The Ancient Cocoon's Malice
"Do you know what this is and brought it here anyway?"
"Yes."
"Hah……."
Kun examined the threadworm egg from every angle, his face grave. From the way he scrutinized it, he had instantly discerned the curse etched into the egg.
"Do you even know who made this?"
Kun's voice carried a heavy weight. I shared with him part of what I knew—the work of the Four Great Lords, and how they were gradually increasing the number of hosts for the threadworms through it.
"Those mad bastards."
A subtle anger laced Kun's tone. He'd shown a similar reaction the first time he encountered the 'threadworm eggs' the Four Great Lords had scattered.
"Hoo, so you showed this to me because you want to know how to lift the curse if someone gets infected with the threadworm, right?"
"Exactly."
Kun had read my intentions at once. He nodded gravely and praised me, saying I'd done well.
"I'll try to devise an exorcism method as quickly as possible. To create something like this…… tsk, not a single one of them is worth a damn."
Kun unleashed his words without restraint toward the Four Great Lords. Who on the Abian Continent could speak of them that way? It was unthinkable unless you were someone of his stature.
"Anyway, it was smart to bring it to me. You're a true hero."
I responded to Kun's words with a smile.
"Is that all? No other requests?"
He seemed eager to do me another favor. With the opportunity laid out like that, how could I refuse? I'd been agonizing over how to broach the advice I needed on intertwining Wind Qi Gong and Thunder Qi Gong.
"Actually……."
I explained the issue I was facing.
"Hah! I was already shocked that you're forming a core at the Juvenile Stage, but that wasn't the end of it. To acquire two ether attributes!"
Kun spoke to me in a voice even more astonished than before. Even he, who had lived far longer than I, seemed to have never seen anyone with dual attributes.
His reaction made me feel anew, deep in my bones, just how great a blessing and rarity it was to possess two ether attributes.
But as expected, he noticed I have a core.
Who else on this continent could spot that just by looking? I was certain no one but Kun could have.
Ah, maybe the palm viper apostle or the administrator, who surpassed my power, could have.
In any case, I looked at Kun with a glimmer of expectation. Would he offer me meaningful advice?
"May I take your pulse for a moment?"
"Of course."
I immediately extended my hand. Kun grasped my wrist, closed his eyes, and sent his ether flowing into me.
"……!"
His eyelids trembled faintly.
"You're insane! What in the world are you?"
Kun opened his eyes again and stared at me with utter incomprehension.
"To cram so many abilities into one body like this. Is that even possible? No, some of these don't even match your constitution…… Ah, so that's how you can use two abilities at once."
Kun examined my body this way and that, marveling repeatedly. Then he broke into a pleased smile.
"From your demeanor, you don't seem like you'd side with the Four Great Lords…… If you grow properly, you'll be a tremendous blessing to the people of this continent."
"……."
When I didn't respond much, he continued nonchalantly.
"You possess infinite potential. Don't despair over your ordinary birth race. You have the qualities to rise higher than anyone in your clan. I stake the name of Kun, great sage of the Shinseon Butterfly clan, on this guarantee."
Kun's tone suggested he worried I might feel limited or discouraged by my origins as a lesser mantis.
He hasn't grasped the power of the Megaera Mantis.
If he had sensed that level, he wouldn't have said such things. Honestly, I'd been curious if Kun could detect my true power while probing my insides.
But even he couldn't. It must be because the level was too high.
No matter how great Kun is, he hasn't reached transcendence.
Anyway, seeing that even Kun couldn't detect it reassured me. I wouldn't have to worry about my power being easily discovered from now on.
There are so many oddballs at Chung Hak Gwan that I was a bit concerned, but I can shake that off.
I smiled inwardly with satisfaction and met Kun's eyes directly. He smiled back and spoke.
"Alright, I'll help you as much as I can. I never forget a favor once received—it's carved in stone for me."
With that, he tapped the table with his right index finger, continuing in a slightly troubled tone.
"However…… it's not the best time to help right now. What you want is a way to handle dual attributes simultaneously, correct?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Hmm, I've never seen a case like this, so finding an answer immediately is tough. I'd need a few days to conceptualize and find a clue. But right now……."
Kun glanced toward the window. Outside, the dark crimson energy still blanketed the sky.
"Dealing with that will take some time."
"Mm……."
I followed his gaze to the dark crimson energy outside, then tilted my head at the subtle sensation I'd been feeling.
A delicious smell.
Yes. Staring at that dark crimson energy, I found myself inexplicably salivating.
"Could I perhaps see the source of that energy myself?"
The impulsive question slipped out. Once I properly registered the energy, an urge overwhelmed me to witness its origin with my own eyes.
"What? You know what that is and you're still asking?"
Kun stared at me and let out a hollow chuckle, as if explaining to a child why something was dangerous. To him, I probably seemed like a fearless, curious kid.
"Even with your exceptional talent, that's not for just anyone…… hmm, but those eyes won't listen to reason."
As I gazed at him steadily, Kun trailed off. He'd sensed my iron resolve to confirm the energy's master no matter what.
"Well, with me here, it should be fine. Come on, follow me. Consider this a special courtesy for an honored guest."
Kun muttered as much and rose from his seat. I followed him out of the hut.
We arrived shortly at a massive cave beside the hut. The dark crimson energy saturating the air in this space emanated from the cave.
"This is it. Eerier than you expected? There's an incredibly vicious bastard inside. You might not sense it, but I'm the one keeping it pinned here."
"……May I take a peek inside?"
Gazing at the cave, I felt mesmerized. It was as if I had to confirm the presence within with my own eyes. At first, I'd thought it was intensifying hunger, but it was a subtly different sensation.
"Don't. Get too close and it'll devour you with its energy. Hey, kid…… sigh, fine, go see for yourself. You'll understand once you feel it."
As I trudged blankly toward the cave, Kun called out to stop me but soon clicked his tongue and followed. He probably figured that at the cave mouth, where the energy grew stronger, I'd be overwhelmed and lose my curiosity.
It's there.
Thump. Thump.
Feeling my heart race inexplicably, I stepped into the cave. Even as the thicker, more humid dark crimson energy enveloped me, I felt no effect whatsoever.
"Wha—what?! How are you completely fine?"
Kun spoke from behind in disbelief. His voice brimmed with confusion at my unaffected state.
It was understandable. Even I was puzzled as to why it didn't affect me.
Step. Step. Step.
I pressed on, entranced, piercing the dark crimson energy deeper into the cave.
"W-Wait a second."
Kun hurried after me in a fluster.
"Ah……."
And soon, I saw it. In the center, where countless formations blazed with light.
A massive, shadowy black cocoon lay there.
Countless ritual orbs clung to the cocoon like barnacles.
Sealing orbs.
I instantly recognized their purpose. At the same time, I realized this cocoon was the ancient species Kun had guarded and sealed for so long.
"Time to head back. It's dangerous here…… Oh no, it's starting again!"
As Kun grabbed my shoulder and spoke, the sealing orbs around the cocoon began to rumble violently.
Rumble rumble rumble.
They looked precarious, as if they'd fall off any moment. With that, a thicker, stickier surge of dark crimson energy gushed from the black cocoon.
"Stay behind me for now!"
Kun blocked my path. Incantations flowed from his mouth.
Flash!
His entire body glowed golden! As Kun extended both hands and chanted a spell, countless golden triangular plates materialized and flew toward the black cocoon.
An enormous amount of ether. At least an 8th hierarchy advanced spell.
No being could withstand this…….
Crack!
Before my thought finished, the thickly clustered dark crimson energy before the black cocoon repelled the golden plates.
"Urgh."
Drip drip drip.
Kun groaned and was pushed back. He'd taken the full rebound of his blocked spell.
—Kuh, kuh, kuhehehehehehehehehehe!
Finally…… this body…… will go…… outside……!
The dark energy that repelled the golden plates coalesced into a form. An elongated oval face. Hemisphere-like large eyes and a sturdy, sharp jaw. It vaguely resembled a mix of a cricket and a locust.
The face formed by the energy radiated an intensely malevolent aura, as if it had gathered all the evil in the world. It felt so profoundly wicked that leaving it be might bring the world's end.
Now…… my era…… Wh-what, whaaat? Y-You, you, you!
At that moment, the wickedly emanating face shuddered violently, as if struck by lightning.
Wh-why! Why are you here!
The entity looked utterly panicked. Its gaze fixed straight on me.
So it's you.
Feeling a wriggling thrill in my core, I stared silently at the flustered face. It wanted to break free into the world.
And I wanted to rip into its innards, tear them apart, and savor them.
This is…….
Gluttony. An intensely powerful gluttony.
I finally realized what my body had been craving.
I wanted to Predation that thing.
The influence of the Megaera Mantis.
It had to be. There must be some connection between the Megaera Mantis and that entity.
My eyes gleamed even brighter as I regarded it. Then—
Kyaaaaaaaah!
Again! You!
Its frenzy intensified.