Species Traits
In the Abian Continent, members of what are called common species begin to gradually manifest the powers inherent to their race starting from the Maturity Stage.
'And once they reach Complete Body, they can fully embody the innate power of their species.'
We were of the mantis race. The mantis race had several characteristics. The innate sense of balance that Bardwin had demonstrated during the tightrope training was one of them.
But the most powerful trait of the mantis race was the strength of their forelegs, capable of seizing any being.
Forelegs. This trait manifested slightly differently for each individual.
'Among them, the most outstanding form is what Norton's doing right now—manifesting in the shape of a sword.'
I gazed in admiration at the deep emerald longsword that Norton had summoned from his arm.
I too had been granted the 'sword' trait. That was how I had been able to cleave through all existences and ascend to the absolute realm.
'Top-tier trait.'
Even among swords, there were cases where a shortsword emerged, or a blade form unsuitable for combat. But the deep emerald sword Norton had summoned was optimized for battle. It resembled the Wind White Sword I had been granted, almost eerily so.
Because of that, I could gauge the power of the sword Norton had summoned.
"How can a Complete Body warrior be here?"
"The intel must be wrong."
The ghost ants opened their mouths in bewildered voices. The unfolding events were far too different from the information they had received from Theo.
Theo himself was unconscious, unable to be questioned about what had happened.
"Tch, all units, scatter! The mission's a failure. Regroup and survive on your own."
In the end, the Complete Body ghost ant who seemed to be the leader issued the order. It was a swift decision. If a Complete Body mantis warrior was present, ants could never win in a head-on clash.
Shhht.
As the retreat signal fell, the ghost ants' bodies blended with their surroundings and turned transparent.
Just as mantises gained a common sense of balance upon reaching Maturity Stage, this transparency was a common trait that ghost ants could use once they reached Maturity.
"You dare think you can flee before this lord?!"
Norton's eyes flashed. His eyes began to glow with a brilliant yellow light.
Mantis Stance. Predator's Eye.
One of the abilities of Mantis Stance that could be used after reaching Complete Body: Predator's Eye.
Ziiing.
As it activated, Norton's field of vision rapidly expanded. Moreover, he no longer saw mere shapes of objects; he could perceive the unique auras inherent to each thing.
Shhht.
In Norton's eyes, the fleeing ghost ants appeared in a fan-shaped spread.
"Behold well, all of you."
As Norton spoke those words—
Pzzt, pzzztzzzt.
Azure lightning began to surge from his sword in thick bolts.
"……!"
The trainees' eyes widened at the sight of the lightning ether externalizing.
Lightning ether! Not only was it an extremely rare attribute, but it was the same as Norton's, the mantis race's strongest warrior known. They couldn't help but be shocked.
"In this world, nothing is faster than lightning."
Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship, First Form: Thunderclap Flash.
First Form: Thunderclap Flash
Kwarrrrumble!
With the roar of thunder, the world was dyed in blue light.
Slash—!
Amid the explosive boom that seemed to shatter the world, the sharp slicing sounds of the ghost ants being bisected rang clearly in our ears.
"Kaaaaak!"
"Keurk."
Soon, with a massive boom, the blinding light that had eclipsed the world faded, revealing the scene.
Only the ghost ants, their upper and lower bodies severed, screaming in agony, filled our view.
Not a single exception.
One strike. Norton had cleaved all nineteen ghost ants in half with a single blow.
And that was not all. Not just the ghost ants—everything within a 100-meter radius in the fan-shaped area had been neatly sliced in two.
A destructive power hard to believe had been achieved with one sword stroke.
"……!"
The trainees who witnessed that electrifying sight gaped, mouths open wide enough for flies to enter unnoticed.
This level of power placed him at least at the upper ranks of Complete Body. There was another being of such caliber besides Norton?
They looked at Norton with trembling eyes.
"You dare try to flee before this lord."
Norton gazed contentedly at the results of his handiwork.
Shhht.
His primalized body reverted to its original form.
—Didst thou behold it well? This is the art I have mastered, the Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship. I dare claim it is in no way inferior to Instructor Heinz's art. Know that shouldst thou become my disciple at any time, thou too can learn it.
Norton, returned to his original form, sent me a telepathic message and flashed a grin.
'Heh, Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship…… Impressive indeed.'
I was genuinely awed. If Norton hadn't been killed, he might have reached near the pinnacle of Ultimate Body, the path I had trod.
The profound mysteries contained in the Heavenly Thunder Swordsmanship were in no way inferior to my Wind White Swordsmanship.
Moreover, the lightning attribute. That alone was enough to threaten the lords of the four great races.
'Impressive.'
I began to see Norton not just as a creepy old man, but as a swordsman with considerable potential.
Today's Norton was remarkable in many ways. He had demonstrated his formidable abilities, and at the end, even advertised himself to me. Perfect.
I nearly burst into applause without thinking.
"Is everyone unharmed?"
Norton asked us if anyone was injured, then turned his head to look at Theo collapsed on the ground.
"Hm."
Norton's face looked troubled. Infection with a thread parasite usually meant death.
It could only be removed through special shamanic rituals, and even then, the success rate was low.
'But that's for natural infections.'
My eyes gleamed. If it was an artificial infection like this, used to control the host, I might be able to resolve it.
Especially since this era's artificial thread parasites were likely early models. In that case, it was definitely possible.
"Instructor."
I quietly called out to Norton.
And in a voice low enough for only him to hear, I said,
"Let me try removing the thread parasite."
"……?"
Norton's eyes widened at my words. He started to question me, but seeing my serious gaze, he nodded shortly after.
"All of you, wait here a moment."
With that, Norton carried Theo toward the outskirts.
I plopped down beside the lying Theo and immediately closed my eyes, placing my palm over his dantian.
Ziiing.
Ether flowed from my palm and seeped into Theo's dantian.
Wooong.
I focused on the fluctuations of the innate qi within Theo.
'The early-type thread parasites controlled by the four great lords parasitize the dantian.'
Because of that, they were small and could be separated from the host.
'Found it!'
Soon, I discovered a hand-sized thread parasite wriggling in Theo's dantian.
'That's not your place. Come out.'
My ether stimulated the shamanic runes engraved on the thread parasite, and Theo's body began to convulse.
"Eughhh."
A large groan escaped from the unconscious Theo's mouth. It meant the pain was immense.
'Just a bit more.'
Feeling sweat beading on my forehead, I concentrated my mind even harder.
After a few minutes—
"Ughhh, keurgh."
Theo vomited up a black mass along with bile.
"This is……!"
An exclamation burst from Norton's mouth as he watched us anxiously. It was indeed the thread parasite.
"Phew, success."
"How in the world…… How did you extract the thread parasite?"
"……One of Instructor Heinz's techniques."
"Heh! So thou knew how to apply ether externally?"
"No, it's just guiding out the qi that shouldn't be in the body. If the parasite had been any larger, it would've been impossible."
"What…… Phew, I see."
This was a technique I had learned from the Shinseon butterfly clan before my regression. I couldn't tell the truth, so I passed it off as Heinz's art.
Fortunately, Norton didn't press further.
"Instructor, please keep this a secret."
"Aye, let's move Theo to the health hall first."
Norton hoisted Theo onto his back and said. Seeing him separately secure the parasite, it seemed he planned to hand it over to Monahan for research.
That was why I had asked him to keep it secret. Monahan, with his knowledge of shamanism, would quickly realize how absurd it was to claim Heinz's art could remove a thread parasite.
'Until I gain the power to protect myself, I must hide my abilities as much as possible.'
That way, I could grow unchecked, far from the four great lords' sight.
It was then.
Predation has activated.
Predating the ghost ant corpses.
Acquired skill Stealth (A).
This is a skill requiring physical adaptation. Digestion time is needed for full acquisition.
Stealth (A) digesting — 1%
I nearly cried out at the cascade of messages.
'Predation activated.'
I had wondered if Predation worked even on non-primal species. That doubt was now resolved.
'And it works without me personally killing them.'
In this battle, I hadn't directly killed any ghost ants. I had inflicted a mortal wound on the first one I encountered, but I hadn't taken its life.
'As long as I contribute to some degree? Or as long as there's a corpse?'
I had learned a new mechanism of Predation's activation.
'Jackpot in every way……'
The last time I tested it on a primal species, the chance of Predation manifesting was quite low. I hadn't expected it to trigger here, let alone with great luck granting an A-rank skill.
It was truly an unexpected lottery win.
'Not just any A-rank. In terms of utility, it's worth an S-rank.'
The applications of Stealth were endless. Why else would ghost ants, with their frail physiques, receive top-tier treatment? It was all thanks to this unique skill of theirs, Stealth.
And now I had it too.
'I must use the Stealth skill very cautiously until I regain my former power.'
If word spread that I could use the ghost ants' trait, Stealth, not only the four great lords, but countless factions would go mad trying to uncover my secrets.
'Especially that Shinseon butterfly clan—they'd come charging like moths to a flame.'
Those who staked their lives on exploring the mysterious would fly straight to dissect me. The thought alone was horrifying. Their research obsession was as exhausting as facing the four great races.
"I-Instructor!"
Then, Kind came running with a pale face toward Norton, who was carrying Theo.
"What is it?"
"Well……"
The ghost ant I had mortally wounded. According to Kind, before it breathed its last from blood loss, it had uttered meaningful words.
'Kuh…… Heh heh, a futile end…… No matter…… You and your lord…… will all die here today…… The flame of death…… will consume…… you…… Krurk.'
The words it left in death were chilling. Kind said there were too many suspicious elements to dismiss as mere curses, so he had to report it immediately.
'Flame of death?'
A strong sense of déjà vu hit me from the "flame of death" it mentioned.
The incident during the Mantis War that claimed the lord's life! That memory struck my mind.
'I have to stop it.'
My eyes flashed.