Insect Tamer's Ascension

"There are still dangers around us. Are you sure you want to split into two groups?" Merek asked with a frown.

Theo nodded. "We have truly powerful individuals among us, Young Master Merek."

He turned to Kaelor. "Sir Kaelor, will it be okay if I ask you to protect the production group at the camp? Clara, Elias and most probably Cassian will stay with you if my brother agrees to it."

Theo glanced at Lucien, who nodded. Cassian immediately moved closer to Clara and Elias, both of whom were frowning, clearly not liking his decision to leave them out of this.

"I don’t mind protecting," Kaelor said. "And I doubt you will be in danger with your beast on your side."

"Good. Then Brother Lucien, Young Master Merek, Sir Garrick, Miss Lysara, and I will head toward that gate to pinpoint its location. Is that alright with you all?" Theo asked.

There was silence for a moment, and a few confused glances were exchanged among them.

"I don’t mind," Lucien said, as if he were eager to leave, while Merek quickly agreed.

Lysara and Garrick both nodded.

"Then it’s settled. Clara, Elias and Cassian. I leave the python to you. Sir Kaelor will be with you to protect you all."

Clara and Elias still had a frown on their faces, but one look from Theo made them swallow their words of objection and nod.

Soon, the group set off toward the east, while the other team began butchering the python as much as they could while also getting rid of the big shrubs that were around the camp.

The adventuring team moved in a formation.

Theo, as a half-knight, took the lead, while Lucien, with a sword in hand, guarded the rear.

Lysara and Garrick stayed in the middle, with Merek supporting them.

As they advanced, they marked the trees to create a clear path.

"At this pace, we will reach a beast’s territory in ten minutes, Young Master Theo," Garrick said, his one eye fixed on the trail while the other glowed faintly golden, as if a bird’s vision guided him.

"What is its level and type?"

"Level 9, a light-type beast. Kind of reptilian too, and it looked like it was basking in the sunlight," Garrick said, squinting his eyes.

"Light type?" Theo asked, realizing it had been a while since he had seen a light-type beast.

"We will take care of it if we need to."

They made their way forward, and Garrick was right. A small clearing had formed around the beast, which lay there, basking in the sunlight.

At first, Theo thought it was a crocodile, but then he noticed that the creature had long hind legs and shorter forelegs.

’That thing looks more like a dinosaur...’ Theo couldn’t help but wonder as he stared at the creature.

"Would you all want to fight this time, or should I go?" Theo asked.

Merek clicked his tongue. "This time, let me show you what I can do, ’leader’," he said, emphasizing the word ’Leader’, making Theo just look at him.

Seeing no reaction, Merek stepped into the clearing without bothering to hide himself. Then, his forehead flashed.

A wolf emerged, white-furred, with faint bluish streaks and bright blue eyes.

It growled the moment it appeared, making the crocodile-like beast open its eyes, slitted like a snake’s, and slowly rise up.

And that was when Theo grew certain that his theory might have been correct.

It looked like a smaller, tamer version of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Though he wasn’t entirely sure, as all he had ever known about dinosaurs was through online images, along with a lot of theories which claimed that the dinosaurs didn’t really look like they were portrayed since the images were only mapping the skin on the bones without having any confirmed evidence of fat or muscle under it.

And yet, here it was, a dinosaur-like beast standing right in front of them.

"Change of plans. We need to capture it," Theo said.

The beast’s eyes shifted toward his voice. It couldn’t see him because they were hiding behind a large tree, but it now knew there were more than just the two before itself.

Its hind legs started moving backward step by step before it suddenly turned to flee.

"I won’t let you!" Merek shouted, his voice laced with anger.

The wolf lunged forward aggressively.

The moment it started moving, steam began to rise from its claws.

Theo immediately understood that it was an ice-type beast, and the steam going out wasn’t because the claws were too hot but rather because the beast was extremely cold.

The dinosaur beast didn’t run too far, as if not wanting to keep the other beast away, and instead seemed to be waiting for it to come close.

Theo frowned, finding its actions confusing. By now, it should have already started to move toward the beast and engage in a fight.

Just as the wolf was about to swipe its steaming claws at the reptile-like beast...

It opened its mouth, revealing rows of sharp, large canines, capable of tearing off any beast’s skin with ease.

But the next moment, a blinding light flashed from it, forcing the wolf to shut its eyes; that was when Theo’s heart lurched with panic.

The light had lasted for only an instant, but the next moment, everyone saw the crocodile-like beast’s jaws were clamped around the wolf’s neck, biting down hard.

At that moment, everything fell apart.

Theo vanished forward in a hyperjump, his sword already drawn.

A thin layer of aura had barely formed over his blade before he reached the beast, slashing toward its neck, while also being careful not to harm the wolf in the process.

Everyone froze.

Especially Merek.

They hadn’t fully processed what had been the light just now, but Theo had already moved to attack.

Lucien finally snapped back to his senses, his panther dashing forward with a speed rivaling Theo’s hyperjump.

Theo’s sword struck the creature’s neck...

And that was when he realized something.

Its hide was far too tough to cut.