Mr. Rat of the Steam World

Chapter 95 Waiting for someone who can handle it

"Ho--!!"

Perez, the humanoid vine aggregate, was blasted at close range by countless steel pellets, emitting an inhuman shriek.

The immense impact caused its massive, forward-leaning vines to veer sharply to the side, crashing heavily against the stone wall and metal frame, the sound of shattering bottles and jars echoing through the air.

At the very moment the monster's center of gravity shifted!
A figure, like a cheetah pouncing on its prey, almost pressed against Afra's body as she took a half-step back due to the recoil, and burst in through the hole and the broken door frame.

It's that sharp-looking man!
His dark gray eyes first glanced at the monster before him with some surprise, then locked onto Mattia, who was huddled beneath the experimental table. Without hesitation, he drew a short knife from its sharkskin sheath at his waist.

"I'll go get him out."

He responded to Afra, then pushed off with his back foot and lunged forward.

Afra understood instantly. She took a deep breath and continued moving without stopping!
Her slender fingers deftly pried open the latch beneath the barrel, and with a crisp click, the double-barreled shotgun chamber sprang upwards, two hot, smoking empty cartridge cases clattering to the ground.

At the same time, he opened his other hand, revealing two shotgun shells wrapped in thin paper and covered with a little gunpowder powder that he had been holding in his palm!
Loading and closing the chamber! The movements were fluid and seamless!

Boom! Boom! Just as Perez sensed the creature approaching, the enormous vine tentacles had just risen!

Afra's gun roared again! Two streaks of fire erupted almost simultaneously, this time not aimed at his body, but at the tips of the thick, waving vines that were about to wrap around the muscular man!

*Thud! Thud! Thud!* The vines, as thick as an arm, burst open under the concentrated fire of close-range shotgun shells!
Countless emerald fragments and viscous sap poured down like a torrential rain, as if severed in mid-air by an invisible force! The explosive energy impact briefly created a vine vacuum zone of less than two square meters!

Without the slightest hesitation, the wiry man seized the fleeting opening and, like an agile ape, rolled forward and darted into the shadows beneath the lab table.

He scooped up Mattia's cold, soft body, while his other hand, holding a short knife, was raised warily, guarding against the delicate roots that might pierce through at any moment.

The slight swaying when Mattia was picked up seemed to stimulate the vine monster, and several thin, slimy plant tendrils suddenly lashed out like venomous snakes!
"Watch out!" Professor Al shouted a warning from above. He had somehow rushed to the corner of the stairs, carrying several round kerosene lamps in his arms!

The old professor's face was covered in sweat and dust, his gray hair was disheveled, but as he looked at the monster inside, his eyes blazed with an indescribable excitement.

The burly man didn't even raise his head, and with a backhand slash, he cleaved the dark blade in a cold arc, precisely severing the nearest root that had extended down towards him! A sap-like, emerald-green liquid gushed from the severed end.

Using the force of his swinging sword, he propelled himself forward with his waist and back, carrying Mattia as he dashed toward the door!

"Catch!" Professor Al shouted, and with all his might, he hurled a heavy kerosene lamp, its glass casing reflecting the flickering flame, toward Perez's position!

As Afra finished her second reload, she caught a glimpse of a burning lamp streaking across the sky and instantly understood the professor's intention!

Almost instinctively, she jerked the gun up! Bang! Another thunderous explosion! The storm of lead bullets pierced the thrown kerosene lamp with pinpoint accuracy!
Boom! The kerosene lamp exploded in mid-air! The scorching flames mixed with boiling kerosene poured down like a waterfall, instantly drenching Perez's upper body, which was entangled by vine roots! The flames, like a hungry beast, instantly clung to the damp vine tissue.

"Hoaaaaahh ...
The emerald green vines twisted, curled, and charred wildly in the flames!
Lu Ran huddled in the corner, staring blankly at Afra in front of him.

At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind—

She's practically a war goddess!

That's fucking handsome!
"Again! Throw it now!" Afra's voice cut through the crackling flames and the monster's roar. Her cheeks were burning from the heat of the nearby fire.

The servants upstairs and the trembling, fashionable young man were also inspired by this magnificent sight.

"Throw it! Throw it now!" someone shouted.

Suddenly, one, two, three... more kerosene lamps were thrown in through the stairwell and through the broken doorway! Some were hastily grabbed by the servants from the niche, and some were pulled out of Professor Al's pocket.

Snap, snap, snap. The frantic vines instinctively lashed at the thrown kerosene lamps, spilling even more kerosene.

Crackling.

The surrounding vines burst into flames! Each burst of fire brought with it an even more piercing scream and the crackling sound of plant tissue being destroyed! The sea of ​​fire spread at a visible speed!
The burly man, carrying the unconscious Mattia, ran out of the basement and rolled onto the relatively safe passageway floor, panting heavily.

"Let's go!" the burly man shouted to Afra from inside the passage.

Afra took one last look at the area completely engulfed by flames, then abruptly turned around, grabbed her scorching hot double-barreled shotgun, and rushed out of the hellish chamber.

next moment.

puff-

As if a liquid were boiling, countless wisps of steam erupted from the plant aggregate on Perez's body.

The water vapor filled the air, and the fire was effectively suppressed.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Lu Ran quickly ran outside, and couldn't help but glance at the basement again just before leaving.

Amidst the rising steam, a gigantic, menacing plant seemed to have taken root in the ground and began to grow wildly upwards.

Stones were falling from the basement ceiling with a crackling sound.

"Don't tell me there's a third stage?"

Lu Ran's eyes widened, and she ran even faster with her short legs in fright.

Even as he rushed out of the basement, before he could find Afra, a small leather shoe suddenly slammed down in front of Lu Ran's eyes, startling him.

Immediately afterwards, a pair of fair hands grabbed Lu Ran's neck from behind and lifted him up.

"Traitor Rat, I was so worried about you! I've been looking for you for ages. Come with me now."

A clanging sound, growing louder and louder, could be faintly heard coming from the basement.

All the servants and guests were leaving, and finally stood outside the manor, looking in shock at the empty three-story white main house.

"What...what exactly is that?" the damp nobleman, still in his pajamas, asked timidly.

Professor Al, with an expression of unfinished business, eagerly shared with those around him: "It's true, look, it's true... incredible... living evidence... a new perspective... revolutionary..."

The burly man remained silent, his eyes reflecting the enormous villa with an inexplicable glint.

"What now?"

Afra breathed a soft sigh of relief and carefully placed the scorching hot shotgun on the grass at her feet.

“…Just wait.” Afra turned her head, smoothed her slightly messy blonde hair, rubbed the fluffy gray squirrel in her arms, and said softly.

"Wait for someone who can handle it... to come."

(End of this chapter)