Chapter 74: Prana Rat Exterminator

You’ve gotten acquitted your self admirably, Apramor, the Kinjal proctor stated. Your ways befit your weapon selection and martial fashion, and also you adapt to your enemy throughout fight. An important trait shared by all highly effective warriors.

Vir gulped. However? Theres at all times a however

It’s clear that you’ve got coaching in some very unique arts. However it’s your Skills that shine probably the most. Leap and Excessive Leap are widespread amongst Expertise wielders, however I’ve but to see anybody grasp Shadow Mix and Shadow Motion to such an extent. Certainly, I have to wonder if that is some new undiscovered Expertise?

The proctor threw a pointed stare upon Vir, however then cleared his throat and continued. Regardless of. With this, I hereby declare the examination concluded.

What about my Rank? Vir requested.

Thats not the way it works, Provoke, the helmed soldier replied. Balarian proctors bestow ranks, sure, however to maintain the system as standardized and as neutral as attainable, your rank have to be reviewed by the Balarian Council in Kinjal. Solely after they approve of the proctors evaluation will your rating be finalized.

There have been instances up to now the place a proctor has failed to understand some facets of a warriors efficiency, or overemphasized the worth of a selected trait. The Balarian Council helps shield in opposition to such points.

So, Im not going to know my rank for some time, then? Vir stated. Hed been so excited to learn how highly effective he was. You cant inform me now?

To realize my title as Balarian Proctor, I’ve gone by way of a lot coaching and rigor. Our system doesn’t undergo those that betray it. Nevertheless, contemplating your efficiency, I’m prepared to share your provisional rank now.

T-thanks, Vir replied. It sounded just like the proctor was placing his repute in danger by divulging this data.

However earlier than I do, inform me, do you perceive how the Balar scale operates?

I do know it represents the power of a Kin’jal Balarian Warrior. Balar ten means I would be equal to the rank of ten warriors, proper?

Sure, and no. Balar One is a typical baseline of Kin’jal Balarian warriors of previous. Lately, most Balarian Warriors boast a rank better than one. However, there may be worth in a typical unit of measure, as measuring nuanced traits reminiscent of fight potential is troublesome, to say the least. The Balar Scale serves to present an approximation of somebody’s power, however there have been many conditions when a decrease Balar warrior bests somebody greater than them on the size. Maintain this in thoughts.

I’ll.

The proctor nodded. I rank you at

Vir gulped. Would he break the Balar Thirty Riyan had talked about? Or Yuma save me. What if its lower than thirty!?

Balar Sixty. Owing to your Skills, mobility, information of ways, and your particular Expertise, you possess the capability to defeat sixty Kinjal Balarian Warriors ranked Balar One.

The helmed warrior whistled.

Virs eyes shot open. Sixty!? That was virtually double what Riyan had stated. Then once more, Riyan by no means knew of the total extent of Dance of the Shadow Demon. Vir questioned whether or not it’d really be better than sixty, because the proctor had no information of Prana Imaginative and prescient.

Yesss! he roared, pumping his arms. Take that, Maiya!

Vir strode out of the sector with Neel, his official iron Provoke badge in hand, with a spring in his step. There actually was nothing fairly like exterior validation of his fight prowess; Balar 60 was doubtless far greater than even the knights whod attacked Brij.

If he ever got here throughout them once more, he wouldnt should run or disguise any longer. He may stand his floor. Neither knights, nor pirates, nor slavers would threaten him as they’d up to now.

With pleasure and haste, Vir returned to the Executor to simply accept his first mission.

You need me to kill sewer rats Vir stated blankly, staring on the veiled Executor girl. Not the lady from his first visitsomeone else. Like all the opposite Executors, she handled him as if she knew him already.

Prana rats. They’ve been spilling out of the sewers and terrorizing native neighborhoods. Whereas they’re of no risk to somebody of your capabilities, prana rats maim civilians often. You’ll be doing a public good, stated the Executor with a sigh. Look, that is your first contract, Provoke. What did you count on?

I I dunno? One thing a bit extra harmful?

Your Balar Rank is exactly why we have now given you this contract. Most Initiates start by operating errands for civilians or performing as couriers. Now, do you settle for, or do you decline?

I settle for. What number of do you want killed?

A thousand ought to suffice.

A thousand!?

Vir walked out of the Brotherhood Sanctum into the cool night time, deflated and a bit of irritated. The pay wasnt nice, and hed truthfully anticipated to be granted a extra befitting contract after his exemplary efficiency.

However he supposed it was higher than being an errand boy.

Why so glum, chum? a well-known voice stated as Vir entered the Market plaza.

Wasnt anticipating to see you so quickly, Vir replied, turning to Amin, who stood along with his fingers clasped behind his head.

Yeaah, properly I needed to examine in on my new buddy. See how issues are going, yknow?

Oh? Are we buddies now?

Amin grinned, exhibiting his yellowed and blackened tooth. Positive are! Cmon, why dont we head to a nicer spot?

Vir needed some recent air, so he didnt thoughts. Itd be an excellent alternative to get some data from the urchin. Or fake urchinwhatever he was.

Hed anticipated Amin to take him to a bar, or maybe one in every of his hideouts. As an alternative, the boy led as much as a constructing and up a flight of stairs to a flat third story rooftop.

Fairly nice, isnt it? Amin stated, gesturing to the myriad of Magic Lamps that glowed earlier than them. The view, whereas not breathtaking, was magical in its personal proper.

Its lovely, Vir replied. Is that this your hangout spot?

Certainly one of them, yeah. Come right here to get away from all of it, yknow?

Probably not. What do you do, often?

Actually? Simply attempt to make sufficient to eat, man, the urchin replied, sitting down on the rooftop, crossing his legs.

The true hazard lay within the afflictions they carried inside their maws. One chunk may imply dying, until Vir sought a Brotherhood Life Affinity mejai. And, after his first chunk, hed discovered that their providers weren’t low-cost, practically bankrupting him.

Ever since then, hed been much more cautious, solely partaking when he knew he may win. It slowed his progress considerably, however the various was far worse.

At the very least, that was how hed operated till now. Yesterday, hed situated their major nest. The supply of the infestation. Whereas the contract hadnt specified any further reward for eliminating your entire prana rat colony, Vir was positive itd put him within the Brotherhoods good books, accelerating his targets.

It was his solely hope at this level, as Amin had been oddly lacking, and Vir had no manner of contacting the boy.

With Prana Imaginative and prescient flaring, Vir turned the nook right into a half-height tunnel that led into the prana rat lair.

Vir had already scouted all of the entrances he may discover, selecting this one because it was the least guarded. It was additionally the longest, forcing him by way of many twists and turns to achieve the core of the compound.

Coming throughout his first prana rat guardian, he activated a micro Leap, dispatching the beast earlier than it even knew what hit it.

He dispatched each rat alongside the way in which, barely even breaking stride to finish their lives.

Would Reaper Ekanai be proud if he noticed Vir reaping their lives? Or would the demon scowl and say he was losing time? Both manner, the voices in his head remained silent.

When Vir got here throughout a tunnel main to a different entrance, he took it. It will lead him again away from the nest, however this was a part of his plan. If he killed all of the rats within the entrances, they couldnt ambush and outflank him.

His tactic workedright till he encountered a gaggle of six. Vir lay into them, slicing their necks aside like a wraith, however he wasnt quick sufficient. Two prana rats shrieked, bolting down the doorway to their brethren.

Vir killed them earlier than they made it even ten paces, however their cry had alerted the colony.

A cacophony of shrieks and squeaks signaled the upcoming horde. Vir sprinted by way of the tunnel immediately at them.

After getting as near the enemy as he may, Vir activated Dance of the Shadow Demon, sinking into the bottom. The rats, abruptly lacking their goal, panicked.

This was Virs ace up his sleeve. As an alternative of exiting the shadow realm, Vir remained inside it. Right here, on this pitch-black tunnel, your entire house was his area.

His katar prolonged from beneath a rat, killing it earlier than retracting into the shadow. He did it once more, and once more. Dozens of instances, earlier than his time was up.

All of this was attainable because of the discoveries hed made about his potential over the previous few months. Ten counts was the utmost size Vir may stay throughout the shadow realmif he saved his whole physique inside. Throughout these ten counts, time outdoors would stand nonetheless.

Nevertheless, the extra of his physique that protruded outdoors, the longer he may keep in. Then again, the much less of his physique that occupied the shadow realm, the quicker time flowed outdoors. On this manner, Vir may management each the move of time and the way a lot of himself he hid throughout the shadows.

Crucially, he may prolong totally different components of his physique by way of totally different shadows at will. He didnt have an inkling the way it all labored, however as long as a shadow was inside vary, Vir may poke his legs out of 1 and his arms out of one other.

He did precisely this. Along with his legs protruding out of the unique tunnel hed entered througha secure and empty tunnelhe attacked the beasts, permitting him to maintain the power energetic for a full thirty seconds.

When it ended, he reappeared within the first empty tunnel, and recharged the power. Some seconds later, he reactivated Dance, repeating the method.

By the point hed sucked the ambient prana dry, not a single prana rat remained. Solely corpses.

However Vir didnt let down his guard. When hed taken this contract, the very first thing hed accomplished was to seek the advice of the bestiary in Dahas library, which informed him that prana rat colonies at all times coalesced round a rat king. These beasts had been each greater and extra vicious than their lesser brethren, able to uniting colonies beneath their banner.

These kings had been no joke. Some even had Balar Ranks as much as thirty. If Vir had encountered the king earlier than eliminating the majority of its colony, hed have been pressured to flee.

He proceeded with an abundance of warning, peering so far as he may with Prana Imaginative and prescient.

One second, there was nothing, and the subsequent, an important rat twice Neels dimension got here hurtling at him with the pace of an Acira. Vir dove to the aspect on intuition, narrowly avoiding a vicious chomp geared toward his neck.

The rats jaws snapped with a lot power, the sound echoed by way of the tunnel.

Vir instantly let free a chakri, slicing into the beasts flesh.

It is likely to be quick, however its disguise is fairly weak, Vir thought as he dodged one other claw.

There was just one method to win this, and that was with Dance. Hed already exhausted the Ash prana on this space, however there was simply sufficient for another invocation. Hed should make it depend.

Vir threw a chakri, forcing the rat king again, shopping for time to cost Dance.

The prana rat king eyed him for a second, then, seeing Vir standing nonetheless with no intent to assault, it lunged.

Not sufficient time! Vir thought.

The tunnel was too slender to dodge, and Leap would take a full second to cost.

The rats maw opened, its saliva oozing from its gums. The beast craved Virs flesh, and at this charge, it will have its want.

No selection!

He triggered Dance prematurely, sinking into the shadow realm.

He barely made it. The rats maw snapped shut, taking a tuft of Virs hair with it.

This time, Vir had no likelihood to decide on his vacation spot. Dance spit him out instantly

And he fell. He fell from an important peak.

Disoriented, Vir struggled to realize his bearings, however then intuition and his infinite hours of coaching kicked in. Prana Imaginative and prescient flared. The bottom rushed nearer, however Vir was prepared.

Activating Mild Step, he set a knee softly down onto the stone.

Vir stood up and regarded across the nice cavern he discovered himself in.

The place in all of the realms am I?