Big Black Cat
The System Arrived Three Years Early, but the Gods Haven't Come Yet
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Big Black Cat (大黑猫); listed as unnamed on his system panel 5. |
| Species/Race | Bastet cat, descended from the Bastet bloodline 5. |
| Gender | Male designation; the text also describes him as the kittens’ mother 5 10 16. |
| Affiliation | Bastet cat tribe; later follows Zeng Shen 5 10. |
| Occupation/Role | Patriarch and chief of the Bastet cat tribe 5 10. |
| Aptitude | Lord 5. |
| Recorded Tier | Tier 5, with progress of 0/100000 5. |
| Status | Alive; last shown resting in Bastet Town’s largest tree-stump den 38. |
| Residence | Initially an abandoned hospital in Jinhai City; later Bast Town, also called Bastet Town, in the Domain of Yanhuang 3 5 17 21. |
| First Appearance | Chapter 5 5. |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 5 — initial assessment | 5 | The Eye of Observation records Lord aptitude, 0/100000 progress, unawakened skills, and no faith. This is an initial reading, not a demonstrated tier advancement. |
| Casual believer | 10 | After Zeng Shen rescues and feeds the kittens, Big Black Cat chooses to lead his tribe in following him. |
| Divine Protection received | 12 | Enters the divine domain without internal divine energy. Divine Protection grants the protection of one point of divine energy, allowing him to survive there normally; no tier increase is stated. |
Background / History
Hospital Patriarch
Big Black Cat led the strays living in the abandoned hospital. Although giving birth to a litter had weakened him, his established authority remained unchallenged. Other adult cats would not approach the kittens’ food bowls while he occupied them 5 6.
He initially distrusted Zeng Shen, interrupting his meal to watch him and remaining wary even while accepting food. Xiao Hei nursed from him, and Zeng Shen identified him as the parent of Xiao Hei and the five other kittens 5 6.
Rescue and Allegiance
When a streamer suspended the five kittens by ropes tied around their hind legs, Big Black Cat and the other adult strays arched their backs and yowled at him. After Zeng Shen drove the streamer away, Big Black Cat tried to bite through the kittens’ bindings but still resisted Zeng Shen’s approach 9 10.
Xiao Hei rubbed against him and meowed, persuading him to let Zeng Shen through. Once the kittens were freed, Big Black Cat thanked Zeng Shen with a meow and licked each kitten’s disheveled fur. Watching Zeng Shen feed the entire group, he issued a bugle-like call and committed his tribe to following him. This earned Zeng Shen 3,000 survival points and 16 new casual believers 10.
Life in the Divine Domain
Zeng Shen made Big Black Cat the first cat to pass through the Divine Domain Gate. His lack of divine energy triggered a warning that each second inside would age him by ten years, but Divine Protection activated before Zeng Shen could retrieve him. The cats subsequently settled near the forest and began looking at Zeng Shen with reverence 12.
Big Black Cat continued guarding the kittens and leading the adults. He punished Xiao Bai for barking at the litter, later led the strays to hunt in the stream, and settled in the forest-edge territory furnished with twenty tree-stump cat houses. By his latest appearance, he was resting in the largest den while the younger animals played nearby 15 17 38.
Appearance
- Large black cat with round, golden eyes 5 10.
- Imposing bearing: his approach toward Xiao Bai is likened to a tiger descending a mountain 15.
- Large paws and sharp claws: he raises a paw to intimidate Xiao Bai, then strikes him on the head 15.
Personality
Big Black Cat is described by the Eye of Observation as brave in battle, exceptionally intelligent, wild, and difficult to tame. His caution toward humans persists through repeated feedings and even immediately after Zeng Shen rescues the kittens 5 6 10.
His protectiveness combines stern discipline with tenderness. He confronts threats to the litter, attempts to free bound kittens, and soothes them through licking and close physical contact. Xiao Hei’s affectionate appeals can soften his hostility, both toward Zeng Shen and toward Xiao Bai 10 15 16.
Abilities & Skills
Tribal Authority
His leadership rests on long-established feline authority rather than a demonstrated awakened skill 5.
- Adult strays defer to him around food and retreat when he permits Zeng Shen to approach the kittens 5 10.
- His decision to follow Zeng Shen brings the tribe into the latter’s following 10.
- He organizes the adult cats’ hunting at the stream 17.
Physical Intimidation and Defense
Big Black Cat uses threatening calls, direct eye contact, and raised claws to confront Xiao Bai 15.
- Makes the puppy tremble and retreat before striking him 15.
- Swats Xiao Bai on the head after he barks at the kittens 15.
- Stops a second strike when Xiao Hei intervenes and nuzzles him 15.
Hunting
- Moves across exposed stream rocks and crouches above a dark mass of plankton while leading the strays in a hunt 17.
Limits
- His skills are explicitly unawakened in his initial panel 5.
- Giving birth has weakened him, despite leaving his leadership intact 5.
- He initially lacks the divine energy necessary to survive safely inside a divine domain without protection 12.
Relationships
- Zeng Shen — Initially a distrusted feeder; becomes his deity after rescuing the kittens and feeding the tribe. Provides the cats with a protected home and regular food 5 10 12 17.
- Xiao Hei — His kitten, possessing King aptitude. Nurses from him, sleeps in his embrace, and repeatedly calms him through affectionate meows and nuzzling 5 6 10 15 21.
- Five other kittens — His litter alongside Xiao Hei. The orange kitten has Elite aptitude; the remaining four have Ordinary aptitude. He protects, grooms, and shelters them 6 10 16.
- Xiao Bai — Zeng Shen’s white puppy. Big Black Cat disciplines him for frightening the kittens, although Xiao Hei prevents further punishment 15.
- Adult Bastet strays — His followers, who respect his control over food and movement and accompany him on hunts 5 10 17.