The Mutant
Finally, we'd tracked down the mole crickets' habitat. As expected, it was a damp spot piled high with soil and fallen leaves. I spotted traces of mole crickets passing through on one side.
Waiting quietly nearby, we caught sight of a few of them scurrying about. We started tailing them.
At last, a massive tunnel came into view, with the creatures coming and going from it.
"Whoa, Aleck. You're the real deal. How about teaming up with us from now on?"
"Yeah, yeah, we'd totally take you on our team. You're more than welcome."
These stink bugs think they need to hunt mantises? I was shocked inside at their words.
Sorry—not sorry—but hanging around with them would lead to... my olfactory cells staging a mass suicide.
"Haha, thanks for the kind words, but I've already got an affiliation."
Should've drawn the line from the start.
They were stunned to hear I was from Chung Hak Gwan, nodding in agreement that it explained my edge.
"Alright, we'll report it like you said, Aleck."
"Yeah, wait here."
I asked them to pass on the discovery of the habitat for me. Having already earned their trust, they readily agreed.
Perfect. Time to start the hunt.
My mouth watered at the sight of the mole crickets right in front of me.
"Chirrup! Chirrup!"
"Chirrrrup!"
Conveniently, two of them were wandering a good distance from the habitat entrance.
No dangerous threats nearby...
Even with Sixth Sense active and my senses spread out, nothing powerful stood out in the area.
Good.
I crept forward silently. As I neared them, their cries rang out—similar to crickets or grasshoppers. Plenty of folks mistook mole cricket calls for those.
Both around 3rd or 4th instar.
Mole crickets molt seven times to reach adulthood. Judging by their size, these were mid-stage larvae.
Perfect for a warm-up.
Cracking my knuckles, I approached. My natural presence reduction meant they didn't notice me even as I closed in gently.
Not just my stealth—mole crickets had poor eyesight to begin with. They could only distinguish light from dark.
Instead, their antennae were highly developed for sensing surroundings via touch. But that wouldn't tip them off to my approach.
Still, if I don't take them both down at once, it'll be a hassle.
Even as larvae, their exoskeletons were incredibly tough. If they curled up from physical impact, it'd take a ton of effort to crack them.
No need to make a racket over it. My goal wasn't just these one or two anyway.
Best to handle them efficiently with minimal effort.
So, aim for the weak points.
My eyes flashed golden. Predator's Eye.
Their vulnerabilities lit up clearly in my vision. Even so, their exoskeletons showed barely any seams—impressive toughness for larvae. True primal crustaceans.
But...
Staring at their lower abdomen, my gaze sharpened. Predator's Eye highlighted the spot in red.
I slipped right up behind one, close enough that reaching out would touch its abdomen. Then I thrust my sword.
Wind White Swordsmanship. First Variation: One Thunderclap.
Wind White Swordsmanship
First Variation: One Thunderclap
Crackle-crackle-zzt!
The lightning-charged blade pierced one's abdomen like a beam of light.
"Chirrrrup!"
The struck mole cricket freaked out, body shuddering violently. No wonder.
They breathed through gills on their abdomen, which needed constant moisture.
But my sword's lightning vaporized every drop. Beyond the gill rupture, it couldn't breathe—suffocation imminent if left alone.
One more!
I chained another One Thunderclap, stabbing the second before it could react.
"Ch... chirrrrup!"
It let out a pitiful wail, trembling just like the first. Both crossed the River Jordan in one hit.
Both duds.
Predation has not activated.
No regrets, though. The cave was crawling with more prey.
Grab what I can before the extermination team arrives.
Eyes gleaming, I headed into the cave.
* * *
The tunnel stretched like an underground passageway. I ran into mole crickets here and there.
One curled up immediately, forcing me to smash it and burn through some stamina. I figured my current level could handle it, but it was tougher than expected.
Better skip any that curl up ahead.
More efficient that way. Dealing with every curler would snap my sword first.
Predation's not triggering as much as with those ant primals.
Was that day just lucky? Or were there conditions to boost activation odds?
Figure that out, and snagging primal unique skills from any wouldn't be a pipe dream.
Scuttle-scuttle-scuttle!
...!
A centipede's movement sound. I held my breath and activated Stealth.
A massive centipede crawled overhead along the wall. This passage saw not just mole crickets, but centipedes and other venomous bugs too.
No room for complacency, day or night. I only hunted lone mole crickets.
Squelch!
"Chirrup..."
73.
At some point, I'd started mechanically tallying as I swept them away.
Predation has activated.
Mole cricket corpse predated.
Skill Exoskeleton (E) acquired.
Yes!
Predation finally hit, granting the Exoskeleton skill I'd been after.
Exoskeleton.
I activated it right away.
Exoskeleton (E)
Shrrrrk!
Ether drained heavily as mole cricket-like chitin scales erupted across my skin.
Insane.
I instinctively knew my defense had skyrocketed exponentially. Comparable to Zadan's Iron Shell from the Sama Battleground?
Downside: body feels way heavier. Strength holds, but speed tanks hard.
Upgrading the skill should mitigate that. Hit S-rank, and it'd probably match the Iron Shell Rune—peak defense without drawbacks.
Anyway, for now...
I closed my eyes, peering inward. The massive, temporary defense surge.
The effect it could trigger?
Limit Break (S) trait stirs.
Stat Toughness has completed preparations for Limit Break.
Take 10,000 hits from primal species.
Got it!
I clenched my fists. Just as planned—activating Exoskeleton catalyzed Limit Break.
The catch...
10,000 hits from primals? Seriously?
I stuck out my tongue. No easy feat.
With Exoskeleton active, it was doable, sure. But...
This is Abian Continent— one bad hit could be fatal.
Pure death game. 10,000 meant potentially hundreds or thousands of near-deaths.
With Exoskeleton and Transcendent Regeneration, actual crises might be rare, but...
I shook my head and deactivated Exoskeleton. Too slow to walk.
Deeper in, I activated it whenever a primal targeted me, letting them pummel me.
But variables arose. Mole crickets were passive enough to ignore, but even venomous bugs...
Crunch! Clang! Claaang!
Earwigs, beetles, centipedes—they'd poke at first, then tilt their heads and leave once their mandibles failed to pierce.
Why do they give up so fast?
Ridiculous. Probably mistaking me for a fellow mole cricket amid all these. Their shells resisted daily curlers too, so I blended in.
Cry or laugh?...
I smiled bitterly and pressed on slowly. In a couple hours, I'd filled half the count.
Extermination team due soon.
Tough to complete Limit Break here.
Regretfully turning to leave—
Rumble-rumble!Booom!
The ground shook with a deafening roar.
What the...?
Source nearby. I hurried toward it.
Soon, a collapsed wall section.
This is...!
Another tunnel branching inside the cave. Peering cautiously, I entered.
Rumble-rumble!
Another mysterious boom. Instinct screamed to investigate.
What's down here?
Further along, rocks gave way to soil—heavy humidity, moldy rot stench.
Pitch black, no light. But as primal heirs, we had innate Night Vision. Visibility fine in the dark.
From here, it's a labyrinth...?
Astonishing—an underground maze. In a mole cricket habitat? Risky, but Sixth Sense silent.
I stepped in.
Swish-swish!
Something fast flashed past behind me.
What?
Whipping around—gone.
Shing.
Sword drawn, I stood guard for ages. Nothing reappeared.
Gulp.
An eerie chill crept over me. But that wasn't all.
This rotten smell... what is it?
Even my stink bug-trained nose struggled—vomit-inducing odor wafting from ahead.
Something's... happening for sure...
Gulp. Pressing on.
A vast cavern opened up—slightly larger than where Ultio spun her cocoon.
And there, I witnessed something shocking.
"Kikiriririt!"
A grotesque cry. The thing was 2-3 times my size.
A roach?
A primal cockroach.
What the hell! Irregular... no, a mutant?
Its form was unnatural. Because...
Things that didn't belong on upper and lower body were attached.
Earwig pincers... and a bee stinger?
Pincers on top, stinger below. Cockroach body. A hybrid freak.