The Veteran of Bug Wars: Reincarnated as a Transcendent Mantis (50)
‘Hot.’
Right after consuming the Overlord Elixir.
I felt a pain like my organs were burning up. An indescribably vicious scorching agony. I thought I’d pass out on the spot.
But I had to grit my teeth and endure it.
‘Nothing special. It’s a familiar situation.’
I recalled the first time I’d taken the Overlord Elixir. The same heat melting through my organs. Back then, I’d at least reached Maturity Stage before encountering it, so my body’s durability was far higher than now. I could withstand the blaze back then…
‘Urgh.’
Not this time. If Maturity flesh was like solid rock, my current body was soft tofu. The gap in physical durability was extreme.
‘Without Transcendent Regeneration, my whole body would’ve melted away.’
My organs were being crushed by the boiling heat inside, then instantly regenerated by the power of the Transcendent Regeneration Rune, repeating endlessly. In other words, I was enduring the agony of melting organs every single second.
‘Enduring pain is something I’m used to.’
If I had a Pain Tolerance skill, it’d probably start at S-rank from the get-go. I was that hardened to it after twenty years on the blood-soaked path.
Maybe because of that. The pain, which had nearly shattered my mind at first, began to ease bit by bit. Proportionally, the molting accelerated rapidly.
Molting in progress.
Molting Progress: 36%
Molting Progress: 36.7%
Molting Progress: 37.1%
…
Suddenly, system messages popped up before my eyes, showing the progress rate rising in real time.
‘…….’
I’d never heard of system windows appearing during molting like this. Aside from the status window, system messages were rare even before regression. But since regressing, they’d been popping up more often.
‘Not bad to see it intuitively.’
I could roughly gauge it by feel without them, but seeing it precisely with my eyes was different. The messages helped rather than hindered, so I had no choice but to view them positively… Plus, knowing exactly how much more pain to endure made it easier to grit my teeth and push through.
* * *
How much time passed?
‘Hoo—.’
A long sigh escaped my lips.
And then.
Crack-crack-crackle.
With a dull exhale, cracks spread across my skin. Flakes of hardened epidermis rained down.
Whoosh.
Once the shell peeled away, pristine white flesh emerged. Like a newborn baby’s skin. My already pale skin grew even whiter. The biggest change was my body size—it had grown dramatically larger.
Molting Progress: 100%
Golden waves surged before my eyes, announcing the successful molt to Juvenile Stage.
Physical body surges dramatically.
Strength stat rises to ‘E’.
Speed stat rises to ‘E’.
Durability stat rises to ‘E-’.
‘Two E-ranks already?’
I felt vitality surging through my body and widened my eyes.
Typically, fresh Juvenile Stage after molting from Infant starts all stats at E-. Superior breeds like Shield Mantises or King Mantises might occasionally start one at E.
‘But I’ve got two at E right off the bat.’
Ha. An incredulous laugh slipped out. I hadn’t even fully awakened as a Megaera Mantis yet. I was just on the cusp of genetic mutation from common mantis to Megaera.
And even in this state, this potential. Another testament to the Megaera Mantis’s insane aptitude.
‘Not bad. Molting to Growth Stage will be even faster.’
At this rate, I’d reach Complete Body faster than my pre-regression self—by a landslide.
‘Maybe even Complete Body before the continental war erupts.’
Thinking it through, it was feasible. And this calculation assumed my current growth speed. Once I fully awakened Megaera power, it’d be even quicker. By the time the racial war began, aiming beyond Ultimate Body into Transcendent might not be exaggeration.
‘You bastards… wait for me.’
My eyes chilled. The Administrator and Apostle Coconut Crab. Rage always flared in my chest thinking of them. They’d invalidated my twenty years of hellish struggle on Abian Continent. Next time, I’d judge them under my blades.
‘The Administrator’s strength is unknown, though…’
The Coconut Crab I figured I could handle post-Transcendent. But the Administrator was off-spec. Even stronger now, anxiety gnawed—could I face it?
Yet recalling Megaera potential always bolstered my confidence. I would surpass it. I had to. No choice.
I savored the post-molt afterglow, reaffirming my resolve.
Then.
Ruuuuumble.
A heavy resonance like from the abyss. Goosebumps prickled every pore.
‘What’s that?’
No time to judge—the darkness swallowed my vision.
* * *
Pitch black, no light penetrating.
‘Here…?’
Consciousness returned; I scanned around. Soon realizing the familiar place.
‘The abyss of my unconscious.’
The deepest recess of my inner world. My unconscious had descended here once before.
‘Last time was by my will.’
Not now. It felt forced, like a summons. First experience pre- or post-regression.
‘That being called me.’
I couldn’t help recalling it. The colossal figure dwelling in a corner of my inner world. Transcendent aura shrouded in mystery, akin to the Administrator.
Ruuuuum—.
A drum-like thrum echoed. The impenetrable dark lightened slightly.
‘…!’
A massive silhouette filled my view. Even just the hazy upper body loomed like a mountain. Yet I instinctively knew it was mantis-shaped.
‘Not an illusion after all…’
It evoked the hazy pre-regression Administrator. The aura matched eerily, beyond words.
I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing. It’d been nagging at me. Best guess: Megaera Mantis.
‘Then why…?’
Why did it lurk in my unconscious? Ally? Foe? No clues.
Flash—.
Yellow eyes blazed in the dark, like twin suns igniting. It clearly recognized me.
—□□□□□□.
An incomprehensible vibration in my ears. Not unknown language—some absolute law blocked recognition itself.
—□□□□□□□□□□.
It spoke again, but stopped when I didn’t understand, gazing steadily. A warm, benevolent gaze easing my unease.
Shoooo—.
Suddenly, my floating form yanked upward like a hooked fish.
Fwah!
Powerless, my vision blurred instantly, just like arrival. Before total blackout, I glimpsed a blue barrier around the entity.
That was my last memory.
* * *
“Hahk.”
Vision returned; I gasped raggedly.
“Hahk— hahk—.”
Because of that encounter? My body felt heavy as waterlogged cotton.
‘What the hell…’
Recalling the baffling scene, I shook my head.
‘At least it’s friendly. Small mercy.’
No hostility. But not enough to confirm intent. Ally or not, I wouldn’t assume. Unprecedented events demanded open possibilities—for calm response to surprises.
As I mulled the unknown entity.
Progress to Next Molt: 0%
‘Progress?’
I blinked dumbly at the message.
* * *
Progress to Next Molt: 3%
‘Impressive.’
I marveled at the 3% progress.
‘As expected of a B-rank Omeyuan.’
The Omeyuan from Estelle spiked it instantly. Only I knew its true use, but with fresh post-molt body and Elixir Absorption (A), efficiency shattered limits.
‘Seeing it intuitively is really handy.’
I was pleased with the system window. Retracing old paths let me gauge roughly without it, but not this precisely.
‘Why does the system feel friendlier as Megaera power awakens…?’
Anyway, it enabled more efficient routes. Seemingly minor now, but compounding like interest to accelerate growth.
‘3% from B-rank Omeyuan… True Omeyuan might hit 5%+.’
With Elixir Absorption (A) defying norms, endless elixirs could put Growth Stage in sight fast.
‘Wish I had those treasury resources now.’
As continent’s top, riches piled unused. A fraction could’ve bought heaps via Red Rose Merchant Guild’s black market.
Patent income was rising, though. Buy elixirs ASAP, and I’d stockpile quick.
‘Status Window.’
I couldn’t hide a proud smile at my revamped status. Worlds apart from pre-regression. Imagining Ultimate Body was thrilling.
‘Skills are great, but runes are the jackpot.’
Three slots from Infant—insane when others had one.
‘Let me equip without worry from the start.’
I sensed more slots with growth. Guessed next at Maturity, so I’d reserved one spare.
But Juvenile unlocked another. Unexpected.
‘Time to hunt more runes.’
This suggested slots would keep expanding per molt. Mind-boggling.
‘Even for ancient species, the gap’s too vast—unpredictable.’
My eyes narrowed in delight. Endless strengthening ahead. Rune combos could yield hidden traits I’d only theorized.
‘Infernal Flame (S) + Eye of the Storm (S) for Flame Storm (S+) might not be a pipe dream.’
Excitement surged at growth prospects.
‘Hoo. Gotta accelerate first.’
Grow stronger. Awaken Megaera fully. Fastest way: devour elixirs.
‘Speaking of, what about that extra tournament?’
If a Sama Battleground replacement opened, perfect chance to crush fools and snag more elixirs. For elixirs, I’d dive in anywhere.
‘Ah, craving elixirs.’
As I licked my lips.
“Huh? Aleck!”
A surprised voice called from behind as I headed to the training grounds.