Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 502. A personality flipped too soon

"There’s no control over the beasts, and absolutely no coordination," the professor stated plainly.

Orrin’s gaze remained fixed on the professor, astonishment evident. He hadn't realized the professor was observing their group so intently.

"Professor, this one here has been making decisions that put our entire group in danger," Orrin declared, pointing a finger directly at Theo.

Theo’s reaction was one of disbelief. Was Orrin actually being serious right now?

The professor’s intense, almost wild eyes continued to bore into Orrin. As Orrin struggled to hold his ground, Theo finally grasped the full situation.

Kaela and Mikel were also casting sidelong glances at Theo, as if he had committed some offense.

"Professor, I wish to request a disadvantage for myself," Theo suddenly announced, successfully drawing the professor’s undivided attention.

The professor’s expression shifted subtly, and he gave a slight nod, signaling Theo to proceed.

"I would prefer to work alone rather than remain with the group. This way, I can demonstrate my true capabilities independently," Theo asserted with a confident air.

The students milling around him observed him with a mixture of surprise and contemplation. Theo was simply abandoning the group.

For many among them, the entire situation was perplexing, and Orrin was the first to vocalize his confusion again.

"You were the one who initiated this group, and now you’re deserting it?" Orrin questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Theo’s gaze met Orrin’s, and he detected an arrogance in the other boy's eyes that instantly ignited his irritation.

‘What is this guy even trying to accomplish? Is he attempting to make me his adversary?’ Theo mused, forcing himself to maintain a semblance of composure.

He knew he absolutely could not afford to lose control and act rashly now, especially when he realized Orrin was deliberately provoking him.

"I grant you permission to work alone, student," the professor stated abruptly before turning and walking away with a click of his tongue.

With the mantis having returned to the beast space, Orrin approached Theo, stopping directly in front of him as if issuing a challenge.

"Your gaze is set incredibly high. How about you bring it down a notch?" Orrin taunted, his eyes ablaze with arrogance.

This sudden shift in Orrin’s demeanor caught Theo completely off guard; it was entirely unexpected. However, one thing was crystal clear: he would not tolerate this behavior.

"Make me," Theo retorted, taking a step forward, which made Orrin appear even more diminutive.

A vein throbbed on Orrin’s forehead as he tapped a finger against Theo’s chest, attempting to escalate the provocation.

"Do you have any idea who I am?" Orrin demanded.

This time, Theo couldn't help but smirk.

"Actually, I should be the one posing that question to you, 'Sir' Orrin. Do you even know my name?" Theo asked, the smirk still playing on his lips.

"I don’t care anymore. But do you recognize the power backing me?"

Theo leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper near Orrin’s ear, his eyes retaining that same air of arrogance.

"Theo Merrick. That is my name," he declared, casting one final glance at Orrin before stepping aside.

He was prepared to overlook the campfire incident, as it had only been a concept, not an action taken. However, he absolutely would not let the matter of the felled tree go unaddressed.

Orrin continued to fix his gaze on Theo, but a noticeable change had occurred. The arrogance that had previously filled his eyes was completely gone.

A faint sheen of cold sweat trickled down his forehead, yet Theo paid it no mind. He no longer cared about Orrin; his sole focus was on the task at hand.

Leaving the others behind, Theo drew his sword, and a potent aura rapidly began to envelop the blade.

With a swift, clean downward swing, Theo sliced through the fallen tree, creating another perfect cut.

Another strike followed, this one splitting half of the log cleanly into two pieces.

After just two attempts, Theo had successfully divided the large half-tree into two manageable logs.

He stood one of the logs upright and inspected it, noting that it was nearly as tall as he was.

He had already made all the necessary preparations, disregarding the curious stares directed his way. Over the next ten minutes, Theo felled and processed another tree before beginning to ready the ropes.

Once he entered a state of focused concentration, his work speed accelerated dramatically. By the conclusion of the first hour, Theo’s hut was fully constructed.

He ventured deeper into the small wooded area in search of larger leaves and soon discovered a tree bearing the exact kind he required.

Theo gathered approximately twenty of these oversized leaves, leaving one side of the tree almost completely bare.

Utilizing the large leaves, he meticulously assembled a roof for his shelter. By this point, his campsite had already become a point of considerable attention.

Only after the completion of his hut did Theo finally turn his attention to the rest of the students.

A look of utter disdain immediately crossed his face.

Out of the twenty groups present, merely a handful had managed to construct a functional hut comparable to his. The majority were assembling the most peculiar structures imaginable.

It was as if they possessed no experience whatsoever with camping, let alone with the challenges of survival.

Even the huts that were technically finished appeared crude and lacking in any semblance of life. They were deficient in both sound design and practical usability.

There was only a single exception – a camp situated near a corner of the area.

As Theo’s gaze settled upon it, he recognized a familiar face among the occupants.

The very same muscular man from the essence extraction class stood there. As soon as Theo noticed the hut's construction, it became clear to him that this fellow had likely participated in prior expeditions. His camp appeared remarkably well-constructed. Theo's attention then returned to the group he had recently left. Those four individuals were indeed facing difficulties, and that was putting it mildly. It seemed as though they had never truly mastered controlling their beasts, nor had they experienced any sort of survival scenario. Meanwhile, Orrin wore an expression as if all matters were settled, despite his own minimal contribution. Shaking his head, Theo resolved to construct a smoker as well, given the ample time remaining. After another 20 minutes dedicated to crafting more items, a cluster of students approached him with haste. Upon observing the young woman at their forefront, Theo detected a sense of hesitation in her approach, though her eyes conveyed a clear sense of urgency. "Greetings, Young Master Theo," she uttered, offering a respectful bow. Theo found himself lacking the energy to continuously instruct others to cease addressing him in such a manner. "You have erected an impressively spectacular camp entirely by yourself. This hut, in particular, is outstanding," the young woman continued. "My name is Cassie Radon, and I was hoping to ask a favor of you." With each passing day, an increasing number of individuals found themselves drawn to Theo, leaving him unsure of how he truly felt about this growing connection.