Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 1311: Chapter 713: Rat Swarm Assault (Part 2)

But the time they managed to buy was enough; those Skeletons quickly submerged the ritual.

Undoubtedly, the ritual created by Alhazred greatly slowed down the actions of those Skeletons, and Reynard and his group had already run out.

Bombs opened the way ahead, while the rear diverted the pursuers; it all looked like the epitome of a perfect retreat plan.

But have they forgotten something?

The rich life force would attract Skeletons, and also another lurking entity within the ruins.

Yes, it’s still the rats.

While the black curtain covered the ruins, the rats only hid. Normally, they wouldn’t dare appear where the Skeletons were numerous, but the problem arose when Lance activated the second altar, and the blood mist stimulated their nerves, driving them more insane.

This could still be suppressed, as there were indeed a lot of Skeletons, and the rats were timid when outnumbered.

Until Reynard conducted another ritual that attracted the Skeletons, and also stimulated the rats, who were already on the brink of madness.

The rats’ consciousness was being tested... hunger!

Like the straw that broke the camel’s back, endless hunger took control of their already small brains, and countless pairs of red eyes lit up from all corners.

When the first one stepped out, countless rats surged forward, rushing towards the ’Bone Hill’ formed by the pile of Skeletons.

A lone rat’s bite on these fleshless, pain-insensitive abominations would be ineffective.

However, a swarm of countless rats... still ineffective.

Skeletons and rats, truly rivals in absurdity; the rats couldn’t affect the Skeletons, and likewise, Skeletons had no practical means to harm the rats.

Perhaps there were some casualties on both sides, but compared to the vast numbers, losing hundreds or thousands was inconsequential.

The rat swarm was more focused on burrowing into the Skeletons’ bones, wanting to reach closer to the enticing aura emitted by the ritual.

Unfortunately, until the ritual completely exhausted itself and shattered, the rats never got a bite; what’s left - the dried corpses or wood-like remains - was inedible.

But the commotion had already incited the rat swarm, and as their numbers grew, their frenzy increased.

They could cross over the Skeletons, and those drawn by the life force and gathered Skeletons couldn’t hold for long before being broken through by the rat swarm.

And evidently, these keen-sensed rats were after the departed prey.

It sounded absurd; initially, the party had distanced themselves from these Skeletons, and by logic, wouldn’t be pursued.

But now, attracted by the life force emanating from the rat swarm, the Skeletons that were left behind, though slower by a step, also followed.

When both the rat swarm and Skeletons chased after them, how would the team fleeing the ruins respond?

More rats continued to converge along the way, swelling frightfully in size, like rivers merging into the sea.

The shrill shrieks and countless glowing red eyes in the dimness screamed madness; the vast, terrifying numbers drove everyone into despair.

”No!”

”Run quickly!”

”...”

As the rat swarm tore through the red mist and closed in, the adventurers who had just regained hope crumbled instantly; some entirely lost their sanity and only wanted to run faster.

When pursued, you don’t have to care about anything else; as long as you’re faster than others, that’s enough.

Those guys wanted others to hold off the rat swarm for them.

Pushing and shoving was just a small issue; some insane individuals even turned their weapons on others, just to run a bit faster.

But such actions disrupted the original forward rhythm because they even tried to seize horses!

Do they think the trusted aides are easy to deal with? Or that the Cavalry are all nice people?

Anyone who dared to make a move was cut down directly, ruthlessly and without any courtesy, just like Lance, utterly resolute, a testament to the soldiers he trained.

Some did not use force, simply rushing out of formation; what did that signify?

Bombs paved the way; even trained and orderly teams like Hamlet’s had to advance cautiously.

Don’t they want to move faster? It’s because being bombed truly leads to death...

A few over-smart ones ran ahead, and as a result, bombs exploded. Though they didn’t die directly, the shrapnel was enough to injure them, and in such situations, injury equaled death.

There’s not much time left, as the rat swarm had gnawed to the tail of the team, even more terrifying than the Skeletons.

”Hahaha!”

A strange laugh echoed; Sobray on the chariot noticed the anomaly at the rear and immediately turned to throw shells behind into the rat swarm.

The next second, it exploded, even having a more noticeable effect than on the Skeletons, creating an exaggerated pit on the rat swarm!

The center instantly turned into splattering minced meat; even those on the edge that weren’t torn apart by the explosion were stunned to death by the shockwave, after all, still flesh-and-blood creatures.

However, like a fish pond bomb explosion, the ripples were instantly refilled by the surging water, overflowing as if they never existed.

The only slight hindrance was their brief pause to gnaw the remains of companions, some rats covered in blood and flesh becoming targets of others, causing some turmoil.

But this had no overall effect.

Compared to the adventurers’ panic, Hamlet’s men were clearly seeking ways to save themselves.

Seeing the bomb’s ineffectiveness, Dismas grabbed an incendiary bottle from the cart, lit it, and hurled it out, shooting it to explode, igniting fluids in the rat swarm, flames rising.

The burning rats screamed in pain, struggling and spreading the blaze to others, causing quite a stir.

But in an instant, the flames were extinguished by the rushing rat swarm, compared to bombs and incendiary bottles, Skeletons stopped them more effectively, though still futile.

For the frenzied rats, nothing seemed to deter them; they seemed to devour everything in the world!

Amid such a situation, despair clung to the people, but it wasn’t the time to surrender yet.

”Someone must hold them back to buy time for the main force.”

Reynard looked at the scene before him, seemingly understanding something; nobody knew his expression under the helmet, but he had already stopped, issuing his final order.

”Everyone advance at all costs, Cavalry, don’t turn back!”

With that, Reynard drew his Longsword, turning to face the rat swarm; the already battered [Champion’s Proof] in his hand seemingly foretold something, yet he was firm, even in the face of the tidal wave of rats.

”Try it, at this point, forget about abstinence. Don’t miss tasting our own brewed spirits from Hamlet.”

Dismas suddenly appeared beside Reynard, taking a swig from a small bottle and passing it over with a roguish sneer, as if there were no rat swarm, only an ordinary night.

At this moment, Reynard surprisingly removed his helmet; a rare laugh emerged, taking the bottle and downing a couple of swigs, the spicy taste sliding down his throat, followed by a rush of heat.

”Not inviting me to drink, huh? Give me a sip too.”

Balistan also stepped forward, took the almost emptied bottle from Reynard’s hands, and took a swig, leaving but an empty bottle.

”Oh! You drank all my liquor!”

”Why so stingy? It’s just a bottle. I’ll treat you to a feast when we return.”

”Damn! Feels like you’re defaulting on debt.”

”Hahaha! I’ve owed many things, but seems I’ll repay today.”

But the rats wouldn’t pause for their actions, surging over in an instant...