Giant Hornet (4)

Vestiger

4th Legion Commander of Vermith

Lv 407

Level 407.

Not that high.

Yeah, that was why I was surprised—the guy's level was lower than I'd expected.

The vice-commander's was 398, so I figured this one had to be at least 420 or 430.

But the aura radiating from him was anything but ordinary.

The division commanders of the giant hornets we'd faced before?

This pressure dwarfed them, pouring out from every inch of his body.

He's definitely got a ton of those ★ marks.

Looking at him solidified my certainty.

Strength isn't just about levels—it's the number of ★ you carry that really matters.

This guy's...

I glanced at Azkai.

Similar level, similar aura.

Could Azkai take on this beast alone, plus his massive army?

"Just leave it to me, boss."

He must've caught my look.

A grin tugged at his lips as he answered coolly.

Seeing that smile finally eased my mind a bit.

"...I wondered what kind of pest this was. Never imagined something like you would be hiding here. A Lava Great Tiger, huh."

Then!

Shocking words spilled from Vestiger's mouth.

What? Does this guy know Azkai?

I shot Azkai a startled glance.

Were they old acquaintances?

"What's this? You recognize me?"

But Azkai reacted like it was his first time seeing the guy.

"Kuk."

Vestiger burst into laughter.

"I see. So you've fallen far."

His lips split into a long, jagged grin.

"Devouring you would let me challenge the king's authority."

Vestiger muttered something cryptic, then bellowed at us.

"Charge!!"

Buuaaaaaang!!!

With his command, giant hornets swarmed from all directions.

A brutal, merciless sight.

Azkai or Lulumiel might handle it, but one graze and I'd be done for.

Still, I wasn't worried.

Why?

Because I had Lulumiel.

"Prismatic Barrier!"

Paaaat!

Rainbow energy burst from Lulumiel's wings, enveloping me and her in a magical shield.

Kodadadadadadada!

Kugugugugung!

The moment the barrier formed.

Attacks from massive giant hornets rained down on it.

The rainbow shield shrugged them all off effortlessly.

"Heh."

Azkai smirked at the scene.

His pupils slit vertically, white hair billowing upward like flames toward the sky.

Kugugugugugugu!

The air scorched hot, overwhelming mana radiating from Azkai at the center.

"Let's play."

Kwang!!

Azkai grinned fiercely and charged at Vestiger.

"Just what I wanted."

Vestiger powered up too.

Black stripes symbolizing giant hornets gleamed menacingly over his golden exoskeleton.

Kwagagagaga!!

The long, sleek black spear in her hand.

At its tip, massive poison gathered, hot enough to melt the air itself.

"Hup—"

"Haaaa—"

Lava energy gathered in Azkai's claws clashed with the poison at Vestiger's spear tip.

Kwang!!!!!!!!!

Like a shell exploding, acrid fumes of burning poison filled the air.

"Kuh."

Buwoong!

Vestiger quickly pulled back from Azkai.

Singed marks covered her body, her face twisted in frustration.

Azkai, meanwhile, stood unscathed.

The winner of the first clash was clearly Azkai.

But Vestiger wasn't alone.

Buwaaaang!

Swarms of hornets dove at Azkai!

He was buried under the horde in an instant.

"Get lost, you pests!!!"

Kwaaaaa— Hwaaaaaak!!

Like a star exploding, immense heat melted the clinging giant hornets.

Tremendous fiery power.

But the gap it exposed drew attacks.

Swishhhhh! Spot!

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

An arrow streaked in, grazing Azkai's back.

Chiiik!

The wound blackened.

It was laced with deadly poison.

"Uhuhuhuhu."

Vestiger had fired it.

She wielded not just the spear, but a bow too.

Toxic arrows rained from above as she flew.

And it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't just her.

"Continuous volley!"

"Stick to him—don't let him close in!"

Vice-commander Kardas.

1st Division Commander Zartan.

They unleashed arrows at Azkai too.

Plus suicide squad giant hornets swarming him—Azkai couldn't seize control of the fight.

The situation looked seriously tricky.

"Azkai...!"

I gritted my teeth at the sight.

And realized it was time to play our hidden card.

"Lulu, use it now."

"Yes! Right away!"

What Lulumiel and I had prepared together.

It was...

Kwang!!!!!!!!!!!

The massive Tar Bomb explosion.

Kwagagagagaga!

The tar bombs we'd hidden around the area.

Mixed with Lulumiel's magic and detonated at once—the world turned to tar.

Tar slime rained down on the giant hornets filling the sky.

"Kiriririt!"

"Kiririt!"

"Kiriieeeht!"

The giant hornets fell into chaos.

Vision blocked, antennae and wings gummed up—they lost direction, some crashing to the ground, flailing.

And on top of that.

"Electric Wave—!!"

A 3rd-tier wide-area electric wave spell.

Purple mana spread like a web.

Not huge damage, but it'd add confusion to the disoriented foes.

That brief chaos gave Azkai his opening.

"Lava Command Barrier—!!"

Kwaaaaaaaa!!

Massive flames spread, blanketing the world in lava.

The technique Azkai used to kill Arachne.

And on top.

"Flame Burst Ring—!!!"

Kwaaaaaaaa!!!

Flame rings from Azkai's claws exploded in sequence, sweeping away the giant hornets in one go.

Hwaruruk, hwarururuk!

"Kreurureurur—"

In a world blazing red.

Azkai's rage-filled roar echoed.

I shouted to Lulumiel in sync.

"Lulu!"

"Yes!"

Brilliant energy surged from Lulumiel's body.

Starlight Blessing

Azkai's combat power rose.

Starlight Wings Healing

His wounds healed.

Starlight Ring

A protective ring began rotating around him.

Starlight Hymn

Azkai's recovery rose, while the enemies' combat power weakened.

Starlight Grace

A massive field boosting stats unfurled at Azkai's feet.

A barrage of buffs exploding his power!

Azkai wasn't alone either.

"Kroooaaaaarrr—!!"

A mountain-shaking roar.

Beyond a mere battle cry—it inflicted real shock on the enemies.

Primordial Intimidation.

Jeeeoong!!

"Kuh."

"Guhk."

"Keurk—"

Vestiger wobbled in midair.

Kardas and Zartan lost balance and plummeted.

Azkai didn't miss the chance.

"Lava Flame Slash!!!"

Jeeeoook—

Hwarurururuk!!

Three claw marks ripped through the falling Kardas and Zartan.

"Kaaak!"

"Keuuk—"

Their blood painted the sky.

Swishhhh!!

Kuuuung!

Azkai rocketed upward through the gap.

Vestiger was staggered for that instant.

Time to end it.

Otherwise, fighting a free-flying foe like her would be a nightmare.

"Lava Flame Slash!!"

Kwang!!!!!!

Three claws swung again.

But they were blocked by Vestiger's spear.

"Kuuuuuk— you bastard."

Still reeling from Primordial Intimidation, Vestiger wobbled.

Azkai followed with more Lava Flame Slashes.

Kwang, kwang, kwagagagang!!

But Vestiger blocked better than expected.

Azkai was executing in midair—less power behind them.

This won't work. She'll recover soon.

Could I help somehow?

Splitting an instant into thousands.

My thoughts raced at high speed.

Starlight Grace boosted my combat power.

But no spell I cast would hurt Vestiger much.

Steal her breath for just a moment?

Possible.

My eyes flashed.

Thought became action.

My Dragon Heart pounded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wildly.

From my hand, 8th-tier magic Thunder Fall manifested.

Kwarurururururung!!!

Purple lightning bolt above Vestiger's head.

Kwajijijijijijit!!!!!

"Kuh."

No major damage.

But lightning's shock effect hit hard.

For a split second, her body slowed.

And.

For powerhouses at Azkai's level, that split second decided life or death.

Kwang!!

Azkai kicked off midair with Air Walk.

"Flame Burst Fang—!!"

Kwaaaaa!!!!!!!!!

Lava-charged claws raked Vestiger's body.

Lava energy exploded in the air.

"Kuh... aak...!"

Vestiger's death cry mixed in.

Swishhhh!

Kuuuuwung!

Her body, torn in three, crashed to the ground.

Kung!

Azkai landed before her.

"Cough. Damn... Lava... Great... Tiger..."

Dull, unfocused eyes.

Vestiger squeezed out dying words.

"Strange. I've never seen you before. How do you know me?"

"Kuh... heh... kuk. You... won't... remember... Back then... I was..."

Vestiger gasped, unable to continue.

Azkai waited silently.

"You... among the dragons'... countless... guardians... shone... brightest... one... You alone... shattering... the god's army... I can't... forget... that sight... Kuwehk, cough."

Hemorrhaging, her life force fading fast.

Suddenly, life flickered back in her dull eyes.

Last gasp phenomenon.

The final burst before death.

"Kuhuhuhu. So... this is... how it ends. Hollow... but. Lava Great Tiger. Dying... by your hand... an honor. One last... piece of advice... Beware... our king. Your fallen power... isn't enough... yet..."

"The king? Who's that?"

"Vermith... King... of all... insects..."

Thud.

That was it.

Her head lolled.

Vestiger, queen of the giant hornets, breathed her last.

"Hm..."

Vermith, king of insects.

I'd known the name Vermith for a while.

But her dying warning sparked caution.

He might still be too much for us.