Felling the Flea
Whoosh— Slash!
The sensation of my foreleg slicing through something solid hit hard.
Thud!
"Gaaahhh!"
Cinnamon let out a scream of agony and leaped backward in a flash.
Too shallow.
I muttered in disappointment. I'd aimed for his shoulder blade, but I hadn't cleaved it clean through.
That flea jump is just bullshit.
The flea's racial trait allowed jumps without any preparatory crouch or stance—like a knee bend. Unlike other insects, they relied solely on their ankles. Of course, they could crouch for even greater height, but even using just their ankles, it produced impressive movement, as he'd shown so far.
"You coward…"
Cinnamon vented his rage, his right shoulder dangling limply. But he couldn't finish his sentence.
Because—
"Chiriririp!"
Rumble—!
Ultio thrust out her antennae and unleashed a lightning strike.
"Greeeeek!"
Lightning was one of the strongest attributes for its devastating destructive power combined with blinding speed. Even from a distance, Ultio's bolt slammed into Cinnamon before he could blink.
Now!
The moment I saw it, I drew my sword and assumed a throwing stance.
Ant strength!
My right arm, gripping the hilt, bulged with power strong enough to shatter boulders.
Screeeee—!
The longsword, infused with overwhelming force, tore through the air toward Cinnamon.
"Ngh!"
Thud!
But even in his electrified daze, he somehow recovered and launched himself into the air again.
Yeah. I figured you'd dodge like that.
High Jump!
Boom!
Since I'd prepared the moment I threw the sword, my body rocketed upward in sync with his leap.
"Wh-what?!"
He stared at me, now right in his face, his voice laced with shock.
His eyes screamed disbelief—a mantis like me jumping like a locust?
"You son of a—!"
Even in his disoriented state, he channeled ether into his left-hand dagger.
Worth a shot, but as expected from Maturity Stage, he wasn't going down easy. A split-second slower, and I'd have split him open.
Still, I need to land a fatal blow now.
I swung my partially primalized foreleg. Despite the chain of ambushes leaving him reeling, his base power outclassed mine. Even with one arm crippled, he could handle both me and Ultio.
This was my chance—I had to make it count.
Ether…!
In that resolute moment, I began channeling lightning ether into my partially primalized right foreleg.
It was my first try, but—
Crackle-crackle-zzt!
Contrary to my fears of failure, lightning successfully coiled around it. My vision blurred slightly from the rapid ether drain, but at this close range, it didn't matter.
I poured my all into this strike to cleave him for good!
"Haaah!"
I roared, thrusting my right foreleg forward.
* * *
Isn't that High Jump?
Cinnamon leaped upward to dodge the incoming sword, only to spot Aleck hurtling toward him.
That guy was definitely a mantis, not a locust. But nothing else explained that movement.
No—as a flea with jumping prowess, he was certain: that mantis had used High Jump.
What the hell?
A disbelieving chuckle escaped amid the stinging pain in his right shoulder.
That blade on his arm was a mantis foreleg—partial primalization, proving his race. And the markings showed Growth Stage, yet he wielded partial primalization? Unbelievable.
What kind of freak is he?
Another Irregular, maybe.
Those inexplicable phenomena that occasionally shook the continent, affecting primal and common species alike. This mantis's behavior made no sense otherwise.
Even among Irregulars, nothing this far beyond norms.
Whatever. I'll crush him!
Cinnamon's eyes gleamed fiercely. The mantis was cocky from his successful ambush.
But Cinnamon was Maturity Stage. Growth Stage or Irregular—didn't matter. If he got his head straight now, victory was his.
Bloodsuck first.
The flea's innate Bloodsuck absorbed vitality and ether. It would heal his wound fast.
He infused ether into his dagger. Best to one-shot him, but any meaningful wound would do.
The moment blood flowed, he'd show them true hell.
Come on… huh?
As he timed his swing, emerald light flashed deep in Aleck's eyes.
…!
Those brilliant eyes froze him solid.
An oppressive pressure crushed his body, making even breathing impossible.
Wh-what the…
Uncontrollable tremors wracked him. A first in his life.
Or… a buried instinct recalled something similar.
Back in Juvenile Stage, he'd wandered into the forbidden Eternal Mountains.
A mountain-sized spider primal with dozens of rolling eyes. Surely an Awakened at the pyramid's apex.
He'd scoffed at the entrance, only to be overwhelmed from afar.
Monsters even the Four Lords couldn't subdue! That malignant aura still haunted him decades later.
He couldn't twitch a finger—and pissed himself for the first time.
But the absurd part? Aleck's eyes now evoked that exact terror.
"W-wai…"
In heart-shrinking dread, he squeezed out a plea.
Slash—!
A gruesome slicing sound, and Cinnamon's head floated into the air.
* * *
Got him!
I felt the satisfying tear through Cinnamon's flesh and inwardly cheered.
Honestly, even swinging with full power, I doubted a fatal hit was easy.
He was a 3rd Maturity powerhouse, after all. Stage was the most primal measure of strength.
But at the last second, his movement locked up, face twisted in what looked like fear.
Why?
Did Ultio's and my lightning ether finally paralyze him, sensing death?
Still puzzled even after severing his neck.
Or related to my brief vision blur?
Probably from forcing ether into partial primalization.
No answers now. I landed beside his corpse, dizziness hitting like a ping in my head.
Hoo.
I exhaled raggedly, regulating my breath.
Partial primalization had forcibly released; my body felt like a waterlogged sponge.
Ugh, exhausting…
Ether depletion syndrome from overusing ether in a burst.
"Ngh."
As I clutched my shaky knees, Ultio approached.
"Chiriririp, chiririp!"
—Boss. Cool. Idol. Swoon. Ultio. Boss. Want. Lay eggs. For boss.
Her eyes sparkled innocently.
Too cute—I nearly patted her head with a chuckle, but—
…?
Something odd in her words hit me.
"Eggs?"
"Chiriririp!"
—Ultio. When grown. Can lay. Want boss's eggs.
"…!"
Her confirmation shook my eyes harder than anything today.
"Ultio… you're female?"
"Chirip?"
—Ultio. Female. Yes. Can lay eggs.
"Whoa…"
I'd always assumed she was male. Who knew?
Actually… good news?
Common species had evolved, but primals retained insect-like ecology.
Females often dominated, like ant matriarchies. Ultio likely the same.
That male from her memory—her dad, right?
If mom was stronger…
Damn.
Fully grown Ultio's power was unimaginable. I'd stuff her with every growth catalyst.
Jackpot.
Her potential skyrocketed. Helpful against managers and apostles? Maybe solo an apostle.
Sweet.
Reading my joy, her eyes gleamed.
"Chirip, chiririp!"
—See? Boss likes. Ultio lay e—
Uh, no, not that.
Even if possible, eggs were a no-go.
"We'll talk later… yeah! Once you're grown, okay?"
"Chiririp!"
—Agreed. Ultio. Needs fast growth!
"Haha…"
Why's my spine chilling?
…Not gonna get eaten later, right?
As silly thoughts swirled—
Predation activates.
…!
My head snapped around.
Golden particles streamed from Cinnamon's corpse on the ground.
Predating flea's corpse.
Flea Jump (D)
Existing High Jump (D) links with Flea Jump (D) for enhanced effect.
Fuse skills High Jump and Flea Jump?
Skill fusion occurred when acquiring similar skills. High Jump and Flea Jump were both jumping mobility skills, prompting the option.
Unlike Wind Thunder Qi's enlightenment fusion, this was deliberate synthesis.
No brainer.
I chose fusion immediately. It cherry-picked strengths for better results, sometimes yielding higher skills or ranks.
Flea Jump (D) and High Jump (D) have fused.
Primal Jump (B)