Chapter 118: Bee Queen
The Hive Devourer staggered back, screeching in rage, its swarm collapsing under the coordinated assault.
The tide had turned.
The battle raged on, but something had changed. The third wave wasn’t just a challenge anymore; it was a crucible. Under Ling Yu’s command, her team was no longer a loose collection of survivors. They were becoming something else entirely: a unit, a blade, a rising legend.
And as the corpses piled high and the night echoed with the sounds of monsters dying, Ling Yu felt the system whisper in her ear—
[System Update]
[Title Effect Strengthening.]
[Host Progress: 65% toward Permanent Sovereign Authority.
Passive Hint: The third wave is merely the opening act. Survive... and the Fourth will bring revelation.]
Ling Yu’s bloodied lips curved into a grin. She tightened her grip on her dagger, eyes gleaming like a devil’s.
The battlefield, already painted with ichor and smoking corpses, fell silent when the Gate tore open wider than before. A surge of energy crackled, and a shadow loomed from within.
[System Notification]
[Warning! High-Grade Monster Approaching!]
[Entity: Queen Vespara – Hive Matriarch
Class: Fourth-Grade Monarch
Subclass: [Swarmlord]
Authority: Hive Mother
HP: ???]
A sickeningly beautiful monstrosity emerged. Towering over thirty meters, her body was a grotesque mix of humanoid curves and insectile carapace. Her wings shimmered with a rainbow sheen, and her antennae twitched elegantly like a noblewoman’s fan. Black and gold stripes glistened on her abdomen, while her multiple eyes focused unerringly on—
Ling Yu.
[System Alert]
[Title Effect: Drakkon – Dragon Slayer (S) activated!]
[Passive Effect: Increases the hostility of high-grade monsters.]
Ling Yu felt the aura crash into her like a tidal wave. She tightened her grip on her halberd, preparing for a blood-soaked duel.
But then... the Queen tilted her massive head. Antennae curled. Mandibles clicked. Her compound eyes narrowed in a way that could only be described as... sultry.
The Bee Queen... winked.
"..." Ling Yu froze.
"...Huh?" Xian Yu blinked from behind her, rubbing his eyes.
Even Fluffy stopped mid-bite on a swarmling carcass, tilting its bloody little head with a confused squeak.
The Bee Queen’s wings gave a slow, luxurious flutter, releasing a wave of glittering pheromones. Her voice, oddly feminine and husky, buzzed directly into Ling Yu’s mind:
[Telepathic Whisper]
"Mmm... what a fine warrior. Muscles taut, eyes sharp, aura intoxicating... delicious. Come, human. Become my mate."
"...WHAT?!" Ling Yu’s entire body stiffened, halberd nearly slipping from her grasp.
The Bee Queen leaned closer, her antennae wiggling in what was unmistakably a flirtatious gesture. She even licked her mandibles slowly, as if savoring a meal.
The entire battlefield went dead silent.
Divine Channel Explodes
[Ares laughs at the Streamer sarcastically.]
[HAHAHA! The bug’s trying to date her instead of fight! This is gold!]
[Aphrodite shows interest in the Stremer.]
[Oho~! Even monsters recognize beauty when they see it. Little heartbreaker~ accept it, accept it.]
[Athena looks at the Streamer with curiosity.]
[...Unacceptable. Kill it immediately. This is an affront to battle etiquette!]
[Unknown Cosmic Deity glares at the monster.]
[There is no way I’ll accept it! Kill that hideous thing right now!]
Ling Yu almost choked on her own spit.
"Wait— what?" She pointed her halberd at the Queen, eyes twitching violently.
’Did this thing just... flirt with me?!’
The Bee Queen buzzed happily, lowering her head to Ling Yu’s height. Her multiple eyes sparkled like a girl confessing love behind the school gym.
[Telepathic Whisper]
"Why fight when we can... merge? You, the strongest. I, the matriarch. Together, we will create a hive of unmatched power. I shall pamper you, adorn you with honeyed silk... and you shall never want again."
"..." Ling Yu’s brain blue-screened.
"...Did the boss just hit on her??" one of the scavengers whispered, trembling.
"Shut up!" another hissed. "Don’t say it out loud, you’ll make it real!"
Ling Yu finally processed it, and her face contorted in pure, undiluted disgust.
"You perverted cockroach. You think I’d— ME— ME?! With YOU?! Don’t make me vomit!"
The Bee Queen gasped dramatically, placing one clawed hand on her chest as though Ling Yu had broken her heart. Then she chuckled darkly, mandibles clicking in a suggestive rhythm.
[Telepathic Whisper]
"So feisty. So cold. Mmm... I like that. Struggle more, little warrior. The harder you resist, the sweeter the conquest."
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SCRIPT?!" Ling Yu roared at the skies, veins bulging on her forehead.
"Pffft—" Xian Yu clamped a hand over his mouth, shoulders shaking. His healer staff trembled in his grip as he tried not to burst out laughing.
Fluffy, unbothered, pawed at Ling Yu’s leg and squeaked,
"...I will punt you into the sun, Fluffy," Ling Yu muttered, twitching.
Instead of attacking, the Bee Queen circled her, wings beating slowly. Each beat sent shimmering waves of pheromone-laced air brushing Ling Yu’s skin. Her aura pressed down like a velvet weight, trying to enthrall.
[System Warning]
[Status Effect Attempted: Hive Charm]
Resist Check...
Ling Yu resists with [Iron Will].
Ling Yu spat on the ground. "Tch. You think that works on me? Disgusting. If you even flutter those wings at me again, I’ll cut them off and turn you into an overgrown fly."
The Bee Queen shivered. Not in fear, oh no. In delight.
[Telepathic Whisper]
"Yes... threaten me more."
Ling Yu: "...I’M GOING TO KILL MYSELF."
The scavenger thugs, who had earlier threatened Ling Yu, were now all pale as ghosts.
"...Is this... is this what she attracts?!" one whispered.
"She’s too strong, even the monsters want her instead of eating her!" another whimpered.
"This isn’t fair. Not FAIR!"
[Ares is holding back his laugghter.]
[I’M CRYING—! THE BUG’S KINKY FOR HER VIOLENCE!]
[Aphrodite wants to convince the Streamer.]
[Little Stremaer, darling, you should be flattered. Monarch-class monsters don’t just propose to anyone~.]
Athena glares at Aphrodite.]
[This is blasphemous. Slay it immediately.]
[Ascelpeous claps his hands together.]
[No, no, slay it later. Let her courtship fail first, I need the punchline.]
"You listen here, you overgrown wasp," she snarled, bloodlust flooding the air.