Chapter seventeen
Chapter 17: The Bee's Nest – Unclaimed Copy
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Crow's footsteps echoed through the dense forest as he and his tamed beasts ventured deeper into unfamiliar territory. They had been searching for a new copy to explore, something that would offer more challenges and perhaps new beasts to tame. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers and earthy undertones. It was quiet, too quiet, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Crow furrowed his brow, sensing something off about this place. His senses, honed by countless encounters, told him that something significant was near. As he walked deeper into the forest, the familiar glow of the taming space on his system interface flickered in his vision.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Unclaimed Copy Detected: The Hive's Core
Rank: Low A
Monsters: Bee-related Creatures (Level 15)
Rewards: Unknown
Objective: Clear the copy or claim it as your own.
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The system's notification lingered in the air before disappearing. Crow's eyes narrowed with interest. A Low A Rank copy, filled with bee-themed monsters, was rare—and dangerous. Bees, even in their natural form, were relentless and cunning, but these monsters were likely something far more powerful. Crow turned to his beasts.
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"Ready, everyone?" Crow asked, glancing at his tamed creatures.
The Hell Hound, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Eclipse Wolf, and the newly summoned Abyss Widow all stood in formation around him. Each one emanated its own aura of power and readiness.
Hell Hound's fiery gaze was unwavering, its claws dug into the ground in anticipation.
White Tiger, calm and poised, flicked its tail. Its regal presence was unshakable, as always.
Vermilion Bird perched atop Crow's shoulder, eyes glowing as it surveyed their surroundings.
Eclipse Wolf prowled with quiet grace, its ears flicking at the sounds of the forest.
And finally, the Abyss Widow, its dark form barely visible in the shadows, seemed almost out of place, but it too was ready for battle.
Crow felt the chill of anticipation in the air as he moved forward, the copy entrance materializing before them. The ground beneath him was unusually soft, and the buzz of distant wings reached his ears. He felt it—the unmistakable hum of an insect swarm, growing louder as they neared the entrance.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Entering Unclaimed Copy: The Hive's Core
Beware: High Concentration of Bee-like Monsters
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The massive entrance to the copy was nestled between two large trees, their trunks gnarled and twisted. As Crow stepped inside, the buzz of the bees grew louder, more frantic. His eyes adjusted to the dim light, and the sight that greeted him was unsettling. A series of honeycombed walls filled the cavernous space. In the distance, dozens of bees the size of large dogs hovered, their wings creating a high-pitched hum. The air itself felt thick, almost sticky, as if something was slowly weighing down on them.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Monster Detected: Swarm of Hive Guards (Level 15)
Hive Queen Located: High-Level Boss Monster
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Crow's eyes flashed with determination. These were not just ordinary bees. These were Hive Guards, elite protectors of the hive, and they were guarding something much more dangerous—the Hive Queen. Crow's grip tightened around his taming device, and he signaled to his beasts.
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"Let's go," Crow commanded.
The battle began immediately. The Hell Hound charged forward, its claws raking across the ground as it advanced at incredible speed, flames flickering from its body. The White Tiger followed closely, leaping high into the air and using its Divine Roar to send a shockwave through the approaching swarm. Several bees were thrown back, stunned by the force.
Vermilion Bird took to the skies, summoning Firestorms that rained down upon the masses of bees. It let out a shrill cry as flames consumed its enemies. The Eclipse Wolf dashed between the enemies with lightning-fast strikes, each swipe of its claws leaving a trail of shadow-infused energy that cut down bees in a flash.
Finally, the Abyss Widow sprang into action. It scuttled forward with incredible speed, spinning webs that caught several bees in its grasp, pinning them to the walls. The webs glowed with an otherworldly dark energy as the bees struggled to break free, only to find themselves immobilized.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Monster Defeated: Hive Guard (Level 15)
Experience Gained: 200,000 EXP
Beast Stat Enhancement: Active
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Crow observed the battlefield. His beasts were effective in dealing with the Hive Guards, their teamwork and raw power cutting through the enemies with ease. However, the buzzing from deeper within the copy did not cease. The Hive Queen was still somewhere inside, likely much stronger than the guards they had already faced.
Crow's mind raced. This was a Low A Rank copy, but the sheer number of enemies and their coordination made it a challenging environment. And the Hive Queen... her power would be far greater than anything he had faced so far.
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"Keep moving forward!" Crow shouted to his beasts, charging ahead.
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Crow's Current Stats
Level: 7
HP: 12,000
Attack: 9,000
Defense: 6,500
Speed: 10,000
Taming Slots: 1,000
Beast Stat Enhancement: Active
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Crow's Tamed Beasts
1. Hell Hound (Level 10, Divine)
HP: 40,000
Attack: 20,000
Defense: 10,000
Speed: 25,000
Abilities:
Flame of the Underworld
Infernal Charge
2. White Tiger (Level 6, Divine)
HP: 20,000
Attack: 10,000
Defense: 5,000
Speed: 8,000
Abilities:
Divine Roar
Divine Strike
3. Vermilion Bird (Level 1, Divine)
HP: 10,000
Attack: 5,000
Defense: 3,000
Speed: 5,000
Abilities:
Flame of Rebirth
Firestorm
Divine Flight
4. Eclipse Wolf (Level 1, Divine)
HP: 5,000
Attack: 5,000
Defense: 3,500
Speed: 6,000
Abilities:
Shadow Strike
Lunar Howl
5. Abyss Widow (Level 1, Mythical)
HP: 2,000
Attack: 3,000
Defense: 1,500
Speed: 4,000
Abilities:
Web of the Abyss
Abyssal Charge
Nightmare's Embrace
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The battlefield was alive with chaos as Crow and his tamed beasts pushed forward, each one fulfilling its role with precision. The Hive Queen was their next target, and the rewards for clearing this Low A Rank copy would be immense.
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"Let's finish this," Crow muttered, determination blazing in his eyes.
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[TO BE CONTINUED...]
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