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Chapter 9 - Evolving
🕑 Added 2025-03-25 16:48:24 +0000 UTCIn just a few minutes, Puss had arrived and climbed the San Ricardo bell tower all the way to the top.
There, there was only a large bell, some roof tiles, and a few other scattered things.
Dropping onto all fours, he elegantly lay down.
Then, he accessed the panel, extended his paw, and clicked on one of the options.
[Mutant Cat (Gold): Level 1 (Evolvable)] → [Mutant Cat (Gold): Level 2 (Evolving…)]
A few seconds passed, and nothing happened.
Tilting his head in doubt, Puss couldn't help but think.
'Is it already over? I didn't feel—'
But before he could complete the thought, his pupils dilated, his claws extended from his paws, and his tail bristled.
A sharp pain spread through his entire body, and Puss clenched his small, sharp teeth, trying not to make any noise—but he failed.
"Rrrrgghh!" A low growl escaped his black lips.
His claws, which were firmly pressed against the floor, slowly began to sharpen further and sink into the surface.
His feline body grew a few centimeters taller, becoming even more slender and handsome. His fur looked shinier and silkier.
His hearing became more precise, his vision sharper, his sense of smell more refined, and his instincts keener.
It all happened very fast, and less than a minute later, it was over.
Puss shook his body and stood up on his two legs, stretching with his arms raised.
Once he felt better, he began analyzing his changes.
Flexing his right arm, he saw that his discreet muscles were even more defined and powerful, his body looking even more symmetrical than before.
Seeing his vibrant orange fur, he couldn't help but extend his other paw and stroke it, feeling that it was even softer than before.
"Increíble! Though my appearance hasn't changed much, I must be even more handsome now!"
He couldn't contain himself and spoke out loud.
Then, feeling his strength, he also realized he was stronger than before. The changes weren't overwhelming, but they were still very good, and Puss couldn't help but wonder how incredible he would be if he reached level 10.
'I imagine my original talents were the same as the Puss from the movies, but with a system that allows me to advance my talents, along with my training, I will be even more legendary than him. Puss in the movies was already incredible—even if he couldn't defeat Death, he still managed to disarm him and put him at a disadvantage for a short moment, proving just how amazing he was.'
Puss thought, then his eyes shone as he looked at the second option, and without hesitation, he clicked.
[Natural Swordsman (Gold): Level 1 (Evolvable)] → [Natural Swordsman (Gold): Level 2 (Evolving…)]
'I, Puss, in this life, will never be inferior to anyone—not even Death will make me admit defeat.'
He promised himself, holding his head high, and waited for the pain.
And waited.
And waited.
"..."
'No pain this time, huh?'
He turned his gaze to his status.
[Host: Puss in Boots
Age: 6 Months
Status: 9 Lives Remaining
Talents:
- Mutant Cat (Gold): Level 2
- Natural Swordsman (Gold): Level 2
- Furry Lover (Silver): Level 0
- Lucky Feline (Silver): Level 6]
'So much for expectations…'
Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and tried to feel any differences. But he felt nothing—until he thought about swordsmanship itself. Suddenly, small ideas and intuitions about things he had been doing wrong without even realizing it emerged, along with ways to improve what was already good.
Again, the change wasn't drastic, but if it previously took him 10 hours to make progress, now he could achieve the same in 8. While it might not seem like much, over a decade, it would save him two full years. And this was only the second level of talent—there was still plenty of room for improvement.
Opening his eyes and giving a satisfied smile, Puss suddenly accelerated, leaping from the tower. Shifting his posture mid-air, he began spinning like a star, accelerating even more.
'So fun!'
A huge smile spread across his lips. Ever since he became a cat, he had been feeling freer and freer. He felt like he could do anything, and his life was becoming more colorful by the day.
As he practically flew through the air, he adjusted his posture to swing off a wooden structure of a nearby house, increasing his momentum and propelling himself toward the orphanage.
After that, he found no other structure to keep his momentum going, so he lost his aerial speed. Landing skillfully on the roof of a house, he touched down on all fours and quickly dashed forward without missing a beat.
In mere seconds, he arrived at the orphanage. His smile faded, replaced by a serious expression as he walked upright on two legs.
The children he passed looked at him with admiration—even some of the caretakers did.
Puss strolled forward nonchalantly, as if he owned the place.
'I'll leave my joyful, playful side for those I cherish. As for everyone else? Let them all remember me as a legend.'
He thought, and without stopping, went to have lunch.
Seated once again with a plate of beans in front of him, Puss began to think.
'Now that I've reached my goal of leveling up once, and I've accumulated plenty of practice in exercise, swordsmanship, and combat, it's time to start working on making money.'
He mused, tossing a bean into his mouth and chewing as he leaned his face against a paw disinterestedly.
"Hey, Puss!"
A voice suddenly called out, snapping him from his thoughts.
Puss merely rolled his eyes at him and raised an "eyebrow."
He had sensed him approaching a long time ago.
The egg, who had spoken, placed his plate on the table and sat beside Puss with a smile on his lips.
Ever since the day Puss had told him that he and Humpty had a home here, the egg had distanced himself from him.
To Humpty, the sense of camaraderie he felt with Puss was just his mind playing tricks on him. But if there was one defining trait of Humpty, it was that he was persistent and intelligent.
So he didn't give up and felt that perhaps the feeling of companionship wasn't wrong, but rather that Puss was deceiving him and hiding his own emotions. Thus, he persisted and continued observing Puss.
And that was how he discovered that Puss had no close relationship with anyone and was indifferent to everyone... well, almost everyone. There was someone he wasn't indifferent to—Imelda, the matron of the orphanage.
But Humpty still believed that Puss didn't see the orphanage as a true home, just as he didn't.
And so, since then, he was the only one who dared to approach Puss at the orphanage, besides Imelda.
Not that Puss himself had approved, but since he hadn't beaten him up to drive him away, Humpty took that as tacit acceptance.
"So, what are the plans for today? Let me guess, now's the time for physical exercise, right?"
Humpty said while chewing his beans. That was how their conversations went every day—Humpty talked, and Puss listened. So he was used to talking to himself and didn't expect any responses.
But today was different.
"Why are you so persistent?"
Puss suddenly spoke. It was the first time in six months that he had said anything to someone beyond a simple "Meow."
Humpty's eyes widened upon hearing the voice he had almost forgotten after not hearing it for months. Excited, he quickly replied.
"Wow! You actually answered! I was starting to think you had some kind of medical condition that kept you from speaking. Well, I already told you why—you're like me…"
He said enthusiastically, but as he reached the last part, he noticed Puss's gaze becoming indifferent and disinterested again, and he became nervous.
Somehow, he understood—Puss knew he was lying.
"I-I… I'm just tired of being alone, okay? I'm just tired of being invisible…"
He admitted, disheartened.
Puss paused as he was about to stand up when he heard that.
'Haah… he's just a kid.'
Puss thought with an internal sigh and then turned his gaze to the egg.
"You are not invisible."
He said simply.
But Humpty shook his head negatively.
"No, I am. Nobody cares about me, they just mock me and make some joke about eggs. Puss, I'm not... I'm not a person, I'm not a bird, I'm not even a food. I don't know what I am. I don't belong anywhere here."
He said, disheartened, playing with the last bean on his plate with his spoon.
"And what about Matron Imelda? Doesn't she see you?"
Puss asked, incisively.
But Humpty just shook his head.
"Matron Imelda is the kindest person I know, Puss. She loves and cares for all of us, but it's different. I'm just one more child she looks after and loves, but I'm not special, Puss. I don't have a place here. One day, I'll grow up, and Matron Imelda won't be able to take care of me anymore. And then, I will have nothing. No friends, no family, no place to call home."
He explained sincerely, his gaze distant, far more mature than it should be for his age. When he spoke of home, he meant something spiritual, not a physical place.
Puss frowned at his plate, deep in thought.
'He's smart… and it seems he's right…'
Puss thought, suddenly feeling sad for the egg, but he didn't show it. And once again, he asked his question.
"And what about me? Why seek me out, when I am even more indifferent than everyone else?"
He asked, lifting his gaze and meeting Humpty's, his slit eyes sharp.
This time, Humpty smiled at him.
"Puss, you don't understand what true indifference is, but I do."
He said with a smile and clarified under Puss's confused gaze.
"True indifference is offering help when you know it isn't needed. It's giving a little attention only when it's begged for. It's closing your eyes when someone is in need and blaming everyone but yourself for your own cowardice."
He said, making Puss widen his eyes.
"Puss, despite ignoring me, when I needed you, you helped me. When you didn't want to speak, you forced yourself to when you saw me depressed. And when you saw me lost, you lied to try to help me."
He smiled at Puss, not hiding his thoughts.
Puss stared at him for a moment, motionless, and finally sighed.
"Haah… you win, Humpty Alexander Dumpty. My name is Puss."
He said helplessly and extended his paw to Humpty.
Humpty was surprised, but soon a bright smile appeared on his face, and he quickly shook Puss's hand.
"Humpty Alexander Dumpty, at your service!"
The egg said, lifting his hat with one hand in greeting while shaking Puss's hand with the other.
And so, Puss made his first friend since arriving in this world.
And ironically, it was Humpty Dumpty—the future villain.
