The Clan's Greatest Warrior
‘Who’s that?’
I tilted my head. It was a middle-aged man standing behind where Monahan was observing, and his build was massive.
‘He looks familiar.’
He was too far away to see clearly, but it was definitely a face I’d seen somewhere before.
Creep.
‘What the hell.’
I grimaced as the man suddenly flashed a grotesque smile. The instructor had done the same earlier—what was with this guy? If it were a stunning beauty, maybe, but a bunch of hairy old dudes grinning like that one after another sent chills down my spine.
“Uwaaaah!”
As I shuddered, a cheer erupted from the exam field. There stood Kind, arms thrust skyward, roaring in triumph.
“Oh, that’s gotta be a pass, right?”
“I heard he was a total lost cause from the broad mantis clan’s buddy, but damn, he’s better than he looks.”
From the chatter nearby, it seemed Kind had performed way better than expected.
‘This guy could actually make it into the warrior class?’
I was inwardly surprised. Before my regression, Kind had applied to the assassin class with me. I’d assumed he’d do the same this time.
But then.
‘Aleck-nim, which class are you applying for?’
‘The warrior class.’
‘Ah…….’
A few days ago, when he’d asked which class I was taking, I’d told him warrior class, and his eyes had gone wide. He clearly hadn’t expected it. After pondering my answer for a bit…
I hadn’t thought he’d follow my lead and apply to the warrior class too.
‘And in passing range, no less?’
He had decent bone structure, sure, but I hadn’t figured he’d hit passing scores. There were still about 40 applicants left, so nothing was certain yet, but glancing at the marks he’d left on the child ant shell, he looked solid.
‘Not bad.’
This meant both Kind and I might end up in the warrior class—unlike before the regression.
‘Hmm.’
I turned back to where the middle-aged man had been.
‘Gone.’
He’d vanished while I was watching Kind. I scanned around, but no sign of him.
‘Who was that guy.’
I tilted my head for a moment, then shoved him out of my mind. If he was important, it’d come to me later.
A cluster of colossal halls stretching toward the heavens. Off to one side of the entrance plaque reading “Training Hall” lay the dorms for those who’d entered the warrior class.
“Hey, you hear about that?”
“What?”
The boys and girls gathered in the common lounge turned toward the voice. They were from the previous intake, having passed into the warrior class last cycle.
“Word is, there’s this insane newbie this time.”
“What’d he do to be ‘insane’?”
“In the survival exam, he took down an island dung beetle primal, and in the warrior entrance exam, he just tapped the child ant shell and punched right through.”
“……? I heard rumors about an island dung beetle going down in this survival exam, but that was real?”
“Yup.”
“No way.”
A rainbow of expressions crossed their faces—shock, awe, disbelief, you name it.
“Heard he’s from the lesser mantis clan—is that for real?”
“Yeah.”
“Bullshit! That can’t be right.”
Motenson, the sharp-featured boy, exploded at the mention of Aleck being lesser mantis.
“Whoa, chill. I didn’t believe it till I saw it myself.”
“Not some shield clan prank, posing as lesser mantis?”
“I get the suspicion, but… just watch the footage.”
The boy pulled out an orb he’d received and hit play. Light shimmered from it, projecting Aleck’s warrior exam.
“Whoa, check the build. Definitely lesser mantis?”
“Yup, see the marking under his ear. Classic lesser mantis mark.”
“Insane……”
Even the skeptics shut up once they saw Aleck’s frame and the mantis mark.
“Ooh! Never seen a clean pierce like that.”
“Dude, didn’t even look like he tried—how?”
They gasped as Aleck casually punched through the shell. His skill was obviously no joke.
“Rumors check out. And he’s a total hottie too? Right up my alley!”
“Totally, he’s gorgeous.”
As the girls fawned over his looks, Motenson’s scowl deepened.
“Hey! What’s gorgeous? It’s just bad footage making him look good.”
“Whoa, jealous much? Houston, Bostick.”
“Hah, gotta see his face myself. Y’all blind or what.”
“Nah, he’s legit hot.”
Unable to take the girls’ praise, Motenson slammed out of his seat.
‘Ugh, tsk tsk.’
Watching him go, Dopf clicked his tongue inwardly. He knew why Motenson was acting up.
‘Pathetic, though. Jealous of a newbie.’
He shook his head at the direction Motenson had stormed off.
After the warrior class exam ended, results came out fast. No surprises. Stars like me and Ruslan passed easily, and Kind scraped by on the edge.
“Kuh, me in the warrior class? All thanks to you, Aleck-nim.”
“Nah, you earned it.”
I chuckled at Kind’s uncontainable excitement. With his talent, a bit of effort was all it took—he could’ve made it pre-regression too. No idea why he wasted it then.
“Oh, the passers are throwing a party—joining?”
“Hmm……”
A party. When was the last one? Couldn’t remember. After a moment’s thought, I nodded.
“Sure, Kind. Go ahead—I’ll catch up after handling some business.”
“Got it! I’ll save you a spot.”
He saluted playfully and bounced toward the dorms.
‘Was he always this carefree?’
Coming from a thug, it felt off. His attitude toward me had shifted too, sometime back.
‘Around when I bagged the island dung beetle, I think…….’
His eyes changed then—started treating me with real respect. Following me to warrior class proved it.
‘Hmm, maybe reform him for real?’
I pondered. Pre-regression, we were enemies, so I’d planned to use him freely here. But seeing him like this… maybe rethink.
‘Not urgent anyway.’
I’d figure it later. First things first.
“Come on out.”
I turned toward the path I’d come, speaking up.
“Hah! Didn’t think you’d sense me.”
“You were leaking presence like crazy—only an idiot wouldn’t notice.”
“Kuhahaha! By your logic, everyone in that training hall’s a moron then.”
I eyed the laughing middle-aged man calmly. The same one from the exam, grinning creepily at me.
‘Familiar for a reason.’
Up close, I knew who he was.
Never met him directly before, but with that aura…
“Belated intro—I’m Norton of the king mantis clan.”
Norton. A name no mantis could ignore. Holder of the title “Mantis Race’s Supreme Sword.”
‘Ultimate Body absolute powerhouse.’
The sole mantis in Ultimate Body before I reached it—current strongest mantis.
Of course, not all Ultimate Bodies were equal. Mine was at the cusp of third stage unity.
‘This guy’s fresh into first stage.’
Still, incredible. Fewer than 100 on the entire Abian Continent were estimated at Ultimate Body.
More if you counted hermits, sure. But Norton was top-tier, busy with duties. No way he’d show at a newbie training hall like Mantis Hall.
Plus, he dies later in the four lords’ scheme. Never saw him pre-regression.
“This lowly mantis race successor pays respects to the clan’s great sword.”
I knelt on one knee, bowing formally. Respect for an Ultimate Body.
“Ho, a fresh Mantis Hall entrant knowing protocol? Where’d you learn that?”
“Picked it up somehow.”
“Hmmm, more intriguing by the minute.”
He stroked his chin, impressed. Only post-induction trainees knew that etiquette.
“Well then……”
His eyes gleamed, and as I rose, he thrust a hand at me.
I scowled, instinctively countering.
Thwack!
His palm aimed dead at my heart. I channeled ether into my right hand, unleashing a Wind White Swordsmanship form manually.
Wind White Swordsmanship.
Third Form: Superiority Over Strength.
My flowing hand, infused with wind subtlety, deflected his strike like a wedge. His unavoidable path veered outward.
“What was that?”
I demanded, face stiff.
“Heh heh, sorry ’bout that.”
He laughed off my glare.
“But my eyes didn’t lie. Where’d you learn those moves? Thought it was raw talent at first, but that’s top-tier mastery.”
Damn, no hiding Wind White Swordsmanship. I gripped my stinging hand, brain racing.
‘No killing intent earlier. Not a real attack.’
If serious, I’d be done—no counter possible. He’d calibrated it just to my defensive limit. Testing me, obviously.
I had to block, knowing it. A graze would’ve sidelined me weeks, easy. No intent, but devastating power.
“……Luck led me to a predecessor’s techniques.”
“Ah, figured. Who was this predecessor? Moves like that scream legend.”
“One named Heinz.”
“Heinz?”
His eyes bulged like saucers.
Heinz. Centuries back, an antler mantis absolute who transcended his frail body toward Ultimate Body. Wanderlust kept him rootless; vanished quietly. Later tales said he hit Ultimate Body, hid his legacy, and passed in peace.
‘Sparked a treasure hunt craze once.’
Perfect cover—no loose ends. His legacy never surfaced pre-regression.
‘And with those gleaming eyes, he’d hound me otherwise. Heinz shuts that down.’
Wrong.
His gaze burned like bomb dust beetle gas as he bellowed.
“Perfect! Become my disciple!”
“……Pardon?”
Me? His disciple? This body that touched transcendent thresholds at Ultimate Body’s edge?
I should be taking him… My head throbbed at his words.