Insect Tamer's Ascension

"Mantis just did a light scratch, Clara. The boar is the main damage dealer here." Theo said while he patted the back of the boar who snorted. It was the second time he tried saying something like that.

By now, he knew what each snort meant - the boar was annoyed or happy.

The mantis had already left his side and was eating big chunks of the big viper that looked smaller in comparison now.

"I observed the mantis carefully and saw just how proficiently you and it executed things, young master. You just injured a beast 3 levels ahead of you." Clara stated again. There was a proud smile on her face that Theo felt good looking at.

They talked about how the attack went for a while, as according to her, the dead level 6 beast's corpse would make many lower level beasts not approach the area for a while.

In the end, Theo went a little closer to the viper and it was at that time that he saw the sheer size difference between him and it. He touched the scaly skin of the viper and he felt like there would be small cuts on his hand anytime soon.

The pup whined and wanted to eat the big viper just like the mantis. It tried making Clara approve it many times yet she didn't approve, making Theo chuckle.

"Let it eat some, Clara. The pup did a great job bringing something like this back."

Clara moved her face toward Theo and stated, "Well, the mantis eating it is one thing but if the pup also starts eating then we would have to take a very damaged corpse to the castle back. Its condition should be good, young master." Clara explained.

Theo looked at her with curiosity, "Take it back? Why?"

"We have to show this to the head butler or even master Lucien, young master. This is an achievement worth showing to others."

When Clara said that, Theo couldn't help but frown. The strategy might have been good but in the end, it was not him that defeated the big viper.

"Don't worry about it, Clara. Let's just take it to the outskirts and let everyone eat it. It will be fun." Theo said with a big smile making Clara surprised yet in the end, she only nodded with a warm smile.

A second later, Clara took out a chunky rope from her side belt and tied the big head of the viper with proficiency. Theo tried learning how to tie this good by just looking.

Yet when Clara saw that, she made Theo understand the process first and then let him do one on his own.

A few minutes later, the head of the viper was tied properly and the other end was given to the boar who, without any problem, moved the big snake toward the outskirts.

When Theo saw the remaining part of the viper that was still in the tall grass this whole time, he couldn't help but become curious.

"How did it get so big, Clara? Does reaching level 6 make the beast go through this much changes?"

Clara seemed to think and look around in vigilance for a few moments before she spoke, "It's not about level 5, young master. It's about breaking through level 5. It's still very mysterious as to how untamed beasts do it. But there are quite a bit of research about it everywhere." She rambled on and continued.

"When a beast breaks the level 5 cap, sometimes, there are some things unlocked in its bloodline that were kept locked before. You could think of it as potential. Let's take this viper as an example," Clara explained and pointed toward the big viper that was getting dragged outside the forest.

"A Thornhide Viper that has not completed the level 5 cap yet will never be able to reach this size no matter how many years it lives. You could think of it as that the viper was able to become this big because of the breakthrough." Clara explained.

Theo knew it was tough for Clara to explain things and while she did, there was a lot of repetition.

Still, he nodded in understanding, the knowledge he needed was given to him anyway.

They finally reached the outskirts of the forest and Theo saw the carriage driver, his beast just sleeping idly as usual as if nothing could do anything to them.

When the sound of dragging something became louder, the Windmane stag, the beast that was the usual carriage mover that Theo brought with him, got up in a hurry.

When it did, the carriage operator lifted the cap from his face too and looked toward the entrance of the forest.

"Oh? You have brought something fascinating back, young master." The operator said while rubbing his eyes, as if saying he doesn't care if he sleeps on the job.

Theo grinned at the carriage operator's reaction. He didn't care if the driver was aloof as long as he did his job correctly.

But the Windmane stag that was usually so calm and indifferent, was now tense, its ears flapped and its eyes were stuck at the massive viper being dragged behind the boar. The stag snorted, its hooves shifting uneasily in the dirt.

"Relax," Theo said, and reached closer to the stag that moved its face down. It didn't seem like the first time he was meeting the stag this close.

Theo patted its back as he spoke to soothe it, "It's already dead. There is nothing to worry about."

"Level 6, eh? That's quite the catch for someone your age, young master." He scratched his chin, eyeing Theo with newfound respect. "Didn't think you'd be bringing back something like this so soon."

"It was a team effort, most of the work was done by this guy here," Theo reached out to the boar and patted its head too.

The boar just scratched its face gently at Theo's leather vest before it stopped.

The carriage operator tried to find something in the group and when it couldn't, he asked in curiosity, "Where is the mantis, young master?"