I Am the Weakest Cat, but If I Keep Evolving, Can I Become the Strongest? - Episode 16: The Ecosystem of Rank III

Episode 16: The Ecosystem of Rank III 

▽ Episode 16: The Ecosystem of Rank III 

My level has increased quite a bit. 

Basically, I decided to move at night. It’s the time when Rabbit-chan is hiding and sleeping, and some other monsters are up to shady stuff. 

If I run into a nasty monster, I’ll run away. 

The only one that persistently chases me is a big dog—just by looking at it, drooling, it’s clearly rabid. I call it *Crazy Dog*—but it’s a pain. 

Though, if that thing lands a single hit, I’ll probably get infected and go mad and die. Other than that, its specs aren’t impressive. 

It’s fast, but it feels like it’s slower than Freestyle Cat. 

If it bites, I’ll likely get sick, so I don’t have a way to kill it. 

Anyway. 

Before that, a skill evolved. So I’ll decide on that first. 

The evolved skill is [Agility], which increases the agility stat. 

List of Evolution Options: 

1. 1. [High Agility] 

 Increases the power to boost agility even further. 

2. 2. [Acceleration] 

 When activated, doubles agility stat for 2 seconds. 10-second interval. 

3. 3. [Top Speed] 

 Instantly transitions to max speed. 

4. 4. [Sharp Eyes] 

 Dynamic vision greatly increases. 

These are the four options. 

It’s quite a troubling choice. I’m very drawn to the pure power-up of [High Agility]. In the end, high stats are just strong. 

But [Acceleration] could be used like a trump card. 

Even a 10-second interval doesn’t seem too harsh. It could be applied to offense, defense, or escape—pretty wonderful, I think. 

Option 3, [Top Speed], seems interesting. 

It would eliminate the weakness of monsters like Rabbit-chan, who I’ve been using as prey. Depending on how you see it, it could be extremely deadly. I also have [Instinct Detection]. Being able to instantly hit top speed the moment I sense danger is useful. 

Option 4 is also good. 

It might let me fight against enemies like Rabbit-chan who are “so fast I can’t even see them.” …………No, let’s not. 

Even if I improve it, I feel like I’ll still run into enemies like, “In the end, too fast to see!” 

I’ll deal with those using [Wonder Time] or [Instinct Detection] and move on. 

I narrowed it down to three choices. 

I’m torn. I wonder what other people would do. But there’s no one I can ask. 

I chose [Acceleration]. 

It hurts to lower my average speed, but increasing my trump cards might increase the number of times I can win. 

Even with [High Agility], I’d probably still be caught by enemies who are speed-focused. 

Outsmart them in an instant, bite, then seal it with [Wonder Time]. 

That’s the basic style of Freestyle Cat. 

It’s probably better to refine that style, and [Acceleration] also seems flexible. 

Now let’s take a look at my powered-up stats. 

Name: [Unset]  Gender: [Male] 

Species: [Freestyle Cat]  Level: [11 (15)] 

Unique Skill: [Choice Link (The Future to be Determined)] 

Species Skill:  [Wonder Time (A Laugh Without a Cat)], [Spatial Magic・Intermediate]

Inherited Skill: [Charm], [Instinct Detection], [Quick Escape], [Invite Fortune],

[Survival Growth・Slight], [Fire Magic・Beginner], [Water Magic・Beginner], 

[Wind Magic・Beginner], [Earth Magic・Beginner], [White Magic・Beginner], 

[Spatial Magic・Beginner], [Magic Talent・Small]

Abilities: [Strong Poison Fang VII], [Acceleration I], [Strong Paralysis Claw IX], [Howl IV]

That’s how it is. 

Not much has changed…………. Probably because I can’t see the detailed stats like physical attack power. 

Even so, my physical and magical attack powers have increased. 

Also, [Strong Poison Fang] has surpassed level V. 

It won’t evolve unless it reaches the limit level… At this pace, my claws will evolve first. 

The fangs are only used for finishing blows. 

But the claws are used in many ways. 

For leveling up, I scratch sleeping rabbits before biting them. 

Until they start running, Rabbit-chan is super weak. 

“Nyaou” 

Alright, let’s level up again today. 

Among monsters, many species don’t bother leveling up. 

As long as they can eat something that day, that’s enough—that’s their stance. 

I hunt actively even without needing to eat. 

Leveling up is important. 

I accept some risk to become stronger. 

I eat Rabbit-chan roasted. Delicious. 

By the way, the smell attracts Crazy Dog who goes *woof woof*, which was kinda hilarious. 

▽ 

I might have screwed up. 

I chose [Acceleration] for my skill evolution. Maybe because of that… 

Crazy Dog has reached the same speed as me. 

[Agility] was doing more work than I thought. 

It’s a big problem. 

If I get bitten, it’s over. 

But if I bite, I’ll get infected—[Instinct Detection] screams danger. 

“Nnyaa” 

From time to time, I use [Acceleration] to try and shake it off. 

But unbelievably, it also chases after me drooling while using [Acceleration]. 

That guy also had [Acceleration] in its skill slots.

And I don’t want to believe it, but that guy probably has one more speed-type skill. 

It’s gradually catching up. 

That guy is definitely faster than me. 

What the heck. While using [Search] to look forward, I can also check the enemy behind me. I fire a few magic spells to keep it in check. But the distance is still closing. 

I run desperately. 

Should I fight now? 

But with my firepower, I have to land at least twenty [Fire Bolts] to kill it. 

And even Crazy Dog is a Rank III monster. 

If I shoot [Fire Bolts] randomly, it dodges them. 

My MP for escaping might also run out. 

What do I do. 

At that moment, [Instinct Detection] reacted. 

I quickly used [Short Warp]. 

A one-step teleport. 

If I hadn’t teleported, I would’ve been taken down by the Slime that poured down from the tree above. 

Running around the forest increases the risk of other monsters jumping in. 

Slimes suddenly fall from above and invade through the opponent’s respiratory system. 

They nullify physical attacks, and you have to precisely destroy the core with magic. 

Normally, they’re beatable opponents, though you must spend MP. 

But right now, I don’t have time to deal with them. 

There’s no sign that Crazy Dog’s pursuit will end. 

At this rate, it won’t stop until one of us is dead. 

And if things stay like this, I’ll be the one who dies. 

There’s no choice anymore… I have to do it. 

I’m not just some hunting target. 

Don’t underestimate me too much.