Chung Hak Gwan Dispatch
"Congratulations!"
Kind, who had been panting in front of me, flashed a wide grin and shouted.
Congratulations? Oh!
I tilted my head for a moment before realizing what he meant.
The Chung Hak Gwan dispatch results are out.
I recalled Karimru mentioning that the announcement would come today.
"It's official! You've been selected for Chung Hak Gwan dispatch, Aleck!"
Kind bounced around like it was his own achievement, overflowing with joy. That was how coveted a place Chung Hak Gwan was—enough to provoke such a reaction from everyone.
"Whoa, Aleck's here. Congrats!"
"Congratulations. Heard the news?"
"Aleck, congrats!"
Just then, Robed, Ruslan, and Bishier emerged from the dorms. They lit up with smiles the moment they saw me and offered their congratulations.
"Thanks, everyone."
"Man, our Aleck's really gonna skyrocket now."
"You're already unmatched among your peers—can't even imagine how much stronger you'll get at Chung Hak Gwan!"
"I wonder if Aleck's gonna become Mantis Hall's strongest warrior someday."
"Of course! Aleck will definitely be the strongest warrior representing our clan! I respect you so much, Aleck niiim!"
These guys...
A soft smile tugged at my lips unbidden. Warm emotions I'd rarely felt before swirled in my chest.
...
I quietly closed my eyes.
Memories from before my regression flashed by like a montage. Days filled with endless trials and agony, every moment a grind. I couldn't even show my struggles, always pushing forward alone in solitude. Even when I fell, I had to clutch my trembling legs and force myself back up.
There wasn't a single moment I didn't want to give up.
I looked around the path I'd walked. Crimson, blood red. No explanation needed—it was blood. A road paved with corpses and blood. The remains of the Four Great Lords and their sycophantic trash.
Looking back now, I marveled at how I'd traversed that hellish path without losing my mind.
But ahead, I have to walk it again.
I bit my lower lip, staring at the blood-soaked scarlet road. If I had to tread it once more, I might truly go insane. Without a doubt, alone, I would have.
But things are different now.
I gazed at those beaming at me. It started as bad blood with Kind, but now he trusted and followed me more than anyone. Ruslan, stoic and sometimes inscrutable, showed his faith through actions and glances rather than words. Bishier, pure and kind despite our short time together. And Robed, always sending warm smiles and looks my way... Just seeing her face made my heart flutter oddly.
They weren't the only ones. Norton, Karimru, Monahan, and more. In this life, countless people extended bright rays of light toward me.
Yes. To me, those beams were salvation.
Days of tension, like walking on thin ice, never knowing when I'd snap. The creeping fear that I was already going mad bit by bit. Those rays cleansed the rot from my soul.
Now, it was time to repay them by saving them in turn. By slaying the Administrator who devoured the Abian Continent and turned it into a ranch, along with the Four Great Lords who aided him—I'd complete that salvation.
"Thanks, everyone. Truly."
"Whoa, Aleck, you can smile that brightly?"
"Wow... Aleck was already handsome, but that smile makes your face glow even more. Smile like that more often!"
"But the food's gonna get cold at this rate. Let's head in and chat."
"Oh right! I forgot I was gonna grab some honey brew. Be right back!"
"We don't need honey brew. Do we really have to drink that?"
"Oh, Robed, you wouldn't get it. There's a match left unfinished between me and Aleck! Won't see him for a while, so we gotta settle it before he leaves!"
"Hm, did I see wrong? I remember you charging at Aleck all cocky and ending up crawling on all fours..."
"Aah! Don't say that in front of Bishier, Ruslan!"
I smiled faintly again at their boisterous chatter. These warm feelings in this moment—I vowed never to forget them.
* * *
The southern reaches of the Abian Continent. A place dubbed "God's Wrath."
The natural caves here served as the habitat for the Amar King Centipede clan.
"Kuremlin."
"Yes, Craig."
"Do you know much about ancient primal species?"
Craig set down the report in his hand with a sly chuckle and a question.
"Not really. Just heard names of a few."
"Which ones have you heard of?"
"The ones I know are Meganeura, Titanoptera, and Alexandra."
"Hm, all the ones hailed as the strongest. What about Thunderwing?"
"Sorry, no idea. First time hearing that ancient species' name..."
"Kukukuku, Tyron would be heartbroken. Tyron—the current Hornet clan lord."
Hearing Tyron's name, Kuremlin pieced it together: Thunderwing was an ancient from the Hymenoptera order.
"Is it related to bees or wasps?"
"Right. Thunderwing was one of the ancient Hymenoptera. Unlike others with raw physical might, it had few equals. Know why?"
"Perhaps... because it wielded thunder?"
"Kukuku, sharp as ever. Thunderwing could unleash hundreds, even millions of volts of lightning."
"Ah..."
Kuremlin gasped, his guess confirmed. As a flier, its mobility would make lightning strikes unbeatable. If countered, it could just flee.
What an enviable fighting style.
Ground-bound centipedes like them always envied sky-dwellers. Survival hinged on it. Their style was biting and poisoning up close, but they had a fatal flaw.
Our exoskeletons are far softer than other species'.
They looked tough like Hercules beetles or stag beetles, but were actually brittle. Even breathing holes made them vulnerable to drowning.
Thus, the Amar King Centipedes ranked as the weakest of the Four Great clans.
Gaining flight is one of our clan's oldest dreams.
Flying with ranged attacks—that was their ideal. Hence experiments to steal Cloud Centipede flight powers.
But why bring up Thunderwing now?
"In my view, the Thunderwing fossil holds immense value. What do you think?"
"Beyond measure."
Kuremlin caught on to Craig's intent.
"Exactly. So if there's a chance to get it, what do we do?"
"Acquire it."
Yes. Craig's goal: the Thunderwing fossil.
The gold bug Craig spared no means for profit. This was no different.
"Chung Hak Gwan recently acquired a Thunderwing fossil. And conveniently, Mantis Hall's dispatching two there. Know what you need to do?"
"I'll use them as cicada slough hosts to stir chaos and steal the Thunderwing."
"Kukuku, hahahahaha!"
Craig burst into laughter, thoroughly pleased.
"That's why I trust you. Proceed immediately!"
"Understood."
Kuremlin bowed deeply to Craig.
* * *
After the Chung Hak Gwan dispatch announcement, departure day arrived swiftly.
"Aleck niiim! Separating from Aleck—Kind cried all night from the sorrow!"
"Aigoo... Kind, your snoring kept me up all night next door. What tears all night?"
"Ahh! Th-that's... I cried myself out and slept from exhaustion, so I snored from fatigue!"
"Whatever. Aleck, safe travels. Congrats again on Chung Hak Gwan!"
"You'll crush it there too. Show 'em the mantis spirit!"
On the morning I left Mantis Hall, Norton, Bardwin, and my cohort gathered to see me off.
I shook hands one by one, bidding farewell.
Last was Robed.
"Aleck, Chung Hak Gwan's a sacred place of learning, so absorb everything, grow massively, and come back. We'll be waiting."
Robed smiled brightly, offering her hand. I smiled back, grasping her soft, warm palm—it warmed my heart too.
"And... I'll send letters often, so reply right away when you read them. Got it? Ignore or delay, and I might get mad."
"Got it."
She pouted playfully, and I couldn't help another faint smile.
"When you return..."
"When I do?"
"...Nothing."
She murmured so softly even I couldn't catch it.
"What?"
"...I'll tell you then."
She brushed it off with a smile, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"Aleck, may blessings light your path. Unfurl your infinite potential there and return."
Norton clapped my shoulder last, encouraging me.
Next time, I'll prove passing on the Thunder Qi was no mistake.
With everyone's blessings, I headed to Mantis Hall's entrance.
There, I met my fellow dispatch: Katt.
* * *
"Nice to meet you, Senior Katt."
"Nah, drop the 'nim.' Makes my exoskeleton itch. I'm not big on formalities—speak casually."
"Haha..."
My travel companion was Katt, a King Mantis. He'd reached Growth Stage, his build imposingly massive for his clan.
Even bulkier than most King Mantises...
No exaggeration. Unlike typical sturdy mantises, he was rugged, packed with huge muscles. Even Zadan, whom I thought solid, wouldn't bulk up this much at Growth Stage.
"You into ancient species?"
"Got some interest."
"Yeah?"
Katt's eyes sparkled. Then words poured out like a machine gun.
"Truth is, I love studying ancient primals. Chung Hak Gwan's loaded with their data, so I'm pumped to dive in. My faves are Meganeura and Proterus—both apex Carboniferous predators. Not just that... Oh! Why not our ancestor Megaera Mantis? It's all speculation—no solid fossils yet, so hard to get into even if I want to..."
"..."
I was speechless as Katt rapid-fired, saliva flying. Total mismatch with his looks. He seemed the silent muscle type, but he was a chatty scholar at heart. My ears rang.
Gotta split midway ASAP and head to Kun.
I shook my head, glancing toward Moon Paper Forest, home of the Shinseon Butterfly clan.