I slashed a rat across the face with my claw and bit another on the base of it’s neck. I ripped and teared at any rat that came near me as hatchlings streamed in to contribute what they could. I snarled and yelled. “Hatchlings! Retreat to the entrance tunnel! We’ll be able to hold it more easily!”

  At once the hundred or so hatchlings that had sprinted into the tunnel sprinted away. I smiled and continued to rip the rats around me apart. They’re teeth barely penetrated my scales although I was still racking up an impressive amount of wounds.

  After almost five minutes of constant melee I turned and sprinted towards the entrance tunnel. Three of the naked mole rats were fighting the hatchlings at the tunnel entrance and from what I could tell it wasn’t going well for either side.

  Thankfully I’m quite good at killing rats. I dragged one of the trio towards me and bit into where it’s spine should be located. I felt my teeth crunch into something so I decided to pull it out.

  The rat squealed in pain and horror as I wrenched its spine out. I spat the long boney out and yelled. “I’m rich! Die peasants!” I slashed my claws at the second rat's stomach, ripping it open.

  These things were pretty damn fragile. The last one was overwhelmed by a horde of hatchlings. I looked at the hatchlings and said, “I’ll fight them all, I need you guys to help out by running in, biting them and then running away. We’ll hold the tunnel. If someone helps me kill something and they collapse , make sure to save them.”

  Having a few more evolved skinks would be helpful. I turned towards the three dozen or so rats that were charging at us and yelled. “Die you on the breadline vermin! Face the power of money!”

  I slammed my tail into one, expecting it to go right through but unfortunately I was reminded of the impromptu amputation I had gone through. God I hate that gigantic bruiser. I’m officially naming him Asshole. That's his name now, because he’s an asshole.

  I was woken up from my day dream by a rat sinking its teeth into my face. I let out a small squeal before I realized that it had voluntarily put its face near my jaws. I opened my mouth as wide as I could and clamped down on the rat's face.

  It was actually quite gruesome, as it’s face kinda got sheared off. Why is fighting so gross? Too much blood, wish I fought something without blood for a change. The next hour was constant combat, mixed with a few minutes of rest. Over two hundred rats charged us, and every single one was slaughtered.

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  By the end I was barely able to stand up, my entire body was covered in so much blood I couldn’t even tell which was mine and which was the rats. The rat corpses had piled up, they had been dragged off by the hatchlings.

  The worst part of the fight was the amount of hatchlings that had died. We had previously had around seven hundred but now we barely had more than five hundred. Their corpses would be buried outside, in a mass grave. The grave itself would be topped by the skulls of every single giant rat.

  Thankfully of the five hundred around four hundred of them were evolving including Marlow and James. I was a bit sad to see them grow up but it would be nice if they were able to protect themselves a bit more. I sighed and said. “Alright everyone. We’re staying in the tunnel for a while. Rest up, tend to the wounded.” I walked over to the entrance to the cavern and sat down. I decided to check my notifications, I had hopefully leveled this time.

  You have killed a level 10 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. X 116

  You have killed a level 11 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. X 31

  You have killed a level 12 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. X 8

  You have killed a level 13 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. x11

  You have killed a level 14 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. x29

  You have killed a level 15 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. x3

  You have killed a level 16 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. x8

  You have killed a level 17 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. x2

  You have killed a level 18 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker.

  You have killed a level 19 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. x5

  You have killed a level 20 Giant Naked Mole Rat Worker. x4

  You have leveled up. You are now a level 40 Mud Skink War Queen

  You have leveled up. You are now a level 41 Mud Skink War Queen

  You have leveled up. You are now a level 42 Mud Skink War Queen

  You have leveled up. You are now a level 43 Mud Skink War Queen

  You have leveled up. You are now a level 44 Mud Skink War Queen

  You have leveled up. You are now a level 45 Mud Skink War Queen

  Yes! Look at all of those lovely levels! That’s what I’m talking about! These things give so many levels! And this was me sharing the credit with the hatchlings. I smiled and turned to look at the hatchlings behind me.

  Soon, I would once again have an actual loyal army. But we weren’t attacking the city of Tiat any time soon. Maybe a quick excursion to steal a broodmother or something but not until I’ve evolved. Hopefully my next form is a giant boost in power. It's taking a shit ton of levels.

  It should be at level fifty that I evolve. Once I do there will be a reckoning. I’m gonna kill everything. All of the mud skinks that betrayed me. All the rats. All the humans who stole me from my kids. Once I’m done setting up a new homebase in these mountains I’m going to kill them all. Every single creature that ever went against me. A reckoning will come.