The Red-Chested Mantis
Kun Red Long-Winged Broad-Belly Mantis. A species also known simply as the Red-Chested Mantis. Its defining feature was the long red marking draped across its chest.
'And... it's a race nearly as strong as the King Mantis primal species.'
It fell just short of the King Mantis in power and size, but only by a hair. They were sturdier individuals than even the King Broad-Belly Mantises. The problem was their rarity, making sightings few and far between. He never imagined he'd encounter one here.
Smoothly.
In the frozen space where everyone stood petrified, the Red-Chested Mantis took a single step forward. Its footsteps were eerily silent. Despite moving a body the size of a towering pavilion, it barely made a sound. That was the trait of mantis species specialized in ambushes.
"Chit, chirip."
"Kiriri...."
"Kirit...."
At the arrival of an absolute predator, the island crickets and wolf spiders couldn't even breathe properly. They knew it instinctively. If the Red-Chested Mantis willed it, they'd be wiped out in an instant.
'They can't even move.'
From the moment it revealed its presence, it had been subtly emanating an overwhelming aura. It hadn't affected him at all, so he'd overlooked it. But the other primal species seemed utterly dominated, like flies caught in a web, unable to budge.
"Maaant—."
The Red-Chested Mantis tilted its head at him, forelegs clasped together.
'...?'
Its gaze seemed to ask what he wanted it to do. He knew instinctively.
'Thanks to Empathy.'
Locking eyes with the Red-Chested Mantis, he conveyed his will. Drive them all out of here.
It reacted immediately.
"Maaaant—!!"
It spread its clasped forelegs wide and roared with mouth agape.
"Chii, chiriieee—!"
"Kiriririp—!"
As their stiffened bodies loosened, the creatures let out pale-faced screeches and fled in panic. Dozens of primal species scattering like waves receding over sand.
'Whoa....'
A subtle smile tugged at his lips. It was absurd that he'd once felt threatened by foes he could dispatch with a flick of his finger before his regression. And utterly unreal that this Red-Chested Mantis primal had obeyed his will.
"Maaant."
As he looked up, it bowed low, meeting his eyes. Like a vassal before his king. After this greeting-like posture, the Red-Chested Mantis turned and slowly vanished into the forest beyond.
'....'
He watched its retreating figure in silence.
'Now it's certain.'
Meeting the Red-Chested Mantis had solidified his conviction. His Empathy trait allowed him to command mantis primal species at will.
'I was half-doubting the description that I could empathize with mantis species...'
Both with the King Mantis primal earlier and just now. He had no choice but to believe it was the power to command and dominate mantises.
'And it's only F-rank.'
Incredible. The Red-Chested Mantis primal he'd just commanded was a full adult. Not yet an Awakening that could actively externalize ether beyond instinctual use, but even as an adult, it wielded devastating power. And he'd bent such a being with an F-rank trait.
Of course, not completely. It was more like a slight nudge for help than true command. But the fact that it worked on an adult mantis primal was key.
'Once the rank rises, I could truly treat adults like subordinates. And maybe even Awakenings...'
The thought sent a thrilling shiver up his spine. With this expanded arsenal, he couldn't hide the grin spreading across his face.
Whoosh—.
Then, amid a whirlwind, a group appeared in midair.
"Are you alright?"
It was Elder Hose, fluttering his purple wings.
'Primalization form.'
His eyes gleamed at the sight. He'd seen the Shinseon Butterfly tribe's primalized forms before, but this was his first post-regression.
Buzz, thud.
Elder Hose and the five or so followers landed. All 7th hierarchy. They released primalization and approached him.
"What happened? That mantis primal just now... what in the world..."
They must have witnessed the Red-Chested Mantis primal chasing off the others. With its massive size, it would stand out from afar. And the Shinseon Butterfly tribe could expand their vision with spells, so they'd seen it clearly.
"As you saw, we replaced all the pentagonal stones' artifacts and clashed with some primal species, but that mantis primal showed up just in time and drove them all away."
"Heavens! I can't fathom it. From afar, it looked like the mantis primal was helping you... How on earth?"
"Beats me. I don't know either."
He shrugged with an innocent expression. Elder Hose and the Shinseon Butterfly shamans behind him let out wry chuckles. Amazed that a predator primal would ever lend aid. No one seemed to suspect he'd empathized and commanded the Red-Chested Mantis. It was a stretch for most to imagine.
"You truly are... a mystery."
In the end, Hose could only laugh in disbelief as he eyed him.
* * *
"Hurry!"
Parkinson and the 6th hierarchy and below Shinseon Butterflies were swiftly ascending the Riandri Mountains. Unable to primalize, their spell flight was slow, forcing them to run on foot.
"Chirip—!"
Thud!
Heading to the pentagonal stones, they spotted locust and cricket primal species descending the slopes.
"The frenzy really has lifted."
"Yeah. How did he replace the artifacts amid all those?"
"Young, but exceptionally talented."
Watching the wave of primal species recede, they were awestruck. Thinking of Aleck who'd pierced that horde to swap the artifacts left them speechless. No clue how he'd done it.
"Parkinson, you really need to apologize prop— Everyone, halt!"
The leader speaking to Parkinson suddenly froze and stopped the group.
The reason was clear.
Shaaaah.
A massive entity radiating overwhelming presence was moving slowly right nearby.
"Whoa, King Mantis?"
Someone swallowed hard. Its colossal size and crushing aura screamed King Mantis primal.
"No, look at the chest... Red Long-Winged Broad-Belly Mantis. Don't provoke it—take cover behind terrain immediately."
Jan, the leader, issued a low command. The shamans gulped and stealthily hid behind cover.
All here were 6th hierarchy or below. Even hundreds couldn't challenge this colossal mantis. To them, the Red-Chested Mantis primal was a natural disaster.
"Ugh."
Then, Parkinson, hiding behind the same rock as Jan, trembled and groaned.
"Parkinson...."
Jan gripped his shoulder sympathetically, channeling a calming spell.
Parkinson's pallid face eased slightly.
"Th-thank you."
"No thanks needed. Just stay quiet."
Parkinson nodded.
'The trauma lingers.'
Jan eyed him with pity. As a child, Parkinson had faced a mantis primal up close—and lost his family to it. Watching them devoured alive had left him panicking at the sight of mantis primals ever since. It explained his disdain for mantis tribe folk.
'Hope he overcomes it someday. For his own sake...'
Jan soothed Parkinson's shoulder until the Red-Chested Mantis was out of sight.
* * *
"You've arrived."
"Yes, Elder."
Jan led nearly a hundred 6th hierarchy and below shamans to Elder Hose.
Hose and the six elders had arrived earlier, chatting with Aleck.
'To think that small frame did it alone.'
Jan murmured in awe at the pentagonal stone now properly glowing with its replaced core.
He hadn't been there when Hose met Aleck at the entrance, so this was his first real look.
"Heard he's from the lesser mantis tribe, but I can't believe that kid pulled it off."
Crimson beside him muttered in shock. Jan deeply agreed. How had that physique pierced the primals?
"Everyone, fall back."
Hose and the elders commanded. Forming a circle, they extended arms and chanted incantations.
Fwaaaah!
At the circle's center, multicolored ether formed and surged skyward.
Boom—!
Exploding upward, the prismatic energy spread across the Riandri Mountains.
Chiriririri—!
Kiiiii!
Flutter flutter.
Primal cries and wingbeats echoed everywhere. A spell dispersing a scent primals avoided. The already fleeing primals accelerated their retreat.
"That should do it."
The long-bearded elder spoke, and all nodded. The Riandri Mountains were restored.
'All thanks to that kid.'
Satisfied, Hose glanced at Aleck, who gazed wistfully at the spell's aftermath.
'The protective charm's effect is spent. Wasn't my imagination.'
Noting the one-use charm around Aleck's neck had dimmed, Hose realized there'd been real danger.
'Need to give him a reusable one.'
He resolved to gift Aleck a charm upon returning to Moon Paper Forest.
Aleck welcomed the thought.
"You had business with my master, right?"
"Your master?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know our relation. Kun—he's my master."
"Ah...!"
Aleck let out a soft exclamation. No wonder Kun's aura lingered in the spell...
Hose was Kun's direct disciple.
"Yes, I'd like to see Kun."
"Understood. Wait a moment—we were heading to him anyway for this."
Hose approached the pentagonal stone, placed a hand on it, and drew ether.
Weeeeng!
His hand and the stone resonated, glowing brightly.
"Master! Your disciple Hose seeks an audience."
Then.
Shaaaah.
Golden particles gathered before the stone.
Fwaaaah!
They coalesced into a figure. A man radiating golden light, strikingly handsome. Noble features evoking purity, a youthful face belying centuries of weight.
Aleck knew him well.
'Kun.'
Yes. This golden-particle form matched his memory of Kun.
—Hmm.
Kun spoke softly, eyes fixed sharply on Aleck from the start.
—You... possess a most extraordinary power, don't you?
Kun smiled with crescent eyes at Aleck. Everyone turned to him in shock.