Black Cat

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**[Status]**

　Makoto Akaya

　Level: 0

　Health: 100 / 100

　Magic: 10 / 10

　Defense: 0

　Strength: 10,000

　Skill: 0

　Intelligence: 0

　Resistance: 0

　Agility: 0

　Mystery: 0

　Spirit: 0

**[Skill]**

　"Basic Endurance"

　"Advanced Strength"

**[Equipment]**

　"Skill Tree"

━━━━━━『Skill Tree』━━━━━━━

**[Skill Tree]**

　Tree Level: 0

　Skill Points: 2

　Point Mission: Completed

**[Skill Menu]**

　"Basic Endurance"

　　Acquirable Times: 4

　"Basic Magic"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Defense"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Advanced Strength"

　　Acquirable Times: 4

　"Basic Skill"

Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Intelligence"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Resistance"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Agility"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Mystery"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Spirit"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

**[Completed Skill]**

　"Applied Strength"

　　Acquirable Times: 0

　"Basic Strength"

　　Acquirable Times: 0

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So, now that I had become a Silver member and the points doubling campaign had started, what should I do? I had 2 skill points…

As a student of the Hardcore Muscle School, I had a strong desire to put points into Strength. 

However, I was already unable to control my current strength and was being overwhelmed by it, so adding more points to "Advanced Strength" didn't seem wise.

On the other hand, I wasn't one of the chosen ones. I was just an ordinary person with a weird tree growing from my arm. If I became a jack-of-all-trades, I wouldn't achieve anything. It was precisely because I lacked talent that I needed to specialize.

So, with pride in my mediocrity, I decided to unlock "Advanced Strength". After all, thinking was a hassle. Strike while the iron is hot—when in doubt, choose power.

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**[Status]**

　Makoto Akaya

　Level: 0

　Health: 100 / 100

　Magic: 10 / 10

　Defense: 0

　Strength: 30,000

　Skill: 0

　Intelligence: 0

　Resistance: 0

　Agility: 0

　Mystery: 0

　Spirit: 0

**[Skill]**

　"Basic Endurance"

　"Advanced Strength" ×3

**[Equipment]**

　"Skill Tree"

━━━━━━『Skill Tree』━━━━━━━

**[Skill Tree]**

　Tree Level: 0

　Skill Points: 0

　Point Mission: Completed

**[Skill Menu]**

　"Basic Endurance"

　　Acquirable Times: 4

　"Basic Magic"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Defense"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Advanced Strength"

　　Acquirable Times: 2

　"Basic Skill"

Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Intelligence"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Resistance"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Agility"

Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Mystery"

Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Spirit"

Acquirable Times: 5

**[Completed Skill]**

　"Applied Strength"

　　Acquirable Times: 0

　"Basic Strength"

　　Acquirable Times: 0

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Strength 30,000…! I was on a different level from 10 days ago!

I could feel the power, an overwhelming strength surging within me!

Crack, crack.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

I heard a sound I shouldn't have heard from inside my body.

It hurt immensely, and the sensation filled me with terror. My flesh and bones seemed to move as if they had a will of their own, connecting, detaching, and seeking a new form.

Is this what it feels like to become a monstrous creature created by a mad scientist? I couldn't afford to be thinking leisurely thoughts like that. Terrified of losing my sense of self, I rolled around on the floor in agony.

"I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I won't put any more points into Strength, ahhhh!"

Was it a sin to mock the theory of evolution?

Eventually, the pain subsided.

"Haah, haah, it's over… why? Am I forgiven?"

No, that wasn't it. I understood now.

I had learned in class about the phenomenon where the human body restructures itself, changing its muscle composition due to level-ups. The pain I just experienced must be evidence of my biological evolution.

This meant that I had reached a level where I could exhibit outputs beyond the biological limits of a normal human.

I regained my composure and, trembling at the thought of the carnival beneath my skin starting again, wiped the sweat off my brow.

I placed my hand on the sink. The sink cracked and crumbled.

"What…?"

Just by touching it. Was this also power?

Had I become a living experimental biological weapon that destroys everything it touches?

"Meow."

"Huh? A cat's meow?"

I looked around to find the source of the voice and discovered a cat gracefully washing its face in the bathroom. 

It was a black cat. A typical black cat, but for some reason, it looked familiar.

"Meow (Translation: Good evening, Akaya-kun)."

"It spoke…!"

"Meow meow (Translation: A talking cat isn't that unusual these days)."

"Isn't it unusual both now and in the past…?"

"Meow (Translation: I don't think so)."

What an arrogant cat. But it's cute.

"Can I pet you?"

"Meow (Translation: Don't. In your current state, you can't control your strength. If you pet such a cute cat with your monstrous strength, you'll just end up with a lump of meat)."

"I forgot… what have I become?"

"Meow (Translation: As long as you understand)."

The black cat continued washing its face.

Its impressive whiskers flicked under its paws.

"Meow meow (Translation: Thank you for saving me the other day. I didn't get a chance to say thank you)."

"The other day? What are you talking about? Wait, could it be… the day of the entrance ceremony…?"

"Meow (Translation: That's right, Akaya-kun)."

What's with the "That's right"? You're a cat. But it's so cute.

"Back then, it was because of you cats that I ended up in such an embarrassing situation. I witnessed Shihahime's scoop and got threatened because of it. Ever since then, she's been targeting me."

"Meow (Translation: That was unfortunate. But your actions were commendable)."

"What are you, anyway? How did you get into my room? I closed the window."

"Meow (Translation: That's a trivial matter. By the way, Akaya-kun, it seems you're struggling with your current inconvenient situation)."

The cat glanced behind me. There was the broken, shattered sink.

"Meow (Translation: I've been watching over you for the past month, Akaya-kun. I'm glad to see the Skill Tree has successfully sprouted)."

"What did you just say? Sprouted…? Do you know about the Skill Tree?"

I had considered many possibilities, like a strange disease, a curse, or a bloodline, but I never expected a cat to bring me the answer.

"Meow (Translation: My memory is hazy. I don't remember much about the Skill Tree either. All I remember is that I used to call myself the Tree Cat)."

"Hazy memory… why?"

"Meow meow (Translation: I don't know either. But it doesn't matter now. The important thing is that I accidentally planted the Skill Tree in your right arm when you saved me)."

So even the Skill Tree wasn't my talent.

It was just a result of accidentally helping a talking monster cat.

"Meow (Translation: I don't know why the Skill Tree sprouted in you, who are just an ordinary person, but…)."

The cat muttered softly.

That's what I wanted to know.

Oh well, I guess there's no need to know anymore.

"You appeared to take back the Skill Tree you accidentally planted in my arm, right? …I don't mind."

I gently grabbed the base of the Skill Tree.

The cat's eyes widened.

"Meow (Translation: Are you sure? Without it, you'll revert to being a worthless, indebted, talentless high school student)."

"That's too harsh. I may be in debt, but… there are principles in this world. No matter how much I despise my scumbag father, I owe him for raising me, and if I accidentally got someone else's important thing, I should return it if the original owner wants

 it back. Of course, losing this would darken my future, but…"

A Skill Tree. Even an ignorant person like me could tell.

It was special, important, and valuable.

It might be an anomaly, an abnormal substance we learned about in class.

"Meow (Translation: You don't need to return it. You're a straightforward guy, Akaya-kun. I like you. Besides, I owe you for saving my life. As a token of a cat's gratitude, I'll let you keep the Skill Tree)."

"Are you sure? And I didn't save your life. That car stopped in front of the school gate. You wouldn't have been hit even if I didn't help."

"Meow (Translation: Don't sweat the details. I'm grateful. I'll take it as a gift. Also, take this)."

The cat pulled out something strange from nowhere.

It looked like a walnut. Reddish-black and dried up.

It pulsated like a heart, thumping.

It felt warm to the touch. Creepy. What is this?

"Um, cat…"

"Meow (Translation: Call me Tree Cat. That's my name)."

"Hey, Tree Cat, what am I supposed to do with this creepy thing?"

"Meow (Translation: Eat it)."

"Impossible."

"Meow (Translation: That's the 'Withered Blood Seed, Adam's Seed.' It's the same thing I accidentally planted in your body)."

"So this creepy walnut is the Skill Tree?"

"Meow (Translation: That's right. And if the person hosting the Skill Tree eats the 'Withered Blood Seed, Adam's Seed'…)"

The cat paused and stared at me.

Telling me to eat it out of nowhere is too much.

"Meow (Translation: The Skill Tree will guide you on what to do)."

I had always been a loser.

This was a strange chance.

A reward for accidentally helping a monster cat. A rare opportunity.

If it offered me the only talent I had, there was no reason to refuse.

Resolute, I swallowed the creepy walnut.

Immediately, excruciating pain shot through my right arm, and the Skill Tree burst out.

"Gyaaaaah! It hurts!"

The size had visibly increased, and the branches grew magnificently.

The wound was larger than before. It felt like my wound was being slowly widened by a vise, a torment that was hard to endure.

But I was growing stronger.

The Skill Tree had made a significant evolution.

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**[Status]**

　Makoto Akaya

　Level: 0

　Health: 1 / 100

　Magic: 10 / 10

　Defense: 0

　Strength: 30,000

　Skill: 0

　Intelligence: 0

　Resistance: 0

　Agility: 0

　Mystery: 0

　Spirit: 0

**[Skill]**

　"Basic Endurance"

　"Advanced Strength" ×3

**[Equipment]**

　"Skill Tree"

━━━━━━『Skill Tree』━━━━━━━

**[Skill Tree]**

　Tree Level: 1

　Skill Points: 0

　Point Mission: Completed

**[Skill Menu]**

　"Basic Endurance"

　　Acquirable Times: 4

　"Basic Magic"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Defense"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Advanced Strength"

　　Acquirable Times: 2

　"Basic Skill"

Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Intelligence"

　　Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Resistance"

Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Agility"

Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Mystery"

Acquirable Times: 5

　"Basic Spirit"

Acquirable Times: 5

　"Harden" NEW!

　　Acquirable Times: 1

**[Completed Skill]**

　"Applied Strength"

　　Acquirable Times: 0

　"Basic Strength"

　　Acquirable Times: 0

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"Meow (Translation: Congratulations. You've successfully leveled up the Skill Tree)."

The black cat was happily meowing.

I couldn't respond.

I had lost too much blood. A wave of exhaustion swept over me.

My consciousness rapidly sank into darkness.