Chapter 294: Chapter 294

Tarwantrad bounced in place, staring at him with sparkling eyes as Belissar announced he had taken the monster choice. Belissar smiled and wasted no time checking the options.

Please select a monster:

- Beeswax Golem (Rarity: Uncommon, Type: Bee, Construct)

- Monster Leafcutter Bee (Rarity: Common, Type: Bee, Nature)

- Butcher Bee Queen (Rarity: Rare, Type: Bee)

Belissar couldn’t help but grin. An uncommon and a rare, one of which was a queen! This looked like it’d be a good one already. Tarwantrad seemed to agree, given how her bouncing sped up.

Vitality: Below Average

Another queen that put the monster in monster bee. Belissar pursed his lips. So…there were apparently bees that ate meat, even before becoming monsters judging by the description. These were what happened when said bees became monster bees.

Well, frightening though they may be, Belissar did not doubt they could strengthen the Tower’s defenses, particularly as they were a type of queen. Even the workers had scary-looking mandibles specifically for cutting into flesh, so Belissar could only imagine what a butcher bee soldier might look like. Since the bumblebees had raised soldiers, he knew at least that option should apply to these as well, though he wasn’t sure about the others as the bumblebees hadn’t raised any other variants just yet.

Of course, like the bloodsucking bees he had once seen, there was the all important question of how he would feed meat-eating bees. The karnuq were hunting in the Underway on occasion to supplement their diet, but otherwise the Tower had no innate supplies of meat. Unless he sent the butcher bees out to hunt? Would that prove sufficient?

“Belissar, are you concerned about the food supply?”

He was brought out of his thoughts by Tarwantrad’s question.

“Forgive me for assuming but I did not recall seeing any animals besides bees during the tour.”

“You’re right, the karnuq hunt the Underway a bit but I don’t know if that would be enough to feed entire carnivorous hives…”

“In that case, please be aware that we can assist with that. If you decide to choose these bees and need a food source, let me know and I’ll arrange an appropriate boon for you. Ah, to be clear, that goes for the other choice as well. As I mentioned, there are Circle masters with an interest in constructs who would likely want to take a look at those golems, so if you select those they may have boons and knowledge that would go well with them.”

“Thanks, that helps a lot.”

Indeed, it did. If Tarwantrad and the Circle could provide a food supply, then he could consider the butcher bees as a real option. The only question was, then, which of the options would help his Tower most?

Before deciding, however, there was one final choice to consider. Belissar brought up the perk choice.

Please select a perk:

- Enhanced Toxins (Rarity: Common)

- Hardened Wax (Rarity: Common)

- Alluring Honey (Rarity: Uncommon)

Belissar pursed his lips again. All repeat options, this time, and all fairly straightforward, though he read the descriptions for Tarwantrad and any queens that weren’t there the last time he saw them. In addition…they had new monsters and features to go along with them this time. Hardened Wax, for example, didn’t have much use previously besides strengthening the hives…which no shade would reach unless the Tower’s defenses had already been defeated. Now, though, there was an obvious benefit if he selected the beeswax golem, as he imagined said perk would make them tougher.

Enhanced toxins had even more to recommend it. Not only did all his bees have their stingers, his Tower had recently received several new sources of poison. Juosiutik was now producing deathcap poison for the karnuq hunters, a new type of especially venomous bee had evolved from said deathcaps, and the flowers from Urubran and Nenavann released toxic smoke and mist respectively. Plus, said feat would potentially make his Sticky Honey Traps and the Beeswax Candles more effective as well. Now that he thought about it, almost every defense he had would be improved by this perk.

Belissar turned it over to the others as he thought.

The Firstborn replied first.

“Enhanced Toxins…help all bees fight?”

Belissar nodded and she saluted. She danced no more but Belissar could tell she was interested from the way her legs kept twitching.

Belissar glanced to the Apiary queens and found them having another dance off. He was a bit surprised at how many of them liked Enhanced Toxins, given their earlier interest in the wax golems. In the end, the First of the Fifth simply saluted.

“Whatever King decides!”

Well, this time she had danced that after in-depth consideration by the queens, so Belissar could only nod and accept it. He turned to Chief Rohsuak, who had her expected “you pick” smile. She did shrug and speak up this time, however.

“You know which one Juosiutik would like. She’d probably be interested in the wax golems too, if just to store more honey.”

Belissar made an amused smile at that. Finally, he turned to Tarwantrad.

Tarwantrad furrowed her brow for a bit.

“In the end each dungeon is unique so please consider your own circumstances first and foremost. That said, your and my dungeon both make heavy use of toxins in our defense, so that perk would maximize the benefits you would receive from our exchanges. I would select that one, were I in your position.”

“I was thinking that too. Thanks for the advice.”

Tarwantrad smiled at him. Then, Belissar made his choices.

Beeswax golem spawner is now available. Wax producing Bee-type monsters may now construct beeswax golems.

Enhanced Toxins selected.