Insect Tamer's Ascension

It took a few minutes for everyone to calm down again. Oric looked disappointed as the mantis had to be withdrawn for now until everything was fully settled.

"Young Clara, Young Elias, Young Lucien, and Young Theo caught ninety-eight in ten minutes," Oric said, making a few marks on his paper before looking up. "That’s more than what you needed to qualify. You may now go to the next round."

He paused, then added, "But it was largely due to Young Theo’s beast. Do you intend to use this same method inside the gate?"

Theo, Clara, and Elias nodded.

"Good. That’s the optimal approach," Oric said. "But make sure your team members are comfortable with the presence of your beast. If they freeze while you are being attacked by a horde of beasts, the chances of someone dying will increase significantly."

He explained.

Theo glanced at his new teammates and sighed. They didn’t look like they could easily adapt to the presence of his mantis, but he would have to make it work.

"Alright, we will move on to the next beast capture," Oric announced, clapping his hands. He stopped Merek and Kaelor from going with them since they still had to complete the Mirewhisk trial.

"I can help you if you can get used to my beast’s suppression," Theo offered.

Merek clicked his tongue and walked ahead toward the Mireshisks, while Kaelor remained, looking at Theo with a conflicted expression.

"I like knights for this reason; you don’t shy away from showing your emotions," Theo said with a smile, earning a narrowed gaze from Kaelor.

"I want to get used to your beast’s ability... Can you bring it out again?"

"Not right now. I saw you earlier; you will get used to it sooner than the others. That’s the will of a knight. Unfortunately, the rest aren’t like you, Sir Kaelor." Theo’s words made the knight nod.

After bidding farewell, he went off to practice on his own. Theo advised him to try controlling his grip strength so he wouldn’t accidentally kill the beast while he held it.

For someone who was used to relying solely on explosive strength, learning restraint in a single day was no easy task.

Soon, the group saw a larger cage being brought by two giant workers.

Once it was set down, they pulled the cloth covering it, and everyone stared at the beast with perplexed emotions.

RRAAWWRRRR!

The beast’s roar echoed, forcing some of them to step back.

Theo studied the beast closely. At first glance, he couldn’t help but think that it resembled a bear due to its size and the way it looked, but long tusks protruded from its mouth that looked less like an elephant’s and more like the curved tusks of a sabre-tooth.

When the cloth was removed and the beast was shown its surroundings, it began thrashing violently against the cage.

’If that thing hits me even once, I might be a goner...’ Theo thought.

The sheer power behind its hits couldn’t help but make him think that.

"This is a beast we procured from a gate," Oric explained. "We found a pair and allowed them to mate in our world in a controlled environment. Now, in just five years, we have a hundred of them. And they have proven to be great tamed beasts for many."

Theo could understand the value of extracting beasts out of a gate.

His thoughts drifted to the crawler, and he smiled faintly. That creature was one of a kind, something he hadn’t seen anywhere else in this world. He was glad he hadn’t shown it to the emperor during the inspection, or it would likely still be used as an experimental rat.

"Alright," Oric continued, "it’s time we release the beast. Remember this, you cannot kill it. The beast is extremely valuable. Breaking a bone or two can be acceptable, but excessive harm is not. If I see you harm it too much, I will fail you all in this test and report to the emperor that you are unfit to enter the gate."

Everyone looked at him with a frown upon hearing those words.

"That beast is a Level 8, but its power is very explosive... Without killing or decapitating it... it will be tough restraining it," Lucien muttered out loud while standing beside Cassian.

Theo nodded. "We will have to use that thicker rope too; otherwise, it might just break free without much effort."

After thinking it over for a minute, Theo finally concluded that they might be out of ideas this time.

"Why don’t I use the mantis’s spores to paralyze it for a while, and then we can tie it up quickly?" Theo suggested.

Clara and Elias made uncertain faces, while Cassian and Lucien simply looked at him.

"Young master, would we be able to go near it if the spores were present?" Clara asked.

Theo smiled wryly at her question and shook his head.

"That’s something we needed to figure out sooner or later anyway. So let’s try it this time." Theo spoke and looked around.

He raised his voice.

"Everyone! I am going to take out my beast again. Please try to handle the suppression, thank you!" Theo shouted, making everyone exchange glances.

Oric’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he moved closer to Theo.

From the side, Mae and Corven watched with the same enthusiasm on their faces, though they had enough sense to keep their distance from such a beast.

Theo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

With the instructor standing right beside him, he summoned the mantis, who came out in a flash of light.

As it landed, the same silence fell once again, but this time, his team included people who had somewhat gotten used to its presence.

Looking at Clara, the mantis made its way toward her, seemingly oblivious to the effects it had on the others.

When it got close enough, Clara instinctively placed a hand on its head, and the creature responded with a series of strange, alien sounds.

Seeing that, many thought the beast was a lot less terrifying, though the pressure it radiated still lingered.

"Can I pet it too!?" Oric asked with a scream while trying to move closer.