Chapter 111: Fires Bee-kindled

Chapter 111: Fires Bee-kindled

The bee came to a world of complete darkness, and cold. At first, she wondered if she had made it. Last she remembered, she had been surrounded by blazing heat, so hot her chitin had burned. But now, it was cool, so cool she nearly shivered.

But shivering simply told her that her body was still alive and capable of motion, so move she did. She found a wall blocking her way and started to pick at it. As she did, mandibles pierced through from the other side and the light began to stream in. Her loyal children removed the cap over her cell and she was free to leave.

And so the Third of the Sixth emerged from her cell, her formerly yellow color now including reds and oranges. She shivered in the cool air of her original hive, even as her mana attempted to heat up her surroundings. But the cold didn’t stop her from breaking out into a happy dance.

She had done it. She had survived. She had evolved. She had fulfilled the King and the hive of hives’ request.

She had become a burning monster bee queen.

She flared her mana as she danced, and a red glow appeared around her body for a second. The workers tending to her backed away at the sudden surge of heat, save for the burning workers who instead drew closer and flared their mana as well.

It felt pleasantly warm.

***

Belissar was just getting started for the day when a much awaited message appeared.

Mission: Spawn or evolve one Fire attribute monster of rare or better rarity completed!

Reward: One Fire-type room feature choice.

The God of Fire offers a minor blessing.

A non-patron god, the God of Fire, offers his blessing! The God of Fire will be added to the Shrine in some rooms. Accept?

Belissar smiled and bowed his head.

“Yes and thank you.”

The moment he spoke the word, a wave of mana surged through the Tower and his body. This time, the mana was blazing hot and the world took on a red tinge for a short moment. Then it left as suddenly as it came, leaving Belissar feeling a bit cold.

Minor Blessing of Fire applied.

Effects:

- Fire-related options slightly more frequent.

- Some special fire-related options are unlocked and may now appear

- Fire monster upgrades and evolutions are now slightly cheaper and easier to unlock

- Fire and fire-type attacks deal slightly more damage

“There might even be an ember or two left for the Blazing Berserker after all.”

She then backed away so Belissar could come before the Shrine. He took two trays of honey, the burning mana honey tray, and a regular mana honey one since he only had one of the burning trays, and split each in half. He put one half of each into the wax chest and bowed to the God of Bees’ statue.

“Thank you again, for everything.”

Then he turned to the God of Fire’s banner...and frowned a bit. There was no chest, so Belissar wondered how he could offer anything to the God of Fire. Maybe everything went through the God of Bees’ chest?

He then heard Chief Rohsuak clear her throat.

“Forgive me if I’m interrupting but...are you perhaps wondering how to make an offering to the God of Fire?”

Belissar nodded.

“Ah, yes.”

She chuckled slightly.

“I did too, my first time around.”

She then pointed to the brazier.

“He likes to do everything through fire, you see.”

Belissar’s eyes widened as he nodded, and then dropped the two trays into the brazier.

“Thank you for your blessing. I’ll, um, do my best with it?”

The fire surged up for a moment, bathing Belissar in a wave of heat. Then it died down, and both the trays had vanished.

The God of Bees’ statue then shone with light for a moment as the brazier’s fire grew once again. Belissar stood still for a moment before bowing his head.

When he was finished, he turned to find Chief Rohsuak waiting for him. She saluted to him as he approached.

“Sacred Den Master Belissar...I was serious, you know? You have no idea how much this means to me, I never thought I would ever find another shrine for the God of Fire again. So, if there’s anything I can do to thank you, or the bees responsible for this, please, let me know.”

Belissar was about to tell her it was alright, as the God of Fire had already rewarded them for this, when he saw her eyes. They were glistening, and moisture had started to build even as Chief Rohsuak made the brightest smile he had ever seen on her. So, instead, he paused, and rubbed his chin for a moment before nodding.

“Ah...so, one of my queens recently evolved with Fire mana. Maybe you could speak with her, and see if there’s anything you can teach her about it?”

Chief Rohsuak’s smile grew even wider, and she nodded several times.

“It would be my honor and pleasure, Sacred Den Master.”