Insect Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 325. Non Tamed beast guided Successful! (6)

Theo could tell that what the Baron had just said was batshit crazy, but even then, there was something about that argument that made sense.

Theo had never truly fought with his life on the line. The last time anything close to that had happened was an unintentional clash with a level 6 Petrastone Ape, back when Theo himself had been below level 5.

"When I complete this requirement, I will focus on training myself more."

That was the only answer Theo could give right now. And while the Baron could tell Theo was only half-heartedly promising it, he let the matter slide and let him have his own way.

At the moment, the Baron was torn between two things, which made Theo feel pressured too. On one hand, the man was supporting his decision, or at least trying to. On the other, he had these expectations from Theo that felt difficult to live up to.

But at the end of the day, Theo knew one thing.

He was a Merrick.

And he had to act like one.

So, he returned to levelling the crawler.

For the next two days, that was all he did.

During those days, two more gigantic crawlers burst from the ground, only to be defeated almost instantly by the ape. Its swordsmanship had improved significantly, and since its attacks already possessed that explosive strength, the addition of the skill only raised its danger levels even further.

By now, the crawler had reached level 4, which was two levels higher than when Theo had begun guiding it.

Its size, once nearly the length of Theo’s lower leg, had now grown to reach his thigh. The more blood it sucked from other crawlers, the faster it became at killing them.

Theo could tell that its ability had levelled up a few times as well, just like the mantis’s Metallic Strike.

And that brought a sense of nostalgia within him.

But it seemed things could never stay good forever.

_____

"What do you mean you have to go?"

The small group sat around the campfire, a heavy tension permeating the air around them.

"I can feel some... rats inside this gate," the Baron spoke. It looked like he wanted to spit on the ground in disdain but refrained from doing so.

"I will have to go and take care of them." The Baron said, his voice firm and commanding.

"Father..." Theo didn’t know what to say. The announcement was so sudden that countless questions were forming in his mind, confusing him as to which he should ask first.

"Can you tell me who you’re talking about?" Theo finally asked, concern evident in his voice.

The Baron fell silent, showing no sign that he was going to answer.

"All I can say is that... the kingdom is coming after us," the Baron stated at last.

"I thought the Emperor would support me for as long as I needed," he continued bitterly. "But he really is useless."

Theo could hear the nostalgia in his father’s voice.

He knew that the Emperor and the Baron went back a long way, but nothing more than that had ever been shared with him.

Not even the history books recorded anything.

"Should we come with you?" Theo asked, making the Baron turn to him with a calm expression.

"If you were to go with me, I don’t think I will be able to protect you all, son."

His words made a shiver run down Theo’s spine.

"Are they really that strong... for you to say something like this...?"

At his words, a nostalgic, wild grin formed on the Baron’s face, making the attendants avert their eyes from him.

Theo was used to the Baron, so he didn’t mind the expression, but to see him this excited meant only one thing.

The challenge was immense.

"One of the auras I can sense is a nostalgic one..." the Baron said as he rose to his feet. "It seems the gate manifested the kind of fun I wanted, my dear son."

He was clad in full armor down to his boots, and this time, a broadsword rested at his side.

"I will be leaving right away," the Baron continued. "And once I am gone and my aura disappears... you will all be in far more danger than I would like."

Before Theo could open his mouth to speak, the baron spoke again.

"I want all of you to work together and survive, you hear me? I have enough confidence in each and every one of you."

His gaze shifted to the ape nearby, still swinging the sword left and right wildly.

The Baron smiled. "I have trained that beast enough to handle almost everything in my absence. And your ants, my son, they take care of a lot more smaller worms than you realize. They are doing an excellent job in protecting our camp."

He turned away, already making distance between them.

"Take care and don’t forget to go wild, alright?"

Only then did Theo realize how far his father had moved.

"Father, take care of yourself, alright!?" Theo shouted urgently, just as the Baron jumped into the air.

Sharp winds tore through the area, and the ground quaked from the aftereffects, forcing Theo to shut his eyes.

When he finally opened them again, the place where his father had stood was empty.

Theo bit his lips in frustration.

"Young master..." Clara stepped closer; she knew Theo was quite shaken from this small farewell. Even she had become anxious because of it.

But as she closed in, Theo turned sharply and looked straight into her eyes.

For a moment, they felt the same as his father’s; though slightly weaker in impact, it made both Clara and Elias freeze and just look at him.

"The frustration I am feeling right now..." Theo said quietly, staring at the direction his father had gone.

"We need to grow strong and quickly... strong enough to be able to go help him as soon as we can..."

He turned to his attendants, his gaze burning with determination.

That was the day Theo truly realized that his enemies existed on a level he couldn’t even hope to challenge.

And that realisation was enough to fan the flames of his resolve into a raging fire.