Chapter 397: Bee-feating Adaptations |
After Chief Rohsuak crushed the skeletons on the far side of the pit, the purification hit a bit of a stalemate. The remaining skeletons were all down in the pit and the karnuq could knock down any that climbed out…but likewise the karnuq could not safely go down into the pit to defeat them. Whoever jumped down might be overwhelmed by the skeletons in close quarters, not to mention that the leftover toxic honey would be dangerous as well. The karnuq tried to peek over the edge and attack the skeletons from above, but a few of the skeletons in the pits had bows. The first karnuq who tried barely got his shield up in time to avoid losing an eye.
Chief Rohsuak could have simply tried to overpower their fire resistance with her blessing, but Belissar decided to intervene before then. The bees had already dropped rocks on foes in the past, so Belissar had the Third of the Third’s construction team deliver a bunch of heavy rocks to the karnuq. The karnuq then stood at a safe distance and lobbed the rocks into the pit. It turned out the skeletons were no more resistant to rocks falling on their heads than any regular person, perhaps even less. The rocks crushed skulls and smashed into spines, bringing down the skeletons one by one.
When only one skeleton remained, Chief Rohsuak stopped the karnuq hunters and sent them back to the shortcut room, stating that they didn’t know what the next wave would bring and so should make sure they weren’t caught in the tunnels. Once they were safely out of the way, she grabbed a rock herself and crushed the last skeleton’s skull with a well-placed throw.
Remaining hostiles: 0. Wave 1 completed.
And so ended the first wave. Belissar couldn’t help but smile, Chief Rohsuak was quite strong indeed. Last time, it had taken them several rooms and the sacrifice of bees to stop the first wave of a below average purification. This time, the karnuq stopped them barely beyond the entrance, with no casualties at all. They still had most of the Dirt Tunnels and the entire rest of the Tower available to deal with the second wave.
Wave 2 commencing.
Speaking of which, the Hunger began to coalesce at the entrance once more. This time, a single large mass gathered before stepping out of the dark mist. Another humanoid shade emerged, this one standing even taller than a karnuq, its head scraping against the ceiling of the tunnel and forcing it to hunch over. It had two extra arms, one coming out of its chest and the other from its back. The Hunger coalesced even more than usual until the shade’s surface appeared solid and smooth, like worn stone or like a clay pot, but pure black and with a oily, rainbow shine.
The humanoid’s features were vague, save for four glowing red lights where its eyes should be. It made no noise nor shout, instead silently marching into the Tower with heavy steps.
Wave 2 begun. Remaining hostiles: 1.
“Chief Rohsuak, the next shade is some sort of big, four armed person. It’s bigger than you and its skin looks pretty tough, it might be tough for the karnuq?”
Down in the Dirt Tunnels, Chief Rohsuak made no attempt to leave.
“How fast is it?”
Belissar watched the humanoid as it hauled itself across the entrance area.
“It’s pretty slow, not any faster than the turtle shades.”
He turned his attention back to Chief Rohsuak and saw her heft her axe.
“Then, if you don’t mind, Tower Keeper. I’d like to give it a try.”
Belissar frowned.
“Won’t that be dangerous? We don’t know what it can do yet.”
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Chief Rohsuak grinned.
“Yes, but a champion of the gods must be willing to face danger. I would not send a shield wall against such a creature, but I should be able to outmaneuver it on my own. Would it be possible to expand this tunnel, Tower Keeper? I could use some more room.”
Belissar double checked. The area ahead of Chief Rohsuak had a trail of Hunger left by the skeletons and he couldn’t make any adjustments, but any part of the room after the pit trap was fine. Belissar managed to expand the tunnel Chief Rohsuak was standing at into a cavern.
“Is that enough?”
Chief Rohsuak nodded and stepped back towards the center of the new cavern.
“This is plenty, thank you, Tower Keeper. I will not fail you.”
Belissar was still worried about Chief Rohsuak facing the new threat alone, though. He knew she was likely strong enough to handle it, but decided to take some measures just in case. He moved the shortcut in the Dirt Tunnels to the back of the new cavern.
“The shortcut’s right behind you now in case you need any help.”
Chief Rohsuak responded with a laugh.
“Thank you for your concern. I will ensure it’s unnecessary.”
Belissar ensured the bees and karnuq were ready to intervene just in case. Meanwhile, Chief Rohsuak waited for the new shade to arrive. The humanoid reached the pit trap, it almost fell but it was large enough to grab onto the other side with its hands and pull itself across.
It then stepped into the room, rising to its full height in the larger cavern and towering over Chief Rohsuak. The karnuq chief just grinned, then kicked off the ground as she pulled her axe back for a swing. The humanoid swung its fists down to crush her, but Chief Rohsuak easy dodged. She swung her axe at the monster’s side.
The shade’s surface cracked, but Chief Rohsuak’s axe stopped before smashing its way through. The humanoid’s chest arm was reaching for her head, so she had to back off.
Back in the nexus door room, Wardmaster Varilold watched the fight and hummed to herself.
“Seems like a distortion of a golem. Clever.”
Belissar frowned.
“Is that bad?”
Wardmaster Varilold nodded.
“The skeletons were immune to poison and piercing attacks, then the Hunger added fire to help them resist that too. But adding fire to multiple shades must have taken a lot of the wave’s strength, the skeletons themselves were fairly weak against humanoid foes. So now the Hunger is sending a golem, something innately resistant to both fire and poison and with the strength to face a karnuq.”
Then the wardmaster smirked.
“Well, an average karnuq, that is.”
Wardmaster Varilold pointed at the clairvoyance ward, so Belissar turned his attention back to the fight. Chief Rohsuak set herself ablaze once more, coating herself in flames before she launched back into the fight. She charged straight ahead and the shade golem tried to crush her once more. But as the golem’s fist fell, Chief Rohsuak stopped and stepped to the side, then swung at the golem’s arm with all her might.
Her axe smashed through the golem’s arm, shattering it like a pot dropped on the floor. The broken part of its arm crashed against the floor and broke apart into shards that dissipated into mist.
Wardmaster Varilold made an amused chuckle.
“And it’s not like the Hunger could send a mithril golem with the same power that only made ten skeletons.”
Belissar watched as Chief Rohsuak danced around the golem, systematically shattering each of its arms. The golem continued to swing at her with stubs that couldn’t reach, letting her wind up a big strike unmolested. She swung her axe into its side like she was chopping a tree, further cracking the spot she had already hit.
Before long, she smashed through its waist, sending the golem’s torso crashing into the ground. She then stepped on its back and began to shatter it with overhead strikes until the golem was in pieces.
Remaining Hostiles: 0. Wave 2 completed.
Remaining Waves: 0. All waves completed. Expansion successful.
Reward: Floor limit increased to 8. Receive one perk choice, and two random reward choices.
Belissar blinked while Chief Rohsuak lifted her axe and let out a victorious roar.
“Huh…that was easy.”
Wardmaster Varilold’s smile faded.
“For now, at least. But stay wary, Tower Keeper. The Hunger will eventually notice such easy victories as well.”
Belissar nodded. The Hunger wasn’t ready for Chief Rohsuak returning to her previous strength…but it had deployed two waves that both would have been immune to both venom and fire. The bee army’s stingers would have struggled, while the all the honey and fire based traps and rooms they used previously wouldn’t have done much either.
So, what would the Hunger do next, after Chief Rohsuak had crushed an entire expansion on her own?
Belissar shook his head. For now, though, they had won an easy victory with no sacrifices required. They had another floor, another perk, and two more rewards to strengthen the Tower. So, for now, he would simply celebrate.
“We’ll keep growing stronger. For now, though, let’s celebrate the victory.”
Wardmaster Varilold’s smile returned.
“Indeed.”
