chapter eighteen
Chapter 18: The Hive Queen's Wrath
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The air inside the copy grew heavier with each step Crow and his beasts took. The constant hum of wings was now deafening, a symphony of bee-like creatures that moved in synchrony, awaiting the command of their queen. Crow's eyes scanned the environment, the walls of the hive pulsing with a sickly, golden hue as if the entire structure was alive, breathing in unison with the creatures inside.
Crow clenched his fists. He could feel the presence of something much stronger deeper within the hive, a presence that made the air feel suffocating and thick. The Hive Queen was near, and he could feel her power, emanating like a dark, oppressive force that weighed heavily on his mind.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Boss Monster Detected: Hive Queen (Level 35, Legendary)
Warning: Hive Queen is an elite monster with swarm control and poison-based abilities.
Rewards: High-quality materials, Hive Queen's Blessing (unique skill), Mythical Beast Egg.
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"Looks like we've found her," Crow murmured under his breath. He glanced at his tamed beasts. They had proven their worth during the battle with the Hive Guards, but this would be different. The Hive Queen was on an entirely different level.
Hell Hound growled lowly, its fur bristling with anticipation. The White Tiger stood tall, eyes narrowed, ready to face the challenge ahead. The Vermilion Bird let out a sharp, high-pitched cry as flames flickered around its body. Eclipse Wolf remained poised, its eyes glowing with the promise of swift strikes. And Abyss Widow, though still a level 1 mythical, seemed more than ready, its spider-like legs twitching in excitement.
They had come this far, and Crow wasn't about to back down now. He raised his hand, signaling for them to move forward. The Abyss Widow led the charge, using its webs to block any oncoming swarms of bees that might attack from the flanks. The Vermilion Bird soared into the air, sending firestorms crashing down on the enemies. The Hell Hound and White Tiger charged headfirst, their claws and jaws ready to tear into whatever came their way.
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As they moved deeper, the walls of the hive opened into a vast chamber. At the center, perched on a throne of honeycomb, sat the Hive Queen. Her form was massive—an enormous, insectoid creature with dark, glistening wings that looked like stained glass. Her body was adorned with golden armor, and her eyes gleamed with intelligence and malice. Behind her, thousands of worker bees and drone bees buzzed in formation, their wings creating a deafening roar.
Crow's eyes narrowed, locking onto the Queen. Her power was undeniable, and as he took a step forward, he could already feel her poison-fueled aura washing over him.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Boss Monster: Hive Queen (Level 35, Legendary)
Abilities:
Swarm Call: Summons additional bees to overwhelm enemies.
Poisonous Sting: A deadly poison that saps strength and health.
Hive Blessing: Increases the power and speed of all nearby bees.
Queen's Wrath: Unleashes a devastating poison attack in a large radius.
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The Hive Queen let out a shrill screech, and instantly, the room filled with a thousand buzzing wings. Crow didn't hesitate. He immediately issued commands.
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"Hell Hound, charge the Queen! White Tiger, provide support!"
"Vermilion Bird, use Firestorm to clear the drones! Eclipse Wolf, go for the Queen's flank! Abyss Widow, use your webs to trap the drones!"
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The beasts moved with precision, working in tandem. Hell Hound charged forward, its Infernal Charge sending it crashing into a wall of bees, the flames scorching any that got too close. White Tiger followed, its Divine Roar sending a shockwave through the bees and pushing them back. Vermilion Bird soared high, dropping firestorms that burned the drones and cleared the area around the Queen. Eclipse Wolf moved like a shadow, darting toward the Queen's vulnerable side, its claws flashing with shadow-infused energy.
However, despite the onslaught, the Hive Queen was far from helpless. With a flick of her wings, she summoned a swarm of bees, her minions converging on the tamed beasts with terrifying speed.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Hive Queen's Ability: Swarm Call Activated
Hive Queen's Bees Incoming
Monster Alert: Bees are Level 10, Poisonous
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Crow gritted his teeth. The bees, though weaker than the Queen herself, were numerous and relentless. The Abyss Widow acted quickly, firing off a series of webs that pinned many of the bees in place, preventing them from overwhelming the team. The Eclipse Wolf and White Tiger were both dealing significant damage, but the Hive Queen's poison was beginning to take effect.
Crow could feel his beasts weakening, their movements sluggish as the poison began to seep into their systems. It was clear—the Hive Queen's poison wasn't just physical, it was soul-corrupting, a venom that could paralyze both body and spirit.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Beast Health Status:
Hell Hound: Poisoned, HP at 60%
White Tiger: Poisoned, HP at 50%
Vermilion Bird: Poisoned, HP at 30%
Eclipse Wolf: Poisoned, HP at 40%
Abyss Widow: Poisoned, HP at 70%
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Crow's eyes flashed with determination. He knew that if they didn't end this battle quickly, his beasts would be overwhelmed. The Hive Queen was not only an apex monster, but her ability to boost the strength of her swarm was unlike anything Crow had faced before. He had to act fast.
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"Everyone, focus on the Queen! This ends now!" Crow shouted.
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With that, he used the last of his Taming Space abilities to summon his last reserve, a dark shadow that loomed over the battlefield. It was time to end this.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Special Skill: Undead Army Summon Activated
Crow Summons: Shadow Horde – 100,000 Shadow Soldiers
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Shadow Horde flooded the battlefield, their bodies formed of pure darkness. They moved as one, crashing into the Hive Queen's swarm, cutting through the bees like a tidal wave. The Abyss Widow struck the Queen's legs, trapping her in webs, while Hell Hound, fueled by Crow's command, surged forward with a renewed strength, unleashing its Flame of the Underworld.
The Queen screeched in fury, but it was too late. The combined assault from Crow's beasts and the Shadow Horde overwhelmed her. The Hive Queen's wings fluttered one last time before she collapsed, defeated.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Boss Defeated: Hive Queen (Level 35, Legendary)
Rewards: Hive Queen's Blessing (Unique Skill)
Mythical Beast Egg (Divine Potential)
Experience Gained: 500,000 EXP
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Crow stood tall, watching as the final remnants of the Hive Queen's swarm faded into dust. His beasts, though poisoned and battered, had triumphed. Crow felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him.
His stats, along with his beasts', would rise from this battle, but more importantly, his beast taming abilities had grown immensely. There were still many more challenges ahead, but for now, he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction.
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[TO BE CONTINUED...]