Chapter 19: The Queen Bee's Gift
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After the Hive Queen's defeat, the atmosphere in the once-dreaded hive began to shift. The swarm was no more, and the oppressive aura that had plagued the air for so long had dissipated. Crow stood over the fallen queen, his mind racing with the rewards of the battle. His beasts were battered, but they had fought valiantly.
"Great job, everyone," Crow said, his voice a mix of pride and exhaustion. "Rest up. I'll tend to you in a moment."
Crow turned away from his beasts, taking a few moments to survey the hive. The walls were cracked, honeycomb structures broken from the intensity of the battle. It was quiet now, save for the occasional buzzing of the last few surviving drones, which quickly retreated into the shadows.
As Crow moved deeper into the hive, something caught his eye. Among the debris and broken honeycomb, nestled in a protected corner, was a glowing egg—unlike any he had seen before.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Mystical Egg Detected: Queen Bee Egg (Mythical Quality)
Egg's Potential: Mythical, capable of producing a Queen Bee with powerful swarm abilities and heightened control over bees.
Warning: High energy levels. Egg will hatch soon.
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Crow crouched beside the egg, his eyes wide with awe. The glow it emitted was soft but radiant, pulsing in rhythm with the heartbeat of the hive. It was clear that this egg was something extraordinary. A Mythical-quality egg was an incredibly rare find, especially one so powerful.
As he reached out to touch it, the egg seemed to hum with energy. He could feel the immense potential locked inside, almost as if it was alive, waiting for something to trigger its birth.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Egg Name: Queen Bee (Mythical Quality)
Egg Ability: Upon hatching, the Queen Bee will possess the ability to create and command swarms of bees with even greater power than the previous Hive Queen. It will have enhanced control over the hive and will be able to command its subjects without the need for a direct connection. It will have poison-based abilities, as well as healing properties for its swarm.
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Crow couldn't help but smile. This egg was the perfect addition to his growing army of beasts. The fact that it had Mythical potential made it even more valuable. He placed the egg gently in his Taming Space, intending to let it incubate for a while before it hatched.
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"Another powerful beast to add to the family," Crow muttered, standing up and glancing at the rest of his team. They had been through so much already, but they still had a long way to go.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Taming Space: Queen Bee Egg added to inventory.
Egg Timer: 72 hours until hatching.
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With the egg safely stored, Crow turned back to the Hive Queen's throne room. His beasts were resting, slowly recovering from the poison they had endured during the battle. Hell Hound was already licking its wounds, White Tiger was lying down, eyes closed in a rare moment of peace, and Vermilion Bird was perched on a nearby rock, its fiery wings slowly dimming.
Abyss Widow, despite its still-low level, stood alert, watching the surroundings, its eyes gleaming with intelligence. Crow couldn't help but marvel at how far his beasts had come, especially with the help of his unique Taming Space and the abilities he had unlocked.
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"I'll have to make sure to give you all a proper rest," Crow said, his gaze softening as he addressed his team. "But you all did amazing. Now, let's head back to the base."
As Crow turned to leave the hive, a sense of unease settled in the pit of his stomach. There was something about this hive that felt… unfinished. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed as if there was something more powerful hiding just beneath the surface—perhaps another force waiting to emerge. The Hive Queen had been strong, but Crow had a feeling her reign wasn't the end of the story.
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Crow shook off the thought. For now, he had the Queen Bee Egg to focus on, a new beast to nurture. There would be time to deal with the future threats later. His team was strong now, but they would only continue to grow stronger.
With that, Crow made his way back to the exit of the hive, the Queen Bee Egg resting safely in his Taming Space, ready to hatch soon.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Mission Completed: Hive Queen Defeated.
New Item Acquired: Queen Bee Egg (Mythical Quality).
New Beast Detected: Queen Bee (In Progress).
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The next few days would be crucial. Crow had to prepare for what was to come—whether it was his growing collection of beasts or any unforeseen threats that might rise up. But for now, he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. He had earned this victory.
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[TO BE CONTINUED...]
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