Crushing the Arrogant Elites
Sheeeek—!
My sword whipped toward Parasashi.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Perhaps thinking to swat it away with his fist, Parasashi let out a desperate shout and thrust his fist toward the blade.
Screeech, thwack—!
But the sword zigzagged through the air like a centipede once more, slipping past his fist to strike his side again.
"Gaaargh!"
Pain-filled screams erupted from Parasashi's mouth yet again. Tears now welled in his eyes. The venomous glare that had filled his face moments ago was completely gone, a testament to just how excruciating the agony was.
It works.
Practicing the subtle sensations of my left-hand swordsmanship while targeting his pressure points, I'd discovered that while it wasn't quite as precise as a fingertip, a blade could deliver comparable torment. The intensity was noticeably weaker, though.
A finger focuses pain on a single point, but the sword strikes with its flat surface—that must be why.
Suddenly, the idea struck me: what if I gathered ether crudely at the sword's tip to amplify the stimulation?
I'll try that next time.
There were plenty of test subjects. Parasashi right in front of me, of course. Montiol, Drvito...
"Guh, ugh... Stop! I-I surrender!"
Unable to endure any longer, Parasashi finally raised the white flag.
* * *
"......"
"Whoa......"
"He's... completely outmatched?"
"Was that guy always that weak?"
Parasashi's defeat wasn't just one-sided—it was shocking. The faces of the upper-clan members froze solid.
No one had seen it coming. Parasashi was solidly mid-to-upper tier among them. For such a powerhouse to not even graze Aleck's clothes before being utterly overwhelmed... their astonishment was only natural.
"P-Parasashi must've been... t-too excited or something."
"Y-Yeah... he didn't show his true strength......"
"Hmm, otherwise......"
"The Emperor vanguard got all hyped earlier too and couldn't perform. Maybe the same thing?"
They looked like they were desperately denying reality, unable to accept the scene unfolding before them.
"Who's next?"
"Drvito! Why don't you go? Montiol and Parasashi are technically your underlings, right?"
"Yeah, you gonna just watch your subordinates get crushed?"
The arrows suddenly turned toward Drvito.
"......"
But his mouth stayed shut, sealed like it was wrapped in spider silk. His eyelids and cheeks twitched visibly. Anyone could see he was tense.
What's this? Drvito's nervous?
Even against a lesser mantis... what's with that reaction? Did something happen I don't know about?
What's up with him...?
The others grew flustered at Drvito's uncharacteristic response. When Aleck had first stepped into the arena, they'd dismissed him as mere entertainment. But as the mood shifted strangely, even those who'd been mocking him loudly began to quiet down and watch cautiously.
No fool could ignore how the atmosphere had turned eerie.
Tch.
Breaking the awkward silence was Birdlug of the Taitanus Typhoon Stag Beetle clan.
"I'll take you on."
Thud—!
He slammed his massive fists together, challenging Aleck to a bout.
"Suit yourself."
Aleck accepted readily. Moments later...
"Gaaargh!"
Birdlug suffered the exact same fate as Parasashi, screaming as he took hit after hit.
M-Madness! What kind of swordsmanship is that...?
There was a world of difference between watching Aleck's blade from afar and experiencing it firsthand. The centipede-like zigzags right before his eyes were impossible to block, defying all thought.
And the pain! It hurt like hell!
I-I gotta forfeit...
Regretting his decision as he tried to surrender...
"Birdlug, what're you doing?! You let him hit you on purpose, right?"
"Show 'em how mighty the stag beetle clan is!"
Pressure poured in from the onlookers.
Th-This is...
Birdlug glanced between the watching crowd and Aleck, his eyes wavering.
Grr, damn it!
He clenched his fists, steeling himself. Fine—at least land one punch. His massive fist would shatter a lesser mantis's frail body in one blow!
The raw power of the Taitanus Typhoon Stag Beetle clan rivaled even the Hercules beetles.
"Just once! Take it! Please!"
He shouted unconsciously, hurling his fist with full force. By some miracle, perhaps his plea reached the heavens—Aleck suddenly froze, exposing his chest.
The punch that seemed impossible connected!
Yes!
Birdlug cheered inwardly. No lesser mantis could withstand that mighty force. It was an immutable truth. He never doubted his own strength.
But.
Thud, zzzt.
"Wha... guh?"
For some reason, the arm that struck Aleck's chest buckled. Ligaments tore with excruciating pain.
He'd hit dead center, yet Aleck didn't budge. Instead, the recoil wrecked Birdlug's arm and wrist.
I-Iron... a lump of metal? How is a non-armored bug's body...?
His trusty fist had failed him utterly. With his wrist broken, so too was his spirit. Aleck now loomed like an insurmountable wall.
Undeterred, Aleck smiled with satisfaction before the stunned Birdlug.
Even partial activation works.
Birdlug's desperate plea had reminded him of Exoskeleton. It was a skill that covered the whole body in scales, but after a few uses, he'd adapted enough to instinctively apply it partially—just to his chest.
The result: success. With more practice, he could deploy it instantly to any spot he wanted. The combat applications were endless.
"Want another round?"
Aleck asked with a benevolent smile, in high spirits.
"Uh......"
Birdlug clutched his swollen wrist, face flushed, frozen in indecision. Backing down now would shatter his pride and dignity.
"Quit stalling! Get out there, Birdlug! I'll handle this."
Then came the next intruder(?)—Muruan, bellowing as he charged in. He couldn't fathom how the others had fallen so easily.
Aleck's sword wasn't even that fast. Just oddly maneuverable. At his speed, dodging was a breeze—or so he thought.
"I'll leave it to you."
Birdlug eagerly retreated. Thankfully, all eyes shifted to Aleck and Muruan, letting him slink to a corner unnoticed.
"I'm not like the others. Pull out everything you've got."
Muruan declared confidently.
One minute later.
"Gaaargh!"
A Manticore Tiger Beetle rolling on the ground, clutching his head.
Sir, you can't do that here.
Unlike the others, Muruan lunged low with his upper body. No choice—Aleck had to smack his head instead of his side.
Emperor vanguard beetles were fast, but their durability was comparatively poor. A direct headshot? He crumpled after one hit.
"......"
"......"
A suffocating silence blanketed the arena.
Everyone reflected on the string of shocking bouts. Parasashi's loss? Blamed on excitement. Birdlug's? Too stunned to comprehend.
But now, even Muruan down...
Finally, it sank in for all who'd witnessed it.
Ah, that Aleck bastard—lesser mantis or not—is just fucking strong!
No fluke. No luck. His dominance in every trial had a reason.
The real Aleck surpassed them all.
Finally free of superiority complex delusions, they faced reality: he was a true powerhouse.
Gulp.
A particularly loud swallow drew eyes. There stood Hoover, face pale as a ghost, frozen.
"Your turn to take a hit?"
Aleck pointed his sword tip at Hoover teasingly. The gesture evoked a hellgate warden.
Realizing he stood no chance, Hoover's face drained from blue to ghostly white.
Birdlug and Muruan just got smashed—how am I supposed to win!
But fleeing now? After mocking Aleck so openly? His pride would shatter into maggot food.
Damn, damn, damn!
Hoover bit his lip, trapped in anguish. Pathetic, groveling before a mere lesser mantis.
"Hmm... Hoover, time's up, yeah?"
Then, salvation from above.
"R-Right! Th-That's it for today. Gotta head out now if we wanna hit the new wine bar opening."
Post-sparring plans: drinks at the Red Rose Merchant Guild's new spot.
"Spar later—join us if you've got time?"
Confidence restored in his voice. He was a platinum customer of the rising star guild, Red Rose—invited to the wine bar's grand opening.
Personal strength aside, platinum status was a massive point of pride. Not just for superior clans.
Platinum's right below VIP black tier.
Black was ultra-exclusive, granted only to those truly recognized by Estelle. Effectively top-tier.
Even if earned via family connections, he'd use it to crush Aleck.
Growth-stage strength doesn't guarantee maturity!
Aleck was freakishly strong now, but pre-maturity? Unknown.
Abian Continent's history proved species superiority wasn't myth.
He couldn't accept a mantis outpacing a hornet's potential.
I admit you're stronger now. But...
Power wasn't just raw physicals. Social status brought inherent might!
Hoover pulled out his invite—"To Our Platinum Members"—eyes gleaming, determined to show Aleck their status gap.
Oh, that invite from the other day?
Aleck recalled, having forgotten amid Megaera fossil hunts. Estelle's personal note with ornate designs. Today's date.