I Am the Weakest Cat, but If I Keep Evolving, Can I Become the Strongest? - Episode 47: Confrontation with Fate・Final Phase

Episode 47: Confrontation with Fate・Final Phase 

▽ Episode 47: Confrontation with Fate・Final Phase

It was a triumphant advance. 

Fortress Ogre-kun had teamed up with me. He also seemed to have leveled up quite a bit. 

Since we’re fighting together, the experience points are split. 

However, thanks to fighting together, even attacks from other Rank VI enemies are no problem. By using him, who specializes in enduring, as a decoy, I can just push out massive firepower from the rear and win. 

Since he handles close combat, after battle, Fortress Ogre-kun is utterly exhausted. 

But I’m not very tired. 

That’s why we’re not targeted by outside enemies aiming to reap the benefits. 

Even in the Rank VI extermination which hadn’t progressed at all for half a year, after teaming up with him, we succeeded in killing seven of them in just one week. 

A huge environmental change. 

Over these six months, the roughly 170 Rank VI creatures had barely changed, only a few replacements. 

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we’re the ones currently running this environment.

“Nyaaaa.”

My evolution is near. 

If I can hunt just one or two more Rank VI, I’ll be able to evolve to Rank VI at last. 

When that happens, the issue is the [Dragon Orb]. 

To inherit it or not. 

The other skills like [Reverse Scale], [Flight・Large] (which becomes really strong when combined with [Super Acceleration] and [Hard Blast]), [Dragon Breath]—of course, they’re attractive. 

But even more problematic is the fact that you can’t gain experience from those of equal Rank. 

It’s a world where evolving is basically stronger. 

I don’t know how many Ranks exist in total. But I think it’s a problem if the evolution efficiency worsens. 

It’s a strong species skill. Stats get higher, and the scale of magic usable becomes dramatically larger. It’s a skill that lets you become a true boss monster. 

But whether I really need it now or not… 

It’s troubling. 

Maybe it’s not too late to decide after seeing the next evolution path.

『MuoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!』

Lately, Fortress Ogre-kun has been letting out roars for no reason. Since his level-ups are going well, he must really feel himself getting stronger. 

Surprisingly, in this Rank VI zone, there are many level 1 enemies. 

Because they can’t hunt other Rank VI, they’re hunting Rank V for experience. Even though it’s inefficient. Honestly, if you wanted to level up 10 levels by hunting Rank V, you don’t know how many years—or even decades—it would take. 

And once you’ve gotten used to preying on weaker ones, suddenly you get attacked by an equal and die. 

My evolution is also close. 

Even after I reach Rank VI, if I team up with Fortress Ogre, reaching the next stage will only be a matter of time. 

The highest Rank in this forest is VII. 

At last, I can see the end of it…….…

By the way, about Fortress Ogre-kun — it turns out she’s actually a *-san*. A few days after teaming up, she gave birth to an Armor Ogre Kid. 

(Note: The “-kun” suffix is mostly used for boys. Since the Ogre is found out to be a girl, the MC switches to a more gender neutral suffix “-san”.)

That kid, we saw off to the Rank V tier. 

So you were a woman… a gender reveal that might be the most unnecessary in history.

“Nyaaa.”

I signal to my partner. 

Today we’re planning to hunt our eighth Rank VI. If all goes well, today I might reach Rank VI. 

The vanguard Fortress Ogre-san also seemed very enthusiastic. 

Even though it must hurt. 

But having a strong rear guard makes the front lines fun. Although I’m more of a rear guard who can do melee burst damage—like a close-range assassin. 

Immediately, we headed for the Rank VI we had our eyes on — Land Octopus-san. It was far in terms of distance. But for us, being Rank V or higher, we could reach it in a day. 

We were able to reach Land Octopus-san’s hunting ground quickly.

But.

……And then, I made Fortress Ogre-san flee for her life…

▽

What we saw there was what used to be Land Octopus-san — now covered in masses of foreign matter growing from all over its body. Entirely parasitized, taken over, violated. 

Yes. 

At some point, Land Octopus-san had been taken by the Absorption Demon. 

Shiver. 

I could feel my whole body break out in goosebumps. I found myself impressed that cats even had that kind of reaction. But I had no time to reflect— 

The enemy was already firing bullets. 

It was a desperate technique that involved breaking apart its own body and launching it as bullets. 

If hit, it would tear apart your body from the inside, and you’d be parasitized in seconds. 

The target was Fortress Ogre. 

With her tough skin, she might be able to block that kind of attack. But if, by chance, even one of them broke through her skin… it would be the end. 

Without a moment’s hesitation, I activated [Super Acceleration]. 

Fortress Ogre-san still didn’t understand. She had absolute confidence in her own body. But due to her low agility, the shield couldn’t react in time. 

I scorched and slashed through the airborne “squad” with [Gladius Tonitrui].

Several more shots followed.

Impossible.

My [Gladius Tonitrui] is an active skill. Once activated, it lasts a few seconds. But it doesn’t stay on forever.

“Nya.”

First, I returned the enemy’s bullets with [Counter Gate]. And while doing that, I charged up [Dragon Breath].

I fired it.

Along with the continuing waves of sub-units—the enemy’s main body was scorched.

Until now, [Dragon Breath] had always incinerated enemies with overwhelming firepower. Both I and Fortress Ogre-kun had absolute trust in this firepower.

But our faith was betrayed.

One of the many heads growing out of the Absorption Demon opened its jaw. And from its mouth, a jet-black line burst forth.

No doubt.

That was the same [Dragon Breath] as mine.

This is bad.

By the time I thought that, it was already too late. Having already used [Counter Gate], I had no means left to reflect that attack.

Due to the difference in status, my [Dragon Breath] couldn’t even cancel it out—it lost.

“Nyao ([Wonder Time]).”

I immediately dodged the breath using my invincibility. Meanwhile, Fortress Ogre-san behind me used her shield to block.

That was a bad move.

By the time the enemy’s breath ended, one of her arms… was gone.

『Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!』

A scream beyond anything of this world.

Even the hardened Fortress Ogre-san would have died instantly if hit directly. It was only because her skills and racial traits specialized in defense that she managed to block it with just an arm.

Or rather than “blocked”, “deflected” might be more accurate.

Anyway, Fortress Ogre-san could no longer fight.

I told her with a glance.

Fortress Ogre-san is now a burden. A creature missing an arm can’t maintain balance. Even if her selling point is endurance, she’ll be killed by the next breath.

Fortress Ogre-san understood.

She turned her back on me and escaped this territory. She’ll probably get ambushed while doing that. Whether she can handle that or not—it’s now up to her.

All I can do is hope she survives.

And now—

I glared fiercely at the Absorption Demon.

That thing never lets a recognized prey escape.

It may temporarily give up, but it will relentlessly pursue. When there are no nearby enemies, it whimsically begins searching for the first prey again.

As Fortress Ogre-san tried to flee, the Absorption Demon fired some kind of magic at her back. The spells carried multiple attributes—so much that I couldn’t even identify which elements were involved.

I jumped in.

I deactivated [Wonder Time] and took the massive magic barrage with my body.

…Intense pain.

I grimaced without meaning to. Even so, I was confident I could endure it now. Because, after all, I’m still a cat-Dragon.

I looked at my belly.

[Reverse Scale] was still there. However, a crack had appeared. If I took one more hit like that, it would probably shatter.

“Nyaaaan ([Natural Healing]).”

A hopeless battle from the start.

At the very least, I had to buy time until Fortress Ogre-san escaped. And this enemy wasn’t the type to hold back, allowing me to stall.

I don’t forget debts.

Thanks to Fortress Ogre-san, I was able to fight comfortably. We even shared meals together.

I couldn’t bring myself to abandon her and run away.

My worth isn’t so cheap that I can just fall to that level of cowardice.

“Nyan.”

Let’s do this, I cried out in challenge.

The enemy gave no reaction.

It had absorbed countless Rank V monsters, and now even Rank VI—its pressure was unlike anything before. More than that… our eyes met.

Clearly, it now possessed intelligence.

It must have absorbed that kind of monster.

The enemy was no longer stupid.

There’s no way it would let me go peacefully. Even if I used [Home Gate] here, if it properly searched for me, I wouldn’t escape.

Looks like… the only way left for me and this thing—is to settle it here.

My [Instinct Detection] tells me that.