“Say,” Gregor said, the praying mantis’ large compound eyes staring at Sam’s back. “Are you sure you’re a human? What is going on with your biology?”
“Oh?” Vercedei asked. “What do you mean?”
“Your heart is beating thirty times a minute,” Gregor said as it walked behind Sam and Ellie. “That’s closer to a snake’s resting heartrate than a human’s.”
Considering Sam didn’t have a heart anymore, it must’ve been Werchbite’s illusion tricking the praying mantis into thinking Sam had a heartbeat.
“How often would you say a human heart beats in a minute?” Vercedei asked.
“Oh, around seventy-five times or so,” Gregor said. The praying mantis tilted its head. “Huh. That’s odd. Your heartrate is normal now. Are you sure you’re a human? Most humans can’t do that, right?” The praying mantis halted its steps, waiting for Tom and Kerry, the two humans behind him, to catch up. “Can the two of you manipulate your heartrates at will?”
“I can’t,” Tom said.
Kerry shook his head. “Me neither.” He looked at the red reptilian that had once ripped off his arm, which had grown back thanks to the power of the sloth’s healing vibrations. “Can you manipulate your heartrate?”
“Not without external aids,” the red reptilian said. “Cold weather decreases our heartrates.”
The sloth by Sam’s right hand shifted, causing Sam to focus on Joe with his All-Seeing Gaze. The sloth rose slightly, and although it’d take several minutes for it to express its thoughts, Sam already knew what it wanted. He shifted his hand away from the sloth’s belly and began to scratch the sloth behind its ears. This wasn’t the first time Joe demanded Sam do something else to please it.
“So,” Gregor said, bouncing on its legs to catch up to Sam and Ellie. “What are you doing now?”
“We’re going to find someplace quiet to wait out the time until the dungeon closes,” Vercedei said.
“I’d like to once again thank James for his brave sacrifice,” Tom said. “He lured all those beasts away, giving us a chance to survive.”
“Thank you, James,” the reptilian bodyguards and Kerry said at the same time, looking up at the sky and saluting as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.
“We’re not going back for James?” Gregor asked. “I was under the impression humans cared about individual lives quite a lot. I think I bumped into him if he was being chased by a herd of beasts like you said he was.”
“He has rocket boots,” Tom said. “Only Kerry can catch up to him now.”
“I’ll pick him up,” Gregor said, the praying mantis’ wings buzzing as they flapped, lifting the mantid off the ground.
Sam wondered if the mantid would still be as friendly after leaving Joe’s area of influence. Vercedei was less unsure. “That’d be great,” the twin-headed snake’s blue head said. “See if you can confuse those slagpions while you’re out there. We don’t want them heading back to us.”
“I’ll do my best,” Gregor said and pumped its wings, shooting off into the distance.
“What a friendly mantid,” Ellie said, turning her head to watch the giant insect leave. She turned towards Sam. “I really thought he’d be more upset when he found out you took the world seed.”
“Do you know what the world seed is?” Vercedei asked.
“I’ve heard about them,” Ellie said. “World seeds are giant crystals that can help develop a plane. Their vibrations encourage spiritual growth over a huge region. They’re rare but reusable, so since you destroyed one, the mantids now have one less world seed to work with.”
“For the record,” the black reptilian said. “We from Et Serpentium own three world seeds.”
Sam couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. From what Ellie and her bodyguard were saying, Raindu had stolen one of the mantids’ strategic resources. Then again, mantids were mantids, and wasn’t it better for Sam if humanity owned the world seed instead even if it was in the form of a sloth that could manipulate people’s emotions? However, Sam didn’t have much loyalty to humanity, so he felt a bit bad for the mantids.
“Only one mantid was sent to guard such a precious gem?” Vercedei asked. “That doesn’t seem right.”
Ellie shrugged. “You can ask Gregor when he comes back,” the small reptilian said. “Maybe the mantids were confident in his abilities, or maybe his party was eaten by those beasts.” Ellie dropped her bag. “Either way, we’ve gone far enough now. It’s time to take a break!”
***
James ran for his life, breathing in through his nose while exhaling through his mouth. He ignored the blistering pain on his feet, the stabbing sensation in his side, and the scratchiness within his throat from the lack of water. Although he really only had himself to blame for the situation he was in, he was still upset at everything and everyone but himself. With his rocket boots out of fuel, he could only run from the horde of slagpions chasing him, but they were gaining on him quickly. Was he going to die here?
A droning sound buzzed in the sky above James, and he raised his head to see the large praying mantis from earlier. It landed on the ground in front of him with a heavy thump, and James exhaled as he slowed his footsteps. He was going to get caught by the slagpions no matter how fast he ran, so he might as well figure out a way to negotiate with the bug to take him away. “Hey,” James said. “Welcome back. Was my information helpful?”
“It was,” Gregor said. “I made some new friends thanks to you.” The praying mantis stepped forward and showed James its empty palms. “I was tasked with bringing you back to the group.”
“You were?” James asked, his eyes lighting up. “Alive, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Gregor said and leaned over to observe the charging slagpions. “Is there anything you still have to accomplish before we leave?”
“Nope,” James said, spreading his arms out to the side. “How are you taking me out of here? Whatever position you want me to assume, I’ll do it.”
“This is perfect,” Gregor said and stepped forward before grabbing James by the shoulders. The large praying mantis bent its legs and jumped before flapping its wings, shooting off into the sky. The massive insect flew in the direction James was going, continuing to lead the slagpions further away from the Sam’s group.
“So,” James said after the slagpions could no longer be seen. “You became friends with which group exactly?”
“Your human companions and the reptilians you encountered,” Gregor said. “You told me you were traveling alone, but I won’t hold your lie against you. Friends forgive one another.”
James wasn’t sure how Sam befriended a mantid, but he wasn’t going to question a good thing. “Yep,” James said. “That’s right.”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
As the mantid flew further ahead, it looked behind itself to see where the slagpions were. Then, its wings stopped flapping as if the insect had frozen in midair. James swallowed as the ground rushed towards him. “Hey!” he shouted and gripped the praying mantis’ legs. “What happened!?”
Gregor looked down at James, the man’s reflection appearing dozens of times within the praying mantis’ compound eyes. The large insect resumed its flapping before turning around, heading back in the direction it had came from. “I seem to have lost my senses,” the praying mantis said. “What was I thinking?”
Cold sweat ran down James’ back as a sinking feeling appeared in his stomach. The mantid’s vibe had changed, and he couldn’t help but wonder if its earlier personality was a trick to make him drop his guard. “Uh, excuse me,” James said. “You were going to take me back to the group, right?”
“Silence, human,” Gregor said while flying. “I’m reflecting on my previous actions. Don’t interrupt.”
James swallowed as the slagpions came back into view. They were no longer running after him, the horde walking back towards the pyramid. Upon hearing the mantid above, the slagpion horde seemed to ripple as they stomped their feet and stood up to get a good look at the sky. James shouted as the mantid released his shoulders, and his body fell a few feet before stopping, his hands holding onto the mantid’s legs.
“Release your hands,” Gregor said as it flew towards the center of the slagpion mass. It raised its scythe-like appendages. “Or I’ll make you.”
“You’ll have to make me,” James said as he glared up at the mantid. There was no way he was willingly going to drop into a mass of slagpions.
“As you request,” Gregor said and stabbed its scythes downwards, aiming for James’ face. His eyes widened, and he released one of his hands, using it to swat at the scythes. The edge of the insect’s appendages sliced at James’ skin, a screeching sound ringing out as if metal had scraped upon metal.
“Stop, stop!” James said. “Weren’t you supposed to take me back to the group? What would your new friends think of you if you killed me off like this?”
“They don’t have to know,” Gregor said, stabbing its scythes at James once more. “I’ll tell them by the time I reached you, you already succumbed to the slagpions chasing you.” The mantid hovered in the air, reflecting once more as it raised its scythes after having them knocked away by James’ palm. “No, in the first place, why did I become friends with a group of reptilians and humans?”
“Because you noticed how awesome they were?” James asked. “Think about it; really, take your time.” He looked down at the slagpions, who were beginning to crawl on top of one another, creating a mound beneath him. Given enough time, James didn’t doubt they’d form a pillar high enough to grab him.
Gregor slashed at James’ wrist, the one belonging to the hand holding the mantid’s leg. James let out a cry as his skin was sliced, not deeply, but the wound was still painful like a papercut. James wasn’t sure if having skin as tough as diamonds was a blessing or a curse as the mantid repeatedly slashed his forearm in an attempt to make him let go.
James gritted his teeth. At this rate, he’d fall into the horde of slagpions, but what else could he do? He couldn’t fly, and there was no one around to help him. “Hey,” James said. “Surely, I have some kind of value. There must be something else you can do with me other than dropping me into a sure-death situation for the fun of it.” He winced as he forced himself to grip the mantid’s leg tighter, blood flowing down his arm and onto his shoulder. “Maybe you were tricked by the reptilians into being their friend? You can use me as a hostage or bargaining chip! I’m much more useful alive than dead.”
After deliberating for a bit, Gregor flew to the side, forcing the slagpions to give chase once more. “You raise a good point,” the mantid said. “I’ll bring you back to the group, and see what kind of trickery they pulled to make me into their friend.”
James exhaled. Although his arm was stinging from all the cuts he had suffered, he allowed his tense body to relax. With his quick wit, he managed to escape a gruesome death. It might’ve been brought upon himself by his own greed, but risks were meant to be taken, no? From what he could tell through the mantid’s words, Sam’s group had teamed up with the reptilians. In that case, if the mantid brought James back, there was a chance he could work together with Sam and the reptilians to get rid of this giant bug.
However, upon returning to the group, after being flown in a roundabout manner to lose the pursuing slagpions, James lost all motivation to kill the large praying mantis despite his earlier thoughts. The rocky ground made contact with his feet, and he fell to his knees. Although the praying mantis agreed to bring him back to the group, it didn’t carry him, and he was barely holding on to its legs for dear life during the whole flight. Oddly enough, his body wasn’t sore, and he felt better than ever. He felt … nice.
“Welcome back, Gregor!” Ellie said, waving at the mantid and James.
The giant praying mantis tilted its head and looked down at itself. “Is there something about you that manipulates minds?” Gregor asked. “I feel and think different ways when I’m around you.”
“Not me,” Ellie said and pointed at the sloth around Sam’s belly. “Joe.”
“The world seed?” Gregor asked and flapped its wings, hopping towards Sam. “Even in another form, it still works miracles.” The praying mantis placed its three-fingered hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Would you like to come to Silva Volucris? I promise you’ll be treated well.”
“Are you sure you can back up that promise?” Vercedei asked for Sam. “Aren’t you in a sticky situation yourself since you failed your mission of guarding the world seed?”
“Yes,” Gregor said, nodding his head. The mantid rubbed its scythes together. “But that’s precisely why I’d be elated if you accompanied me to Silva Volucris. I can show my boss that the world seed merely changed form and gained new abilities; it wasn’t lost or destroyed.”
Sam wasn’t sure how valid the mantid’s words were considering the world seed was basically gone from the world now. Queen Annabeth from Monarch gave up her weapon for Raindu. The reptilians lost their GMC for Birdbrained’s existence. A blue avian lost their memento given to them by their parent because of Vercedei and Werchbite’s appearance. There was no way Joe the sloth was going to turn back into the world seed no matter how much the mantids experimented on it—which Sam suspected they would do the moment he stepped foot into Silva Volucris, the land of the mantids.
“Sure, I’ll go,” Vercedei said, deciding for Sam. “You’re not lying to me, right? I’ll be perfectly safe in Silva Volucris?”
“Well…,” Gregor said. “You’ll be as safe as a regular citizen.” The mantid buzzed its wings, and its intent was sent into Sam’s mind albeit very quickly. “Regular citizens die by the dozens every day, so while I’d like to assure you won’t get hurt, things happen, you know?”
“You won’t take Joe away from me?” Vercedei asked.
“I won’t,” Gregor said, “but I can’t guarantee my boss won’t.”
“So, why exactly should I accompany you to your homeland?” Vercedei asked as the illusion of Sam raised an eyebrow. “It seems like a foolish thing for me to do.”
Gregor hung his head. “Don’t you want to save your friend, me?” the mantid asked and gestured towards itself with its scythes. “If you don’t go, well, I suppose I won’t be going back either. I’ll follow you around until the day I die or the day you end up going to Silva Volucris.”
James stared at the mantid interacting with Sam. James didn’t know what kind of method Sam was using to brainwash the mantid, but James knew it wasn’t the effects of any chakra techniques he had heard of. He was jealous of Sam’s ability, definitely. If there was a way to steal people’s natural talents, James would’ve done it to Sam, but it was a shame it wasn’t possible.
“You shouldn’t go to Silva Volucris,” Ellie said, frowning at Sam. “At least, not without an army backing you up.” The yellow reptilian blinked. “I suppose you do have an army, huh?”
“Army?” Gregor asked, the large praying mantis’ head turning to scan the area. “What army?”
“An army of graylings,” Ellie said.
“Graylings?” Gregor asked. “Graylings are neutral save for the ones serving your lot in Et Serpentium.” The mantid stared at Sam. “Are you capable of controlling them? What sort of method are you using to blackmail them into taking action?”
Sam wished he could mobilize the graylings at a large scale, but he had a feeling the blue avians would take notice of him if he did. With his All-Seeing Gaze, Sam focused on Joe and the sloth’s spreading aura. He had to figure out a way to control the sloth’s ability lest the blue avians take notice of it as well. He didn’t know how they detected things, but the more the sloth used its ability, the higher the chance Paula would pay him another visit. Why couldn’t the sloth be a koala? At least, then, the blue avian might hesitate before attacking him. Also, why was Ellie spilling his secrets?
“Does it matter how I’m capable of controlling the graylings?” Vercedei asked. “I’ll be allowed to bring them for my own protection, right?”
“I don’t think anyone brings an army with them for self-defense,” Gregor said and tilted his head the other way. “My people might have a problem with that if you do. It’s like bringing a flamethrower to defend yourself from mosquitoes. The people around you will be quite uncomfortable.”
The illusion of Sam shrugged. “I’m sorry to say,” Vercedei said, “but my safety is more important than other people’s comfort. Do you want me to go to Silva Volucris or not?”
“I would like for you to go, but not for you to declare war against us,” Gregor said. “That won’t end well for either side. Wars are terrible, and they shouldn’t be waged. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone and everything could coexist peacefully?”
“No,” Ellie said and snorted. “Reptilians wouldn’t survive without eating meat.”
“You speak as if lab-grown meat doesn’t exist,” Gregor said.
“It shouldn’t,” the red reptilian said. “Lab-grown meat is unnatural and filled with who knows what the lab people decided to put in the meat. Meat isn’t real meat unless a life has been lost over it.”
Gregor sighed and looked at Sam. “These are the people you’re friends with?”