Chapter 151
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: The Predatory Venus Flytrap
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*Rustle— Rustle—*
*Clack— Clack-clack-clack!*
“Kiririririk—!”
Kazax seemed immensely pleased with its overflowing power.
It clacked its sawtooth teeth in delight.
And why wouldn't it be? The power it originally possessed was that of a single, weak plant.
But what was this?
The moment it sensed this sudden power, it coveted it more than anyone else.
A devouring of power, with no regard for the surrounding plants.
As a result, it came to reign as a disaster-class monster, and the rest unfolded as it had planned.
The indiscriminate predation of all life in the vicinity.
Since Kazax was, after all, a plant, its top priority was to propagate its clones. Thus, it greedily devoured any organism that could be digested as fertilizer and an energy source.
*Clack— Clack-clack—*
Its satisfaction at the growing number of its clones was fleeting.
“Kiririk…?”
Kazax sensed a lifeform approaching and was puzzled.
An existence that dared to draw near, seemingly with no regard for its own life, even though Kazax hadn't yet used its scent-luring skill.
But the question was only momentary.
*Kakak— Kakakakak—!!!*
No matter who came, to Kazax, they were nothing more or less than fertilizer.
Thinking it was just a single entity, much like the ones it had unilaterally slaughtered before, Kazax bared its sawtooth teeth, only to realize its mistake.
“It hurts a little, but that’s not enough to even scratch me, you punk.”
“Ki, kiririk!”
An enemy whose attacks, no matter how much it swung or bit, were completely ineffective.
No, in fact, it was the one taking damage. Kazax was realizing just how much of a frog in a well it had been.
* * * * *
A sturdy body forged through beekeeping and a love for honey products, combined with the experience of countless raids.
Naturally, defeating the disaster-class plant monster that appeared on the Han River single-handedly was not difficult at all. The problem was something else entirely.
“Kyaaaak! Kyaaak!”
The creature thrashed about madly even as it was being subdued and transported by Yongbi.
It wasn't that he couldn't understand.
From the creature's perspective, it had no idea if it was being dragged off to be experimented on or killed.
Well, the former was partially correct, but he couldn't possibly let go of such an invaluable sample.
Just as he was wondering if he should knock it out, a change occurred in an instant.
“……”
The closer they got to the bee farm, the calmer the creature became.
In a way, it wasn't all that strange.
The bee farm was home not only to bees, which have a significant impact on plants, but also to the World Tree.
Even if it devoured monsters alive, Kazax was fundamentally a plant that needed to photosynthesize and be pollinated.
Naturally, when it came to the World Tree, it was bound to know more than any human.
“Kirik, kiriririk.”
It seemed to have finally realized it wasn't being dragged to a slaughterhouse.
But to a better place.
The creature's many sawtooth teeth faced Seong-hyeok.
In response, Seong-hyeok simply nodded, letting his actions speak louder than words it wouldn't understand.
“Kiririk!”
Thanks to its newfound calmness, they arrived at the center of the bee farm much faster.
Upon seeing the World Tree, the creature trembled its roots and leaves as if overwhelmed, but only for a moment.
Had Kazax made some sort of decision?
“Kyaa. Kyaaak!”
This wasn't the frantic struggling from before, but a request to be released, just for a moment.
Since he was confident he could crush it anytime if it tried anything funny, Seong-hyeok granted it a moment of freedom without hesitation.
*Slither— Slither—*
As if making itself at home, the creature took root nearby.
What happened next was truly astonishing.
*Fwoosh—*
One by one, its sawtooth teeth discolored and crumbled away.
But there was a reason the plant had made the bold decision to sacrifice its leaves.
*Wiggle, wiggle—*
The energy source, now freed up by the sacrifice of its leaves.
As if determined not to waste it.
Six long stems grew from the center of Kazax's body.
They were none other than the flower stalks of a Venus flytrap.
“Well, this is fascinating.”
The flower buds bloomed in an instant, a harmony of the tenacious life force befitting a disaster-class boss monster and the rich energy emanating from the World Tree.
Unlike the menacing, sawtooth-lined leaves, the flowers were a simple, modest white.
Moreover, as if in consideration of the pollinating bees.
The flower stalks sprouted at a considerable distance from the highly aggressive leaves.
Well, in any case, since flowers containing pollen and nectar had bloomed, what would happen next was obvious without even needing to guess.
*Bzzzz—*
*Buzzzzzzz—*
Like filling their seats when dinnertime arrived.
A gourmet meal set by the flowers of a disaster-class boss monster, the Venus flytrap.
What bee in the world would just stand by and watch!
*Wiggle—*
*Wiggle, wiggle—*
Dozens of bees competed to shove their heads into each of the six bloomed flowers.
Thanks to this, the sight of them collectively wiggling with only their butts sticking out was a devilishly charming detail.
For Seong-hyeok, the Honeybee Guardian, it was a feast that was bound to raise his devotion!
But alas, Seong-hyeok couldn't pour all his attention into simply admiring the view.
[Ruby Gem Honey Pot Bee (★★★★-) has made contact with the Predatory Venus Flytrap Kazax's Flower (★★★★★+). Growth is promoted, and nutrients are slightly increased.]
[Garnet Gem Worker Bee (★★★-) has made contact with the Predatory Venus Flytrap Kazax's Flower (★★★★★+). Growth is promoted, and nutrients are slightly increased.]
[Imperial Topaz Silkworm Bee (★★★★-) has made contact with the Predatory Venus Flytrap Kazax's Flower (★★★★★+). Growth is promoted, and nutrients are slightly increased.]
…….
Natural pollination, accomplished through the contact between bees and flowers.
With the bees' help added to its already vigorous growth rate, the result was plain to see.
[Kazax's Fruit (★★★★) has formed on the Predatory Venus Flytrap Kazax's Flower (★★★★★+).]
Just as it had bloomed its flowers in an instant, Kazax's production capability boasted a remarkably fast speed in bearing fruit as well.
“Kiriririk—!”
*Thump, thump, thump—*
As if to express its gratitude for the bees' help and for Seong-hyeok bringing it here.
A rather large fruit fell from above and rolled toward Seong-hyeok.
There was no hint of aggression.
Seong-hyeok picked it up without hesitation and first checked its stats.
______________________________
[Kazax's Fruit (★★★★)]
* Type: Consumable, Material
* Upon consumption, Kazax's vitality imbues your body.
※ Kazax's Vitality: For 30 minutes, defense increases by 30%, and immunity to all mental-type effects is greatly increased.
* Description: A ★★★★-grade fruit grown from the Predatory Venus Flytrap Kazax, a creature with the stature of a disaster-class boss monster. Thanks to continuous natural pollination by bees, it is filled to the brim with a sweet, honey-like juice. Upon consumption, the body is temporarily strengthened, and immunity to mind-related effects is granted.
※ Upon consumption or use, there is a 100% chance to obtain a fully viable Predatory Venus Flytrap Seed (★★★★-).
______________________________
“Hoh?”
The fruit's stats were nothing to scoff at.
They could have a significant impact when utilized in combat.
Moreover, for Seong-hyeok, the potential of a fruit that was both a consumable and a 'material' didn't end there.
“It would be great with Deundeun-i's venom and honey.”
Deundeun-i, the Diamond Geumgang Colossus Legion Commander Bee, was specialized in defense, and by appropriately mixing its colossus venom and royal jelly.
He would be able to obtain a superior consumable that far surpassed the original effects!
This was just what came to mind immediately, but didn't Seong-hyeok have a plethora of other honeybee byproducts at his disposal?
His happy dilemma was short-lived.
“I’ll put it to good use.”
Seong-hyeok expressed his thanks as he pocketed the fruit.
“Kiriririk.”
Now a definite ally, no longer an enemy.
The Predatory Venus Flytrap Kazax also responded by clacking its sawtooth teeth.
* * * * *
When you thought about it, the bee farm was nothing short of a dream space for a mad researcher.
After all, there were numerous honeybee byproducts corresponding to the eight different types of bees.
Each had its own specialized abilities, and as consumables, they possessed a variety of unique characteristics, including the crucial element of 'taste'.
And was that all?
Honeybee cocoons and pollen.
And now, starting with honeybee scales and honey strawberries, there were even the fruits of the World Tree and Kazax, which were related to the bees through natural pollination.
The amount of materials was practically infinite, too numerous to count.
The number of items that could be completed using them was countless, but were the bees still not satisfied?
*Bzzzz—*
*Buzzzzzzz—*
[Peridot Lamdock Suicide Bee (★★★★-) has collected honey. Current honey status: 99.981%]
[Ruby Gem Worker Bee (★★★-) has collected honey. Current honey status: 99.988%]
[Peridot Worker Bee (★★★-) has collected honey. Current honey status: 100%]
Each bee contributed 0.005% to 8%.
The honey status accumulated little by little.
But there was always a reason to mention the bees' routine act of collecting honey.
[Great Collection Success!]
[The honeyed scent of the Predatory Venus Flytrap Kazax affects the aging process.]
[You have obtained 25 Ruby Gem Predatory Venus Flytrap Honey (★★★).]
[You have obtained 23 Garnet Gem Predatory Venus Flytrap Honey (★★★+).]
[You have obtained 22 Imperial Topaz Predatory Venus Flytrap Honey (★★★+).]
…….
It was the birth of another type of honey, engraved with a new 'keyword', following the World Tree, Spore, and Flower honeys.
“Disaster-class monsters really are something else.”
It was the same with the Flower Elves, but the concentration of honey was on a completely different level from ordinary flowers.
It went without saying that the effects they possessed were also on a different dimension compared to regular honey.
______________________________
[Garnet Gem Predatory Venus Flytrap Honey (★★★+) x 23]
* Type: Consumable, Material
* Upon consumption, satiety is felt, Health and Mana are restored by 800, and the aura of the Venus Flytrap lingers.
※ Venus Flytrap's Aura: For 10 minutes, attack power increases by 2%. (Stacks up to 2 times)
…….
______________________________
Not only the fruit that increased defense, but also the Venus Flytrap honey that boosted attack power, arguably the most important stat in combat.
“I’ll be able to surprise people at the next auction, too.”
With an item that screamed 'premium' in his hands, the only paths left were to earn a ton of coins and to further strengthen the farm's power.
And was that all?
Unlike the Flower Elves, which were closer to elves, Kazax was a complete 'plant'.
The results of the bees diligently pollinating it were immediate.
[A Level 42 Predatory Venus Flytrap (★★★★★) is born.]
[A Level 43 Predatory Venus Flytrap (★★★★★) is born.]
[A Level 43 Predatory Venus Flytrap (★★★★★) is born.]
…….
Numerous Venus flytraps bloomed throughout the bee farm.
Thanks to being controlled by Kazax, they didn't attack the residents or the bees. With the addition of these powerful defensive forces, the bee farm's trap field was strengthened even further.