Standoff with the Ghost Ant Assassin
Shwaaa―.
Safely inside the dense jungle. The distant whir of giant hornet wings still echoed faintly, but for now, I could breathe easier.
In a thick forest like this, they can’t swarm freely—the space is too cramped for flight.
I was no different, so I’d killed my presence completely with Presence Reduction and was now climbing trees on foot, pushing deeper into the woods. Soon, the wingbeats faded away.
“Kararara……!”
Well, the frustrated roars of those pissed-off hornets still lingered faintly, but whatever.
Sorry for accidentally wrecking your house again, guys.
I silently apologized once more in my mind, then leaned back against the trunk of a massive ancient tree.
“Hoo.”
The tension must’ve gotten to me—it’d been a while, and sweat beaded on my forehead.
Anyway, mission accomplished on the fragment.
Pulling the precious shard from my bosom, I couldn’t help but grin. It even hummed faintly in my hand.
The urge to absorb that power right now is killing me…
But I held back with sheer willpower.
First things first—deal with Sahan.
Remembering how I’d blacked out into my subconscious the first time I inherited a fossil’s power, I figured the same might happen again. Everything with the Megaera Mantis was uncharted territory for me, so I didn’t want to risk dropping my guard.
Even if I got jumped defenseless, could Super Vitality and Transcendent Regeneration bring me back? Nah, no pointless experiments.
Anyway, take him out safely first, then claim the power.
I tucked the fossil fragment back securely and was about to heighten my senses to hunt the lurking Sahan when—
Samaaat―!
A faint king mantis cry echoed. It was the one I’d just parted from.
You made it out fine, huh.
His flight speed had been insane, alright. Looked like he’d shaken the hornets. I sent him a mental thanks and a hope we’d meet again.
Alright then…
My eyes gleamed murderously. Time to hunt.
Today’s prey: the Ghost Ant.
Mantises were born hunters, acknowledged by all. Even if Sahan was infamous as an assassin, it was time to remind him just how terrifying a predator a mantis could be.
Fwaaah.
Activating Hyper Senses to the max, I could even hear the breaths of nearby larvae—the range stretched nearly hundreds of meters.
A bit more!
Not enough. I pushed harder, my rune-embedded heart aching, until I hit the limit. Any further, and it felt like my heart would burst, my head splitting in agony.
This is my current cap, huh?
I clicked my tongue. Time to level up that B-rank Hyper Senses fast and evolve it to Transcendent Senses. The need hit home hard. It hadn’t been easy evolving to Hyper Senses last time, but this rare experience in my current life gave me full confidence I could pull it off.
For now, stay vigilant and move. The hornet chaos had forced me to flee far, so Sahan was probably separated too.
Where you tailing me from, Sahan?
Ten minutes after heading toward where I figured he’d track me—
Sasat.
…!
A faint motion snagged at the edge of my sensory limit. Definitely not a primal—pure common species vibe. And the fishy, non-fishy stench assaulting my nose confirmed it: Sahan.
Gotcha, you bastard.
Eyes flashing, I killed my presence further and advanced.
Flinch.
He’d sensed me too. I felt his startled twitch.
Damn, even from this distance, with my presence this suppressed, he noticed?
The king of assassins, harbinger of death. Sahan had to go down here, no question.
…
We both knew the other was there now, frozen just meters apart in deadlock. In assassin fights, entering the enemy’s turf first was suicide. One step, and you’re prey.
Been a while since a patience game. Let’s play.
Once an assassin myself, I obliged. I sprawled comfortably on a thick branch, back against the trunk. With him as my opponent, this could drag on.
Sahan’s go-to when his approach is spotted, right?
I knew his rep well from my assassin days. When direct kills failed, he’d pin them like this, slowly grinding them down. Keep targets tense for days, deny water, strike with Stealth the moment they slipped from exhaustion.
Just one of his tricks, but some clans taught variants based on it.
And now…
Planning the same on me, huh.
I smirked. Perfect timing—I’d just snagged Energy Reserve from that hornet larva. Same food intake, but activated, it preserved energy dozens to hundreds of times better. B-rank for now.
Means a day’s rations lasts a month easy.
I could rush him now, but better safe from his tricks. If he bolted, it’d be a pain. Hunters with pride never dodge straight fights, especially assassins.
Anyway, I cleared my mind, focused on Sahan, and wolfed down my remaining rations.
Let’s see who starves first.
My arm drifted down casually.
Not just gonna sit pretty.
The new Primal Venom… a grin spread across my face. Sahan, thinking himself the hunter, would soon learn: he was the prey.
* * *
This punk…?
Sahan stared at Aleck’s direction, eyes incredulous.
Just moments ago, chased by hornets, he’d tailed hastily, figuring they’d rip him apart—or he’d finish the exhausted survivor.
Post-danger relaxation was prime for sloppiness.
But he sensed my approach mid-chase?
He’d dismissed it as coincidence at first. But as their territories overlapped, the ether flow shifted. Aleck knew.
Sahan tensed. Everyone thought his Ghost Ant Stealth made him the pinnacle, but he had a secret: reading ether flows. Never failed.
Incredibly sharp senses.
What kind of mantis was he? If not an enemy, Sahan would’ve mentored him. Better as a Ghost Ant than a runt mantis.
Focus.
Regret aside, target acquired. He ramped up his killing intent.
Craig-sama would love the one taming primal king mantis larvae like pets.
Too dangerous—kill now. Instinct screamed: this was the only window. Miss it, and he’d become an unstoppable monster.
And this bastard… inviting me in?
Not just trespassing—he settled in, back to tree. Basically daring an assassination play.
Sahan grinned.
Overconfident brat. Talented or not, a fledgling punk messing with me?
He itched to Stealth in and slit his throat, but reined in impulse. Don’t play his game. Assassins had unique arts no copycat could match.
Fine, I’ll teach you the assassin world’s off-limits.
Sensing Aleck devour rations at once, victory felt certain. Talent didn’t teach basics like rationing in standoffs.
Five days max. No, three.
Thus began the assassins’ deadlock.
* * *
Three days into the Aleck-Sahan standoff.
Hm, tougher than expected. Should’ve been born a Ghost Ant.
Sahan hadn’t eaten since day one, yet Aleck showed no sign of weakening. Absurd.
What’d he chow down, wild ginseng?
Normally, fatigue set in after a day. Two days without food, and he was still full vitality? Unbelievable.
Full of secrets.
Good call avoiding direct clash.
But this setup guarantees my win.
Without rare Energy Reserve, outcome fixed. His training let him last a week easy; with emergency rations, two.
Even ultimates would flag.
Enjoy that fake leisure while it lasts.
His cruel smile deepened at Aleck’s apparent ease.
Hm… been a while, but feeling a bit dizzy.
A slight head tilt at his off-state, but shrugged it off. Minor variables happened.
* * *
Grrrooowl!
Hup!
Sahan jolted at his sudden stomach rumble.
H-he didn’t hear, right?
He checked Aleck frantically. Still unchanged, statue-like. Felt dead, but ether flow confirmed alive.
D-damn. Something’s wrong.
Day 10. Sahan finally realized disaster.
Aleck, predicted to crack in five days, thrived. Meanwhile, Sahan deteriorated despite rationing.
Ping!
Ugh.
Clutching his throbbing head, he groaned.
Why?
Sunken eyes gritted. Headaches, hallucinations, whispers, insomnia, vertigo—mild jungle quirks before. Now impairing movement.
Damn. Can’t press advantage like this. Freakishly lucky bastard.
Usually, moving first lost, but his experience let him retreat without issue. Must’ve eaten bad.
Never suspecting Aleck’s ploy, he withdrew—
Focus slipped.
That punk, see you soon… Huh?
Aleck’s presence vanished in a blink.
Sensing again—
G-gone!
Scanning radius—empty.
Where… Ah!
As Sahan whipped around, Aleck materialized like a ghost. Ghost Ant signature: Stealth.
What the—!
Mouth agape in horror—
Thraaaaaack!
Aleck’s lightning-charged arm hurtled toward him.