Transcendent Evolution
Predator's Eye.
Golden light rippled deep within my eyes. At the same time, faint red lines began to appear all over Gato's body.
Weak points that I hadn't been able to see at all against Gardal were now visible.
Gato wasn't weaker than Gardal—if anything, he was stronger—but there they were, glowing faintly red.
This was the moment my growth truly shone.
Right flank.
I fused that inspiration into the framework now taking clear shape, fully integrating it into the forms of Wind White Swordsmanship.
Wind White Swordsmanship. Seventh Variation Form: Heavenly Thunderstorm Sword.
Whooooosh!
Krzzzzzzt!
A variation of the original seventh form, Storm Clearing, infused with lightning striking down from the heavens.
That power seeped into my foreleg, partially primalized.
Boooom!
It clashed with the dark spear he wielded.
A massive explosion that wouldn't be outdone even in a clash between ultimate forms.
He's blocking it.
I clicked my tongue inwardly, briefly.
I'd thought it would be a sure kill, but the centipede, specialized in speed, blocked it with astonishing reaction speed by raising his spear.
Of course. No matter how strong he was beyond his level, I was only at Maturity Stage 1.
His opponent was an upper-tier complete body.
Expecting an easy win was too greedy.
"Grk, you damned bug, how dare you!"
He looked furious at nearly suffering an unexpected setback.
His eyes bloodshot like burst capillaries, Gato gripped his poison spear and assumed a charging stance.
Hiss!
A tremendous wave of venom poured out with him.
I tried to leap back far, but...
"Where do you think you're going!"
He stuck to me relentlessly, exposing me fully to the virulent poison.
Immunity to All Poisons blocks the poison's invasion.
Immunity to All Poisons resists the toxicity.
I can endure it.
I realized I wasn't taking much damage even as Gato's poison washed over me head-on.
Any other maturity stage would melt into a puddle of blood without issue.
My A-rank Immunity to All Poisons trait was a natural counter to poison bugs like this.
Then, more aggressively!
With flashing eyes, I dove into his guard, reshaping my inspiration once more into Wind White Swordsmanship.
Wind White Swordsmanship. Fifth Variation Form: Thunderclap Gale Sword.
Scream!
Ruuuuumble—!
Boom boom boom boom!
Even stronger lightning and gales than before erupted from my hands.
"Grak!"
This time, the strike landed effectively.
He never imagined I'd shrug off his poison so easily, so he'd given up distance too casually.
Of course, he tried to react and block with his spear, but...
This was a variation of the fifth form, Gale Divine Sword, targeting multiple points rather than one spot.
He had no choice but to take it exposed.
Press him now.
I didn't miss the opening he showed, unleashing heavy blows in succession to overwhelm him.
Bang! Bang! Boooom!
Unceasing explosions.
Later hits didn't land as cleanly, but he was steadily pushed back step by step.
If Karimru or any Poison Centipede legion member saw this, they'd be too shocked to speak.
Who was Gato? Not someone you could corner this easily.
I wanted a fatal blow before primalization... not working out.
Perhaps pride stung at going all-out against a mere maturity stage like me, Gato stubbornly held back.
This would just drain my energy, so I pulled back for now.
The fight entered a lull.
Might as well primalize already.
A complete body's greatest power came from primalization.
Yet here he was, refusing even as death loomed.
"Grrrk, I'll just kill you!"
His earlier composure was gone.
His bloodshot eyes and flushed face showed his pride deeply wounded.
Whooooosh.
Gnashing his teeth, he swung his dark spear through the air once.
A clearly ominous venomous aura gathered on the spear.
This time, he struck first, thrusting like an arrow to impale me.
Zing.
A single ringing echoed in my head, and time around me slowed.
This familiar sensation was cognitive acceleration—super senses activating.
Left heart approximation?
I predicted the spear tip's path and trajectory with Predator's Eye, twisting my body immediately.
But the spear closing in at insane speed ignored physics, shifting targets in an instant.
A feint!
My super senses rang alarm bells at the lightning-fast switch.
Too late to dodge.
I reacted, but my physical stats couldn't keep up.
Exoskeleton! Oil membrane!
I twisted my body further, activating defensive skills.
Screeech.
Booooom!
A burning pain exploded in my chest with the impact.
It was a direct hit, but the glancing spear and materialized venom ether shook the ground.
Whew, without skill combo, that would've been bad.
Thankfully, exoskeleton minimized impact while oil membrane let the spear glance off.
My chest only had light scratches.
Looking at the scar he left on the ground...
Bubbbbble!
The potent poison melted the earth.
Dodged well.
To an outsider, it looked like a massive primal beast had gouged the land—huge, long crater.
Even with Immunity to All Poisons, taking that head-on would've punched a hole through me.
"Never seen such a cockroach! One more... urk!"
I dodged again, and as he lunged in rage...
Gato shuddered.
It worked?
When using the new variation Thunderclap Gale Sword earlier, I'd poured everything into mixing paralysis poison and virulent poison skills.
Killing him in one hit was impossible anyway.
The plan was steady wounds plus poison accumulation for long-term damage.
I'd half-expected it to fail, but...
It seemed somewhat effective.
Won't last long.
He was a centipede, source of those poison skills, and a Poison Centipede specialized in venom.
He'd take damage since I was the caster, but his innate resistance was top-tier.
Expecting big effects was greedy.
It was kicking in late, so even this would be momentary.
Now!
My eyes blazed.
No thought of losing, but no room for leisure either.
This non-primalized state was my only shot at a fatal blow.
Potential (SSS) has reached its limit!
I gathered the overflowing energy surging through my body into one point, resolving to unleash every ability at my disposal.
Illusory Eye!
I launched forward, activating Illusory Eye.
It wouldn't work normally, but with him faltering from paralysis and virulent poison...?
I could steal a moment.
"Kk."
As expected, he blinked upon seeing Illusory Eye.
That was enough.
Stealth!
I activated Stealth, vanishing from his sight.
"...!"
Gato showed panic as I disappeared in that blink—less than a second.
Wind Qi Gong! Neuro Sword!
Ether circuits be damned, I endured it all, maxing out Wind Qi Gong and Neuro Sword power.
Thus, Heavenly Thunderstorm Sword and Thunderclap Gale Sword activated simultaneously.
My arms, laden with thunderous lightning and gales, swung different forms at his upper body.
"Such petty tricks!"
He sensed the incoming energy despite not knowing the exact spot, immediately primalizing.
Brown exoskeleton sprouted across his body in an instant.
He unleashed all his ether at full force.
Regrettable for me.
Should I dodge?
No, cut him.
I didn't stop my swing, steeling myself to follow through.
The die was cast; now await the result.
Slashhh!
Splaaat!
Collision brought massive impact sounds from our bodies.
"Grk."
"Kk."
Worth the assault—a long gash scarred his upper body.
Pouring all Wind Qi Gong and Neuro Sword power let me pierce his primalized exoskeleton, deeply wounding the flesh beneath from right shoulder to left ribs.
"Kuhahaha, from a bug like you!"
Gato spat a pained laugh, unable to comprehend his wound.
I wanted to mock him for not going all-out from the start, but my state wouldn't allow it.
Huff... huff...
Pain like my brain boiling nearly blacked me out.
B-body...
Leaving my unmoving head, I rolled my eyes to barely glimpse my upper body.
Where my left arm should be: empty.
Left half of my upper body below the neck: gone.
I barely turned my head to look down.
My heart fully exposed.
Partially crushed, spewing blood.
"Kghhh."
Splat splat splat.
Large amounts of blood scattered late to the ground.
Whiiiish—.
Blood loss? The world spun.
"Ten... acious... roach... none... tougher..."
His words stretched long in my swirling vision.
Normally, I'd be unconscious.
Even with Transcendent Regeneration, the shock would've knocked me out multiple times during regen.
But.
Super Vitality (B) activates.
Transcendent Regeneration (S) activates.
The cockroach's upgraded B-rank Super Vitality trait kicked in, sharpening my fading mind.
Shudder!
My crushed heart began rapid recovery first.
Pop!
Like inflating a deflated ball, it returned to form.
Squiiiish!
Time reversing, my vanished upper body started regenerating.
"Wh-what is this?"
At the absurd sight, Gato's eyes widened in horror.
No wonder. Even I was stunned watching my organs and torso reform.
First major wound testing Super Vitality and Transcendent Regeneration since acquiring them.
Jin Sam must've endured this hundreds, thousands of times.
Seeing my left arm regrow in moments, I shuddered at this cheat power.
"Monster...!"
Gato spat in terror, eyes filling with fear of the incomprehensible.
"Hiiik! Die!"
To shake off dread, he swung his spear in frenzy.
Time slowed again.
Cognitive acceleration let me see his spear's target.
Head.
Yes. This time, surer than the heart: my head.
Can't dodge.
Regen was good, but unfamiliarity froze my body.
I bit my lower lip.
At least he was slowed by his wound, attack slower than before.
But helplessness watching it frustrated me.
Move! Damn it, move!
Still, I didn't give up. Couldn't.
The path here was too arduous to crumble now.
If my head flies, so be it...
I hurled my unresponsive body, gathering all ether to explode, burning with resolve.
And that moment.
All conditions fulfilled.
Potential (SSS) can no longer be contained.
Evolution possible.
Species confirmed: Megaera Mantis
Species confirmed as ancient lineage.
Special privilege activated!
Megaera Mantis awakening reaches 100%.
Evolution upgraded to Transcendent Evolution.
Transcendent Evolution enables growth from Maturity Stage 1 to near-complete body.
Initiating molt for Transcendent Evolution.
A cascade of messages filled my vision, and emerald light exploded from my body like a burst.