Thunder Over the Jayang River
Parkinson. Gaerebi. A primitive species of water insect from the long-legged water strider family in the order Gerridae. With habits and appearance resembling mantises, they were sometimes called mantis cousins. Their slender, rod-shaped bodies gleamed in a yellowish-brown hue. Though they had wings and occasionally flew, they weren't the type to swoop in for an attack mid-flight.
'First time seeing one like this.' I flew out to meet the incoming gaerebi, assuming a stance midair.
Wind White Swordsmanship. First form, One Blade Clear Wind.
Shwaaaaa!
Unlike before, a blade aura blending wind and lightning erupted from my sword. Thanks to upgrading my heart method to Wind Thunder Qi Gong, the Wind White Swordsmanship now boasted far greater destructive power. And the power I'd gained by partially awakening the Megaera Mantis strength and advancing to the Growth Stage exceeded even my expectations.
Pzzt-zzzt-zzzt!
"Keriririt!"
As the lightning in the blade aura wrapped around its body, the thing let out a agonized screech from its mouth.
And that was it. After one zap, it plummeted from the sky and fled into the water below.
'Even out of the water... it was definitely a primal adult.'
Gaerebi didn't have the physical prowess or size to compete with typical mantis primal species to begin with. Meeting one outside the water—let alone in the air—meant it was no real threat. Even accounting for that, though, the power I'd just shown left even me baffled. It was undoubtedly far stronger than before, incomparable.
Parkinson let out a surprised chuckle from behind.
'And the lightning effect was outstanding too.'
I had a feeling it'd make dealing with water-attribute primal species a breeze from here on. Wind White Swordsmanship still couldn't fully harness lightning power, yet it performed like this.
'Time to get a new swordsmanship suited to Wind Thunder Qi Gong.'
I descended toward the river after chasing off the gaerebi, but...
High Jump!
Boom!
I stepped on the air bubble Parkinson conjured beneath my feet and shot up into the sky. As I rocketed upward at high speed, Parkinson grabbed me midair from behind. An awkward embrace.
Embarrassing pose aside, we didn't have time to care.
"Not just one, huh."
A dry laugh escaped my lips. And understandably so.
Fwoosh, plop, plop-plop-plop!
Squeeeeeeeee—!
Over a dozen gaerebi burst from the water's surface in various spots beyond the riverbank.
"Can you make several of those air bubbles at once?"
"Hmm, not all at once. I'll match your movements."
"That'll do. Make one under my feet when I signal."
With that, I slipped from Parkinson's grasp and flew out to meet the gaerebi swarming toward us.
'At Growth Stage, I can handle this.' I recalled the tenth form of Wind White Swordsmanship in my mind.
Wind White Swordsmanship was originally based on the Wind White Heart Method. To unleash its full power, you needed the heart method—hence the "restricted" note in my status window.
'Wind Qi Gong alone couldn't even dream of the tenth form...'
But now, with the legendary Wind Thunder Qi Gong, I felt confident I could pull it off.
"Keriririt!"
"Keriiiiit!"
The gaerebi spread their limbs wide, shrieking grotesquely as they charged me.
They seemed thrilled to see me.
'Yeah, the feeling's mutual.'
I placed my right hand on the sword at my waist.
Wind White Swordsmanship. Tenth form, Flash Storm Rain.
Whooooom!
Pzzt-zzzt-zzzt—!
The blade aura exploding from my sword swept through the dozen-plus gaerebi. It wasn't at full Flash Storm Rain power yet, so wind ether alone might not have stopped them from reaching us. But now...
Flash—!
Pzzt! Pzzt-zzzt-zzzt!
"Kerrrrrit!"
"Keuurrrrrk—."
Amid the cacophony of screams, they plummeted from the sky one after another. Watching the scene, a thrilling rush shot up my spine.
'Lightning attribute—this is beyond imagination.'
I'd experienced a refreshing destructive force impossible with wind alone. The so-called "hand feel." Pure satisfaction.
"Now!"
No time to savor the afterglow. I shouted to Parkinson, who was already preparing his spell.
Boong—!
A round air bubble formed between me and the water. I spun midair, planting my foot on it.
High Jump!
Thoom, pop—!
The bubble burst from the pressure underfoot, launching me skyward again.
"Good work."
Parkinson caught me perfectly this time too. The issue remained his awkward back-hug.
"Let's cross first."
I shuddered at his breath on my ear and spoke. Reading my mood, he focused silently on flight, successfully ferrying us across the Jayang River.
* * *
'This guy is just...'
Right after crossing the Jayang River, Parkinson realized his gaze toward Aleck had completely changed from their first meeting.
'Anyone would have to react this way.'
A Growth Stage lesser mantis. Nothing special expected there. Yet in his Juvenile Stage, he'd solved a problem the entire Shinseon Butterfly clan couldn't.
And that wasn't all. From what his master said, he'd even directly influenced resolving a major issue that Elder Koon had been struggling with lately.
'At first, even that rubbed me the wrong way...'
Mantises ignited his rage on sight—no helping it. But traveling together slowly shifted his thinking.
'Starting from the poison centipede swarm, maybe.'
The first crisis. Aleck could've abandoned him. But he stayed and helped.
Why? Parkinson couldn't fathom risking danger together.
'I even hoped he'd leave me behind.'
He had a way to escape alone. Sending Aleck off safely would've let him ditch the guide duty guilt-free.
'He wasn't even sure he could supply ether to my concealment barrier spell.'
Yet Aleck chose to stay.
'To save me. Even at the risk.'
That's when curiosity sparked.
'My parents went missing when I was young too.'
Hearing that, his heart sank. Aleck was alone in the world like him. As a Shinseon Butterfly, Parkinson had clan support, but a lesser mantis? Unlikely.
Yet he'd succeeded admirably.
'How much effort must that have taken...'
He could picture Aleck's climb from the bottom. Talent and mindset transcending birth. He'd assumed it was luck and background. Wrong. Experience forged that extraordinary nature.
'Seeing him... I feel so inadequate.'
Initially self-pitying, but even that was a luxury.
'I'll correct the continent's injustices.'
Aleck boldly declared it. And he pressed forward, body and mind.
'If he's advancing, I can't stagnate.'
Crack.
Something shattered inside. An eggshell cracking?
Parkinson closed his eyes, then opened them. The handsome boy smiled leisurely.
"Thanks for everything, Pa Daeju. We made it on time thanks to you."
Aleck flashed white teeth.
Crack, craaack.
His inner shell crumbled fully.
"Don't mention it. Just did what needed doing."
For the first time, he smiled back at Aleck.
Then continued.
"And... from now on, call me Parkinson, not Pa Daeju."
Aleck looked mildly surprised.
"Got it! See you next time, Parkinson."
'No... next time...'
Regardless, they shared a firm handshake.
* * *
Clop-clop-clop!
I raced along the road on my rented pathfinder beast.
Whoooosh—.
Fierce wind whipped past my ears. Chung Hak Gwan sat in Damyang City. At this speed, I'd arrive by morning.
'Can keep my promise to Katt.'
Before parting, we'd agreed to meet for lunch in the bustling district near Chung Hak Gwan on the final admission day.
Thanks to Parkinson, I'd make it.
'There it is.'
Damyang's silhouette appeared ahead.
"Go!"
I whipped the reins hard.
Clop-clop-clop!
The pathfinder surged faster.
* * *
"Thanks, come again."
I returned the pathfinder at Damyang's rental stable, got my deposit back, and bolted toward Chung Hak Gwan.
'Cutting it close.'
Noon loomed. Running to the meeting spot, I'd arrive just in time.
I dashed the main road, using High Jump where needed.
Soon, the central fountain in Katt's district came into view.
"Not here yet?"
I scanned the area, admiring the sights. Multitudes of diverse races milled about. As a metropolis with the famed Chung Hak Gwan, Damyang drew all kinds.
No sign of Katt despite searching.
"Grand opening! Tons of services—come play!"
A woman approached with a flyer as I lingered. Net spider clan emblem.
Grand opening special at Netland! Double charge coins?
The flyer promoted a new casino called Netland.
'So the net spider clan established here already.'
I recalled they ran various ventures, especially casinos—Netland was continent-famous.
'Damyang's the head branch, so yeah.'
I folded the flyer neatly.
Gambling. No time for idle money games.
That's what I thought then...
* * *
"Ugh, ughh, uwaaah... A-Aleck... kuhuhu. W-what do I... do now...? Kuhuuuw."
The man bawling before me was Katt.
"You lost all your money there?"
"Uwaaah... Y-yeah... hngg."
"Personal funds included... all the support gold from Mantis Hall?"
"Uwaaaaaah! I'm ruined... whaaah."
Good lord. He'd blown every last coin.
Mantis Hall's support covered a full year at Chung Hak Gwan, including tuition—a hefty 5 gold.
'Unbelievable.'
He looked broke now. No tuition, no admission—even as a special dispatch.
"Why'd you even go there?"
"I-I didn't plan to... hngguh, at first... b-but... hng, free coins... whi-le waiting for you, just a taste... uwaaah."
"..."
I got the picture. I alternated incredulous stares between Katt and the Netland sign behind him.
'Suckered good.'
Should've come sooner.
'Half a day till registration deadline.'
Checking the time, my eyes gleamed.
"Follow me for now."
Grabbing Katt's hand, I headed straight for Netland.