Thunderwing Retrieval and the Freak Tower's Double Bounty
Ttak! Ultio burst from the ground, seizing the Thunderwing fossil precisely with her four arms.
"Uwaaak!"
The thief ant clutching the fossil locked eyes with Ultio right in front of him and screamed in terror, fleeing in panic. A primal species had suddenly appeared before him out of nowhere.
"Tsuriririt!"
Fossil. Acquired.
With the successful snatch, Ultio launched herself toward me, slipping through the enemy group. A few tried to block her, but with stats already at Maturity Stage level, they were no match.
Well done, Ultio.
I curled my lips into a grin and sent her a mental praise. We'd achieved our top priority.
Now we just had to keep them from taking it back. That would prevent the disaster of the Thunderwing fossil falling into Craig's hands.
"What the—?"
Ruspa's face twisted in utter confusion. She couldn't have imagined a freakish-looking primal species popping up to steal the fossil.
Who could have predicted something like this?
Ultio, dig underground and head back to the hideout first when you get the chance. You can do it, right?
"Tsuriririt!"
Possible. Trust. Only Ultio.
There was no need to reveal our connection, so we kept communicating mentally.
The situation was coincidental enough that these stunned fools wouldn't have time to suspect our link anyway.
Ultio's existence alone was already the talk of the wild insect soldiers. Exposing her form was fine; it was our relationship that mattered.
"Hand over that fossil!"
Ruspa, flushed red with rage, hurled her hook at Ultio. But—
Kaaang!
"Kuh… you bastard!"
The chain-like hook couldn't pass me as I stood in the way.
"Don't ignore me like that. You'll hurt my feelings."
"Kiaaaah!"
Even a light taunt was too much for her; she screamed, losing all control and swinging her hook wildly, ignoring defense entirely.
She wasn't a combat breed, but her hook gleamed with vivid ether ki, finally showing her Complete Body prowess.
Normally, at Maturity Stage 1, I shouldn't even be able to breathe in her presence.
But.
Not me.
Kaaang!
My arms, cloaked in ether, blocked the hook's path again. The fierce energies clashed, scattering ether fragments like sparks in the air.
"Get out of the way! Move, you tick!"
She was going berserk, on the verge of madness. I wouldn't miss this opening.
Predator's Eye!
Golden energy erupted from deep in my eyes.
Her weaknesses appeared.
Normally, activating Predator's Eye wouldn't reveal much, but her excitement exposed vulnerabilities everywhere.
Now!
I timed it perfectly and slashed my foreleg at her brightest weak spot.
Chwaaak—!
"Kyaaak!"
Blood sprayed through the air amid her scream echoing everywhere.
Too shallow?
My right arm had sliced her side cleanly, cutting her exoskeleton like tofu. But it didn't penetrate deep enough.
Her partial primalization isn't mature enough; it didn't go in as far as expected.
If it had been perfect partial primalization, that strike would have crippled her completely.
Shame. I could have eliminated Ruspa, one of Craig's black money sources!
"B-Boss!"
"Kuh, damn it. That guy's no Maturity Stage."
The exchange happened in a blink. The thief ants finally reacted, rushing to support Ruspa.
"Tsuriririt!"
Ultio. Departing first. Leader. Fight on!
In the meantime, Ultio had burrowed underground and escaped safely.
Wuuuung.
The moment she left, a massive aura descended like crushing atmospheric pressure.
"…!"
"This energy…!"
I lit up at the unnatural power laced with mana.
Mandara! It's her.
Recognizing the familiar aura from the dean, I noticed unusual energies rising from various spots in Chung Hak Gwan.
The academy's powerhouses were finally mobilizing in earnest.
What were they doing until now… just watching?
"R-Run!"
Ruspa's gang, pale-faced, belatedly tried to flee. But it was far too late.
If they hadn't lost the fossil and gotten agitated, maybe back then was their last chance.
"Fleas like you snuck in, huh."
Mandara's chilling voice, one I'd never heard before, rang in my ears.
"Ah…."
Ruspa sighed upon spotting Mandara hovering in the sky, fully realizing it was over.
"Binding Chains."
Mandara casually waved her hand from above.
Paaaat!
Black and sky-blue particles scattered in the air, forming ether chains that bound the entire gang.
Shame I couldn't finish them myself.
If I'd killed them and Predation triggered, maybe my evolving Prey Detection skill would change.
Plenty of chances ahead anyway.
And so the Chung Hak Gwan raid incident wrapped up swiftly.
* * *
The unprecedented assault on Chung Hak Gwan spread rapidly across the continent.
Fortunately, there were no major casualties—just some injuries, no deaths.
People praised the academy's might for zero fatalities despite the scale, but some said it was the individuals' strength, not the institution's, given the delayed response.
Still, individual power was the academy's strength anyway.
Of course, one ancient species fossil under deep study had gone missing.
However.
"It has returned to its true owner. This is the natural order."
Jebril, head of the Thunderwing core lab, announced this with a smile.
Here's what happened: She woke from the commotion outside, dragged herself out, and witnessed Ultio stealing the fossil.
Having studied Thunderwings for years, she instantly recognized Ultio as something connected to them(?).
Aah—.
Thrilled that a descendant of an ancient species—or whatever it was—existed in reality, she let go of any regrets over the loss.
"Who is its true owner?!"
Jebril just smiled without answering.
She retired abruptly, saying she'd spend her remaining days with nature.
Everyone understood given the circumstances, and the story faded quickly.
Far more shocking news rocked Abian Continent.
The raid's mastermind: Amar King Centipede Clan. The truth was out.
This came from torturing Ruspa. Sarhan and Burteng had fled (Gardal dead), so without capturing her alive, it never would have surfaced.
And the key credit went to Aleck.
"Aleck's amazing, right?"
"How'd he hold them off alone?"
"Thief ants aren't fighters."
"Even so, Ruspa's a Complete Body on the continent's bounty list. Plus five Maturity Stage subordinates. Could you stop them solo?"
"Hearing it like that… insane. No way unless you're Complete Body too."
"So Aleck reached Complete Body?"
"Nah, just hit Maturity Stage."
"How? He just entered Chung Hak Gwan."
"Forget that—the four great clans' Maturity Stages can't do that. Even the Overlord Riokku couldn't."
"Must've had help, or they were weak."
"He topped every training from day one, outshining upper clans."
Aleck's fame boomed naturally. Stories spread everywhere in the academy.
"His growth speed is unreal. Growth Stage wasn't long ago, now Maturity?"
"Bigger news: He took down Gardal right after advancing."
"Gardal? The one who died this time?"
"Yeah."
"Crazy… Not alone, but still impressive."
Hard to verify, unbelievable tales inflated endlessly.
Not just trainees were impressed.
"Master, what'd you teach my junior? Know what happened at Chung Hak Gwan?"
Mandara contacted Koon, spilling every detail.
"Exactly. I've seen tons of geniuses here, but he's on another level."
Mandara excitedly discussed Aleck with Koon at length. His feats shocked even them.
"Shame. Wish he could stay longer, but Maturity means honorary graduation…."
"Of course, he's my junior too."
After their chat, Mandara summoned Aleck.
* * *
"Come in! Just us, so relax, junior."
"Sure."
I arrived promptly at the dean's office. She greeted me warmer than usual.
"Call me casually too. We're fellow disciples."
"Haha…."
Still weird for a trainee to go casual with the dean.
"Next time. Still a trainee for now."
She chuckled and nodded.
"Reason I called: As you know, training's up to Growth Stage. You're Maturity now—time to leave. Honorary graduation, right?"
"Yes."
I was prepared.
"So, awarding you a plaque and rewards."
Oh. My ears perked up. Knew something was coming.
Hearing it made my lips curl anyway.
"Wondered what to give… You handle things yourself, so choice is best. Thus…."
"Thus?"
"Chung Hak Freak Tower—open to you. Pick anything you want."
"…!"
My jaw dropped. Pick from the academy's treasury tower?
Insane.
Chung Hak Freak Tower dwarfed Sama Treasury—vast elixirs, runes, artifacts, weapons. Its research roots meant bizarre treasures too, hence "Freak."
Anything? At least S-rank.
Rune? Elixir? Artifact?
Happy dilemma. Too many goodies; hard to choose one.
"Hehe, you make that face too? Can't decide?"
"Yes! Haha, didn't expect choice—shocked. Tough decision."
Mandara grinned knowingly, extended her hand, and made a slim V with two fingers.
"…?"
Suddenly? I stared puzzled.
She dropped one word.
"Two."
"…!"