Chapter 97: 97: Fragile Bonds

The deep, dark chasm took on a hollow feeling that reeked of loss. 

The shredded corpse of the Queen lay at a distance and the wasps who bore many scars from battle looked almost lost. After being controlled for so long, I wasn't surprised that they knew very little of what to do. 

I expected them to get enraged - after all, she had brainwashed them to loyalty over their true queen through nefarious means, but there was none of that.

They began to fritter away, reducing in number until only a few remained. Then again, I didn't expect any of them to be as smart as the scary wasp who had never been fooled.

With the wasps scattering away in confusion, I quietly made my way over to the body of the Queen.

On closer inspection, the state of her corpse was appalling. Her limbs were twisted beyond recognition and there was an outpouring of purple blood that struck me with an urgent fear. 

Could I really survive here, if I wasn't capable of the acts of brutality needed to ensure I live? 

I could see why Sensei was so concerned.

I didn't want to think about it, so I appraised her corpse out of curiosity to see what I could learn. 

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LV42 Hestehoria 

Specie: Dyrsyn Vespoidea

HP: 0/600 Defence: 431

MP: 0/280 Intellect: 106

SP: 0/476 Magic: 220

Attack: 459 Agility: 265

Skills:

[Earth Shard: LV8][Debilitating Poison: LV6]

[Herculean Strength: LV4][Razor Claw: LV7] 

[Paralysis Venom: LV9] [Bleed Toxin: LV5]

[Rapid MP Regeneration: LV6] [Swarm: LV7]

[SP Recovery: LV8] [HP Recovery: LV9]

[Sting: LV10] [Deadly Stinger: LV10] 

[Ultraviolet Vision: LV8] [Pain Toxin: LV10] 

[Grip: LV10] [Directional Stability: LV7]

[Flight: LV:10] [Accelerated Flight: LV10]

[Aerial Manoeuvring: LV10][Claw: LV10] 

[Leadership: LV10] [Cooperation: LV10] 

[Oviposition: LV10] [Marionette: LV9]

[Exoskeleton: LV10] [Chitin Armour: LV9] 

[Pheromonal Telepathy: LV5]

[Bite: LV10] [Crushing Bite: LV8]

[Scent: LV10] [Perception: LV3] 

[Lift: LV10] [MP Recovery: LV10]

[Compound Eyes: LV10] 

Title:

[Hive Queen] [Usurper] [Puppeteer]

Magic Skills:

[Earth Magic: LV6] 

[Earth Manipulation: LV5] 

Resistances:

[Poison Resistance: LV4]

[Piercing Resistance: LV7]

[Wind Resistance: LV7]

[Fear Resistance: LV10]

[Pain Resistance: LV7]

[Mental Warfare: LV10]

[Pain Negation: LV3]

[Impact Resistance: LV7] 

[Paralysis Resistance: LV8]

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There seemed to be a noticeable pattern of advancement between skills, depending on how many evolutions a creature had gone through. For this Queen I could guess she had gone through two. 

Unfortunately even if I wanted to eat her, it was a shame she did not possess any of the skills I desired - especially the [Wind Blade]. Her skillset was completely different from the first queen and the scary wasp in that regard. 

Also, since I didn't kill her myself, I was unsure if [Devour] would work on her anyway. 

But she did possess exceptional mental manipulation skills which might come in handy later, so I tested my luck and tried eating a sizable chunk of her mangled flesh, however no alert came.

It seemed even though I had levelled up from the kill, it was not the same.

Why did I level up anyway? 

I remembered Sensei saying I could only gain XP from kills. Surely I must have gained something if I levelled up, yet no change was reflected in the XP points of my stats menu. It was still at [635]. Something was definitely fishy about this.

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Sensei never fully explained in detail how I earned XP, only that I was better off fighting solo. I was still unsure about the matter, so I decided to question him in detail about it later. 

For now, I collected a sizable portion of the Queen into [Dimensional Box] to add to all the wasps I'd collected prior. Even if I couldn't gain anything from her, she was still a quality specimen that would help my nestlings improve.

I didn't take it all. The scary wasp probably had some grisly plans for her corpse, and I did not wish to aggravate him further by stealing her body, but I did make sure to collect her core. He likely had no idea what it was, and I needed every advantage I could get if I was going to survive here. 

I returned to the top of the hive where most of the wasps had already fled, and of those that remained - they all looked terrible, the living, scored with injuries not much different from the dead. 

In the state of confusion, the wasps lacked all vigilance and did not pay any attention. I wondered if there was any point to using [Shadow Shroud] to move around. 

I was curious about their behaviour, so I asked Sensei.

"What normally happens when a queen dies?" 

«Some aggressive behaviour is expected, and a few murderous rampaging swarms, nothing too serious.» 

"Wait what?" 

«A collective typically can't function without a leader. At the time, the first queen was defeated, another was there to take her place. But not so much now, so...» 

"Don't say things like that so casually!" 

I thought back to all the wasps that had fled earlier, rather than submit, and my anxiety increased. What if they were all outside raising hell? 

I couldn't let that happen. There had to be a way to stop it before it was too late. 

There was only one wasp left capable of reining them all in and I wondered if he would entertain me once more.

Perhaps it was selfish to make him clean up the mess I'd made. Knowing his character, he had no intention of leading the wasps, let alone keeping them alive - he might even have left already, but I had to make sure.

I arrived in his lair but there was no presence there. That left the hidden queen's chamber, which I was hesitant to enter. It felt like a criminal returning to the scene of a crime, but there was nothing else I could do. 

As laughable as it sounded, he seemed like a wasp of honour and I trusted that he would not harm me. At least as long as he didn't know I was the one who killed his queen.

I shuddered at the thought of the Queen's corpse. Nevermind, he should never be aware of that dark secret now that everyone who knew was dead.

I shook off my thoughts and entered. Inside I spotted him beneath the oval window. Among the wreckage and scattered corpses of the queen's chamber, he looked positively tranquil - aside from the bloody injuries across his body that told a different story. 

Defeated, and in anguish, he stood among the corpses in silence. It would have been a great time to attack him, but I'm sure he'd grown more powerful since killing the queen.

I watched him mourn from afar. Sensei had said creatures did not feel any emotion, but how could I believe it after seeing this?

I thought the scary wasp would abandon his queen after seeing everything she had done, yet he was saddened by her death? I was filled with disappointment at myself. Why did I expect more from a demented creature who killed without hesitation?

«You seem surprised.» Sensei mockingly said. «Did you really think he would follow you simply because his Queen died. Do you think relationships are so trivial?» 

I felt my body get heated. How could he have seen through my intentions so blatantly. I wanted to die of embarrassment.

"Should an emotionless system be saying such sappy things." I shot back. "I don't understand him. Why would he linger here over a dead corpse?"

"There's no such thing as true loyalty. Benefit is what truly drives people." I paused. "Yes, I know he's not a person, but he has to have gained something from staying with her."

I was truly confused at the wasp's actions that made no sense at all. Had I miscalculated by overestimating him? 

«Aurelia…» Sensei snickered. 

"People betray each other over the simplest things. Do you expect me to believe a cold, unfeeling insect has better principles than a human being?"

«I didn't know cute girls could speak such scary words.»

Th-this idiot! Didn't he know what was at stake. 

"If you can't be serious, don't say anything at all!" 

«Have you always been this shallow of a girl? Diminishing a bond because you can't control it is pure folly.» 

"Shallow?" I was annoyed.

«You need to have more faith in others. Not everything is a transaction and not everyone is going to disappoint you. Case in point.» 

I wished he would be quiet.

I looked at the scary wasp and wondered if I could kill him. With my current abilities it wasn't possible and I didn't want to take any unnecessary risks. 

The level difference between us was just too high and he wasn't injured like his Queen was. I would have to return when I'd gotten stronger than him. 

I appraised him to grab his attention.

-----------------------------

LV37 Horothia 

Specie: Ailith Vespoidea

HP: 270/580 Defence: 405

MP: 310/320 Intellect: 169

SP: 494/504 Magic: 225

Attack: 460 Agility: 646

Skills:

[?????: LV:??] [???????: LV:?]

-----------------------------

If he had a vague sense that I was there before, now he had proof. 

I heard the scary wasp's harsh gravelly voice in my head. 

[No need to hide. I know you're there.]

Heh?

Before I could think, he turned away from the window, staring directly at my figure in the dark like he was gesturing for me to come. I wanted to remain far away, but his eyes kept glaring at me and I felt pressured to move.

I moved closer, without any fear until I was next to him.

I felt uneasy. What did he want to say that he couldn't say from far away?

Suddenly I felt a breeze and when I looked up there was an outstretched claw reaching out for my head. I panicked immediately and leapt back to dodge, but I was caught in a vice-like grip. 

[Did you really think I wouldn't know what you did.]

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