Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 461. The sheer size of a true giant

Morning arrived.

Theo and the rest of the group prepared themselves. As he settled onto a log by the campfire, Theo surveyed everyone present.

“We are proceeding with the plan now. Is everyone prepared?” he inquired.

Most simply nodded, though a few meticulously rechecked their equipment.

“Clara, Sir Kaelor, Brother Lucien, and I will serve as the bait. Sir Garrick will dispatch the falcons with us, and the remainder of you shall engage in battle as you deem fit,” Theo announced, his gaze encompassing everyone.

In a distant corner of the assembly, a tall figure stood. Theo briefly met his eyes and offered a relaxed smile. Merek mirrored the gesture with equal casualness.

His countenance displayed no overt hostility, only the familiar, quiet arrogance.

Theo found the arrogance himself wasn't an issue; it was a common trait among many nobles. However, he simply desired a modicum of basic courtesy from the man towards the others.

“Young Master, we are counting on you to protect everyone with your formidable beast, are we not?” Theo posed the question.

Merek met Theo’s stare, his expression unreadable. “Naturally.”

Theo stepped forward, and the designated bait team congregated. For the moment, none summoned their beasts, as there was no immediate necessity.

Apart from Garrick’s two falcons, which materialized from his forehead and ascended into the sky.

One of the birds streaked ahead with astonishing speed, imperceptible to the eye, while the other wheeled languidly before settling on a tree branch, awaiting the group’s advance.

Theo gave a slight nod, and they commenced their movement.

There was no need for haste. Their progress was measured and steady, keeping the falcon in close proximity while engaging in conversation.

Theo learned considerably about Kaelor, discovering he was the rising knight of House Varrick.

It was a relatively minor house, on the precipice of attaining baronial status due to the prowess of the knights under its command.

Instead of concentrating on martial endeavors, the family had cultivated its renown through exceptional logistics, thereby garnering significant recognition. Their name resonated widely in the majority of the surrounding settlements.

From an early stage, they had committed substantial resources to nurturing their knights, and it was in this arena that Kaelor had truly distinguished himself.

According to Kaelor, merely a handful more successful missions separated House Varrick from achieving barony. Upon this accomplishment, he would finally be able to wed the woman he cherished, the rightful heir of House Varrick.

The more Theo absorbed Kaelor’s narrative, the more layers he perceived in the man’s character, leading him to believe Kaelor was far more than merely a skilled knight.

After some time had elapsed, Theo closed his eyes, endeavoring to estimate their distance from the gate, as their journey had been quite prolonged.

He had discreetly marked many of the traversed areas as a precautionary measure, but the trek was proving to be somewhat longer than initially anticipated.

They paused for rest every four hours, recalling the two falcons to their side during each interval.

Theo provided them with portions of dried meat, which they consumed at an unhurried pace, an activity that also drew out the mantis.

Theo found himself compelled to offer it some meat as well before deeming it sufficiently sated. This mantis seemed an insatiable void, capable of consuming an entire forest and still remaining unsatisfied.

By the fifteen-hour mark, the surrounding environment had perceptibly darkened, yet they persisted onward.

The greater their distance traveled, the more it felt like an unavoidable reality would settle in: they might be compelled to confront the creature at its current location rather than successfully luring it towards the gate.

After extensive computations, it was determined that executing repeated hyper-jumps at their maximum capacity could reduce the travel time to mere hours. However, no one dared to undertake such a strenuous maneuver, choosing instead to conserve their energy for moments when it would be truly critical.

When only a few hours remained and their view remained obscured by the dense foliage, Theo ascended a tree. From this elevated position, he finally glimpsed the creature up close.

It was entirely crimson, and from his vantage point, Theo could only discern the rhythmic rise and fall of its scaled body, as if the colossal beast were in a slumber.

The longer Theo observed it, the more an unsettling chill permeated his being. He tightened his grip on his sword's hilt, seeking stability and mental clarity.

They advanced nearer.

Soon, the two falcons ceased their flight, circling twice before landing on a tree branch. Theo glanced at the others, noticing a similar grim understanding dawning on their faces.

“We are now extremely close to the beast. Let us ascend above the trees to ascertain our course of action,” Theo declared.

With that, he propelled himself upward using a hyper jump. This time, he observed the creature from a considerably closer and clearer perspective.

It represented the first creature he had ever genuinely classified as ‘gigantic.’ All previous beasts bearing the ‘gigantic’ moniker paled in comparison to this specimen.

From above the dense canopy, all that Theo could perceive was the immense, mountain-like expanse of the creature’s body, its form shifting with each indrawn and expelled breath.

And that comprised the entirety of his visual perception.

As the others joined him and beheld the creature as well, their expressions transformed, conveying a mixture of profound awe and palpable unease.

"That is one colossal creature," Kaelor remarked, his hand instinctively gripping the sword's handle.

"Theo... cast your gaze beyond the monstrosity," Lucien urged.

Theo acknowledged with a nod. He had already perceived it.

The colossal beast had emerged from the far south... and the path it had carved was utterly devastated. The very woods were ripped asunder, as if the creature was an anomaly, alien to this realm.

"It has remained dormant for nearly two days... which is quite peculiar," Clara added her observation.

Yet, Theo's focus remained fixed on the sheer devastation wrought simply by its movement.

"Well... one of my initial objectives was to examine this enormous beast up close," Theo stated with a humorless laugh.

"Even if we managed to slay this creature before the gate, there's no conceivable way we could salvage and transport its remains. It's simply not feasible," Lucien grumbled, his gaze fixed on Theo.

Theo looked intently at the slumbering colossus, gnawing at his lip.

He harbored a strong desire to combat it. He yearned to test his mettle against it.

But would this truly be the judicious choice?

"...Now that we have journeyed this far, let us at least secure some of the lesser beasts in the vicinity."

Engaging this paramount beast at this juncture would prove to be a colossal waste in every conceivable manner. Theo could sense it deep within.

This creature was an absolute treasure trove.

And to abandon even a sliver of its bounty would be utterly intolerable.