The Ghost Ant's Dread

A praying mantis extends its forelegs to ambush prey in a mere 0.25 seconds. And the stronger the individual, the more ether it holds, the faster it becomes, shortening that time even further.

This held true even now.

Shieeeek.

Kwadududuk!

It took less than 0.25 seconds for the king mantis's foreleg to seize the giant hornet's torso.

"Karakararat!"

The giant hornet screamed as sudden calamity struck. It struggled to escape the mantis's foreleg with its massive body and strength, but the mantis's grip was unimaginably powerful.

Despite its desperate thrashing, it couldn't break free. The king mantis thrust its jaws into the hornet's body and began chewing.

Kwaduk, kwaduk!

'Insane.'

Sahan swallowed hard as he watched the scene.

A mantis primal hunting a giant hornet primal. Normally, when mantises and giant hornets clashed, the hornet usually held the advantage. Even if the mantis ambushed and seized the hornet with its forelegs, the hornet's powerful jaws could bite through them, freeing itself quickly.

Mantis forelegs were packed with nerves, so any attack caused excruciating pain. Plus, the hornet's exoskeleton was as tough as plate armor, hard for even a mantis's full-force bite to penetrate.

These differences gave hornets a higher win rate against mantises. But as combat specialists, mantises often turned the tables with technique.

'No escaping that.'

The hornet was pinned in a position where it couldn't bite the mantis's foreleg. Once caught like that, it was hopeless. It could only wait to be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slowly devoured.

'Lord Craig greatly fears that potential.'

While all races on the Abian Continent worked to shore up individual weaknesses, mantises stood out in this regard. Despite clear vulnerabilities, they held a top spot among races—and now, mantises were the first that came to mind for battle.

And scenes like this were rare even for Sahan, who'd lived a long life.

Kwaduduk. Kwaduduk!

"Karakarararat!"

The air filled with the gruesome sounds of flesh tearing and the hornet's pitiful screams, creating a chilling symphony. One might expect other primals to swarm at the noise, but the brutal aura kept the surroundings eerily silent, save for the cries.

'First time even that monster seems pitiful.'

Mantis primals were undoubtedly fearsome predators. If Sahan fought that thing now...

'Not an awakening, so I could win somehow... but one mistake, and it's over.'

The instant it grabbed him by mistake—or even grazed him with those razor forelegs—he'd be shredded. His ant durability was laughably fragile compared to these primals.

So he poured everything into Stealth, holding his breath and watching.

'But isn't that guy scared?'

Sahan tilted his head at Aleck, casually spectating right beside the king mantis primal.

Mantis primals didn't hesitate to cannibalize kin and charged at common species without a thought. Standing there calmly invited becoming the next meal.

Yet he spectated at point-blank range?

'The trail so far suggested caution... has sheer guts made him numb?'

His expression didn't match that either. Sahan scrutinized Aleck's baffling behavior.

'Hm?'

Suddenly, Aleck glanced around—toward Sahan's direction.

'Did he sense me when Stealth nearly failed earlier?'

Likely. Sahan carefully backed away, widening the gap.

Up close, his instincts screamed danger.

'No head-on fight. Way stronger than expected.'

He trusted his instincts over pride or logic—they'd saved his life countless times as an assassin.

'The chance will come. Wait patiently.'

Sahan's eyes gleamed. From a safer distance, he observed Aleck intently.

'Wh-what?!'

His eyes widened like saucers.

'Why is he doing that?'

His heart nearly leaped from his chest. Aleck was... climbing onto the king mantis primal's back.

And the primal allowed it willingly. Aleck mounted as if it were natural—mind-blowing.

Finishing its hornet meal, the king mantis primal carried Aleck away leisurely.

'What... did I just see?'

Aleck handled the primal like a pet. At this unbelievable sight, Sahan's breathing faltered again.

'What... the hell are you?'

He groaned, watching the pair vanish into the distance.

This assassination mission felt ominously wrong. For the first time, he desperately wanted to abandon it.

While the king mantis primal savored its giant hornet feast...

Kwajik, kwajik.

I kept glancing back.

'Definitely felt it.'

A faint presence—not primal, but common species. And that scent... familiar, but not fishy...

'Fishy?'

A memory surfaced from my reverie. The ghost ants who ambushed Sama Battleground reeked of it distinctly—but it faded with advancement.

This was barely detectable.

Meaning...

'It's him!'

Identifying it, I schooled my gaze and checked behind again.

Only Sahan could leak such a faint presence.

'Expected him soon after my bold move... but already? Faster than thought.'

Surfacing exposed me to Craig. Knowing his patterns, I anticipated scenarios—including sending Sahan to assassinate me.

But not this quick. It delayed recognition.

'Didn't expect to spot him like this. Lucky.'

That he got this close undetected meant...

'His Stealth exceeds my estimates.'

Closer, my super senses would've caught him—but piercing my current detection was impressive.

'The King of Assassins earned that title.'

I smirked faintly.

'Even better. Time to clean him up.'

A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mere complete body succeeding against an ultimate? Leaving him would breed endless trouble.

Grab him now.

'Jungle favors him, so head to the Megaera Mantis fossil fragment first.'

He doggedly pursued targets. With super senses always on, I'd catch his approach.

No rush. He'd come again.

Then reverse-ambush. Simple strategy—embarrassingly obvious—but foolproof if capable.

'Against assassins, knowing their presence is heaven and earth.'

I eyed the king mantis primal without relaxing.

―Done eating? Give me a ride?

"Samatat!"

With Empathy at A-rank, requests felt natural now. Instinctual. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠primal gleamed affirmatively, as if obligated.

'Empathy's cheat-level.'

I could gather more mantis primals traversing the forest.

'But then Sahan hides forever.'

Plotting to draw him out effectively, I mounted and we departed.

"Samat!"

It cried joyfully, honored to bear me.

―Head to that cliff.

Maps showed a Megaera Mantis fossil fragment there. Secure it first.

Sasasasak.

Reading my intent, it dashed swiftly. True king mantis primal—gliding through dense jungle with minimal shake or vibration. Presence reduction trait in full effect.

Mantis presence reduction plus Stealth synergy? I might out-assassin Sahan later.

―Hold!

I halted it en route.

Reason:

"Kiririt."

"Kirit."

A line of ant primals marching.

―Hunt these too.

The king mantis primal wriggled its jaws eagerly, spreading wings wide and unleashing predator aura.

"Samatatatatat!"

Apex food-chain terror crushed the ants.

"Ki, kirit."

"Kiriririt!"

Struck like lightning, they froze trembling.

I leaped into their midst.

'Wind Blade, Thunder Blade!'

...

Predation triggered frequently. Even sweeping a small group yielded solid gains.

'Nice.'

I cheered inwardly. Frequent activations from few ants pushed them to B-rank.

Two reasons for targeting ant primals suddenly:

First, skill upgrades like this.

Second...

'Sahan.'

No presence since, but he was surely watching.

Acting oblivious to ambushes lulled his guard. Made him think I hadn't noticed him.

All calculated bait. A spiderweb to ensnare him.

Hoping he'd bite soon, I eyed the king mantis primal.

―Let's go.

"Samat..."

It munched remaining corpses cutely, then gave a sad look at my command.

―Fine... finish up.

"Samat!"

Somehow, I'd grasped this fearsome primal's true nature(?). My past life felt a bit lonelier.