The Mantis Treasury's Bounty
'Hmm.'
As I stepped into the Mantis Hall Treasury, the scent of freshly built structures mingled with an impeccably clean interior that immediately caught my eye.
'Looks way better now.'
Like before, the treasury spanned three floors, with rarer and higher-quality items on the upper levels. I bypassed the second floor entirely and headed straight to the third.
'The stock's shrunk more than I expected.'
The volume felt noticeably lower than my last visit. At least the high-grade runes and elixirs seemed intact—they'd gathered them properly. I made a beeline for the elixirs first.
'Truth be told, elixirs don't pack the same punch for me anymore.'
Having blossomed into a Megaera Mantis and reached near-Complete Body status, I'd need something extreme for a real breakthrough—like the inner cores from the top-tier primal species I saw in the Chung Hak Tower. Primal Awakening cores would do the trick too.
'But those are about as rare as a public toilet in a dragon's lair.'
Even in Insect King's War, Awakening cores were endgame elixirs, only obtainable through group raids. Rumors said they weren't meant to be hunted at all, but us veterans knew better—nothing was impossible in a high-freedom game.
Of course, in this non-game reality, I was grateful most of them were holed up in the Eternal Mountains. The moment they poured onto the continent, the common species of Abian Continent would be doomed.
'Still...'
I scooped up the usable S-grade elixirs anyway. No limits, so why let them rot?
'Gotta stock up for Ultio.'
Still in her larval stage, Ultio could make huge leaps from these. I grabbed the premium ones first...
'Omehwan, Ureuhan, oh! And some solid inner cores.'
I swept them up without hesitation. I wanted to take everything, but a sliver of conscience held me back—they were seeds for the Mantis Hall warriors' growth too.
'My success benefits Mantis Hall, but moderation is key.'
So I stuck to what would truly help Ultio.
'This should get her to near-adult Kind Commander level.'
Was this what fatherhood felt like? Imagining a fully grown Ultio brought a satisfied smile to my face. No kids in my past life, but I got the vibe.
'Now for my runes... oh!'
As I turned toward the runes, one elixir caught my eye.
"Isn't this Tyrosine Pill?"
The rare elixir that boosted skill grades. Who knew Mantis Hall had any? And not one, but two.
'These are a must-have.'
Thanks to Elixir Absorption, I could selectively upgrade any skill. No one here could use them better than me.
'Jackpot! Both A-grade.'
An unexpected windfall. I pocketed them quick, like someone might see, even alone.
'Upgrade Stealth and Predator's Eye to S-grade.'
S-grade Stealth and Predator's Eye... My two MVPs would skyrocket my combat power. Predator's Eye was already a staple, and Stealth's efficiency would jump dimensions.
'Stealth gets real at S-grade.'
Stealth wasn't easy to level anyway. Some said it was better to grind a new primal stealth skill. But maxing top-tier Stealth like mine eased acquiring primal variants.
'Lucky break. This life's more luck than skill.'
No more gems in sight, so I headed past the treasures to the runes.
I didn't even glance at the treasures. My philosophy—rely on innate body power, not external crutches—was rock-solid. No point grabbing stuff I'd never use. Better to check later, at Ultimate Body's end or on the transcendence path, when self-growth stalled.
"Alright, let's see what we've got..."
The rune spectacle before me had me humming unconsciously. Fire, lightning, ice, wind attribute runes. Body boosters for sharpness, exoskeleton, wings. Special ability runes too. Active and passive varieties galore.
'I can take four now. Judging by the trend, full Complete Body and Ultimate Body should double that at least.'
Nine already? Jaw-dropping. Ultimate Body base was five, so this was leagues beyond.
'Megaera Mantis exclusive, or ancient species trait? No way to tell.'
Anyway, unlimited runes meant endless options.
'Perfect for hidden trait combos.'
I scanned attributes first.
'Wonder if there's Eye of the Typhoon (S)... Chung Hak Tower had it.'
Top hidden trait on my mind: combining Wind Nature (S), Eye of the Typhoon (S), and Storm Step (S) for Wind God.
Pre-regression, limits made it impossible. Now? Piece of cake. With Wind God, I might not have lost so easily to the palm apostle.
'Hartae of the Water General clan, with Sea God trait—gives a sense of its power.'
During the continent wars, she solo-blocked 100,000 grinder beetle troops on four lords' orders. Water battles were her domain anyway, but that feat still chills me.
'Heroes in chaotic times. Wars cost lives, but unearthed hidden powerhouses.'
Dual attributes meant maximizing with Wind God and Thunder God traits was essential.
I eyed related runes eagerly.
'This one?'
Gale Rune!
Gale (A)—precursor to Eye of the Typhoon (S).
'Evolve Gale to S, mix in Butterfly Flutter, and boom—Eye of the Typhoon.'
Time for Butterfly Valley soon. Unlike Shinseon Butterfly-only Moon Paper Forest, it was a paradise of diverse butterflies—like Mantis Hall but for them. Source of Butterfly Flutter rune, full of mysteries.
'Nice rune haul.'
I snagged Gale, eyes sparkling. No better attributes left.
'Anything else?'
Now body runes: sharp blades, tough exoskeletons, sensitive antennae. Mantis-fitting, effective, but nothing grabbed me.
'Body boosts don't appeal—my natural talents cover it.'
Body runes were early-game fillers. Patched weaknesses well, but efficiency tanked later. High floor, low ceiling.
Combos could break limits, but no need for me now. Veteran grinding was game-life; this was reality.
'Aim for high-ceiling attributes and special abilities.'
Origin Protection, Transcendent Regeneration, Super Sense, Thunder Nature, Wind Nature—all special or attribute. Pure king mantis path.
'Maybe Absolute Sharpness or Indestructible Vajra.'
Legendary body runes shone late-game. Only pure S+ justified body picks.
Ultimate efficiency freak. Fitting for a true insect like me.
But efficiency had limits too. My slots far exceeded the known five.
'Room for one or two body runes.'
Flight classified as special ability—rare high ceiling. I reached for the winged rune.
High-Speed Flight (A+). Paired with Primal Jump, it'd unlock diverse attacks.
'Evolve to Complete Flight (S)—match dragonfly agility?'
Megaera Mantis ignored species skill limits. Might surpass dragonfly specialists.
A mantis slicing air freely like a dragonfly...
'This is rare.'
Shaking off idle thoughts—no more runes. To special abilities.
'Anything good...?'
Specials were scarcest. Treasury lacked standouts.
Then...
'Spider silk?'
Not ordinary—all A-grade with attributes.
'Blazing Flame Silk, Frozen Glacier Silk, Piercing Lightning Silk.'
Fire, ice, thunder.
'Why in a mantis vault...?'
Other mantises couldn't use them, so I took Lightning Silk. No silk glands yet, but post-spider predation and adaptation? Gold.
Like Stealth, Venom, Paralysis Poison, Ant Acid, Ant Strength—Predation's self-taught hacks.
'Disappointing. Specials were my hope.'
Too greedy for another Transcendent Regeneration? Plenty S-grades, but meh.
Treasury was basically mine anyway. Return when restocked.
With that, I left.
Outside, Karimru and Norton asked if that was all. I thought I'd taken plenty, but apparently not by their standards. Should've ignored conscience? Nah—they praised my restraint, so win-win.
Confirmed free future access, scheduled Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship and Ultimate Praying Mantis Swordsmanship lessons with Norton, then headed to my quarters.
No time to waste—digest today's gains.
"Aleck!"
A familiar voice called my name. I turned toward it and spotted someone waiting.
"Finally, some alone time to see your face."
She approached with a radiant smile.
"Got a minute now?"
It was Robed.