Molting Revelations and the One Heart Tournament
Robed turned her head and saw a familiar face standing there. It was none other than Kind.
"Whoa! Sir Aleck, what happened during your vacation? Your build... No way? You molted too, Sir Aleck?"
Kind stared at my body—which had grown by at least a head taller than before—with wide-eyed shock. Then he spotted the changed marking beneath my ear and clapped both hands over his gaping mouth. He'd realized I'd successfully molted.
"My god!"
Kind, who clearly hadn't expected me to reach the Juvenile Stage so soon, made a huge fuss, his face a mask of utter astonishment.
"H-Hey, Aleck! You got taller... No way?"
As I stepped into the training grounds, the other trainees couldn't hide their surprise upon seeing me. The commotion drew even those who'd arrived early, and they all crowded around.
"Whoa, congrats!"
"Insane! But seriously, Aleck, are you really from the lesser mantis clan? Your size... it doesn't look like it at all."
I chuckled at their incredulous questions and nodded. Truth be told, I was starting to wonder myself if I'd truly outgrown the lesser mantis clan. My stats had surged far beyond normal after just one molt, and my body had changed dramatically. It was anything but a typical lesser mantis molt.
But my status window still listed me as a lesser mantis.
The marking is still the lesser mantis clan's, after all.
The most reliable identifier of one's clan. The marking under my ear remained exactly that of the lesser mantis clan. Upon reaching the Juvenile Stage, the small mantis foreleg symbol of infancy had grown larger and sharper, just like a juvenile marking. And the brown-tinted pattern dotted with black spots was identical to any lesser mantis clan's.
So it wasn't wrong to say I was still a lesser mantis.
"Whoa... Aleck, are you some kind of mutant?"
"Or maybe you discovered your birth secret—turns out your dad's actually a king mantis who ended up in the lesser mantis clan due to some dramatic backstory and fell in love with your mom..."
A few of the usual pranksters started spinning wild tales in playful tones. Inter-clan marriages weren't uncommon among mantis kinds, but pairings between king or shield mantises and lesser mantises were virtually unheard of.
Naturally, everyone buzzed with curiosity, tossing out guesses left and right. I laughed and shot back,
"Both my parents were lesser mantis clan, for sure."
In truth, I'd never met them. Records showed they'd gone missing long before I possessed this body. If these guys knew that, they wouldn't be joking around like this.
"Oh my! Aleck, no way... you molted? Congrats!"
Robed, arriving late to the training grounds, beamed a bright smile and offered her congratulations.
"Congrats, Aleck."
Ruslan added his own as well. The cheers continued all the way to the instructors entering last.
"Hohoho, already molted, have you? I heard about Robed earlier, but you too, Aleck? Unbelievable."
Norton wore an amazed expression, his eyes crinkling into crescents as he congratulated us. I faintly caught him muttering, "As expected..."
"But Aleck, looking at your size, you hardly seem like a lesser mantis. Any chance one of your parents was from another clan?"
Norton's belated quip drew stifled snickers from around the group. I explained once more that no, that wasn't the case, and the mystery of my birth(?) was laid to rest.
Once the brief uproar died down, Norton addressed us with a serious expression.
"I've been away too much lately, haven't I? It was supposed to take a few more days, but I rushed back so you wouldn't keep your chief instructor waiting in vain."
The trainees looked a touch disappointed at his words. I could practically hear their inner thoughts: 'No, you could've taken your time...'
But that lasted only a moment. They erupted in enthusiastic cheers and reactions. Was this the positive side of social life? These folks, who once seemed oblivious, had grown so perceptive in just a month.
As I quietly marveled to myself, Norton grinned and spoke up.
"Truth be told, I had another reason for hurrying back as fast as I could."
He scanned us once, then continued.
"You all remember the Sama Grand Tournament last time. The annual event ended in cancellation, leaving everyone disappointed, right?"
"Yes, it was a shame!"
The trainees' resounding reply brought a satisfied nod from Norton.
"Indeed, many share your regret. After conferring with the elders, the lord has announced a new tournament to replace the Sama Grand Tournament."
"...!"
A murmur rippled through the trainees. Some had heard rumors and half-expected it; others were hearing it for the first time. Reactions were mostly positive, and understandably so. They'd endured hellish training with the Five Evils Formation machine for the Sama Grand Tournament, only for it to fall through. Whatever the format, they'd finally get to reap the rewards.
"Instructor! Will the tournament follow the same format as the Sama Grand Tournament?"
"Good question!"
Norton nodded at the trainee's query.
"First, the name of this new tournament: the One Heart Tournament."
"One Heart...?"
"Despite the chaos, it's meant to signify our unity in overcoming it unshaken."
Hearing the name, I could guess the format. I'd rarely participated in or watched the Sama Grand Tournament in my previous life, but rumors had filled me in.
One Heart—probably a team format. But after the ugly incidents in the team battles, they won't stick to standard teams. So... team league. That seems likely.
Team league—also called "winner's relay" or "victor's chain." Simple rules: Each team fields members one by one in 1v1 duels. Winners stay to face the next opponent. Knock out the whole enemy team, and you win.
"This tournament will be team-based, with a new 'Relay Team Battle' format tailored to the league style."
Spot on.
I nodded inwardly. Team leagues have that thrill of all-kills and comebacks.
Perfect for birthing star players, it would explode in popularity among mantis kinds years later. This canceled Sama Grand Tournament had just accelerated its debut.
The clock in Sama Battleground is ticking faster for sure.
Ghost ant raids to team league adoption...
My influence, no doubt.
I was the only variable changed from the past. Like a butterfly's wingbeat birthing a storm, my small ripples had triggered this.
Theo was the spark.
Originally, Theo wouldn't have trained in my class or met Norton. He might not have even gotten the cicada parasite. I didn't know how he'd gotten tangled up this time, drawing the ghost ants early, but I was deeply involved in the shift.
But it was an event we'd face eventually.
Twisted by my presence, but unlike before, no sacrifices. A boon for the mantis kinds as a whole—potentially sparking unprecedented prosperity, unlike the near-extinction of old.
A strange pride welled up.
Shame no one knows.
Recognition with an S-grade elixir from the third floor of the Sama Treasury would've been nice.
As my thoughts wandered idly, Norton elaborated on the team league.
"Sadly, not everyone can join. Teams of five compete per match, so from our cohort, only ten will be selected: five starters and five backups."
Groans erupted here and there. With Theo sidelined long-term, we had 29 trainees. Only a third could participate.
"Instructor! That's too few!"
The Sama Grand Tournament had let nearly everyone play, so the disappointment was fair. But Norton couldn't rewrite the rules for us.
"Can't be helped. Selections in two weeks—make the top ten if you want in. Oh, and prizes will be even more generous than the Sama Grand Tournament."
Many trainees' eyes lit with fervor. Prizes meant elixirs mostly. Having seen Robed and me molt, they felt the lag keenly now more than ever.
But I'm no different.
The mantis kinds' future—nay, Abian Continent's—hinged on my growth, no exaggeration.
And the flow's diverged from my past life. Unforeseen variables abound.
I needed power. I wouldn't miss a single shot at elixirs.
At Juvenile Stage, no real rivals in the first league round.
I could all-kill a juvenile team solo now. MVP was mine. I'd clean out those elixirs I'd only eyed last time.
"Training continues with the Five Evils Formation, plus a big increase in solo duels—since team leagues boil down to 1v1s."
Ooh—
Cheers broke out. One-on-one spars beat grueling, monotonous drills any day.
"Speaking of, how about Aleck and Robed demonstrate a friendly duel?"
"...!"
The trainees' eyes sparkled at Norton's suggestion. A fun show incoming. All gazes locked on us, brimming with anticipation.
I'd rather not spar Robed...
I clicked my tongue inwardly. Lately—even last time—crossing blades with her felt oddly uncomfortable. Because she was the lord's daughter? I glanced her way. She met my eyes, having turned too.
Nod.
She smiled and nodded back—a signal to give it a go. No choice then. I nodded in return and stood.
Uncomfortable or not, I wanted to loosen up. No real chance to unleash since molting.
As we approached the sparring ring, cheers rang out.
"Follow standard rules. Avoid lethal blows, and stop instantly if one yields."
Norton laid out the terms. Robed and I nodded slightly, blades raised.
"Hehe, didn't expect to cross swords with you again so soon, Aleck."
"...Yeah."
Unlike me, Robed seemed thrilled, her face alight with joy.
"Here I go, Aleck!"
Her blade tip fixed on me. As it quivered...
Our duel truly began.