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 47: Steady Progress

Episode 47: Steady Progress

Paula comes every other day. She has her usual adventurer duties and other errands, so she can’t visit daily. Today is one of the days she isn’t coming, so I’ve been wandering the forest since morning, looking for prey.

“Grrrr…!”

“Sla-slaa!”

Currently, I’m facing a giant pitch-black wolf. Its Beast Rank is probably Grand Beast. The wolf stands out in the dim forest with its jet-black fur and bright, gleaming silver eyes. It doesn’t have any companions, but it’s still quite a formidable opponent. Its black fur is impervious to blades and lightning strikes. On top of that, it boasts high attack power and agility.

By combining [Instant Shift] and focusing on dance-like footwork using [Dance], I’ve just barely managed to avoid its attacks. But I’m so preoccupied with dodging that even when I find an opening to counterattack, it skillfully evades my strikes.

For a while, we were in a deadlock—both able to dodge the other’s attacks. But now, that balance has finally shifted.

“Grrraaagh!”

“([Heavy Slash]!)”

I had finally gotten used to the wolf’s high-speed movements. As I narrowly dodged its claw strike, I activated my [Weapon Skill]. By rotating my upper body, I used [Dance] to drive my blade toward the wolf’s face. But my opponent wasn’t so easily caught off guard. Even in the face of a sudden counterattack, it reacted quickly. It caught my sword between its gleaming white fangs, attempting to crush it.

“(No chance!)”

“Gah!?”

However, there was no way it could crush my shapeshifting sword. The powerful slash tore through the inside of its mouth.

[Heavy Slash] is a [Weapon Skill] Paula taught me—well, technically, she had to ask someone who could use it, since she can’t use it herself. By pouring all my strength into it, it unleashes a powerful slash. I also learned [Heavy Thrust] and [Heavy Shoot] along with it.

Taking such a strong slash to the face was too much for the wolf. It staggered back a few steps, and once the tide turned in my favor, the rest was quick. I immediately lunged at the wolf, activating [Capture]. Holding the struggling wolf tightly, I finished it off with [Tear Off] and [Decomposition Liquid].

“(Feels like I’m almost there…)”

I muttered to myself as I checked my <Level>, which hadn’t increased. I’m currently at <Level 98>. I have something I want to try once I hit 99, but it’s taking its time.

“(Sigh, guess I’ll have to keep searching. If only a convenient horde of beasts would—)”

“”“Bwooooooo!”””

“(…Seriously?)”

Looking in the distance, I saw a group of humanoid pigs—what I call Orcs—charging my way. What luck. From a quick count, there were about ten of them. Most seemed to be Greater Beasts, but two or three of them appeared to be Grand Beasts.

There was still some distance between us, so I decided to start taking them down from here.

“([Replicant Form: Mimic]).”

I formed two wind-resistant bows. On one of them, I nocked an explosive arrow—one of the arrows Paula had brought me, which I had since diligently replicated—and quickly aimed and fired.

“([Compact Shoot]!)”

The combined effects of [Sniping] ensured that the explosive arrow hit the stomach of a Greater Beast Orc. The explosion caused the Orc to collapse to its knees. The explosive arrows were expensive, but their power was enough to even affect a Grand Beast.

Using the wind-resistant bow, I could easily take down Greater Beasts. And now, I already had another explosive arrow nocked on the other bow I had formed earlier. I aimed and fired.

“([Compact Shoot]!)”

This time, the arrow hit a Greater Beast Orc’s leg, causing it to fall. In the time it took to shoot, I had already nocked another arrow in the first bow, aimed, and fired again. By alternating between the two bows, I could rapidly fire explosive arrows, a technique I had been practicing recently.

Initially, I tried firing both bows simultaneously. But aiming at two targets at once was too difficult, so I switched to rapid-fire instead. With enough practice to nock arrows unconsciously, I only needed to focus on aiming one at a time, which made things much easier.

Thanks to this rapid-fire method, the Orcs’ numbers quickly dwindled. Orcs are magic beasts that fight with their bare bodies, without weapons or armor. So as long as the arrows hit, they inflicted significant damage. This tactic works well against them.

Given the situation, the Orcs should have retreated by now, but maybe they couldn’t afford to withdraw or were afraid of being attacked from behind. Despite not using [Challenge], they kept charging full speed ahead.

Eventually, all the Greater Beasts were wiped out, but the two Grand Beasts reached me.

“(Alright, here we go!)”

”“Bwooo!?””

I deactivated the bow transformation and immediately mimicked four kusarigama (chain sickles), directing all of them at the Grand Beast Orcs. Normally, the kusarigama’s range is about five meters. But by attaching them to the tips of the whip-like extensions I created through transformation, I extended their reach.

(Note:

Kusarigama)

I controlled all four kusarigama freely, toying with the Orcs. Thanks to my past practice of manipulating eight legs, controlling just four weapons wasn’t much of a challenge.

“Brrrrgh!”

Realizing that they were at a disadvantage in this mid-range battle, one of the Orcs crouched down. Then, suddenly, it sprinted toward me with incredible speed. It’s almost as fast as its previous top speed. I was a bit taken aback.

“(But this is still manageable.)”

Though surprised, I had enough time to react. Using [Instant Shift] and [Dance], I dodged and decapitated the Orc in one swift motion. Bl00d sprayed out like a geyser. Seeing this, the last remaining Grand Beast Orc tried to flee. But I wasn’t about to let it escape at such close range.

“([Jump], [Charge Thrust]!)”

I mimicked a crimson spear and charged forward, piercing through the Orc’s chest.

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

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Jewel Armory Slime}’s Soul Accumulation Level has risen to 99.

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“(Oh, finally! My <Level> has increased!)”

I checked my |Status| and confirmed that I had reached <Level 99>, shouting with joy. I had a gut feeling that it was the case, but I still wanted to confirm it properly.

Looking at my |Status| again, I saw that my [Skills] were well-mastered, and my <Level> had risen at just the right moment.

“(Looks like I’m ready to take it on—)”

—The other Sovereign Beast that lives in this forest.