"Brrssss."
"BrrsSss. BRrsSs"
Is this the only sound this overgrown moth makes?
A warcry, perhaps?
Ok, now the moth finally decided to rise. Very slowly by the way. Transparent wings—fragile and thin filaments, not beautiful, but of a cosmic mockery. Looks demonic, but angels watched this and let it happen. This mistake, older than nature itself. A loss of a champion, undefeated 0-100.
"Survival of the fittest," and yet, here it is, flying above before me.
This moth should not be possible, but there it is. Wings afire as they spanned and tore the silence open.
Is this moth creature's wingspan really just four feet? Moths have 2-3 times that wingspan, but this little fella only has the lowest. Two.
Even worse, as I remember, moths have soft cuticles and crammed organs so:
"Your insides, your insides. They must be fried, Lantern Moth!" I shouted, but well, more so sang. "My oh-so, so-so, great short king, born (mind you) from an equally short mother. Blessed be the stunted womb. Does she know you consume her lantern oil?"
"No? Really, no? Well, Kafka. Behold my life's Metamorphosis: a flightless, mateless Lepidoptera!"
Yeah, this will be an easy win for my first battle after training, a win that I appreciate. Just enrage, sneak the head, dig out the core, and be done. Simple and quick—
Ok. My eyes narrowed and my breath shortened. Its shadows were… wrong. They hadn't reached me before, but now they stretched past me.
And the wings, they blocked the moon and the whole sky.
I could have sworn.
I could have sworn.
Yes, I could have fucking sworn: Four feet is not this fucking large.
Yes. Must be the moon's light, just step into the shade, Chris. Count again, Chris: 1, 2, 3, 4. . . 5, 6?
Seven. Eight. Ten.
Thirteen. A conspicuous thirteen feet, clear intention to do harm, commit evil in its name, and by its name. Eagles are just seven feet of wings for context, but they dared to snatch babies from their cribs and drop them.
I fear that this creature, with those stove-hot eyes and flaming body hair, dares to do more to all, child or adult.
Living or dead.
I stood, anchoring my legs to the soil while waiting for that moment. The time it chose to strike.
Every Lantern Moth, regardless of age, has a venomous bite. Top ten, or twenty, on the adventurer's beginner handbook. Vly's warnings to me were quite memorable:
"Hundred C-rank adventurers were asked a 'would you rather die' question: waterboarding, or an overdose on Lantern Moth venom. One hundred and one chose the former." I said, whispering out loud.
I need to be careful.
Yeah, never been scared of damn bugs–or insects? Whatever moths fall under. Not much to fear from this black, fathomless insect. Way less terrifying than the days I wrestled my dad's police dog. . . maybe.
My overconfidence will be the death of me.
"Wait for it," I smirked as I planted my feet on the grass. Using as much force as possible.
"Brrss."
Is it going to attack?
Its purple eyes say yes, but those motionless limbs scream no. It's preparing, viciously prepared as it waits for me to make the first move.
Well, there was only one way to find out as it continued to swing its wings in the air.
Creak!
I moved forward, reaching just kicking distance to the moth.
"Bring it!" I screamed, but it didn't stop flying for even a second, and the distance wasn't too far off the ground.
Just enough for me to make an aimed kick.
I leaped forward, dropping to a handstand below the moth.
Collect force from the ground. Feel the shift in balance. Stabilize fingers.
Adapt!
Bam!
Into a spinning kick. But no contact, it sped past.
I threw my body into a stance upon seeing it lunge forward. Its massive, sucker—narrow and sharpened. Its purple venom seeped. It pecked at my face, close. Too close. I entrenched my feet into the soil, creating space for my actions—
I leaped away, in a shellshock as my heart thumped like a drum.
Wildfire.
Floods of infernos before and beyond my vision.
Blind, my eyes. My eyes. Where are my eyes?!
Where is my damn sight!?
I plucked dirt and smeared it on my eyes. "See, lovely bastard."
It now flew in the same position as it was on before, swinging its wings, but stood with its only two feet on the soft grass, pulling air towards my direction.
"Hey! Don't go ruining this beautiful grass!" I apologize, Wang Wei, my beautiful Tang Dynasty poet.
I could beat it, I know I can, I just needed a plan.
Bam!
Right then and there, it appeared in front of me, smacking its wings onto the upper left side of my body. The heavy impact caused a slight push backwards.
"Ehhh!" I didn't waver, I didn't fall, there was just some distance that grew between us as I continued to hold my balance.
My agility increased, same with my balance. When you structure your feet onto the environment, it tightens the stance. Saving me from getting smacked into a table like I did back at the Adventurers' guild.
"Emilia! How are you not finished yet!" I smirked, hearing Vly's yell, a warcry… worse than the Moth.
Some things just never change. Even when I'm in this death battle, they still haven't finished cooking. Good thing I didn't go in too quickly.
But looking at the Lantern Moth, the light on its stomach grew. Is the sun rising already?
I lifted my arm sideways, covering the sun, ready to make a move.
Huh? Where'd it go?
The light turned off, and the moonlit sky appeared once more. I felt heavier, wind flowing from behind.
Bam!
I felt a hard smack from behind, too quick to perceive. This time, it sent me flying, ten yards forward near the bushes. I fell, but my limbs were still ready for more.
When you can structure your body towards the ground below, the essence of Amora allows for less of an impact. Not much, though, just slightly lessens the hit on impact, all else stays the same, though. I don't know much about how it works, but Vly said something like this. 'Connect to nature, results in balance and protection!" I could hear Vly's screams through the repeated quote.
"Bbrsss, Brbsss!" Is it laughing?
I lifted myself upwards, turning around to look at it. The Lantern Moth didn't choose to attack me while I was on the ground. It treated me just as the Orca and Gator did.
"Hey!" I said, looking straight into its eyes, the light now completely gone from its stomach. The moon shone once more. "Don't laugh." I smiled, knowing what I'm about to pull off next is exactly what Vly strictly warned me not to.
I stepped forward, placing my arms together, while pointing a gun into the air. It's now venomous poison dripped, ready to bite me, to finish me. But you should've done it way earlier, because now, you're finished.
"Secret Technique." I breathed, closing my eyes, feeling a shift in the wind, listening to the bushes shake, the trees glide.
I swear I just felt the Moth's presence appear right in front of me.
"Brrs."
Yep, that sound came like a whisper to my ears. Right in front of me.
Although it was too late…
"Secret Technique." Slightly leaning my head, "Transformational enhancement!"
Right then and there, I opened my eyes. It was in front of me after all, the wing that was about to reach my face slowed down, and I felt as if time had just slowed. Everything was moving, but carefully.
So Vly really was right about this, but I need to be quick. I have two seconds, nothing more, and nothing less.
I closed the distance between myself and the Moth, swinging my fist back, to get as much of a power up as I could.
"Die, you tall, ugly insect!"
Bam!
Time resumed normally once more.
I slammed it, the Moth flew right beside the wooden cabin, surprisingly, the cabin's wooden walls didn't crack open, considering how huge it was.
"Hey, Chris! What are you up to?!"
Oh shoot, that was Vly… if she finds out, I'm dead meat.
The Moth was down, and I smiled in victory. I won… I actually won!
"Let's go-" oh no… the side effects are starting to kick in already?
"Ahhh!" I screamed as my body ached.
I'm feeling dizzy, a bit… too dizzy.
But… I won't be able to try Emilia's cooking!
My eyes flickered, my body gave up, and I fell downwards, back first, onto the light green grass.
Peaking at the beautiful night sky once more. The same position as I was before the Moth's arrival.
I knew I was about to go unconscious. Twice now in the span of two weeks. At least I won.
And just like that… I knew I was about to get scolded to my death by Vly.