The Primal King Mantis Emerges
Praying mantis primal species lived up to their title as the ultimate predators among all primal kinds, boasting massive physiques. They were combat specialists, regardless of whether primal or common variant, wielding an innate battle sense that shone in every clash. Their primary weapons were those sickle-curved forelegs. The strike to snatch prey barely took a quarter-second. Blinding speed. The gripping force of those forelegs was monstrous too—once caught, escape by one's own strength was next to impossible.
Mantis primals favored ambushes exploiting these traits, but they also routinely used Predator's Aura to paralyze prey before the kill, just like now.
So when not just any mantis, but a king mantis primal—the pinnacle of the clan—showed up, the ground wasp primal had no hope unless a long-horned hornet primal intervened personally.
Screeeeech!
The king mantis primal's foreleg snatched the ground wasp that had crashed to earth under the aura's weight.
That Predator's Aura never fails to impress—such a handy ability.
If us common variants could wield it too, mantis clans would be solidly tier one. For some reason, it was one of the abilities not passed down from primals.
Crunch-crunch!Snap!
The king mantis primal's jagged jaws pulverized the seemingly tough ground wasp exoskeleton like a cookie. From aura to this? Less time than a blink.
One freed ground wasp primal by the aura bolted without a fight—unlike other hornet primals, they lacked camaraderie.
"Ugh..."
Amy, suddenly alone on the battlefield, let out a dazed groan, staring blankly at the king mantis devouring the wasp.
This girl's a handful.
I dashed to her, grabbed her hand, and yanked her along. Standing there like an idiot would make her king mantis chow, just like that wasp. Best to bail fast.
Swish.
As we turned to flee, the king mantis's eyes locked on us.
Hmm...
Eye contact up close? Overwhelming pressure. Was Predator's Aura woven into that gaze? Tension rippled through me, body quivering.
But it scanned me, tilted its head... then ignored us, resuming its meal on the pinned wasp.
I seized the chance to drag Amy from the field.
"Hoo."
The held breath escaped me. Ground wasp primals were manageable, but that king mantis? No way. I'd need Maturity Stage at least; Amy would require Complete Body for a fair shot.
It was a full adult.
King mantis—the clan's current apex. A battle-mad female adult at that. Even with our clan's low durability, our blades wouldn't pierce its hide.
And even if they did... mantis vitality means killing it? Near impossible.
Low durability and high vitality were separate. Mantis classification aligned us with cockroaches and white ants. We boasted insane life force too. Facing a king mantis primal without a killing blow? Suicide.
That stubborn vitality was one trait passed to us commoners. It had saved my hide countless times.
Proves Transcendent Regeneration rune synergizes perfectly with mantis kind. No wonder Jin Sam steamrolled with it pre-regression.
Now mine, it'd outperform his.
Anyway, blessing in disguise.
Without those ground wasps, we might've been ambushed. They'd been lying in wait for prey.
Or maybe...
I recalled that earlier spine-tingling chill, the arm-extending sensation. Linked to the king mantis's arrival? Directions matched too neatly for coincidence.
Intriguing, but no time to check now.
I'll investigate later.
If—by some miracle—this let me commune with mantis primals? Game-changer. Command their hordes, and the four great clans' balance crumbles. No more fear.
Pie in the sky... but it feels possible.
I chuckled at my optimism. Getting excited over maybes? Youth made emotions childish too.
I shook it off, snapping Amy from her daze.
"Snap out of it?"
"Uh, y-yeah."
First time feeling Predator's Aura, probably. Her reaction made sense—commoners stayed out of it for a while.
Builds tolerance over exposures, though.
"Let's move. Place is riskier than thought."
She nodded agreement. We proceeded extra cautiously.
How far did we go?
Buzzzzzz.
Ground wasp wing hum from all sides. Nearby nest.
We're here.
Eyes gleaming, I pulled the orb from my pouch. Scouted a spot, moved to deploy the extractor.
Hold up.
I paused, turning to Amy. She blinked blankly: Why?
"Amy, hold back even if you wanna fight. Mess up here, and it's thousands of those bastards."
She nodded meekly—aura's aftereffects lingered. Good, words got through.
Meeting that king mantis? Silver lining.
If she lost control here... catastrophe.
Even battle-maniac Amy wouldn't charge a swarm, but still.
Alright then...
I crept to my spot, wedged the extractor between rocks, hit the top button.
Pssshhh.
Air hissed out; a long black sponge rod extended.
Success!
Confirmed working, I pulled Amy behind nearby rocks.
Flat ground, bit from nest. Sweet scent would spread wide; black rod easy to spot.
Buzzz!
As expected. Several incoming fast.
Five ground wasp primals first. Drunk on honey scent, they eyed the swaying black sponge, stingers out, charging.
Screeech!Stab! Thunk-thunk!
Flutter like butterflies, sting like bees. They jabbed the sponge furiously.
I inwardly cheered. Venom injecting perfectly. Black sponge slowly turned green—proof of collection.
"Mm."
Amy squirmed beside me. Biting her lip, eyes laser-focused on the wasps.
Damn girl...
Obvious bloodlust. Anyone could see.
"Amy!"
I whispered near her ear. Snap out of it—going berserk and drawing sword? Begging to die.
How'd she survive to Ultimate Body?
But...
"...!"
Her reaction? Wild. She jolted, pulling away, clutching the whispered ear.
"Wh-what!"
No shout—smart—but face tomato-red. Bloodlust vanished.
Got it: ears are her weak spot.
Handy for future freakouts.
Eyes sparkled. Useful control method.
"Huuu."
She pressed her chest, steadying breaths. Heart racing hard, spooked bad.
"You okay?"
"...Yeah."
Avoiding my eyes. Not mad, though. Fine as long as calm.
Time to retrieve.
Wasps departing one by one. Collection done—sponge saturated, honey ports auto-seal, losing appeal.
Molting's in sight!
Grab it, mission success.
Was molting always this sweaty?
Megaera inheritance made it atypical, but even Juvenile Stage was brutal.
Effort yields sweet fruit.
Strong hunch: reap multiples of investment. Worth a thousand hardships.
"Amy, up. Time to grab it."
I pulled her hand, rising. But her reaction? Off. Still flushed, eyes averted.
...?
Aura hangover? No time—retrieve and bounce.
Grabbed her hand again—
BOOM!
Dust erupted from the extractor's ground. Something burst out.
"...!"
Brain flashed: Land mole cricket primal!
Damn timing. Sniffed lingering honey, late arrival.
Screw up, lose the venom.
Amy realized too, face paling, charging it.
I didn't stop her. I was right behind.
"Can't let it take that! Gotta recover it!"
She accelerated at my shout. Lightning speed. Still not enough—hurled her sword.
Shink!Grrrrrr!
Sword pierced foreleg; mole cricket roared.
Thanks to her, extractor saved. Without? Stolen blind.
But not great.
It burrowed back, but that roar...
Stimulated nearby ground wasps.
Buzzzzz!
Yup. Swarm incoming.
I snatched the rolling extractor, spun away.
Speed race now. Outrun or die.
"Amy, no fighting—pure flight!"
She nodded, grasping severity.
"This way!"
We bolted opposite the nest. Our entry path—keep straight, slip their sight.
But.
They were faster than expected.
Buzz!
Caught up already?
Underestimated wasp flight. Despite ether boost, they closed quick.
How many...?
Glanced back, battle-ready—gave up. Dozens, easy.
Worst case, serial High Jumps shake 'em. But Amy...
No such skill. She'd be lunch.
What now?
Desperate brain-racking as presences neared—
Zing!
Electric current up my spine. That sensation again.
This...!
Overhead premonition streaked.
And with it—
MANTISSSS!
Air ahead shivered; Predator's Aura exploded forth.