“My little ones…” Three Jade Arm Mantises rested quietly on a protruding rock, their bodies now larger than a human palm. Their exoskeletons were flawless, possessing the warm, translucent quality of high-grade jade without a single blemish. Most striking were their iconic forelimb scythes—they had completely calcified into white jade, the edges flickering with a cold, lethal gleam. Sensing Zhou Kai’s arrival, the three mantises emitted cheerful, vibrating chirps. In a blur of green and white, they transformed into streaks