yu turned sharply, looking into the depths of the cave, his pupils suddenly contracting.
"What is that...?"
The stench grew even stronger, almost suffocating. Green eyes gleamed in the darkness, like phosphorescent fire from hell, illuminating their狰狞 (zhengning - ferocious/hideous) faces. They were rat-like creatures, but unusually large, almost the size of a calf. Their bodies were covered in stiff, grayish-black fur, and their sharp teeth protruded like daggers, gleaming coldly. Suddenly, one of the giant rats let out a piercing screech, its limbs pushing off the ground, and pounced towards Ning Yu and Mu Xue like an arrow released from a bow.
Ning Yu was prepared. He threw the stone again, hitting the giant rat precisely on the head. The stone struck the rat's fur with a dull thud. However, the giant rat merely shook its massive head and did not fall. Instead, it was enraged, letting out an even more piercing screech and lunging at them with even greater speed.
"Watch out!" Ning Yu pushed Mu Xue behind him and raised his dagger, ready to fight.
Although Mu Xue was frightened, she didn't panic. She picked up a broken twig and stabbed it with all her might towards the giant rat's eye. The twig pierced the air with a sharp whistling sound, striking the giant rat precisely in one eye.
However, the giant rat had thick hide, and the branch only pierced a small part of it, without causing fatal damage. The giant rat let out a painful hiss, bit off the branch, and then pounced on Mu Xue.
Ning Yu reacted swiftly, rushing forward to block Mu Xue's path. The giant rat's sharp claws slashed fiercely at Ning Yu's arm, drawing blood instantly.
"Ning Yu!" Mu Xue exclaimed, wanting to go forward to help, but Ning Yu grabbed her arm.
"Don't come any closer, it's dangerous!" Ning Yu gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, and plunged the dagger fiercely into the giant rat's abdomen. The dagger pierced through the giant rat's thick fur and penetrated deep into its body.
The giant rat let out a shrill scream, its body convulsed violently a few times, and then it collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Ning Yu breathed a sigh of relief, looked down at her bleeding arm, and her face turned pale.
"Are you alright?" Mu Xue asked with concern, reaching out to check Ning Yu's wounds.
"It's nothing, just a minor injury." Ning Yu forced a smile despite the pain.
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