Insect Tamer's Ascension

Both Elias and Clara flinched at the thought of Theo getting hit. The boar and the pup were right at the edge, too, with restless legs.

Nobody wanted Theo to get injured, and it was rare for tamed beasts to look at humans themselves fighting other beasts on their own. It was out of the norm in this world, even for them.

Theo stepped back with his footwork and looked at the situation while taking a deep breath. Giving a lot of oxygen to the body was a good method to calm the heart down.

The boar moved its face one or two times with its eyes wide open.

Theo had just smacked the blunt side of the sword right at its head, making the boar shake.

It was not in the plan, but Theo just did it due to the habit of fighting with Bram, where he only smacked him with the blunt side of the sword.

SQUEAKKK

The boar became a lot more restless and infuriated. It quickly made its way toward Theo again.

Theo waited for it and made up his mind about what to do.

When the boar was close enough, Theo quickly bent his back and knelt while his left foot went to the side.

Everyone looking at the fight was ready to get in anytime they saw something wrong.

When the boar was close enough, Theo slashed his blade near the left side of the boar's mouth before slashing and taking a few steps forward.

SHWING

The boar couldn't stop its acceleration, yet many could see it already. It was bleeding.

Theo took another deep breath, this one being a little more relaxed.

One half of the boar's mouth, the area right below the curved horn, was cut open, making the boar bleed out and panic.

It was brutal, yet Theo had no choice—having no aura to materialize over his sword, a technique that could only be awakened with time.

The only part that was cuttable through the sword was the side of the mouth.

Not able to see the boar struggle for too long, Theo went in a few steps forward with calculated steps, and while the boar tried flinching away,

Theo moved his sword forward; this time, the tip facing toward its eye.

PUCHII

SQUEAKKKKK

The boar screamed in agony as its eye burst open. The mantis, who was still on Theo's shoulder, looked at the boar with focus.

Theo quickly dug the sword already inside the eye forward.

Wanting to hasten the killing process, he curved it up, making the pressure on the wrist intense due to the angle.

But being a bookworm who actually had training, Theo was able to reach the brain matter a lot faster.

When the system notification came, he removed the blade from the eye, splattering the blood all over his face.

_____________

[Theo Merrick defeated an Ironback Boar (level 1)!]

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

[Adding 10% to the base EXP]

[EXP gained: 17 + 10%

Distribution:

Theo Merrick – 11.22

Moss Carapace Mantis – 7.48]

______________

"I did it…" Theo looked at the notification again after getting his thoughts together.

The mantis quickly hopped off his shoulder and went to devour the boar's body as if it were the normal thing to do.

The boar and pup came forward too and looked at Theo before getting a nod and tearing through the body too.

"That was quick, young master," Elias spoke while clapping his hands.

"Congratulations, young master."

"How long was it again?" Theo asked, still feeling goosebumps all around his body. He jerked the sword a few times to get the blade clean again before placing it inside the scabbard.

"About 4 minutes, give or take," Elias stated, and Clara quickly went and cleaned Theo's face with a wet cloth.

"Defeating a level 1 boar with just yourself and a sword at the age of 8 is a very big feat, young master. I am really proud of you," Clara stated while Theo was still being bewildered by what he did.

"I got more experience points than the mantis, which is normal… but the amount is more than defeating the slimes. This is better than I thought… I can close the gap between it and me this way," Theo stated while caressing the back of his head.

While that last aggressive puncture of the boar's eye, Theo did it much more forcefully than he had thought, making the back of his neck feel a stretch.

"Are you okay?" Clara asked in worry.

"Yes… It seems my form is still not ready. I will have to practice some more before I can go for the higher-level boars."

"Uh… not to be negative but…" Elias quickly pitched in with hesitation, "You really need to stay and defeat a lot more level 1 boars before getting a little older, young master."

Theo looked at Elias with a nod. "I know you're just worrying about me. But you were against me going for this boar, too, Elias. Look where that got me." Theo stated with a grin.

Elias felt a little weird from that comment, yet he just nodded while Clara just shook her head. It was a light habit of Theo—to become confident too early, though it was not such a bad thing.

"I still have a lot of energy left, Elias. Can you find me another level 1 boar?" Theo stated with excitement, and Elias just nodded without any argument this time.

From afar, Rhys was still seated at the top of a tree, observing things.

While he could see a lot of wasted movements in Theo's attacks, Rhys couldn't help but smile a little before yawning.

While he still couldn't train Theo further, he was still the one who was sent to guard him—especially since the Baron and the two strongest heirs of the Merricks were gone to the gate.

While he was half-sleeping on the top of the tree, Theo went to get another level 1 boar with confidence this time, not knowing the dangers and tensions that were going to return to his life again.