"Do we really need to kill this one?" asked a mage clad in a long sea-blue robe that reached his ankles. He hadn’t covered his head with the robe’s hood, revealing his short, blonde ponytail. Round glasses perched on his nose.

He gazed at the creature before him with pity— a pale green mantis, the size of a soccer ball, standing three meters away. It let out a harsh hiss and spread its spiked forelegs wide, trying to appear larger and more intimidating.

"Don’t ask so many questions, Noah! We have to kill every last one of these insects before they mature. It’ll be a disaster otherwise!" a man behind him responded.

The man wore a leather-plated cuirass, with a bandana wrapped around his forehead, keeping his spiky golden-yellow hair standing upright. In his right hand, he gripped a double-edged sword stained with green fluid—some of it dried, some still fresh.

The two stood in an open grassland, surrounded by countless insect body parts, both small and enormous—some even larger than the mantis before them. Severed legs, thoraxes sliced into pieces, ruptured abdomens, and decapitated mantis heads were scattered across the area.

The green blood of the creatures seeped into the ground, though it blended with the grass well enough to be barely noticeable.

The field was encircled by forests in every direction except the south, where, a few kilometers away, a town stood in the distance.

"But Azar, this one is still in level one. It just hatched from its egg. We’ve already wiped out its siblings—can’t we let this one go?" Noah pleaded, turning to his companion with softened eyes.

Azar remained indifferent, resting his sword on his right shoulder. "Listen, Noah, you shouldn’t be merciful to everything, especially not monsters."

He shifted his stance, lowering his sword from his shoulder and pointing the blade at Noah. "Because..." his eyes sharpened, "they will all take advantage of it."

Noah turned back to the mantis—only to find it had already launched itself at him, forelegs spread, ready to tear into his face.

In an instant, a burst of sparks blinded his vision, followed by the sharp clang of clashing metal. The glint of a blade caught his eye, and suddenly, Azar was standing before him.

The mantis was sent flying to their right, digging its claws into the ground to stop itself from tumbling.

'Damn, it parried my sword well and used the momentum to propel itself away,' Azar thought, both frustrated and impressed as he moved to shield Noah.

"Stay sharp, Noah! This one's clever and fast. But don't worry—I’ve crippled its initiative." Azar grinned, tilting his sword to let fresh green blood drip from the edge.

The mantis hissed, its right foreleg now limp. It twitched slightly whenever it tried to lift it, only to fall back down. Green blood dripped onto the grass from the joint at its trochanter—the equivalent of a knee. Now, it had only its left foreleg as its sole weapon.

Azar locked eyes with the creature, while the mantis remained frozen, like a statue, waiting for him to make the first move. A tense silence fell. The afternoon breeze whispered through the grass, caressing their skin with its cooling touch.

As the wind settled and the grass stilled, the mantis made a slight movement—lowering its body as if ready to pounce.

"Get ready, Noah!" Azar grinned, exhilarated by the fight. He adjusted his stance, raising his sword to chest level, angling his body forward, and pointing the blade directly at the mantis in a thrusting position.

But the mantis had no intention of fighting to the death.

Not with a crippled foreleg. Not against two enemies—one wielding a sword, the other unarmed yet exuding a dangerous presence.

No. It refused to die here.

Without hesitation, the mantis spun around and leapt with extraordinary force, soaring twenty feet into the air—straight toward the forest.

"Oh no! We have to chase it, hurry, Noah!" Azar sheathed his sword, ready to sprint—but something stopped him.

Looking down, he saw thick tree roots snaking out of the cracked earth, ensnaring his right foot. He sensed the magic energy emanating from behind him. Turning around, he found the source: Noah's right palm, glowing with a bright green sigil.

"Noah! What the hell are you—" Azar's words cut short when he met Noah's piercing gaze.

For a long moment, they held eye contact in silence. And in that moment, Azar realized—Noah wouldn’t back down.

The mantis was already long gone.

Azar exhaled in defeat, slumping his shoulders. "Fine, fine... I'll let it go..." he muttered.

Hearing that, Noah beamed with satisfaction and released the spell. The entangling roots withdrew into the earth, leaving only cracks behind.

"You're such a pain. Lucky for you, you're my best friend and a damn good mage. Otherwise, we'd be fighting right now over a single oversized mantis." Azar pouted, turning away in irritation.

"Well, I can’t say anything except—thank you."

"Thank you, my ass! Are you going to take responsibility if that thing grows up, lays eggs, and attacks Filrime village, huh?!"

"Oh, come on, let’s not think about that now. Besides..."

Noah approached Azar from behind, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. Due to their height difference, he had to lean down slightly.

Noah barely reached Azar’s shoulders, making the contrast even more noticeable.

"If a monster outbreak really happens, the two of us can handle it, right, brother?" Noah grinned, winking playfully.

Azar’s face remained blank—until a loud THWACK echoed through the field.

Noah doubled over at a perfect ninety-degree angle, Azar’s fist firmly planted atop his head.

"Don't grin at me like that! Do you even realize how many times you've nearly gotten us both killed, HUH?! Last time, you wanted to tame a Kraken instead of killing it! A KRAKEN, NOAH! We nearly got eaten, you idiot!" Azar’s patience had finally snapped.

"Alright, alright! I was wrong! Ow..." Noah groaned, rubbing the throbbing spot on his head. He felt like he might pass out.

Azar huffed. Now that he’d let out his frustration, guilt crept in for hitting Noah so hard.

"Haah... Let’s just bag up these mantis parts and deliver them to the Guild before nightfall, Noah." His voice softened as he grabbed a large sack and began collecting the insect remains.

Some parts were too large or tangled together, forcing Azar to chop them into smaller pieces for better storage.

Noah nodded silently, recovering from his pain before helping Azar. But as he worked, he occasionally glanced toward the forest.

A strange feeling stirred in his chest—an eerie sensation that something was watching them from the darkness, hidden behind the trees.

Noah ignored it, not wanting to delay their work. After all, the sun was already sinking behind the distant mountains, and the sky was darkening.

####

Night had fallen over the town of Filrime as Noah wandered alone along the cobbled streets. He was heading toward the town gate, which separated the town's residents from the villagers living outside.

He and Azar had just finished their business with the Adventurer's Guild and collected their reward—two small pouches filled with silver coins—for exterminating and delivering the remains of the giant mantises. They split the reward evenly, one pouch each.

Initially, they had planned to rest at an inn for the night. However, they hadn't realized the inn had a tavern on the ground floor, with the sleeping quarters upstairs.

'And that idiot wasted his money on booze instead of getting some sleep…' Noah grumbled internally, turning left at a three-way intersection leading out of the town's gates.

The night breeze embraced him, causing his robes to flutter gently. The full moon, accompanied by a sky full of stars, illuminated his path toward the grassy fields where they had fought the giant mantises earlier that evening.

As he walked, his mind drifted back to the unsettling feeling he'd had before they left—the sensation of being watched. The thought gnawed at him.

He wandered around the battlefield, hoping to find a clue, though he wasn't sure what exactly he was looking for.

Then, his brown eyes suddenly glowed an eerie shade of blue. If anyone were to see him now, they would think he had the eyes of a nocturnal beast. He had infused his vision with magic, allowing him to see clearly in the dark and detect things that might otherwise remain hidden.

Immediately, the dried green blood scattered across the grass became more visible to him—some stains brighter than others, indicating fresher traces. He scanned the area carefully, until finally, he noticed something unusual.

A trail of green blood in droplets, much brighter and fresher than the others, led straight into the forest.

Noah turned toward the dark treeline. The chirping of crickets was the only sound accompanying him. The towering trees cast long shadows, their thick branches blocking out much of the sky.

To an ordinary person, the forest would be pitch black—an intimidating, impenetrable wall of darkness. But with Noah's enchanted vision, everything was as clear as if it were broad daylight.

Following the blood trail, he stepped into the forest. The droplets marked every disturbance along the way—crushed leaves, trampled bushes, claw marks on tree trunks, snapped branches.

The deeper he went, the closer the bloodstains became, the drops larger, the distance between them shrinking.

He was getting close.

Or so he thought.

Brushing aside a leafy branch, he found himself staring at a severed mantis leg lying on the ground. The wound at the trochanter—what would be the creature's knee—was fresh.

Before he could react, a rustling sound came from the bushes just a few meters ahead.

Then another from his ten o'clock position.

Another from his eight.

Then seven.

And finally… right behind him.

In his single-minded pursuit of the trail, Noah hadn't realized he had been led into an open clearing, surrounded by thick vegetation.

He froze, his thoughts racing.

Then, he smirked. 'How clever.'

From the bushes in front of him emerged a mantis, roughly the size of a fully grown cat. Its pale green body gleamed under the moonlight, and its single remaining foreleg spread wide in a threatening display. The right one was missing entirely.

Noah glanced at the severed limb behind him, then back at the mantis. The creature hissed.

'So… it cut off its own leg and used it as bait. Bait for me.'

The realization struck him with such amusement that he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

'I thought I was the hunter. But I was the prey all along.'

A carefully laid blood trail. A willingly sacrificed limb. A battlefield chosen in advance. And now, an ambush with all possible escape routes blocked.

Noah was no longer the predator.

He was the hunted.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be.

Deep within a forest, far from human civilization, Noah found himself trapped — surrounded by a small yet deadly mantis. Despite its size, no larger than a house cat, underestimating it would be a grave mistake.

He glanced around, desperately searching for an escape route. But even if one existed, the dense trees, tangled branches, and the uneven forest floor would make any attempt at fleeing nearly impossible.

Moreover, he had no knowledge of the terrain. Every step he'd taken so far had been guided only by instinct — a decision he now bitterly regretted.

His heart pounded in his chest, and the sound of his own ragged breathing echoed in his ears.

Fear? Maybe. A lesser man would be trembling.

But Noah was no ordinary man — he was a seasoned mage. He and Azar had fought countless monsters of all sizes throughout their adventures as adventurers.

Yet, despite his experience, frustration gnawed at him for one reason alone.

"This is exactly why I hate fighting..."

He despised the feeling of being provoked, of being forced to fight. Whenever combat arose, Azar would always take the lead while Noah supported from the rear. But this time, he was alone.

His gaze locked onto the mantis’s massive compound eyes. Though it appeared as though the creature had two dark pupils staring back at him, he knew it was merely an illusion.

Noah’s right hand twitched slightly, his fingers curling as he waited for the perfect moment to strike.

Then, in a flash, the mantis lunged.

Noah swiftly spread both arms apart — two glowing green sigils appeared on his palms. He raised his left hand, and without hesitation, a massive tree root burst from the earth. With a commanding gesture, the root shot toward the mantis.

But the creature leapt with startling agility, evading the root as it struck the ground instead. With the root now forming a temporary bridge, the mantis used it as a platform to propel itself forward, rushing toward Noah.

It was close — too close.

The mantis sprang into the air, its singular spiked foreleg aimed straight at him like a dagger.

With a clap of his hands, Noah summoned two thick roots from the ground. They surged toward the mantis, crashing in from both sides like a vice.

'Got you!' Noah thought, confident in his attack.

But the mantis wasn’t so easily defeated.

In a frenzy, it twisted and slashed, severing smaller roots in a desperate bid to break free. Before Noah could react, the creature wriggled through the narrow gap it had carved and pounced toward him.

He barely managed to dodge, twisting his body to the right. The mantis's claw grazed his shoulder, tearing through the fabric of his robe.

"Just give me a break!"

Noah raised his hands once more, unleashing a wave of roots that surged forward like an unrelenting tide.

The mantis sprang backward, retreating just in time to avoid being caught. A gap widened between them once again.

"This won't work. It can slice through my Binding and Hardened Roots."

Hundreds of strategies raced through Noah's mind. He needed a way to subdue the creature without killing it.

But before any solution could surface, the mantis charged once more. This time, it lowered its body, preparing to leap.

Startled, Noah barely had time to react. With a quick motion, he summoned a wall of interwoven branches before him.

The mantis’s claw struck the wooden barrier, but instead of cutting through, it lodged firmly within.

Roots burst from the earth, encircling the creature from all sides — left, right, and behind.

It thrashed violently, yanking its claw free. But it was too late.

The roots thickened, transforming into sturdy branches. They twisted upward, forming a complete enclosure, trapping the mantis.

The creature slashed wildly, hoping to break free like before. But this time, something was different.

Its claw scraped against the bark, but no damage was done. Not even a scratch. The branches stood firm, as unyielding as stone.

Panic flickered in the mantis’s eyes. It struck again and again, but each attempt was met with the same result.

"Enough. Save your strength."

Noah's voice was calm, though he doubted the mantis understood him.

"This isn’t like the roots I used before. This is Ironwood."

But his words were wasted — the mantis continued to fight, refusing to accept defeat.

Finally, as exhaustion overcame it, the creature stilled.

Noah exhaled in relief, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"What a fierce creature...'"

The mantis let out a weak, wavering hiss. Its breathing was shallow, its body trembling.

Noah's eyes fell upon its wounded foreleg — the one it had severed in a desperate act during its battle with Azar and to lure him. The green blood oozing from the stump had begun to drip once more, staining the ground beneath it.

"If this continues, it will die from blood loss."

Noah knew the creature's story all too well.

From the moment it hatched, it had fought. First against Azar, then against him. A newborn, forced into battle, wounded, and starving. No wonder it was collapsing.

The mantis's body sagged, its strength depleted. Hunger had conquered its will.

The green blood continued to trickle, drop by drop.

Noah shifted his gaze to the darkened forest, his magic sapphire eyes glowing brightly.

He scanned the woods, searching. And when he found what he sought, he turned away from the cage of Ironwood.

Leaving the exhausted mantis behind, Noah stepped into the shadowy depths of the forest, guided by the pale light of the moon.

Some time later, the rustling of bushes echoed from outside the wooden cage. The mantis weakly shifted its gaze through the gaps in the branches.

Noah emerged from the undergrowth — a lifeless little squirrel dangling from his right hand. Approaching the cage, he knelt before it.

"You have to eat if you want to stay alive," he said softly.

Reaching through the small opening in the cage, Noah's hand was unexpectedly welcomed by the branches. The wood twisted and widened, as though granting him permission to slip the squirrel inside.

The dead animal lay just three arm-lengths away from the mantis.

Noah adjusted his posture, crouching comfortably with his arms resting on his knees. He waited, counting the minutes as the mantis remained still, refusing to approach or even acknowledge the offering.

"What's wrong? You don't like squirrel?"

Noah grabbed a small branch from the ground and poked the lifeless body.

Instantly, the mantis stirred. Its weary body trembled with newfound energy, its antennae writhing in curiosity. Large compound eyes locked on the squirrel, following its every movement.

Each time Noah prodded the creature, the mantis flinched, reacting instinctively. But even with its hunger gnawing at its insides, it hesitated.

"Ah," Noah mused, realization dawning on him. "I see. You only react to movement. If something doesn’t move — if it’s dead — you can't perceive it."

With a slight grin, Noah continued the game. This time, he flicked the squirrel’s tail sharply, mimicking the erratic twitch of a wounded animal.

The mantis advanced, cautious but determined. Its remaining front leg — the left tarsus — tapped the ground for balance, struggling to support its weakened frame.

When the squirrel was within reach, it struck. In a flash, the mantis impaled the creature with its remaining claw, dragging the lifeless body back into the shadows of the cage.

"Fascinating..." Noah murmured, his voice laced with admiration. There was no revulsion, only awe. Even in its weakened state, the mantis moved with elegance and ferocity.

The pale light of the moon bathed the forest in silver, the shadows of leaves swaying beneath a gentle breeze. The serene atmosphere, however, was interrupted by the unmistakable sounds of flesh tearing, bones snapping, and blood dripping onto the dirt.

Noah watched in silence, captivated by the sight. Fur, flesh, and bone vanished into the jaws of the mantis. Crimson streaked across its scarred mandibles, yet to Noah, there was a strange beauty in the brutality.

...----------------...

"Whoa! Your leg grew back!"

Noah's astonished voice echoed through the woods. One morning, he returned to find the mantis grooming itself, dew glistening on its freshly molted exoskeleton.

Three empty shells lay discarded within the cage — remnants of its recent molts.

The right foreleg, once severed, was now whole again. It matched the left, sharp and pristine, as though it had never been lost. The mantis’s body, too, was brighter — a vibrant green that gleamed under the morning sun.

The creature licked droplets of dew from its new leg, flexing it experimentally. Satisfied, it turned its gaze toward Noah, its eyes gleaming with something beyond mere instinct.

Without warning, it extended its newly regenerated tarsus through the gaps of the cage.

Noah tilted his head in confusion. "What are you..?"

Curiosity getting the better of him, he mirrored the mantis’s action, reaching out his own hand. Slowly, carefully, their fingertips met.

The hardened exoskeleton plate of the mantis felt rough, like polished stone. There was a strange warmth beneath its shell, a pulse of life. Despite the sharpness of its limb, the touch was surprisingly delicate.

The mantis twisted its finger gently, almost playfully. Its antennae swayed in rhythmic curiosity.

Noah chuckled softly, his grin wide and childlike. He tilted his head to the left.

The mantis mimicked him.

Intrigued, he tilted his head to the right.

Once again, the mantis followed.

Amused, Noah laughed. The tension that once filled the air had evaporated. For the first time since their encounter, there was no fear. Only fascination.

"Where on earth could he be?" Noah muttered, glancing around the bustling town.

He scanned the rows of houses, peeked down narrow alleyways, and bombarded shopkeepers and townsfolk with questions. Yet no one seemed to have seen his friend, Azar.

The blond man had vanished from their inn room that morning without a trace, and Noah had spent the entire day searching for him. Every corner of the town had been explored — from the local taverns to the Adventurer's Guild — but there was no sign of him.

Frustration mingled with exhaustion. Azar had disappeared without a word, unintentionally dragging Noah into an unplanned morning jog around the town.

His white tunic clung to his back, dampened with sweat. He rolled up his sleeves, adjusted his glasses, and rested his hands on the waist of his brown linen trousers.

"Thank goodness,I didn’t wear a cloak. I’d be drenched by now," he grumbled.

"Ah, forget it. He'll come crawling back once his stomach starts growling," Noah sighed, finally surrendering to his fatigue.

But as if on cue, his own stomach growled in protest. Skipping breakfast for the sake of his search had clearly not been the best decision.

"Speaking of hunger...I wonder how that mantis is doing. It's probably starving, waiting for me to return." A small smile tugged at Noah's lips as he gazed at the sky, imagining himself bringing food to the creature.

Upon returning to their room at the inn, he straightened the messy bed he had left in haste that morning. His own appearance wasn’t much better — unruly hair falling freely without its usual tie.

After securing his hair in a simple ponytail, he folded his blanket neatly into a rectangle and placed the pillow on top, forming two tidy stacks on the bed.

Then his attention shifted to Azar's side of the room.

It was a disaster. The pillow lay on the floor, the blanket crumpled and half-draped over the tilted mattress that teetered dangerously on its wooden frame.

"How does he even sleep like this?" Noah shook his head, kneeling to retrieve the pillow.

But as he did, something struck him as odd.

'Where's his sword?'

Azar never slept without his weapon within arm's reach. It was a habit born from years of caution. Normally, the blade would rest beneath the bed — but now, only dust and cobwebs remained.

"Did he...take it with him?" Noah murmured, brows furrowing.

He carefully placed the pillow back on the bed, but a lingering unease gnawed at him. Thoughts tangled in his mind as he tried to piece together the situation.

Azar had left at dawn.

He took his sword.

But he hadn't gone to the Guild or any of his usual haunts.

Could it be—?

Noah's eyes opened wide. Panic surged through him as the realization struck.

"No... That can't be!"

Without wasting another moment, he bolted out the door. Sprinting down the crowded streets, he weaved through pedestrians like a man possessed.

Fear gripped his heart. The mere thought of what Azar might have done sent chills down his spine.

He dashed past the town gates, the open fields blurring as his feet pounded the earth. The distant treeline loomed ahead, beckoning him into the shadows of the forest.

Branches scraped against his arms, tearing at his tunic as he pushed through the underbrush. His lungs burned, but he didn't stop. Not until the trees parted to reveal a clearing.

And there, framed by the splintered remains of a wooden cage, stood two familiar figures locked in a tense standoff.

"Azar, wait!" Noah shouted.

The blond man stood with his sword lowered, his eyes locked on the giant mantis — a creature the size of a large hare, its sharp claws raised defensively.

"I knew something was off about you, Noah." Azar’s voice was low, but the steel in his tone was unmistakable. His gaze flicked toward Noah, one eye narrowing. "Lately, you’ve been sneaking off every morning and night, claiming you ‘just wanted fresh air.’"

Noah’s heart sank. Of course. Azar had noticed his behavior — the subtle changes, the frequent disappearances. He’d known something was wrong.

"And now I find you here, with this thing." Azar’s voice hardened.

"I can—"

"Silence!"

Azar’s shout cut through the clearing.

"We swore an oath, Noah. As sworn brothers, no secrets between us. Have you forgotten that?" His knuckles whitened as he gripped the hilt of his sword.

Their bond had been sealed with that promise — a pact never to betray each other’s trust. But now, Noah had shattered it.

The weight of Azar's disappointment was unbearable.

"I'll end this creature," Azar declared, his sword glinting as he raised it. "And then we'll talk."

In the blink of an eye, a massive wooden spike erupted from the ground. Azar barely leaped back in time, landing just as another jagged root burst forth, sending clouds of dust into the air.

When the debris settled, Noah stood between Azar and the mantis, his arms outstretched. A faint green glow pulsed from the sigil on his palm.

"What are you doing, Noah?" Azar growled, though the answer was clear.

Noah’s voice remained steady. "Listen to me, Azar. This mantis...it's different. It doesn’t act on instinct alone. It thinks — like us."

For a moment, Azar's expression wavered, confusion flickering behind his eyes.

"It doesn’t matter," he spat. "Thinking or not, it’s still a monster."

Azar shifted into a battle stance, his sword gleaming with latent power. The crimson gem embedded in its hilt pulsed like a heartbeat.

Noah mirrored his resolve, sigils swirling around his hands as roots twisted beneath the earth.

Without hesitation, Azar charged.

Roots lashed out like whips, but he was quick — leaping over one, ducking beneath another. Noah controlled the roots with relentless precision, striking from all sides in an unpredictable dance.

Yet Azar evaded every attack. His eyes were sharp, his movements fluid. Not a single drop of sweat stained his brow.

Then, in an instant, massive vines erupted from the ground, enclosing Azar in a thick sphere of ironwood branches and roots. It was the same spell Noah had used to capture the mantis before.

But doubt gnawed at him. Would it be enough?

A sharp crack echoed. Noah’s breath caught.

The wooden prison trembled as something inside struck with tremendous force. The bark groaned under the pressure. Then, a brilliant slash of flame seared through the ironwoods, cutting through them like a knife through butter.

Azar emerged, his sword's edge glowing with embers. The crimson gem at its hilt shimmered ominously.

'How foolish I am, I forgot he has Tizona.'

Noah clenched his teeth. He had underestimated Azar.

Tizona wasn’t just an ordinary blade. Though not truly enchanted, its enhanced craftsmanship allowed it to burn through almost anything it touched. The fire within the magic gem was more than mere heat — it was a destructive force that reduced even ironwood to ash.

And now, with the blazing sword in his hand, Azar was ready to finish what he had started.