Giant Hornet Swarm (1)

4th Corps Commander.

Giant Hornet Queen Vestiger.

After storming out of the corps commander meeting, she immediately returned to her soldiers.

"We'll take the lead and scout first. Deploy every scouting unit!"

Her resolve was firm.

Unlike Karmarks, who was playing it safe, she intended to find and capture the culprit herself.

Even if she couldn't catch the culprit, locating the Dragon's Lair would suffice.

Either way, the credit would be hers.

'Arachne gets killed, and he panics like that? Losing all his subordinates turned him into a total coward.'

In her eyes, Karmarks was no longer fit to hold the position of 1st Corps Commander.

'Karmarks. That 1st Corps Commander seat will soon be mine.'

She could already picture herself earning Lord Vermith's trust and claiming the top spot.

The mere thought sent a thrill through her.

She licked her lips.

Lick.

The tip of his tongue brushed his lips.

"Master, shall I handle them right away?"

Azkai licked his lips as he eyed the massive giant hornets approaching from afar.

Bwooooom!

The wingbeats grew louder.

"Nah. Hold off for a bit."

I ordered a tactical retreat.

Thick woods lay right behind us.

'Let's assess the situation first.'

Something felt off. These giant hornets had strayed far from their main force, almost like they were blatantly coming for me.

It was suspicious enough to warrant observation.

- Master!

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

A message from Bellerin came in.

"What's up?"

- Archeron's syncore replacement is almost done! He can join soon. Should I send him over?

Oh!

Great news.

With Archeron here, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dealing with those pests would be a breeze.

"Perfect. Send him as soon as the swap's complete."

- Got it~! I'll hurry!

"Master, may I speak with Bellerin for a moment?"

Azkai, standing beside me, suddenly wanted to comm with her.

"Go ahead."

I handed him the communicator.

"Bellerin, how's that gauntlet I mentioned before?"

- Ah! It's finished, actually! I'll send it with Archeron!

Azkai had requested a gauntlet?

News to me.

"My power's restricted right now, so handling lava's a bit tricky."

Tricky? He'd turned the area into a lava hell before.

I whistled inwardly at the memory of his might.

Still, more good news.

This meant Azkai's combat strength was about to skyrocket.

'Alright then.'

Time to observe the enemy more closely.

Bwooooom!

Giant hornets swarmed overhead.

We watched from the forest cover.

'No obvious traps, no matter how I look at it.'

They moved like an independent detachment, separate from the main army.

'Sent to search the area, for sure.'

Their patterns screamed reconnaissance over this region.

Plenty had even entered this very forest, poking around everywhere.

'But why are they so spread out? If ambushed... Ah!'

A sudden recall about giant hornets.

They release pheromones into the air to summon allies when attacked.

That's why they roamed so boldly.

'In that case.'

My eyes gleamed.

"Let's snag one."

I said to Azkai and Lulumiel.

Azkai and Lulumiel instantly readied for battle.

Lulumiel cast Starlight Blessing on me and Azkai. Power surged through my body.

"Grrr..."

Azkai reined in his overflowing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strength, biding his time.

Bwooooom!

And the moment came swiftly.

A massive giant hornet flew right between the trees we hid behind.

'Now!'

I snapped my eyes open and thrust out my hand.

Thud.

The Dragon Heart pulsed once, drawing mana into my palm far stronger than usual.

Whoooosh!

Mana gathered thickly in my hand.

"Karaat?"

The hornet sensed something and turned toward me. Too late.

The mana had already taken shape.

"Thunder Bind."

3rd-circle spell: Thunder Bind.

Lightning sparks coalesced and fired.

Kraaaack!

"Kraat!"

It reacted, but Thunder Bind was faster.

Zzt!

Upon contact, it held form as a noose, binding the hornet briefly.

'Nice.'

Normally, the structure would've shattered on impact.

But now, for a split second, it held firm.

Probably thanks to the Dragon Heart mana.

Whatever the reason, it worked.

The hornet wobbled in midair.

'Eat this!'

Whoosh!

I hurled my prepared tar bomb at its wings.

Splat!

Tar erupted, gumming up the wings.

Crash!

It lost balance and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠plummeted to the ground.

"Now!"

My shout triggered Azkai.

He shot forward, tracing a red line through the air.

Bam!!!

One punch pulverized its head.

No lava or flames erupted.

He'd suppressed his mana for stealth.

Pure physical force did the job.

Just as I'd instructed beforehand.

Whoosh!

Pink mana particles dispersed from the falling body into the air.

Visible only to me, thanks to Dragon Blood and my awakened Dragon Heart, honing my perception of ambient mana.

I'd prepped the spell as Azkai lunged: Clea Ether, purifying air particles, neutralizing toxins and chemicals.

It shredded the spreading pheromones instantly.

'Any other hornets notice?'

I scanned quickly. None had caught on.

'Perfect.'

Just like I'd hoped. Success.

My eyes sparkled with excitement.

At this rate, I could hit level 90 today.

"Let's keep it going."

The giant hornets patrolling the woods.

To me, they were walking experience orbs now.

Bwoooom!

The hornet legion, scouting far ahead of the main force, suddenly halted.

"Most of the scouts have gone missing?"

"Yes, Commander."

Vestiger furrowed her brow at the adjutant's report.

No pheromones meant no distress signals from the missing hornets.

'Or someone erased the traces.'

Either way, a headache.

The same unknown entity that hit Arachne was likely responsible.

More stealthy and meticulous than expected.

Maybe Karmarks was right after all.

Time to proceed more cautiously...

Chit.

A signal pinged from the corps commander comm orb.

- Hmph, Vestiger. Stormed off all cocky, and now trouble? Need help?

Vestiger scowled at the face in the orb.

Hideously ugly mug.

11th Corps Commander Legionix.

- If you need aid, just say the word. I might deign to...

His mocking drawl.

Crack!

Vestiger smashed the orb.

"That filthy worm dares..."

Face flushed red, she glared toward the main force.

If not for the other commanders, she'd have gone for his neck right then.

She and Legionix had clashed repeatedly before.

She hadn't provoked him yesterday for nothing.

"Deploy the division commanders. Have them release pheromones the instant they spot it. I'll handle it personally."

She was furious now.

Her head filled with thoughts of racking up achievements, even at the cost of troops.

Kraaack!

Bam!

'Yes!'

Mighty power welled up inside me.

I clenched my fists.

Level 90 achieved in a single day, just as planned.

Easier said than done, though.

Up to 83,83,83, each hornet netted one level.

But from 83 onward, each level demanded more XP than all previous combined.

Progress slowed hard.

Started needing two, then five, ten, twenty, fifty...

Exponential grind.

Peaked at 89.

'Stuck at 89.'

Like the level 80 wall?

Didn't feel blocked, though.

Sky darkened, hornets thinned out. Time to head back.

"Shiriiririt!"

Then, an unexpected encounter.

A nagatara.

Wait, why was that here?

It zigzagged toward us at high speed, eyeing us as prey.

But.

"Slurp. Master, I'll slay it."

Thud!

Azkai's knuckle rap slammed it into the dirt, subdued.

I finished it off for the XP, hitting level 90.

'Bonus: nagatara meat.'

Heh heh.

I swallowed drool and grinned.

Knew nagataras lurked here—time for regular hunts.

"Heh heh."

Azkai seemed thrilled too.

He stuffed the carcass into the subspace pouch from Bellerin.

'Kinda bummed Azkai didn't level up.'

Level gap, probably.

He gained zero.

Lulumiel, though.

She rose from 355 to 356—a solid gain.

"Good work, everyone. Rest nearby and push tomorrow."

Tomorrow: toward 100.

We headed to a pre-scouted cave for camp.

Bwoooooom!!!

Wingbeats blanketed the sky.

'What the?'

I looked up.

'...!'

My eyes widened.

Giant hornet swarms poured in from all directions toward the forest.

And leading them: the vice commander and division commanders.

Unexpectedly high levels gave me pause.

But then...

'Wait... this could be Azkai's big chance to level up huge.'