"Ah, it saw us... And it's still eating."
The monster continues to feed on the lifeless Wither Bee, savoring every single part of its body. Watching the monster feasting on its meal right in front of them, Christa asked Selene and Itsuo.
"Hey, shouldn't we go and run?"
"Quit talking, Christa! Just keep quiet and don't move!"
Selene spoke in an underlying and agitated tone, telling Christa to keep her voice down. However, Christa continues to talk to them, completely ignoring what Selene told her.
"But if we don't move, that thing will kill us."
Selene knew it all full well, standing idly in front of the killer insect is just delaying their death. Unless they make a run for it, she, Itsuo and Christa would be the Mother Bee's next meal. But trying to make a run against an monstrous insect that possesses incredible speed will just make their deaths a bit faster.
Time started ticking as she ponders every possible way they could use to escape. Standing beside her, Itsuo, who couldn't come up with anything realized that they're running out of time - The Mother Bee swallowed the last part of its meal - The Wither Bee's head, chewing it down to its throat. At the same time, Christa tightens her grip on her wooden sword, preparing herself to counter the monster's attack.
It was then, Selene remembered that she got an ability that they definitely needed on their current situation.
"Itsuo, Christa, close your eyes!"
Itsuo doesn't know what Selene meant with her words, but being in a middle of a dire situation, all he could do is to trust someone's plan.
Itsuo closed his eyes shut. Christa who's about to draw her blade towards the Bee followed suit as she saw Selene placing her hand in mid-air, pointing directly towards the Mother Bee's eyes. The monster bellowed, the girl bravely confronted the creature as she casts her spell, and the chance they all been waiting for has come.
"Flicker!"
In that split second, the whole hive was covered in a blinding light, as bright as the blinding light of the sun. It was so bright that Itsuo and Christa had to cover their enclosed eyes with their two hands. The light gradually disappeared as Christa fluttered her eyelids. The monster shrieked in pain, flying aimlessly inside the hive as its eyes were blinded from Selene's light - Hitting the wall, the ground and the ceiling.
With the creature in a blind state, Selene shouted at Christa and Itsuo.
"Now's our chance, guys!"
"Y-yes!"
Christa faltered in astonishment by Selene's ability. The three of them took their chance without hesitation, they sprung towards the cave that leads to the outside. Meanwhile, the Mother Bee screeched in anger that echoed throughout the cave.
"Damn, that's loud."
Christa looked at Selene as she compliments her ability.
"That ability is amazing, Selene. I didn't know you could do it."
"Thank you. Actually, I almost forgot that I have that ability."
A few moments since then, the three continues to push foward out of the cave. But as they sprint in full throttle, at the far distance on their back, the sound of the Wither Bees flapping its wings rapidly started ringing into their ears.
"It's catching up to us?!"
Itsuo spoke in terror as Christa answered his words.
"No, it's just its Children. But still, they're fast to catch us up."
The three of them stepped on another gear as they pushed their speed even further. However, because of the rugged ground, there are times that they had to slow down, giving the insects who can easily fly a moment to get an inch closer.
"I just noticed, this cave is actually longer than the one we entered all together yesterday."
Christa casually talking about how long the cave was and how it is actually longer than the goblin cave territory.
"Stop talking about it, it's distracting me!"
Itsuo angrily replied as he keeps on running forward. The chase continues but Selene and Itsuo is starting to slowly fall behind Christa.
"Hey, Itsuo, Selene, Are you guys alright?"
The black haired girl spoke as she took over passed the two.
"Yes... I'm most definitely not alright!"
"Just how long... is this cave...? It's definitely not that long when we entered...!"
The two stammered as they replied. Christa, who doesn't seem to feel exhausted even after running at the same time and at the same length with them - with her right leg, she stomped the ground, causing her to slowly lose her momentum before eventually stopping.
"Christa?"
"Don't stop, Selene."
Christa responded as she draw her wooden sword once again. And with her weapon that she always use, she slammed the ceiling with enough strength, making a large pile of rocks and dirt to fall on the ground, piling up until it completely blocks the way. With that, Christa cut themeselves away from the Wither Bees.
"Phew, good thing only a part of the ceiling crumbled."
Selene and Itsuo continues to perform a short, quick breaths after running endlessly from the Wither Bees.
"That should be able to hold them inside for a while. Just a little more push, you guys. Let's go!"
Christa encouraged both Itsuo and Selene, in which, the two of them nodded in reply. But as the two pushed themselves even further, Christa suddenly stopped from taking a step after she felt something that is coming straight towards them. Then...
*Shatter!*
The pile of rock and dirt that was keeping the Wither Bees from chasing them was shattered rather easily by the enraged Mother Bee. Itsuo and Selene was in complete shock after seeing the furious monster. The Mother Bee flew straight towards them with great speed, and with the sting that was pointing directly at Selene - The girl that was the cause of it suffering from the pain in its eyes. But instead of hitting Selene...
*Bang!*
With a sword made by wood and enhanced by her teacher, Christa intercepted the Mother Bee's sting right on time, saving Selene's life while also keeping the monster from pushing forward. With her hands seemingly struggling from holding herself against the monster's strength, she turned around and spoke.
"Go, bring the honey to your Mother!"
"B-but!"
Christa reassured Itsuo with a smile.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Go."
Itsuo frowned before turning around and replying to Christa.
"Don't die, I'll come back once we get the honey to my Mother! Let's go, Selene!"
The two went ahead as Christa continues to hold her own with the Mother Bee. As the two disappeared from her view, she started to push the Bee back. Little by little, she's taking a step as she push the monster. It was then, the Mother Bee screeched. Christa was puzzled by its sudden loud and piercing cry, until the a number Wither Bees behind it started flying passed Christa and the monster, seemingly going after the two who went ahead.
"They're going after them?"
The Mother Bee was after Selene due to her ability that stunned and hurt the monster's eyes, that's why it ordered its children to follow the girl that caused her pain, just so that it could get its revenge. After she realized it, the Mother Bee made a screeching noise once again, but this time, the other Wither Bees are going straight after Christa's head, while having her hands full from holding herself against the Mother Bee.
At that time, Itsuo and Selene Finally got out of the cave. They knew that they can't stop just because they got out of the Bee territory, they had to keep going to bring the honey to Itsuo's Mother before it was too late. Itsuo also knew that Selene was already at her limit, she's close to the state that she'd pass out like the last time she overdid herself. Itsuo wanted Selene to take a rest, but fate doesn't seem to like giving them a breather.
*Buzz!*
One of the Wither Bees that went passed Christa had finally catch up to them.
"Impossible!"
Seeing the monstrous purple insect coming out of the cave made him think.
'They killed Christa...?'
Itsuo grits his teeth while looking at the gigantic cave entrance.
"Itsuo... Look out!"
With her exhausted voice, she warned Itsuo of the Bee coming straight towards him. Thanks to that, he pulled his sword in time and blocked the creature from hitting him. However, with his fragile state, and the Wither Bee's strength that is on par with Gold ranked Adventurers, He's starting to slowly lose his footing and grip on his sword, until he was brought to his knees.
'Damn! It's too heavy! Is this creature really on par with a Gold rank Adventurer?'
With his current strength not enough to blow the Wither Bee away, he instead moved aside swiftly, causing the Insect to land straight on the ground - Creating a crater by its heaviness and strength.
Selene rushed towards him, helping his weakened and exhausted body to stand up.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yes..."
Itsuo faltered. Then, another wave of Wither Bees coming for them all at once came out of the cave, not giving them time to even relax, Selene used her ability to stun the insects.
"Flicker!"
A blinding light that seemed a bit dimmer from the last time she used it had struck through the Wither Bees' eyes. Keeping them away for a while.
"Don't over do it... Selene!"
"I know, let's go...!"
At the time Itsuo got attacked by the Wither Bee, back inside the cave, when the mob of Wither Bees was about to attack Christa with their stings, suddenly, their body burst into flames, burning them to a crisp, and onto their death. The Mother Bee tilted its head. The creature was utterly confused after witnessing its child died by a burst of flames that came out of their bodies.
At that moment, Christa took her left hand from holding the wooden sword, however, she was still able to keep up the strength of the Mother Bee with only her right hand.
"When Itsuo told me with that terrified look on his face that I had no match for you, I thought it would be the case, but I was wrong."
Christa spoke with a smile on her face.
"If my theory is correct, you're making yourself stronger by feeding on flesh."
Fire slowly slithering out of her left hand as she continues to speak.
"I want to see how strong you'll get, but leaving a monster like you that sees humans and even your once own family as your food would be a bit troublesome, that's why..."
The Mother Bee made a screeching noise once more, telling the other purple Wither Bees to attack Christa all at once, but it was too late.
"I'm gonna have to put you down."
Christa clenched her fist as it started burning with flames. And with a thrust of her fist, Christa fires a wave of blazing flames, sending the monster away along with its children while also being burned by the fire.
The flames surrounding her fist gradually disappeared as she relaxed her hand."
"Phew, now then, I need to go and help them."