Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 12: Encounter

Episode 12: Encounter

“Gwanininininini!”

“(It’s huge, probably a Greater Beast or close to it? No shortage of challenge here!)”

What appeared before me was a crayfish monster, but not just any crayfish—it had a shape reminiscent of a centaur. The long body was bent vertically in the middle, giving it a human-like upper body. 

Though it looked somewhat human, it was covered in reddish-brown exoskeleton, and its arms ended in pincers. The position of its head was similar to the humans I saw earlier. The inorganic black eyes on top of its head looked down at me.

The crayfish monster then swung its pincer arm.

—Something feels dangerous!

“Swish!”

“Nnngh!”

Though there was still some distance, I instinctively jumped back. Reacting to my desire to escape, [Escape] activated. I quickly moved several meters away.

“Thud!”

The pincer was launched. It pierced the spot where I had been, closing its sharp blade and slicing the ground.

The sharpness was unnatural.

The pincer was connected to the arm with a cord, which coiled back, reattaching the pincer to the arm.

“(That was close…!)”

I muttered in fear.

Honestly, with my |Toughness|, I probably would have been unscathed, but I didn’t want to voluntarily take an attack at that speed.

The crayfish, glaring at me for dodging, pulled its other arm back.

I began to [Escape] to the left. 

Dodging the second attack, the crayfish immediately pursued. Dodging, evading, and escaping in a cycle.

“(Whoa!)”

The crayfish seemed to get used to my clockwise movement and its pincers closed in on my new position. I leapt just in time.

―――Non-Notification Information Recording Zone―――――――――――――

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Jewel Slime} has acquired the [Skill: Jump].

>> Acquired the [Skill: Evasion] 

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“(That was a close call.)”

I managed to dodge that strike as well. Landing, I started moving counterclockwise this time.

Having become accustomed to my speed from the previous exchanges, the crayfish again aimed its pincers with precision. 

But I was also used to it.

The moment it swung its pincer, I changed direction. As a result, the pincer was embedded about two meters away from me.

I seized the opportunity.

“Swish!”

Wrapping the whip around the axe I was carrying, I prepared to strike with a [Compact Whip].

Just before I could strike, my movement suddenly slowed.

“(What!?!)”

Fortunately, I managed to attack before the pincer was retracted, but it seemed the exoskeleton had no visible damage.

But this wasn’t the time to be disheartened.

“(It’s probably that [Escape] wore off.)”

I thought while dodging the pincer’s follow-up attacks. Since I didn’t feel like any debuff [Skill] was used on me, this was likely the case.

In fact, as I began to flee from the attacks again, my speed had returned. Combining it with the [Evasion] I had recently acquired, I was easily handling the pincer’s rapid attacks.

“(Now, I need to find a way to win.)”

Thinking while continuing to evade.

The biggest obstacle to defeating the crayfish centaur was its exoskeleton. It had built a solid defense by blocking the attack of the [Compact Whip]-equipped axe with the exoskeleton. 

To win, I would either need to break through the exoskeleton or attack an unprotected area. 

Summarizing my thoughts while evading, I put them into action. I began by [Throwing] the axe.

“Zwag!”

The crayfish, which had been drawing back its arm to launch another pincer attack, calmly used its arm to guard against the axe.

The axe was deflected and embedded in a nearby tree.

Perhaps thinking it had successfully disarmed me, the crayfish intensified its assault. 

But, you know, my only weapon isn’t the axe.

“Swish, swish!”

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Jewel Slime} has acquired the [Skill: Slash].

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Gripping the knife I brought along with the axe, I took a swing while evading. 

The slow movement from the loss of [Escape] wasn’t too frightening if you knew it was coming. 

Though I couldn’t put full centrifugal force into the attack due to the close distance, it seems I gained a new [Skill].

I could tell from checking my |Status| frequently.

Continuing to evade while slicing with the knife, I felt the activation of [Consecutive Hits] within me.

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Jewel Slime} has acquired the [Skill: Compact Slash].

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Because I had focused on quick swings, I also learned the compact version. 

Thanks to that, I reduced the openings in my attacks, and the cycle of evasion and attack became more stable.

I hadn’t inflicted any injuries yet, but I was steadily increasing the effectiveness of [Consecutive Hits]. However, it seemed the crayfish was getting impatient with the stalemate.

It unleashed a new attack method.

“Bububububub!”

The crayfish blew out several bubbles from its mouth.

They weren’t just ordinary bubbles; they likely explode upon contact or something similar. The bubbles had a rainbow-colored stripe and emitted a significant amount of |Mana|. 

In the monster world, where prolonged battles are common, |Mana| is precious. But it seemed the crayfish decided it couldn’t win while conserving it.

“(Well, it’s rational against a dodging type; area control and suppression are effective.)”

The bubbles spread radially and were densely packed. Even with my confidence in |Speed|, it seemed nearly impossible to dodge them all, just by the range of the attack.

“(But hey, I’m better at defense than dodging!)”

Deciding to endure some hits, I charged towards the direction of the crayfish. 

This was to maximize the use of [Consecutive Hits]. Naturally, I collided with several bubbles, scattering their splashes.

As initially anticipated, there were no explosions, but plants touched by the splashes began to dissolve. It might be a [Skill] similar to my [Dissolution Liquid]. 

Well, as an acidic liquid, it was meaningless against my |Toughness|. I broke through the blizzard of bubbles unscathed.

With no time to waste, I [Threw] the knife. Now only its handle remains.

“(What, it’s melting!?)”

It seems the knife couldn’t withstand it even though I could.

Nonetheless, the knife handle struck the crayfish’s exoskeleton.

Another count for [Consecutive Hits].

“Gwanin!”

“([Evasion], [Compact Whip]!)”

The crayfish approached me, moving its legs and swinging its pincers. 

It could attack faster as it didn’t need to retract. However, I had plenty of [Skills] for evasion. 

I jumped back with [Escape], [Evasion], and [Jump], and returned a [Compact Whip] in response.

The crayfish closed the distance and swung its pincers, which I dodged to regain distance.

Not straying too far, I used [Provocation] and [Enchanting Radiance] to make it chase after me. 

Successfully guiding the crayfish to the desired position.

“Zari!”

“([Jump]!)”

I leapt over the now-familiar pincer attacks and grabbed onto a nearby tree. Climbing up with [Climbing], I retrieved the axe that had been embedded in the tree—the one I had [Thrown] earlier.

With [Transport], the weight of the axe didn’t make climbing the tree too difficult.

“Swish, swish [Provocation])!”

“Gwanin!?”

I used [Provocation] one last time, preparing for the final move.

Using the tree’s bend, I launched myself high with [Jump].

I focused on the position of the crayfish below, creating a whip with the axe and starting a vertical spin.

Then, using [Provocation] and [Enchanting Radiance] to divert the crayfish’s attention towards the attack, I combined the falling speed and my weight—

“(—[Slash]!)”

The axe embedded itself into the crayfish’s face.

I felt a slight lift from the recoil. It definitely felt like I had shattered its exoskeleton and skull.

“(Yes!)”

“……!”

However, I had underestimated the crayfish’s anger and determination.

Confident in my victory after landing the [Slash], I relaxed slightly.

“Zwagwaaaa!”

“(What!?!)”

Even with the axe embedded in its face, the crayfish swung its arm at me as I fell.

Whether it intended to fell the tree or to counterattack, I wasn’t sure. But it seemed to have started charging when I began climbing.

The attack, which seemed to use some [Skill], had a power far beyond the previous ones.

“(Ggeeehhh──)”

Hit by a full-force strike, I was hurled high into the air.

Damn it, getting counterattacked from there.

Even though I felt a successful hit with the [Slash], it was still alive—

―――Non-Notification Information Recording Zone―――――――――――――

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>> Katsuya Fuwa (Jewel Slime) has increased their Soul Accumulation Level to 21.

>> {Evolution} is now possible.

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Suddenly, power surged from the depths of my being.

Looking at my |Status|, I saw my level had increased. It seemed the last attack was fueled by a last-ditch effort.

“(Alright, quite a boost.)”

The tension eased as the battle concluded.

I was launched to a considerable height, but compared to being blown away by a giant monster, it was manageable. 

Thinking I was uninjured, I fell heavily to the ground.

“Eek!”

“(Oh no!?)”

A nearby human had seen me as I fell.