Wind White Swordsmanship Unleashed
Wind White Swordsmanship. This was the sword art whose foundations Aleck had laid upon reaching Complete Body and awakening his traits. It was the peerless technique he had perfected at the moment his wind affinity reached its zenith after ascending to Ultimate Body.
That was why its rank was a staggering SS. It had been the revelation that showed me—someone who thought S-rank was the pinnacle even in the game—that greater heights existed.
Aleck could confidently claim that this Wind White Swordsmanship was one of the core sources of his power, allowing him to fell foes of higher realms throughout his journey.
But until now, Wind White Swordsmanship had been restricted, unable to unleash its full might.
Wind White Swordsmanship (SS) restriction lifted.
Now, the restriction was finally gone.
Why? Because the very reason for the seal was that Wind White Swordsmanship presupposed ether usage. With his ascension to Quasi-Complete Body granting free command over ether's flow and ebb, lifting the limit was only natural.
'Then...'
I unleashed Wind White Swordsmanship with the immense wind power gathered in my left hand.
Wind White Swordsmanship, Form 10: Flash Storm.
Pu-kat—!
Whoooooooong!
An emerald storm erupted from my left arm, shaking the earth as it hurtled toward Duraan. Its unleashed power was so cataclysmic it felt like it could rend heaven and earth asunder—no exaggeration.
The destructive force was utterly inconceivable for a strike from one not yet at Complete Body.
And so...
Kwaaaaaang!
To my astonishment, Duraan met my thrust head-on and held his ground.
'Urgh.'
Of course, it wasn't without cost. The impact wrenched my wrist and sent my ether circuits into violent turmoil.
Without Transcendent Regeneration, that single blow might have left me combat-ineffective.
'Still, I blocked it.'
Feeling my body swiftly recover, I flashed a grin.
"What... is this?!"
Duraan gaped in disbelief at me parrying his spear, his eyes bulging as he spat out a voice laced with shock.
"You... how do you wield such power?!"
His cheeks trembled. He was so rattled he couldn't even follow up with another attack.
'It's over.'
I relaxed, abandoning preparations to block further strikes. I'd spotted the ether chains flying in from behind.
Chwarrrrrlk!
"Grk."
Duraan dropped to his knees, bound by the ether chains Koon had hurled.
"So... you're no ordinary lesser mantis after all."
Even restrained, Duraan shot me a glare burning with defiance.
I could understand his reaction deep down.
'He never imagined I'd block a frontal assault.'
The gulf between Ultimate Body and Complete Body was akin to that between Awakening and adult primal forms, even accounting for primal kinds. No matter his poor condition, how could one clash so evenly? That was the common knowledge across the continent, the iron law of nature.
Thus, parrying Duraan's attack entered the realm of the impossible.
'Predator's Eye, wind affinity, perfected Wind White Swordsmanship. And the Megaera Mantis-awakened body made it possible.'
I hadn't recklessly stepped in front of Duraan on a whim.
But my super senses had whispered: it was feasible to halt him for an instant.
Thanks to that, I'd intercepted him. With Predator's Eye, I'd read the trajectory of his thrust.
Targeting the rhythm of his attack let me ultimately withstand the blow.
"Well done, Aleck!"
Koon appeared behind me, beaming ear-to-ear. He seemed thrilled to have finally captured the nearly escaped Duraan.
"Aleck! What in the world happened? That power...!"
Karimru followed, approaching with words of awe directed at me. His eyes sparkled like stars—intimidatingly so. The sight of me halting Duraan must have left a profound impression.
He buzzed with excitement, about to say more, when—
Wooooong!
A colossal aura swept into the arena.
Everyone's heads turned toward it.
'This aura...'
My eyes lit up. I knew it well.
"Hear me, you vile invaders of Mantis Hall—! The great warrior of Mantis Hall, I, Norton, have arrived for the decisive battle... Uh?"
The figure radiating that mighty presence was none other than Norton.
"...Lord? And... Aleck?"
Norton blinked at the scene, dumbfounded.
"Pfft."
I couldn't hold back a chuckle at his dazed expression.
"Hahaha."
Karimru joined in.
Our eyes met, and laughter erupted anew.
* * *
Norton had brought reinforcements to reclaim Mantis Hall.
Though Koon, Karimru, and I had ended the battle, his troops allowed us to swiftly restore order.
Me, Koon, Norton, Karimru. Plus Monahan, who had hidden in a temporary shelter.
With the situation settled, we gathered at once.
"First, explain how this all came to pass."
"It started with the Overlord Club. That's where it began."
"Aleck, if you hadn't warned us to watch the Overlord Club, we couldn't have responded in time. You saved countless lives in Mantis Hall. Your merit is immense."
I finally heard the specifics of how Mantis Hall fell into this mess.
In the end, the Overlord Club was the culprit.
'That vice president.'
I regretted not dealing with him sooner. Heading to Chung Hak Gwan while surveilling him felt like a missed opportunity now.
Anyway, I learned the full story in detail.
"How did you come to know Koon?"
Mantis Hall's members had been eyeing Koon in astonishment since earlier. He was the grand sage whose fame echoed across the continent. They couldn't hide their shock at my connection to such a legend.
Monahan, in particular, gazed at him with admiration. Seeing that old man's face like that was a novel experience.
"Well, here's how it happened..."
I gave a rough account of my time with Koon.
I'd visited Moon Paper Forest on business, and circumstances led to our bond.
"Though belated, we thank you again for your aid, Koon. Mantis Hall will never forget this grace. Truly, our gratitude."
"Haha, enough. I came to help Aleck—no need for such effusive thanks."
Mantis Hall's members marveled anew at Koon's words. That single statement revealed how highly he valued his tie to me.
It was tantamount to choosing to defy Craig—one of the Four Great Lords—to aid me.
"By the way, Aleck, what of that form...?"
The eyes turned to me at last. I thought, here it comes.
Now, the lesser mantis mark beneath my ear had given way to the Megaera Mantis emblem.
"Hm."
I hesitated, pondering whether to reveal my true clan to them.
'Tell them.'
They were all trustworthy. We'd already shared the same fate.
I decided swiftly.
"Truth is, I'm not of the lesser mantis clan."
"...?"
Question marks floated over everyone's heads—save Koon's.
"I'm an ancient kind: Megaera Mantis."
"...!"
"Wh-what?!"
Eyes widened, gasps erupted. Even Koon, unaware of my exact lineage, stared in shock.
He'd never dreamed I was an ancient kind.
"I knew you were no ordinary one..."
"So you've been an ancient kind from the start?"
"Well... no. Midway, I awakened the ancient genetic traits."
"Such a thing is possible...? Incredible."
"Mind-blowing. You're likely the first in continental history!"
"Now it all makes sense—your absurd acquisition speed, realms, and overwhelming power."
"Or perhaps those feats enabled the awakening."
"But how did you hide it so perfectly all this time! Haha."
Fortunately, they were stunned but not wary or rejecting. Just satisfied to unravel the mystery of my abilities.
"I see! That's why he feared you."
Suddenly, Koon exclaimed in realization.
"What do you...?"
As others asked puzzledly, Koon briefly recounted his inner sanctum ordeal.
Guarding the seal of Titanoptera. And how that ancient kind feared me.
Awe burst from everyone's lips once more.
"Whoa!"
"Such events transpired?"
"You truly..."
They laughed heartily now, as if too astonished for more surprise.
"With your power, revitalizing Mantis Hall doesn't seem like a mere dream."
Karimru murmured softly, voice brimming with hope.
"It's fortune not just for Mantis Hall, but the entire Abian Continent."
Their expectations for me had swelled further.
"Then we're all in the same boat now."
Everyone nodded at Monahan's words.
No turning back from Craig now. Koon, having captured Duraan, was in the same bind.
"I'm on your side—precisely, Aleck's. As long as he stands with you, so do I. But know my will isn't that of the Shinseon Butterfly clan."
Koon declared his allegiance to me clearly, while drawing a line with his clan.
A slight regret for Mantis Hall, perhaps. Gaining the Shinseon Butterflies too would have been a mighty boon.
"We understand. Your aid alone fills us with gratitude."
"Haha, thank Aleck more than me."
Even Koon's support alone would vastly bolster Mantis Hall's survival. Karimru expressed thanks repeatedly.
"Now, let's discuss our path forward."
Monahan's words sobered faces. Mantis Hall's direction—and clan's future—hung in the balance.
"First, we've moved base outside Amar King Centipede territory, so we'll focus on defense a bit longer..."
"Relocating once more to a riverine spot would ease defense greatly..."
'Hm.'
I furrowed my brow at their chatter.
What was this? All talk of enduring Amar King Centipede assaults.
'No future in that.'
I cut in promptly.
"That won't cut it—not for nectar or rice. We're beyond reconciliation with Craig now. Why not plan to drag him down?"
"...!"
Shocked expressions all around.
See? They'd been brainwashed over years that defying the Four Great Lords was impossible.
Hence, endless defense talk.
But reminding them we could topple Craig shifted their faces.
"Right. Our mantis tribe's pure combat prowess doesn't lag far behind the Amar King Centipedes."
"Seems possible... maybe."
"Hm, the issue is facing Craig himself... Norton, you'd have to handle him directly. Feasible?"
"That'd be... tough. Duraan, maybe, but..."
Faces darkened. No clear counter to Craig.
Koon might manage, but he wasn't combat-born. Defense, sure—but storming Amar King Centipede turf to nab him? Daunting.
Amar King Centipedes had more Ultimate Bodies beyond Craig and Duraan.
'Truth is, leveraging Koon's power properly could handle Craig easily.'
Only I knew Koon's true face here.
He'd neared my pre-regression peak. As a spell master, he'd be devastating if utilized right.
However...
'This concerns the mantis future. Can't rely wholly on Koon.'
My problem to solve.
I planned to roam the continent, perfecting Megaera Mantis power.
Then, felling the weakest Great Lord, Craig, would be straightforward.
Thus, I spoke confidently.
"I'll handle Craig."