Bug Coliseum Brawl and the Aristocratic Upgrade

A noble? Ung ung! With a droning hum like a drone, Glessia sliced slowly through the air and flew right up to Lote. She faced off against it in an arrogant pose, as if declaring, 'My turn next!'

Whoa... the size difference is insane... Side by side, they looked like Goliath and David. Glessia's stinger alone was as big as Lote's entire body. But this was definitely going to be fun. A showdown for the top spot among the bugs!

The bugz started gathering close. The spiders lined up on the upper walls, twitching their legs eagerly, while the flying ones circled overhead in rings. It was like the stands of a futuristic coliseum! Most took Glessia's side, but a few stuck with Lote too. Guess Lote wasn't so scary anymore.

Crunch crunch! Cecilia was munching on my petals like popcorn at the movies. Her wings fluttered as she alternated glances between Glessia and Lote—adorable.

Flutter flutter! Miel flew over too and perched on my petals. She tapped them lightly with her slender legs, begging for nectar like always.

'Alright, alright.' A drop of nectar beaded up from my nectary, and Miel swooped in to slurp it down. Meanwhile, Cecilia and Miel touched antennae, seemingly chatting. Probably predicting the winner?

"Oh my~ This is getting exciting, isn't it?" Nis said with a playful smile.

Master watched with evident amusement too.

Then Glessia's wings began beating fiercely. The droning grew louder, whipping up a blizzard around us. Her white wings gleamed silver as they cleaved the air, sending ice crystals dancing. At the same time, she thrust her massive stinger forward and charged at Lote.

This is do-or-die... no...! GIANT IMPACT!

BOOM!!! A massive roar erupted as the blizzard billowed thickly. The space trembled and shook. The nearby bugz raised their antennae in shock.

As expected of our Glessia! She looks lazy, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but she packs a real punch!

But I was worried about Lote. Checking with Territory Radar... Huh? Both were fine. Lote still bobbed gently in the air, and Glessia flapped her wings, prepping her next attack.

As the blizzard cleared, Lote's body shone even more intensely. Its bluish-black sheen sparkled like priceless black pearls. It seemed to grow more beautiful with every hit.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Glessia kept slamming in with her stinger. But Lote absorbed every blow like legendary adamantium armor, bouncing them right back. Once, twice, three times... With each hit, Lote's surface gleamed brighter.

How tough is that thing...?

"Impressive indeed," Master said admiringly.

"Right? Right? It's my creation, after all~" Nis shrugged proudly.

Crunch crunch! Cecilia munched my petals harder, totally focused. With her flame-like wings spread wide, she looked just like a cheerleader. Miel was too busy slurping nectar and spectating.

Then Lote finally moved. It spun in place and charged at Glessia... Hm...? Isn't it kinda slow? Glessia dodged the slow-motion approach effortlessly. A total whiff with the body slam.

The bugz in the stands tilted their antennae in confusion. The pattern repeated: Glessia struck with her sharp stinger, Lote just tanked it. Lote attacked, Glessia sidestepped easily.

The bugz reactions shifted. At first wary of Lote, now they crept closer, poking curiously. Attacks didn't land, offense was weak... It just rolled—or flew—around.

Suddenly, Glessia yawned wide. The droning faded... and she flew to a corner of the labyrinth, curling up with a kuuk.

'Ah...?'

The stands' bugz drooped their antennae in disbelief. What kind of ending was this? So anticlimactic. Lote's defense was nuts, but offense... zilch.

"All defense, no offense," Master summed up neatly.

"Hmph~ Want me to upgrade it more?" Nis grinned mischievously and approached Lote.

Whoosh! Lote, looking robotic until now, zipped behind my stem and hid, its eight detached legs trembling.

The surrounding bugz gazed at Lote with pity.

What the heck just happened...? I felt bad for it. Once a spider, now some weird experiment... Pitied even by fellow bugz.

Lote's legs stopped shaking a bit. "Hehe. Rico's too kind," ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Master said with a warm smile.

"Really? Then raise her prettily~ Oh, and..." Nis pulled vials from her hem—liquids in red, black, purple... all suspiciously shady.

"Those?" Master glanced and nodded.

'Huh...?'

"Yes! Exactly!" Nis cheerfully dumped them all over me!

Eek...! Weird traits poured in out of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nowhere. Traits from potions...? Whatever... 'Auto Apparel Equip'? So polymorphing forces a black dress...? And 'Black & Red Smoke'—smoky entrance on transform?

"It'll come in handy when you polymorph~" Nis beamed.

"Useful," Master agreed, satisfied.

Ah...! Without this, polymorph means naked!? ...On second thought, super important. Good thing... 'Flawless' sounds great. 'Noble Grace'... 'Noble Lady Etiquette'...? Uh... kinda ominous...?

No, from Nis! These'll make me perfect!

Hmm... So I'd... Stride elegantly: "Oh my, Master." Pinky up sipping tea... "Hehe, lovely weather today~" fanning myself...

Argh! Nooo! My petals shivered in embarrassment at the vision—total Nis clone. But... to stand by a queen like Master, don't I need poise? Too plain wouldn't match her...

Yeah! I can control it—not go full Nis!

Right...?

"Shh! It's a secret gift~"

'...Huh?'

"What? You didn't slip in something weird too, did you?" Master grilled Nis immediately.

"Huh? No no! All good stuff! Right, Rico?"

Seems well-intentioned... Eh, probably fine.

"Hehehe~ See? Alright, time to head back?" Nis grinned brightly, satisfied.

Oh, leaving already.

"Yeah. See ya," Master said calmly. Then, as if it just hit her: "About borrowing Rico?"

Huh? Borrow me?

"Ah~ We'll do that after she polymorphs~"

Nis winked playfully.

Uh... uhhh... Super bad vibes.

Don't tell me I'll get Lote'd...?

While I panicked, Nis waved at Master—hurry up.

"What?"

"You have to escort me!"

Master sighed deeply. "...Be back soon." She stroked my petals once more. The chill sent shivers through me.

I waved my petals goodbye too. Even after Master and Nis left, the unease lingered. Borrow me...? What did that mean? No weird experiments, right...?

My petals curled slightly in worry.