Insect Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 33: Sweet Evolution (2)- Final cores

"Metallic strike!" Theo exclaimed, and the mantis that was inside a slime's body became a blur.

CRACK

The slime popped, making everything fall on the ground. The mantis was completely drenched with the moss slime's body, which it seemed to like.

"That is the 6th Core now... just need 4 more, and it can finally start..." Theo muttered, his heartbeat already very high.

With each core eaten by the mantis, it was nearing something that was not known to be done artificially before in this world.

"Young master, what do you mean only four are left?" Clara asked with curiosity.

"You will know soon, Clara..." Theo stated with distant eyes, until his mind diverted to what he could do right now.

"Apart from the slimes, what beast is the weakest in this forest, Clara?" Theo questioned.

"The slimes really were the weakest, young master. Apart from them, only the ones that we see around commonly remain. They are the Ironback Boar, the Silverfang Direwolves, the Petrastone Apes, the Thornhide Vipers... that is about it."

"So only these beasts are found in the Whispering Forest? There's nothing more?" Theo questioned in disappointment.

In his eyes, there should have been a whole diverse number of monsters when it comes to a whole forest.

"That is just the lower middle deep forest, Young master. Anything after that is plain suicide if a tamer is below level 10."

"Lower middle deep, huh..." Theo could now feel a little bit relieved. There was diversity in the forest, but unfortunately, not in the areas he was confined to.

"There are a lot of forests and regions like this around the world, young master. Every forest is unique in its own way. What you find in some could never be found in another. The Ironback Boars are a standard when it comes to defense beasts, and only the Whispering Forest is the one that can produce them," Clara explained.

Theo could almost feel like she was proud of the forest.

"You really are a devoted citizen of the Merrick Barony, Clara."

"I will always be a devoted citizen, young master, but it's not just that," Clara said with a nostalgic face and continued, "The Whispering Forest has given me a lot in my taming journey. I owe it my everything, Young master. And if not for the great Baron of the Merrick Barony, I wouldn't have ever reached where I am today. It's all because of your family, young master, and I will never forget that."

Theo was surprised by what she said. He had no idea the forest meant so much to her. He couldn't help but smile warmly.

"What about these... Thornhide Vipers, Clara? Are they difficult to kill?"

"Well... It's not as though they are difficult to kill, young master. If you choose to defeat the ones in the lower level like right now, it is doable. But I don't know if the Iron Mantis would be able to do that..."

"Okay... but wait, can you tell me if these vipers also give a core?" Theo asked when a realization hit him.

"No, young master. The only valuable thing on them is their skin and the fangs. Their poison can also be used to make some antidotes and medicines."

"Hmm... let's find some other slimes now."

"As you wish."

While more slimes were being found and the mantis was eating the core, Theo couldn't help but feel that there could be more evolution paths, yet he didn't know how to get there.

'The moss slime core was the most random thing that led to an evolution path... what more could there be?' Theo thought.

The only thing out of many that he thought the mantis could take care of was the viper, yet there was nothing in it that could help with the evolution. Also, with poison in the viper, he wasn't even sure if he wanted the mantis to eat it or not.

The mantis might have been practically invincible because of its metal exoskeleton, yet its insides were normal.

'I should not think of more options for now. For now, I have one option of evolution, which is enough. The abilities the mantis will get with it are also nice, if not very good. This will help it, I am sure...' Theo removed every other thought that was spawning in his mind.

The only option he had was this evolution, and he was going to take it.

"Clara, get me three preserved moss slime cores. It can be of any level, I want them as soon as possible" Theo said with seriousness.

Clara understood and nodded. There was urgency in Theo's voice, which made her act almost instantly.

She jumped gracefully, surprising Theo, and landed on the boar's back before sitting on it.

Clara looked back at him and smiled. She offered Theo her hand and muttered, "Please sit here, young master. We will quickly move to the next clearing this way."

Theo gave her his hand and was pulled up carefully until he sat on the boar with her.

'What the hell is that strength?' He thought with widened eyes. He was sitting in front, and Clara had grabbed him by the waist to prevent him from falling down on the ground.

Theo waited for Clara to say something, yet first the pup started running in the front on its own, and then the boar started walking slowly, making Theo remember that the mental commands were a thing.

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With each step it took, the speed seemed to increase until finally, the boar was running, and Theo did his best to grab onto its fur.

"WOAH!" Theo exclaimed, clutching the boar's fur as it surged forward, its speed increasing with every stride. The wind whipped past his face, and he tightened his grip, his heart pounding not just from the thrill but from the sheer danger of falling.

The mantis, peeking out from his chest pocket, seemed to relish the rush, its large eyes seemed to be filled with excitement as the forest blurred around them.

For a moment, Theo forgot about the cores, the evolution, and the mission. All he could focus on was the adrenaline coursing through him.

When the boar finally skidded to a halt, Theo let out a shaky breath, his body still buzzing from the ride. He glanced at Clara, who was grinning wildly, and couldn't help but smile back—though his hands felt like jelly from holding too tight for a long time.

When Theo looked up from the fur again, he saw a clearing inches away from them.

"Are you okay, young master? I will get rid of these slimes quickly and give you their cores, Young master, please don't worry" Clara spoke with a wild smile on her face.

While Theo was holding onto his dear life, she seemed to enjoy the ride as though she had been waiting for it for a long time now.

"Yeah, get me those cores quickly, please."