The Veteran of Bug Wars: Reincarnated as a Transcendent Mantis (11)
"Oh, Aleck's turn at last."
Excitement lit up the faces of those watching the exam.
Aleck was the most anticipated examinee after Ruslan, but for entirely different reasons.
"This'll be tough for him, right?"
"He might stand a chance with a weapon, but barehanded? No way."
"Can't expect much from a slim mantis clan kid."
"Still, he took down that island beetle boss. Maybe he'll pull something off."
"Eh, that was just luck with the situation. Realistically, he's screwed now."
They shook their heads at Aleck's slender limbs.
Arms so thin, you could mistake him for a woman. And those cute little fists—would they even scratch the beetle shell, or just shatter his own arms?
They're totally underestimating me.
I muttered to myself as I walked up to the platform, sensing their thoughts in the stares directed my way.
They were probably clicking their tongues at my scrawny frame. It irked me a bit that my fragile(?) body was their gossip fodder.
Whatever. Show them the results, and those looks will vanish.
Before regression, I'd always received gazes of awe.
Now flipped to pity—it wasn't pleasant.
Guess I need to grow this body fast.
In the past, my Limit Break (S) trait had given me a physique no slim mantis could dream of.
And now, inheriting Megaera Mantis power too? I'd end up even more robust than before.
That's why I have to get into the Warrior Division.
Top scorers there got massive support—I'd seen it firsthand.
Monopolizing that would accelerate my return to past glory.
"Number 55, get ready."
"Yes, sir."
I glanced at the examinee beside me, Number 55, as she took her stance.
A girl, but her aura was no joke. Even in loose clothes, I could feel the coiled muscles beneath.
Broad mantis clan?
Her outfit hid the clan mark under her ear, so I couldn't be sure.
But that infant-stage build screamed mid-sized like broad mantis, or maybe mid-large or large clans.
Hm?
She turned during a deep breath, locking eyes with me. Then she flashed a smile and winked.
I hadn't noticed sitting next to her, but up close, her beauty was stunning. The kind that would drive boys her age wild—a girl with the poise to become a peerless beauty as an adult.
Who is she?
I tilted my head. A girl with such striking looks should be famous among mantis clans.
Something tugged at my memory, fuzzy...
I pondered briefly, then gave up. If I couldn't recall clearly, she probably died young or her talent withered unused.
*Nod.*
I dipped my head slightly to the winking Number 55.
She beamed brightly.
Whoa, that smile. Beauty that could topple empires. Orchid mantis girls had nothing on her...
Wait. Orchid mantis?
It hit me. I stared at her in shock as she prepared for the test.
"Hah!"
Her serious gaze fixed on the beetle shell. A sweet, clear shout escaped her lips, followed by a punch.
BOOM!!
"Whoa!"
"What the—?!"
"Holy... she shattered the shell."
"Who is that girl?"
"Insane."
Everyone jumped up, staring at Number 55.
An unexpected twist. No one but Ruslan had broken a shell before.
And this delicate-looking girl was the second.
"Incredible."
Even the proctoring instructor's voice trembled in shock.
"Woooaaah!"
Clap clap clap.
Maybe the sheer surprise? Cheers and applause rivaled Ruslan's.
She bowed politely to the examiners and examinees, then descended.
"Fighting!"
She took the stairs my way, whispering encouragement as she passed.
"..."
I watched her go with a complicated expression.
If memory served, she outranked everyone here in status.
Explained why I hadn't recognized her immediately.
She entered the survival exam?
Never imagined she'd join my cohort. How had I missed it pre-regression?
I smirked, amused. Regression revealed secrets the past hid.
This is fun.
My lips curved.
"Number 56, prepare for your exam."
My turn.
"Man... talk about bad luck. Not only a tough test, but that monster performance right before."
"Yeah, he'd be nervous."
"Heaven's got it out for you, Aleck. Assassin Division! Or Intelligence. Just switch departments already."
"Haha, what? But yeah, slim mantis types fit assassin or intel better."
The other examinees pitied me. Situation looked grim.
Underestimating me hard.
I tsked inwardly. Could be annoying, but whatever.
Just show results.
No need for a silver tongue. Proof shuts mouths.
Abian Continent's 20-year lesson.
Pre-regression, slim mantis mockery ended when results spoke.
Focus.
I looked up at the shell. Concentrating, I saw grains—lines crisscrossing its surface.
The grain. Strike the right spot along it, and it'd shatter easily.
That's how I'd hunted primals in the survival exam.
But that's with weapons.
Untrained fists? Tricky.
They needed hardness to split the grain.
Impossible for me now.
Grains clear as day, but unreachable. What a pathetic body.
Anyway. Without ether control, I'd have struggled hard.
Sacrificing my hand to hit the grain might've damaged it enough to pass.
But I wanted more than bare passage.
From Monahan glaring down, to the chattering examinee pack judging by their standards.
I'll make it crystal clear.
I approached slowly.
Then drew a handful of ether from the sea slumbering in my body.
Shhh—
I channeled it into my right arm.
Power surged; exhilaration flooded me.
Enough to blast the shell and its iron pillar.
But no need for brute force.
No stance. Just lightly raised my fist.
"What? Not even a proper stance."
"Given up?"
"Aw... disappointing. At least try your best."
"He's half-assing it to console himself after failing anyway."
"You got this, Aleck! Give it your all!"
Disappointed stares poured in.
Makes sense. Looked like I was phoning it in.
But there was reason.
A full stance uses torso power, straining the ether circuit from spine to arm.
No need to burden the body.
A mere 1st instar beetle shell. For grain-seer me, ether in fist alone would pierce it like tofu.
Crack!
Just like that.
* * *
"...?"
"Wha... he just punched through it?"
"Was it already half-broken?"
"That's really a beetle shell?"
Murmurs erupted among the examinees.
Not shattered—just pierced clean through, fist-sized hole.
No one had done that before.
And so precisely? Unheard of.
Those who grasped the feat's meaning gaped.
"Hah!"
Monahan shot up, gripping the railing, eyes twitching.
He senses the grain?
Unbelievable sight! Only possible striking along the grain.
Aleck had just proved he could feel objects' grains.
Seeing grain visually? Complete Body territory, so ignore that...
Sensing it? Earliest Growth Stage, usually Maturity.
An infant blood-clot did this?
Monahan was speechless. His worldview cracked.
And no stance... no way!
His eyes widened further.
Aleck had definitely used ether. Slim mantis physique couldn't otherwise.
Instinctively. Communed with ether on instinct...
Gulp.
Monahan's throat bobbed; his pupils quaked like an earthquake.
If true, no judging by slim mantis standards.
His thoughts half-right, half-wrong.
Not instinct—Aleck controlled his body's ether precisely.
No one dreamed an infant hoarded ether. Hence the misunderstanding.
"Kuhaha, nice one!"
Kind, who'd bet on Aleck for Warrior Division, leaped up rear ranks, throwing an air uppercut.
Thrilled like it was his win.
Already pissed at the subtle slim-mantis digs around.
He actually did it!
At first, feared he'd flunk per rumors.
But asking Aleck casually, saw no tension—recalled island beetle hunt vibe.
Figured he had a plan. This result? Mind-blowing!
Not as flashy as Ruslan's shatter, but pierced it... wait, piercing's more impressive? Or just weak power? Anyway, pass is basically guaranteed!
Kind grinned, yelling,
"You're the best, Aleck!"
"Woooaaah!!"
His shout ignited it. Dumbfounded examinees erupted in thunderous cheers—louder than for 55 or Ruslan.
Aleck had shattered expectations utterly.
"As expected."
Ruslan nodded knowingly.
"Excellent."
Instructor Havi behind Aleck beamed like a smitten lover.
Jackpot... how much for 500k ether?
Impulsive bet on Aleck's eyes. Looked like a year's allowance minimum.
Spotting distant vice-instructors clutching heads, he fought a smirk.
Heh heh, reverse underdog goldmine.
* * *
Hm.
Post-exam, I spotted an instructor gazing adoringly.
Goosebumps exploded.
Why that look? He grinned sleazily next.
Ew, creepy.
Shuddering at the gross eyes and smile, I bowed hastily and descended.
"Whoa, Aleck! Epic. How'd you do that?"
"Best ever. Clan doesn't matter—you're legit."
"Knew you could, Aleck!"
"Good job! Congrats on passing!"
Examinees cheered with awe and goodwill. Felt good.
Diluted the instructor creepiness.
Hm?
Then, a piercing stare from afar.
Turning, I saw an unfamiliar middle-aged man standing there.