Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 525. Equal to Mantis? Is that possible?

A week passed, and all Theo did was practice different kinds of drills to secure his place in the team. It was relatively easy for him because he realized that everything they were doing now was similar to what he had already experienced inside the gate.

And he had been good there, so he was good here too.

The others, however, were struggling. With most of their time going into learning new techniques and adapting to unfamiliar situations.

By the end of the week, they had already practiced enough escort missions and team hunts.

Now, it was about time for Formation Objective Battles.

Out of the five ’subjects’ of these Kingdom Games, they had already covered two extensively.

And during the non-lethal beast capture exercises so far, there had been no need to involve any additional beasts.

The mantis’s paralysis worked even on level 8 beasts, which was the maximum level in this forest before a beast was killed or captured for further use.

The mantis’s paralysis worked on every single one of them.

But after the successful week of training, it was finally time for the next arena record battle.

The coliseum was not only packed to the brim, but there were extra seatings arranged for more students and even older nobles from the royal capital.

"Wow, the academy actually charged an entry fee this time. And look at the crowd," a boy said as he tried counting the people, only to realize that it was impossible to count them with how tightly packed everyone was.

"They do this every year. By the time the last five battles begin, the team for the Kingdom Games has already been decided, and everyone wants to see the participants that will represent our academy," the crafty-looking boy explained while making calculations on the sheet with a sly smile.

"All noble families, merchant groups, and even mercenaries have their eyes on the top five right now," he added while glancing toward the distant front seats.

Countless nobles and wealthy merchants sat there in luxurious clothing, their family crest proudly displayed. They occupied the first rows in the wide circle around the arena, giving them the best possible view.

The other boy nodded at that and gulped in excitement. Chills spread throughout the coliseum as everyone waited for the participants to appear.

Then his eyes drifted toward the calculations the sly boy was making and then widened in shock.

"You have gone mad... are you really planning to wager this much?" the boy asked the sly fellow.

"10,000 gold coins on the one that smells like the most profit. Today will be the day I prove this sense of smell, Castiel," the crafty-looking one declared as he leaned back in his seat.

Suddenly loud cheers and roars erupted from the opposite entrance as a gate slowly rose open. Even the ones seated above that entrance showed interest, though none of them stood up.

They were nobles, after all. They had to maintain discretion and etiquette.

When the gate was fully opened, a foot stepped out, followed by the figure’s entire body.

The moment Theo heard the explosion of cheers from the crowd, he felt something was wrong.

This was no longer just a crowd of students. Mixed within the excitement were the cold, calculating gazes of nobles.

Theo stepped into the arena and noticed the referee already waiting at the side.

He gave the man a smile, but the referee merely nodded before turning his attention forward.

Then the opposite gate rose upward, revealing the person Theo would be fighting.

A boy with a calculating smile on his face walked forward.

As the crowd erupted once again, he casually waved his hand at them with calm authority and a charming smile.

Once he reached the center of the arena, he looked at Theo with that same smile.

"Go easy on me, will you, friend?" Osric asked while stretching his neck.

Theo only smiled in response without replying, making Osric just shake his head lightly.

"The fight begins!"

The referee seemed to have no calm and, without waiting any time, started the fight before anyone could even take a breather.

Theo immediately summoned the mantis.

At the same time, Osric’s forehead also flashed white, and an elongated silhouette appeared beside him.

Theo hadn’t seen Osric’s beast until now. From the outline alone, he was clear that it was a snake-like beast or just a really big worm, though the latter seemed unlikely.

When the beasts fully materialized, Theo stared at Osric’s gigantic beast in awe.

*****

Tideveil Serpent

Rare

Level 6

Type: Water-type beast

*****

The serpent had stretched its body upward, and Theo could already tell it was over seven feet tall. Even then, a large portion of its body still remained coiled beneath it.

Its snake-like eyes remained locked onto the mantis and nothing else.

Theo pulled the sword from its scabbard, and that was when he heard a thud.

Like everyone else, he turned toward Osric and realized that the guy was already seated on the ground with his legs crossed.

Osric lowered his head, making everyone murmur and shout at the situation.

But then suddenly, before Theo could think anything of it, a loud voice rang out from the side of the arena.

"I want silence for this arena record. There are guests from outside the academy who deserve some respect," the headmaster himself said, a small stone before him.

Theo immediately shut off those thoughts. He didn’t want to think about the stone or how it amplified his voice. It didn’t seem like technology.

Still, his gaze drifted to the people seated beside the headmaster, and one glance was enough to tell they were high-ranking nobles.

He moved his gaze forward again and saw Osric sitting motionless on the ground, his head still lowered.

Theo wanted to use this as an opportunity, but at the same time, the gigantic serpent had already moved beside Osric, staring down at Theo and the mantis protectively.

The moment the mantis met the serpent’s eyes, it raised its mouth and released a screech so loud and grating that many in the crowd recoiled in horror or covered their ears.

The next second, it became a streak of light shooting toward the serpent.

Theo had some confidence that the serpent wouldn’t be able to withstand the suppression, but something felt wrong.

It had already moved once to protect Osric. What was stopping it from doing it again?