Wind Thunder Gong
“Don’t come near! I hate it! Get out! Vanish! Kraaaah!”
The being, reeking of pure malice, let out a series of shrieks like screams of agony.
It’s scared.
For some reason, the creature was deathly afraid of me. My body craved to devour it… And that alone was enough to infer the twisted connection between the Megaera Mantis and this thing.
“Y-You’ll regret this! Kyaaaaah!”
Spouting a line straight out of a third-rate villain’s playbook, it scrambled back into the black cocoon in a panic. Like a dog with its tail between its legs, fleeing in terror.
Ziiiiiing!
As the energy leaking from the cocoon was fully sucked back inside, the sealing artifacts blazed with intense light. The devices, which had been malfunctioning under the pressure of that aura, sprang back to full operation.
“This… What in the world…”
Kun, who had witnessed the entire scene from behind, muttered in a dazed voice.
“You… Hah!”
He opened his mouth toward me as if to speak, then burst into hollow laughter.
“You must possess yet another special power I couldn’t detect. Of course—you already knew that thing was a Titanoptera. That’s why you approached the aura’s source with such confidence! Hahaha.”
Kun seemed convinced I had known the entity’s identity all along.
Titanoptera?
The fragments of that name surfaced vaguely in my mind. I recalled it as the supposed ancestor of locusts and crickets.
But there was only one reason I knew its name.
I think I saw it on a list of the strongest ancient species…
I hadn’t been particularly interested in ancient species, so the details were fuzzy. Especially not during my life as Aleck.
The reason it rang a bell was… During my time playing Insect King’s War, someone had posted a ranking of ancient species on the forums, and I vaguely remembered seeing it there.
Meganeura… It was listed in the top ranks alongside that one.
I resolved to check the ancient species records at Chung Hak Gwan. The thing had tucked tail and fled for now, but a strong premonition told me we’d cross paths again someday.
“I won’t pry for details. Today’s events are etched into my heart forever. You’ve done me a tremendous favor!”
Kun approached with a broad smile. The worry that had clouded his face was completely gone.
“Is it stable now?”
“Yes, it should hold steady for the foreseeable future.”
With that, he chanted an incantation and swept his hand through the air.
Arghhhhhhh!!
Golden nooses materialized, flying toward the black cocoon.
Chiiiiiing!
The golden bindings clamped down hard on the cocoon. It writhed uncomfortably, but the nooses and sealing artifacts glowed, fully subduing it. The seal was now even more secure.
“Whew, finally a weight off my shoulders. Feels like I met a true benefactor today. Let’s head to the cabin!”
Brimming with excitement, Kun led me out of the cave.
The scenery outside had transformed completely. The crimson-black haze that had blanketed the sky was gone, replaced by a clear, vibrant blue expanse.
Just like that time.
A familiar sight after so long—I couldn’t help but smile.
“Not bad, eh? The view?”
Kun asked, pride swelling in his voice for his domain.
“Yeah, it’s stunning.”
“Keh heh, you’ve got an eye for beauty.”
He led me straight into the cabin.
“Now, I’ll craft a technique to wield wind and lightning ether simultaneously.”
His face alight with determination, Kun dove right into the work. I shared the core formulas of Wind Qi Gong and Thunder Technique with him. For the latter, passed down from Norton, I couldn’t reveal the full method—but luckily, Kun said the essentials alone would suffice.
“Rest a bit. I’ll bring good news soon enough.”
And so, a week passed.
* * *
“Hoo.”
Finishing my sword training, I wiped the sweat from my brow.
For the past week, I’d stuck to the same intense daily routine without fail. Dawn wakeup for Wind White Swordsmanship practice. Breakfast, then morning training focused on flexibility and muscle building. Lunch, followed by afternoon sessions of inner contemplation…
A whole week of nothing but training.
Looking back, it was train, train, train all day. No real difference from my days at Mantis Hall. But here, with the ether density so high, my progress felt accelerated.
“You’re relentless. How do you train all day like that?”
Kun’s voice came from behind as I wrapped up morning practice.
“You’re here.”
“I told you to drop the formalities.”
“Haha, I’ll work on it.”
Lately, he’d been insisting I speak casually. But hierarchy mattered—how could I?
Of course, before my regression, we were close enough.
Back then, I’d ascended to the continent’s pinnacle, matching Kun’s stature regardless of age. Things were different now. Even if Kun and I were fine with it, not all Shinseon Butterfly clansmen would be.
Better to treat him casually once I’ve grown more.
“Hmph, you ignore the world’s gaze on most things, yet draw the line sharp here. Good on you. Next time we meet, make it casual.”
I chuckled and nodded. It felt pretty good. Kun only urged familiarity with those he truly acknowledged.
“And today, I bring joyful news for you.”
“…No way.”
“Indeed. I’ve forged a formula to wield dual attributes at once.”
“Finally…!”
A genuine exclamation escaped me. Kun’s confidence meant it was complete.
Just one week. An absurdly short time to merge two techniques’ essences. Yet he’d succeeded.
“I’ve named it Wind Thunder Gong.”
Kun handed over a book inscribed with the Wind Thunder Gong essentials.
Oh.
Skimming it, my eyes lit up. As expected of Kun. His theoretical mastery of ether was unmatched on the continent.
Vague intuitions I’d sensed were now systematized.
This’ll work!
A grin stretched across my face, nearly to my ears.
“Heh, looks promising, right?”
Reading my smile, Kun puffed out his chest proudly.
“Yeah, it’s perfect! Thank you so much.”
My sincere gratitude drew a flash of white teeth from him.
“No need—I’m the grateful one. Merging those techniques sparked insights for my ongoing research.”
He pulled out another book. Harmony Gong.
I instantly knew: this was Kun’s enlightenment from reaching Ultimate Body.
My own Wind Qi Gong stemmed from insights at Complete Body and Ultimate Body. Most techniques on this continent arose this way. Norton’s Thunder Technique was woven from his own such revelations.
“This Harmony Gong I’m developing centers on wielding multiple ether attributes.”
As I thought.
I nodded. I hadn’t known its name pre-regression, but its effects? Crystal clear.
It amplifies other attributes’ powers.
Kun’s ether was light. Potent in niches, but lacking versatility. A weakness for a spellcaster.
Kun overcame it with this self-forged technique, wielding common elements potently.
That’s how he matched me blow for blow.
“Your puzzle gave me the key to refining Harmony Gong.”
“…!”
I stared at him in shock.
“If it works as I envision… I’ll freely command any ether attribute.”
Kun smirked.
“Take this.”
He offered a ruby the size of a gold coin, deep red.
“What’s this?”
“A signal device.”
“Signal… device?”
Grinning, he explained.
“When it signals from that artifact, come see me. It’ll mean completion.”
“…!”
I was genuinely stunned. He was pointing to his in-progress Harmony Gong.
“Master it, and your ether cultivation will soar—I guarantee it.”
“…Thank you.”
I bowed deeply, from the heart. Sharing such enlightenment wasn’t given lightly. Even Norton had agonized before passing Thunder Technique.
Yet Kun offered his ultimate art casually, like a father to a son.
“It’s all for the continent. I read fortunes decently… and yours marks a savior of multitudes.”
Whoa. That caught me off guard. Success against the Four Lords and the Administrator would save the continent entire.
True or not, he’d all but voiced my ambitions.
“Hoh… That face screams ‘big trouble ahead’?”
“Yeah, planning to stir some up.”
“Hahaha, don’t overdo it.”
His playful tone drew a matching jest from me. He roared with laughter, delighted. I chuckled along, a genuine smile rising from within for the first time in ages.
“Start mastering it first.”
“Right, was about to.”
I sat by the lake and circulated the Wind Thunder Gong formula. My consciousness sank into the abyss, unveiling the vast ether sea—now familiar.
Hwooooong—! Pzzt zzzt!
Wind and lightning still divided, clashing in opposition. I took it in, guiding ether per the formula.
Pzzt! Hwooooong—!
The boundary shattered. The two ethers began to merge.