Stray Cat Strut

In 2057, a world divided into corporate utopia for the wealthy and a hellhole for everyone else faces a new threat: alien invasion. Orphan Catherine 'Cat' Leblanc, far from the privileged class, finds her already bleak existence further disrupted when Incursion alarms signal the arrival of hungry xenos. This cyberpunk magical-girl alien-invasion LitRPG blends genres for a wild ride. Cat, a pragmatic orphan who is also a cripple missing an arm, is chosen to fight these invasions due to her character. Her cybernetic eye implant is quickly infected with malware. The story is characterized by its smooth flow, though events unfold gradually, with single occurrences per chapter. A unique alien shop with an AI companion serves as the LitRPG system, where points earned from killing aliens are used to acquire high-tech alien items. However, the protagonist rarely explores this shop extensively, instead relying on her AI for custom grenades and infrequent purchases of armor and weapons. Cat's tendency to reject plans and common sense until faced with imminent death, coupled with her hoarding of points for unexpected situations that she fails to prepare for, leads to a slow pace. She delays crucial upgrades and training, only acquiring them when forced. Despite these narrative pacing issues, the story offers entertainment and a fresh take on a post-apocalyptic setting, with positive aspects including good character interaction and minimal grammar issues. The narrative avoids suddenly antagonizing major villains early on, allowing bad situations to escalate progressively.