Cockroaches
Cockroaches. They were one of the quintessential species that came to mind when thinking of tenacious vitality.
Even on Earth, despite first appearing in the Cretaceous period, they had survived the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs and even the Ice Age. Alongside mosquitoes, they were considered zombies of the insect world.
Moreover, they held the record for the first species to impregnate outside Earth. That meant they had successfully reproduced even in extreme conditions like drastic temperature changes, cosmic radiation, and zero gravity.
These bastards possessed supreme versatility and life force, allowing them to live anywhere without regard for environment. They could even endure a week without their heads before dying—no need to say more.
It was in the same vein that the manhole cockroach targeting Hanks kept moving even after losing its head.
Beyond their absurd vitality and adaptability, they had one more survival tactic: evasion maneuvers.
Cockroaches had vibration-sensing organs that detected atomic-level tremors, granting them near-superhuman senses. This innate ability to sense threats was paired with another evasion trait.
Oil Film (C)
The oil film coating their exoskeleton. All these traits combined to form the foundation of their relentless evasion maneuvers.
The moment I saw the skill I'd gained through Predation, my eyes lit up.
In the Insect King's War, Oil Film was an essential skill to prioritize when playing as a cockroach.
'Push it to the limit, and you can even deflect attacks infused with ether ki.'
Hard exoskeletons like those of stag beetles or rhinoceros beetles were great, but slipping away or evading entirely suited my style better.
'A C-rank right off the bat, though.'
Usually, without special processes, skills started at F or E-rank. Was it because I'd reached Maturity Stage? Or had the Megaera Mantis power partially awakened? Maybe both.
Either way, starting at C-rank meant top-tier evasion rates from the get-go.
'Nice.'
Nothing but upsides, so who cared why. I curled my lips into a smirk and swung the primalized blades surging from both arms at the remaining manhole cockroaches charging me.
Shriiik—!
"Kraaak!"
"Krek."
They hadn't expected me to ignore defense entirely and go all-out on offense with this many foes. The targeted ones screamed and collapsed.
I stared down the incoming thorn spears from the rest.
'Oil Film, Exoskeleton!'
I channeled ether and activated both skills simultaneously.
Whish. Whoosh.
Claaang!
Some attacks glanced off the oil film, others bounced away despite direct hits thanks to the exoskeleton.
"……!"
"W-what the hell is this guy?"
Shock spread across their faces. They thought I was just a mantis, but scales like a beetle's suddenly sprouted over my exoskeleton. And that shiny oil film was unmistakably their own ability.
An unbelievable sight they couldn't trust without rubbing their eyes.
"Y-you bastard, what are y—"
One opened his mouth with trembling eyes, but
Slash—.
He couldn't finish. My strike swept through again.
"Grrrk—."
I followed up by severing the necks and bodies of the critically wounded ones for good measure. With these guys, you had to confirm the kill. Leave them be, and they might revive anywhere and stab you in the back or rampage.
"What the hell is that freak?"
"Fuck! Take him down first!"
The bigger commotion drew more manhole cockroaches' attention, expanding their numbers and radius. Seeing their comrades dropping drew them in with frenzied excitement.
"Keeeaak!"
"Die!"
Some even partial primalized to close in, unleashing their signature mobility.
Dozens of cockroaches thrust thorn spears in an instant.
'Gotta break through at once.'
I couldn't let their momentum overwhelm me. Momentum decided battles, and this was that moment.
'Ant Strength.'
Crunch.
My arm muscles swelled rapidly. The rock-shattering divine power that never disappointed surged into both arms.
'Wind Thunder Qi Gong!'
Crackle! Whoooosh!
Lightning and gale overlaid it.
"……!"
An unprecedented sight for them—their eyes bulged.
"He's handling two attributes at once!"
Yeah, unimaginable. Especially since one was the notoriously hard-to-control lightning attribute.
I swung both arms.
Kaboooom—!
A massive boom, and the charging foes scattered like bowling pins.
"Kreeeuk!"
"Kuhuk."
Twisted limbs trembled as they groaned.
My strength had skyrocketed with molting and Megaera Mantis gene awakening. Maximized with Ant Strength, plus lightning and wind ether—it was impossible to emerge unscathed.
'Feels good.'
Seeing dozens rolling on the ground sent a thrill through me. Despite them all being Maturity Stage, I'd just crushed them despite my fresh entry.
Unleashing this prowess after so long made my growth hit home.
"Interesting bastard."
A chill ran down my spine. I instantly crossed my arms and twisted away.
Kaboooom—!
A numbing shock pushed my body back.
"Hoh, you withstood that?"
I faced my attacker. A bandit-like face, head three sizes bigger than the others, and an overwhelming aura. A Complete Body powerhouse, top-tier at that.
His identity:
"Gardal."
"Hahaha! What, you know me? Am I that famous?"
He called my name knowingly, then grinned ear-to-ear and burst into laughter.
His actions seemed so simple and brutish, yet impossible to ignore. Craig's hidden daggers all boasted monstrous combat prowess.
"You're fun. Wanna join me? You handle two attributes—not some puny mantis power. Our cockroach and mantis clans are distant kin anyway. Not a bad deal."
His sparkling eyes seemed genuine. Mantises and white ants were both Mantodea or close, so no big aversion to allying.
Shing.
I entered combat stance without a word, silently rejecting.
"Tch, shame. But offering your freakish constitution to Lord Craig would net a fat reward. Not bad either."
Gardal licked his lips.
'Oh... didn't expect that line.'
Dual-attribute ether control impressed even this brute.
'If he thinks that, how must Craig feel.'
I knew revealing my power carried risks, but reaching Maturity meant hiding forever wasn't smart. I had the power to end things cleanly—circling around inefficiently wasn't ideal.
"Still, I'll just smash your limbs and drag you alive!"
Gardal grinned and extended both hands.
Fwaaah.
Two black-brown daggers materialized above his palms. His trait: Twin Daggers.
"Kahahaha!"
He shook wildly, blurring toward me at unseen speed.
Bzzz.
'Left.'
My super senses and Predator's Eye predicted the path perfectly.
Claaaaang!
Blue sparks flew from my front limbs clashing with his daggers.
"Well, well?"
He smirked, surprised I'd block so easily. Utter confidence oozed—he was toying with me, sure he could crush anytime.
'Not going your way.'
I stayed calm, eyes serene, grasping one of countless inspirations in my mind.
Crackle! Whoooosh!
Lightning and storm swirled anew on my partial primalized front limb blades.
Potential (SSS)
A firecracker-like thrill exploded from my mind, surging through my body.
Shrieeek—!
My front limbs danced dazzlingly.
"……!"
Sensing my shifted aura, Gardal's face showed true surprise for the first time.
Bam, bam, kaboooom!
Each clash boomed.
"Kuh?"
A groan of dismay escaped him.
"What the—! This impossible…."
His earlier smugness vanished. Proof my attacks now threatened him.
'More... stronger! Need more power.'
From infinite inspirations, I pulled threads for faster, fiercer sword paths.
This was why hiding power wasn't enough. Swordsmanship for dual attributes—drawing easy inspiration required full-throttle combat like this.
Real experience to pioneer new techniques, forging my unique martial art.
Shrieeek—!
My front limbs traced unpredictable, intricate paths. Unlike before reincarnation, dual swords enabled complex, bizarre motions.
Gardal was Complete Body elite, but not a life-or-death foe. Just a stepping stone for my unique art—nothing more.
Potential (SSS)
With potential fully backing, inspirations diversified.
Thinking back, my SSS Potential stemmed from pre-reincarnation heights. Body regressed, but my spirit—nearing transcendence—pushed it to absurd levels.
'Ahh—.'
A joyful sigh escaped involuntarily. My eyes clearly saw how to slash the flustered Gardal.
Despite his surprise and not using primalization, seeing a path to cut a top Complete Body was insane.
Choosing it now would complete an extraordinary unique art.
'But it's not enough.'
Yet I shook my head inwardly. Pre-transcendence threshold, it'd suffice. But having glimpsed Transcendent Realm, this wouldn't hold.
Refining from here, shedding greed, would elevate to sublime inspiration. Stagnating would bring regret later.
So I didn't choose it.
But
'This level can still critically wound Gardal.'
Emerald eyes flashed murderously.
Shriiik—!
My arms tore straight through his upper body.