Flash Storm
Wind Essence. A rune said to form only when wind ether condenses to its absolute limit. Like all attribute essences, but Wind Essence was also ranked as the top priority rune for anyone raising wind-attribute characters in the Insect King's War.
Its effects were incredibly versatile and high-performing. But the most representative one? A percentage boost to wind-attribute attack power.
In other words, the stronger the base power of someone who possessed Wind Essence, the proportionally greater the wind power they could unleash.
And now.
Aleck, who had gained power that would make even most complete bodies back off, began manifesting Wind White Swordsmanship overlaid with the might of Wind Essence.
Wind White Swordsmanship, Tenth Form: Flash Storm.
Wind White Swordsmanship, Tenth Form: Flash Storm
Kwa-dududududuk!
The generated typhoon sucked in the surrounding air, erupting from Aleck's sword and crashing down on Kirian.
Kirian faced Aleck's violent assault at point-blank range with no preparation whatsoever. It was a picture-perfect dead end, no matter who looked.
"Kuh, Green Bean Ascension!"
Kirian hurriedly swung his spear, deploying a technique. For someone who had confidently yielded one move, pulling out his most powerful attack technique was impressive.
The manifested technique was a supreme art that had even felled a great general of the hornet tribe.
But.
Whoooong.
Kwa-dudududuk!
"Kraaaagh!"
It barely managed to deflect Aleck's technique—that was all.
A sight that stunned everyone present.
No matter how little time he had to respond properly, in that instant, Aleck had completely overwhelmed Kirian.
"……!"
"Aleck seems even better than we thought."
"Even if he went all out…… for Kirian to be pushed back."
"Is this even possible?"
"Common sense just flew out the window."
No one had expected Kirian to be the one in trouble. The warriors of Mantis Hall couldn't hold back their shock.
Who could have imagined the ever-noble, star-like Kirian showing this side against someone who had just reached complete body?
And Aleck was from the lesser mantis tribe, with clear limits—or so the prejudice went. That notion had been utterly shattered by that single strike.
Moreover, Aleck hadn't even gone all out.
"Ha! Such power……."
Kirian gripped his tingling right hand with his left, speaking. The aftershocks from deflecting Aleck's technique still lingered at his fingertips.
'I lost.'
Kirian let out a hollow chuckle inwardly.
Because no one knew better than him that he could never have blocked that monstrous technique on his own.
So how had he deflected the attack?
"You held back at the end."
It was thanks to Aleck controlling his power.
"What do you mean?"
"He…… went easy on you at the last moment, right?"
"What? Crazy!"
To everyone already reeling from shock, those words landed like a bomb.
They had thought Kirian was flustered only because Aleck had poured everything into it after yielding one move. But if that was actually Aleck going easy…….
Their eyes, which they thought couldn't widen more, nearly popped out.
And "going easy" implied he hadn't fought with full power.
"Is the world lying to me or something?"
Someone muttered quietly into the stunned silence, voicing everyone's feelings.
It was the only way to make sense of Aleck's unbelievable display—unless it was fake.
"Hahaha, no excuses—I lost fair and square."
Kirian admitted his defeat openly.
The Mantis Hall warriors, dumbfounded, could only look back and forth between Aleck and Kirian.
"Kuhahaha! Kirian, it's been ages since I've seen that defeated look on your face."
A booming laugh broke the sunken mood, drawing all eyes to Norton, who gazed warmly at Aleck.
'Heh, even stronger than I thought. This is driving me nuts.'
Norton itched to jump up there and test Aleck's technique himself.
"Alright! No more challengers? Then that's it for this surprise sparring event!"
With Norton's words, the sudden showdown came to a close.
And that day, tales of Aleck's feat against Kirian spread throughout Mantis Hall.
* * *
Norton's private training ground in the new Mantis Hall.
After the duel, I followed Norton and ended up facing him alone here.
"That was deeply impressive."
Norton spoke with sparkling eyes.
"Not bad, right?"
I grinned back, savoring the moment.
The strike infused with Wind Essence against Kirian had been flawlessly perfect.
'A sensation of becoming one with Wind Essence.'
This being my second attribute essence, I adapted much faster.
"Beyond 'not bad'—it was astonishing. Do all ancient species gain such absurd power upon awakening? Even I can't help but envy it."
Norton was still buzzing with excitement, clearly deeply impressed.
'Well, this should more than pay for Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship.'
I'd shown him just how immense my power and potential were as his successor. He'd never regret passing it on.
"Heh heh, meeting you is the best luck I've had. No one else caught my eye like this."
Norton voiced the same thought.
"Now, all that's left is passing on Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship. You'll be my first—and only—successor."
His grin sparked a strange anticipation in me.
'Before regression, he died before taking any successors. I never got to witness his full strength or the true value of Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship.'
But in this life, the Norton I'd seen felt stronger than other ultimate bodies.
And his Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship…….
'At least on par with Wind White Swordsmanship.'
Lightning attribute alone earned top marks.
I didn't hide my excitement.
"Heh, great expression. You won't be disappointed."
Norton smirked and continued.
"Before diving in, let me explain the origins of Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship."
'Origins?'
Usually, one forged unique supreme arts from inspirations honed over growth.
I tilted my head, focusing on his words.
"You may have heard, but upon reaching ultimate body, all your learnings and experiences intertwine, awakening the technique that suits you best."
A fact I knew from experience. Wind White Swordsmanship was born that way.
"But when I reached ultimate body, the technique I forged from that inspiration wasn't the current Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship."
"……!"
A story I'd never heard.
If not from ultimate body awakening, how did he get it?
I waited eagerly, curiosity piqued.
"Sadly, that first technique couldn't fully contain my lightning ether. I later learned it was due to my low potential."
Hoo, Norton's potential was mediocre?
Like how I learned Wind Thunder Qi Gong from Kun, did Norton have a connection to some prodigy?
"I agonized over it. How to gain a better swordsmanship? The inspiration from ultimate body didn't shine as brightly again. My worries deepened."
Indeed, forging a supreme art upon ultimate body was a once-in-a-lifetime perk.
Especially with his self-admitted low potential, creating another was near impossible.
"It took vast time and effort. Then, while devouring Mantis Hall's ancient texts, I found a hidden tale about the origins of Praying Mantis Swordsmanship."
'Suddenly Praying Mantis Swordsmanship?'
The unexpected topic perked my ears. Even as an Insect King's War veteran, I didn't know of secrets there.
"Praying Mantis Swordsmanship, which any mantis in Mantis Hall—or any mantis—can learn. You mastered it before entering, right, Aleck?"
"Yes."
A basic skill given upon choosing mantis in Insect King's War. I'd researched it growing up but never pondered its origins.
"It's a swordsmanship so perfectly complete it has no flaws, yet nothing standout— that's the common view. Extremely faithful to basics, so everyone uses it as a stepping stone to better arts."
Norton paused. I waited quietly as he gathered his thoughts.
"Then tell me, Aleck—have you never felt that its forms form the foundation of all existing swordsmanships?"
"……!"
Lightning struck my mind.
It was a question I'd pondered before regression.
'Before ultimate body, while self-reflecting, I dissected Praying Mantis Swordsmanship.'
Done out of pure curiosity during prep, but delving into its perfect basics revealed profound depths that shocked me.
'I meant to dig deeper later, but…….'
Conflicts with the four lords escalated, leaving no time. Life became a daily bloodbath.
'Praying Mantis Swordsmanship truly is the epitome of fundamentals.'
I smelled it. Something big…… a powerful scent of hidden potential.
'This screams hidden piece.'
Seeing me lost in thought without answering, Norton smiled and spoke.
"Why bring up Praying Mantis Swordsmanship? Because it's the foundation of Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship."
'Here it comes!'
My eyes widened.
Countless possibilities from the random topic branched out, crystallizing into certainty at those words.
'Master the application, weave Wind White Swordsmanship and lightning into the basics for a dual-attribute supreme art.'
Inspirations intertwined, fireworks exploding in my head.
A world-shaking burst of inspiration takes root.
Potential (SSS) stirs!
An unparalleled ultimate inspiration forms a bud.
'Heh.'
My lips curled involuntarily.
'Not enough yet. Need more, pile it higher.'
I could forge a supreme art right now.
But I aimed higher.
Stack inspirations, refine, mix. Push potential to its limit.
Surpass SS-grade Wind White Swordsmanship.
'SSS-grade! Or maybe…….'
Next to Megaera Mantis race in my status window: the radiant grade, EX.
I knew it existed beyond event Easter eggs in Insect King's War.
To claim it, I needed more. Far more.
Hadn't confirmed if it was possible, but an intense hunch shook me: endlessly condense inspiration, and it might happen.
'To get there, I need to simmer longer.'
Norton, watching me silently, seemed to read my mind. His next words made my eyes widen.
"True, Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship roots in Praying Mantis Swordsmanship, but more precisely…… it's Extreme Praying Mantis Swordsmanship."
"Extreme Praying Mantis Swordsmanship?"
"Yes. Before passing Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship, I'll show you its root: Extreme Praying Mantis Swordsmanship."
With that, Norton stood.
The art called Extreme Praying Mantis Swordsmanship began unfolding from his hands.
'This is……?'
Witnessing it, my jaw dropped.