Chapter 55: The Azure-Winged Bee

When Rowland finally managed to cover himself entirely with the Sacred Undead Armor, he let out a sigh of relief. Yet, his back and arms throbbed with a burning pain; he realized that when he had first noticed the giant bees and turned to flee, it was already too late. These airborne creatures moved with a speed far beyond his expectations. The moment he spun around, several giant bees had already darted in, stinging him repeatedly on his back and arms. The pain was so sharp he nearly shed tears. Hastily, he recited the incantation to summon the Sacred Undead Armor, only then did he feel somewhat safe. Rowland couldn’t help but smile bitterly—if only he were a third-level warrior, the agonizing pain of those stings might never have found him.

Although he possessed both the Sacred Undead Armor and Lightning Speed to make up for his shortcomings, these spells required casting, each with its own delay. It was precisely during this delay that the giant bees seized their opportunity. If he were a warrior, his speed and defense would be formidable, and even if he couldn’t withstand the bees’ sting, he could at least evade them swiftly. In this moment, he couldn’t help but envy the warriors.

Beside him, the donkey was also enveloped in a shimmering, multicolored shield, fending off the bees’ attacks. It watched the grotesque creatures with palpable fear.

“Hm, interesting—these are third-level magical beasts, the Azure-Winged Bee. Such small flying magical beasts are a rare sight!” Cous, his translucent form floating in the air, surveyed the swarm and spoke.

“No wonder those stings hurt so much—they’re third-level magical beasts!” Rowland muttered as he carefully treated the swollen welts on his body with fire healing magic, sighing at his own misfortune.

As Rowland and his donkey faced off against the swarm of Azure-Winged Bees, a heart-stopping buzzing sound suddenly pierced the air. Rowland turned, and the sight nearly scared him out of his wits. Without hesitation, he activated Lightning Speed and fled toward the distance with all his might!

Not far from the cave entrance of the Mighty Bear, there stood a massive hive, nearly as tall as a man. Suddenly, nearly a thousand Azure-Winged Bees surged out from within!

A thousand third-level magical beasts—Azure-Winged Bees. Rowland, merely a third-level mage, knew that even a fifth-level mage would balk at facing such an overwhelming force head-on.

Though Lightning Speed was swift, it paled in comparison to these airborne creatures. In no time, Rowland was surrounded by two or three hundred bees, their stingers relentlessly striking at his Sacred Undead Armor. The white glow of the armor flickered erratically—a sign of impending collapse.

Cold sweat drenched Rowland. If the bees broke through his armor, his fate would be grim indeed. He unleashed lightning bolts and fireballs in a frenzy, striking down dozens of bees, but even more swarmed in. Desperate, Rowland summoned every corpse wolf and his skeletal companion, Brian, to shield him from the relentless assault.

Although the pressure eased somewhat, the sheer number of bees was overwhelming. Summoning the undead drained his mental and magical energy, and if this continued, he would soon be depleted, with dire consequences.

On the donkey’s side, things were hardly better; its multicolored shield flickered under the relentless bombardment.

“Uncle Cous, hurry and think of something! I can barely hold on!” Rowland cried out as he fought off the bees, pleading for help.

Floating in the air, Cous was equally anxious, but as a mere soul, he could do nothing to fend off the bees. His gaze swept the surroundings, and when it landed on the massive hive, his eyes lit up. He shouted urgently, “Rowland, quick, have your skeleton carry that hive away!”

Upon hearing Cous’s telepathic message, Rowland acted without hesitation, commanding his skeleton.

Brian, an undead skeleton, was naturally unafraid of the bees’ attacks. Leisurely swatting away bees, it had already slain dozens with its bony hands. Finding this amusing, it was about to continue its game when Rowland’s command arrived. Without delay, it stretched its long skeletal legs and sprinted toward the hive.

Arriving before the giant hive, Brian glanced around slyly, as if about to commit mischief. Suddenly, it extended its long bone arms, wrapped them around the hive, and with all its might, tore it from the mountainside with a resounding crack. Clutching the massive hive, it turned and ran.

A low, resonant hum suddenly emanated from the hive, spreading rapidly in all directions. As the wave reached the thousand-strong swarm surrounding Rowland and the donkey, the bees simultaneously abandoned their prey, turning to chase after Brian—and more precisely, the hive in its grasp.

Watching the terrifying swarm recede, Rowland finally exhaled in relief. His Sacred Undead Armor, bone-white and battered, was on the verge of collapse. Had Cous not come up with the idea to have the skeleton carry off the hive and lure the bees away, today would have spelled disaster.

Rowland quickly dispelled the tattered armor and conjured a new set, wary of any stray bees that might still attack him—a risk he could not afford.

Calming himself, Rowland did not immediately approach the cave entrance. Instead, he surveyed the ground, where nearly a hundred Azure-Winged Bees lay dead, slain by himself, the donkey, and his undead minions. He recited a necromantic incantation, but only a dozen or so bee corpses rose at his command.

Rowland slapped his forehead in frustration, muttering, “I forgot—necromancers can only control a limited number of undead. I already have over thirty wind wolves under my command, and now, with these dozen bees, I’ve reached my limit. No more can be summoned.”

With this realization, Rowland abandoned further summoning. With a wave of his hand, he collected all the fallen bees into his undead storage. These swift, small flying magical beasts were not to be wasted; he was certain they would prove useful in the future.

Having finished, Rowland scanned the surroundings. Seeing nothing amiss, he led the donkey and his corpse wolves toward the cave entrance. This time, he was cautious, checking the area every few steps to avoid any lurking magical beasts. Fortunately, he reached the foot of the mountain without incident. Just as he was about to enter the cave, a rattling sound echoed from afar.

Rowland quickly looked toward the source of the noise and breathed a sigh of relief—it was Brian, the skeleton, striding swiftly toward him on its bony legs. In one claw, it seemed to be holding a sizable object.

Soon, Brian arrived before Rowland, presenting a skull-sized, gray chunk as if offering a treasure.

Rowland examined it and found it to be a piece of hive, its surface curiously smooth. Intrigued, he took the hive, looking closely, and discovered several droplets of pale golden liquid within the honeycomb cells. Under the sunlight, they shimmered brilliantly, dazzlingly pure.

Just as Rowland was about to inspect further, a chilling buzz erupted unexpectedly. He looked up in terror and saw hundreds of Azure-Winged Bees heading straight for them, led by a giant bee nearly twice the size of its peers. Behind it, over a thousand bees followed in a dense, overwhelming swarm.

From afar, Rowland saw that the giant bee at the front stared at the hive fragment in his hand with urgent fury as it flew.

“Damn it, Brian, what have you brought me? Why did you lure all these bees back? And by the looks of it, they seem absolutely crazed!” Cold sweat poured down Rowland’s brow.