I Am the Weakest Cat, but If I Keep Evolving, Can I Become the Strongest? - Episode 14: Weak Evolution

Episode 14: Weak Evolution 

▽ Episode 14: Weak Evolution 

I was invading the forest further. 

The goal is to escape from the dangerous forest. However, since I’m surrounded on all sides by the strong, I must proceed carefully no matter what. 

I walk as much as possible toward the weaker side, the weaker side, using [Instinct Detection]. 

In this world, hunting the weak is a waste of time. No, well, if I defeat a Hobgoblin, I get a little bit of experience points. But if I level up using only Hobgoblins, it would take years. 

That’s a problem. 

My lifespan would end before that. 

No, I don’t know the lifespan of a Freestyle Cat. 

Anyway, it seems other monsters know that too. 

That’s why fighting low Ranks is foolish. And naturally, territorial battles happen between those of equal Rank. Even the lower Rank ones are dangerous when they’re dangerous. 

In that case, fighting those of equal Rank and getting experience points is better. 

As a Rank III myself, I should head toward a battlefield that suits me. 

I arrived. 

It wasn’t like a map loading screen showed up. But it’s clear that from here, the presence of monsters has changed. [Instinct Detection] also warns me. 

It was a blue forest. 

All the plants were dyed blue, and it felt like the forest itself had turned pale. This is the Rank III zone. I carefully stepped on the ground with my paw… and then— 

My [Instinct Detection] screamed. 

“!” 

『Gapaa』 

The ground. 

The moment I thought the ground shook under my feet, something had already taken half of my body into its mouth. A type that hides in the earth… a shark. 

Earth Shark. 

It will bite and kill me. 

The moment I understood that, I reflexively used [Short Warp]. Just barely in time. The Earth Shark closed its mouth and bit into emptiness. I was a step away. 

All the hair on my body stood on end. 

But there’s no time to stop. I tried to slash with my claws… but the target was already hidden in the ground. 

“Nyaan” 

Dangerous. 

I have to kill it here. That’s what I thought. But I don’t have any effective attacks for things underground. Should I use [Dig] at random? 

No, it feels like the enemy is swimming through the ground. 

It could probably dodge a random [Dig]. 

“Nyan ([Search]).” 

I’d never been attacked from below before. 

When I carefully used [Search] to check, as expected, the Earth Shark was swimming underground. What to do? As I hesitated— 

The ground stretched out. 

? 

Just after a question mark popped in my mind, my lower body was restrained by the earth. Probably an intermediate-level [Earth Magic]. 

The Earth Shark can use magic too. 

It’s the same type as me. 

By the time I understood that, it was too late. The Earth Shark tried to eat me at an incredible speed—and I escaped with [Home Gate]. 

 ▽ 

The Rank III zone is a demonic realm. 

There’s no way I can fight something like that. Even though I took the whole day to reach the Rank III zone, I was sent back to the Rank II zone. 

It can’t be helped. 

For now, I’ll feed off the Goblin Queen’s legacy and level up. 

▽ 

A Goblin evolved through the Goblin Queen’s species skill. 

A black giant. 

I slaughtered the provisional “Goblin General” . The enemy also seemed to be Rank III. But unlike the Earth Shark, it didn’t specialize in tricks or ambushes. 

I approached while hiding and killed it with [Dimension Strike] and [Wonder Time]. 

Thanks to that, my level rose to 6. 

Also, the [Cry] I had been leveling seems to be evolving too. Let’s take a look.

1. 1. [Intimidation]

 Gives strong pressure to lower and equal Ranks. 

2. 2. [Howl] 

 Strikes with shock via sound. 

3. 3. [Repulsive Cry] 

 Lowers the attack power of whoever hears it. 

4. 4. [Cute Cry] 

 Increases the attack power of whoever hears it. 

5. 5. [Hate Voice] 

 Increases the hatred from hostile targets. 

This is how it turned out. 

Hard to choose. Especially number 5—I don’t get the point. Why do I have to be hated? …Wait, I think I heard something like this in a game commentary. 

Hate management……. 

Ah, I see. It’s a skill to draw enemy attention to yourself during group battles. 

But doesn’t it only work on low intelligence enemies? 

Let’s reject that one. 

Now, I’m torn between [Howl] and [Repulsive Cry]. 

However, after much hesitation, I decided to acquire [Howl]. There were several deciding factors. 

First, the Cat-type’s durability is low to begin with. 

Even if I lower the enemy’s attack power, I feel like it’s over if I still get hit. 

Also, it helps that there are many invincibility-type abilities. 

The [Wonder Time], which I plan to inherit, is an invincibility-type to begin with. The soon-to-disappear (probably) [Spatial Magic・Intermediate] also includes many spells of that type. 

The Cat-type is expected to take action before being taken down. 

Therefore, I went with [Howl], which sends out a shockwave. 

Right away, I tried it on a nearby Goblin. I let out a “Nyan,” and the Goblin staggered slightly from the wind pressure. 

Weak. 

With a slender body like a Goblin’s, making it stagger is the best I could do. 

I’d better assume it won’t work past Rank II. At this rate, maybe it would’ve been better to go with the debuff branch………. Though it’s no use regretting it now.