I Am the Weakest Cat, but If I Keep Evolving, Can I Become the Strongest? - Episode 35: Into the Rank V Zone

Episode 35: Into the Rank V Zone

▽ Episode 35: Into the Rank V Zone

After the break.

I had arrived in the Rank V zone. My stamina had decreased from the Undead Dragon battle. But I couldn’t stay in a lower-Ranked area forever.

With my equipment on, I think I’m in the category of being pretty strong.

First, the firepower of my magic.

This is on a completely different level than before. If I had this when I fought the Undead Dragon, to be honest, there would have been no reason for me to lose.

With my MP increased, I can now use magic however I like.

Ideally, I would’ve liked something to support my stamina though.

Physically, I feel full of energy.

My level has also increased. I have equipment. I also gained a new skill called [Endure]. When HP is above 50%, I won’t die in one hit, it seems.

That’s useful for risk management.

But it might be tough to use up one of my few skill slots for that. Even if I avoid death once, it’s unclear if it’ll help me win.

It’s a skill that’s nice to have though.

“Nyaon”

I had arrived in a new land.

The Rank V zone was clearly more vast than the lands before. In terms of size, it might be as big as an entire prefecture.

Because of that, the ecosystem is also complex.

It seems there are quite a few monsters in the Rank V zone. First, I start by observing. I’ll spend a few days watching and learning… and then I’ll join the battle.

When I made that decision—

My [Instinct Detection] warned me of danger. I tried to activate [Wonder Time] in a flash—and it failed.

Was it disrupted?

A tremendous shock ran through my body. My bones were safe, but I took heavy damage. I rolled on the ground. What was looking down at me… was a rabbit walking on two legs.

In its hand was a knife that looked like it was made from a horn.

I gave it the name *Assassin Rabbit*, just to call it something.

Despite its cute appearance, the murderous intent pouring from the rabbit was not normal.

“NyaaaaaaaAAAHHHH!”

『!』

What I used was [Terror Howl]. The moment the rabbit’s movements slightly slowed, I slammed it with a combo of [Another Point] and [Thunder Bolt].

The Assassin Rabbit was paralyzed.

I closed in and bit its neck. My poison is powerful. I thought I could easily kill a rabbit…

It didn’t work.

Poison immunity. Just because it looked like an assassin, I didn’t expect it to also nullify poison. This is why I have to adapt first.

—The Assassin Rabbit vanished.

*Sniff sniff*, I twitched my nose.

Though I didn’t poison it, I definitely injured the Assassin Rabbit. I followed the scent of bl00d with my sense of smell.

There it was.

Behind me. This time, I used [Wonder Time]. The horn knife passed right through the spot where my neck had been.

The rabbit’s surprise showed up in my [Search].

It’s over.

I struck it with a turning [Thunder Claw Slash]. *Squish*, the rabbit turned into a corpse.

It was a strong enemy.

Or rather, troublesome. I’m not sure exactly how strong that Assassin Rabbit was. But if there are tons of enemies like that here, this place is way more of a monster den than anywhere I’ve been before.

Feeling tense, I began adapting.

▽

I spent three days observing.

To be blunt, the Rank IV zone can’t even compare. The number of monster types here can’t be counted on one hand.

And it’s not just the monsters—even the plants are a problem.

Trees that cause confusion around them. Berries that sprout inside your body. Mushrooms that move on their own to find prey. Grass that explodes when stepped on. Things like dandelion fluff that’s actually deadly poison.

It’s like the place is refusing to be conquered.

I checked out some other areas too, but everywhere is a hellish zone.

The place I stepped into first happened to be one of the rare areas where you can adapt without having special traits. That’s why I can manage here.

Other places had things like lava raining down like a storm, land where acid bursts out of the ground, places full of poisonous insects, areas where you can’t even function unless you can fly, and places that are just poison swamps.

It’s not about fighting or not fighting.

You can’t even survive there. Most of this zone is like that. Now I understand why the Rank V zone is so vast and filled with monsters.

Just staying alive takes everything you’ve got.

There’s no time to evolve in a place like this. If you evolve in a weird way, you won’t be able to adapt to the environment and you’ll die—it’s that kind of future I can already see.

If it comes to a fight, I think I’m the stronger one.

But, I’m still just a little anxious. This isn’t a place where just winning a fight means you’re safe. I have to adapt—quickly.