Chpater 384 - Bee-Lightful Bee-wards |
The Circle masters began an animated chat over the legendary monsters displayed, talking about such things as who the Thriae might be and what their culture might look like, how to raise and feed gargantuan-sized monsters, and whether the God of Death was ok with immortality abilities. The third question was dropped when Hirkolos innocently asked about the fair folk and dungeon masters all being immortal.
Speaking of which, Belissar wanted nothing more than to start making bees immortal immediately, but the legendary bee choice was not the only reward he had to decide on tonight. He brought up the other missions he had completed during Starami’s final assault and the following days…
Mission: Test one hundred challengers with purifying light completed!
Reward: One Light-type monster choice.
Additional reward granted for: Testing a dungeon master under atonement!
Reward: One cross-perk choice.
Mission: Defeat a purification using a Light-type room completed!
Reward: One rare Light-type room feature choice.
“Okay everyone, next we have a Light-type monster choice.”
Please select a monster:
- Monster Bee Light-Archer (Rarity: Rare, Type: Bee, Light)
- Monster Bee Revealer Drone (Rarity: Rare, Type: Bee, Light)
- Monster Bee Reflector (Rarity: Rare, Type: Bee, Light, Magic)
Tarwantrad giggled at the list.
“All bees this time, looks like it’s up to you and the bees again, Belissar.”
Belissar gave her a smile before diving into it.
Monster Bee Light-Archer
Vitality: Minimal+
Strength: Minimal
Speed: Above Average
Magic: Below Average
Defense: Minimal
Resistance: Minimal
Special: Below Average
Notable Skills: Light Shot, Group Light Shot, Death Blow, Brood Offspring
Spawner Upkeep: 30 (12 with Blessing of Bees and Blessing of Light)
Evolves From: Light-Type Monster Bee Soldier, Light-Type Monster Bee Sprayer, Light-Type Monster Bee Archer
Description: This Light-type monster bee archer trades out her stinger for a focus to concentrate light and Light-mana. Instead of physical stingers, she attacks enemies with amplified bursts of magical light that strike in an instant. When groups of light-archers attack together, they may also combined their attacks to increase their power.
Compared to base monster bee archers, the monster bee light-archer loses her venom, her regenerative powers, and her physical combat capabilities in exchange for her magical focus and an increase in speed.
In addition to existing monster bee soldiers, sprayers, and archers evolving, a few monster bee soldiers may be born as archers, though this requires notably more resources from the hive. Only Light-type monster bees may evolve into monster bee light-archers.
Belissar tilted his head. He normally didn’t see many elemental-type monster bees in the reward choices, he thought those only evolved from honey made from elemental flowers. Apparently, though, this was a type of monster bee specifically for Light-type monster bee hives.
Indeed, the preview showed a bee with the same colors and reflective wings and chitin as a shining monster bee. She was a bit smaller than the usual archer and lacked the usual stinger. Instead, there was a concave gap at the end of her abdomen, the interior of which was lined with a chitin so reflective it looked like a mirror.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
A fighting bee made specifically for the shining bees…unless the guardian angel bees could make them too? Belissar wasn’t sure about that, but they were Light-type bees with the brood mother skill, so perhaps it was possible. On the other hand, guardian angel bees weren’t supposed to fight, so could they even raise soldier-type bees in the first place?
But those were questions Belissar couldn’t answer now, so he moved onto the next choice.
Monster Bee Revealer Drone
Vitality: Minimal
Strength: Minimal
Speed: Average
Magic: Minor
Defense: Minimal
Resistance: Minimal
Special: Average
Notable Skills: Multi-Spectrum Sight, Far-Sight, Revealing Flash, Mana Absorption, Mana Transfer, Brood Offspring
Evolves From: Light-Type Monster Bee Drone
Description: A Light-type monster bee drone that has evolved to keep watch over the hive. The revealer drone’s eyes have evolved to sense wavelengths beyond visible light as well as enhancing a drone’s natural ability to see mana. As a result, almost nothing can hide from the sight of a monster bee revealer, and a burst of Light-mana concentrated in his eyes will bring down any illusions or concealment. His skill at sensing light also allows him to send his vision out far and wide to detect threats to the hive before they approach.
As an evolved drone, a revealer drone has absorbed enough mana to form his own mana core, enabling him to regenerate his own mana. This resolves the drone’s normally limited lifespan and allows him to survive mating. The drone’s previous reliance on externally granted mana also gives him an innate ability to absorb mana and adapt his own, as well as to transfer his mana to others.
Only Light-type monster bee drones may evolve into revealer drones.
Belissar crossed his arms. So a drone meant to see and reveal hidden things? That could be useful, he already watched a true dragon die to a bee it couldn’t see. But…Belissar already had something for that job.
“But, we already have the Revealing Light perk, right? Doesn’t that do the same thing?”
Finnakynne replied to him with a smirk on her face.
“Ah, but Beely, how will you know when something’s sneaking in that you need to shine a light on in the first place?”
Belissar’s eyes widened.
“Ah, that makes sense.”
Finnakynne giggled.
“Yes, that and these would also help outside your Tower, where you might not be able to shine a light on things whenever you want.”
Belissar nodded along. That was also a good point. These drones would be more useful than he initially thought.
And that left one last option.
Monster Bee Reflector
Vitality: Minimal
Strength: Minor
Speed: Average
Magic: Average
Defense: Minimal
Resistance: Average
Special: Average
Notable Skills: Dance Casting, Mirror Barrier, Reflecting Chitin, Group Cast, Mana Poison Sting, Death Blow, Brood Offspring
Spawner Upkeep: 40 (16 with Blessing of Bees and Blessing of Light)
Evolves From: Light-Type Monster Bees with magical aptitude, especially for barrier magic
Description: This magical monster bee channels the power of Light to create reflective barriers. These barriers are not only exceptional at stopping magic, they reflect weaker spells and a portion of stronger spells back at their casters. Monster bee reflectors can also join together to create larger and stronger barriers, protecting their hive from magical assault. Note that the barriers do not stop physical attacks, save for any magical elements within them.
The monster bee reflector’s chitin can also reflect spells and is highly resistant to magic, but a monster bee reflector is no more resilient to harm than other monster bees, so she should rely on her barriers if at all possible. Monster bee reflectors lose much of their strength against non-magical threats and should not be sent against them lightly.
Only Light-type monster bees with sufficient magical aptitude and mana reserves may evolve into monster bee reflectors. Bees with a natural aptitude for barriers can evolve into reflectors more easily.
The reflectors’ chitin was like polished silver, only brighter, causing her to shine anywhere the light touched her. Her antennae were as fuzzy as a communer’s, while her wings picked up light as easily as her chitin.
Belissar didn’t need any help understanding the value of these bees. He had seen what magic could do to the bees, even a relatively harmless wind spell from an elite Tower Guard had disabled the entire bee army until Finnakynne came up with a solution. Belissar shuddered to imagine what that Tower Guard could have done with a more aggressive spell. A bee that could put a stop to any spells used against the hive of hives would be most welcome indeed.
In any case, with all the monster descriptions read, Belissar turned to the bees to get their opinion. The hive of hives was mostly relying on the shining queen this time, with the First of the Fifth’s First Daughter asking her questions.
“Can evolve bees?”
The shining queen, the Second of the Seventh, twitched her antennae around for a bit before she started to dance.
“New archers, new drones, think can. Have new light flowers, new light room with lots of mana? First of Fifth can swirl honey then can give archers and drones?”
The First of the Fifth joined her dance.
“Can swirl, will try make honey with new flowers. Flowers have lots of light mana, need Second of Seventh’s workers gather nectar.”
The Second of the Seventh spun around rapidly.
“Ok! Will! But don’t know how evolve last one, sounds like hive of fallen?”
The First of the Fifth’s First Daughter turned her attention to Beero. Beero’s antennae twitched around.
“Don’t know. Only make stingers, First Dronecaster made wings. Don’t know if can make barriers, also don’t know how make light yet.”
The First of the Fifth’s First Daughter thanked all the queens before turning to Belissar.
“Hive of hives thinks can evolve first two, not sure if can evolve last one. Beero will try but don’t know if will work.”
Belissar smiled.
“Beero’s great, but perhaps I can help then? How about we pick the reflectors now so you can focus on the other two?”
The First of the Fifth’s First Daughter replied with a “King is best King!” dance, and Belissar made his choice.
Monster Bee Reflector now available!
After announcing the choice, Belissar thought he caught sight of a rapidly blinking light just at the edge of the council…