Chapter 530 - Ballistic Missiles
Wildlands.
In the far western parts beyond the Great Wall, the carcasses of both normal and mutated rats filled the plains as Leon and Silver quickly returned.
The skies gradually became less bright as the initial wave of the solar flare passed, returning the world to its previous brightness while the temperature dropped at a slow but sure rate.
Leon suddenly paused in the middle of the journey before he observed the surroundings with creased brows.
"Death Energy is increasing due to the dead rats in the area…" Leon muttered before shifting his gaze to the Wrathful Demonic Energy suffused in the air.
At the same time, Silver's paws dug up dirt as it came to a grinding halt before it looked back at Leon confusedly, "Awroof?"
"No, it's nothing. I'm probably just overthinking." Leon shook his head before he said, "Let us continue heading back."
"Arf, arf!"
Shortly after, Leon and Silver resumed their journey.
…
Great Wall.
The battle between people and rats continued to rage on.
After the Aria's rain of lightning bolts shaved away a large portion of the mutated rat tide, the mutated rat's movement took a sudden change.
"The mutated rats are retreating!" An elven warrior exclaimed with surprise.
Everyone watched the mutated rats retreated from the foot of the Great Wall, heading towards the lightning-ridden region with excitement.
"We won! We defeated the rat tide!" Another elven warrior declared before a weary soldier gazed at the retreating mutated rat tide and muttered, "Did we really win just like that?"
However, General Marquis Hendrick frowned.
Generally, the mutated rat tide is still under the berserk state. They would not leave unless a bigger prey attracted their attention.
"They must have been frightened away by Miss Aria's bolts of lightning! Lightning Awakeners are so overwhelming!"
"I agree that Lightning Awakeners are powerful, but if the rats are truly frightened by lightning, they should be running away from that lightning region and not towards it!"
The elven warriors and human soldiers debated.
Within the lightning-ridden region, remnant traces of lightning danced between puddles of water and in between mutated rat carcasses and their spikes.
The area had become a sea of lightning after becoming energized by the numerous lightning bolts that struck the area.
In the sky, Aria frowned at the mutated rat tide's movement.
"What are these rats up to? If they rush into this lightning-ridden region, they will electrocute themselves to death." Aria muttered.
The following scene went precisely as she expected it.
The mutated rat tide dived into the sea of lightning and electrocuted themselves to death. White smoke rose from their fried bodies as they piled on top of their already electrocuted brethren.
As more mutated rats dived into the area, the lightning-affected region gradually became less effective as the lightning power diminished.
Just as Aria prepared to send down more bolts of lightning, she, as well as everyone else, was surprised by the mutated rats sinking their sharp teeth into the cooked flesh of their fallen brethren.
"The mutated rats are eating their own kind!" a person exclaimed while the elven warriors and human soldiers on the Great Wall all widened their eyes in shock.
They could not understand why this was happening.
"Could it be that they prefer cooked flesh over raw flesh?"
"But that is their own kind! What the hell is wrong with them?"
"Everything is wrong with them, actually!"
As they continued to observe the situation in the distance, one of the soldiers wondered, "Would they leave us alone after they fill their bellies?"
"Maybe if they are normal, but they are not normal at all. The rats have all gone berserk! Even if they are not hungry, I believe they would still try to kill us for the sake of killing!" another person spoke.
At the same time, Princess Thessalia was also observing the situation from the airship in the sky.
As the mutated rats consumed the electrocuted flesh of their fallen brethren, a few sparks of electricity appeared on the mutated rat's spikes.
Princess Thessalia's pupils immediately shrank at the scene.
"Miss Aria, they are gaining lightning immunity from eating the dead rats! They are becoming intelligent!" Princess Thessalia shouted.
Once Aria heard this, her eyes immediately flickered.
The mutated rat tide was already a problem in their berserk state.
If they were becoming smarter whilst still in their berserk state, it was hard to imagine how much more significant of a threat they would pose to everyone.
Aria quickly reacted and rained down more bolts of lightning on the mutated rat tide.
Bzzt! Bzzt!
Squeak! Squeak!
The mutated rats cried while getting struck by lightning. White smoke rose from their seared flesh, but the lightning was shortly drawn to the spikes on their backs.
Shortly after, the spikes lit up with electricity dancing between them like lightning rods!
This was not as simple as gaining lightning immunity. No, the mutated rats have gained lightning attributes, which made them resistant to lightning!
"Oh my god, these mutated rats can gain the power of lightning from eating lightning-infused flesh just like that?!"
Many people's jaws dropped.
However, more surprises were waiting in store for them!
Shortly after gaining lightning attributes, the lightning-mutated rats began rushing back to the Great Wall, stopping some distance away from the foot of the wall before raising their backs with pointed lightning spikes.
"These mutated rats are resistant to lightning now, but they should still be weak to fire! Use your remaining exploding pills now!" Princess Thessalia barked.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The personal guards quickly complied and dumped their few remaining exploding pills on the lightning-mutated rat tide below.
Boom! Boom!
Bursts of flames immediately swallowed the lightning-mutated rats before lightning and fire clashed, generating a greater explosion!
BOOM!
Lightning-mutated rats exploded into pieces like firecrackers as their bodies burst into flames with sparks of electrical discharge scattering!
Shortly after, the other lightning-mutated rats immediately directed their lightning spikes at the airship hovering in the sky above.
Princess Thessalia felt a chill and quickly roared, "Take us out of here, captain!"
"At once, Princess Thessalia!" The captain quickly complied.
Unfortunately, they failed to escape in time.
The lightning spikes projected from the mutated rats like a flash of lightning as they zipped through the air and penetrated the airship's hull like being barraged by ballistic missiles!
The airship was turned into sieves before it began dropping out of the sky.