Chapter 9: The Swarm of Madness

Description

The battle with the massive Killer Bees was brutal.

First of all, since the Killer Bees themselves were enormous, the Gaon team members fought desperately.

Team leader Ju Namgyu at the front chopped the Killer Bees like firewood with his axe, and the team members countered with their respective weapons and magic.

My Skeleton Soldiers also fought incredibly hard.

No, to be precise, they fought extremely well.

Thanks to the EX grade and the spec increase from leveling up, they tore the Killer Bees to shreds.

To the point where they kept swinging their bone swords even after the Killer Bees became corpses.

“Whew, good. Everyone worked hard.”

Ju Namgyu said while wiping the sweat beading on his forehead.

The team members who had finished the battle with the five Killer Bees were drenched in sweat, drinking water or wiping sweat with towels.

I was resting as well when the team members approached me.

“Seo Juwon, you fought pretty well.”

“Yeah. Your skeletons were incredibly agile.”

“I’ve never seen a Necromancer like you. Impressive.”

“Juwon-ssi, what level are you that your skeletons are so sturdy?”

“Juwon, good work. Here, drink some water. Must’ve been tough.”

The team members praised me.

They even handed me cool water, saying I worked hard.

It wasn’t just the team members’ praise.

Team leader Ju Namgyu also praised me.

“Seo Juwon, you fought pretty well?”

“Haha, no, not at all.”

“No, your skeletons fought better than most hunters. As expected, clearing the Red Gate wasn’t luck.”

“Thank you for the kind words, Team Leader.”

I bowed my head.

The atmosphere was warming up nicely.

“But what the hell did that bastard even do?”

An uncomfortable voice came from behind.

It was Vice Team Leader No Youngjin.

“Honestly, what did he do? Frankly, you and I did everything. Right?”

No Youngjin said while swinging his sword in the air.

And on that sword, a Killer Bee was skewered like chicken on a spit, dangling limply.

Well, No Youngjin did perform well, that’s true.

In fact, during the battle, No Youngjin didn’t just slack off.

As if proving he didn’t get the vice team leader position by playing cards, he fought fiercely once the battle started.

To the extent that he had contributions comparable to Team Leader Ju Namgyu.

“Hey, Seo Juwon. I get that your skullheads are sturdy, but don’t get cocky just because the team leader praised you. You’re nothing. Got it?”

“……”

“Why no answer? What, uncomfortable? Does it bother you that I’m talking like this?”

“No.”

“Yeah, if it doesn’t bother you, answer quickly. Before I slice you like a Killer Bee.”

No Youngjin said that and flung the Killer Bee skewered on his sword away.

Like throwing out trash.

Ju Namgyu, shaking his head at that, opened his mouth.

“Alright, rested enough. Let’s move!”

“Yes!”

With Ju Namgyu, the team members started moving again.

Me and my Skeleton Soldiers too.

Our Gaon team continued rummaging through the mountain.

And naturally, Killer Bees flew in from here and there.

It wasn’t just five anymore.

I don’t know where they were hiding their massive bodies, but Killer Bees popped out in droves from everywhere.

Eight.

Ten.

Fifteen.

Even twenty.

The team members gradually struggled to take them down.

The reason I specify “team members” is simple.

I wasn’t struggling at all.

Why are they fighting so well?

I’ll repeat it again, normal skeletons are way too weak.

Both attack and defense are pathetically weak.

That’s why their nickname is matchsticks.

But my Skeleton Soldiers were incredibly strong.

Every time they swung their bone swords, they sliced the Killer Bees like tofu, and they blocked the Killer Bees’ attacks with their bodies.

Naturally, not a single scratch appeared.

Was that what amazed them?

The team members walking through the mountains kept exclaiming in admiration at me.

“Seo Juwon, how are your skeletons so sturdy?”

“Yeah, your skeletons, are they made of steel instead of bones?”

“Their attack power is insane too. They just shredded those tough Killer Bees.”

“They’re agile too. Dodging the Killer Bees’ stingers and countering—better than most warriors.”

Team members giving me thumbs up.

And Ju Namgyu smiling satisfied.

At their words, I smiled awkwardly.

Honestly, because I hadn’t done anything.

All I did was summon the Skeleton Soldiers initially.

Of course, the more praise I received, the harsher No Youngjin’s criticism became.

He picked fights like I was his enemy—attention-seeker, nothing special, one swing of my sword would take you down.

I ignored him every time.

While walking nonstop along the ridge like that, we discovered something extremely dangerous.

It was none other than a ‘beehive.’

“Damn it. It’s a beehive. Everyone, fall back.”

As per Ju Namgyu’s orders, everyone retreated.

I also pulled my Skeleton Soldiers back.

Crazy. What the hell is that?

I looked at the beehive hanging on a tall tree along with the team members.

The beehives hanging roundly on the building-like huge tree were enormous.

About the size of a decent five-story villa.

Actually, it was only natural.

Since a single Killer Bee was as big as a compact car, the beehive naturally had to be house-sized to make sense.

“Huh, crazy. That’s the Killer Bees’ nest.”

“Insane. How many Killer Bees are in there?”

“Wow, we absolutely can’t touch that.”

“Team Leader, let’s just quietly pass by? If we touch that, we’re really in trouble.”

“Yeah, Team Leader. Let’s just hurry to catch the boss…”

The team members were horrified looking at the massive beehive.

I agreed completely.

The villa-sized beehive was terrifying just to look at.

Ju Namgyu also nodded and tried to move.

But…

“Let’s take that out on the way.”

Bullshit came from behind.

The culprit who spouted the utterly absurd nonsense was, as expected, ‘No Youngjin.’

Ju Namgyu said with a furrowed brow.

“What?”

“I said let’s remove that beehive on the way.”

“Vice Team Leader, what are you talking about? Why remove it? Touch that and we’ll have a mass funeral.”

Ju Namgyu shouted.

It was an utterly reasonable statement.

However, No Youngjin didn’t back down.

“Why a funeral? We have you and me.”

“Vice Team Leader, don’t talk nonsense and just follow quietly.”

“Geez, Team Leader. Why are you so scared? That’s why you can’t get promoted to Silver Raid Team.”

“What did you say?”

Ju Namgyu’s face turned fierce.

It seemed he hit a sore spot.

But No Youngjin didn’t yield and said.

“No, don’t get mad and listen. Honestly, the Killer Bees in that beehive? At most 30. That’s all experience points, right? We need to eat experience to level up, and level up to get stronger and promote to Silver Raid Team.”

“Sigh, I know that. But since we don’t know the exact number of Killer Bees, I decided to just pass by. So follow my orders. Alright, everyone, let’s go!”

As Ju Namgyu spoke, the team members started following as if they’d been waiting.

The moment I was about to follow them, I heard No Youngjin muttering quietly.

“…Fucking coward. That’s why he’ll be stuck in Bronze Raid Team forever.”

No Youngjin, spitting curses at Ju Namgyu’s back.

As if resolved, he drew his sword and charged toward the massive beehive.

“Wha-what…!”

I shouted at No Youngjin’s sudden action, and Ju Namgyu and the team members turned their heads.

Soon, Ju Namgyu shouted to stop No Youngjin, but he had already caused trouble.

Because No Youngjin had unleashed sword energy at the beehive.

BOOM!

A blue crescent flew and struck the beehive, causing a small explosion.

Of course, the beehive didn’t even flinch, let alone get destroyed.

“That crazy bastard…!”

Ju Namgyu spat a curse.

But for now, nothing happened.

“Hahaha, what? Nothing came out? Team Leader, were you scared of an empty house?”

No Youngjin, far away, burst into laughter.

Yeah, it was a crazy act, but fortunately no Killer Bees were inside.

BUZZZZ!

……

The moment I thought that, a massive drone-like sound started coming.

The source of the sound was inside the beehive.

It was coming from an unseen unknown space inside.

In the silence of everyone, I felt chills creeping up.

At the same time, I hoped.

Please let what I’m hearing now be an illusion.

But damn it, this was absolutely not an illusion.

BUZZZZZZZZ!

The beehive that No Youngjin had touched with his sword energy.

Killer Bees started pouring out from inside.

Yeah, them coming out is fine.

Since he knew they were inside and attacked.

But the number was too much.

BUZZZZZZZZZZ!

BUZZZZZZZZZZ!

BUZZZZZZZZZZ!

Killer Bees endlessly emerging from the beehive holes.

That procession truly had no end.

Twenty.

Forty.

Sixty.

Eighty.

And a hundred.

The line of Killer Bees from the beehive stopped at around a hundred.

“This is insane. So many Killer Bees.”

“Damn it. We can’t win that. No matter how well we fight, that number is impossible.”

“That stupid vice team leader. He was acting up earlier and now he caused this.”

“Th-Team Leader! What do we do now? Fight? Or run?”

The team members buzzed.

They were shocked by the Killer Bees filling the air around No Youngjin densely.

“We run. We can’t beat that many.”

Ju Namgyu said.

Then all the team members nodded.

It was the most common-sense judgment.

“……”

No Youngjin, who was far ahead, backed away looking at the swarm of Killer Bees.

Even he, who had been arrogant until now, seemed afraid of a hundred Killer Bees.

“No Youngjin! Hurry over! We’re retreating!”

“Y-Yes!”

No Youngjin said that and ran toward us.

Ju Namgyu and our team members stood still.

Planning to flee together after No Youngjin returned.

Fast. Maybe we can escape.

No Youngjin was really fast.

Killer Bees were right on his tail, but he seemed fast enough to escape eventually.

But…

CRASH!

No Youngjin tripped over his foot and fell, and over a hundred Killer Bees swarmed him.

“Gaaaaahhh!”

No Youngjin, surrounded by Killer Bees, screamed.

Surrounded and the area turned pitch black.

Looking at that, I swallowed dryly.

“Damn it! Everyone, battle prep! We’re going to rescue the vice team leader!”

“Wha- T-Team Leader, really?”

One team member said.

“Then you want to abandon the vice team leader there?”

“N-No, but…”

“Then get ready now! Let’s go!”

With Ju Namgyu, the team members charged out like mad.

I too rushed to the battlefield with my Skeleton Soldiers.

Damn bastard.

I swallowed a curse thinking of No Youngjin surrounded by Killer Bees.

Yeah, I knew this would happen.

From before entering the gate, when he was acting all arrogant, I knew something like this would happen.

“Come at me, you filthy bees!”

Ju Namgyu, who charged first, swung his axe at the Killer Bees.

The team members also swung swords, cast magic, drew bows.

I likewise fought fiercely with my Skeleton Soldiers.

Slash! Slice! Stab! Crunch!

The Skeleton Soldiers’ bone swords tore through the Killer Bees.

Of course, the Killer Bees didn’t stay still.

The Killer Bees, enraged at their home being attacked, swarmed the Skeleton Soldiers madly.

Damn it! Too many…!

Ju Namgyu, the team members, and the Skeleton Soldiers fought really well.

In fact, my level rose steadily from hunting Killer Bees.

But with over a hundred Killer Bees, the situation grew increasingly dire.

Well, since even five was tough at first, it was natural that a hundred was unmanageable.

“Gaaaaah!”

“Keok, heuk…!”

“S-Save me! Please help!”

Screams and groans of comrades came from all directions.

I tried to help somehow, but the situation made support impossible.

Because there were too many Killer Bees, even my Skeleton Soldiers were struggling.

Eunbyeol…

Was it because death was imminent?

The face of my beloved Eunbyeol came to mind.

Damn it.

I can’t die here.

If I die, Eunbyeol has no one to rely on.

That was when it happened.

As my level rose, a hologram appeared before my eyes.

[You have reached a certain level and acquired a new skill.]

[The name of the new skill is…]

[‘Bone Explosion.’]

New skill? Bone Explosion?

I hurriedly read the description of the new skill.

And immediately became certain.

With this…

If I use this skill, I can escape this crisis.