Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 464. Who injured the strong one?
Previously on Insect Tamer's Ascension...
For a moment, Theo found himself at a loss for words or feelings. His attention was utterly captivated by a single scene: the mantis, now perched on the opposite flank of the colossal beast, met his gaze with a look that clearly conveyed, 'I told you so.'
Theo’s eyes traced three deep gashes marring the beast’s hide. 'Are those... claw marks?' he questioned himself, a wave of bewilderment washing over him. The wounds were long, unnervingly clean, and brutally deep—far too precise to be accidental. This precision struck him deeply.
One by one, as the others converged, they too stared down in stunned silence. "By the heavenly artifact..." Kaelor breathed, placing a hand over his chest. "To inflict such wounds upon a beast of this magnitude with such strength... I would rather not cross paths with whatever made them," he added, a tremor of unease coloring his voice, while the rest remained fixed on the gruesome display, each lost in their own thoughts.
Theo narrowed his eyes, straining to get a clearer view of the injuries. He soon realized the immense scale of the damage; the gashes were so vast that, in comparison, he could clearly see the ripped edges of flesh along their sides. The skin appeared shredded and peeled back, as if something had torn through it with unimaginable force. This sight left him with a profound sense of disquiet.
"These wounds were inflicted some time ago... they are already beginning to heal..." Theo remarked softly. His observation prompted the others to lean closer, scrutinizing the injuries with renewed intensity.
Suddenly, an unusual impulse emanated from the mantis. Theo froze, a thought flashing through his mind: 'There's no way it's going to do that.' Before he could even formulate a plan to prevent it, every person present watched as the mantis began to move deliberately towards the nearest gash. Without a shred of hesitation, it slipped its agile body into the deep opening.
Theo instinctively lurched forward. "Wait—don’t!" someone whispered urgently, but his movement was already underway. He cautiously approached the wound, the steep angle of the beast’s body threatening to send him tumbling. Step by deliberate step, he reached the gash, where the mantis had already vanished from view.
And in that precise moment...
A system notification materialized before his eyes.
[Evolution Potential: Detected]
Theo paused, processing the abrupt information. 'The mantis... it drank its blood...' He cast a sideways glance at the massive beast, searching for any sign of reaction or change. Nothing. The creature didn’t even flinch. At this juncture, Theo’s gaze drifted downward, towards his waist, specifically to the row of empty vials.
He moved even closer to the wound, where the mantis was still ensconced. There was no time left for contemplation. Grasping the edge of the wound, which felt like a hardened crevice due to dryness, Theo retrieved one of the vials and gestured for the mantis to move aside. It complied, although its mandibles remained embedded deeper within the flesh. Theo leaned in and peered inside.
What he beheld next stole his breath. The wound was cavernous, deep enough to feel like a small cave. Theo even mused that he could probably crawl halfway into it if he dared. Within its depths, he spotted several small orifices from which a peculiar liquid seeped—a substance tinged green, yet underscored by the beast’s red blood. 'Is that... blood?' The hue strongly resembled poison or venom, leading him to question if it was perhaps an organ exuding its internal fluids rather than the creature's actual blood. However, observing the mantis already feeding within the wound, Theo crouched slightly and positioned the vial beneath one of the seeping openings.
A single drop fell. And instantly, the vial was completely full. Theo’s eyes widened in astonishment. 'The blood is so viscous; a single drop filled the entire vial...' He quickly secured a few more vials before deciding to retreat. The instant he turned around...
Clara stood directly before him, her eyes blazing with indignation. But before she could utter a word, Theo presented her with the collection of filled vials. "You should gather some as well. Then we will depart," he instructed, before leaning in to whisper conspiratorially. "Make sure to conceal the vials you obtain, alright?" Theo spoke, noticing the others now casting curious glances their way. None of them possessed the foolishness to approach the deep, claw-like wounds from above. "Mantis, let’s move," Theo commanded.
The mantis extracted itself and lifted its head, allowing Theo to see the greenish fluid dripping from its mandibles as it moved towards him. It then approached the few vials of blood Theo had collected and nudged them with its face. Theo tapped its head a few times, signaling that the vials were not for it and that it should not draw attention to them. Once Clara had finished her task, they made their way back up the beast's body, the mantis accompanying them.
As the others witnessed their return, Lucien extended his hands to help Theo and Clara ascend. "Alright, let’s leave now. We’ve acquired enough," Theo declared, already turning to depart. He had obtained something invaluable in his estimation, and more crucially, had fulfilled the necessary conditions for evolution. His gaze briefly swept over the beast’s immense head, nestled within its own body, its eyes still shut. "We truly are like insects to this creature... it doesn't even acknowledge our presence on its body..." Theo mused aloud, eliciting puzzled looks from the others.
Rather than leaping, he glided down the beast's sleek exterior, while the mantis transformed into a streak of motion, effortlessly alighting on the earth beside him. A notion surfaced in Theo's consciousness: what would transpire if the mantis were to unleash its skill upon that resilient hide? Instantly, the mantis conveyed a surge of irritation through their shared connection. Theo paused for a fleeting moment before resuming his movement. It was evident the mantis had already engaged the creature, its attacks testing the beast's defenses repeatedly. Yet, none of its assaults had managed to inflict even a scratch upon the beast's formidable skin. That stark realization reawakened a deeply ingrained feeling of powerlessness, a sensation Theo hadn't experienced since his confrontation with the tyrant beast at the gate alongside the baron. Presently, with the assistance of the falcons and the trail they had meticulously blazed, the apes reappeared. They reclaimed the lioness-like beast's carcass and commenced their return journey toward the egress. Theo subtly observed Clara's waistline. Though his outward demeanor remained utterly impassive, an internal smile bloomed within him. All the previously depleted vials, which had been secured to her belt, had vanished, as though she had misplaced them or some similar circumstance had befallen them. However, Theo possessed a more accurate understanding of the situation.