The Traitor's Ambush
'To think they'd actually target us right in the middle of the match.'
I couldn't believe the sheer audacity of these bastards.
"Everyone, halt. Defensive formation."
I stopped my teammates first. They tilted their heads, staring at me in confusion.
"What is it, Team Leader? What's wrong?"
"No enemies have even shown up yet..."
Shh. I pressed a finger to my lips as they voiced their doubts, then glanced sidelong at Theo.
His brow furrowed slightly. Clearly, he was the one who'd signaled the ghost ants.
He must be thrown off now that I'd stopped out of nowhere.
'So he really sold out his own clan in the end. Unforgivable.'
Remembering how he'd always worn that friendly smile around us made him look even more repulsive now.
I turned and locked eyes with Kind. He gave a subtle nod.
I'd tipped him off earlier: Theo was the traitor, so if he made any move, hold him back.
Kind alone couldn't overpower Theo, but delaying him was well within reach. His talent was better than I'd expected.
'I've warned Ruslan and Robed not to drop their guard during this match, too.'
I glanced at Robed and Ruslan. Both watched me with tense expressions.
I couldn't tell them everything, but I'd hinted that blood might spill if they invoked Norton's name—stay vigilant no matter what.
Anyway.
I circulated Wind Qi Gong at full throttle, sensing the fishy stench drawing ever closer.
Ziiing—.
A faint blue glow flickered in my eyes, sharpening my senses—sight, hearing, smell—to several times their normal acuity.
'Southeast.'
I spun, drew my sword, and charged.
"Huh? What the—?!"
"What's happening?!"
My teammates yelped at my sudden move, but their shock was nothing compared to what came next.
Chaaeaeng!
A masked figure materialized from thin air, blocking my strike with crossed daggers. His eyes brimmed with bewilderment.
He'd been caught off guard. No way he'd dreamed I'd spot him.
'Just as I thought—they planned to hit our blind spot.'
The arena's center featured a jungle terrain called the Dummy Swamp, too dense even for midges to relay properly.
They'd timed their bomb or whatever for then.
'Damn.'
Even though I'd guessed right, bitterness welled up. For ghost ants to infiltrate this deep, there had to be more than one spy.
No telling how far their tendrils reached.
'Focus on the one in front of me now.'
Weeding out spies was for Monahan or Norton. I leveled my sword at the assassin before me.
"Hold formation! There are more—don't slack on the perimeter watch!"
My shout left them even more flustered, but they snapped to, drawing weapons and scanning the flanks.
Seeing their instant response proved the past month's team drills weren't wasted.
Whoosh!
As I raised my voice, he hurled a dagger from his sleeve. It speared straight through the midge hovering above us.
'Knew it.'
I'd figured forcing him visible would make him cut the feed first. Perfect.
The stands outside must be in chaos by now. Warriors on standby would swarm in soon.
All I had to do was pin this guy until then.
'But passing up a chance like this would be a shame.'
I'd always wondered if Predation triggered on regular species, not just primordials.
If it did, this was prime for snagging ghost ant traits—rare on Abian Continent.
So I chose to clash head-on instead of just stalling.
His dagger toss left an opening. My sword surged into it.
Whiiiish— Chaeng!
"...Kuh."
His eyes gleamed as he parried, like he was thinking, How dare a mayfly fear no spider?
Made sense—he'd be baffled. No infant-stage mantis should charge him head-on.
Chaeng!
His dagger flicked my sword upward, stabbing for my vitals.
Tsssik!
I sidestepped the thrust. My sleeve tore, fluttering away.
'Straight-up fight's still beyond me.'
Ghost ant physiques weren't impressive, but a Maturity Stage one's power dwarfed mine.
Especially the fierce rebound from his dagger on clash—it screamed superior ether control.
'I'm an infant who shouldn't handle ether yet, after all.'
A few more exchanges, and my sword would shatter. No wonder Maturity warriors counted as one-man armies.
Chaeng, chaeng—!
I couldn't keep dodging forever—my speed fell short. I was pushed back steadily.
Worse, nicks appeared on my blade. Durability failing.
'Hoo.'
This was partly by design, but it grated anyway. Losing ground to a mere ghost ant?
Head knew the logic, but my pride—from absolute heights—wouldn't swallow it.
'I need to get stronger, faster.'
Fierce ambition blazed in my eyes.
Awaken Megaera Mantis power. Devour everything to fuel it. Surpass my past self.
Claim a throne none could touch.
That burning desire stirred the ancient predator slumbering within, just a speck.
Flinch.
He froze, sensing it. His eyes filled with questions—what was that?
Then he regripped his dagger and lunged fiercer, denying what he'd felt.
But his tip quivered faintly, betraying the unrest.
'Now.'
My eyes flashed. I'd risked it all for this moment.
I didn't dodge. Met his dagger with my sword.
This was my one shot for a fatal blow.
I drew ether from my core. Origin Protection Rune let more flow through circuits to my blade.
Wind White Swordsmanship.
First Form: One Blade Clear Wind.
Variant: One Blade Fierce Gale.
Ferocious wind howled from my sword.
A destructive twist on the base form. Clear Wind sliced like a cool breeze; Fierce Gale ravaged like a typhoon.
Kuwaaaang!
My blade roared like a primal hornet's wingbeat storm.
Splurt—!
It batted his dagger aside and shredded his arm.
"Kraaaak!"
His first scream.
I pressed, thrusting for his heart.
Stab!
The blade sank into his chest side. Dodged the heart, but fatal all the same.
An infant felling a Maturity warrior—unprecedented.
"Impossible!"
Theo shrieked in disbelief. Only he grasped the implications here.
The others knew the masked one was strong, but not Maturity strong.
Whiiiii!
Theo blew a shrill horn from his sleeve with all his might.
All eyes widened at him. Only Kind drew his sword, aiming.
"Wh-what?!"
"Kind! Why point at Theo?!"
"Stop Theo! He's tied to this attack."
"What? What do you mean?!"
Trainees gawked between Theo and Kind in chaos.
Ruslan, Robed, and sharp ones got it, drawing blades instantly.
"Theo! What does this mean?!"
His friends demanded, but he just hung his head.
Then.
"Kuh... kuhehehe."
His shoulders shook with mad laughter.
"The...o?"
Shocked faces turned to him. He lifted his head—eyes brimming with madness and murder.
Not the Theo they knew.
"Everyone! Come out—!"
His voice grated like scraping iron, hideous. Space rippled behind him; over a dozen masked figures emerged.
Ghost ants from Dummy Swamp, rushing on his signal.
"F-Fuck."
Infants couldn't withstand the killing intent from over ten Maturity ghost ants.
Some dropped weapons, collapsing. Even sturdy Ruslan sweated, blade trembling.
That vicious.
As death loomed in their minds.
"You filthy vermin dare touch my brats."
A familiar voice boomed. Terrifying energy swirled, shaking terrain.
"...!"
Shock lit the ghost ants' eyes. Not in their plan.
"Instructor Norton!"
"Woooah! The instructor's here!"
Trainees who spotted the aura's source cheered in relief.
To them, Norton's perfect timing made him a divine savior.
"Things got messy."
Theo—eyes blood-red, half his face veined black—spoke flatly.
Grotesque.
'He wasn't normal.'
I clocked his state.
'Parasite.'
Controlled by a parasite. Never guessed Theo was infected.
'They scan for parasites before entering Mantis Hall, though... how?'
I swallowed hard.
Now it clicked why he'd betrayed us. Not his choice.
"You... infected Theo with a parasite?"
Norton growled, unleashing venomous intent. He'd noticed too.
"P-Parasite?"
"Gasp..."
"No way..."
Trainees reeled again. Already stunned by Theo's horror-show face; parasite news broke them.
"Heh, Instructor. Should've managed your kids better."
Theo mocked.
"I won't forgive you."
Norton eyed him with fury. Visible ether waves mirrored it.
"We need to clean this up fast."
One masked figure behind him spoke deferentially. High rank, puppeteering Theo via parasite.
Few ghost ants commanded such respect.
'Got a rough idea who.'
Likely "that guy" I'd snapped before regression.
"Hmph, spoils the fun. Finish quick."
Theo folded arms, stepping back. No tension, utter confidence they'd mop up.
"Slaughter them all."
The apparent leader drew his sword on Theo's go-ahead.
Fwaa—!
Ether solidified around his blade as his body shifted.
Crack, crackle!
Exoskeleton armored him like plate—jet-black on head/chest, translucent milky below. Ghost ant primal mimic.
"...!"
"Whoa, Complete Body?!"
Gasps from trainees. Ether-clad blade and full exoskeleton screamed Complete Body.
Explained Theo's optimism.
"Heh, can a backroom fossil like you handle this, Instructor?"
Theo sneered at Norton.
All masked: Maturity elites. Some Complete Bodies. Nineteen total.
Norton: solo. Infant instructor, maybe Maturity at best.
Hence the cockiness.
"Guess I'll shut that mouth first."
Norton fixed him with quiet rage.
Then—
Pop—!
His form vanished into the ground.
"...!"
All eyes bulged. He reappeared before Theo.
Like folding space, Shinseon butterfly-style.
Thwack!
Hand chop to nape—out cold. Parasite or not, neck trauma works.
Pa pa pat.
Ghost ants reacted late. None tracked him.
H-how...?"
The leader stammered, primalized.
One Complete Body missing Norton's move meant one thing.
"Your turn now."
Deep green aura steamed from Norton.
Green exoskeleton cloaked him. Antennae sprouted atop; twin wing pairs from back.
Primalization! Complete Body exclusive—Norton had it too.
"Huck! In-insane..."
"No way! Instructor Norton's a Complete Body warrior?!"
I smirked inwardly at their reaction. If they flipped at this, wait till they learned he was clan-top Ultimate Body.
Anyway.
'It's over.'
I muttered at primalized Norton.
And simultaneously—
Tssaa—!
A deep green sword surged from Norton's arm.