Insect Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 92: Level 6 Viper

They went to the viper's territory for some leveling up, and Theo was able to defeat any viper that was made to come toward them or came on its own.

It was at the point that even the level 4 vipers were not a worry for him and the mantis.

"Just a little bit of training goes such a long way… With these 2 more months of it, I think I will be able to challenge other stuff too." Theo said with a proud smile.

The mantis was eating the dead carcass of a level 4 viper, a being that was 'too' much for them just a month ago.

The mantis was bigger now, so that helped a lot, but at the same time, the toughness and sharpness of its bladed forelegs had become better after the training and the stat allocations.

"Training that helps us grow this much is always fruitful, young master. I hope you keep growing like this."

Both the pup and the boar were there protecting Theo while Clara stood with them. There was a big clearing around them this time, as if the boar had done its job too well.

"Should we wait for more, or just go back now, young master?" Clara asked while looking around. It was already the 5th viper they had taken care of.

"To be honest, the experience gain has not been great, Clara. The vipers the pup brings back are random levels. Out of the 5 we took care of, 3 were level 2, so with the level penalty, the experience lessens a lot…" Theo explained, and Clara looked around thoughtfully.

"Well, we don't have much of a choice, young master. The forest ahead is dangerous, and we can only wait here for the pup to bring more. You'll have to make do with this experience."

"Hmmm…"

Theo didn't like what she said. If there was no way to get higher-level vipers back to the clearing, then it wasn't really worth it to go for more.

But what choice did he have? The only creatures he had defeated before were the same vipers and the moss slimes, which he felt retired from already.

"What other creatures are found in the outer forests, Clara?" Theo asked the question.

Clara got an instant deja vu from the sentence—it felt like Theo had asked it many times before too.

"It's the Ironclad Boars, the Silverfang Direwolves, and the Petrastone Apes, young master."

"Petrastone apes…" When Theo heard that name, his mind diverted back to the chaotic near-death fight they had against the beast.

He looked at Clara with a knowing look, and she only shook her head with a smile.

"The problem with Petrastone Apes is that while it will be possible to take care of the lower-level ones, it won't make the situation any different, young master. You will still get the level penalty."

"Not only that, but the danger to 'you' will also increase. The apes don't just live on the ground of the forest—they are all around and mostly on the branches of high trees. One sneak attack, and it can all be over."

"Then when do you think we will be able to go for them, Clara?" Theo asked persistently.

"We will need another attendant at the same level with more attacking abilities than me. Against these kinds of beasts, having numbers is a must."

Theo wasn't expecting this answer, but he nodded. It made sense, as the apes were a lot different from other beasts—they were literally humanoid, just with different-looking faces and body structures.

"If you'd like variety, young master, then you can look into exploring other forests besides this one. Each forest has different kinds of beasts."

"No, I am not willing to move to other forests just yet, Clara." Theo stated and looked toward the big trees with deep breathing.

"I will take care of 5 more vipers, and we will think about the next move in the carriage. Please send the pup to find some vipers."

Clara only bowed, and the pup went running toward the forest and vanished.

"Wait, what about Silverfang Direwolves? Can we not try fighting them, Clara?"

When Theo asked that question, Clara only looked at him blankly for a second before she started chuckling.

"Young master, it seems looking at the pup has distorted your image of what a Silverfang Direwolf is." She stated with an amused smile and continued, "You won't see pups so often, and killing them is not worth it, as they go for a good price in the market. The only ones worth defeating are the adult direwolves, and they are three times your size, young master."

"Three times me?" Theo asked again, making Clara nod.

"Not only that, the direwolves are never alone—they are beasts that are always in packs."

"So my only option really is the vipers…" Theo was dejected yet nodded nonetheless.

It wasn't anyone's fault that he couldn't defeat them—not even his own. He was already getting better at a good enough pace.

Clara didn't say anything and just waited. Some things needed time, and she was happy that Theo understood it, even if he was sad.

Time passed, and the mantis defeated another two vipers of the same level. There was still a long journey left before he could reach level 4.

The pup went after getting another viper to kill. It was getting rewards in half of the viper's body to eat for every kill the mantis went through.

Yet when the pup was only halfway back from its scouting, Clara frowned.

"He is sensing something pressuring nearby, young master." She said and closed the distance between her and Theo.

"Ape?" Theo asked almost instantly.

Clara only shook her head and stayed silent, making Theo realize that it was no time to talk. He made a mental command for the mantis to leave behind the food and come to him quickly.

The mantis understood fast and dug into the inside of the viper one last time before it started moving back to Theo with a big chunk of flesh in its forelegs.

Theo stayed silent and placed a hand on the boar's body to get a feel of the situation. If the boar showed a little shivering, it was okay. But if it showed a lot of it, then it meant there was something above their pay grade in the forest right now.

Fortunately enough, the boar did no such thing—there was just the slight shiver like its usual self.

Soon, the nearby tall grass rustled, and it was time for the pup to come out.

Yet the speed at which it entered the clearing and joined them made Theo reevaluate the situation again. Maybe the boar's senses were broken right now.

Clara kept a firm hand on his side, and Theo became ready. The grass in front of them was only moving slightly, as if something small was approaching them.

Yet when a head bobbed out, Theo almost flinched. It was no doubt a viper, yet the sheer size of it made them stay on their toes.

______________

Thorhide Viper

Uncommon

Level 6

Type: Venomous Beast

_______________

"… It seems the gods are listening to you, young master." Clara muttered, only joking, yet it made Theo remember the moment where that man said that he was just an entertainment piece in his world.

That mysterious conversation still left a bad taste in his mouth, yet Theo also knew something else—it was that the being he encountered was not anything he could compare to in this world.

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Not, at least, until he found something as pressuring as him.

The viper's body slowly came out of the tall grass, and it was very long, even though only half of its body was visible.

It moved its face up in the air until most of its body was in a curvy vertical line. There were big thorns on its body that looked tough.

Clara tapped Theo's hands to make him look her way. She made a hand sign which meant, 'Do you want help?' Theo thought only for a second before he felt the emotions of the mantis for a split second again.

Theo smiled and shook his head. The mantis was going to take care of the creature, no matter how much stronger it was.

'This way, I will know just how good the Spore Lash is after the level up… Mantis, hop and get ready to fight.' Theo thought and gave a mental command to the mantis, who hopped the next second.

Theo could see restlessness in its moves, and after having been together with it for so long, he knew why it was so impatient.

'You glutton.'

The viper's slit eyes moved directly toward the small greenish insect in its sight. There were many bigger beasts in front of it, but they all seemed to only stay there aloof while the mantis moved toward it slowly, as if trying to hunt prey.

'Now.' A grin formed on Theo's face, and he gave yet another command to the mantis. It was time for a spectacle.