Arm-Wrestling Tournament for Squad Leader
I raised my hand first. But the power of the other nineteen was formidable.
"I'll throw my hat in too."
"Me as well."
"Count me in."
Most of the squad members were eyeing the leader position just like me. They'd all seemed utterly disinterested when Phines first brought it up.
What pathetic mortals, already ensnared by greed.
I muttered to myself amid the fierce competition, then started counting the applicants.
Better to count the ones who didn't apply.
Only three hadn't stepped up for squad leader: Poison Moth Leriya, damselfly Bendy, and surprisingly, Witch Spider Gosling.
He would've been a top contender if he'd gone for it.
But Gosling just sat there with a face like he couldn't care less about the world.
Fewer rivals? Suits me fine.
I eyed the eight applicants—including myself—and wondered how they'd pick the winner.
"Whoa, that's a lot of applicants. How we gonna do this? Vote?"
Camel Spider Rojin flicked out his tongue as he asked Phines.
I furrowed my brow slightly at that. A vote would've put me at a huge disadvantage.
No one's gonna want a lowly mantis as their boss.
Higher clans hated taking orders from what they saw as weaker inferiors—it was practically pathological. A vote meant I'd be out for sure.
"Seeing everyone's enthusiasm makes me proud. As for the selection method... hmm, let me think. But voting's so stuffy, don't you think? We barely know each other beyond clan names."
Exactly!
I let out a quiet sigh of relief at Phines's words. The more I saw of this instructor, the more I liked him. He always said the right thing.
"Still, the leader should ideally be the strongest, right? Sparring would take too long with so many... How about we settle it with arm-wrestling?"
Hanks and Rojin—guys with naturally killer physiques—flashed sly grins and nodded. Meanwhile, someone like Grima Comji, whose body was inherently frail...
"Ah..."
He slumped his shoulders in defeat. It was kinda pitiful, but oh well. This was a world of the strong devouring the weak. The powerful claiming rights was just natural.
"Eight applicants—perfect for quarterfinals. Shall we start?"
With Phines's word, the arm-wrestling tournament kicked off out of nowhere. They drew lots for order super quick.
First match: Camel Spider Rojin versus Giant Dragonfly Hems.
"Hng."
Rojin crescent-eyed Hems's spindly arm—barely half his own size.
Hems responded with a solemn, battle-ready face. And the result...
BAM!
"Kuhk."
No surprises. A thunderous crash echoed with Hems's groan. Rojin's overwhelming victory.
"Big gap there."
Katt muttered beside me, and I nodded in agreement. Dragonflies overpowering camel spiders? Near impossible. Camel spiders weren't top-tier, but they ranked high among predators with insane physiques.
"Next: Hanks versus Comji."
Second match: Emperor Scorpion Hanks against Grima Comji.
"Ughhh."
Comji was tiny—barely up to my waist. His palm-on-table looked comically small next to Hanks's beefy forearm. It seemed like it'd snap with a flick.
"Hmph."
Hanks snorted disdainfully at the frail-looking opponent and...
BAM!
...smashed Comji's hand flat without mercy.
"Eek!"
Comji's eyes welled up from the shock. That arm okay?
Grima had notoriously shitty durability—limbs fell off easy and regrew; that was their thing. Lucky if his wrist wasn't busted.
"Arm alright?"
"I-it's bearable."
I whispered, and Comji looked at me with touched eyes. Probably felt cared for.
"Ice it later or it'll swell."
"Y-yeah... Thanks!"
Comji beamed, thrilled. One more ally besides Katt. Smart to build a network—who knows what'll happen.
"Next: Katt versus Dania. Get ready."
Katt drew humpback mantis Dania. Easy win for him.
Humpbacks specialized in killer leg strength, so Katt's straightforward power should dominate. Prediction: easy victory.
"Katt wins!"
And sure enough, he took it without breaking a sweat. My turn now.
Last quarterfinal: me against Samurai Ant Dirt.
Samurai ants pack a punch too.
They were "usurpers"—killed other ant queens and took over hives. Combat specialists with brute strength and sharp instincts. Ants were strong to begin with; samurai ants cranked it up.
"Make it quick."
Hanks drawled from behind. Obvious who he meant. Everyone figured Dirt's win was a given.
Clasp.
Our hands met on the table. Game hadn't started, but his grip was iron-strong. Not top like stag beetles, but upper-tier for sure.
But not my match.
The moment we gripped, I knew I could snap his arm in an instant if I wanted.
"Mm."
Dirt let out a low groan, closed his eyes, nodded... then opened them and dropped a bombshell.
"I forfeit."
"...?"
"Huh?"
Unexpected surrender. I was stunned too. He just stood, walked back casually.
"Haha, didn't see that coming. Aleck wins."
Phines chuckled, announcing my victory.
"What the...? Hey, Dirt—was it? Why forfeit?"
Hanks muttered incredulously, questioning him.
"Just the efficient choice."
"...?"
Vague answer. Hm?
As I stood and glanced back, Dirt sat arms-crossed, stone-faced like nothing happened. Efficient choice... Did he predict he'd lose?
Circumstantial evidence pointed yes. Interesting guy.
I smirked back at him.
"Next: Rojin versus Hanks. Ready up."
Semifinals now. They gripped, started...
Thud.
Hanks's easy win.
"Whew, no dice."
Rojin rubbed his hand, standing. Camel spiders had great physiques, but speed over strength— no match for Hanks.
"Hanks coasting to victory, huh?"
"Only Samurai Ant and Witch Spider could've challenged him anyway."
Onlookers figured Hanks as leader. Fair prediction.
"Next: Katt versus Aleck. Prep."
Anyway, my turn with Katt. I sat, but he hesitated, pondering.
"Mm... I forfeit too."
"Eh?"
"Sudden much?"
"What, same clan favoritism?"
Katt's abrupt surrender. He came over, patted my shoulder, whispered:
"Haha, even if I win, Hanks'd crush me. You might pull something off... Better not tire you out."
That was his thinking. Even if I beat him, Hanks was unbeatable—so forfeit, give me the shot. Not full faith I'd win, more repayment for helping him through orientation.
Knows how to play the social game. Un-mantis-like consideration.
I gladly accepted. Landed in finals without lifting a finger.
"Finals sooner than expected. Hanks, take extra rest—warm up."
Phines offered Hanks a break post his recent match, but...
"No need. Let's do finals now."
Hanks oozed infinite confidence, ready to go.
* * *
Phines. Cicada mantis clansman, long-time Chung Hak Gwan veteran. He'd never planned to instruct Squad 10.
"Phines sir, heard you personally toured the newbies around Chung Hak Gwan. Why handle such a hassle yourself...?"
"Ah... no, not a hassle. Just bored—needed a change."
Phines brushed off the visiting instructor casually.
"Anyway, spotted an interesting kid. Mind grabbing the file on newbie Aleck?"
"Right away, sir."
The instructor bowed ninety degrees. Overkill for peers, but knowing the truth? No one'd complain.
Phines wasn't regular instructor level. Chung Hak Gwan had strict hierarchy; he was elite warrior, war hero at the top. Worlds above staff who couldn't even enter the power axis.
He could day-instruct freely because few recognized him—high-ups stayed secluded.
"Here's Aleck's registration. Bit unusual history..."
Instructor zipped back with the file.
"Ho."
Phines's eyes gleamed. Strength stats absurd for a lowly mantis. Note: shifted from Juvenile to Growth Stage en route.
Definitely interesting. Wasn't seeing things.
Escorting newbies, minor scuffle broke out. He'd subtly used sonic arts to suppress them all. Higher clans aside, faces paled universally.
Higher ones unscathed 'cause I dialed it for them—no backlash from clans.
Especially with two Four Great Clans among newbies. Saved face, selective output.
That lowly mantis Aleck tanked my sonic raw.
Shocked inwardly, kept cool. Never expected a low-rank—let alone lowly mantis—to endure.
Time to watch closer.
Aleck's file confirmed: he'd spice up Phines's dull routine. That's why he volunteered for Squad 10...
"Finals time. Hanks, Aleck—prep."
Time to test if those freak strength stats were real. Phines eyed prepping Aleck with sparkling interest.