Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 441. Capturing a giant

Several minutes passed before the group calmed down once more. Disappointment etched across Oric's face as the mantis needed to be pulled back temporarily until all matters were resolved.

"Young Clara, Young Elias, Young Lucien, and Young Theo caught ninety-eight in ten minutes," Oric declared, scribbling a few notes on his paper before lifting his gaze. "That’s beyond the requirement to qualify. Advance to the next round now."

He hesitated briefly, then continued, "But it relied mostly on Young Theo’s beast. Do you plan to rely on this method inside the gate?"

Theo, Clara, and Elias nodded in agreement.

"Excellent. That’s the best strategy," Oric replied. "Ensure your teammates feel at ease around your beast. If they panic amid a beast horde assault, the risk of fatalities skyrockets."

He elaborated on the point.

Theo eyed his fresh teammates and let out a sigh. They seemed unlikely to adjust quickly to his mantis's presence, yet he had to make it happen somehow.

"Fine, we’ll proceed to the next beast capture," Oric proclaimed, clapping sharply. He halted Merek and Kaelor from joining since they hadn’t finished the Mirewhisk trial.

"I can assist if you adapt to my beast’s suppression," Theo proposed.

Merek tsked in irritation and strode toward the Mireshisks, while Kaelor lingered, his face twisted in conflict as he eyed Theo.

"This is why I admire knights; you never hide your feelings," Theo remarked with a grin, drawing a sharp glare from Kaelor.

"I wish to acclimate to your beast’s power... Could you summon it once more?"

"Not at this moment. I noticed you before; you’ll adjust faster than the others. That’s a true knight’s resolve. Sadly, the rest lack your spirit, Sir Kaelor." Theo’s statement prompted the knight to nod firmly.

After a farewell exchange, Kaelor departed to train solo. Theo suggested he practice modulating his grip to avoid crushing the beast unintentionally.

For a fighter accustomed to raw bursts of power, mastering control in one day proved incredibly challenging.

Shortly after, the team spotted a massive cage hauled in by two burly workers.

As it settled into place, they yanked off the covering cloth, leaving everyone gazing at the creature in bewildered fascination.

RRAAWWRRRR!

The beast’s thunderous roar reverberated, compelling several to retreat involuntarily.

Theo examined the beast intently. Its massive build and appearance initially evoked a bear, yet sharp, elongated tusks jutted from its jaws—curved more like a sabre-tooth’s than an elephant’s.

Exposed to its new surroundings without the cloth, the beast rampaged furiously against the cage bars.

‘One solid strike from that, and I’d be done for…’ Theo mused grimly.

The overwhelming force of its blows reinforced that chilling thought.

"We obtained this beast from a gate," Oric described. "A breeding pair was captured and allowed to reproduce in our world under strict supervision. In merely five years, we’ve bred a hundred. They make exceptional tamed companions for countless tamers."

Theo grasped the immense worth of pulling beasts from gates.

His mind wandered to the crawler, bringing a subtle smile. That unique entity was unparalleled in this world. He felt relieved for concealing it from the emperor’s scrutiny, lest it end up as a lab subject.

"Very well," Oric went on, "time to unleash the beast. Heed this: no killing allowed. It’s far too precious. Minor breaks like a bone or two are tolerable, but severe damage isn’t. Harm it excessively, and I’ll disqualify you all, reporting to the emperor your unsuitability for the gate."

Frowns creased faces across the group at his stern warning.

"That’s a Level 8 beast, but its strength erupts violently... Restraining it without slaying or beheading will be brutal," Lucien whispered to Cassian nearby.

Theo nodded along. "We’ll need the heavier ropes too; anything less, and it snaps free effortlessly."

After pondering for a full minute, Theo admitted they might lack viable options this round.

"What if I deploy the mantis’s spores to numb it briefly, then we bind it fast?" Theo proposed.

Clara and Elias wore hesitant expressions, while Cassian and Lucien just stared at him.

"Young master, can we even approach with those spores in the air?" Clara inquired.

Theo offered a wry smile and shook his head.

"We had to test that eventually. Let’s do it now." Theo declared, scanning the surroundings.

He amplified his voice.

"Everyone! I am going to take out my beast again. Please try to handle the suppression, thank you!" Theo yelled, causing the group to trade uneasy looks.

Excitement sparkled in Oric’s eyes while he inched toward Theo.

Mae and Corven observed from nearby, their expressions brimming with equal thrill, but they wisely stayed back from the fearsome creature.

Theo felt torn between laughter and tears.

With the instructor right at his side, he called forth the mantis, which burst into view amid a brilliant flash.

The moment it touched down, silence enveloped them once more, yet now his companions had partially adapted to its aura.

Fixing its gaze on Clara, the mantis approached her, ignoring the dread it instilled in the rest.

As it drew near, Clara automatically laid a hand atop its head, prompting the beast to emit bizarre, unearthly chirps.

That sight made others view the creature as less horrifying, even as its oppressive presence hung in the air.

"Can I pet it too!?" Oric screeched, lunging forward eagerly.