The Bee Dungeon

Chapter 212: Don't Bee-veal Your Bee-sires!

Once the celebrations concluded, Belissar gathered his council. He told them of Hesfalle’s recommendations and the incoming rabbits. Chief Rohsuak and Metsaitti appeared quite excited about the rabbits.

“We also have enough DP for another shop purchase. Is there anything the Tower urgently needs?”

The karnuq shook their heads while the bees danced the negative, so Belissar continued.

“In that case, let’s buy another monster choice. Hesfalle recommended carnivorous bees to help with the Death room, so hopefully we can get some of those.”

The bees all saluted at that, so Belissar pressed forward. Tarwantrad’s expression waved for a moment, but Belissar was already navigating the DP shop and so didn’t notice.

Extra monster choice purchased. One monster choice now available.

Please select a monster:

- Monster Bee Captain (Rarity: Uncommon, Type: Bee)

- Monster Mason Bee (Rarity: Common, Type: Bee, Ground)

Belissar’s expression gradually fell as he read the choices. All repeats…and not a carnivorous bee in sight. He heaved a sigh.

“Guess we’re not getting it this time.”

Tarwantrad sighed herself and shook her head.

“It’s just a superstition but…if I happen to really want an option it never seems to appear. Especially if I saw it earlier and didn’t pick it…”

Belissar thought for a moment before nodding along. He recalled how many times he saw Dirt Tunnels and Digger Bees…until he needed them.

He shook his head. Like it or not, no carnivorous bees were on the table today and any new bees were helpful, so he proceeded to read the choices. They were all repeats, but he hadn’t seen them for a bit while several people present never heard them at all, so he went over them in depth.

Monster Bee Captain

Vitality: Minimal

Strength: Minor

Speed: Average

Magic: Minor

Defense: Minor

Resistance: Minimal

Special: Minor

Notable Skills: Poison Sting, Death Blow, Brood Offspring, Brood Commander

Evolves From: Monster Bee Soldier

Description: A monster bee soldier specialized in command. More intelligent than normal and able to command and buff squads of soldier bees. Not much stronger than a normal soldier, but a key part in improving the sophistication and coordination of the hive. In addition to existing monster bee soldiers evolving, a few monster bee soldiers may be born as captains.

Belissar rubbed his chin. Previously, he had declined monster bee captains because commanding and boosting the soldier bees seemed less impactful than acquiring new options. But now…the Tower had just received a bunch of new options from reward choices, Circle master boons, and the bees’ own efforts, and would receive even more in the near future. Not to mention Tarwantrad’s advice on support options hung fresh in his mind. Now might be an excellent time to pick up captains and see how they impacted the hives…

Monster Mason Bee

Vitality: Minimal+

Strength: Minimal+

Speed: Average

Magic: Minimal

Defense: Minimal

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Resistance: MinimalNôv(el)B\\jnn

Special: Minimal

Notable Skills: Poison Sting, Mud Pack

Spawner Upkeep: 1

Description: A mason bee that has accumulated enough Ground mana to become something more. Capable of forming mud and other chewable materials into basic structures.

Belissar crossed his arms and hummed. Monster mason bees also had more to recommend them this time. He had acquired clay and could now use water stones and ponds to turn dirt into mud, so the mason bees would have plenty of material to work with. From the name he wondered if they could work with stone, which he also now had access to, though the description mentioned they had to be able to chew the materials. Even if not, with the Third of the Third organizing her hive, digging monster bees, bumblebees, and carpenter bees into a construction team, mason bees might prove useful to her. Plus, the existence of lumber bees that evolved from carpenters might imply that mason bees would also have an evolution.

And, as with the captains, now would be an excellent time to acquire a new kind of bee that wouldn’t directly contribute to the army.

Monster Bee Burster

Vitality: Minimal

Strength: Minimal

Speed: Average

Magic: Minor

Defense: Minimal

Resistance: Minimal

Special: Below Average

Notable Skills: Death Burst, Brood Offspring

Evolves From: Monster Bee Soldier, Monster Bee Sprayer

Description: This monster bee sprayer variant’s venom has grown so caustic and volatile that it cannot be contained. The monster bee burster holds its venom ingredients in separate glands, only to be mixed at the moment of attack. Once it does so, it soon explodes, subjecting its surroundings to a powerful blast that showers the area in toxins.

Belissar’s face still cramped reading this one. Resolutions to accept necessary casualties or not, he still really didn’t like this option. Even berserkers didn’t necessarily have to die to fight, they were at their most powerful when they did but they could hypothetically contribute to a battle as just a more powerful soldier. Bursters, on the other hand, didn’t even have any other attack skills besides Death Burst.

Well, it was the only direct combat option this time…right after he had selected a direct combat option. Belissar all but ruled that one out but he wanted to get his bees’ honest opinions on the choices, so he held his tongue for now.

“What do you all think?”

The Firstborn danced for the battle meadow queens, save the Third of the Third.

“Captains help coordinate, help with bigger army.”

The Third of the Third, meanwhile, danced as he expected.

“Masons build things? Use mud to build?”

Belissar nodded at her. He then tried to keep his expression neutral as he asked the necessary question.

“And bursters?”

The Third of the Third turned to the Firstborn, who danced for them both.

“Evolve bee for one attack. Could, but expensive. Hard to train.”

Belissar wanted to sigh in relief but held it in. If the bees didn’t care for the option, he could rule it out without any guilt or hesitation.

The Third of the Sixth agreed with the Firstborn’s assessment, while the First of the Fifth pointed out that captains might help them organize honey deliveries since soldiers were responsible for that task. The Orchard bees didn’t have much opinion besides the Fourth of the Seventh zipping around and calling all the options amazing.

The karnuq likewise weren’t particularly opinionated on this choice, which left Tarwantrad. Tarwantrad gave him a wink.

“I’d recommend holding off on mason bees for now. Otherwise…”

Her face turned complicated.

“I do actually make use of flowers similar to bursters so I can vouch for their effectiveness but…with bees…I can plant some of those in the nursery if that would help?”

Belissar smiled.

“It would, actually.”

Chief Rohsuak interjected as well.

“Juosiutik is also working on her firepots as an additional alternative, Tower Keeper.”

Belissar’s smile grew.

“Good, then safe to say we rule out that one?”

Tarwantrad and Chief Rohsuak nodded while the bees danced a salute. At that point, Belissar had made his decision. Between the bees’ own preferences and his recent conversations with Tarwantrad, it wasn’t difficult to pick.

“Let’s go with captains, then? Sounds like they’re a good choice to help out what we already have.”

Monster Bee Captains are now available. Monster Soldier Bees may now evolve into Monster Bee Captains. Some Monster Bee Soldiers will now spawn as Monster Bee Captains.

The bees erupted into their usual flurry of “Amazing, incredible!” and “King best king!” dances…drawing Tarwantrad into the celebration as well. Belissar and the karnuq laughed and smiled along.

When they all had calmed down, they discussed some future plans. Since they hadn’t gotten a carnivorous bee this time, Belissar decided to hold off on setting up the Death room just yet, since he wanted the bees there to start acclimating from the very beginning. Additionally, his DP income from the karnuq meant it would only take a few days for another choice.

Tarwantrad quietly lost focus for a bit when she heard that.

But the discussions went on even without her. Belissar decided to wait on upgrades and save his DP for monster choices until he got a suitable bee. His batch of mead for the gods was nearly done as well, so maybe the God of Bees would give him another rare monster choice. The karnuq and Tarwantrad’s eyes lit up when they heard Belissar was making mead.

With evening turning to night and the immediate course of action decided, the group called it there and dispersed.

First thing the next morning, Belissar checked on the mead jars. He took a sip out of one of the mana honey jars…and smiled.

It was ready. More than ready, even without any variation in the recipe, it was the best mead he had ever tasted. Even a sip filled his body with warmth thanks to the mana concentrated within it.

He checked the others as well. The healing herb mead was a tad bitter but had a refreshing aftertaste. The maddening mead was tart…though Belissar wasn’t sure as he washed it down with antidote honey. He knew it was safe for him to eat maddening honey…but he didn’t want to get too intoxicated at the very start of the day.

The same went for sedating, it’s taste more subdued in the first place. The mead from the digging bees’ honey, on the other hand, had an earthy taste and felt heavy in his stomach.

And then, finally, Belissar checked on the burning honey mead…

He frowned. The jar was still filled with diluted honey.