Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 463. What hurt you?

As the surrounding scavengers noticed the group drawn to the colossal creature's carcass, they immediately charged forward.

"Do not claim any of them. We will eliminate them all," Theo commanded.

A confident smile graced Kaelor's lips for the first time as his sword slid from its sheath.

"Everyone, fall back," he instructed, his blade slicing through the air.

Theo witnessed the display with clarity for the very first time.

The blade, imbued with an aura, shot forth and cleanly bisected the charging beasts.

For a fleeting second, the beasts continued their advance, but in the next, their forms were separated neatly into two halves.

Theo understood that Kaelor could generate aura at least a hundred times more rapidly than he could, which was natural given that Kaelor was a fully realized knight.

Once all the beasts were dealt with, Theo looked up, only to find the mantis had vanished.

Theo compelled himself to cease overthinking for a moment, resolving to concentrate. The colossal beast appeared dormant, while the pack beasts they had just vanquished were gnawing at its hide.

'Is this creature even alive?' Theo couldn't help but ponder.

'Mantis, return at once,' Theo commanded through their bond, but the mantis transmitted only a few more fleeting emotions before falling silent again.

"The mantis has detected blood," Theo announced, shifting everyone's focus from the fallen beasts and the immense one towards himself.

Theo turned to Lucien. "I don't believe this beast is merely sleeping. I suspect it's wounded," Theo stated, his gaze following the mantis's presumed trail.

An idea then surfaced. "Sir Kaelor, perhaps we should attempt to impale the creature and observe its reaction?" Theo inquired.

Kaelor regarded him with surprise. "...You wish to pierce it with aura?"

Theo simply nodded, and the others present regarded Theo with knitted brows.

Just as he was about to elaborate, the falcons reappeared from their mysterious whereabouts and resumed their shrill cries.

All eyes turned upwards to them, the group realizing the birds were urging them further south.

The falcons circled directly overhead the beast's immense form, with one even landing upon it, yet the colossal creature remained utterly unresponsive.

"To this beast, we are but gnats... insignificant to warrant notice," Theo declared aloud.

No one could refute his assertion.

He was correct. The sheer scale of the beast rendered them negligible.

Theo retrieved his sword, channeling aura into the blade before advancing cautiously.

Lucien swiftly moved to intervene, but Theo had already pressed the tip of his sword against the beast's tough hide.

As Theo exerted pressure, the aura concentrated at the point of contact with the beast's skin; this was the most astonishing aspect for him.

Nothing occurred.

Theo drew his blade back and attempted to stab again and again, infusing each strike with greater force and his aura flaring to its maximum. Before he could persist, Lucien seized both his shoulders and pulled him away.

Kaelor stepped forward, examining the beast's hide at the spot Theo had been striking before moving closer.

"You didn't even leave a scratch..." Kaelor murmured, dragging his hand across the hide.

"This beast possesses immense strength. Do you believe you could harm it, Sir Kaelor?" Theo asked, allowing his aura to dissipate. There was no point in squandering it at this juncture.

"You employed your aura at approximately 40% of my full capacity. It should have elicited some response, but as you can witness..." Kaelor explained, gesturing to the area Theo had targeted, which bore no mark whatsoever.

Kaelor unsheathed his own sword and swung it with force against the beast's hide.

Theo observed intently, his gaze fixed on the hide with amplified bewilderment, his confusion intensifying.

Even Kaelor's powerful strike left no impression.

A droplet of sweat traced an upward path along Kaelor’s temple, defying the very laws of gravity.

"...I exerted 80%, young master," Kaelor stated, their eyes still fixed on the beast's hide.

Yet, not a single scratch was visible.

"I fail to comprehend your reasons for undertaking this endeavor," Lucien remarked, gripping Theo's shoulder firmly. "We are utterly incapable of contending with this beast. It dwarfs us a hundredfold; we cannot breach its hide even with aura, and I am certain our own beasts would fare no better."

"Theo, merely because Knight Kaelor is level 12 and you are level 10 does not grant you the capacity to oppose a level 13 beast. Life can be unfair, and this situation exemplifies it," he conveyed, meeting Theo's gaze directly.

"I doubt you would be able to inflict any damage even upon reaching level 13," he added as Theo continued to stare at him.

"As regrettable as that may be, I concur with young master Lucien," Kaelor chimed in with a sigh.

"Then why is Sir Garrick urging us onward?" Clara questioned with a frown. "If that entity awakens, we will be powerless."

It seemed no one within the group was thinking rationally.

Theo remained resolute in his desire to confront the colossal beast, as if he genuinely believed he possessed the capability to succeed. Kaelor participated merely to indulge him, while Lucien was the sole individual contemplating their potential peril.

"I must proceed further. Mantis is also present. And given that it remained utterly undisturbed even after Sir Kaelor unleashed such a formidable aura, then..." Theo declared, bending his knees.

Clara, Elias, and Lucien, instantly comprehending his intention, surged forward to apprehend him...

However, their efforts proved too late.

Theo propelled himself forward in a hyper-jump, the immense form of the beast completely dominating his visual field. In mere moments, he landed upon the creature's gargantuan body, a profound chill coursing down his spine.

'It feels as though I am standing directly on the earth itself...' he mused, before casting a glance backward and then advancing once more.

He observed the falcons fixing him with piercing gazes before they diverged southward. Theo followed suit, traversing the beast's immense length.

Its entirety was encased in scales, each individual scale nearly thrice the size of his own foot.

A crest of sharp scales, reminiscent of a wyvern's, ran along its spine.

'Though its designation doesn't reflect it... this creature increasingly resembles a dragon, or perhaps even a dinosaur...'

But shortly thereafter, as Theo ventured towards the opposite flank of the spiky-scaled median line, a potent metallic aroma assailed his nostrils.

Blood.

Behind him, the others pursued, striving to close the distance, leaping across the beast's body one after another via hyper-jumps.

Enticed by the scent of blood, Theo pressed onward, and after what seemed like an eternity, the distinct silhouette of the mantis gradually came into view.