Kill or be killed (1)

Theo seemed to be in deep thought. In his list, only the Iron Mantis and the tarantula were left. In his eyes, both were amazing hunters in their fields.

While the mantis was a head-on fighter, killing insects with just its speed and forelegs, the tarantula played strategically, attacking depending on an insect's strength.

If the prey was small and weak, the tarantula went head-on, but if it could give even a little bit of struggle, the tarantula would take a different approach.

'The only approach I can take in choosing them is if I want something that fights more on utility and support or something that can fight head-on within its own size range…'

Theo was sure the Iron Mantis could take his thumb if it wanted to—its saw-like forelegs were capable of that.

On the other hand, the tarantula was in the same boat; it could clearly poison Theo anytime with one of its venomous webs. It could even bite Theo, and the poison would be even more potent than the webs.

'The tarantula is going to live another few years while the mantis has a year at most. It would be a huge gamble to choose it…' Theo thought and scribbled in the notebook.

There was no pressure from his family; they would be happy with any approach he took as long as it could bring him fame and strength.

Yet that had become an even bigger struggle for Theo.

'I might have to take a violent and risky approach…'

Before taking any big steps, Theo decided to use the orb on his two insects. Using it on the others felt like a waste of time.

Right now, only the mantis was available to inspect. The tarantula was inside the terrarium, having one meal after another while completing the previous ones it had left in its web pouches scattered around the terrarium.

"Alright, just don't break it." Theo opened the lid of the mantis's box. He kept the orb inside as soon as he opened it, ensuring the mantis wouldn't jump at his hand.

With curiosity, the mantis looked at the orb, flipping its head completely. Its neck was so nimble that it could move back, front, and sideways as if there was no neck.

The mantis moved slowly until it reached the orb. One of its forelegs touched the orb to feel it.

CLANG

Even though it hadn't used much force, the sound of two hard objects colliding resounded in the box.

Theo watched as the milky-colored orb began to change colors. He focused intently as it shifted hues.

The orb eventually turned completely dark gray.

Theo quickly wrote down the color to ask Clara or check in a book later.

"But most probably, dark gray means an affinity with metal, which makes sense since your exoskeleton is already metallic," Theo said while looking at the mantis.

The mantis moved its face toward Theo, then back at the orb.

CLANK CLANK

It started hitting the orb repeatedly with its forelegs, making Theo hurry to get it out.

When he took it out, The checked for any damages and found small scratches on the orb. "Such a brat," He stated with a chuckle but didn't think much. As a baron, there was no shortage of money for things like these.

'Now I just need to conduct an even better test with it.'

Theo's gaze flashed with realization, and he went to order Clara to get something.

Clara was very perplexed and weirded out by the request, yet she obliged and went to fetch it.

After about 30 minutes, Clara returned with a cage containing some small creatures.

"Y-Young master, may I dare ask why you need this?" Clara asked. Theo could tell she wasn't very happy while holding the cage.

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Grey Rat

Grade - Ordinary

Type - Verminous Beast

Level - 0

======

There were four of them in the cage, curiously looking at their surroundings.

Theo grabbed the cage from her and asked her to give him some alone time. Clara was not sure, yet she obeyed and took some time off.

The rats were no bigger than Theo's hand. Their tails were long, and they had dirty gray fur. They were slightly wet, and Theo could tell Clara had likely ordered for them to be bathed before bringing them to him.

He quickly went to the terrarium room and closed the door behind him.

It was time to test the strength of the two insects still on his list.

To start, Theo went and stood near the mantis's box. The mantis seemed confused as to why the human had been coming back so many times today.

The mantis was near the wall of the box, and Theo brought the cage right in front of it.

The rats curiously moved toward the side of the cage that touched the box and sniffed it. The mantis seemed to take a few steps back, making Theo feel like this was too much for the little guy.

Yet in the next second, the mantis became a blur and shot itself toward the wall.

CLUNK

The sound of something cracking came from the box, and Theo pulled the cage back in shock.

The mantis wasn't scared? It had tried attacking not one but four rats?

There was a big crack on one of the walls of the box.

Theo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He needed to change the mantis's box soon, or else there was a chance it might escape.

"You really want to fight one, huh… Well, I'm willing to accept this craziness," Theo grinned and opened the rats' cage from above. The rats tried getting out, yet Theo grabbed one by the body and brought it up.

The mantis's eyes hadn't left the mouse the entire time. Theo closed the rats' cage and opened the lid of the mantis's box slightly.

He quickly placed the mouse at the corner opposite the mantis.

Theo didn't close the lid entirely—only the mantis could escape from the box anyway. It could become a great opportunity for it to prove itself.

Or if it couldn't, there was also a chance to jump out the box.

The mantis seemed locked in on its prey, while the rat didn't seem to care about anything except sniffing its surroundings.

Theo didn't know what to think about this fight, but one thing was clear... it was either kill or be killed.