Chapter 390: The Bear-serker's Bee-wards |
Mission: Inform Rohsuak of the altar and its location completed!
Reward: One Rare Bee and Fire-type monster choice.
Tarwantrad peeked into the room, covered in barriers, before immediately retreating, much to Urubran’s amusement. He couldn’t tease her too much, however, as he suddenly was tasked with earning the God of Flower’s blessing and thus needed Tarwantrad’s help.
Belissar eventually left the Fire disciples to enjoy the new room, as it was soon time for a minor purification. The Royal Pixie Guard took responsibility for this one and Captain Karpakynne struck down a bird shade with her new dragonslayer powers.
Then came time for the victory celebration. Everyone began preparing for the celebration as usual…when Chief Rohsuak returned.
All the karnuq paused and looked over. Chief Rohsuak grinned as she stood up tall, legs planted wide and arms crossed in front of her. Metsaitti also smiled as every karnuq gaped.
“Yes, by the blessing of Tower Keeper Belissar, the Blazing Berserker has returned.”
Every karnuq dropped whatever they were doing and rushed to their chief, each one of them shouting questions. Chief Rohsuak chuckled, then held up her hand and let out a wave of her mana that warmed up the entire room.
“Now then, I know you’re all curious, so get back to your preparations. I’ll answer all your questions over dinner, I’m starving after my first spar in years.”
Belissar found the meat quite tough, but even more flavorful. He might not want to eat it every day, but it made for one of the tastiest meals he had ever had. One made all the better by the cheers and laughter of the karnuq as they crowded around their restored chief.
The karnuq’s celebration seemed like it would go on for much of the night, so Belissar had to step in and borrow Chief Rohsuak to join his council and discuss the rewards offered by the God of Fire. He considered letting her keep celebrating, but she refused, given that tonight’s rewards were from her own patron.
Belissar wanted to let her get back to the celebration, so he dove right into it. First off, they had a Fire-type perk choice.
Please select a perk:
- Burning Blood (Rarity: Rare, Type: Fire)
- Fire-Fueled Might (Rarity: Rare, Type: Fire)
- Blazing Wrath (Rarity: Rare, Type: Fire)
Urubran chuckled as Belissar read out the perk names, turning towards Chief Rohsuak with a smile.
“I’m sensing a theme in the perk choice. You truly have the God of Fire’s favor, don’t you?”
Chief Rohsuak grinned.
“I am greatly honored. I’ll have to renew my training to keep it up.”
Belissar read out the first perk.
Burning Blood
- When injured, the blood of Fire-type monsters and Fire-blessed defenders ignites, burning their attackers. The injured may control these flames and use them in further attacks. This effect still works with monsters and defenders that have no blood or blood-equivalent fluid, but will not be as effective.
- When injured, Fire-type monsters and Fire-blessed defenders gain a boost to all Fire-type attacks and abilities, increasing their effects and temperature. The strength of this boost increases with the severity of the user’s injuries, growing dramatically more powerful when the user is on the brink of death or using a sacrificial skill.
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- Users may choose to ignite all remaining blood when using a sacrificial skill and either add the flames to the skill or create a burst of flame in addition to it.
Metsaitti chuckled.
“Looks like the God of Fire wants you to keep berserking, Chief.”
Chief Rohsuak turned to him.
“You are a Fire-blessed defender as well, Metsaitti.”
Metsaitti’s laughter faded as Chief Rohsuak’s grin grew. Belissar, meanwhile, tried not to frown, as this was a perk that specifically required his bees, or his sworn defenders apparently, to get hurt. But he quickly shook it off, recalling his new resolve. If a Fire-type bee was going to get hurt, this perk would make sure they’d be able to bring down their attacker and prevent further injury to anyone else.
And then Belissar’s eyes widened as he remembered his new legendary bees.
“Wait, could we use this perk with a monster bee immortal?”
Urubran flashed his teeth.
“I like the way you think, Belissar. You absolutely can, phoenixes do that sort of thing already. Take this perk and make an immortal burning bee and you could have a regenerating bee spreading fire to everything that tries to hurt it, only to go out in a massive blaze and come right back.”
The Third of the Sixth immediately began zipping around at her maximum speed. Her mana also caught fire, turning her into a shooting star as she danced “AMAZING, INCREDIBLE!” over and over. The Firstborn and many of the battle meadow queens soon joined her. It took a bit for them to calm down, until the First of the Fifth’s First Daughter reminded them that Belissar still had two more perks to read.
Fire-Fueled Might
- All monsters and defenders receive a boost to strength when exposed to heat and fire. The magnitude of this effect increases with temperature and with proximity to the flames, especially if the user is in direct contact with fire.
- Fire-type monsters and Fire-blessed defenders may consume nearby flames for a more-powerful boost. The effectiveness of the boost depends on the temperature of the flames, while the duration depends on their size.
- Note that this perk does not grant resistance to fire or heat.
Metsaitti’s smile returned.
“Honestly, Chief, this one is practically made for you, isn’t it?”
Chief Rohsuak just pointed to the Third of the Sixth zipping around while on fire. Metsaitti nodded.
“Good point.”
Chief Rohsuak then chuckled and shook her head.
“Metsaitti, you also make wings of fire. If those count, you would have access to this perk anytime you called on your blessing.”
The Firstborn began zipping around again.
“Beero and hive of fallen make fire wings too!”
The First of the Second danced a negative, though.
“But hive of fallen doesn’t use strength? Uses magic?”
The Firstborn slowed down.
“Oh, that’s right.”
But Beero herself joined the dance at that point.
“Queen mother had good idea. First Dronecaster made wings with air in last battle. Can try make with fire and give to other bees? To bee army?”
The Firstborn picked up speed again.
“Amazing! Incredible!”
Belissar smiled at their dances. They had a good point too, in fact, Chief Rohsuak and the Third of the Sixth already had their spell to give a fire shield to the entire bee army. If that counted for the sake of this perk, they could boost all the bees at once.
And there was still one more perk to go.
Blazing Wrath
- The heat and effectiveness of all Fire-type attacks and abilities increases with the user’s anger.
- This effect is magnified by berserk-type skills. Berserk-type skills may cause the user’s mana to burst into flames, burning nearby enemies and enhancing the user’s attacks.
Metsaitti opened his mouth again, but closed it after a look from Chief Rohsuak. Belissar, meanwhile, rubbed his chin. This perk might have been strong if he had monster bee berserkers or chose one of the flower perks that could enrage his bees…but he had neither of those. They didn’t really fit the bee army in general, he wasn’t really sure how angry they were while fighting. The only times the bees really seemed angry was when Ruckanos first arrived…and they were mostly responding to his and Niobee’s anger.
In particular, the hive of hives wasn’t reacting as strongly to this one. The Third of the Sixth was still zipping around happily at the thought of stronger fire, but she was now flying at a reasonable pace and was no longer coated in flames. That in itself was a mark against the perk in Belissar’s mind, the Third of the Sixth seemed to react with happiness more often than anger. Only the burning bees had Fire-type abilities in the first place, so if she wasn’t going to get angry often, the perk might never come into use…
…for the bees, that was. Chief Rohsuak, on the other hand, was known as the Blazing Berserker, so perhaps she could make use of it and teach the bees and karnuq too as well.
And that went well with Belissar’s plan for this perk. Normally, this would be the time Belissar would hand the decision over to the hive of hives. Today, however, Belissar turned to Chief Rohsuak instead.
“I know you normally let me make my own decisions, but this time all the perks seem like they’re relevant to you. Also, the God of Fire gave us this choice as thanks for restoring your strength. So, would you like to choose this one, Chief Rohsuak?”
Chief Rohsuak smiled and gave him a salute.
“It would be my honor, Tower Keeper.”
She rubbed her chin and remained silent for a bit before starting to speak.
“Fire-Fueled Might is my choice. It will let those of us who use fire support those who do not, in addition to growing stronger ourselves. I would prefer to see your entire Tower grow, rather than just those of who follow the God of Fire.”
Belissar smiled.
“Got it, then that’s what we’ll do.”
Fire-Fueled Might selected.