Chapter 133
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Honey Stars of the Night Sky
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The honeybees boasted a wide variety of types.
And the existence of this diversity proved beneficial to the apiary.
Bzzzz~
Bzzzzzz~
While collecting honey was their common base, these little ones were also equipped with a range of combat abilities, from physical strength and poison to buffs, healing, and even construction.
But the greatest strength the honeybees possess is their 'bond,' which has evolved beyond collective intelligence to grant special effects.
Bzzzzz!
The Nebula Legion Commander Bee, an elite honeybee of the Star Sapphire Queen.
For 10cm bees, they are quite large. With their blue abdomens adorned with numerous star patterns, they earned the name Byeolbyeor-i, and their true value is evident from their skills alone.
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[Formation of the Nebula Honey Star (Lv.3)]
* Classification: Skill
* Designated Honeybees: 0 / 3,000
* Mana Cost: 10
* Effect (Active): Engraves a star formation onto the designated honeybee. However, this cannot be applied to elite honeybees or queen bees. (No cooldown)
* Effect (Passive): All stats of honeybees engraved with the star formation increase by up to 30%. This effect grows stronger at night.
...
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An ability that boasted the same effect as the Star Formation skill possessed by the Star Sapphire Queen Bee.
However, between the queen and the legion commander.
The effects they possess have distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Unlike the queen's formation, which has no restrictions on which bees can be engraved but is limited to 40, Byeolbyeor-i's power can be engraved onto a staggering 3,000 honeybees, though it only applies to worker bees and higher-tier variants.
Since worker bees and higher-tier variants make up the majority of the apiary and wield the most influence, this effect is fully realized.
Bzz~!
With all stats increased by up to 30%, not only their combat prowess but also their honey collection rates naturally increased due to their faster movement.
While he was pleased with all of it, one thing in particular stood out to Seong-hyeok.
“The casualty rate has definitely dropped.”
Stronger stats directly correlate with a higher survival rate.
In the current situation where battles constantly erupt and casualties are a regular occurrence, how could Seong-hyeok remain idle upon hearing the good news that the deaths of bees with the star formation were rapidly decreasing?
“For now, I'll have to invest in Byeolbyeor-i.”
Normally, the probability of an elite honeybee hatching from the eggs laid by the queens is extremely low, converging at less than 1%.
However, Seong-hyeok possessed the 'Resonance with the Queen Bee' skill, allowing him to artificially control it.
Bzzzzzz~
The result of focusing his resonance on the Star Sapphire Queen Bee had an immediate effect.
“Doesn't it seem like there are more bees with star patterns, besides the Star Sapphire ones?”
“They look pretty when you see them at night.”
“Isn't it amazing? I used to suffer from insomnia, but now I get drowsy just by looking at the stars.”
“I only slept for three hours, but I feel incredibly refreshed.”
“Ah, I totally agree.”
As the star formation was applied, numerous honeybees besides the Star Sapphire bees began to display star patterns.
It was only natural that they grew stronger as a result.
But as they say, the line between coincidence and inevitability is paper-thin.
Seong-hyeok's choice, made to increase the bees' survival rate, led to an unexpected outcome.
[You have met the conditions to unlock the special skill, Honey Stars of the Night Sky. -> Fill the night sky with star formations]
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[Honey Stars of the Night Sky]
※ This special situation's effects only apply at night.
* Classification: Special Situation
* Area of Effect: Sighting of Honey Stars
* Effect: Fatigue and all other types of recovery speed are increased by 200%.
* Effect - One Honey Star, Two Honey Stars (Passive): Allows you to rest at any time you wish.
* Effect - Cozy Sleep (Passive): When resting, the effect is increased fivefold.
* Description: Gazing upon the honey stars that fill the night sky rapidly restores the body and mind of the beholder.
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It was the acquisition of a Hidden Piece.
A special situation that boasted a 200% increase in all recovery speeds, including fatigue, and a fivefold increase in effect when resting.
And this effect...
...was an immediate blessing in this land of labor, where frequent work was unavoidable.
For the nearly 10,000 residents, of course,
“It's definitely nice to have my fatigue recover so quickly.”
and even for Seong-hyeok, who didn't need much sleep thanks to his high durability.
Moreover, this effect wasn't limited to just humans.
Bzzzzzz~
Bzzzzzzing!
The honeybees, the very ones who had unlocked the Hidden Piece and who could be called the best workers, making up the majority of the apiary.
They already worked day and night, bolstered by Seong-hyeok's high durability, but now with their own fatigue and other recovery rates accelerated, the speed at which they collected honey more than doubled.
It was a virtuous cycle, a bonus that came from pursuing a single goal.
But unlike the unexpected Hidden Piece, there was another virtuous cycle that Seong-hyeok had anticipated.
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[Star Sapphire Queen Bee (★★★★+)]
* Growth Rate: 100%
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“My Queen. Are you all ready?”
Bzzzing~
At Seong-hyeok's call, the Queen emerged from the hive, wiggling her abdomen.
For the Honeybee Guardian, the evolution of a honeybee is limitless.
* * * * *
The importance held within a honeybee's evolution.
Its ripple effect could be seen just by looking at the current apiary.
From the Ruby Gem Queen to Peridot and Imperial Topaz.
All of them were queens who had undergone at least one evolution, shattering the existing limits of their power to develop or gain new abilities.
Now, it was the new queen's turn.
“This will suit the Star Sapphire Queen best.”
Just as Peridot, who specialized in poison, had used a poison-related evolution material, Star Sapphire, with her strengths in healing and buffs, would need a suitable evolution material.
It went without saying, but in matters like these, Seong-hyeok was quite thorough in his preparations.
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[Sacred Springwater of Healing (★★★★★+)]
* Classification: Consumable, Material (Evolution)
* Related to Healing
* Upon consumption, permanently increases Mentality by 30. This effect can only be applied once. Current consumption: 0 / 1
* Usage Restriction: Durability, Mentality 1,000 or higher
...
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The 5-star+ grade Royal Draw Ticket he had obtained from hunting the Ancient Troll King.
Among the three presented items, the 'Resurrection Engraving Scroll' had appeared again, though he didn't know if it was due to good luck or if it was common.
But Seong-hyeok's choice was not for his own well-being.
“Haha. Are you that happy?”
Who was Seong-hyeok?
A true father who prioritized his honeybees over himself.
How could he possibly pass up an evolution material that was explicitly related to 'healing' and thus a perfect fit for Star Sapphire?
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[Evolution List]
* ???
* ???
* ???
* ???
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Of course, just as with the Diamond Geumgang Queen Bee before.
There was a penalty where using a 5-star+ grade material, a higher tier than 4-star+, resulted in an unidentifiable '???' evolution path.
However, this problem didn't require much thought.
- I've received much from you, so I'll adjust the point cost for this transaction as much as possible.
“Now you're starting to look like you know how to do business.”
[You have paid 170 points through an information trade.]
[Acquiring information befitting its value.]
[The information for the '???' on the evolution list is being deciphered.]
In this chaotic world, there was nothing money couldn't solve.
He identified the hidden information through the trade,
Bzzzz~
“If that is the Queen's choice.”
[You have selected an evolution path. -> Healing Spirit Evolution]
...
Following the Star Sapphire Queen's choice, the evolution began.
* * * * *
A subordinate wielding summons.
Seong-hyeok knew very well how powerful that could be.
[Ruby Gem Worker Bee Zombie (★★+)]
[Peridot Worker Bee Zombie (★★+)]
[Hobgoblin Skeleton (★★)]
...
After all, there was the influence of the Ruby Gem Queen Bee, who could control the undead thanks to Lich Velmorun's Dark Essence, and her subordinate, Lily.
And now, another individual besides Ruby Gem had gained the power to wield summons.
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[Star Sapphire Spirit Legion Commander Bee (★★★★★)] - Elite Honeybee
* Skills: Collect (Lv.6), Poison Sting (Lv.6), Flight (Lv.10), Legion Commander's Command (Lv.4), Healing Spirit (Lv.3), Healing Starcall (Lv.3)
* Honey Storage: 0 / 850(+170)
* HP: 950(+320) Mana: 1,720(+660)
* Attack: 70(+18) Defense: 180(+50) Magic Resistance: 200(+57)
[Healing Spirit (Lv.3)]
* Classification: Skill
* Mana Cost: 150
* Upkeep Mana: 5 per minute
* Effect (Active): Summons a Healing Spirit.
* Description: Summons healing-attribute spirits from the Spirit Realm. As the level increases, you can draw out more of the spirit's power.
[Healing Starcall (Lv.3)]
* Classification: Skill
* Mana Cost: 700
* Effect (Active): Upon casting, a starcall rains down within a 1km radius for 10 minutes, restoring the HP and Mana of allies and amplifying the functions of nearby natural vegetation and flowers. (Cooldown: 30 minutes)
* Effect - Overflowing Honey (Passive): Due to the amplification of recovery, the amount of honey in flowers increases significantly.
...
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True to the name 'Healing Spirit Evolution,' a new legion commander, the Spirit, was added, possessing the power to command spirits.
The resulting change in the situation was, as expected, anything but minor.
“Healing from a Healing Spirit?”
“I've seen all sorts of things, but a honeybee that can command spirits!”
“Thank you, honeybees.”
“Thanks to you, I can go all out without worrying.”
The dozens of battles that occurred daily and the injuries that followed.
Until now, it was common to rely on processed honey products for recovery, but the story was different now.
Bzz~
Shushushuk-!
Whenever someone was injured, the Healing Poison Bees and Healing Spirits would appear.
The power to heal residents with their poison stings and gentle touches, respectively, was already formidable, but the Spirit's power didn't end there.
Shwaaaaaa---!
Starlight, clearly visible even in the morning.
This was the change brought about by the Spirit's Healing Starcall, and the recovery of the players who witnessed it was further enhanced.
And the benefit of this increased recovery wasn't just a higher survival rate.
“Hey, at this rate, we'll save a ton on processed honey products.”
A new method of healing, added after the Healing Poison Bees.
Because of it, a substitute for the processed honey products, which were mainly used for recovery, had been established.
It was obvious that a reduction in the use of consumables also led to saving coins.
“...They're really taking on the role of a miser for me without me having to lift a finger.”
The savings on top of the already large amount of coins he was earning created...
Bzzzz~
“Yes, you guys are the best, the absolute best!”
In a word, it was the performance of the all-powerful honeybees.