Epic of Caterpillar Chapter 3: The River King!

| DAY 5 |

Following a restorative nine-hour nap, I crept silently toward the riverbank. I took extra care to ensure no avian eyes were watching me this time. I wandered along the water's edge until a massive fish began to trail me; it possessed bright yellow scales and long, prominent whiskers.

"Hmm, it hasn't attacked yet. It looks quite different from the previous two—a bit larger and those distinct whiskers are new. Could it be an evolved specimen? Perhaps it's too dangerous to lu-"

SPLASH

The creature erupted from the river, its yellow skin shimmering brilliantly beneath those majestic whiskers. Outside the water, its frame appeared even more gargantuan, complete with two pairs of powerful limbs that allowed it to tread on land. It was unlike any Walking Fish I had encountered before.

"Guuaaaaaahh!! This thing is colossal! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! Maximum speed!!!"

WHOOSH

As I poured every ounce of my Stamina into my escape, the fish clung to my heels. It was unnervingly swift for its size!

"It’s dead set on devouring my fatty flesh! I can’t maintain this pace! It's going to catch me! What do I do? How could my luck be this rotten? Damn this minus two Luck stat!!"

GULP. CHOMP. CHOMP.

The beast attempted to snap me up multiple times, but I narrowly evaded its jaws.

"You damned bastard! You really want me, don't you?! Uuuuaaaahh!!! Active Thread Manipulation!"

I fired a thick line of thread toward a nearby tree, hauling myself out of its reach. Safely perched above, I glared down.

"Gueehh.. This monster is persistent, isn't it? But it can't climb trees, right?"

No sooner had I spoken than the fish's limbs morphed, sprouting claws from his digits. Without hesitation, it initiated a full-speed climb!

"WHAT?! Are you joking? This has to be a sick prank, right?! Thread Manipulation!!"

I scrambled to a distant branch, but the relentless brute followed, advancing directly toward me.

"GAH! You wretched fish! Know your place!!! Thread Manipulation!"

Driven by frustration, I leaped to another limb, yet the fish remained on my tail.

"What now? It refuses to quit, and it shows no signs of running out of air. Why isn't it suffocating? Can they survive on land when they evolve? That’s an unfair cheat! I’m telling you!"

GULP. CHOMP.

The fish lunged suddenly, nearly snapping me up!

"GUUAAH!! Don't scare me like that, you bastard! Damn it! If only I had long-range attacks! I can't do anything with just WEAK BITE while I'm fleeing! Wait, what if I use my thread to strike? But how? I need to anchor something first... but what?"

I scanned the ground for a rock, but my limited vision made it difficult, so I finally activated my skill.

"Active SPIDER'S 8 EYES!"

SWOOSH

"Agh.. Ah! There! A medium-sized rock. Please, Strength stat, don't fail me now! Uuuoooohhh!!"

I cast a robust thread over the stone, securing it, and gave a ferocious yank, swinging the rock directly into the fish’s oblivious face.

BAM!

"GLUUUUOOOOOP!"

Blood sprayed from its snout as the fish roared toward the heavens in agony.

"Hahaha! Why are you wailing so much, you bastard? Never felt pain before, you evolved idiot?! HUUUMMMPPP!!"

I hauled the rock toward me with all my might and launched it into his face once more.

BAAAM!

Though the monster struggled, it clung to the tree. With a roar, a crimson aura enveloped its body; its limbs swelled with power, and it shed its previously goofy appearance for something more lethal.

"GLUUUUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"

FUOOOSH

"GUEEEH!! Wh-what is happening?! It got stronger out of nowhere! Did some kind of passive buff trigger? Unbelievable! Damn it, I won't give up either, you brute!"

The fish ascended at top speed, and I bolted higher, nearing the canopy.

"This is dangerous! If I reach the top, the birds will get me! I have to jump to another tree now! THREAD MANIPULATION! Uooooh!"

BAAM!

Enraged by my evasion, the fish leaped to the adjacent tree. The sheer force of its jump nearly snapped the massive trunk in two.

"Are you kidding me? This freak is absurdly strong! That's not fair! I'm nothing but a pitiful caterpillar! Uuuaaaaaahh!!! THREAD MANIPULATION! THREAD MANIPULATION! THREAD MANIPULATION!"

I pulled myself to a safe distance, swinging my rock weapon once again.

"Here! Taste this, you bastard!"

BAAAM!

"GLUUUUUUUOOOOP GUEEEEEEE!"

As more blood spurted from its battered face, the monster grew even more ferocious; its aura surged, and thick veins pulsed against its bulging muscles. With one final, massive leap, it collided with the tree we occupied, sending us plummeting down.

BROOM. CRASH.

"Uuuuaaaaaaa! You stupid idiot, you destroyed the tree! We're falling! THREAD MANIPULATION!"

"GUEEEEEEE!!"

I managed to latch onto a nearby tree, but the fish tumbled to the ground, crushed by the debris of the fallen trunk.

SPLASH.

| YOU GAINED 544 EXP | | YOU GAINED 3 LEVELS! | | LEVEL 8/10 EXP 9/300 |

| YOUR STATUS HAS RECOVERED |

"Haaahhhh.... I almost died! Oh, haaah.. haha.. hahaha! That’s what you get, you bastard! Don't mess with me... haaah. So exhausted. How did I get the EXP? I didn't even land the finishing blow... haaah, ugh."

Drained and aching, I rested on a branch.

"I can't rest yet.. I have to secure the carcass before some bird steals it! Move, body! Move!"

I forced myself down, wrapped the fish's carcass in silk, and dragged it back to my nest.

"Haha.. uughh.. dinner time. Thanks for the meal!"

I spent the entire day devouring the fallen beast. It tasted like the finest raw tuna from my past life.

"Chomp, hmm! This is marvelous! Such a rich flavor! I could eat this forever. All that striving paid off. I'm nearly level 10.. just two more levels—I can do it!"

Hours later, I had polished off the entire thing, leaving behind nothing but scraps.

"Sigh... I really should have saved some for tomorrow, but it was just so good-"

| YOU OBTAINED NEW TITLE: KING OF THE RIVER |

| NEW SKILL LEARNED: SILVER BELLY |

| NEW SKILL LEARNED: RIVER KING STRONG BODY |

| NEW SKILL LEARNED: RIVER KING STRONG CLAWS |

| NEW SKILL LEARNED: RIVER KING STRONG BITE |

| NEW SKILL LEARNED: HIGH WATER ELEMENT AFFINITY |

| NEW SKILL LEARNED: WATER SHOT |

"UOOOHH!!!! AMAZING! THIS IS FANTASTIC! I’m incredible! These skills belonged to an evolved monster, and now they are mine! Hahaha! Wait.. WATER SHOT..? Is this... a ranged attack?! Yes! Finally!!"

"But.. why didn't he use it? He could have obliterated me. Maybe he was just a dim-witted fish, even after evolving..."

I examined my new skills. It seemed the fish had indeed been the River King.

"Am I unlucky, or lucky?"

The RIVER KING STRONG BODY is a passive buff costing 20 Stamina, boosting my HP, Strength, and Defense by 10 points for one hour. The claws and bite skills are potent offensive measures, costing 10 Stamina each—a steep price compared to my free WEAK BITE.

"With these, I’ll be far more confident in close combat.. though I still prefer WATER SHOT. I’ve never been a brawler; I always got pummeled in school anyway.. Ugh, forget those memories. I'm just a bug now."

I tested WATER SHOT on some rocks; it was fantastic.

"This is broken. I can fire lethal water bullets that pierce solid stone like nothing. That fish was a moron for not using this on me. Hahaha, thanks for your stupidity, Mister King of the River!"

The bullets cost only 3 Stamina each—incredibly convenient.

After practice, I realized the water affinity skills doubled the potency of my projectile. I retreated to my cozy, messy bed.

"Never did I think I'd kill the River King today.. Maybe this minus one Luck is actually a blessing that forces me to grow faster? Pfff, no way, it's just that Mysterious Voice playing games again... STATUS!"

| NAME: NONE CLASS: NONE RACE: Common Forest Caterpillar.

| LEVELS: 8/10 EXP 009/300 STATUS: FULL

| HP: 18/18 MP: 0/0 STAMINA: 127/100 |

| STRENGTH: 9 | DEFENCE: 11 | MAGIC: 0 | RESISTANCE: 7 | SPEED: 7 | CHARISMA: -1 | LUCK: -2

| SKILLS: TRASH BELLY, FOREST CATERPILLAR WEAK BODY, BLESSING OF #########, IRON TEETH, WEAK BITE, CATERPILLAR BASIC REGENERATION, STEEL BELLY, WEAK THREAD CREATION, SPIDER'S 8 EYES, UNDERWATER BREATHING, FISH STRONG GILLS, DRY SKIN, WATER ELEMENT AFFINITY, GROUP COMMAND, ATTACK COMMAND, DEFENCE COMMAND, SILVER BELLY, RIVER KING STRONG BODY, RIVER KING STRONG CLAWS, RIVER KING STRONG BITE, HIGH WATER ELEMENT AFFINITY, WATER SHOT.

| TITLES: FIRST KILL IN THE NEW WORLD, TRASH EATER, MERCILESS AQUATIC KILLER, KING OF THE RIVER |

"I wonder what those titles do? They seem useless whenever I check. Maybe only a stronger being benefits from them. Level 10 isn't far now.. It’s been a week, and I barely have a moment to meditate with everything trying to devour me. Are my parents grieving, or are they happy their useless son is finally gone? Sigh.. I hope you’re both safe. And what about the Mysterious Voice? Why bring me here to suffer? I think too much. I'm a pathetic bug, I need to focus on survival. Level 10, here I come!"

| DAY 6 |

Thanks to the Stamina boost from the fish, I awoke early. With my new ranged capabilities, hunting would be significantly easier. I decided to head East.

As I traveled, the ground trembled with a massive sound.

BOOM!

"Uuaaaaaaaaaahhh!!! What now? Uuh? Is that.."

Hiding in the brush, I observed the source: a humanoid figure clad in iron armor, gray trousers, a ragged helmet, and sporting long, red hair. She brandished a small dagger in her left hand and a wooden shield in her right.

"Is that.. Is that a human girl? No way! Humans! HEEEEY! Can you hear me!!"

I tried to approach, but she couldn't hear me and continued toward the Eastern Rocky Mountains. Her pace was too fast, and I wasn't about to waste Stamina chasing her.

"Sigh.. She was definitely cute, and that crimson hair was stunning. Humans exist, that much is confirmed! How many countries exist? Cultures? Demihumans? Are there demons? Being a caterpillar is so frustrating; I can't find out anything at all!"

Lamenting my limitations, I turned West. I found others of my species; when I tried to initiate contact, they either fled or attacked. Using WATER SHOT, I dispatched them and dragged their bodies to my nest.

| YOU GAINED 63 EXP | | LEVELS: 8/10 EXP 072/300 |

"They’re just senseless automatons. I suppose my reincarnation makes me unique. Anyhow, three caterpillars for dinner! Hooray for cannibalism!"

Back home, I had a thought.

"If I killed the boss, does it mean catching fish is easier now? Should I use these carcasses as bait? Ohohoho! I'm a genius!"

I fashioned a rudimentary fishing rod using a stick and some thread.

"This should do! Time to bait the hook!"

BLUMP.

The moment the bait hit, a massive force yanked the rod.

"Gotcha! Active skill: RIVER KING STRONG BODY!"

WHOOSH.

"UOOOOOHHHHHHH!"

SPLASH.

I hauled the fish out and dispatched it with a barrage of WATER SHOTS. Time to feast.

| YOU GAINED 221 EXP | | LEVELS: 8/10 EXP 293/300 |

"WEAK BITE! WEAK BITE! Chomp, chomp. Delicious as always, Mister Fishy! Hahahaha!"

I bundled up my meal, caught two more, and scurried home.

| YOU GAINED 436 EXP | | YOU GAINED 2 LEVELS! | | LEVELS: 10/10 EXP 79/0 |

"Hahaha! Level 10 so easily! I didn't even struggle! Time to eat, I need to save some for tomorrow."

I spent the remaining time eating and securing my stash.

"Haaah.. I’m stuffed. No normal caterpillar could eat two walking fish. Thank you, SILVER BELLY skill."

| YOU LEARNED SKILL: UNDERWATER SENSE | | YOU LEARNED SKILL: STURDY FISH SCALES |

"Oooohohoho! More fish skills! These must be the final ones. UNDERWATER SENSE and STURDY FISH SCALES—some active buff, I imagine. No need to test them yet. STATUS!"

| NAME: NONE CLASS: NONE RACE: Common Forest Caterpillar.

| LEVELS: 10/10 EXP 078/000 STATUS: FULL

| HP: 21/21 MP: 0/0 STAMINA: 154/100 |

| STRENGTH: 11 | DEFENCE: 13 | MAGIC: 0 | RESISTANCE: 9 | SPEED: 9 | CHARISMA: -1 | LUCK: -2

| SKILLS: ..., UNDERWATER SENSE, STURDY FISH SCALES |

| TITLES: ..., KING OF THE RIVER |

"Now, where do I evolve? There's no prompt! I'm stuck as a caterpillar forever, even after hitting the level cap? No way! I can't even level up! Uuaaaaahhh!! So frustrating! Sleep it is, then. See what happens tomorrow. Good night to me!"

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| THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EVOLUTION HAVE BEEN COMPLETED |

| INITIALIZING EVOLUTION TREE |

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| SYSTEM ERROR | | EVOLUTION TREE FOR COMMON FOREST CATERPILLAR NOT FOUND |

| UNABLE TO EVOLVE |

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| THE SYSTEM MASTER: ######## HAS APPROVED THE CREATION OF A UNIQUE EVOLUTION TREE FOR COMMON FOREST CATERPILLAR |

| LOADING EVOLUTION CHOICES |

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| 3 CHOICES FOUND | | UNDINE BUTTERFLY | | GIANT CATERPILLAR | | LOWER FAIRY |

| AWAITING THE APPROVAL OF USER |

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"UUhh..? What's this? A dream? What are these status screens? Undine.. Butterfly.. uuh?"

| UNDINE BUTTERFLY HAS BEEN CHOSEN |

"Wa-wait! Hey!"

| INITIALIZING EVOLUTION |

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| EVOLUTION SUCCESS |