At Marcus's command, the group eased off their advance toward the white rat. They did not withdraw, but neither did they push deeper. Instead, they lingered along the outer edge of the White Dog Rat territory, methodically clearing the monsters there, making it clear to the approaching players that the boss had already been engaged.
No one spoke it aloud, but everyone understood the situation.
Fifty-plus players against their eight.
If those newcomers chose to strike while they were fighting the white rat, they would be trapped between two fronts with no room to maneuver. That kind of pressure could collapse even a strong team in seconds.
So they held their ground and waited, careful not to overextend into the swarm.
Marcus watched the incoming group in silence, hoping, if only slightly, that they had some sense of restraint. It would save him the trouble of making a scene.
