Insect Tamer's Ascension

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[Moss Carapace Mantis kills an Ironback Boar (Level 3)!]

[Level (-) and grade (+) difference detected]

[Adding 5% to the base EXP]

[EXP gained: 35 + 5%]

Distribution:

Theo Merrick – 15.40

Moss Carapace Mantis – 23.10

____________

The boar's head was punctured fully. Theo could even see a small spray of blood come out of it for a second before it went down with a thud.

The other boar had looked at the spectacle and froze. It looked everywhere to know just what was happening.

Yet with another sniff in the air, its gaze went to Theo's pocket, where the stone was present right now.

Theo made the mantis ready until he heard another rustle to his left, and the boar completely moved in that direction.

Suddenly, the rustling sound increased a lot, and soon, yet another boar entered the made-up clearing in a frenzied state.

Theo flinched, seeing the creature come toward them. Clara's boar was so close to him that if it got even a few steps back, it would directly hit Theo's legs with its hoof or something.

Yet the next second, while Theo couldn't see its front properly, Clara's boar activated its skill, making the tusks glow bright red—something that had not been seen for any other boar till now.

THWACK

CRACK

Just when the boar crashed, the tusks of the one that came running broke apart, and the next second, as the poor thing couldn't stop its acceleration, it got embedded with the bright red glowing tusks, not even making any sounds.

When Theo saw the situation, he knew that the boar was as good as dead.

His gaze went to the one in the front again, who had frozen again. Its level was even lower than the one that had just been killed.

It sniffed the air again and snorted. The fragrance of the star stone was everywhere since it was dug up from the land.

Yet, seeing two of the boars just dying one way or another, the motivation was gone now. It slowly moved back and sniffed the one on the ground.

Yet a flashing light came and slashed at its neck, making it bleed somewhat. The boar became so scared for its life now that it started running forward without thinking where it was going.

The clearing was now clear, and Theo saw Clara holding onto the ground with dear life in a crouched state.

Theo nodded toward the boar, who did the same, and he quickly went to her.

"…Clara… a-are you okay?" he asked with a panic-stricken concern.

Clara didn't look up for some time before she finally did, and Theo saw just what condition she was in.

A boar had not only used its skill but had gotten a surprise attack on her, and even came at such a high speed that she went flying who knows how far.

Theo held her hand to give some support. He looked back at her back, yet nothing could be seen as the leather had not torn off at all.

He felt relieved that she might have been protected a little with the thick leather that she was wearing.

"We… need to leave… Young—"

"Leave it to me, Clara. You rest. I will help you get up first," Theo said and tried pulling her up gently.

"KAGGHH!!!" Clara shouted with a wretched scream, making Theo back off. It was so soul-scarring to hear that Theo had to grit his teeth in frustration. Just why the fuck did this happen?

The pup broke formation and came right away and made a lot of whining sounds. Its ears were down, and its tail didn't wag anymore.

The boar wanted to come too, but it knew that Clara wanted it to complete its duties. Someone still had to protect them from the dangers.

—————

[Moss Carapace Mantis kills an Ironback Boar (Level 3)!]

[Level (-) and grade (+) difference detected]

[Adding 5% to the base EXP]

[EXP gained: 35 + 5%]

Distribution:

Theo Merrick – 15.40 (TO BE CHANGED)

Moss Carapace Mantis – 23.10 (TO BE CHANGED)

____________

'Huh?' Theo flinched from the sudden notification screen pop-up.

He looked at the message with confusion and dumbfoundedness.

'Where is Mantis?' he asked himself and tried looking back, but another small grunt came from Clara's side.

Clara was in a very critical situation—one that needed immediate attention.

She tried getting up under Theo's gaze with all her might, yet some bone-popping and cracking sounds came from her back, which made Theo pale. Those were literally the sounds of some bones breaking inside the body.

"Clara, call the boar toward you, please. We will leave sitting on him right now," Theo said to Clara, who just kept trying her best to get up.

But soon enough, the pup whiningly went back to the clearing while the boar came and sat right beside Clara's body.

When Theo saw the sadness in the beast's eyes, the boar looked at him and snorted.

And for some reason, Theo understood what it was trying to say.

He helped Clara get on top of it with her chest facing the boar's back.

—————

[Moss Carapace Mantis kills an Ironback Boar (Level 2)!]

[Level (-) and grade (+) difference detected]

[Adding 5% to the base EXP]

[EXP gained: 30 + 5%]

Distribution:

Theo Merrick – 12.60

Moss Carapace Mantis – 18.90]

____________

Theo got another message out of nowhere, and while Clara was already up on the boar and had gotten up slowly, he quickly went to the small clearing and looked everywhere.

There were only the corpses of the boars all around and a whining Silverback Direwolf pup.

Soon, the boar came out of the grass with Clara on her back.

'Mantis, come back to my shoulder as quickly as possible,' Theo gave the command and saw nothing happen.

There were no bursts of emotions from Mantis's side anymore, and Theo tried sending his from the bond, yet there was no answer.

He felt panic. What if the mantis was in some danger?

SQUEAK

A light squeak came from the boar, and Theo held Clara to give her support.

Her back was facing him, and Theo saw a drop of blood come out from her leather protection.

He moved it up slowly and went pale in horror—the bruise was so big and black that it felt like nothing under it was left active anymore.

He was in a predicament now, whether to get Clara immediate attention or… wait for the mantis to come back.