Rin stopped in the narrow corridor, breathing hard.
The silence after the group’s separation pressed down on him like something alive.
Ahead, at the intersection of broken passageways, a massive silhouette slowly took shape in the dark.
Tall.
Bipedal.
Oozing.
Rin knew nothing about the creature.
Not yet.
He could only observe: the heavy movements, the muscles shifting beneath darkened skin, the acrid smell thick in the air.
The System reacted almost instantly, its translucent interface flashing into view.
[Alert: Abnormal presence detected.]
Rin locked eyes with the red glow burning in the shadows.
Its jaw flexed, ready to bite.
Claws dug into the cracked concrete, carving long grooves.
The creature did not move like a simple animal.
It anticipated.
It tested.
The System illuminated again—this time with detail.
[Full Analysis: KINGRAT]
[Rarity: ★★☆☆☆☆☆]
[Name: Kingrat]
[Physical Description: Mutated bipedal rat. Larger than an average human. Skin coated in toxins. Red eyes. Sharp teeth. Powerful claws. Intelligent and threatening posture.]
[Capabilities: High aggression. Rapid mobility despite size. Potential strategic behavior.]
[Recommendation: Avoid direct confrontation if unequipped.]
Rin inhaled slowly, recording everything.
The name.
The rarity.
The description.
Everything he had observed was now confirmed.
Everything he did not yet know remained hidden—but every piece of data was an advantage.
He scanned the area quickly.
Mi-sun and Ha-joon had fled left, drawing Kingrat away from Dae-hyun and Young-mi, who had taken shelter deeper within the ruins.
Jin-woo was nowhere in sight—likely lost to panic in another corridor.
Every movement. Every decision.
All of it could influence Kingrat’s behavior.
Rin lowered himself slightly, calculating.
Kingrat: massive, but likely predictable in its initial attacks.
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Narrow passages: usable as improvised choke points.
Mi-sun and Ha-joon: must survive for the diversion to hold.
Dae-hyun and Young-mi: must remain unseen.
A subtler notification appeared.
[Notification: Your profile is gradually taking shape.]
[Analysis in progress.]
[Actions and decisions observed.]
Rin blinked—and ignored it.
Not now.
Kingrat suddenly lunged forward, a guttural roar tearing through the corridor.
Rin stepped back instinctively.
The movement was fast—but calculated.
Not wild.
He shoved a chunk of broken concrete between himself and the creature, creating a partial obstacle.
Kingrat stopped.
Growling.
Evaluating.
Rin analyzed every micro-movement.
The silence returned—heavy and suffocating.
The System offered no further guidance.
He would have to decide.
[Objective: Survive.]
[Time Remaining: 65h 54m]
The tutorial continued.
The danger was real.
The name was known.
The profile established.
And Kingrat was watching.
The creature remained still, but the air around it seemed to vibrate.
Rin calculated rapidly: every second of waiting increased risk.
There were no perfect hiding spots.
No guaranteed plans.
Only meticulous observation.
He crouched behind a cracked pillar, studying the creature’s abnormal musculature, the rigid stance, the toxic sheen covering its skin.
It shimmered faintly in the dim light filtering through the ruins.
Rin slid one step forward across loose gravel—just enough to keep Kingrat in view without revealing himself fully.
The enormous rat did not move.
The System had provided no information about its attack patterns.
He would have to rely on what he saw.
A crack echoed behind a collapsed wall.
Rin froze.
Kingrat turned its head slightly, red eyes scanning the darkness.
But it did not attack.
Not yet.
Rin took another step.
More confident this time.
Every movement calculated to avoid provoking a reaction.
He stopped behind the pillar, breath tight.
Every muscle in his body was coiled.
Kingrat still didn’t move—but its gaze swept the area as though it already knew everyone’s exact position.
It wasn’t attacking.
It was assessing.
Rin measured the distance between himself and the tunnel entrance.
Approximately six meters.
Too close to retreat without drawing attention.
But not close enough to trigger an immediate lunge.
Responsibility pressed down on him.
Every decision could determine who survived.
And who never saw daylight again.
A metallic screech echoed from behind Kingrat.
The creature turned its head slightly.
Rin seized the reaction.
The threat wasn’t just brute strength.
It was perception.
The System records everything, Rin thought.
Even what I don’t do. Even what I choose to ignore.
Kingrat stepped back—not to attack, but to reposition.
Rin’s mind raced.
The cracked floor in front of it.
A poorly stabilized slab of concrete.
A leaning pillar.
Enough to slow it—if he dared.
“We need to separate it further…” Rin muttered under his breath. “Pull it away from Dae-hyun and Young-mi. But…”
There would have to be a sacrifice to test the terrain.
He glanced toward the tunnel where Mi-sun and Ha-joon were maintaining the diversion.
Their ragged breathing.
Their deliberate noise.
Kingrat pivoted slowly, tracking movement.
Calculating.
Rin picked up a rusted piece of metal and placed it on the ground within the creature’s hearing range.
A controlled sound.
Kingrat growled.
Took one heavy step forward.
The diversion was working.
The time had come.
The creature advanced, heavy and deliberate—still unaware of the unstable ground ahead.
Rin calculated angles of escape, pillar placement, debris positioning.
One micro-decision could save multiple lives.
Or doom them all.
The tunnel’s silence was oppressive.
Kingrat approached.
Every muscle taut.
Every breath observed.
And for the first time since arriving in this world,
Rin smiled faintly.
Not out of pleasure.
But understanding.
The tutorial had barely begun.
And Rin Fushiguro was ready to play it his way.
