Shocking the Arrogant Centipedes
Drvito let out a sour laugh as he asked, "Ha! This guy's getting more annoying the more I look at him. What the hell are you doing there?"
It made sense he'd be baffled—I'd just burst out of the ground out of nowhere.
"What, as you can see, I was just digging around underground for a bit."
I brushed the dirt off my body as I emerged from the earth and replied.
Pfft—pfft—.
Every time I shook my hands, clouds of dust billowed out in all directions.
"Ah... look at this bastard kicking up all that dirt."
Pasasi scowled deeply as the dust flew his way.
"Perfect timing, Pasasi. Isn't this exactly the situation you wanted?"
Drvito glanced back and forth between me and Pasasi, smirking as he chimed in.
I paused shaking off the dirt and looked at them, wondering what he meant.
"Yeah, perfect. I was just hoping to get a look at that ugly mug of yours. You dare pull a sneaky ambush back then?"
"Hm? You mean what happened in the warehouse?"
I tilted my head as I asked back, and Pasasi's face stiffened instantly.
He opened his mouth, his expression laced with venom.
"You don't seriously think that cheap sneak attack of yours was justified, do you?"
"A cheap sneak attack?"
I stopped dusting myself off and snorted at Pasasi's words.
Calling that a cheap sneak attack? This guy was clueless about the world.
"You gonna deny it?"
"The one who gets hit is the idiot. Abian is a continent of the strong devouring the weak, where the victor takes all. You got careless and ambushed—that's the moronic move, isn't it? In a real fight, your head would've been rolling. Aren't you ashamed to even bring it up?"
"Kuhahat! What a masterpiece of a comeback."
I shot back at Pasasi with genuine exasperation, and Drvito burst into roaring laughter at my words.
Grind.
But Pasasi clearly wasn't amused. His face flushed beet red as he ground his teeth hard.
"You filthy bug..."
"Me? You're a bug too."
"This bastard's playing word games..."
He advanced on me, his face twisted in barely contained rage.
"Fine, if you're so butt-hurt, let's do this for real."
I beckoned him with a crooked finger, taunting him.
"I'll kill you—!"
The taunt worked like a charm. His face turned redder than a fire ant primal as he charged at me in a frenzy.
Wait, were they naturally red, or was it the flush? Whatever.
'I've seen this look somewhere before.'
Watching him, I suddenly recalled those rabid bugs from the madness plague, drooling as they lunged.
Pasasi was exactly like that right now.
The difference? He could wield ether.
Enveloped in crimson ether haze, Pasasi moved with shocking speed for his massive frame.
True to the speed demons of the centipede clan.
'But...'
Thanks to my recent Limit Break, my speed had transcended D+ rank.
To me, he looked like a sluggish larva.
His punch came at me so slowly it was almost yawn-worthy. I dodged it with a casual tilt of my head, then snatched his outstretched arm out of the air and yanked it behind him.
"...!"
His stance crumbled in shock, exposing the back of his head perfectly.
Thwack—!
I didn't hesitate, chopping the nape of his neck with my hand blade.
"Gack!"
A chilling crack echoed as he screamed, something clearly snapping.
Crash!
Pasasi slammed into the ground at full charge speed and went still.
One strike, and he was down.
"What, you kill him?"
Drvito clicked his tongue as he spoke.
That casual question—did he just kill him?—reminded me he was from the ruthless king centipede clan, who didn't give a damn about underlings' lives.
"Pasasi!"
Montiol rushed over in horror and checked his subordinate's nose for breath, then pressed an ear to his chest for a heartbeat.
He let out a relieved sigh.
"Phew, just knocked out."
"Hmph, spoils the fun."
Montiol shot Drvito a weary look at his indifferent response.
"Haha, kidding! Relax, I was worried about Pasasi too."
"R-right."
Montiol replied awkwardly to the smiling Drvito, clearly unsure if it was genuine.
'Hmph.'
I watched the scene impassively.
It might've looked like a heavy blow to them, but I could control my strength just fine.
And I knew Pasasi's bulky centipede body was tough enough to take it.
Observing quietly let me gauge their relationships clearly.
'As expected, no strong bonds with Drvito.'
Suits me fine.
"Still, better get him treated ASAP. Could be nerve damage."
"Mm..."
I advised Montiol, who glanced at Drvito.
"If you're worried, take him and go."
"Then... we'll step out first."
Montiol hoisted the unconscious Pasasi and left.
Now it was just me and Drvito.
"Kuhuhu, you're a riot the more I see you. How's a runt like you so damn strong?"
"Hard work and training."
"Kuhahat! Hilarious. Hey, know what that is?"
Drvito roared with laughter, then suddenly pointed somewhere.
I turned to look, but nothing was there.
The moment I did—
'...!'
A chill ran down my spine, forcing me to twist aside.
Whoosh—!
A crimson flash grazed past me.
"Whoa, you dodged that?"
No surprise—the flash was Drvito's cursed dagger.
"Typical sneaky centipede bastards..."
I let out a hollow chuckle.
Yeah, that's the Amar king centipedes for you.
I grinned and raised my fist.
"Let's start with a taste of your own medicine."
Crackle, zzzzap, zzzzzap.
Blue lightning danced over my fist.
Drvito's eyes bulged wide.
Welcome to the electric steam bath, first-timer?
Anticipating that satisfying hand-feel once more, I threw the punch.
Boom—zzzzzap!
"Graaack!"
His scream poured out in electric ecstasy.
The pain of my fist plus the jolt searing his body—way worse than expected.
"H-heuk... h-heuk."
Crackle, zap.
Sparks flew from his lolling tongue as he shuddered like a water strider on a puddle.
The electric massage must've hit hard.
"Screaming over just that?"
"Guh... ugh, you little mantis shit..."
"Yeah, I'm a little mantis."
Even after one punch dropped him, his venom held strong. Impressive.
With their sky-high pride, they'd never bow to a mantis they saw as slaves—especially a runt.
'Perfect for me. Can't let this fun end so quick.'
They say no Hercules beetles stand before a whip, no centipedes before coin.
No matter their pride...
'Not a beetle, but time to snag a centipede!'
Crackle, zap.
I clenched my fist again, brimming with thunder ether, and swung at him once more.
Boom!
Zzzzzap!
"G-gah! S-stop... p-please..."
Relentless zaps and screams. After two hits, the begging started.
One of Abian's noble four great clans, reduced to this?
"Come on, you're Amar king centipedes?"
I sighed in disappointment, feigning regret.
This ruined my resolve to shatter his pride.
Ha... weaker in guts than even Pasasi.
I looked down at him pitifully.
* * *
"Y-you... what the hell are you?"
Two punches from Aleck snapped Drvito awake.
His strength far exceeded expectations.
'Not just brute force—speed too?'
Unbelievable.
A runt mantis outpacing an Amar king centipede.
Even with ether-enhanced sight, he couldn't track him.
First time facing this from a supposed peer(?), leaving him utterly flustered.
But it was inevitable.
Aleck wasn't even his peer to begin with, and he'd released his iron orbs.
Plus, his speed had Limit Breaked.
He'd have crushed Drvito even before that.
Clueless to the details, Drvito just wanted to deny reality.
'A dream?'
His situation turned nightmarish illusion.
'Come to think of it, I yawned waiting...'
He even deluded himself into thinking he'd dozed off.
'Right! It's a dream. Gotta be!'
Denying reality, he cast aside pride easily.
That's why he begged for mercy—words he'd never utter to a mantis awake.
'Not real. A nightmare, a vicious one!'
He lied to himself, swallowing the humiliation.
But reality didn't bend to delusions.
"..."
Meeting Aleck's impassive gaze sent chills through him, snapping him alert.
This was no dream—pure reality.
"Kuhk."
He gritted his teeth, but a groan escaped.
Mantises were always beneath him.
First seeing Aleck and Katt, he'd thought he'd scored two new toys.
That was true...
But now Aleck looked down with the same eyes he had used—pitying maggots.
"Raaaaagh!"
Unable to bear it, Drvito roared in frenzy and surged up.
Whoosh!
His cursed dagger flew in a perfect strike—but Aleck dodged effortlessly.
"Losing your cool already? No basics."
Aleck muttered, lifting a foot.
Zzzzap.
Thunder ether gathered, sparking wildly.
He kicked Drvito square.
Boom—!
"Guhak—!"
Thud!
Drvito flew back, crashing into a tree.
"Feeling awake now?"
"You... bastard... I'll kill you... I swear..."
"What's with the sudden rage?"
Aleck tsked at Drvito's renewed venom.
"Guess you need more hits to snap out of it..."
As Aleck rolled up his sleeves—
Drvito yanked a finger-sized flute from his pocket and blew.
Screeeee—!
A low ultrasonic wave spread everywhere.
'...!'
Aleck's instincts screamed: summoning a primal.
And sure enough—
Rumble rumble rumble.
The ground quaked beneath them.
Something massive approached.