The Underdog's Primal Hunt
Survival Exam Field Command Room.
Instructor Gaon, the third instructor overseeing this selection exam, was reviewing the participants' records.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in."
The door to the office opened, and Gruwyn, his sub-instructor, stepped inside.
"Instructor Gaon, an additional X3 primal species has been captured in the ongoing selection exam."
"X3—that's a cricket, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Ho, and it hasn't even been half a day yet? They took down two primal species already?"
Gaon's lips curled into an amused grin.
"I should bump up Ruslan's evaluation. His other four teammates are capable too, but catching primal species back-to-back like that can't have been easy."
Gruwyn's face fell in realization at those words, and he spoke up again.
"Ah! Sorry, Instructor. I rushed the report and left out the main detail. It wasn't Ruslan—it was a selectee named Aleck who got it."
"Aleck?"
At Gaon's questioning echo, Gruwyn handed over the report with the current rankings attached.
"What the—? Who's this guy? Not from the shield mantis clan like Ruslan... just some common mantis clan?"
Gaon scanned the report with a strange expression.
"Estimated to have taken it down solo... Hey, Gruwyn. You think this makes any sense?"
"Yes, I thought it might be an error at first too. But the exam field's measurements have never been wrong before, right? Even after double-checking, the record clearly states that."
"Hmph, true. Who made this exam field, after all? No way it'd glitch."
The accuracy of the exam records was beyond doubt. This place was enchanted by Sergei, the grand shaman of the Shinseon butterfly clan.
"No footage, obviously, huh?"
"Yes, my apologies. Since it was a selectee not on the main list, I overlooked... We're recording now, at least."
"Can't be helped. Besides, snagging a primal species right now might just be dumb luck. Don't overthink it."
"Thank you."
Gruwyn bowed at Gaon's lenient response.
He wasn't wrong, really. Most primal species released into the survival exam field were crickets. And cricket primal species often bared their fangs at each other. They might've just stumbled on one that was already injured and dying from infighting, scoring lucky points.
Logically, that tracks.
A common mantis clan's selectee taking down a cricket primal species 1v1? The odds in reality were under 0.01%.
But finding and finishing off a dying one? At least over 1% chance.
But if it's not just luck... this batch might stir up a storm in Mantis Hall.
Gaon eyed Aleck's profile with gleaming interest, scanning it once more.
* * *
The Abian Continent was divided into two main lifeforms: primal species (insects in their pure form) and general species (humans with insect powers).
Primal species outnumbered them vastly, but the continent's rulers were the general species. Their growth potential had far higher ceilings.
Early on, though, primal species held the clear edge in power. Winning 1v1 against them was no easy feat...
How the hell did he do it?
Kind swallowed hard, staring at the cricket primal species corpse slumped beside him.
Skill? Or pure luck?
Skill seemed too unreal. Must've been some fluke...
But reality was this tiny boy had dropped a primal species on the ground.
Damn, we picked the wrong fight.
Kind and his crew knelt politely, each sporting a fresh bruise under their eyes.
"Hmm, so this Ruslan guy, the top pick for winning the exam, is from the 'shield mantis' clan, right?"
"Y-yes, that's right."
Kind, face swollen from Aleck's punch, kept his hands neatly folded on his knees as he answered.
Ruslan, huh...
Vaguely remembered from 20 years back. Definitely heard the name.
Mantis clans currently ranked around 1.5-tier on the Abian Continent—not quite top-tier.
Within that, clans varied wildly. A few standout ones had dragged the mantis species' prestige up from 2-tier to 1.5.
Shield mantis and king mantis clans.
Mantis subclans differed hugely in physical prowess. Those inheriting power from the top two had overwhelming stats over other mantis clans.
Even before regression, shield mantis were rare. Folks said if half the mantis species were shields or kings, they'd scrape into low 1-tier.
I glanced up at the rankings floating overhead, fixing on Ruslan at number one.
Right, got it. He was a regional legend before even entering Mantis Hall. Beat growth-stage mantises as an infant, wrote legends.
But his end was tragic. Ruslan, the hope for mantis revival, died mysteriously before reaching growth stage.
Later rumors pointed to the four great lords assassinating him to stifle mantis rise, but it never went public.
The four great lords' influence dominated the continent too much.
Filthy bastards.
They were in cahoots with the admins. A cancerous clique squeezing the continent dry.
Just wait. I'll smash you all one by one.
With the 'Megaera Mantis' power dormant in me, it wasn't a pipe dream. Even those four great lords ranked below Megaera Mantis.
"Anyway, Ruslan's the biggest rival here."
"......"
Kind's crew blinked at my mutter, faces screaming, What the hell's this lunatic saying?
I read their minds but just smirked.
They could only judge by appearances. Me, looking like common mantis trash, talking rivalry with shield mantis Ruslan? Absurd.
But sticking with me, they'd learn. Not a shred of bluff in my words.
Winning boosts this weak body fast... and unlocks ways to awaken my Megaera Mantis side quicker.
I needed rank, no matter what. Higher status meant wider reach, more tools.
This tiny edge snowballs into a continent-sweeping storm.
"Gotta hustle. Everyone up."
"Huh? What do you mean, hustle...?"
Kind rolled his eyes, but I grinned slyly.
"What else? Hunt primal species. You said you mapped most spots, right? Lead."
"P-primal species... now?!"
Kind's face drained pale.
Even after seeing me drop that cricket, this reaction. No surprise—they lacked the eye to grasp how I did it.
Without understanding, they'd chalk it to luck over skill.
"Get up already."
I clenched my fist threateningly, and they scrambled to their feet. Far punch scarier than distant primal species.
No kind explanations to ease them. They'd figure it out trailing me.
"Alright, moving out. Go."
"Ugh... y-yes..."
Kind's crew finally shuffled forward, faces ashen.
* * *
Word of Aleck bagging a cricket primal species spread fast to other groups.
"What? A cricket primal species got taken down?"
"Yeah, some guy named Aleck shot up to second place."
"No way... he shield mantis too?"
"Nah, rumor says common mantis clan. Hard to buy."
"What? Common mantis trash? Haha, absurd. They gang up dozens deep or something?"
"Doesn't seem so. Hanging with Kind's crew."
"That thug Kind?"
The boy who spoke smirked and nodded.
"Pfft, if those idiots did it, primal species seem easy now? Maybe they're not that bad here."
"Yeah, we've been too scared. Ruslan's team aside, if Kind pulled it off, why not us? No more chickening out on primal species."
They grinned and nodded. Same broad mantis clan as Kind, but they'd trained long for this exam—unlike his street-thug ass.
"Chirrip!"
Strutting boldly, they soon spotted a primal species—a cricket, just like Aleck's.
"Uh..."
Hoarse bravado froze solid facing the real thing.
The primal species' pressure and killing intent brought unknown terror.
"U-uuuh..."
Their bodies shook.
H-how do you even hunt this?
The boy screamed inwardly. They'd die here.
Then—
CRICKET'S HEAD SNAPS BACK
"Chirrip!"
The primal species' head whipped around, agony ripping from its maw.
"One more spotted. Taking it quick."
A boy appeared—manly face, sturdy build.
"R-Ruslan?"
The boy, inches from death, gawked wide-eyed.
"Fall back."
"O-okay... th-thanks."
They scrambled rearward.
"Chirrip!"
The struck primal species roared at Ruslan.
Crickets were locust kin, wielding massive hind legs as weapons.
It coiled power and leaped—boom!—blitzing Ruslan.
Whoosh—thud, crunch!
Ruslan dodged nimbly, swinging his blunt weapon to smash one hind leg.
"Chiiirp!"
The cricket limped, screaming. Prime attack crippled.
"Whoa, Ruslan's the real deal. No need to help."
"Just watch him solo this one."
Ruslan's late teammates marveled.
All king broad mantis clan...
The boy gaped. King broad mantises outclassed their broad mantis clan, heavy-hitters nearly rivaling king mantises.
Gulp.
No wonder they predicted Ruslan's dominance. Monster plus monster support? Obvious win.
"Chirrip!"
While he pondered, the cricket neared combat incapacity.
Ruslan pinned it with shield mantis brute strength. It died without much fight.
"Ruslan's the only one who can win this exam, hands down."
Amid team awe, the overhead rankings updated again.
* * *
"Hmm."
I eyed the updated rankings overhead, eyes sharpening.
Ruslan must've nabbed another primal species.
"Still far?"
"A-almost there."
Kind pointed ahead at my question.
A bit farther, we spotted a cricket primal species.
Most released here are crickets, huh.
Makes sense—easiest for inexperienced mantis clans to handle with minimal casualties.
"Hold up."
I dashed at it.
"Chiiirp!"
It screeched spotting me.
No fear. My path through hell was too brutal for a mere first-instar primal species.
Thoom!
Power condensed in its legs, exploding forth.
Double my speed. Head-on? This frail body shreds.
Simple.
Too fast for untrained eyes, but I felt the wind's flow.
The wind's grain whispered: Twist now.
Whoosh—
Barely dodged collision.
Kaboom!
It overshot, crashing into the ground from momentum.
Chance!
Eyes flashed. I leaped, slashing my dagger wildly at the dazed foe.
Slash—!
Its prime weapon—hind leg—severed halfway.
"O-one slash?!"
Kind's shocked yell from behind.
No wonder. Common mantis weakling slicing primal exoskeleton? Unthinkable.
All thanks to reading the 'grain'. My trash body, but transcendent soul awakened my Intuition sense, enabling it.
"Ahh..."
After? Easy. Chopping a one-legged cricket was child's play.
Now they saw it clear: how I methodically dismantled a primal species.
The first felt dreamlike in chaos. This? Crystal vision.
"Whoa, legit skills?!"
"Insane."
"What dagger style is that?"
Excitement bubbled as death confirmed. Even dropped polite speech in hype.
"This? Praying Mantis Swordsmanship."
"Th-that's... Praying Mantis Swordsmanship?!"
Kind gawked, uncomprehending.
Of course—basic mantis dagger art everyone learns.
But mine grasped its essence, depth making it look alien to them.
"Hm, loosened up now..."
I glanced skyward.
Big jump, but still trailing Ruslan. He's hunting hard too.
If Ruslan keeps at it, gap might hold.
Crickets seemed easy for him. Two days left. To secure first safely, need stronger prey for bigger gap.
"You know the island beetle spot, right? Head there next."
Kind's eyes bulged saucer-wide.
Then he rapid-fired like rapping.
"No way! Totally different league from these crickets. Even you, sir... impossible. It wasn't released to be hunted!"
His tense face left one reply.
"Whatever. Guide."
"Ughhh..."
Reading my resolve, he swallowed protests with a groan, paling further, starting to lead—
Predating cricket corpse.
Acquired skill: High Jump (E)
A voice rang in my ear. My eyes widened round.