Chapter 5: Felling the Island Mid Beetle
"Chirrip!"
With a piercing screech, a primal earwig suddenly appeared.
"Whoa! Shit, you scared me!"
I ignored Kind's startled shout and swiftly closed in on the earwig.
"Chirriip!"
The thing seemed flustered by my approach, raising its voice in a threat, but whatever. That wasn't intimidating at all.
I swung the dagger I'd reversed in my grip, slicing off its antenna.
"Chirrip!"
As the antenna was severed, the creature's body staggered for a moment. It couldn't recover its senses after losing what was practically the primal species' Achilles' heel. Being just a first-instar larva made it especially vulnerable in this regard. If it had been an adult or even a third- or fourth-instar, it wouldn't have faltered like this from a single antenna chop.
Whatever the case, that made it easy for me to snap its neck.
"Whoa, damn... You're insane every time I see it."
A low murmur of admiration came from behind. Now they definitely knew my capabilities. They were starting to show me more respect.
Whirrr—
Then, a faint buzzing tickled my ear. I glanced up at the tiny creature hovering overhead.
A fly. The thing had been tailing us—more precisely, me—since yesterday. I'd known about it from the start but pretended not to notice.
Because.
'It was all part of my plan.'
Those flies were the instructors' eyes. The fact that one of their limited surveillance flies was fixed on me was proof.
I needed to impress them more. Passing the survival exam mattered, but the real priority was what came next.
'This time, I have to get into the Warrior Division.'
Mantis Hall was divided into Warrior, Assassination, Intelligence, and Support Divisions. In my past life, I'd been assigned to Assassination—predictable for a lesser mantis clansman.
'Assassination slows growth.'
The core of Mantis Hall was undeniably the Warrior Division. Only there could you get broad support for rapid advancement and quicker access to the treasury. Inside lay an S-rank rune. I had to claim it before anyone else.
'S-rank runes aren't easy to get.'
Especially the one in Mantis Hall's treasury—it was top-tier among S-ranks. I needed it ASAP to burn off some of this overflowing ether before reaching Complete Body.
'This should be enough to catch their eye... And for the finale, the island mid beetle.'
Claim first place, enter Warrior Division as top recruit. That was goal one.
And that plan hit the mark.
"Insane... That's a lesser mantis?"
"Hah! In all my years, I've never seen a Juvenile Stage lesser mantis move like that from infancy."
The instructors watching Aleck through the fly he'd attached exhaled in awe.
Gaon, who'd seen it once before, had some tolerance, but Bostick and Houston kept muttering "He's nuts" at the shocking display.
"It's not just fast body—those eyes are sharp too."
Houston rubbed his chin with both hands. As eyes turned to him, he grinned like a kid in a candy store and continued.
"Impossible for an infant lesser mantis's strength to wound a primal earwig, even a first-instar."
"But didn't Aleck slice it like tofu?"
Gruwyn, less experienced, spoke up curiously, and Houston nodded.
"Exactly. Know why?"
"He... sees the grains?"
Before Gruwyn could answer, Bostick cut in. Houston nodded.
"Right. The kid instinctively spots grains and targets them. Historic genius talent—unheard of."
With that, the third instructors' room erupted in gasps again. They began branding Aleck history's greatest mantis prodigy.
"Th-there! I saw the island mid beetle over there."
I nodded at where Kind pointed. Sure enough, smack in the forest center.
Back then, I'd only heard rumors of one in the survival field. Who'd have thought I'd be the one hunting it.
'Life's a wild ride.'
Spinning my dagger, I advanced. Truth be told, even without Kind's tip, I'd sensed the thick killing intent rippling from the forest heart.
Unlike small-to-mid primal earwigs, this mid-to-large primal's presence rode the wind.
"Ugh."
Kind let out an uneasy whimper.
'Scared stiff, huh.'
I inwardly clicked my tongue. Had I really put up with such a coward before?
A bit farther, the dense trees thinned, revealing a wide clearing.
"Stop here."
"Huh, why?"
Kind's group halted, tilting heads. Obeying saved their lives.
"Look there."
Their gazes followed my gesture. They spotted the massive creature squatting alone in the forest midst.
"Chiiiriiiip!"
A chilling red gaze locked on us, followed by a guttural roar.
"Gaaah!"
Kind and his crew screamed, collapsing in shock.
Scraaaape!
The island mid beetle spread its wings wide, coiling its hind legs.
Boom!
With a massive thud, its bulk launched like a cannonball at us.
Kind squeezed his eyes shut, but it never hit—because an invisible barrier penned the beetle.
Kuuung!
It slammed headfirst into the barrier, staggering back. Its head dented slightly—quite the impact. Looked like it did that often; its stupidity made me shake my head.
'Wait, maybe it's bait?'
Now it reeled as if about to collapse. Anyone would get greedy seeing that. Look at Kind's group—terror fading to faint greed in their eyes. Seemed ripe for a poke-down.
'Not dumb—cunning bastard.'
I was sure, seeing its eyes fixed on us despite the wobble. It was luring.
'Come on in—I'm wide open.' Its body screamed.
'How many fell for it.'
Explained the blood scent.
'Fine, I'll play along.'
I smirked crookedly at Kind's group.
"Stay put and watch."
Warned firmly lest greed pull them in and ruin things, then leaped into the barrier.
For reference, this was a Shinseon butterfly clan's barrier. Common species passed freely; primals were restricted.
"Chiriiiip!"
It cheered joyfully as I entered—or to us, a eardrum-shattering roar.
Normal recruits would've frozen in panic, becoming fodder.
'Guessing why they placed it here.'
This tested greed control. Physical prowess mattered, but so did tempering desire—a key virtue.
'But that's for those without the chops to take it.'
I dodged the beetle's renewed charge, slashing my dagger.
Slash!
A long red line appeared on its log-thick leg. Minor for its size, but proof my attacks landed.
"Whoa!"
Kind's group gasped in realization.
But I frowned, unsatisfied.
'This way, it'll take forever.'
If I could use Wind White Swordsmanship (SS)—mastered at Complete Body, perfected at Ultimate—I'd have bisected it leg-to-torso in one stroke.
But Wind White needed ether. The current "restriction" blocked it. No ether, just fancy fruit.
'Planned another way, but...'
Switching strategy—thanks to High Jump skill.
It enabled a frontal win.
'Just need one shot.'
I evaded another roar-charge by a hair, targeting legs relentlessly.
Slash, slice, zip!
Lines multiplied on its legs with each exchange. They dragged, strength fading.
Easier said than done—Kind's group gripped sweaty palms at the tightrope tension.
My frail body would shred on a graze. I danced a high-wire act.
Finally, the endless skirmish neared end.
Shraaaake!
Legs hobbling, it spread wings fully. Stepped back, leaped skyward, then dove flapping.
The moment I'd waited for. Leg focus lured it to fly-attack.
"Gasp—."
Kind's crew paled at the gale-force wingbeats. They figured I couldn't dodge.
But anyone reading my eyes wouldn't. They sparkled brightest yet.
'Now!'
I crouched, powering legs as it plummeted.
"Wh-what! Dodge!"
Kind yelled, shocked—I looked like I'd sat to accept fate.
But he'd soon see his worry unfounded.
'Skill: High Jump (E) activate.'
Legs hardened like steel, dozens-fold. Volcanic kinetic energy surged.
I exploded upward, rocketing at the beetle.
Kwaang!
Its eyes widened in panic at my missile-rise. I grinned.
Seemed head-on, but I aimed elsewhere.
'Abdomen!'
Its exposed belly—softest spot, unarmored. Basic dagger could pierce.
One ragged leg widened the gap.
Dagger upright, I became a spear, impaling its gut.
Puuk—Kwajik!
Green blood sprayed amid gruesome sounds. Kind's group gaped, jaws dropped.
I smirked—picture-perfect strike.
Twisted midair, using debris as footing, dove again—headshot on its half-corpse upper body.
Kwajik!
A savage crunch echoed across the clearing.