Chapter 36: Little Cat Turns the Tables

Cat's special edition ultra‑long‑range·high‑speed·non‑magical‑wave dizziness instant teleport, taking only 5 seconds, got them to the entrance of Dungeon B56 on the Eastern Alliance border.

Because before departing Cat applied an invisibility spell to itself and the line of Pikachus behind it, the sentry stationed on the fortress three hundred meters away did not notice the strange adventurers that appeared at the dungeon entrance.

A squad of ten guards the entrance, with an average level between 20 and 30; they seem to be cannon fodder used to relay messages and spark smoke when conflict erupts…-

Behind the fortress, another three hundred meters away, humans have built several city walls that arc around the dungeon's exit.

Cat employed underhanded peeking and appraisal, quickly gathered a batch of intel at his new home's doorstep, then conducted analysis and strategizing in his mind.

If a real conflict arises, the first thing to cut off is their communication network and supply lines.

If the struggle for power above ground fails and they are forced underground to prepare for a war of attrition, they must either find a second dungeon exit—perhaps by linking the dungeon to the surface for resupply—or become self‑sufficient inside the dungeon to achieve a reliable cycle.

Although a teleportation array is also a reliable method, once a Magic Circle is forbidden, Cat isn't sure he can walk away unscathed.

The spells cast by high‑level magi of level 150 or above may not be able to block his magic, but they have a chance to detect his magical fluctuations; once his movements are spotted, it becomes a hard‑to‑break situation in a crisis.

He has many things he wants to protect, starting with Witch Miss, then the Pikachu legion, and even the Old Sword Saint at home whose fate doesn't align with his.

In less than a month he's already formed so many bonds, let alone how many he'll have after an unknown amount of time.

Although in theory he could resurrect the dead or pause time, the complexity of constructing a spell array and the number of characters required mean Cat knows this isn't something he can casually achieve before reaching level 100.

Now, relying on blood‑lock gear, it takes three months to perform one impure‑earth rebirth.

Moreover, he has no idea whether this revival magic is limited by how long the dead have been deceased.

As for experiments… at this stage he already has many tasks tied to the blood‑lock gear, such as creating minor monsters, stacking upgraded combat buffs, and passively triggered life‑saving spells…

Ah!!!!

╰(‵□′)╯

Why, why!

Even though he's been working hard, the items on his list haven't decreased; they're only growing!!!

Even with such torment and hardship, why does he still feel a faint enjoyment!!!

He must be ill.

The more Cat thinks, the more bleak his prospects seem, so he simply closes his eyes and gives up.

He glanced again at the outpost and the blue sky, then at the dungeon entrance before him, hummed, and said to the Unit‑01 standing behind him,

"Let's go, Pikachu, we're entering the dungeon."

"At your command, my lord!"

∠(￣▽￣)

"At your command, my lord! At your command, my lord! At your command, my lord!"

"……"

"Normally only Unit‑01, you, should be the one speaking."

"Understood, my lord!"

"……"

Even an uncompleted B Level dungeon still draws a non‑trivial number of adventurers to its upper zones.

Following a party of five adventurers, Cat and his beasts formally entered the dungeon.

Dungeon B56, First Floor, Flowing Wave Mine Cavern.

One has to admit the Eastern Alliance's naming style is truly poetic.

Transparent crystal and silver‑gray magical ore, illuminated by shifting blue bioluminescent grass, reflect a wave‑like blue light.

Walking along, the changing angles and shadows truly make it feel like being inside a wave.

It's beautiful, yet deadly.

Because behind that glow often lie the miners' goblin nests.

【Miner Goblin – Goblin type.】

They usually inhabit ore‑rich areas; their extra short and sturdy build lets them move easily in narrow spaces and gather ore. Though brainless, as goblins they retain simple language and cooperative abilities.

The mine goblins in this area range from level 20 to level 30.

Without a reference point, Cat doesn't know how to assess this floor's difficulty, but seeing that adventurers heading here average level 45 or higher, he thinks the mindless goblins on this floor have something.

Though they lack brains, if handled properly, could they become his porters?

Miner goblins don't produce ore; they are merely ore carriers.

That…?

While pondering how to use the miner goblins, Cat surveyed the surrounding environment.

The narrow passage is only wide enough for five Pikachus to walk hand‑in‑hand side by side; if a Northeastern old‑timer like Cat could summon his own body that was once crushed flat by a truck, the length would be just right.

The moment one steps into a B Level dungeon, its extremely unfriendly, even harsh terrain becomes evident.

Just like now, leading a long line of invisible Pikachus stealthily through this tangled passage, they must also watch carefully for waves of adventurers being chased by miner goblins.

If they accidentally trip them, losing a few big teeth and forfeiting priority mate selection in front of female adventurers, Cat would be so guilty that he'd shiver under his blankets at night, unable to sleep.

Hmm, definitely not laughing himself to sleeplessness.

The impact of four feet on the dungeon floor is indeed completely different from what pictures and videos suggest.

From his ears came the distant clashing of weapons, the goblins' excited sneer or wail, or a silence with no sound beyond footsteps.

Now Cat understands the meaning behind the saying, "You won't know the true meaning of 'excitement' until you walk through a dungeon."

When alone, he sends Pikachus to scavenge pretty ore, occasionally giving a few barely‑dead goblins a blade, and before he knows it they've strolled to the entrance of the second floor.

Cat's first step in his action plan is—to wander to the fifth floor, experience the ecology, monster appearances and strength of these levels, then use magic to conduct a precise scan and appraisal of the entire dungeon.

The second floor's environment is much the same as the first, just a bit more spacious, and the miner goblins are slightly stronger.

But Cat, who has been peeking and eavesdropping, knows the second floor is a major expanded version of the first's ecosystem.

The miner goblins now have a leader and enslaveable food, and the harvested ore has begun to spirit‑form and retaliate.

Cat watches the ore that it just flicked with its tail, and with a "Ga—" it sprang up from the ground, then angrily charged toward its direction like a pig's headlong rush.

【Screaming Crystal, Gem type.

A peculiar lifeform born within gemstone veins, usually hidden in the veins, launching sudden fierce charge attacks on miners.

Because of its special biological traits, one must destroy the "core" hidden inside the gem to kill it.

The corpse can be sold as a high‑quality gemstone, usable for magical experiments and ornaments, thus enjoying great popularity among mages and nobles.】

One can only say, the dungeon truly is a mother creator who embraces all rivers and is broad‑hearted.

When Cat once again evaded, not knowing why it became despondent, after the Screaming Crystal's sudden assault from the top straight down to the ground, the trailing Unit‑1 Pikachu finally could no longer stand by.

It shuffled its two short legs, trotted up to Cat, clasped its fists and, with a respectful face, offered counsel to Cat,

"Your Majesty, the road is perilous; let us serve you…"

"No, no, no, no need. This isn't the time for you to show off; later."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Running the map through the third level's overall experience surprised Cat greatly.

Though he was in a dungeon, he felt a suffocating despair from the intense sunlight.

Traversing the vast grassland that once existed only in the animal world, watching the spectacular migrations and hunts of herd animals, he pondered Pikachu's survival possibilities on this level.

The wilderness was even wilder than he imagined.

The creature that most piqued Cat's curiosity was the specialty of this level—the rabbit.

【Long‑legged Gray Rabbit, Beast‑type

Their strong hind legs give them excellent jumping and fleeing abilities.】

Among a community of seventy‑ to eighty‑level monsters, a long‑legged rabbit with an average level of only 40 mixed in, which amazed Cat.

Such strong, fast hind legs must make its meat taste delicious, right?

If the map‑clearing quest weren't so high‑priority, Cat would also try a rabbit leg to taste.

Oh my!

Witch Miss's specialty list:

1. Screaming Crystal corpses

2. Long‑legged Gray Rabbit legs and fur

The third and fourth levels were praised by even the steward as grand waterfalls; on Cat's sudden whim, he and the Pikachus rode a small boat woven from magic and weeds downstream.

Amid the deafening roar of water, various seafood were hidden.

If, after his own tasting, the flavors prove good, then based on his observation that third‑level monsters revive after only a one‑hour cooldown, achieving a rich and excellent self‑sufficient food supply in this dungeon would be quite easy.

Starting from the fourth level, it was like a watershed; Cat even did not notice any adventurers daring to set foot here.

Looking out at the dark‑green rainforest, and the fragrance in his nostrils—a mix of water, earth and corpse—that made Cat's eyes close blissfully as he paused to savor the primeval forest's beauty.

Witch Miss would surely love this dungeon.

The glitter she loves is satisfied on the first and second levels, even with sound effects;

The fluff she loves is abundant on the third level, with many varieties;

The natural scenery she loves—the waterfall at the junction and the primeval forest before her—will definitely satisfy her visual experience.

Moreover, she seems to be reading some wilderness survival novels lately, so the fourth and fifth levels will likely give her an immersive feeling of the scenes described in the books, right?

Summer vacation, treat it as a field trip, bring her to play?

Hmm…

If the Pikachu's breeding goes smoothly, by the second generation she could tend newborn Pikachus while experiencing primitive life in the safe zone, which would be a great experience.

A fluffy Pikachu in the left hand, a roasted rabbit leg in the right.

Hmm!

Then Witch Miss will surely worship him to the ground!

He has already imagined how Witch Miss will worship his Cat, and the whole cat is on fire.

As long as she holds awe for me in her heart, will she still dare to press herself against me and kiss to death?

She definitely wouldn't dare!

She'll surely become "Cat Master! Please, let me pet you!" When she pleads to herself, isn't the initiative completely in his hands?

This rival mission is then easily crafted.

That mysterious grand prize is then within reach.

He just flips the little cat and sings conquest!

In that instant, a winning formula for success appeared in Cat's mind:

Conquer Dungeon B56 = Conquer Witch Miss = Conquer rival mission = Conquer that damned God's prank = Smash that God's face!

Thinking that way, Cat felt every hair on his body bristling with fighting spirit.

He took a deep breath and, very seriously, said to Pikachu,

"Pika, there's no one left on this level."

At that moment, seeing Cat suddenly stand firm ahead, Pikachu's tiger‑like body shivered.

That silhouette, that tone, could it be… the King has decided…

Yet the hesitant Pikachu still approached respectfully; though he has no waist, he bent as much as he could, and with a reverent face asked Cat,

"Your Majesty, do you mean…?"

"Your performance time has arrived; let the natives here feel the terror of an invasive species!"

Sure enough!

Hearing Cat's command, Pikachu's eyes lit up instantly; he gathered his strength and shouted at Cat with full vigor,

"At your command, Great King! My Pika will definitely not let you down!"

￥￥￥￥￥￥

"Miss, it's lunchtime, you should rest for a while too."

Seeing the courtyard in complete disarray, and the Beta Beast lying on the ground, brutally torn apart and having its core extracted, gradually fading away, the old butler couldn't help but sigh again.

"Miss, you have already successfully hunted three beasts, and appropriate practice will help you digest the experience and let your body gradually adapt to this suddenly increased training load."

Listening to the old butler's counsel once more, Witch Miss finally turned her head.

Her pupils slowly dilated as she looked up at the sun that had risen to the very top of her head, and said slowly,

"So it's already this time, huh."

Perhaps because she hadn't spoken for so long nor drunk water, her voice was not only hoarse but also overly indifferent.

Glancing at the worried expression of the butler beside her, Witch Miss awkwardly pursed her lips, then lowered her head, her voice now tinged with a hint of guilt,

"I'm sorry, Grandpa Lin, I got a bit carried away and didn't watch the time."

"I'll take a shower, change clothes, and go eat right away."

Seeing Witch Miss with drooping ears and a face full of grievance, the old butler, as a master, swallowed the admonition that had been on the tip of his tongue.

He stepped forward, handed the white towel in his hand to Witch Miss, and said with a reassuring smile,

"Miss, there's no need for you to apologize for something like this.

I often become overly immersed in training myself, so just be mindful of balance, combine work and rest, and make sure you don't damage your foundation."

"Take this towel and wipe your face first; I'll be waiting for you in the dining hall."

"Alright."

Taking the towel, Witch Miss headed toward the house.

But when she moved out of the butler's sight and reached the second‑floor shower, her expression froze once more.

"Balance work and rest…"

"Just three Beta Beasts of this level, and that's already considered work for me?"

"I…"

She bit her lip hard, then abruptly raised her hand and slammed it onto the shower tiles.

Crack‑like fissures, like a spider's web, instantly spread across the wall, and blood ran down from her clenched fist, dripping slowly through the gaps.

Tick—tick, the faint sound was strikingly conspicuous to Witch Miss's ears.