Level Eater Chapter 4

In the back, there were sounds of Ai still throwing stones, though needing some more time to get to Tatsuro. Meanwhile, thinking about what to do, he saw the caterpillars coming closer and closer, to about two meters away. That was when Tatsuro felt uncomfortably close and tried to keep a distance with them. The caterpillar suddenly stopped.

"...What?"

While Tatsuro was confused about what happened, the caterpillar lifted its head up and glared at him. It opened its mouth and its head leaned slightly backwards.

"That's not good..."

Tatsuro felt something coming and took a leap sideways. Then, he saw something white fly towards the place that he was standing.

"So that's 'Threading'!"

It was fortunate that the caterpillar's combat methods were all known beforehand from the use of 'Level Eater'. Otherwise, he might not have avoided the webs at all.

"Gyiii!!"

The caterpillars became full of rage as its initial attack was avoided and sprayed the webs around.

"Ha, ho, y-- The movements to the preparations are too noticeable."

He dodged the attacks easily. Tatsuro's athletic abilities, unlike Ai, were outstanding from the beginning, so even without the boosted stats, he worked his way around and dodged the attacks without a problem.

After missing 'Threading' a few more times, the caterpillar finally noticed that the attack was just a waste and it approached Tatsuro again with its head tilted back again.

(This time it should be either 'Body Hit' or 'Biting')

Both were easy to predict due to the name of the skills. He focused his attention on its every movement and paced himself in a circle around the caterpillar to keep a distance.

Then, it stopped again. Was it going to use 'Web Spitting?" As Tatsuro was pondering about, the caterpillar swayed its head back and forth, it flung itself as recoil and a.s.saulted him with a low-alt.i.tude spring.

"Oh, it's pretty fast."

However, Tatsuro dodged this too. After seeing a series of its actions, he predicted that it would've used 'Body Hit'. Upon that, Tatsuro came up with an idea.

Tatsuro glanced around as much as possible to keep his eyes on the caterpillar and found something suitable for his purpose. He casually turned his feet towards it and picked up a branch about the size of a woman's wrist. He broke off the extra sticks that were unnecessary, leaving only the needed main parts, throwing the waste bits onto the caterpillar to provoke it.

"GYIGGYIGYIGYIGYIGYGI"

The caterpillar, angry as intended, began to pose the springing posture again. Tatsuro planned the timing and reduced the distance quickly. He pushed the tip of the broken and sharpened branch. Immediately after, he rolled aside and created distance with the caterpillar. The caterpillar, which had already begun to return, could not stop now and swung its body down as it pierced itself against the branch.

"GYAURUYAUTYRH"

The plan was well fitted and the caterpillar was again impacted by a slightly broken and shortened tree branch that pierced the ground, screaming unfamiliarly. Though thinking the caterpillar was dead, Tatsuro stepped down as it crawled back up with a terrifying look.

"Gi..."

The caterpillar reacted to the sound of footprints and rose, though still pierced by a branch, and turned to Tatsuro.

It felt like a totally different atmosphere. The caterpillar gave a crazy look that intimidated Tatsuro.

(s.h.i.+t that was dangerous and now I can't even go close. At least the skills should be weakened after I used 'Level Eater'... wait..."

That moment, he suddenly recalled the explanation of his skill 'Level Eater'.

(It said, "absorb every level and make it your own." And when I first used it, the skills and its level were also displayed. That means!!)

"Ha..."

Tatsuro opened his mouth and activated Level Eater. Immediately, a black ball was formed in his mouth and immediately flew towards the caterpillar. The black sphere sank into the caterpillar as it could not see and notice the sphere's presence.

Level: 1

Skills: < body="" hit="" lv.2="">> < threading="" lv.3="">> < biting="" lv.3="">>

(Okay, 《Threading》 is at Lv. 0 now. I'm going to get the rest as well!)

When the black smoke ceased and the remaining two were safely taken, Tatsuro confirmed that there were no leftovers of skills anymore.

Level: 1

Skill: < body="" contact="" lv.0="">> < threading="" lv.0="">> < biting="">

(Alright)

After confirmation, the black sphere disconnected with the caterpillar and Tatsuro swallowed it. Then he felt a warmth in his chest and understood that he had obtained the abilities.

(Now all I have to do is. .h.i.t it with a stick or something... wait what?)

As soon as he was fully prepared and ready, the caterpillar lost its centre of gravity, wobbled, and fell to the floor. It suddenly had a p.r.i.c.k of nerves, then settled down to stop unconsciousness.

《Leveled up to Lv 3. 》

"Oh, I levelled up. That means I defeated that caterpillar."

Although that was a surprising and subtle end, Tatsuro was released from the tension and sat down on the ground. Then, he heard Ai's voice.

"Is it over?"

"Yeah, somehow... You?"

"I got 'Throw' to level 6!"

While saying so, Tatsuro loosened his mouth, wiped his pants while standing up, and walked towards Ai.