While not too knowledgeable on monsters, I know this two meters tall kitty to be around G to F in rank. The cubs even lower I would say. This one seems like a big chunk of muscle, an adult, definitely. This could skyrocket it to high F-Rank. Strength wise, I'm on equal footing. Even better, my speed stat is higher. The issue comes from my endurance. G-Rank... I'm probably lower than this kitty in that aspect.

This is pretty bad, especially since stats don't always mean equal.

Two might be of the same rank, but within this rank exist disparities. I'm aware of it. But even more so, these disparities don't even account for the flesh itself!

This cat is much bigger than me, meaning that its stats only boosts the base monster it already is. On the other hand, I'm just a regular dude. I might be trained, but in my slightly malnourished state, and lower body mass, I'm at an innate disadvantage on equal stats.

However, it's too late to flee. Speed doesn't increase direct velocity or gained momentum, but reaction speed and so on. This bastard might be one rank lower in this speed stat, but with how low our stats are in the first place, with its powerful legs and natural predisposition toward physical speed, I'm fucked if I show my back for even a moment.

Therefore!

"Here!" Shouting, I call out to the monster as if trying to garner attention from a pet. I swing the spinning chains, letting them reach ahead. They are very long, one of the ankle cuffs flung into its direction. The monster doesn't seem to mind, easily evading the heavy chains with a small hop forward. I can only frown as beads of sweat roll down my forehead. The fresh air of this humid jungle cools my burning flesh. "Hiyah!" With a tug, the ankle cuff is sent back to me, with a big kitty on the way. Unable to process something like this, the saber-toothed cat is frightened by the unexpected heavy piece of metal crashing onto its rear. But the damage is minimal at best. I don't have the strength for something like this.

In that case! I roar and rush ahead, taking hold of the remaining circular ankle cuff. I think I used to call them prisoner brand luxurious ankle bracelets. As the cat gets closer, it begins to drown my field of vision. Its paws tense, sharp claws coming out of hiding as it hammers down on my shoulders. But before it can succeed, I alter my center of gravity as I let loose my feet. My body easily slides beneath the pouncing cat due to the wet grass.

I sob at my poor tank top probably dyed green by now, while taking hold of the remaining ankle cuff. With a smile, I show no real fear as I can already feel at ease fighting this thing. Maybe it's because I like big cats, but it's not the time. So sad... I sigh and run back toward the spinning feline. Finally facing me once more, it charges again. Predicting me to slide down, I chuckle aloud. "I've waited years for this. Even I can't remember how powerful my body is after awakening." I may be a low rank in terms of letter, but overall, I'm still near the middle. This shows as I hold a cuff in each hand, letting the chains loose on the ground, while my legs powerfully stomp the ground. Before its eyes, the cat probably saw a human fly into the air. And as expected, it is not intelligent enough to understand what this means.

"Don't resent me." Landing behind it gracefully, I tense my body before crumbling down with all my weight. The kitty is confused while the chains are already wrapped around its nape. With a simple exchange, the chains twist and it becomes a loose collar. Before it can realize the discomfort, I let go and switch my hands around, exchanging the cuffs. Now with my arms to my sides, the chains are tightening on the cat's furry neck.

Now I only need to hold on while I do this. Putting even more strength, I show off my F-Ranked strength stat. I tug harder and harder, all the while standing my ground. It's not enough to fully strangle it.

Yet.

Rushing back toward it as I turn around, I make another jump, this time lower, clearly unexpected by the monster standing on its hind legs. This is a problem, as I crash onto its furred belly. Before it can recover and crush me to death, I retreat hastily. The dirt and grass at my feet uprooted from this explosiveness alone.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Frowning, I try again with a quick guess, the rustling of chains annoying the beast to no end.

Another jump coming out, I reach unseen heights by this monster, even its long body on its hind legs unable to catch me. As the chains wrap around its fore legs, which was not planned, I land behind it. The chains may be meters upon meters long, but there are ends to them. I barely manage to stay on my feet as I feel the chains pull me back up. Before it's too late, I give up my first plan and kick each leg into the ground one at a time. I force the earth to rumble as my legs end up almost knee deep into the dirt. I tense my entire body, open my mouth and hype myself up as much as possible through every mean possible.

Therefore, I scream.

At the top of my lungs, my roar echoes across hundreds of meters as I feel my vocal cords tear apart. Adrenaline courses through my veins while my entire focus is on my own flesh. I ignore the cat as we are back to back. I crunch my abs and try to bend forward as much as I can. Thankfully, the saber-toothed cat has too much pride. It does the same and put its entire weight forward, trying to land back on all four.

It's a battle of physique. Our stats are the same for strength, I can already tell. All I can do now is bet.

Bet that my endurance stat is higher. As this currently five to six meters tall behemoth full of bulging muscles will win if I allow it any excessive movement.

The tug of war with our spines on the line doesn't seem to end as my throat burns. But I don't relent. I only scream louder.

I cannot even hear its screeching whimper as my ears sting from my incessant shouting. I can't even feel my limbs, adrenaline stopping the pain before it can cause me to collapse.

I'm a human. I know my limits. And I'm aware of going beyond them.

Therefore, I can still let go when a sense of danger creeps up my spine.

But it doesn't.

It never does.

I scream and scream. I tug and tug.

I affirm my superiority each passing second, my voice cracking and dying.

My loudness never seems to end, minutes passing as my muscles shout almost as loud as I am. I can feel everything tearing, but I won't relent. I won't stop!

The monster roars. I can feel it. It's begging me to stop.

Why?

Because I'm winning.

I'm winning by so much. I can tell, even with my eyes tightly closed from the pain and struggle.

My body is bending forward, more and more. Until my forehead feels the grass. I know this moment. This is my chance.

I let go.

The chains rustle again, the whimpering kitty is relieved, slumping back to its four legs. But it cannot land. Its fore legs stay hovering a few meters higher. It can almost reach it. Its body is relaxing, I can tell.

I take a deep breath as silence regains a foothold.

Before being shattered again as I scream even louder. Collapsing forward, my entire body not just strangling the cat's entire body. But tearing it apart as well.

This explosive motion was more than enough, the chains more than sturdy enough.

They dig deep and their high resistance let me sever the giant monster in half. The momentum keeps going as I cannot feel or hear anything anymore, my forehead banging on the grass until a giant crack forms. The chains flung over my head before crashing far ahead, as if trying to sever the world itself.

Blood rains down on me. I open my eyes and through the tears see red.

My body finally relents. I crumble on my belly. My legs are still deep, while I almost fall asleep on the soft grass. Rain and blood mixes, fighting one another. I soon realize the victory. I, weighting less than eighty kilograms for certain, maybe way less, managed to overpower a giant saber-toothed cat probably into the hundreds, if not weighting tons. But my excitement isn't allowed much room to grow. My body is in pain, the adrenaline almost fully worn out. As I struggle back up, digging the earth around my legs, I notice a shade of purple somewhere. I look around but find nothing. Frowning as I usually do, my tank top flutters along the wind. I look down and see my torso.

It's all purple.

"No wonder..." I don't even dare to imagine my back. Or maybe it's better, since most of the heavy lifting came from my core, chest and arms. It doesn't take me long to feel my hands burning as blood drips out from ugly gashes.

"Fucking hell man..." I clench my fists and see this hot iron scented liquid being squeezed outside. "Blergh." I'm not a fan of blood. But something tugs at my mind. I turn around and see the damage.

"God damn!" I feel proud more than anything. Laying at my feet, a corpse, but more so a giant slab of meat. My stomach grumbles in anticipation.

"A feast it shall be." I take another look around but do not find anything much. Seems like the screaming didn't catch a monster's attention. For now.