Chapter 106: Heavy Bee-cisions

Chapter 106: Heavy Bee-cisions

Belissar spoke with the queens a bit about the new goal and what they could do to achieve it. The Apiary queens were already well on their way to accomplish already, though they were running into some snags. The transition from a normal monster beehive to a burning monster beehive was proving more complicated than with the medicinal or maddening hives, as with every burning worker added the hive became increasingly uncomfortable for the remaining non-burning workers and the queen, and so the queen in question was finding it difficult to reach the point where she was comfortable crossing the line. Likewise, any part of the hive built of regular wax would melt if the hive grew too hot, and even the wooden frames were beginning to scorch from the heat.

Fortunately, Belissar now had some ideas on that. He had already built underground beehives consisting mainly of dirt...and now he had access to stone and metal as well. If he could build a new beehouse out of those materials next to the hive in question, the queen could move all her burning workers over to the new, fire-resistant hive, allowing her remaining workers to remain safe over the course of the transition. And, of course, she would need that fire-proof beehouse after the transition was complete.

Belissar would probably need the karnuq’s help for that. He hadn’t done much stonework, unless stacking rocks to make basic ovens and firepits counted. He wasn’t sure the karnuq would have either, but at the very least they could help him lift the stones. Said task might be a bit difficult for Belissar and the soldier bees alone.

Once they had settled on that, Belissar moved onto the next order of business: the rewards from the purification. There was a possibility, after all, that he could acquire a Fire attribute monster right away. And even if not...it was clear that he needed to continue strengthening the bee army and the Tower’s defenses.

Please select a reward:

- Uncommon Monster Choice (At least one uncommon or better option)

- Rare Room Feature Choice (At least one rare or better option)

- Uncommon Room Choice (At least one uncommon or better option)

Belissar smiled and nearly chose immediately before stopping himself. Getting a rare room feature after a full nine common options would be incredibly gratifying. But, given the latest purification, Belissar did not want to make this decision impulsively. It was, at least, worth considering if a new monster or room might be more important. So, he tried to see if he could open the next reward choice before deciding on this one.

Please select a reward:

- Uncommon Room Choice (At least one uncommon or better option)

- +100 max mana

- Uncommon Monster Choice (At least one uncommon or better option)

Belissar turned to his bees.

“So, we can get a new monster, a new feature, or a new room, and then either a new room, more mana, or a new monster. What does everyone think?”

The bees were quiet this time as well. The Second First of the First slowly danced.

“Bees...not strong enough. Need to be stronger. Need...bigger attack.”

Some of the bees danced their agreement, and then they all fell still. Belissar frowned at that. Even Niobee wasn’t saying much and her antennae were drooping. He felt his chest tighten.

The bees gave their all for him and wanted nothing more from him than his praise. He saw how happy they were with anything he gave them, even a roughly built beehouse made out of unprocessed logs that the old beekeeper would have never approved of. He thought of the First of the Fifth’s dances anytime he gave her praise.

To see them as they were now...made him sad. And...angry.

“Everyone, please look at me.”

All the bees complied. Belissar glanced around at each and every one of them. Niobee, his best friend. The Second First of the First, who risked the lives of her children and even her own to protect the Tower. The First of the Fifth, who spared no effort working for him. Beero watching on the Memorial, the lightning in place of the missing wing she lost in battle.

Not one of them had any reason to be ashamed.

- Mana Upkeep: 10 per node, 5 to enable in compatible rooms

- Description: A unique dandelion strain attuned to the force of gravity. Utilizes gravitational fields to launch its seeds at high velocity. When gathered in numbers, gravity may behave erratically nearby, causing random increases or decreases in effective weight.

Belissar tilted his head. Gravity? What was gravity? Apparently it was some sort of type or attribute but it wasn’t one Belissar had ever heard of.

“Hey, Niobee, do you or any of the queens know what gravity is?”

Niobee flew around to each of the queens before slowly flying back and dancing unsteadily.

“Sorry, don’t.”

Belissar shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it, neither do I.”

Well, the description said something about increases and decreases in weight so...it apparently made things heavier or lighter?

Belissar thought about it for a couple more minutes before shrugging. Yeah, he didn’t really know what he was looking at here. But it was a flower that counted as a trap and was also considered rare, so if nothing else it would be useful to the bees. Belissar didn’t know if gravilion honey would have any particular effect or result in any special bee types though. It was somewhat of a risky choice in that regard.

Treasure Chest

- Type: Resource

- Mana Upkeep: Depends on possible contents

- Description: A box meant to hold rewards. Can be set to generate resources or products available in the dungeon at regular intervals, mana cost will depend on resource generated and interval of generation chosen. May also be used as general storage.

Again, Belissar was tilting his head. It...was a box. He could select different materials for the box but generally it appeared as a wooden one. And it...would generate resources? But then, how was that different than the resource nodes or the beehives?

Belissar...didn’t really understand what this option was for. He guessed more resource generation was nice but it said resources available in the dungeon...so resources he already had available? He guessed it was for challengers or something since he couldn’t see how this would help during a purification.

So, he could go with expendable beehives, a rare flower that he didn’t understand, or a box that didn’t do anything resource nodes and beehives couldn’t. Originally, he was going to check the next option before deciding, but in this case the choice seemed pretty straightforward to him.

“How about some new flowers?”

“Ok!”

Niobee was the only one to respond directly, but Belissar chuckled as he saw the First of the Fifth and the other Apiary queens shuffling about.

Gravilion Flower selected.

Well, that was one choice down. Now for the second...