Chapter 319
Chapter 319
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 319
Chapter Title: Honeybee Great Commotion
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"It's a killer hornet uproar!!!!"
"Uwaaaaaah!!!!!!!"
"This place is hellllll!!!"
The inner city was already a total shitshow thanks to the hornets swarming in, but the outskirts were on a whole other level—a bona fide hellscape you couldn't even compare.
The air was thick with a murderous vibe, like ox-headed and horse-faced demons were about to burst from the bushes any second to rip out sinners' eyeballs and tongues.
—Kyaaaaah!!!
Even just last week, when we'd come to scout the jungle, it hadn't been this bad. The grim reality had even my iron heart on the verge of tears.
—Buuuuuz!
—Buuuz!!
—Buuuuuzzzz!!!
"Graaaaaah!!!!!!!"
The seriously pissed-off hornets had formed massive swarms, slaughtering, dismembering, and abducting people like some legendary plague of man-eating locusts from myth.
The only sounds were the demonic whir of their wings and the desperate screams of humans in agony.
If this wasn't hell, then what the fuck was?
God and Buddha were nowhere to be found, as expected.
"Uhaaaaaak!!!!"
One scrawny adventurer was already being dragged off alive, limbs seized by the hornets. I decided not to dwell on what fate awaited him.
—Kiyaaaaak!!!
Just like the cheers never stopped at a beloved local bigwig's birthday bash, the screams showed no sign of letting up in this hell.
Hornets everywhere clutched severed human limbs dripping blood, flying off in all directions, solidifying my conviction that the world was nothing but hell.
"What a sight."
Turning into a meatball was the least of it.
A dozen massive hornets piling on one person was impossible to fight off. One adventurer who'd taken dozens of stings collapsed, only to be chopped to pieces on the spot.
"Sis... My stomach's churning."
Even Winia couldn't stay immune to a brutal frenzy where dozens were being hacked apart, not just a few deaths.
"Wanna head back?"
"No."
When I asked, she answered with open disgust after frying an incoming hornet. Her desire to scout the nest we'd failed to find before burned stronger.
"Group up! Group up and let's move!"
People screaming and dying all around.
Right in the middle, someone bellowed. They figured going solo like this was suicide, so better to band together.
"Y-Yeah! Form up!"
"We can't get anywhere like this!!!"
"Hurry and group!!"
In the end, the scattered adventurers clustered like sardines, forming a formation and starting to advance.
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of hornets, they'd accidentally forged some teamwork.
"Katt. Let's tag along."
"Yeah. Looks like we'd never make it far alone."
We stuck to the rear and headed for the jungle too.
Bounty on the nest or not, we had to check it out. With the lord's soldiers already mobilized, no way we'd miss the chance.
The other adventurers felt the same.
—Crunch crunch.
—Snap crackle.
The formation included a few mages and their guards, adventurers, martial artists, archers, spearmen—you name it. It looked like a ragtag patchwork legion.
Still, even stitched together, the group deterred easy hornet attacks. They shouted and swung weapons overhead to intimidate them.
"We'll push to the jungle like this!"
"Got it!"
The lead middle-aged adventurer shouted, and nearly everyone roared back. They'd all hardened watching people die right in front of them.
—Buuuz!!
Of course, hornets still struck amid the chaos.
The attacks had slowed, but they weren't gone.
"Fuck!"
"Side! Watch the side!"
—Crunch!
Staying grouped let them defend with minimal losses and keep advancing. Swords, axes, spears united to butcher incoming hornets.
Archers drew blades and fought too.
Probably didn't want to waste arrows.
Mages hurled fireballs and ice spikes into the air.
We helped from the back, killing hornets as we went. Shame there was no bounty for them.
"So damn loud."
"Want me to plug your ears?"
"No."
Winia griped, sucking up a bit. It really was deafening. The decibels could hurt her ears.
So we trailed the group.
With me and Claudy covering our asses, the rear took no hits, but upfront losses trickled in.
These guys lacked the skills.
—Slash!
To me, these hornet shits were no threat. Old me would've been fucked, but now? I sliced them effortlessly, no stamina drain.
Even multiples at once were fine solo. Focused on intercepting flyers, Claudy spoke up.
"Oh, Katt. Check that guy."
"What?"
"Over there."
After cleaving a hornet, she pointed.
I looked—
"Hey, hey! What the fuck is that idiot doing!"
"No clue, fuck off and die!"
"Dumbass."
—A few had broken from the formation, sprinting toward the open plain.
Adventurers jeered at them.
"What're those guys up to?"
"Dunno."
The deserters bolted at top speed into hornet-infested space. Suicidal?
Plenty of ways to off yourself, but getting vivisected by hornets ain't recommended. No matter how despairing, never do it.
Wondering what the hell, I watched. Then the runners yelled desperately.
"Faster! Hurry!"
"Watch your back, you!"
Ah.
Got it.
They were after loot from mangled adventurers. Risking life for drops from the dead.
Figured dash out, grab, dash back. Thrilling shit, so I kept watching.
"Got it!"
One snagged two swords and a backpack, booking it back. Strong desire fuels insane strength sometimes.
Two swords and a pack.
About 3 silvers easy.
Worth the risk.
—Taktaktak!
Grab and return happened in a flash. Success?
"Gotta have that grit to make money."
I nodded, impressed, eyeing the brave fool.
"Wonder how it'll go?"
"Nah, Claudy. Let's hope he makes it."
Unlike me, Claudy wanted to eyewitness his gory end.
What a gore hound.
"Heh heh. Don't jinx it."
Even so, he seemed home free.
Others in line eyed the loot too but chickened out on death fear.
He'd overcome that and snagged the spoils—
—"Kyaahak?!!"
—Failed.
Hornets swarmed his return.
No way, fucked up now after doing so well?
Eight attackers. Too many for him solo; subdued in seconds.
"H-Help!!!"
Pale and desperate, he reached for the group, but no good Samaritans here.
Swordsmen, spearmen, archers, mages—just watched and sneered.
"Heh heh."
"Kekeke, stupid fuck."
"Die, you moron!"
Beyond no help, they jeered.
Adventurer humanity never changes. Always ready to mock misfortune in tough times—that's adventurers for you.
—Crunch!
—Crack!
"Kwaaaaaah!!!!"
No aid came; he became the drop item himself. Predictably, none broke ranks to grab his.
—Buuuuz!!!
Chopped up, he vanished skyward with the hornets.
His loot-running buddy? Just bloodstains left. Pathetic.
He'd unwittingly taught "greed kills" via live demo. Brutal, but proved justice and brotherhood live on... or not.
"Dumbass deserved to die."
Winia spat flatly, emotionless routine.
"Too bad. Few seconds faster and he'd lived."
Such a shame.
Anyway, we took his death as lesson, stayed cautious, helped allies, and pushed toward the jungle.
—Buuuuuz!!!
We reached not jungle, but hive. Well, jungle, but hornet-only made it feel like one.
Unlike the open road, thick bushes and vines here oddly made fighting easier.
"Iyaaah!!!"
Plus, insane numbers of adventurers.
Us new arrivals plus those already here formed an army. Isbrandt's troops advanced from the center too.
Still.
So many hornets.
—Buuuz!!
—Thud!
Luckily, killer hornet poison glands fetched cash. Dirt cheap vs. nest bounties, but 5 coppers per undamaged one.
Corpses on the road felt wasteful, but harvesting mid-fight? Nah, and defenses mangled most anyway.
So we ignored them.
Nest destruction bounties hit dozens of silvers. Everyone here eyed that.
Nests had a "core"—bring it as proof.
Useless thing, just destruction evidence. Not vital organ; pillar-like support they built central while nesting.
Adventurers split into groups here, cautiously battling inward.
Announcement said nests were "fucking everywhere."
Sizes varied wildly. Small ones, massive ones. Bigger nest, bigger bounty and core.
"Anyway, darkie. Let's head in. Find one today for sure."
"Damn right, today we get it."
Winia's leads had us combing jungle fruitlessly—no nests sighted. Others found some; we struck out.
Today, fuck it, we find one.
We split from the main group, delving deeper. Others formed 10-man parties, scattering directions.
Pray we don't bump deep inside.
—Buuuz!!
"Heh heh. Pathetic shits."
Five hornets jumped me on entry; I charged, closing gap and slicing two instantly.
One-strike shell-cleaving feat.
Whirled, kicked and punched heads from rear attackers, neutralizing.
Even world-turned-hell, personal power overcomes anytime.
"Kyaa, Katt's cool."
"Dejaaaaaah!!!"