"Fire in the hole!"
Julian threw what looked like a grenade down the staircase into a cellar. It bounced three or four times down the steps and finally exploded in a burst of poisonous smoke, making rats run desperately everywhere, screeching loudly.
"Die, you fiends!" He yelled vigorously with his arms wide open.
He put on his gas mask and descended the stairway leading to the cold dark cellar, holding nothing but a red pipe wrench; the nightmare of every rat.
The worn out gray overalls carried the symbol of his life goal: a rat crossed by a red slash.
"Now it's time for melee combat!" A swing, and a rat was sent flying to the wall, sliding lifeless to the ground.
Another movement, now a clean downward strike, and there was another rat. And another, then another. He never stopped until all of them were exterminated. That was Julian's job.
After several blows and swings, the smoke faded away, turning visible what was before concealed: a battlefield full of the corpses of his enemies. Not even one could withstand the might of his wrench.
Julian took off his gas mask and raised his bloodstained weapon high, sweat dropping from his forehead. "Behold, the power of the Legendary Iron Grip! Mwahahaha!"
The click of the light switch being turned on interrupted his malefic laughter and made him freeze. The landlord watched that embarrassing performance from upstairs. An old grumpy man in his pajamas. "Are you finished?"
Julian tried to recompose. "Um, yes, sir. All the rats were exterminated, as you can see…"
"Alright, now you hurry and clean that mess. I don't have all day."
That was his least favorite part of the job. In fact, he hated it. Swipe the floor and throw the dead rodents inside a trash bag, no glory involved, no loot to collect.
Not to say that the smell of dead rats was disgusting, yet Julian learned how to cope with that after 15 years of experience as a rat exterminator. He always kept in mind that there was a reward for completing the quest.
As the job was done, the old man handed him some money and slammed the door shut. Julian looked at the pitiful amount of cash on his hands and crumpled them in anger. "The only reason I don't leave this job is because that's what I was born to do!"
He returned to his van with his head low. That same logo could be seen on the side of the van: a rat inside a red circle with a line crossing it. "Rat Killer" and a phone number.
As he was about to turn the key, the cellphone rang. He snorted and picked it up. "Rat Killer, how can I help you?"
***
A tall double door made of sturdy stone opened slowly, as four silhouettes walked in a huge circular chamber, pillars all around. They looked around in awe.
"That seems to be the place," said Mimay, "the boss chamber."
"I have a bad feeling about this," said Kai, insecure.
"Kai is right," added Astar, "there's something off about this crystal. I can feel it."
"Stop being silly, you two!" protested Mimay, "I have configured the summoning crystal properly, I even double checked it just for safety."
Erwin, on the other hand, leaned on a pillar, quietly observing the other three discussing.
"Anyway. I didn't fight all my way down 10 levels to skip the dungeon boss," said Kai, "I want its loot."
"Well, then go ahead, Mimay." Astar adjusted her dusky dark hair.
Mimay nodded and then walked to the center of the chamber where a pedestal inscribed with glowing runes was standing.
She stopped in front of the pedestal and took a blue prism shaped crystal in her hands. For a second, she hesitated.
"Alright, guys," said Mimay, her blonde hair and white robes waving with the energy emanating from the crystal, "when I activate this summoning crystal the dungeon boss will appear."
Kai unsheathed his sword and held its hilt tightly. Astar also took her staff and readied a fighting stance. Even Ervin got his bow and arrow and let out a grin. The party was ready for battle.
Mimay swallowed. "Come forth, Killer Rat!"
The boss chamber exploded in a flash of light, the wave of energy made them all instinctively cover their eyes. The power was so intense it sent Mimay flying away.
The wave of energy dispersed and the whole party was about to unleash their attacks.
"Wait," said Kai, "where's the boss at?"
Mimay pointed. "Over there!"
"That's not the boss," said Astar, "what is that weird looking guy doing there?"
Sitting on top of the pedestal there was a guy in his mid-thirties, a few days' stubble, wearing gray overalls and holding a strange device to his ear. He looked around and frowned.
"Where the heck am I?"