The hornets were working on expanding their borders when sensing something above. Once they saw Andrea through the canopy a hornet retreated to the hive to sound an alarm. Without hesitation, a group of hornets sped forward to attack.
Andrea narrowly dodged a stinger and created some distance. Seeing their lack of communication, and feel the killing intent Andrea activated her essence while fluttering her wings. Harsh winds tore apart the hornet's formation as her comrades swooped in to attack.
"Watch for reinforcements," Andrea ordered while joining the attack.
With their coordination, and air superiority the harpies had the advantage, but the hornets' numbers were rapidly growing. As a group was swarming Andrea's flank a spear was hurled through them, and it began swirling around the area violently.
Noticing the unstoppable force tearing through the battlefield the hornets fell back as the spear returned to the canopy. The hornets saw Zack slowly descending next to the harpies. For a human to ally with the harpies was new to them, and examining Andrea's group they realized it wasn't a local tribe. Not confident in their chances against Zack they zipped away to prepare the others for the incoming assault.
"Thanks," Andrea smirked.
"No one hurts my comrades," Zack replied.
Not long after Zack's intervention, the ground forces caught up.
"Push forward together while I go ensure the hostages' protection," Zack ordered.
"We'll be right behind you." Octavia declared.
Zack pinpointed their auras and flew forward as the tree's swayed violently from the force. Hornets saw him closing in as they attempted to strike him, but the force surrounding Zack made him untouchable.
'That's gotta be the main nest.'
In front of Zack were three large hives with a vast one in the center. Warriors started pouring out of the holes in the structures as Zack raised his spear darting towards the castle. Several hornets blocked his route but with a swipe of his spear, they were forced to the ground. He pointed the spear at the hive as the tip shined.
With a blast from his spear, Zack destroyed the side of the hive as he crashed through the walls. It didn't take long to find the captives, and surrounding them quickly was a group of hornets wielding spears. Not long after discovering the captives reinforcements appeared behind Zack. Seeing his wings, and how easily he broke through they were cautious.
"Stand down, and release the prisoners," Zack demanded.
"And if we refuse?"
Queen Maria asked as she appeared from a nearby corridor. Zack hurled his spear, and the guard quickly raised their weapons to block, but it struck the base of the cages as a barrier rapidly appeared. One of them tried to grab Zack's spear, but it didn't budge. They glanced up to see Zack's armor covering his body, and he drew his blade from its sheath as its shimmer caught everyone's attention.
"Then this place burns to the ground." Zack declared as his blade was engulfed in flames.
After Zack's deceleration, the sound of fighting was heard from the jungle. When a few hornets looked back to investigate they saw fighting at the base of their hive. Octavia was leading the charge straight through their defenses. A group peeled off from the captives to engage the others, but the royal guards surrounded Zack.
They witnessed an entire group get obliterated with a simple stroke of Octavia's blade. With the harpies giving aerial support Eden's forces quickly established a foothold. Seeing the other soldiers getting in position Brian followed the instructions given by Haruna as the shield erected a barrier.
The hornets smacked into the wall and were sent back from the recoil, but they were relentless in their attempts to get past the barrier. Taylor realized the group they encountered was only a scouting party.
"There are so many," Kenny said while glancing at the impending swarms.
"Just focus on holding your shield in sync with the rest," Zess replied.
"He's right with a strong formation we will be alright," Taylor said as she took aim.
'Need to save the bullets for a breach.'
With Amara, and Kaya laying cover behind the shield wall the hornets were losing forces quickly. The ones that attempted to attack from above became pincushions due to the eleven archers. Hornets that tried to breach the front of the barrier with force were skewered with spears by Brian's group and launched away from the recoil.
They realized the only hornets dying were the ones attacking, and this caused them to back off seeing the unbreakable formation. Kaya held her bow sideways while conjuring several fire arrows as she took aim towards the hives. The harpies positioned themselves along the treeline with wind swirling around their wings prepared to fan the flames if needed.
"We're in position." Kaya relayed.
"Have you reconsidered?" Zack asked.
The queen was notified of the force standing outside, and staring down the end of a fiery sword Maria was compelled to consider Zack's offer. With the hornets' attack coming to a halt Kaya watched Zack waiting for his signal.
"How do I know you won't just burn our hive when they're gone?" Maria asked.
"Because I'm a man of my word," Zack said while calming the flames.
"They were starting to bore me anyway. What I require is a man with stamina." Maria said while floating up to Zack.
Maria was preparing to wrap her arms around Zack's neck when a bright light caught her attention. The sun was pouring into the floor of the jungle, and when she glanced up to see what happened she noticed the canopy was incinerated in an instant. No one was hurt, but when seeing the glaring elven girl the message given was clear.
"Sorry, my finger slipped," Kaya told Zack.
"If you continue to wage war in the jungle I'll return," Zack said while floating towards the captives.
"You want us to standby and let them attack us?" A hornet interjected.
"Defending your people is a different matter. If outside threats persist simply send word, and we will assist you. The bees are receiving a similar message as we speak, and I'm confident they will agree to a ceasefire. I know this place is hard to live in, but we are trying to change that." Zack said while retrieving items from his ring.
Barrels of food appeared on the ground, and Zack tossed Maria several rings.
"You fight for two reasons. Food, and expansion to house your people. We can help you find a way to do both without conflict. Trust me when I say we took no pleasure in striking down your people. If they met us without force it would've been dealt with differently. You took members of someone else's family so surely you can understand our need to push forward." Zack said as he walked towards his people.
Taylor rapidly checked their group for wounds but saw they were well taken care of. They only stayed in the cages during the day when the others were handling their duties. At night they were feasting with the others and servicing Maria.
"What should we do?" A guard asked Maria.
"Fighting that man is unwise, and his offer intrigues me. Let's get this stored away for now, and wait to see if his words hold true. If they agree to a ceasefire we could focus on the invaders' return. Call everyone home, and have them get started on the repairs." Maria declared as she returned to her chambers.
Leading the other squad was Dyna and Haruna. As they passed the border into the honey bee territory their presence was detected. They attempted to discreetly surround them, but Haruna's senses are too sharp for a simple trick like this to succeed. Haruna swiftly tossed kunai into the surrounding area as multiple spell circles formed a perimeter around their squad.