Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 75: A Pervert On The Way

In the grand scheme of conflicts, the battle between the two giant bee clans was undeniably more terrifying than any skirmish among players. Individually, these bees were formidable fighters, and collectively, they posed an even greater threat.

Athena had no knowledge of the location or size of their nests, but judging by the intensity and numbers encountered so far, both sides boasted no fewer than a thousand members.

In this world, monsters were categorized into sentient and non-sentient beings. Even the non-sentient animals here exhibited intelligence levels surpassing those of terrestrial creatures.

Prior to their arrival, both clans coexisted peacefully. Yet, on the very day they appeared, both factions found themselves on high alert, ready to engage in battle at a moment's notice.

The catalyst for this conflict? Territory.

The black bees Athena observed today had flown over from the opposite side of the river, while the yellow ones, which she had encountered earlier, hailed from the area she currently occupied. They utilized the river as a natural barrier, avoiding interference with each other.

Such behavior indicated that something of great importance to them had surfaced, compelling them to resort to war.

Both sides were mobilizing in full force, deploying every available bee. Soon, the forest would be teeming with them, surveilling every corner, leaving no creature's movement unnoticed.

A conflict of this magnitude was unlikely to be short-lived, and with most of the day already gone, Athena and her comrades had little over two days left to prepare.

While this situation favored those with higher rankings, it posed a significant disadvantage for those lower down the ladder.

Certainly, Athena could take refuge in this cave, using the time to recuperate physically and mentally. However, she was well aware that prolonged hiding was not a wise strategy.

After all, with their strength, they wouldn't settle for a mere ranking.

With each evolution and upgrade of these creatures, did the higher-tier bees like the queens already possess a level of intelligence approaching that of humans?

Having traversed the central region of the Black Forest previously, she knew it to be devoid of anything significant, save for the treants. Treants, too, possessed a strong sense of territoriality. If these bees had indeed chosen to wage war within its domain, would the treants yield or retaliate?

What were they fighting for, and what new entity might have emerged in the central region?

Wait, the treants?

In Athena's mind, the image of the treant she had encountered during the battle resurfaced.

It appeared as a frail, slender sapling, its trunk bare and desiccated. Yet, to her surprise, as it absorbed the surrounding corpses, this inconspicuous sapling gradually underwent a transformation.

Unlike her initial impression, tender green shoots sprouted from its branches, while the treant's stature grew increasingly robust.

The transformation was nothing short of miraculous, yet in this world, it was commonplace enough that the four present barely gave it a second thought. The small, fragile sapling growing by absorbing the life force of other beings was perfectly normal here.

Though the treant appeared weak and frail, its root system was exceptionally robust and extensive. The roots spread throughout the central region, each thick and imposing, emanating a powerful sense of dominance.

If things had always been this way, the treant must have killed countless intruders in its territory. Given its previous absorption rate, even the most ordinary monster corpse would spur the growth of new green shoots. Yet, until now, its trunk bore only a few scattered, newly sprouted leaves.

Athena vividly remembered the sight of the ground fracturing as the treant’s roots emerged. The land remained scarred, unrepaired. However, the area had been flat upon their arrival, and one of the system's three supply drops during the first wave had been right in the treant’s territory.

A complex mix of emotions surged within Athena. The giant bees' true objective might not be anything else, nor should they worry about a confrontation with the treant. Their target was likely the treant itself.

The system had distributed war supplies, but the real resources in this regional conflict were those already present in the Black Forest, not the system’s packages.

All three supply drop locations might hold secrets. The treant’s domain was one, but what about the other two? Why was this treant’s domain chosen as a battleground? What made this treant so special?

As expected, when people have time to think, their minds wander. Athena rubbed her aching temples as she reviewed the regional chat channel.

“Why are there so many giant bees? It’s a death trap!”

“At first, I could kill one or two, but now there are too many. I’m running for my life!”

“Can we even continue this regional battle? Our rankings are stuck. Monsters and players are hiding, and the only thing we see are these giant bees!”

“Hey, guess what I saw? Giant bees the size of helicopters, and not just one! Are they moving their entire nest?”

“I’m doomed.”

Everyone was weighed down by a heavy sense of despair. Some felt relieved, at least able to exit the regional battle intact, while others were discontented.

The lecherous man who had sent flies to track Athena was now desperately seeking a place to hide from the giant bees. He had successfully collected four medals, securing a decent rank, although not in the top ten.

Frustration gnawed at him; he believed he could still break into the top ten with his skills. But he dared not provoke the strong. The people he had been tracking with his flies were either dead or scattered, beyond his reach.

In his moment of despair, he activated his sensing ability again. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and a grin spread across his face, making him tremble with excitement.

The heavens had not abandoned him!

He had received a faint signal from one of his flies, though it was weak and intermittent. It indicated the presence of someone and potentially a safe haven.

Excitedly, he turned and dashed in that direction. After evading another swarm of giant bees, he finally spotted a crevice between two massive boulders, barely noticeable unless closely inspected. It could shelter only one person.

Perfect!