Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 449. Touching death so soon

"Dangers still lurk nearby. Are you certain about dividing into two teams?" Merek questioned, his brow furrowed.

Theo gave a firm nod. "Powerful experts are in our midst, Young Master Merek."

He faced Kaelor. "Sir Kaelor, would you mind guarding the group handling production back at camp? Clara, Elias, and likely Cassian too will remain with you, should my brother consent."

Theo looked toward Lucien, receiving a nod in return. Cassian swiftly approached Clara and Elias, who wore deep frowns, obviously displeased by his choice to exclude them.

"Protecting them poses no issue for me," Kaelor replied. "With your beast accompanying you, danger seems unlikely."

"Excellent. Brother Lucien, Young Master Merek, Sir Garrick, Miss Lysara, and myself will proceed to that gate to determine its exact position. Does this suit everyone?" Theo inquired.

A brief silence fell, accompanied by several puzzled looks passing between the group.

"I have no objections," Lucien stated, sounding keen to depart, as Merek hastily voiced his agreement.

Lysara and Garrick nodded in unison.

"It's decided then. Clara, Elias, Cassian—I entrust the python to you. Sir Kaelor will safeguard you all."

Frowns lingered on Clara and Elias's faces, yet Theo's stern glance compelled them to hold back their protests and acquiesce with nods.

The team soon departed eastward, while the remaining group set about carving up the python thoroughly and clearing the massive bushes encircling the camp.

The explorers advanced in tight formation.

As a half-knight, Theo led the way, with Lucien wielding his sword to cover the back.

Lysara and Garrick held the center, backed by Merek.

Progressing onward, they notched the trees to blaze an obvious trail.

"Young Master Theo, at this speed, we'll enter a beast's domain within ten minutes," Garrick warned, one eye locked on the path ahead while the other shimmered with a soft golden hue, seemingly enhanced by a bird's sharp sight.

"What level and kind is it?"

"Level 9 light-type beast. Reptilian in nature as well, appearing to lounge under the sun's rays," Garrick described, narrowing his gaze.

"Light type?" Theo echoed, noting how long it had been since encountering such a creature.

"We'll handle it if necessary."

They pressed ahead, confirming Garrick's prediction. A modest clearing surrounded the beast, sprawled out soaking in the sunlight.

Initially mistaking it for a crocodile, Theo observed its elongated rear legs and stubby front ones.

'That creature resembles a dinosaur more closely...' Theo mused, eyes fixed upon it.

"Do you wish to battle it this round, or shall I take it on?" Theo proposed.

Merek tsked sharply. "Allow me to demonstrate my abilities this time, 'leader'," he declared, stressing 'leader' mockingly, prompting Theo to merely regard him.

Met with indifference, Merek strode boldly into the open space. His forehead then gleamed brightly.

A white-furred wolf materialized, adorned with subtle blue veins and piercing azure eyes.

It snarled instantly upon summoning, causing the croc-like beast to snap open its serpentine-slitted eyes and rise leisurely.

At that instant, Theo felt confident his hunch was spot on.

Resembling a diminutive, less ferocious Tyrannosaurus Rex, though Theo held reservations, his dinosaur knowledge stemming solely from web pictures and debates asserting reconstructions inaccurately draped skin over skeletons sans verified fat or muscle layers.

Nevertheless, a beast akin to a dinosaur loomed directly before them.

"Plans have shifted. We must seize it alive," Theo commanded.

The beast's gaze darted to his voice. Hidden behind a massive tree, it couldn't spot him, yet sensed additional presences beyond the initial pair.

Its rear legs retreated gradually before it whipped around to escape.

"You're not getting away!" Merek bellowed furiously.

The wolf charged with ferocity.

As it surged ahead, vapor steamed from its talons.

Theo quickly deduced its ice-type nature; the mist arose not from scorching heat but from frigid chill.

The dino-beast halted short of fleeing far, almost inviting pursuit rather than distancing itself, poised as if awaiting the approach.

Theo's brow creased in bewilderment at its odd behavior. Normally, it would have lunged into combat by now.

Right as the wolf prepared to slash with its frosty claws at the reptilian foe...

Its jaws parted wide, exposing jagged, massive fangs primed to rip through any beast's hide effortlessly.

Yet in the instant that followed, a piercing flash burst from it, compelling the wolf to clamp its eyes shut; that was the moment Theo's heart seized in dread.

The glow persisted for just a heartbeat, but right after, all onlookers beheld the crocodile-like monster's jaws locked firmly around the wolf's throat, clamping with savage force.

In that very instant, total chaos erupted.

Theo propelled himself ahead in a hyperjump, sword already unsheathed.

Hardly had a faint aura layer coated his blade when he closed in on the beast, swinging at its neck while taking pains to avoid wounding the wolf.

All present went rigid.

Merek above all.

They hadn't yet grasped the source of that recent light, yet Theo was already charging into battle.

Lucien at last shook off his stupor, his panther lunging forth at a pace matching Theo's hyperjump.

Theo's sword crashed against the creature's neck...

And that's when the truth hit him.

Its hide was impossibly tough to penetrate.