Claws of the King Mantis
"Kiririririt!"
"Giriririk!"
The moment I stepped into the Kasaya Jungle, massive roars from primal species echoed from far off in the distance.
This isn't exactly a welcome party.
I carefully suppressed my presence and moved along the path. I'd boasted to Katt that it was no big deal, but in a place like this, caution was key—multiple times over. It was swarming with all sorts of primal species, the perfect spot to die screaming if you let your guard down.
"Kiririririk!"
"Gigiririk!"
Krunch!
Whoa.
Not long after entering, I witnessed a shocking sight: an island beetle twice the size of a normal one snapping the neck of a locust primal in a single bite.
Crunch, chomp.
The island beetle that had hunted the locust primal pinned it down with its hook-like forelimbs to keep it from escaping and tore into it voraciously.
Savage.
I slipped away quietly to avoid detection, even activating Stealth when passing through its sensory range for extra caution.
Shhht.
My S-rank Stealth, now vastly more efficient. It used to guzzle ether like a monster per second, but now the consumption was noticeably lower, and performance had skyrocketed. It was like going from 10 mpg to 20-30, with horsepower jumping from 200 to a thousand overnight.
That was the massive gap between A-rank and S-rank.
Anyway, I used Stealth to quietly bypass the spot, listening to the island beetle munch, rip, savor, and enjoy the locust behind me as I delved deeper into the jungle.
……!
In the midst of my trek, my super senses blared an alarm so intense it shook my mind. I froze mid-step.
This is…
Focusing and heightening my senses to the max, I scanned ahead. A transparent thread came into view.
A spiderweb.
That was close.
Glancing up, I finally spotted the web traps stretching everywhere. And behind a nearby massive tree, I sensed a huge presence lurking, hiding its aura.
That was likely the owner of this web net.
Buzzzzz!
Suddenly, a thunderous wingbeat from above. I looked up to see a fat, enormous fly primal passing right overhead.
But its path...
Oh, snagged.
"Flyririririt!"
The web welcomed the fly like a gaping maw waiting for prey. The fly panicked at the sudden rough grip in midair, thrashing with its sharp proboscis, but that only wrapped it tighter in the threads.
Swish swish swish!
With the prey caught, the hidden owner revealed itself: a long tiger spider with ornate patterns on its back.
Phew.
The fly primal wasn't small, but the long tiger spider dwarfed it. Each segment of its long legs was taller than me. If I'd gotten caught in that web, I'd have been a snack in one bite.
That thing's beyond partial complete body—probably need full Complete Body to even stand a chance.
That's why this place was terrifying. Not quite on the level of the Eternal Mountains, but every primal here was huge and powerful. In my past life as a lesser mantis, I'd avoided it until reaching Ultimate Body.
Squish!
The long tiger spider plunged its fangs into the plump fly's body and began sucking out its fluids. I clicked my tongue at the gruesome sight of it shriveling up and detoured around the webs.
After that, I encountered more primal species: clusters of centipedes hiding under damp leaves, jumping spiders that shook the ground despite being "small," and more. Any fights with them would've been exhausting, but I kept dodging masterfully with Stealth and super senses.
At this rate, super senses might evolve to Transcendent Sense soon.
Those two abilities were perfect for infiltration, giving me the confidence to navigate the Kasaya Jungle.
By the time I'd covered more than half the distance to the marked goal on my map, a wind pressure like it could shatter heaven and earth roared through the area.
Woooooooong!
……!
The problem was how fast that sound was closing in on me. The moment I realized it, I activated Stealth—but
BOOM!
The explosive shockwave slamming the surroundings shook my body, forcibly dispelling my Stealth.
"Karararat!"
And there it was, the ferocious beast revealed: the brutal devil and thug of the primal world.
"Giant hornet."
An unexpected variable.
Never thought Stealth would break like this.
Using its massive body tens of times my size to wreck the area and force Stealth out? Clever.
This guy's fought stealth users before.
It had found its own countermeasure.
Hah, great.
I knew giant hornet primals were smart, but this was next-level annoying. Felt like I'd picked the wrong fight.
Stealth.
A head-on fight still wasn't winnable, so I reactivated Stealth and bolted—but
BOOM, crash!
Whoosh—!
The giant hornet randomly smashed around my previous spot, scattering massive wind pressure everywhere with its wings. I had no choice but to reveal myself again from the shockwave.
"Karararar!"
It bellowed what sounded like mocking laughter at me.
It's toying with me right now.
My brow furrowed at being treated like a plaything.
Unbelievable.
With a hollow chuckle, I prepared for battle.
Shing!
Two blades of different lengths sprang from my arms. Exoskeleton covered my body except the upper torso. Wings extended from my back to my waist.
Partial primalization at full power after so long.
"Karat?"
The giant hornet tilted its head, intrigued by my sudden change in form and aura.
Its weaknesses... waist, wings, antennae.
Predator's Eye highlighted the gaps there too. Eyes gleaming, I charged at the giant hornet.
Gale Rush!
The new Gale Rush (A) from the Mantis Hall treasury, layered atop my wind essence's ether. I shot forward like a gust of wind.
It looked like a tiny ant charging a massive hornet, but
Wind essence, thunder essence.
Whoooosh.
Crackle crackle zap!
My power was that of a venomous ant that could one-shot an adult ground wasp if it landed clean.
"Karararar!"
Sensing the danger, the giant hornet hurriedly took to the air.
BOOM!
But my slash hit its waist dead-on.
Kagagagang!
Regrettably, it didn't pierce the exoskeleton—just sparked everywhere.
Tough bastard.
Its hardness was incomparable to the ground wasp primal I'd fought before. A clean hit might've bisected it. I tsked at the rebound in my hands.
Looked like this fight would drag on.
"Karararararar!"
Even without damage, the surprise attack rattled it. It roared fiercely, as if playtime was over, aimed its bluish stinger at me, and
Whoosh!
BOOM!
dive-bombed at insane speed. The spot I was on cratered massively.
Whew!
I barely dodged and slashed through the shockwave, but it thrust its head to block.
Kagagang!
Sparks from its head exoskeleton.
Even now, can't pierce it.
Seeing it boldly expose its head, I gritted my teeth, realizing vital hits would be tough.
Whoosh!
Now it swung its foreleg at me in midair. I easily evaded with Heavenly Flight.
"Kararararalak!"
Frustrated at my dodges, it roared again. Pretty pissed.
We exchanged blows several more times. I just confirmed how hard vital hits were. It seemed to realize I wasn't easy prey either, dodging like a wheel.
Just leave already.
The fight stalled into a standoff. It landed, twitching antennae at me, flapping wings occasionally.
"Karat, karat!"
Irritation thick in its cry. It looked ready to give up on me.
Phew.
Relief washing over me at its attitude—
Zing!
……!
A intense current ran down my spine.
This?
A familiar sensation after ages. Cells firing up all over, I stood rigid and turned.
A massive tree right beside our standoff spot.
"Karararar?"
Sensing something approaching, the hornet, about to flee, also stared there, startled.
And we both saw it at once.
A colossal body gleaming vivid green. Hanging upside-down from the tree, upper body erect, unleashing a massive roar.
An adult king mantis primal.
"Maaantiiiis!"
Flinch!
The giant hornet shuddered at the predator's aura.
And in that instant.
Slaaaaash—!
As if it had never been on the tree, the king mantis primal thrust its forelimbs at the hornet primal in a flash.
* * *
This is the Kasaya Jungle.
Sahan frowned at the jungle entrance.
Because he'd confirmed his target, Aleck, had headed here.
Walked in here on his own? Is he insane?
Unbelievable. Even full Complete Body users struggled to survive solo here. For a kid whose blood hadn't even dried yet to enter alone?
Either mad or arrogant.
Sahan clicked his tongue. He'd reviewed Aleck's intel on the way and gotten excited about the kid's potential.
But to pull this insane stunt? An arrogant fool.
Tsk. Premature growth bred overconfidence.
Dime a dozen on the continent.
Sahan pondered briefly.
Leave him and he'll die anyway... but I need the body.
He dreaded entering too, but decided to step in.
Too many dangers.
Using his S-rank Stealth, Sahan dodged primals while tracking Aleck's trail.
What? How's there zero signs of conflict?
Incredibly, Aleck had slipped past every primal just like him.
How... unless he used Stealth too, impossible otherwise.
Confusion in his eyes, Sahan pursued the trail.
Not arrogance after all?
Aleck hadn't just barged in recklessly.
Huh.
Feeling like he was chasing a ghost, he tracked fast—and soon.
Boom, BOOM!
He spotted Aleck clashing with a giant hornet primal.
……!
He'd missed the start, so no clue about Stealth, but the fight showed Aleck was no pushover.
Strong. At least upper Complete Body.
Sahan swallowed hard. Aleck outpowered even the muadang spider elder from his last mission.
Impressive for a pup... head-on's impossible. Long game it is.
Now he understood why the Aleck hit was his. That potential—if left to grow, untouchable later.
Hm, they'll end the standoff soon.
As the deadlock dragged, he figured they'd stop fighting.
Now!
Eyes gleaming, he prepared to exploit Aleck's opening—
Maaantiiiis!
Urk.
The massive roar nearly broke his Stealth.
A king mantis adult appeared right above his hiding tree, instantly thrusting at the hornet primal. Sahan's eyes bulged.