Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 454. Is killing the innocent alright?

Clara clenched her fists, her bones cracking with frustration for being unable to voice her objections to the man, solely due to his higher noble rank compared to Theo and Lucien.

Theo regarded the man with an impassive expression before turning his attention to the others. "We will proceed to capture as many as we can. Let’s move."

Without a moment's delay, he stepped forward, propelling everyone towards their intended destination.

Merek’s vexation was palpable, a prominent vein pulsing on his forehead as he gnashed his teeth. He fixed Theo with a murderous glare, only for Theo to detect his gaze and glance back.

However, Theo did something utterly unexpected.

Theo offered the man a smile and continued his advance, momentarily leaving Merek utterly speechless.

The nobleman remained rooted to the spot for a few seconds before the stark reality of their situation dawned upon him. They were in an uncharted forest, trapped within a gate. Should he perish or vanish here, he would merely be recorded as 'deceased within the gate,' as no further action could be taken without concrete evidence.

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As they navigated their way into a new sector, the group arrived at a pack of wolves resting calmly on the ground.

Tiny wolf pups tumbled over one another, engaging in playful nips and yips while the watchful female wolves kept vigil over them.

Theo’s gaze was drawn to a solitary wolf seated a short distance from the others, off to the side. It appeared larger than the rest, and its eyes possessed an air of pride, as though it were the undisputed leader of this pack.

"Let’s capture them all, and then we can decide which ones to keep and which to release," Theo declared.

Kaelor stepped forward, dropping to one knee beside Theo, and surveyed the pack with him.

"Just ensure you don't kill them," Theo added, his eyes holding a firm resolve.

Kaelor offered a smile.

"I will draw their attention. While I do that, you can ready your beast to unleash that ability upon all of them to complete this capture."

With that, he drew his sword from its sheath and moved forward.

Theo observed Kaelor advance and intrude upon the wolves' space. The pack immediately took notice and rose to their feet.

There were seven in total, including two pups.

Upon sensing the presence of an unfamiliar being, the pups scurried towards their mother, seeking protection, while the adult wolves emitted low growls, their bodies tensing as Kaelor adopted a defensive stance with his sword.

Theo watched intently. Some of the wolves shifted their focus towards the larger one, lowering themselves slightly in a gesture of deference, their hind legs partially bent and their forelegs fully planted on the ground.

It was at this moment that Theo perceived something significant: there were two females and two males within the pack, indicating a perfectly balanced pairing.

Before Kaelor could engage the wolves, Theo released the mantis.

It moved like a blur, dispersing pollen throughout the area.

Even before the full effect could manifest, Theo charged forward, ropes in hand, closely followed by Lucien and the attendants.

The instant the wolves inhaled the spores, they collapsed to the ground almost immediately. The males succumbed slightly later than the females, falling atop them.

Theo swiftly moved towards the largest male, binding its muzzle and hind legs with a heavy-duty rope, designed for larger, more formidable beasts.

Just as he prepared to secure its forelegs, the wolf's eyes snapped open.

Its claws slashed out towards Theo, who was perhaps a little too close.

However, fate was not on the wolf's side, as Theo's prowess in close-quarters combat was formidable.

He dodged the claws with effortless grace, then seized one of its forelegs before moving to the other.

He then called out to Clara. "Clara, tie it up."

But they were too late; the female wolf beneath it surged forward, its jaws snapping directly at Theo's neck, a strike he narrowly avoided.

The wolf's speed was astonishing, far exceeding his expectations, and its attack was lethally precise.

Theo drove his elbow into the wolf's head, but the beast powered through the impact and lunged at him again, forcing him to retreat a few steps.

A quick assessment revealed that the other male wolf was already fully bound, and the female positioned beneath it had its hind legs secured.

Clara, Elias, and Cassian had collaborated effectively, while Lucien quickly attended to the pups, securing them with a lighter rope.

However, he couldn't refrain from speaking out upon apprehending them.

"These pups are foaming at the mouth! I believe that attack was far too potent for them," he exclaimed, backing away carefully while holding both pups.

Theo immediately grasped the situation unfolding with the pups. Without even turning his head, he called out, "Lysara, heal them!"

He then advanced to confront the female wolf, which was frantically attempting to dislodge the rope from the male wolf's muzzle.

Lysara placed her hands on the trembling heads of the wolf pups, only to comprehend the grim reality moments later.

"...I cannot save them. Their internal organs are too severely damaged..." she stated, her voice heavy.

Her declaration prompted Lucien to gently place the pups down, while Theo emitted a soft clicking sound of mild annoyance.

While Theo and Kaelor were giving their all, a significant change occurred within Lysara.

A determined glint sparked in her eyes.

She quickly crouched down and commenced healing the wolf pups, her hands emitting a brilliant, glowing light that enveloped them.

After a few minutes, with Kaelor's assistance, Theo successfully incapacitated the female wolf and secured her with ropes. The attendants also dealt with the other female wolf.

Clara's boar held one of the wolves firmly pinned to the ground, preventing its movement, while the humans grasped its head and bound its jaws with rope.

The entire existence of these wolves had been drastically altered in just a few moments, leading Theo to a profound realization.

From the wolves' perspective, they perceived the humans as the aggressors, the villains responsible for their capture.

He looked back, a heavy feeling in his heart, and then stopped.

The wolf pups began to stir.

Lysara had summoned her formidable beast, its pristine white fur radiating an intense luminescence.

Their combined efforts continued the healing process.

And this time, there was a palpable feeling that the pups might actually have a chance to live.