Han turned his attention to the book. He didn't know how, but it was their only hope out of here.
He rushed for it, but sticky honey slowed him down, pulling at his shoes with every step he took.
Nolan grabbed his shoulder. "Buccaneer!"
The two of them shifted right at the altar.
"Now what?" Nolan asked, looking between Han and the book.
Han had no answer. His mind raced for possible solutions. The pages were still blank, so it wasn't as easy as just reading it. But in the absence of clues, he was stumped.
"Guys, don't mean to be that guy," Chul shouted, the honey now above his knees. "But can you please hurry the fuck up!"
Han lifted the book to his nose. "Scent of the Sun!"
He sifted through the scents, not even knowing what exactly he was looking for. However, even after going through them several times, nothing.
The honey was now at waist level, completely immobilising the group.
'Fuck. Think Han, think!'
He tried to remember if his father had ever mentioned something about bees that could help them here. 'No, this has nothing to do with bees. It's an altar and a fucking book.'
'A sermon? Am I supposed to give some sort of prayer to the hive?'
"What are you guys doing?!"
Han tried to block out everyone's screaming. 'But if it's a prayer, where's the fucking scriptures?' he thought, flipping through the book.
"Now would be a good time to reveal your hidden plot armour, Han!" Chul shouted.
Han looked around the room. Maybe there was a clue somewhere.
'The inscriptions from the pillars!'
"What was it? Echo not the Hive?" he shouted. "No, that's not right."
"Han!"
The honey started rising at an even faster rate, rising from chest level to shoulder level in mere seconds.
"Fuck, I'm trying to remember!" he snapped back.
'I got it.'
Right as the honey reached chin level; "Echo not what the Hive has not whispered!"
Silence.
The honey stopped rising. And an instant later, it began to drain.
"I've never hated bees more in my life," Chul sighed. Jen laughed nervously, but her face was red from crying so much.
Only Nolan seemed calm, staring intently as Han as if he were waiting for something.
"What?" Han asked. 'How could I have dropped my gaurd like th-'
Before Han could finish the thought, an electrifying energy rushed from his core, taking hold of some deep part of him.
"Here lies in ancient slumber, the whisperer of the void, voice of the Hive."
The words poured out of Han's mouth against his will.
"Lost Fragment of silenced unity."
"Drone of the conquered Queen."
The book began pulsing.
"Ha-Han?" Jen stuttered.
However, Han was no longer there; his eyes were locked in a faraway gaze, glistened over by golden membranes, cloaking his eyes like a shimmering veil.
"Fallen vessel of collective order. "
Chul fired a fireball right above Han's head, trying to snap him out of his daze. "Han!"
"Hear the cries, hear the cries!"
The room vibrated to Han's cry, and golden tears began to roll down his cheeks.
"The beating buzz, the collective shout."
Han's mouth shot open, every strand of hair on his body standing on end, swaying to some silenced rhythm.
His dagger fell out of his hands as his body began to shake. His head bobbed back and forth as if caught in a seizure.
At this point, the honey had mostly drained. Chul and Jen rushed to his side.
"The healing potion," Jen shouted.
Chul fumbled through Han's pockets, but found nothing. He had stored everything in his inventory.
"Fuck, fuck fuck!" Chul shouted, tapping Han's sweat-drenched cheeks.
Han froze.
And for a moment, it seemed that it was all over.
He turned around, eyes still in that faraway place.
"Han?"
Han opened his mouth. "Return to us..." his words bounced off the walls, echoing as if carried forth by a thousand others.
The sound was eerie and high-pitched, seemingly causing space itself to vibrate.
Chul and Jen fell to their knees, ears bleeding out.
『The Hive tests you.』
Nolan stepped forward... picking up the dagger.
And in unison, both he and Han whispered "... oh sacred Beekeeper."
Nolan drove the dagger into Han's chest... and with this
His world went dark.
**
Han dreamt of a distant land.
Of a field of gold and white flowers, stretching as far as the eyes could see.
A single yellow pedestal stood in the distance. Upon it rested an egg, and beside it the silhouette of a man.
'Where am I?'
The sky tremored, instantly shifting day to night.
Han stared up and trillions... no, perhaps quadrillions of tiny stars, like fiery eyeballs, stared back down at him.
『The Queen Bee embryo has matured.』
『Emergence is imminent.』
『Prove yourself to the Hive.』
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[Informational bulletin from the Central Regional Administration]
Raid reports have shown a sharp increase in dungeon breaks. Following this bulletin, all citizens of Central are advised to:
-Follow the recommended raid inventory and party class composition.
-Refrain from engaging entities undocumented on the Almanack of Monsters.
-Report all instances of abnormal monster behaviour.
Furthermore, Ranker 'Heron' has imposed a ban on all raid activities during this month's Blood Moon. All citizens attempting to enter the parameter during this period will be executed.
Yours in New Eden Initiative
The High Governor
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