Warrior Class Exam
‘Primitive ant exoskeleton, huh…’
A primitive ant exoskeleton gleaming with a green sheen was laid out in the exam hall.
The content of this warrior class exam was to destroy the primitive ant exoskeleton with bare hands.
‘They put some thought into this one.’
I turned my head again to look at Monahan. He wore a faint smile, as if eager to see me flustered.
But what could he do? For me, now able to draw out ether through the Omnihwan, this test posed no problem at all.
So I flashed him a grin in return. Monahan's brow furrowed slightly.
He must be wondering why I was smiling instead of panicking. I turned away, satisfied at the sight of his frown.
‘Those eyes of his will bulge like frogspawn once the exam's over.’
I was looking forward to his reaction if I breezed through even this prepared test.
"Whoa, even if it's just a first-instar primitive ant exoskeleton... it's still from a primitive species. And they want us to destroy it barehanded?"
"Right? Even the broad-headed mantis clans would struggle with that."
"It's basically only for shield mantis and king mantis clans, isn't it?"
"That wouldn't even make 30 people."
Instead of me, it was the others who were shaken by the exam content. Most seemed to think the bar was absurdly high.
Destroying a primitive species' exoskeleton with bare hands. If they could do that, they wouldn't have run from primitive species in the survival exam.
Aside from a few top clans, it was questionable if anyone could even scratch it.
"I have a question."
"Yes, go ahead."
"Do we have to destroy the exoskeleton to pass?"
"Not necessarily. We'll score based on the degree of damage, even if it's not fully destroyed. The top 30 scores pass."
"Ah... thank you."
Someone raised their hand to ask Havi. Looked like a broad-headed mantis clansman... His face relaxed a bit, probably thinking he might squeak into the top 30.
The over 100 warrior class applicants began glancing at each other, sizing up their chances for the top 30 spots.
‘Two shield mantises, five king mantises, four king broad-headed.’
Those were the ones clearly capable of smashing the exoskeleton.
That left 19 spots. With about nine broad-headed mantises next in line, the remaining ten might go to antler mantises.
‘Talk about transparent.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly. Even if they wanted me out, wasn't lining up the top clans so blatantly too obvious?
"Alright, we'll start with the physical exams."
At the instructor's word, the physical checks began immediately.
"Number 162, pass. 163, pass. 164..."
Applicants were called as passes in quick succession. It was just checking for intact limbs and scanning for wireworm infection.
Basically a formality. But with so many applicants, a couple were disqualified.
"203... suspected wireworm infection. Quarantine."
"What? Me, infected with wireworms?"
Oh dear. Wireworm infection was a death sentence.
Only high-level sorcery could barely extract them, and even then success rates were low. Once infected, you were as good as dead.
‘Not one of the four great lords' doing, so probably natural infection.’
The four great lords wouldn't be so sloppy. Had to be natural.
That's why you don't eat random stuff. Probably got it hunting and eating an infected primitive species.
Likely his parents or family were infected too—they wouldn't have hunted alone.
‘Tough break.’
Even I couldn't help with wireworms right now. If I'd reached complete body and could externalize ether freely, maybe.
‘Speaking of, I need to stop the wireworm outbreak too.’
In a dozen years, a massive war would erupt on the continent. Not just between a few clans, but a huge one involving countless species.
At first I wondered why they were so eager to kill each other, but it turned out the four great lords, elders, and generals were all infected with wireworms.
‘All part of the four great lords' scheme in the end.’
With prolonged peace booming populations—even threatening the four great clans—they planned a continental massacre to cull numbers.
‘Fucking lunatics.’
The more I thought about the four great lords and their administrator puppet masters, the more absurd it seemed. I clicked my tongue again.
Just wait. I'd gut them all.
The four great lords I'd beaten once before; the administrator was the issue, but with Megaera mantis power, I'd handle it.
‘Anyway, that's the future... deal with what's in front of me first.’
Excluding one wireworm dropout and one with a broken arm on hold, everyone passed physicals. Out of 209, only two failed—over 99% pass rate.
"Now for the warrior class exam."
The moment I'd been waiting for arrived. 106 applicants left, including me. My number: 56.
I moved to the two-row waiting line, found my seat, and sat.
"Numbers 1 and 2, step forward."
Two at a time. Both antler mantises, faces grim as they stood before the prepared exoskeleton.
It was a square panel about a meter on each side, fixed between two large iron pillars.
"Haaap!"
The first punched with a solid kiai. Nice form—proper antler clan's antler arts. He'd make top 30.
Bam!
As if echoing my thought, a loud crack as number 1 gouged a small scratch.
"Ooh."
"Not bad."
"Who's that?"
Onlookers murmured in admiration. The judges by the hall nodded, scoring high by the looks of it.
Thud.
A weak follow-up. The second gave his all, but no mark on the exoskeleton. Poor form, no power transfer. Obvious fail.
He slunk off, shoulders slumped, knowing it himself.
"Next numbers, please."
The exam flew by. By 20s already, a king mantis shattered one outright, reminding everyone of their prowess.
‘King mantis physiques are no joke—even the four great clans can't ignore them.’
The mantis species' future looked bright! As long as we didn't get played and discarded by the four great lords again.
Pre-regression, we were used up until the big war, then decimated. King and shield mantis numbers dropped to a tenth.
Thinking back, that devastation seemed engineered too.
‘Was the mantis lord infected too?’
Suspicious. Otherwise, why throw the clan into the fire repeatedly?
Rumors swirled about the lord—worst in history, assassinated in the end.
Looking back, even he seemed used and discarded.
‘The next lord got his act together.’
With the species nearly extinct, the four great clans poured support. The new lord rebuilt somewhat.
‘And I reaped the biggest benefits.’
My explosive growth drew full backing. The elixirs I devoured could fill a third of this hall—no exaggeration.
Especially since I was lesser mantis, the four great lords didn't check me.
I hid my power, reaching ultimate form's edge via traits.
‘In the end, all four great lords knelt before my blade.’
The thrill still surged at the memory.
As my thoughts chained, an interesting sound perked my ears.
"Next, numbers 31 and 32, please."
"Ooh, Ruslan's turn."
"Kuh, the future of mantis kind!"
"Look at those densely packed muscles. Man... Ruslan really makes you feel the clan difference."
‘Ruslan already?’
I watched the platform with interest. He was 31.
Ruslan stood before the exoskeleton, expression stoic.
"Hup."
With a kiai, he unleashed his fist.
Kwaaang!
A cannon-like boom echoed through the hall—the loudest yet.
"Woooah!"
The applicants roared at the result. Ruslan had pulverized it. Shards scattered in his punch's direction.
Incredible raw power.
‘Whoa, his strength stat's gotta be D-rank at infant stage? For real?’
D-rank strength as an infant? Insane. Ruslan was the real deal.
"Impressive!"
Havi and the judges exclaimed in awe.
Ruslan bowed curtly to them, then descended. Passing my seat, he paused briefly.
"I expect you to follow."
He muttered softly, then headed to the passed area.
‘He sees me as a rival, huh.’
I chuckled inwardly, recalling his eyes. No boasting or show—just pure confidence.
Even with that dominance, no arrogance. Mentally mature.
He seemed convinced I'd pass too, unlike the others.
‘Was gonna half-ass it, but for this pure kid who believes in me... gotta do it right.’
Planned to just scrape by, but his clear gaze lit a fire.
Damn, at times like this, I was still a hot-headed kid.
Despite my thoughts, a thick smile crept across my face.
"Numbers 55 and 56, step forward."
My turn came fast. All eyes on me.
Yeah, Ruslan and I were the stars. Their gazes mixed curiosity, cheers, support... and envy, jealousy, disdain, mockery.
The haters probably thought a lesser mantis like me couldn't pass this one.
‘Condition's good.’
Ether use-ready. Prepped.
Alright, time to take the exam.
I rose with a slight smile.