Drvito's Failed Summon
"Kuh, kuhehehe... Kuhahaha! Cough, cough. Ngh, you're done for now... Repeat after me."
Drvito regained his composure, his face twisting into a smug grin. He firmly believed in the entity he'd summoned.
Kwaaaang!
At that moment, the ground beneath their feet erupted, manifesting Drvito's faith. The being that emerged was none other than a Royal Centipede Primal Larva.
Primal species were virtually impossible to fully dominate, so it was merely a larva. But it was at least three times larger than the ones Kiria had kept—nearly at the adult stage.
"Hmph..."
Aleck narrowed his eyes at the newly appeared Royal Centipede Primal Larva.
"Kuhahaha! Didn't I tell you? I'd kill you."
Drvito's face lit up with joy the instant the Royal Centipede appeared.
"Your only lifeline was obvious."
Aleck smirked at Drvito's reaction, exuding effortless nonchalance.
'What the...?'
Drvito felt an inexplicable unease at Aleck's response.
'No... impossible. It's just bravado.'
He forced the ominous thoughts from his mind, convincing himself Aleck was bluffing.
"Devour him!" Drvito shrieked hysterically at the Royal Centipede Primal Larva.
"Kiririririt!"
A predator that could easily crush a typical Growth Stage insect, the near-adult Royal Centipede let out a roar. A murderous aura spread in all directions.
'Hmph.'
Anticipating battle with the Royal Centipede, Aleck glanced at Drvito and swiftly struck the nape of his neck.
Thwack!
Drvito collapsed unconscious from the single blow.
In that interval—
Pababababat!
The Royal Centipede charged at Aleck with terrifying speed, its dozens of legs propelling it forward. From Aleck's perspective, it was like something out of a horror flick.
"Kiriririk!"
The creature closed in and unleashed a piercing screech, but Aleck remained utterly relaxed.
'No one's around.'
Extending his senses, Aleck confirmed the area was clear. That meant he could go all out.
'Combat dummies are always welcome.'
A perfect opponent had appeared. Aleck grinned, drawing up his ether.
Zhiiing—
Predator's Eye activated, golden light rippling from his pupils. Instantly, the creature's weaknesses and exoskeleton grain appeared in his vision, while time itself seemed to slow—a illusion from his accelerating cognition.
Super Sense combat mode engaged.
With that, Aleck drew his sword.
Pajijijjit, whooong!
Lightning and whirlwind surged around the gripped blade. His dual-attribute ether manifested more naturally with each battle, enabled by the miraculous Wind Thunder Qi Gong. A power near divine authority cloaked his sword.
He swung at the Royal Centipede Primal Larva before him.
Wind White Swordsmanship.
First Variation: Single Stroke Storm Thunder.
Flash—!
Blue light engulfed heaven and earth. As it faded, Aleck was revealed.
Puwook—!
His blade plunged precisely into the centipede's forehead, slicing through its exoskeleton like tofu. The larva hadn't fully matured, leaving its shell incomplete, and Primal Centipedes had softer exteriors than other armored insects anyway.
Normally, it wouldn't allow such a clean stab from a Growth Stage foe. But Aleck was no ordinary Growth Stage...
"Ki...riririt."
The stiffened centipede uttered a death rattle and collapsed.
Kuwoong!
The sword slid out smoothly, just as it had entered.
Predation has activated.
Predating the Royal Centipede's corpse.
Through Predation, Paralysis Poison (F) skill has upgraded to Paralysis Poison (E).
'Royal Centipede larvae are a breeze now.'
Near Primal Adult level, yet taken down effortlessly. Aleck could feel his growth skin-deep.
'Predation triggered too—lucky break.'
Aleck smiled faintly. Then—
Wriggle, wriggle.
Something emerged from the centipede's tail: a glossy black, wire-thin, fully matured thread parasite.
'...Thread parasite.'
It crawled out immediately after its host died. Exposed and branch-like, it posed no threat—it couldn't move on its own.
'Disgusting every time.'
Simple in form, but Aleck knew its devastating potential when abused. To him, thread parasites were utterly repulsive.
He approached the writhing abomination and swung his sword.
Slash!
The helpless parasite's head severed cleanly.
Its corpse would be scavenged by ant Primals or others soon enough.
'Time to wake that one up.'
Aleck had plenty to ask Drvito.
* * *
"If you're really in there, I..."
Kiria bit her lower lip. Fog-shrouded buildings loomed before her: Craig's labs.
Staring blankly, her heart pounded harder than ever.
'I have to check.'
Resolve hardened in her eyes.
'Kiria! Craig may seem simple, but he's no pushover. Don't act rashly—prepare thoroughly.'
Aleck's warnings echoed in her ears.
From Aleck's view, Kiria causing chaos now would be ideal—it'd distract the Amar Royal Centipedes, letting him focus on growth. But he genuinely wanted Kirin saved, so he'd advised patience and careful planning.
'You'd be right normally. But there's something you don't know.'
Her feelings for her sister. Kirin was her reason for living. Knowing her location, waiting was impossible.
Kiria resolved to act boldly.
"Oh? Who's this? Kiria!"
The sector's chief guard was someone Kiria knew well. He lounged in a plush chair, feet up, sipping fine wine while overlooking the foggy cliffs below.
"Long time, Seto."
"Yeah, too long. How many years?"
"Over a year?"
"Ha! Time flies. What brings you here? Weren't you on Craig's missions? On vacation?"
Seto chuckled, patting the seat beside him.
"Sit, have a drink. Wine with this view—pure romance."
Kiria let out a small laugh. Seto was always like this.
"Drinking on guard duty?"
"Hahaha, of course not. But no ants in a year. A little indulgence is fine."
"Then try this. Cloud Wine."
"Ooh, Cloud Wine! Nice. You know your stuff, Kiria."
He proffered his glass eagerly. She filled it to the brim.
"Cheers! To Craig!"
"...To him."
Kiria's murmur was subdued amid Seto's toast. He was already tipsy, oblivious.
"Krr! Cloud Wine hits smooth."
Seto raved over it.
"Why aren't you drinking? Let's... Ngh, suddenly... sleepy... why..."
Thud—crash!
His eyes glazed; the glass slipped as his head slammed forward.
"...Sorry, Seto."
Kiria stood, leaving him slumped. All planned.
Knowing his love for drink, she'd mixed paralysis poison and tarantula sedative—a perfect knockout brew.
"He'll be fine."
Seto was a Complete Body transcendent warrior, but her near-peak Complete Body poisons overwhelmed him. He'd sleep through a day of chaos, unnoticed even if carried off.
"Now then..."
Kiria's eyes gleamed fiercely. Besides Seto, threats were two auxiliary Complete Body guardians—loyal Craig fanatics she could kill without mercy.
'Kirin, just stay alive.'
She hurried to Lab 9, as Aleck described.
* * *
Slap!
A sharp slap echoed. Drvito stirred.
"Ugh! Who the hell..."
Spotting me, he froze.
"Awake?"
"How are you... The Royal Centipede Primal? ...Gasp!"
His eyes screamed why are you still alive? Then he spotted the limp corpse beside him and gasped.
"N-No way... You... killed that...?"
His eyes shook like in an earthquake as he stared at me.
I chuckled and turned the question back.
"So, what's your next move? Got more tricks?"
"Ngh, you bastard!"
He gnashed his teeth, glaring ferociously.
'Yeah, knew you wouldn't break easy.'
Centipedes' erratic behavior must be racial. No expectations anyway.
'But how long can you last against this?'
Time for a rare secret technique. I raised my index finger with a grin.
"Know what this is?"
"...You think I'm stupid?"
He growled at my raised finger, assuming mockery.
"You'll come to fear this soon enough."
"What nonsense—urk!"
As he scowled, I jabbed his nape.
"...!"
He gaped silently.
A technique I'd used on Zakai post-reincarnation. The second victim's face filled with panic.
'Relax, no need to fear.'
Voice loss leads to terror eventually, but I'd strip him bare first. I stared silently as color drained from his face.
Time.
"This'll sting—a tiny bit."
Poke!
I jabbed near his dantian ether circuit.
"...!"
Drvito's eyes rolled back wildly.
Shiver!
His reaction was explosive even for me—back arching like a bow, foaming at the mouth, convulsing violently.
'Tastes better than Zakai.'
Zakai, the mid-level Overlord Club thug and first victim of my "finger massage," writhed half as much.
'Got it.'
Enjoying his agony, I realized:
'Near-zero pain tolerance. Spoiled rotten, huh?'
His monk-like antics made sense now. Likely noble-born.
'Not disposable trash, then...'
An idea sparked: use him to screw over the Amar Royal Centipedes.
'Perfect. Time to polish him up.'
A chilling smile crept across my face. Barely recovered, he spotted it—pure terror in his eyes.