Preparation for Molting

"……!"

I blinked at the message floating before my eyes. The system had never displayed a message like this before—not even in my previous life before regression.

'Is it because I'm on the hidden race route?'

There was a saying that good presentation made the rice cake taste better. Seeing this kind of guidance for the next step had me more excited than usual.

As I stared at the golden letters before me, the wriggling sensation in my gut started churning again like an earthworm.

'Consume Gura Powder?'

I raised an eyebrow at the new text. Gura Powder was a compounded drug used to rapidly accelerate biological reactions. Ingesting it could massively boost growth in a short time, but the side effect was a high chance of hormonal imbalance.

'But now that I have the Super Regeneration Rune, do I even need to worry about side effects?'

I blinked rapidly as I realized something I hadn't considered before. Holy shit, it could be used like this too?

A shiver ran down my spine, and I clamped a hand over my mouth. The utility of Super Regeneration was beyond imagination—diverse in ways I hadn't dreamed.

'Maybe this message popped up precisely because I acquired Super Regeneration.'

The messages had stayed silent even as molting approached. But the moment I gained Super Regeneration, it appeared like it had been waiting. Perhaps the evolution path for Megaera Mantis adapted dynamically to my body's condition.

'Gathering the ingredients for Gura Powder should be easy through a merchant guild.'

The formula for Gura Powder was monopolized by a few select groups. If I didn't know it, acquiring it would have been a nightmare. But since I did know the recipe, no worries there.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'The issue is getting a neutralizer to offset it at the same time.'

No matter how great Super Regeneration was, I couldn't just take Gura Powder alone. It regenerated damaged flesh, but didn't counteract the drug's effects. I needed a neutralizer to temper its potency and maximize efficiency.

'And that's the venom from a Primitive Earth Wasp.'

Primitive Earth Wasps belonged to the mid-to-small hornet family. Hornets ranked high among the dangerous primitives on the Abian Continent. Even mid-sized ones like these were seriously hazardous.

'I could buy it through a merchant guild, but...'

It'd cost a fortune. With my current funds, purchase was impossible.

'No choice but to harvest it myself.'

The only way was to extract venom directly from their stingers. Risky, sure, but with Super Regeneration, my life wasn't on the line. Just set up extraction tools near their hive.

'Either way, I need to meet Estelle.'

Ingredients for Gura Powder. Materials for venom extraction. The location of the Earth Wasp hive. She'd know it all.

I headed straight to the Sama Battleground's communication hall and sent a message via dragonfly messenger.

Pfudduk!

The silk dragonfly took off into the sky. It wasn't long before it returned with a reply. I unfolded the note immediately.

Estelle's pouty face flashed in my mind as I read it. Right—she got upset if I didn't check in regularly.

I wrote an honest reply on a fresh note: I've been so swamped I forgot to reach out. Sorry. She preferred straightforwardness over excuses—true to her Red Fire Ant roots. I added that I'd message more often. It was sincere; one of the future top three merchant lords? Better build rapport early.

Three days. Perfect timing. I'd loosen up and prepare in the meantime.

* * *

I headed to the training hall to stretch my limbs for the first time in ages.

'Hm...'

On the way, I sensed eyes watching me. Ordinary folks wouldn't notice, but I wasn't ordinary. Subtle yet persistent gazes clung to me. I pondered who it could be.

'The Ghost Ant clan, probably.'

Tsk. As expected, blocking their terror plot in the Sama Tournament had exposed me. Now they had eyes on me too.

'They must've seen me take on one Ghost Ant alone.'

Likely through Theo, infected by the cicada nymph. If I'd known, I'd have been more cautious.

'No, holding back then might've cost me the Stealth skill.'

Still, diverting attention with Kind had prevented full scrutiny.

'Given their nature, this level of surveillance means they don't see me as a huge threat yet.'

An Infant me holding off a Maturity Stage? Just a promising talent, not transcendent. Ghost Ants were weak in direct fights, and mantises specialized in combat—it made sense. With their spies crumbling, they'd pull back soon.

'Plus, they won't move rashly for a while.'

Karimru had recently purged spies from Sama Battleground en masse. Many fled.

'Those were their main operatives. They lack manpower now.'

They wouldn't risk exposing the remnants with aggressive moves. I'd clashed with them long enough to know.

'Especially Craig—he hates losses.'

Unless I was a must-kill, he'd stay put.

'His paranoia makes even his underlings play it safe to avoid casualties.'

That trait bought me precious time to grow.

'I need to get stronger, even one day sooner.'

Thirst for growth surged as I entered the training hall.

* * *

I headed to the communal training ground shared with other squads—ours was under maintenance.

Wungseong wungseong.

A crowd gathered as I entered. 'What's going on?' A fight?

I tilted my head and eavesdropped on some senior male trainees.

"That's the new girl, Robed."

"Whoa, she's seriously pretty."

"Orchid mantis beauty is on another level."

"No wonder they're so rare."

"Yeah, but she looks more mature than when I first saw her. Oh! Her markings changed. She really molted."

'Molted?'

I moved closer to where they pointed.

Robed was chatting with other trainees at the edge of the field.

'...!'

Now I got the fuss. Her pink hair cascaded to her shoulders with extra luster. Her already fair skin glowed clearer than ever. From cute girl to subtly mature beauty.

'She really succeeded.'

Her aura felt stronger, her look more Juvenile. Especially the orchid petal marking under her ear—now two, proof of Juvenile Stage.

Markings changed with each molt up to Growth Stage, before Maturity locked them. Beyond that, only insight gauged levels.

Squadmates had bet on Ruslan hitting Juvenile first, but Robed shattered expectations. Only I nodded knowingly.

'Robed's talent, plus orchid mantis potential rivaling shield or king clans.'

Maybe surpassing. Insects' innate limits were near-absolute, no matter personal talent. As a lesser mantis who'd reached Ultimate Body, I knew best—even with Limit Break (S), it was grueling.

'A tragic clan extinct for being too outstanding...'

Vowing no mantis clans would go extinct this life, I approached her.

"Robed."

"Ah, Aleck!"

She turned and beamed. The air brightened like flowers blooming. I'd thought myself immune to beauty, but even I flinched.

'Impressive.'

I admitted my mistake. Karimru once said she might become a continental beauty. Face-to-face, that understated it. At this rate, she'd be the continent's top beauty.

"Congrats on molting."

I smiled. She grinned back, fresh and vibrant. Whew, unreal. Kind nearby was dumbfounded, staring blankly—hilarious.

"Thanks! I didn't expect to be first."

"All your hard work paying off. Feeling okay?"

"Never better. Body feels lighter. Like I could fly! Hoho."

Her cheeks flushed as she covered her laugh—pure joy.

"Aleck, spar with me? It's been ages."

"Spar?"

Her eyes sparkled with vigor.

* * *

We faced off in the training ground center.

'A spar, huh.'

Overflowing energy post-molt—she wanted to vent it. No reason to refuse; one round it was.

"Here I come. Watch out!"

She warned of her changes, sword raised, charging. Totally transformed.

Kung!

Blinding speed. Even with weighted anklets, I nearly lost her. She closed in before I blinked, thrusting sharply.

I could've parried or dodged, but wanted to test her gains firsthand. I swung to meet her blade.

Chaeng—

Geiiiing.

Vibrations rang out.

'Almost dropped it.'

Her power could've wrenched it free. Juvenile Stage boosted her strength and speed to E-rank for sure.

'Frontal clash, I'm at a disadvantage.'

My strength was F+—no match for E, especially as a lesser mantis. Orchids were rare, but clearly superior physically.

'Stronger, but not enough ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to trouble me.'

I eyed her face. Amazed and childishly thrilled by her power.

'Gonna play along today.'

How could I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ignore that joy? Friendly match, not for winning.

I smiled warmly, syncing with her strikes. Her swordplay showed honed feints and illusions. I matched, trading blows.

She led physically, so I seemed pushed back. Looks deceived—we were both enjoying it.

* * *

Others saw it differently.

"That's Aleck? The one who took down the island centipede boss in survival?"

"Yeah... but he looks average."

"Can't even counter properly. Physically outmatched. Tsk, pitiful."

"Bubble's bursting. Lesser mantis limits."

These Juveniles mocked me openly. If they'd seen my individual tournament feats, no. But prelims only—no finals for most. Hard to catch every first-round match.

Someone reacted to the quiet spar: Kind.

"Hey, what do you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know about Aleck to talk like that?"

Kind trembled with rage. They snickered at the intruder.

"Who the hell are you?"