Chapter 44: What Exactly Is This Black Cat?

Six eggs!

Six??

It was only in that instant that Cat woke up in fright.

It is known that last night Pikachu was sleeping beside him.

It is known that he only created five pairs of Pikachu.

It is known…

Alright, no need for "known" anymore; the appraisal result is in, and there is no seed of Unit 1.

Huh…

Poor Cat was scared to death, thinking this Pikachu really had a solid form.

"Huh…"

Cat, relieved, let out another sigh.

Sorry, Pikachu, it's Dad who doesn't trust you and has begun to doubt your character.

You, thick‑browed, big‑eyed Pikachu, truly have a simple and cute personality inside and out, just like your dad.

After silently praising Pikachu, Cat finally eased the inexplicable guilt in his heart.

But… these Pikachus can give birth to twins after a single sleep?

Indeed, even as the "Creator", he never imagined such a marvelous path.

But since twins exist, can he also look forward to a litter of ten in one birth?

After all, on some novel site, humans can have n offspring in one birth; as a monster, shouldn't this litter be at least a soccer team?

If every two produce a soccer team, when this batch of Pikachus grows up, each pair could give them a soccer team…

Ahem.

While Cat was daydreaming, the Pikachus below, already up early and busy, had settled their eggs and left the big tree hollow in orderly fashion.

Originally, in his design, each Pikachu pair would leave one to incubate and guard their eggs and offspring, but… after Unit 1's magical modification illustration, the incubation process turned into wrapping the eggs in a feather blanket imbued with constant‑temperature magic!

And the job of guarding the eggs was handed over to automatic defensive magic set at the big entrance, as well as short‑range teleportation magic!

I have to say, this move made Cat exclaim 66666.

One can only say the student surpasses the master; when he created Pikachu, he thought of the Lion King, while Pikachu perhaps thought of The Matrix.

Due to insufficient numbers of the fluffy ones, Pikachu's plan to push the fourth layer has been temporarily halted.

In Pikachu's imagination, this dungeon is highly likely to be within the Great King's line of sight of the Demon King's Castle, and the passage to the Demon King's Castle lies at the very bottom of their dungeon.

Thus, this is not just a simple fourth layer of a dungeon; it is the main artery of the Demon King's Castle!

He must build and lay out step by step, solidly; although it will take at least four months for the Great King to see the results, he is certainly not that short‑sighted, bad Pikachu!

Everything is for the Great King's grand ambition!

After magically freshening up, Cat had no idea why Pikachu would offer its heart; he simply ate some chocolate and biscuits hidden in the shadows, and stepped out just as the Pikachus who had finished breakfast were about to meet.

Today's mission is to clear the passage and also gather intel on the fringe dungeon.

He leaves a team of Pikachus to continue their original field‑research mission on cultivable monsters, while the remaining team, including Unit 1 and Xiaohei No. 4, follows Cat to explore the linked dungeon.

Assess the strength of the fringe dungeon, seal the passage, ensure no one can launch a surprise massive explosion on their safe little home, and at the same time prepare for the next colonization… oh no, for the next time they return with Witch Miss to seize the remaining dungeons.

According to the investigation by the cracked Xiaohei No. 3 cathead, there are five sub‑dungeons linked with Dungeon B56.

The passages are located behind the great waterfall where the third and fourth layers intersect, inside a cave in the fourth‑layer cliff, and within several volcanic craters on the fifth and sixth layers.

Currently, the top priority to explore and hold is the passage at the fourth‑layer cliff entrance.

Following the entrance inward, aside from many "vampire bats", there are no special monsters guarding the way.

The mountain range on the fourth layer stretches only about three thousand meters, and this endless tunnel with no visible exit made Cat realize that perhaps he had already stepped into the linked passage.

"There are no magical teleportation traces in the passage, which means it follows the geography purely in a physical sense, huh?"

Cat walks while analyzing the situation of this dungeon passage.

"Then why does no living beast travel this road directly to the fourth layer of Dungeon B56?"

Soon, Cat's question is answered.

The Xiaohei No. 3 cathead leading the way suddenly stopped and emitted a warning pulse to its body.

Cat snapped back to attention and performed a "sneaky peek" and an "appraisal" forward.

During the peek, he discovered a monster blocking the already narrow passage.

The monster was entirely brown‑black, with slender limbs, a distinct skeleton, and two pairs of wings made of scales and spikes on its back.

Its palms were huge, nails sharp and pointed, a stark white line in the pitch‑black cave.

If the visitor were not Cat, a scratch from the hidden creature would likely shatter them into pieces.

【Fear, Demon Species】

A filthy residue formed from the lingering resentment of a lower demon species after death.

Its ugly appearance makes it fear the surface light.

They are the strongest guardians within the dungeon passage.】

【Species Name: Fear】

【Species: Demon Species】

【Occupation: Guardian】

【Occupation Level: lv13】

【Level: lv140】

【HP: 800000/800000】

【MP: 52000/52000】

【Constitution: 70000】

【Strength: 55000】

【Agility: 37000】

【Intelligence: 120】

【Status: Still】：When no living beings are within a 1000‑meter radius, it turns into a statue.

During the Still period, all attacks cannot damage Bu.

【Innate Ability】:

【Hunting】：When a creature enters within 1000 meters of it, it automatically enters stealth and waits to strike.

【Rage】：A roar from the soul of a lower‑rank demon species in its mind makes it extremely angry, cursing all living beings.

Unless it dies, damage inflicted by Bu cannot be healed.

【Fountain of Resentment】：Creatures slain by Bu become lower‑rank demon species, becoming Bu's subordinates under its control.

Bu's death does not grant release or death to the creatures.

【Acquired Skills】：Hunting Rhythm lv140; Bone‑Piercing Spike lv140; Lethal Mist lv140…

Alright, now Cat knows why.

After reviewing this watchdog's skills, Cat understood why no one has emerged here.

This monster also falls within the Dungeon Mother's refresh zone; apparently no party wants to save the ten‑plus kilometers, opting instead to take a shortcut and grind this exceptionally troublesome monster.

Bu's level is not as high as Frost General's, and its traits differ from the giant‑flesh, high dual‑resistance type.

The demon species' innate noble attribute makes it nearly well‑rounded; with high agility, Cat is unsure whether the one‑shot attack used last time will still work on this Bu.

So…

This time what's needed most isn't powerful attack magic, but control skills.

Freeze, paralysis, burn, poison, and so on…

Even if it can't be captured, using shields and abrasion should be a decent strategy.

Conveniently, it also brought its trusted lieutenant, Pikachu inheriting a level‑148 thunder‑attribute crystal.

With a rough attack plan forming in its mind, Cat leisurely took out sixteen bottles of blood medicine from the shadows, split them with Xiaohei #4, and together they prepared for the upcoming battle.

After finishing the blood medicine, Cat and Xiaohei #4 each let out a belch in turn, and everything was ready.

Thanks to the "Still" state, it gained plenty of time to prepare.

And the "Cannot Deal Damage" debuff, Cat found it rather useless.

Because there are spells called delayed release, timed release, and trap magic.

No damage; just don't attack and it's fine.

Within a thousand meters, as soon as Bu awakens, the formation activates and that's enough.

This operation plan was named "Gou".

"Cat head, charge!"

Cat gave the distant scouting Xiaohei "Cat head" the order to deliver a head.

The tiny "Cat head", though surprised and frightened, still leapt forward as ordered.

It leapt into Bu's hunting range.

Whoosh—

Inside the cave, a sudden cold wind whistled, and dust laced with toxin blew in.

Having peeked at Bu's skill list earlier, Cat had already erected a protective array. Watching Bu flutter its wings, open its fang‑filled maw, and brace to charge, Cat squinted and, together with Xiaohei #4, executed a tail strike.

(=v=)╯╰(=∇=)̣

Done.

Light‑attribute magic‑blessed water poured down like a torrent, a sun‑like scorching flame followed, a coiled poisonous snake suddenly slithered onto its thigh, and chains attacking from all directions bound its limbs…

Every underhanded skill Cat could think of was, at that moment, systematically applied to the unprepared Bu.

Suddenly hammered by the assault, Bu opened its mouth and emitted a sharp, ear‑piercing, almost soul‑piercing shriek.

It seems Bu only ever ambushed others; it has never been on the receiving end of such treatment.

Its extremely high level and the demon's innate high intelligence instantly made it realize its situation.

It was ambushed.

From thousands of miles away, seizing the moment it was still and turned to a statue!

The despicable ambusher will surely shred it to pieces!

The chains rattled wildly under Bu's frantic thrashing, and combined with the chaotic barrage of skills released in its fury, the cramped passage filled with intense toxins and violent assaults.

But…

Cat had long anticipated everything; the flawless defense began with the protective array, even equipped with an air‑purification system.

But this is only the beginning of Cat's offense.

The trap skill sacrificed offense for an old‑silver‑coin ambush ability; this Bu, as imagined, being a demon species, only suffers torment from the trap skill, with little HP loss.

This unexpected assault only shaved off about 5,000 HP.

The main act follows.

The clear purification array stood out in the toxin‑filled cavern, and Bu instantly pinpointed the culprit that left it in such a sorry state.

Muscle enhancement, strength enhancement… various buff skills were used, and Bu suddenly broke free of the restraints!

Its claws sprouted after a flash of White Light, grinding the floor with a spine‑tingling, sharp sound, and Bu, in the blink of an eye, rushed to the protective array where Cat stood.

Zila—

It was the sharp sound of Bu's claws scraping the protective array.

Meow!!

The cat went mad.

He, a short‑haired breed, has his tail puffed up like a squirrel's.

The damage from that sound is even greater than the shock of nails scraping a blackboard!

Careless!

At least there should have been some noise‑cancelling!

No! In the future, when encountering such a monster, it's best to equip an infrared detector and strike with eyes closed!

Even the appraisal told him, "Ugly appearance," yet he didn't care at all.

My god!

How can it be this ugly?

On a face that can barely be called egg‑shaped, four eyes dot it indiscriminately, flapped flesh, protruding fangs, and nostrils that look like two holes…

Even Ke Zong's mental shock is no more than that!

The cat paid a painful price for its carelessness.

And Bu, as the attacker, was equally surprised; he couldn't understand why his claw couldn't shatter the Magic Circle the tiny cat had laid.

This cat is absurdly weak.

Bu sensed no trace of a strong aura from it, and his detection even showed the cat was only at lv9 strength.

Yip!

Such a rookie actually dared to flail in front of him and even launched a despicable ambush?

How did it manage that?

How could it dare to do that!

It must have some secret.

Angry, impatient, and fuming, Bu resolved to capture that damned cat alive.

He intends to torture the black cat with severe punishment, making it pay a painful price for its vile act while spilling its secrets.

But…

He, who considered himself the strongest, forgot basic caution.

His perceived huge level gap, under detection, made him, even after being hurt once, still neglect basic self‑protection.

When Bu boldly tried various attacks, attempting to break through the protective array, the cat's second wave struck.

The same method, almost identical attack, played out on Bu once more.

As everyone knows, after magic stacking, it not only increases damage intensity but also yields complex and variable effects.

The flame that already tormented him turned into a festering ulcer, spreading pain and burning from his bones outward.

Moreover, what baffled him even more was that the light‑attribute magic released by the black cat gave him a feeling of standing beneath an angel statue.

Why?

How could this be?

What exactly is this black cat?

Divine messenger?

Could an apostle of such low level also take the form of a black cat?!

Bu couldn't figure it out.

But this time, he found himself unable to break free from those damned chains.

For the first time, he felt fear during the hunt.

He had a strange feeling, as if he were the prey and the tiny cat, perched in the protective array like an ant, was the hunter!

This… how could it be?!