The Veteran of Bug Wars: Reincarnated as a Transcendent Mantis (104)
"Kiri-ri-ri-rit!"
Pajijit, pajit, pajijijijit! Thud, boom-boom-boom!
Lightning poured from my sword, sweeping through the thunder ants. The front line, struck directly, sprayed electric sparks in all directions before crisping up with a sizzling pop, their bodies charred black.
They had some resistance thanks to their thunder nature, but at their core, they were just ants. They could wield lightning not by birthright, but through acquired thunder essence—so they weren't fully immune to thunder attacks.
If they wouldn't break, I'd just hit them harder.
"M-My god……."
The wild insect soldiers behind me couldn't stop gasping in shock at my strike. I pushed past them, taking another step forward.
"Ki, kiri-rit!"
As I closed in, the ants flinched—like they were scared. No wonder, after I'd wiped out dozens of their comrades in one blow.
'Their morale's broken, at least.'
A smile tugged at my lips as I raised my sword again. Momentum was key in a fight like this. Right now, mine overwhelmed the ants, making them easier prey.
Once more.
Wind White Swordsmanship.
First Variation Form: One Thunderclap.
Pajijijit!
I channeled the endless ether of thunder into my blade, layer by layer, then unleashed another barrage of lightning.
Kwarrrrum—!
Thunder roared, engulfing the ants once more.
"I-Is that really just Growth Stage?"
"D-Does he have ether to spare……? No, forget that—how can a Growth Stage handle ether that freely?"
Even as I swept away the ants, I couldn't help chuckling at their stunned voices.
The ether in my body came from my days on the brink of Ultimate Body. It wasn't at full strength compared to my past life, but using this much was like scooping a ladle from the ocean.
'Though until recently, even drawing ether was a huge burden. Not anymore.'
I'd hit Growth Stage, begun awakening my Megaera Mantis powers, and acquired Wind-Thunder Qi Gong, superior to Wind Qi Gong. Plus, in Infant and Juvenile stages, my circuits hadn't matured, causing ripping pain every time. Now it was just a slight sting.
That meant my ether circuits' durability had improved dramatically.
'Max output in a burst is still flea-liver tiny, though.'
Still, I was growing stronger every moment. Mopping up thunder ants drove it home.
"Kirit, kiri-ri-rit!"
Suddenly, the ant swarm parted, revealing bulkier ones.
"S-Soldier ants……."
"Ugh."
The wild insect soldiers, hyped from my display, paled again.
Soldier ants were powerhouses compared to workers— their savage killing intent alone was hard to face sanely.
"W-We gotta run……."
Sop muttered in terror, eyeing the path I'd cleared for a quick escape.
But that wasn't smart.
'Now that they've tasted blood, they won't let prey slip away.'
I gripped my sword tighter and advanced instead.
Then—
"Kyara-ra-ra-rat!"
The soldier ants charged with guttural roars.
Wind White Swordsmanship.
First Variation Form: One Thunderclap.
Pajijijit!
Kwarrrrum—!
Accompanied by earth-shaking thunder, I unleashed bolt after bolt wrapped in thunder ether.
"Kya, kyara-ra-rat."
The soldiers weren't immune either. Most crumpled under the blasts.
Overwhelming power gap. Workers or soldiers—they were no match.
'The downside…….'
I glanced at my sword hilt. Residual lightning leaked between my fingers, failing to fully release toward the soldiers.
'Even adapted to Wind White Swordsmanship, it's fundamentally wind-based. I need a technique that truly handles thunder.'
The ether waste from incomplete channeling was too high. I thirsted for thunder-compatible swordsmanship.
If I had it, these soldiers wouldn't have survived. They'd have burst like the workers.
"Whoa……."
"Insane, for real……."
The soldiers marveled, too shocked for more.
"Who the hell are you! Uh, I mean…… who are you, sir?"
Garlam dropped his casual tone for respect.
"Keep it casual, like before."
"S-Still…… aw, screw it! Aleck, what are you?"
"As you see—a lowly mantis."
"N-No! That's not what I……."
Garlam eyed me cautiously. I'd said casual, but he couldn't relax like before.
"Hold on—it's not over. Stay back."
I ignored the remaining thunder ants, staring into the darkness beyond.
Flash—!
A red glow flickered from the shadows.
'Here it comes.'
The lurking watcher had finally moved.
Tsuririririt—.
A low, thick cry echoed like from a cave.
"Kiri-rit!"
The thunder ants reacted first, scattering like waves from the clearing.
"What the—?"
"Why's my arm crawling all of a sudden?"
"You too?"
"Yeah, me too."
The soldiers shivered, clutching their arms—sensing the chill too.
Tsuririririt!
The deep cry resounded again.
Tadadadada, paaaat!
Pounding footsteps—and a pitch-black monster burst from the dark.
"……!"
Our eyes widened at the newcomer.
Inky black exoskeleton. Inverted-triangle head. Long antennae sprouting from its crown. Four arms no human could have. Cinched waist. Sleek, tail-like lower body trailing back. And powerful legs.
'An ant……?'
A hybrid of ant and human. A bipedal primal ant.
'Irregular specimen.'
No normal primal ant looked like that.
"Tsuriririt."
Its expression was hard to read, but it seemed to chuckle lowly at us.
"The monster of the Thunder Forest……!"
"Shit, the rumors were true?"
"Ugh, that laugh…… gives me chills."
The Irregular stirred primal fear.
'Impressive.'
First time I'd seen one like this—or even heard of it.
"Tsuriririt!"
It grinned wide at our shock—almost human-like.
Amusing, but what came next shocked us more.
Pajit, pajijijijit!
Current surged from its antennae, forming a massive thunder orb.
Flash—!
Kwarrrrum—!
The bolt slammed where I'd stood, scorching the ground black and smoking.
'Dodged by a hair.'
That output could've hurt even with my resistance.
Tsurit!
It laughed again at my dodge, spreading its four arms wide.
Clank, jijijijijjing.
The arm tips morphed.
'Blades?'
Incredibly, all four arms transformed into sharp, pointed sword blades.
Taat.
The finished Irregular primal ant lunged at me—blindingly fast.
Bam—!
Its accelerated, power-packed arm swung. I thrust my sword forward, barely blocking.
'Strength's insane too.'
Even two-handed, I nearly lost my grip.
Unlike prior ants, its power and speed were incomparable.
Shrieeek—!
No respite. It swung all four arms, instinctively hitting my blind spots.
Without my battle experience and sword mastery, I'd be skewered.
Clang, clang, kaaaaang!
Sparks flew as our blades clashed.
I yielded briefly at first, but soon leveraged my specialty—supreme technique.
I parried smoothly, then gradually pushed back.
'Fascinating.'
Mid-clash, a thought struck.
This wasn't ordinary. Primal traits for sure.
'Externalizing ether into blades.'
Awakened? No—too weak for that.
'What is it?'
As I pondered, its pattern shifted.
"Tsuririt!"
It leaped back high—seemed like retreat.
But—
"Tsrit!"
Arms spread, it slammed them into the ground.
Whoosh!
Dirt exploded everywhere.
"……?"
Vision obscured, it vanished.
I tilted my head—then remembered: ants dig.
It had burrowed. In combat, at that speed? Unforeseen.
Thududududu.
Vibrations underfoot—digging below.
Puhwak!
It erupted suddenly.
I expected at my feet—but it surfaced a few steps behind.
'Misplayed distance?'
As I turned—
Pajijijit.
Its antennae crackled with potent thunder.
Kwarrrrum—!
'Damn it…….'
I raised my sword to the incoming bolt—and grunted shortly after.
It was thrilling.
Mind-sharpeningly so. The strike shook my body violently, but I charged right back.
'Not a direct hit—no big damage.'
Block first with the sword, then tank the rest with resistance. Manageable.
With calculations set, I pressed the attack.
"Tsrit?"
It flinched—first non-smirk expression: surprise.
Swish!
It dodged my slash barely, then burrowed again.
'Tricky.'
I narrowed my eyes. Might lose it at this rate.
'Can't let that happen.'
My hyper-senses screamed: regret if I did.
'The iron weights…….'
I resolved to remove them—and glanced down.
Puhwak!
It burst up again—this time in front.
One difference:
'What's that?'
Its four arms gathered at its chest.
And in the center—
Pajijijijit.
A terrifying thunder mass coalesced.