Chapter 4: How to use Level Eater

The sound of Ai throwing rocks echoed behind him, and it would take a while before he could reach Tatsuro.

　While he was pondering what to do, the caterpillar was getting closer and closer, until it was only two meters away.

　When Tatsuro felt that this was a bad idea, he tried to keep his distance.

　Suddenly, the caterpillar stopped.

“……What?” (Tatsuro)

　As he was wondering about its mysterious behavior, the caterpillar lifted its head upward with a guffaw and looked at him, then opened its mouth with a snap and its head fell back slightly.

“Oh no!” (Tatsuro)

　Tatsuro, sensing something in it, sidestepped away from the caterpillar’s straight line.

　Then, he saw something white flying towards the place where he had been a moment ago.

“That’s the《thread spitting》!” (Tatsuro)

　Fortunately, when I used the level eater, my opponent’s offensive method were already known.

　Otherwise, I might not have thought to avoid it at the first sight.

“Gigigigigiggi” (Caterpillar)

　The caterpillar, probably upset that it was avoided, became even angrier and scattered its threads.

“Yoo, haa, eeya—. The reserve motion is too big.” (Tatsuro)

　He dodged it with plenty of time to spare.

　Unlike Ai, Tatsuro’s athleticism was naturally superior, so he was able to deal with the “spitting thread” that stopped his actions once, even without any status compensation.

“Gee!” (Caterpillar)

After several attempts, he finally realized that it was useless and started approaching again with his head up.

(This time it would either be a “body slam” or a “bite.)

　Both of these skills are easy to predict because of their names.

　That’s why he concentrated on observing every move it made, and moved in a circle around the caterpillar to keep a certain distance.

　As he did so, it stopped again.

　Is it that [spitting thread]? When Tatsuro was on the lookout for it, it turned its head more and more backwards into a shrimp warp, then recoiled like a spring and charged at him with a low jump.

“Whoa, that was pretty fast.” (Tatsuro)

However, Tatsuro dodged this one without any trouble. He had predicted that the “body slam” would come from the series of actions.

　And then, one more idea came to his mind.

　He glanced around, trying not to look away, and saw something that suited his purpose just fine.

　He casually walked over to it and picked up a branch about the thickness of a woman’s wrist.

　He snapped it with his knee, leaving only the length he needed, and tossed the unwanted part to the caterpillar to provoke it.

“Gigigigigi” (Caterpillar)

　Just as he had planned, the angry caterpillar began to move into a shrimping position again.

　So Tatsuro watched his timing and closed the distance at once, then pointed the tip of the branch that he had snapped and sharpened at the place where the recoil would have returned to the neck area of a human being, and thrust it into the ground.

　The caterpillar, which was already in the process of returning, could not stop now and swung its body down as hard as it could to stab himself with the branch.

“Gyulorororororororororororororororor.” (Caterpillar)

　The strategy worked, and the caterpillar was stabbed deeply by the branch, which had been slightly broken and shortened by the impact, and it let out a strange cry that he had never heard before as it stumbled around on the ground.

　But the sight of it rolling around, thinking it was going to die instantly, stirred fear in him, and Tatsuro took a step back.

“Gi……i……” (Caterpillar)

　The caterpillar reacted to the sound of the footsteps and got up with branch sticking out and turned to face Tatsuro again.

　He was intimidated by the caterpillar, which seemed to be desperate to kill him.

(Damn, that thing is too dangerous to approach. At the very least, I could use the Level Eater to weaken his skills?)

When he thought about it, he remembered the explanation of the “Level Eater”.

(I believe it was “Absorb all levels and use it as your food”.

　And the first time I used it, the skill and its level were also displayed. In other words…!)

“Haa!” (Tatsuro)

　Tatsuro opened his mouth and activated the “Level Eater”. A black sphere immediately formed in his mouth, and he immediately sent it flying towards the caterpillar.

　The caterpillar, which could not see it, did not notice, and the black ball sank into his body again.

　——————————–

　Level: 1

　Skills: 《Body Slam Lv.2》 《Thread Spitting Lv.3》 《Bite Lv.3》

　——————————–

　Just like the first time, a part of the opponent’s status entered his mind.

(There it is!　Let’s start with “Spitting Thread Lv.3” for a test.)

　As he did so, he concentrated on 《Thread Spitting Lv.3》, and black smoke rose up from his opponent and gathered in Tatsuro’s mouth.

　——————————–

　Level: 1

　Skills: 《Body Slam Lv.2》, 《Thread Spitting Lv.0》, 《Bite Lv.3》.

　——————————–

(Okay, “Spitting Thread” is now Lv.0. I’ll take the rest too!)

　When the black smoke stopped and the other two were safely collected, Tatsuro checked to make sure that nothing was left behind.

　——————————–

　Level: 1

　Skills: 《Physical Assault Lv.0》 《Thread Spitting Lv.0》 《Bite Lv.0》

　——————————–

(Good)

　When he finished checking, he broke the connection with his opponent and swallowed the black ball.

　Then his chest became warm again, and he understood that he had been fed.

(Now all I have to do is attack him with a stick or something. …… Huh?)

Just as he started to think about his next move, the caterpillar’s center of gravity started to wobble, and it fell to the ground.

　Then he gave a kind of twitch once and didn’t move after that.

《 Level: 3 Your level has increased 》

“My level has increased ……. That means I’ve defeated it. ──── Hmm.” (Tatsuro)

The end was indescribably subtle, but Tatsuro sat down on the ground, relieved of his tension.

　Then he heard a voice from Ai’s side.

“Is it over?” (Ai)

“Oh, I somehow managed. What about you?” (Tatsuro)

“My Throwing skill is Lv.6.” (Ai)

When Ai gave him a V-sign, Tatsuro’s mouth loosened and he stood up, flicked the dirt off his pants, and walked towards her.

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