I Am the Weakest Cat, but If I Keep Evolving, Can I Become the Strongest? - Episode 8: Piercing with Poison Fangs

Episode 8: Piercing with Poison Fangs 

▽ Episode 8: Piercing with Poison Fangs 

Chimera Mantis. 

No one told me something like that existed. I can’t help but think the peaceful past few months were a lie. No, I was just lucky. 

………Maybe you’re actually working, [Invite Fortune]-san? 

If I hadn’t become a Lesser Sky Cat, I would’ve been killed… 

The shaking still won’t stop. After that, a full two days later, I fearfully came outside. The terror of the Chimera Mantis waiting with a “Good morning.” 

In reality, it wasn’t there. 

I’ve decided. 

I will leave this breeding ground. 

With something like that existing, this place can no longer be considered perfectly safe. 

My way of thinking was far too Japanese. It was human. 

This is a wild, monster world. 

There is no such thing as a safe zone. 

Even if I keep choosing the correct, human answers— 

What awaits me is a slow, impoverished death. 

I need enough strength to escape even if attacked. 

I cannot allow myself to die. 

But in the current state, if I run into that thing again…… 

I can’t imagine I’ll survive the next time either. 

The risk of continuing to live in fear of that thing here far outweighs the risk of heading into more dangerous territory. 

Anyone would understand after seeing that. 

Rather than hoping not to meet that thing and live in weakness, 

it’s clearly better to throw myself into life-risking leveling… 

The chances of surviving are obviously higher. 

My life is not cheap enough to be handed over to the whims of a powerful being. 

—I must become stronger. 

“Nyaan.” 

I thought leaving a familiar place would be terrifying. 

But since it was destroyed by the Chimera Mantis, I have no attachment left. 

…With just my small body, I’ve decided to leap out of the breeding ground. 

▽ 

I hide myself among the trees. 

My appearance is just that of a cat with wings. 

A winged cat may be too rare, but at least it shouldn’t be something that stands out too much in this world. 

There are Goblins. 

The difference is, they’re not all small-fry. 

They move in a five-man team like an adventurer party. 

A Goblin with a hat and staff. 

Let’s call it, for now, the Magical Goblin. 

A Goblin closing its eyes and putting its hands together. 

Provisional Cleric Goblin. 

A Goblin with bulging muscles. 

Probably the so-called Hobgoblin. 

And two normal Goblins. 

Likely acting as scouts and baggage carriers, maybe even prepared as meat shields when needed. 

“…Nya.” 

The staff Goblin is a lower Rank. 

But the supposed Hobgoblin is likely the same level as me—Rank II… 

If I had to say whether I could win or not, I wouldn’t know. 

At the very least, its physical specs are higher than mine. 

I might be able to oppose it with magic, but will beginner-level magic work on those muscles? 

I’m anxious. 

I’m anxious, but… I have to do it. 

This area is Goblin territory. 

If I want to enter, I have to kill the patrolling ones. 

“Nyaan ([Another Point])” 

Targeted activation point: right in the center of them. 

Maybe due to sensing the activation of magic, the Hobgoblin noticed my presence. 

But the activation of flame magic is already confirmed. 

Too late. 

“Unyaahhh ([Burn Fire]).” 

Explosion. 

The small-fry Goblins scatter all at once. 

The Magical Goblin and Cleric Goblin, just like the color variations of Mill Cats, are probably also Rank I in terms of strength. 

So, they die. 

The normal Goblins also died. 

Only the Hobgoblin…….. 

Was left with just light burns on the surface of his skin. 

『OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!』 

“NAA!?” 

A wall of flesh charges forward. 

A giant body unthinkable for a Goblin, and muscles. 

The terror is like a truck crashing into you. 

“NYAAAH!” 

No time to be stunned. 

I combined [Another Point] with [Earth Magic]‘s [Dig]. 

This is a spell that “digs a hole.” 

Normally, it opens a hole beneath your feet. 

But by using [Another Point], I activated it on the enemy’s path. 

Possibly helped by the [Trap Creation] skill, the Hobgoblin plunged one foot in and lost his balance. 

*THUD* —a massive body hitting the ground. 

Immediately, I chanted another spell. 

“Nya ([Fire Bolt]) !” 

This is the most powerful magic I have. 

It simply shoots a pure flame arrow. 

It hits. 

If it were a Goblin, it would’ve pierced straight through. 

But it only gave the Hobgoblin a graze…

Impossible. 

This one word passed through my mind. 

But the Hobgoblin has already recovered from the fallen state. 

*Thud thud*, it approaches with big strides. 

I *can* turn my back and run. I’m faster. 

But if I run here, there’ll be no end to it. 

On top of that, Hobgoblins have intelligence. 

If my existence as a threat is reported within their territory, I might never again be able to create this kind of situation. 

If there are even just two Hobgoblins set up for patrol, for me, it’ll become an unwinnable game. 

—I have no choice but to do this. 

With determination, I move closer from my side. 

The Hobgoblin, who was stepping forward to close the distance, must have been caught off guard. 

It thrust out a half-hearted punch—more a motion than a real attack.

[Search] is already activated. 

I can grasp the enemy’s movement like it’s in my own hand. 

So I can dodge. 

Besides, I’m a small and agile Sky Cat to begin with. 

I won’t lose in a speed match to a Hobgoblin that looks like the very image of sluggishness. 

I slash with my claws. 

My claws split. 

What kind of toughness is that… 

As I get knocked away, the Hobgoblin attempts a stomp. 

No need to even look up—that movement is already seen through with [Search]. 

I leap to the right to dodge. 

The shattered ground scatters dirt and stone like shrapnel. 

It hurts a bit, but I endure. 

“Nyan—Nyao ([Enchant Fire]).” 

I cast a spell. 

The one I just used is a spell that “adds fire attribute to one’s own weapon, increasing its power.” 

I’ve never tested it before. 

Because it was over-spec’d, I wouldn’t have known even if I tried. 

But now, I have no choice but to bet on this. 

The Hobgoblin’s fist comes flying. 

Even a graze would turn me into dust from the impact. 

The punch, launched from that massive body, is fast enough— 

But not faster than me. 

I leap up. 

I jump onto the base of the launched fist—that is, the enemy’s arm. 

I scratch the arm with all my might. 

It’s only a graze, but a wound is made. 

It’s working! 

The Hobgoblin’s left arm reaches out, trying to catch the kitty. 

I jump onto the opponent’s head and dig in my claws there too. 

『OOOOOOOOHHH!』

How annoying!—was what it shouted. And somehow I understood it across the language barrier. 

I try to jump and land behind the Hobgoblin. 

But it wouldn’t allow that. 

With a backhand, it tries to slam its fist into me mid-air. 

Unexpected enemy judgment. 

I can’t escape mid-air. 

With my wings, gliding is the best I can do. 

It’s not fast enough to escape. 

If this goes bad, it’s checkmate. 

But I am a Sky Cat. 

A kitty skilled in manipulating space. 

“Nyan ([Short Warp]).” 

I jump. 

The location I jump to is one step’s distance— 

Right in front of the enemy’s face. 

At a distance where, if you just stretched your lips, you could kiss. 

Makes me blush. 

In a cross shape, I slash the enemy’s face with both claws. 

Only shallow wounds, but I definitely aimed for the eyes. 

The Hobgoblin holds its face, tries to scream. And it collapses onto the ground. 

Paralysis has set in. 

“Nyaon.” 

Alright then… *chomp*. 

With my [Enchant Fire]-strengthened [Poison Fangs]— 

I bit.