Chapter 382: Bee-turn to Purification |
Belissar spent some time checking on Velebee’s hive and ensuring the sacred bees were as happy as could be.
“So, you’re happy with it? Nothing I can do to improve it?”
Velebee danced the negative as she spoke.
“Hive-Builder Belissar’s hives best hives. Already amazing, incredible.”
Belissar smiled.
“I’m glad you like them. Well, just let me know if there’s anything else you need or want.”
Velebee paused, hovering in place as her antennae twitched. Belissar noticed and waited, sure enough, she began a slow dance after a bit.
“Well…know Niobee’s part of Hive-Builder Belissar’s hive now, in charge of dungeon. But…would still like to see. Niobee was best worker.”
Belissar glanced up.
Niobee took from his head and flew up to Velebee, the two then rubbed their antennae together.
“Will! Will visit queen mother! Queen mother part of King’s hive of hives, so still part of same hive!”
Velebee zipped around in a happy dance after that. Belissar slowly stepped away with a warm smile on his face as Niobee returned to her old hive, if just for a bit. In the meantime, Belissar decided what he should do.
He considered rejoining the meeting, but Chief Rohsuak informed him she had it all well in hand for today. He then checked in on how the battlefield clean-up was going, but that had largely been completed at this stage as well. All of the dead had been gathered and magically treated to prevent rot for now, ready for a funeral. Belissar would hold one soon, as soon as he could give them the attention they deserved.
On that count, he considered the enemy’s dead. The monster corpses could be utilized as resources, Guardsman Fahlaris had even informed them that to do so was expected among dragonkin. The dragons themselves apparently ate their own dead to grow stronger.
The human bodies, however, were another matter. Curuhaxa the dusk elf signatory suggested dumping them into his experimental Death room…or giving them to the dusk elves for safekeeping, while the First Spiderkin Queen apparently wanted to feed them to the butcher bees.
Belissar used his Tower sight to glance over at the rows of dead Tower Guards, covered by sheets after being stripped of their weapons and armor. He could not help a frown. They were his enemies, they had tried to destroy him and everything he cared about. And yet…something in him did not want to treat them like garbage to be disposed of. These Tower Guards had been lied to all their lives, from what Hirkolos said many of them honestly believed they were doing the right thing when they swore themselves to Starami. Many of them had died believing they were still fighting for the gods and for humanity.
Belissar narrowed his eyes. Just how many good men and women like Hirkolos had died for Starami’s lies? How many had died in a fight that should never have happened at all, had Starami listened to the gods he supposedly served?
Belissar clenched his fists and made his choice. He would not treat them as Starami had.
“Hirkolos, can you bring me Auschias again?”
“Right away, Tower Keeper.”
Belissar had buried Ruckanos and his soldiers under the Memorial. He would do at least as much for these Tower Guards…and for those who remained. Starami and maybe some of his elites might be another story, but the rank and file who died for their lord’s crimes would receive whatever mercy Belissar could now give them.
***
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
After the meeting on the battlefield loot concluded, Chief Rohsuak found the silver elves approaching her.
“Duchess Bereginna, King Taranskare, how may I help you?”
Duchess Bereginna frowned…and then lowered her head.
“I wish to apologize to Tower Keeper Belissar for my hostility towards him prior to this. He has been a praiseworthy signatory and a stalwart member of the Compact. We owe him much.”
Chief Rohsuak raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
She glanced over at the silver elf king. He inclined his head.
“She speaks for the silver elves. It has come to my attention that Tower Keeper Belissar has been poorly received by our representatives and dungeon master. I would like to make amends on their behalf.”
Chief Rohsuak smiled.
“Tower Keeper Belissar is generous, but his focus is and has always been upon his people and the good of his Tower. A practical demonstration of sincerity would be well-received. Indeed, he has just recently become responsible for a great many more mouths to feed…”
King Taranskare’s eyes lit up.
“I see. Yes, I could see how that might weigh upon him. As a fellow member of the Compact, it would be my honor to extend assistance should he require any. We have stood together in battle, it is only right we stand together in other matters as well.”
Chief Rohsuak’s smile grew.
“Indeed. Let’s talk some specifics…”
***
After making some arrangements with Auschias, Belissar went over and played with the giant bumblebees again, feeling that he needed their raw happiness. With his mind and heart refreshed, he considered what to do next. At that point, Niobee returned, flying back and landing on his head.
“Hi Niobee, did you have a good time with your old hive?”
Niobee happily danced around.
“Helped queen mother! Queen mother helps King and hive of hives when Niobee helps! Amazing, incredible!”
Belissar grinned and brushed her back.
“Great, now then, is there anything else in the hive of hives I should focus on?”
Niobee’s attennae lit up briefly.
“Battle queens ask if need fight invaders today?”
Belissar’s eyes widened. With all that had gone on, he had forgotten about daily purifications. They weren’t able to run them with Starami’s forces in the way…but now there was no reason they couldn’t. The bee army had a day and a half to rest while they were cleaning up the battlefield and negotiating with their allies, so they were likely ready to fight again, especially if Belissar went with an easier purification.
He paused for a moment, though, as he recalled something in the gods’ missions related to purifications. He double-checked and indeed found he still had a mission to defeat a purification with a Light-type room. He hadn’t had a chance to try the Hall of Purifying Light on a shade since he had been hiding what it could do from Starami.
But now, there was no reason not to.
“We’ll have another purification but I’m going to try and use the Hall of Purifying Light on it, the bees just need to be ready in case it doesn’t work. I’ll tell Chief Rohsuak too…oh, we need to tell the fair folk and sigmaka as well…let’s make sure everyone’s out of the way before we start.”
While Belissar and Niobee communicated with their allies to make sure the way was clear, the bee army gathered in the rooms after the Abyssal Trench. Belissar was pretty sure no minor shade would make it to them, but he made sure to take the Hunger seriously just in case. Once they were ready, he triggered a purification for the first time in what felt like ages. He went with the weakest one for both the shorter cooldown and because this was the first time using the Hall of Purifying Light against it.
Or them, as a small swarm of ant-shades formed this time. They gathered in a puddle of Hunger that crawled across the floor of the Hall of Purifying Light. Once Belissar was certain the last ant-shade had formed, he went ahead and triggered the room.
Once again, a bright sun formed up above the room and a blinding flash of light came down in a mighty pillar that filled the room.
When the light cleared, not a trace of the ant-shades remained, not even the usual dispersing mist.
All hostiles defeated. Purification successful.
Mission: Defeat a purification using a Light-type room completed!
Reward: One rare Light-type room feature choice.
Belissar smiled. After all the new rooms, features, and monsters he had gained during the battle with Starami, he had a feeling they were going to do well against the Hunger now. And soon, they’d have even more. After all, that wasn’t the only mission he had completed in the past few days. He brought up one that he wanted his full council’s help to decide on…
Mission: Defeat a Dragon-type monster of rarity Rare or greater using Bee-type monsters completed!
Reward: One epic Bee-type monster choice.
Additional reward granted for: Defeating a true dragon using Bee-type monsters.
Reward: Epic Bee-type monster choice upgraded to legendary Bee-type monster choice.
Fortunately, the meeting regarding the loot had finished earlier than he expected, so Chief Rohsuak and his friends in the Circle would all be available. The battlefield clean up had finished to, so the hive of hives had no further work, while Hirkolos and Sehfitis had settled the captured Tower Guards enough that they could step away too. Because this was going to be the rarest bee choice Belissar had seen yet and he intended to make it count.