Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 457. Isn’t that silhouette a little too big?
Previously on Insect Tamer's Ascension...
A palpable silence fell over the group, their gazes darting around, seeking any indication of the Nubbits' presence. Even with the keen senses of Chip and the two birds, no trace was found.
Eventually, accepting their search was in vain, the party moved on, continuing their journey towards the exit gate’s location.
No new beasts materialized along their path. The existing creatures maintained a cautious distance, hovering just a few meters away, rendering any engagement unnecessary for the present.
The burden of the logs grew heavier with each passing moment, and even the boar showed signs of strain, halting multiple times as its strength waned. The challenging, uneven terrain exacerbated the difficulty of carrying such weight, particularly for its ungainly hooves struggling for purchase.
Approximately an hour into their trek, punctuated by frequent rests, Theo detected it without needing to close his eyes – the spatial energy ahead was visibly fracturing.
The gate's silhouette became clear to all, and an immediate surge of pace propelled them forward. There was no thought of pausing now; the exit was within reach.
Within mere minutes, they arrived at the gate's immediate vicinity. Theo’s attention was drawn to the unusually dense cluster of trees surrounding the area.
"Everyone, we've accomplished half of our objective," Theo announced, exhaling a deep sigh. "From here, our remaining tasks involve gathering samples and establishing a temporary camp."
He looked back, observing the smiles and conversation among the group, their faces radiating relief.
'Everyone is alive... that counts for something as a leader, doesn't it?' Theo mused inwardly. Yet, Lucien’s past words about his inadequacy as a leader resurfaced, echoing in his mind once more.
A genuine smile finally graced Theo's lips as he resolved to improve. He would dedicate himself to honing his leadership abilities. This encounter with the gate had already provided him with more lessons than he had initially anticipated.
As the others continued their chatter, Theo's gaze involuntarily shifted upward, drawn to a substantial branch overhead. A sudden, powerful impulse urged him to ascend, to survey the forest from a bird's-eye perspective.
He crouched, centering himself.
A resounding thud echoed, and the ground beneath him fractured slightly, displaced by the force.
To the utter astonishment of the group, Theo propelled himself high into the air, effortlessly grasping a thick, sturdy branch.
Kaelor’s eyes widened in sheer amazement, while Merek regarded Theo with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
Clara, inspired by the feat, bent her knees to leap, her hand closing around a branch just below Theo's. Elias followed suit.
One by one, the earth erupted beneath their feet as they launched skyward, until the three stood perched on separate branches of the same colossal tree, each with a distinct expression painted on their face.
"For even the attendants to possess the ability of hyper jump... this is absurd," Kaelor commented, a disbelieving chuckle escaping his lips, while Lucien and Cassian merely observed as the trio continued their ascent.
Theo's head emerged above the dense canopy, and he drew a deep, refreshing breath, taking in the panoramic vista spread out below. The forest unfurled endlessly, its crimson trees and foliage creating a striking, almost dreamlike tableau from his elevated vantage point.
Theo rotated slowly, savoring the scene with a contented smile, until his attention was captured by something distant on the horizon.
He narrowed his eyes, attempting to bring the object into focus, but it remained frustratingly too far to discern clearly.
'Is that a tree... or something else entirely?' Theo found himself pondering.
The distant form appeared significantly taller than the surrounding trees, and Theo instinctively knew that whatever it was, it possessed an imposing size.
He glanced down, landing gracefully on another thick branch before descending completely to the forest floor.
From below, the group watched as he transitioned from branch to branch, culminating in a smooth roll upon landing and an immediate, effortless recovery.
"Garrick, on the south side, have you dispatched your birds to investigate that large silhouette?" Theo inquired.
Garrick blinked, still processing the sight of Theo’s unharmed descent, then looked at him with a puzzled expression. "What silhouette are you referring to, young master?"
"The one to the south, Sir Garrick. There is something immense there, something far surpassing the height of these trees."
Garrick’s eyes immediately shifted, their irises swirling with shades of green and gold as he directed his gaze southward.
"...I perceive nothing, young master. Might you have been mistaken?" Garrick replied carefully, choosing his words with caution. While Theo was not like other nobles, he still held that status.
"Just to be certain, would you mind sending them in the southern direction? To ascertain what they discover," Theo requested politely, prompting Garrick to nod before settling to the side, his eyes remaining luminous gold.
Theo then surveyed the others, noting their curious stares, and turned his attention to the two attendants who had also descended.
"How about we take a brief respite, and then assist in clearing some of these surrounding trees? We won't be able to establish our camp near the gate otherwise," Theo proposed.
Unanimous agreement rippled through the group.
Shortly after, a modest campfire was kindled, and they partook in food and drink before settling down for a much-needed rest.
Behind a substantial tree, a short distance off, the two women retreated to attend to their personal hygiene. They utilized a compact satchel brimming with water and some dry garments for this purpose. Theo exerted considerable effort to dissuade anyone from venturing toward that particular location. Nevertheless, he felt a measure of relief when he observed that no one appeared to harbor any interest in doing so. Kaelor allowed himself only a short respite before procuring a tool resembling a sickle. He then commenced the task of clearing away the overgrown grass in the vicinity. It was evident that he had truly adapted to the life of a camper within this gate, a fact Theo filed away mentally, resolving to maintain contact with him. Before long, the collective effort began, with everyone participating in felling timber and shaping it into a rudimentary hut, incorporating both aged and newly acquired logs. As dusk settled, the structure stood complete, a testament to the numerous hands that had contributed to its creation. The attendants, having departed, returned to establish a more robust campfire and positioned smokers alongside it. A sense of tranquility seemed to have returned. At this juncture, Theo contemplated employing his ability on Clara and Elias, aiming to facilitate their evolution into Foundation Humans. However, the presence of so many individuals rendered the endeavor excessively perilous. Consequently, he resolved against it, choosing instead to resume his assigned tasks. As the darkness of night deepened and all had retired, anticipating a much-deserved slumber... Garrick abruptly roused himself and placed a hand on Theo's shoulder, his actions imbued with a discernible sense of urgency. Theo awoke instantly, immediately perceiving the wild, almost frenzied, gleam in Garrick's eyes. "Young master, a peculiar disturbance is occurring to the south."