I'm a Rat-Catching Caterpillar
Why am I still crawling around?
"Gweeeeek."
Perched on a suitable tree branch, I pondered deeply on why I was still here.
The reason I still hid in the trees whenever I needed to rest was simple: I was still a caterpillar.
Even though six suns had set since I hunted that baby crow.
Clearly, the remaining experience needed for evolution was only 180%. And yet, I still hadn't filled it?
I still need 22% just to level up? What do you want me to do!
"Gweeeeek."
The sorrowful cry of a victimized caterpillar echoed pitifully.
The number of caterpillars and bugs I'd eaten by now had to be well over two hundred.
And yet, I hadn't even filled 80% of the bar.
As I kept track of the experience points, I realized some caterpillars didn't give any exp at all.
Any bug that wasn't even a quarter of my size yielded absolutely nothing.
Isn't that a bit too discriminatory? They're survivors who successfully made it through their own caterpillar days, so they should at least give me something...!
I couldn't count how many times I thought the world was far too stingy.
To think that depending on their strength, some creatures wouldn't give any experience at all.
I actually missed the days when eating a single leaf boosted my experience by 10%.
Why on earth aren't they giving me exp? I've only evolved once.
I was adapting to it for now, but the question lingered.
I never expected such a massive drop in experience gain just from a single evolution.
I even wondered if the Blood Caterpillar was the final stage of some caterpillar evolution tree.
But I quickly dismissed it as a ridiculous thought.
There was no way a final form would be available as the very first evolution.
Time to start hunting.
Complaining was just complaining.
Realizing I couldn't go on like this, I decided to hunt species that were similar to or larger than me.
I only made this decision because I had a trump card to rely on.
Only 22% left until the next level.
Even if it turned into a desperate struggle, defeating one would surely level me up.
I absolutely have to win, but there's no way I'll lose.
I was confident I could defeat almost anything now, excluding apex predators like large invasive rats, wild boars, stray dogs, and stray cats.
One might ask where a mere caterpillar got such confidence, but it was entirely possible thanks to my Acidic Blood, which could melt solid wood in an instant.
Of course, I excluded the true rulers of the forest—bears, tigers, and wolf packs.
Forget a good fight; I'd die the moment they stepped on me.
I'm just glad there are no magic beasts or humans on this mountain.
If either existed here, there was no way I could roam around so boldly. I'd be dead the moment I was spotted.
A magic beast would immediately recognize me as one of their own, and a human would probably just squash a giant caterpillar passing by.
Well then, let's go hunting.
Tonight, the Blood Caterpillar joins the hunt.
Night was the time when countless species roamed the forest. I could encounter far more variety than during the day.
Which made it the perfect time for me to hunt. I needed to target a reasonably sized rat or bird.
They were the safest targets among the species I could currently hunt.
Safety first.
"Gweeeeek."
Crawling down from the tree, I slowly made my way through the dark forest.
Who would have the honor of becoming my second prey?
Oh? That one looks perfect.
As I wriggled through the undergrowth, a suitable rat caught my eye.
It wasn't very large, looking about the size of a plump hamster. Though it was still bigger than me.
It would be great if I could take it down in a single surprise attack.
-Squeak?
Of course it wouldn't be that easy.
Even though a crawling caterpillar made almost no sound, the rat noticed and immediately went on guard.
No matter how small, it was a survivor that had lived in this forest until now. And to be a survivor meant it was strong.
Whatever kind of life it had led, the moment it spotted me, it lowered its body and prepared to attack.
I can't let my guard down.
A wary rat was not an opponent I could take lightly.
Even if I had a ultimate move, it was useless if it didn't hit.
And my Spit skill wasn't particularly fast. The rat was much faster than me.
I had to stay calm and create a situation where I was guaranteed to hit before spitting my blood.
I can somewhat resist anemia, but it's only a resistance. If I miss once, I'll have no choice but to endure and kill it with poison.
If the rat decided to take me down with it, I could easily die too.
The rat surely knew this, which was why it didn't run away or rush in blindly, choosing instead to keep its distance and play a game of nerves.
I didn't have hands, but I felt a tension that made me feel as if my palms were sweating as I slowly crawled toward it.
The distance between us gradually closed.
Cunning bastard.
Since the rat also needed to get close to attack, it was slowly creeping forward while keeping its guard up.
How could a wild rat be this smart? No, was it experience rather than intelligence?
It really wasn't an opponent to be underestimated.
In the end, both of us had to get close to strike. Thus, our clash was inevitable.
Now!!
"Gweeeeek!!"
-Squeeek!
When the distance between us shrank to about three spans, we both screeched and lunged.
Ugh...!
"Gwek!"
The rat made the first move.
No matter how high I leaped, I couldn't outrun a rat sprinting on four sturdy legs.
Darting like lightning, the rat easily dodged my attempt to bite its neck and drove its claws deep into my plump flank.
-Squeak?! Squeeek?!
It sucks that it dodged, but it definitely didn't expect this!
"Gwek!"
I smirked as I watched the rat shriek, clutching its melting claws.
It was one of my trump cards. If an enemy used their own body as a weapon to attack me, they would suffer damage in return.
Especially from an attack of acid and poison that couldn't be easily blocked.
The wound is deeper than I thought.
Even as I mocked it, I checked my own condition. Perhaps because the rat had also aimed for a quick decisive battle, the wound was deeper than expected.
Blood was still pouring out. If this kept up, I might actually die.
I absolutely cannot let this drag out.
The rat had lost its claws and one of its paws, but the poison didn't seem to have penetrated its body yet.
If the rat decided to drag this out, I would be the one to lose.
So, I had to act bold and confident to keep it from realizing.
That guy is smart. But that intelligence will be his downfall.
To win, I had to make the rat rush.
I began to act in a way that wouldn't normally work on wild animals, but would definitely work on this particular rat.
Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth wide and took a stance. A stance to spit blood.
Bite the bait. Please bite it.
A clever creature like him would definitely realize I was planning something.
However, because he was only moderately smart, he wouldn't be able to tell if it was a bluff or the real deal. I just had to exploit that.
I would pretend to spit blood, bite the rat when it approached, and level up.
-Squeak!!
Come on!
Sure enough, the rat realized I was about to do something and shot forward like lightning.
Even with a mangled leg, it was so fast that I almost failed to react in time.
But who was I? The strongest caterpillar in this forest.
With my mouth still wide open, I lunged at the rat once more.
-Squeak?!
Gotcha!!
The rat panicked as I lunged and tried to change direction, but it was impossible.
It was already moving too fast, and its melted leg failed to support the turn.
-Squeeek!!!
Having made the fatal mistake of aborting its attack midway, the rat ultimately left itself wide open.
I sank all my teeth deep into the rat's scruff and drew up the blood from within my body. I was going to pour it all in.
Ugh?! Just die quietly already!!
But the rat was no pushover either. It flailed all four limbs, tearing and clawing at my plump flesh.
It was choosing mutual destruction, knowing its legs would melt away.
But you're too late.
Enduring the pain, I vomited blood directly into it.
-Squeeek!!!
As the acid burned its flesh and the poison began to spread through its body, the rat thrashed even harder and more relentlessly in its death throes.
Not to be outdone, I poured even more blood into it, enough to completely fill its insides.
-Squeeeek....
Whether the poison had fully set in or its insides had completely melted, the rat's strength gradually waned until it let out one final squeak and went limp.
Level increased!
Level increased!
You can now evolve!
I won...!
"Gweeeeek..."
I clung to the rat until I was absolutely sure it was dead via the status window, and only then did I let go.
It was the most powerful opponent I had faced since becoming a caterpillar.
It was several times harder than the baby crow I fought when I was still inexperienced.
You were a worthy foe. Since I beat you, I'll make sure to survive until the very end.
"Gweeeeeek."
I paid my respects to the rat that had fought fiercely to the end, and claimed my right as the victor.
★ Blood Worm Larva
★ Wing-Bud Blood Butterfly (Evolution conditions not met)
What is this?