The Veteran of Bug Wars: Reincarnated as a Transcendent Mantis - Chapter 166
Thud!
I landed a good distance away from where the night bug mercenaries were gathered. I didn't touch down nearby because I still didn't know their true identities or intentions.
"Hurry it up! Deadline's coming fast."
"Heh, made it just in time, though."
Up the road leading to the mountainside, more night bug mercenaries were marching in formation.
I slipped in among them and grabbed one, asking, "What's going on up there?"
"...Hm?"
The man from the forceps bug tribe eyed me up and down suspiciously with his sharp, triangular gaze.
To put him at ease, I pulled out a badge from my pocket.
"I'm a night bug mercenary too. Saw everyone heading up and got curious."
The badge I showed him was the night bug emblem, symbolizing their status. They were ranked by color—black, white, gold, silver, bronze—with bronze being the lowest.
"Oh ho, looks like you just got your bronze badge, huh?"
The man dropped his guard the moment he saw it.
Anticipating a day when I'd wander the continent, I'd gotten it as a side benefit while crossing the thunder tree habitat last time—and it was serving its purpose perfectly.
Anyway, treating me like a junior, he kindly explained what was up.
"They're gathering to raid the grain silos in the Katan district."
'Grain silos in the Katan district?'
I had to raise an eyebrow at his words.
Because that was one of the supply depots owned by the Amar King Centipede clan.
'What guts do these night bug mercenaries have to hit an Amar King Centipede supply depot?'
It was unthinkable for anyone in their right mind. Craig went on a rampage of extreme fury chasing down anyone who caused him harm, to the ends of the earth.
If the night bug mercenaries actually succeeded in raiding the silos...
"Wouldn't that bring Craig's wrath down on you?"
"Heh, you must not have heard the news yet. Come on, we'll talk on the way up."
As we walked together, the man shared some shocking information.
"Chung Hak Gwan just declared war on the Amar King Centipedes. That's why everyone's flocking to join in— all the ones who had beef with them before."
"Chung Hak Gwan?"
"Yeah. And on top of that, tribes and clans that've been exploited under Amar King Centipede rule are rising up one by one. So right now..."
'Everything's lining up perfectly.'
The flow had twisted completely in my favor now. My job was to steer it purely toward my goals—and it was going more than smoothly; it was perfect.
Who would dare challenge one of the four great clans?
The Amar King Centipedes were notoriously exploitative toward other races and minor clans, sure. But no group had ever openly opposed them like this—especially not at the peak of the four great clans' power.
'Chung Hak Gwan stepping up directly wasn't in the plan.'
Despite being a mega-organization that could rival the four great clans, Chung Hak Gwan had never gotten involved in conflicts, claiming it offered teachings to anyone qualified across the continent.
Shaking up a group with that much hidden power was the worst possible move for Craig.
In any case, with Chung Hak Gwan taking the lead, those pushed to their limits by the clan's tyranny were rising up all at once.
'Before the continental war breaks out, that's why the backlash is so easy.'
The continental war was a massive population cull planned by the four great lords. The long peace without major wars had solidified the four clans' dominance, but it had also let other races build power quickly.
To secure their hegemony against rising newcomers, they felt the need to thin the continent's population. And after the war, countless promising talents were cut down.
Even the supernova Riokku clan, which had eyed the fifth great clan spot despite being small, faced near-extinction.
'The continent's booming right now. They figure they can stand a chance if they band together.'
And that wasn't all. No matter how Chung Hak Gwan moved, taking on all four great clans was impossible. Which meant the other three great lords were drawing a line from Craig and staying silent.
As if they wanted the rift between the Amar King Centipedes and everyone else to widen.
'The key to sparking the continental war is the horsehair worm parasite. It hasn't spread continent-wide yet, but they didn't hide it, so the news has reached them.'
Kun from Chung Hak Gwan said he'd head back to Moon Paper Forest and mass-produce the antidote for distribution everywhere.
Prototypes were probably circulating by now. Meaning their plans were effectively scrapped.
'Well, look at that. Their scheme was to use the Amar King Centipedes as proxies for the continental war, huh?'
The puzzle pieces clicked into place.
'Heh, they must be fuming.'
I pictured Craig throwing a tantrum, unable to contain his rage. His underlings were probably dropping like flies for no reason. That was just how he was.
'Didn't expect the opportunity to come this fast.'
A gleam flashed in my eyes.
If I rode this wave right, I could easily sever Craig's limbs. And it was a chance to revive the Riokku clan and the mantis race from annihilation.
'Growth's just a bonus.'
The three great lords had miscalculated badly. They should've backed Craig.
'Plenty of time left—time to join the fight.'
Reaching the high ground, I smiled at the gathered night bug mercenaries.
"Name: Aleck. Race: lesser mantis. Rank: bronze badge. Pay: 10 silver upfront, another 10 on mission success."
The reward was stingy. Not that I was in it for the money...
'Even on success, just 20 silver. That's it.'
Even for a bronze badge, risking your life for what amounted to two million won was peanuts. That explained why night bug mercenaries gritted their teeth to climb ranks.
Plus, this mission wasn't commissioned—it was a self-organized op by top night bug bands. So the pay was low across the board.
'Having that guy's here means it's a liberation mission of sorts for them.'
I glanced to the side.
Numerous night bug bands were grouped by affiliation. Among them was the elite Uwha Night Bug Band.
And their leader was...
'Jip. Didn't expect to see you here.'
The future Night Bug King. He was leading the assembled bands.
'Gotta chat him up when I get the chance.'
Before my regression, we weren't bosom buddies who bared our souls, but we were close enough to share joys and shed tears together. Pretty good friends, thinking back.
The fact that I was this glad to see him now confirmed it.
'Mid-complete body, looks like.'
I scanned him thoroughly with Predator's Eye. He'd been ultimate body when we first met, but not yet.
Above all, his missing left arm confirmed it was him. He'd lost it to wingless transformation upon reaching complete body.
It was the plight of night bug mercenaries, who molted without clan or group support.
That's why Jip became the Night Bug King—to pave the way for his kind.
'If only I'd regressed a bit earlier, met him before molting...'
That one arm was his lifelong regret. It tugged at my heartstrings.
Then.
"Hey! Better not stare over there."
I turned at the voice beside me. A pathfinder-marked man was staring blankly at me.
"That's Uwha, Pale, Whirlwind... all top-tier bands. Tougher than they look. Us independents and low-rank mercs gotta stay on their good side, sleeping or waking."
The pathfinder was giving me advice. Not wrong.
"Oh, late intro. I'm Rawung of the pathfinder tribe. You're lesser mantis, right...?"
Rawung, he'd introduced himself, tilted his head scanning me.
Well, my current height wasn't lesser mantis standard. Even king mantis would be a stretch. Easy to mix up.
"Yeah. Lesser mantis tribe."
"Whoa! Impressive. Build's bigger than king or shield mantis... Irregular? Anyway, badass."
Rawung clapped my shoulder warmly, chuckling. His vibe wasn't bad—seemed sociable.
"So, buddy. First big op like this?"
"Pretty much."
"Figured. Bronze badge?"
I nodded, and...
"Pay sucks anyway, so don't overdo it. I'm bronze too. Us low-ranks gotta aim to survive long-term."
He whispered like it was top secret.
I couldn't help a smirk at his 'kindness'.
'Innocent guy. Feels wrong to fool him.'
I was about to thank him when...
"Keh! Spot on. Know your place, play it safe—that's how you last. Longevity's the real strength here."
"Yo, Rawung! Grown up, huh? Advising the newbies now?"
"Heh, time flies. Saw that kid with snot yesterday."
"Hey, newbie. Stick close to that guy. This op ain't easy."
"Heard Mantis Hall got hit—how'd a lesser mantis end up here?"
"Why? That raid was Poison Centipede legion too. Gotta be Craig."
"Oho, jumping in for revenge? Respect the guts."
"No word after?"
"Just that the lord survived and rebuilt. Happens all the time on this continent."
The other night bug mercenaries chimed in on Rawung's words, then chatted among themselves. They looked seasoned.
One proudly displayed his badge—silver gleam. Silver badge merc. With so many bronzes dying off, it was a big deal.
'Might bump my badge rank later when I get a chance.'
At my level, white badge was easy. Complete body got white, and though I was quasi-complete, my power outstripped it—and undetectable.
Lost in thought, the assembly wrapped up.
Bubble bubble rumble!
"Argh, poison bog!"
"Was there a swamp here?"
"Nah. They made it artificially."
The gung-ho night bug mercenaries halted just shy of the target base.
Cause: a vast poison swamp stretching out.
Blorp— pop!
Deadly toxin at a glance.
"It's a formation."
"No wonder security was lax."
"Wasn't there earlier—activated when they spotted us."
"What now, boss?"
"Hm."
Jip paused at his subordinate's question.
"Can't go around—too much delay. They'd move everything and bail."
True. Priority was looting supplies over annihilation. Cut their logistics to weaken them gradually.
Holding an empty base after they stripped it? Pointless.
"Anyone poison-resistant?"
Jip bellowed to the hundreds of mercenaries.
These formations crumbled if you smashed the core medium. Problem: crossing deadly poison to reach it.
"Ralgar! You're forceps bug—can't you?"
"N-no way. That poison? No chance."
The bog's toxin repelled even poison bugs.
"Tch, no choice."
As everyone backed off, Jip scowled, clicking his tongue. Looked like he'd wrap himself in ether and dive in.
Complete body users could condense ether into gangi, full-body for protective aura. Block poison short-term, but even Jip would take heavy damage.
'Piece of cake for me.'
As they retreated, my eyes lit up. I stepped to the bog.
Blocks poison invasion.
Sure enough, Immunity to All Poisons shrugged it off effortlessly. I'd endured ultimate body Poison Centipede venom before—this was nothing.
"I'll do it."
In the dead silence, I raised my hand.