Chapter 2

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.

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