Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 491. 3 months later- I did not fail for nothing

With those tasks completed, Theo moved on to his next class, not realizing how quickly time had flown.

With only three classes scheduled daily, totaling nine hours of instruction, Theo initially worried about the demanding schedule compared to his previous, shorter classes.

Previously, each lesson lasted around an hour, allowing him to absorb a significant amount of information in just six to seven hours.

However, the current three-hour class duration was a stark change, forcing him to reconsider his learning pace.

The following day, Theo received news that he could enroll in three additional classes.

Then, another three were added the day after, expanding his total course load to twelve classes, a change that brought him considerable relief.

Thus, within three days, his study regimen solidified: one day dedicated to swordsmanship practice, the next to formal beast taming training.

Upon witnessing the mantis, the professor required a significant amount of medicine to counteract the immense pressure the creature emanated.

Theo was astonished to discover artificial methods and medications existed to suppress such pressure, feeling it was akin to cheating, especially as the mantis's intimidating aura was nullified for the professor.

This experience only intensified Theo's resolve to enhance the mantis's suppression capabilities.

He quickly recognized that beast control demanded far more of his attention than swordsmanship, an area where he already possessed an advantage. His handling of the mantis, conversely, was comparable to that of a novice student.

The professor even drew a parallel between Theo and a student who had tamed a dragon fledgling, a creature inherently more powerful yet substantially more challenging to command.

The mantis, it seemed, shared this characteristic.

Fifteen days passed in what felt like a whirlwind, leaving Theo with precious little time to rest.

The demanding class schedule consumed his entire day, and soon, examinations were upon them.

Clara and Elias, also occupied with their own studies, empathized with Theo's arduous schedule. Even some instructors felt a degree of pity; Theo appeared to be living less as a student and more as a prisoner of time and the academy's demands.

Yet, Theo remained unfazed, his focus solely on achieving his objectives.

When the examination results were revealed, a wave of astonishment swept through the academy.

Theo's performance across all subjects was remarkably average, a cumulative score of 55% indicating he had just managed to scrape by.

At that juncture, Theo understood the necessity of refining his strategy if he aspired to reach the pinnacle of his academic pursuits.

The professors, however, expressed satisfaction with his results. Before long, Theo's name began to spread among the faculty, even reaching those who did not directly instruct him.

With no significant rivals, Theo continued to progress at his own calibrated pace.

Another fifteen days elapsed, and by the time the subsequent set of exams arrived, Theo had improved considerably, achieving a score of 68%.

It was at this point that many observers began to perceive Theo not merely as a student, but as something akin to a prodigy.

However, Theo possessed a deeper understanding of himself. With the accumulated wisdom of nearly forty years of life, he was far better equipped to handle mental stress than the child others perceived him to be.

Over the ensuing month, Theo participated in two more rounds of exams for all his subjects, maintaining a consistent level of performance.

His scores never exceeded 75% in any discipline, with the notable exception of aura training, where he consistently demonstrated near-perfect mastery, achieving around 99%.

Now, Theo found himself approaching the crucial final examination, where all his accumulated knowledge would be put to the ultimate test.

He did not feel entirely prepared, yet his approach to learning had been remarkably mature from the outset.

Theo never resorted to rote memorization solely for the purpose of passing exams, only to forget the material afterward. Instead, he integrated every concept with practical, real-world applications, embedding the knowledge deeply within his memory.

Whenever a concept was revisited, Theo would instinctively recall specific moments—perhaps a memory of a perilous encounter in the forest—and the associated knowledge would resurface instantly.

While not flawless, this method proved remarkably effective.

The lowest grades he ever received were in beast control, particularly concerning his command over the mantis.

This outcome was a deliberate choice.

Theo was hesitant to infringe upon the mantis's autonomy in its decision-making processes.

He had personally witnessed the creature's impressive capabilities when it independently journeyed to the Whispering Forest to procure its own sustenance.

Furthermore, he observed its skill in utilizing the burrows created by giant crawlers to track and eliminate them within the crawler gate.

Nevertheless, the professor responsible for beast control expressed strong disapproval of this approach.

For the first time, Theo began to comprehend Lucien's philosophy regarding the training of beasts as unthinking automatons rather than as individuals with distinct personalities.

The professor mirrored this philosophy in his own dealings with his beast, and Theo couldn't help but notice the dull, almost lifeless demeanor it exhibited.

The professor's objection to Theo's methods was not unique; however, Theo now found himself holding a similar sentiment towards their rigid perspectives.Still, he was fine with securing 40% in that particular course, as he had eleven others to compensate, including one where he was close to achieving a perfect score. However, during the second-to-last exam, the professor revealed his true colors for the first time. He wasn't content with merely dismissing Theo’s ideas; he wanted to outright reject them. For the very first time, Theo failed a course. And this setback occurred at the most inconvenient moment, with only fifteen days remaining before the main examinations. Theo consulted with several other professors. While they offered their support, none could fully resolve his predicament. Nevertheless, they all concurred on a single strategy: Theo needed to compensate by achieving higher marks in the other ten courses, with a particular emphasis on hybrid swordsmanship, where he excelled. From that point onward, Theo intensified his efforts. During the finals, bolstered by the silent encouragement of all the professors who were rooting for him, he gave his utmost, particularly in his swordsmanship exam. Ultimately, Theo managed to achieve an overall score of 80%. Unfortunately, there remained one specific exam where his score plummeted to a mere 20%. The mantis, incensed by Theo’s mental state, attempted for the first time to decapitate a human. However, Theo, despite his own frustrations, did everything in his power to maintain control. With that, the first year, condensed into a mere three months, concluded. It was now time for the next cohort of students to enter the academy. And for the first time in a considerable period, Theo finally found himself with a respite. However, he had no clue what to do with this newfound freedom. He had transformed into someone incapable of existing without constant pressure, a peculiar individual unsure how to occupy his leisure time. Observing this, the other professors could not help but intervene, attempting to guide him on how to embrace his vacation, even if only for a brief duration.