Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 84: The Pact with the Hive Queen

Staring at the modified contract, the Hive Queen remained silent. Unlike Athena, it did not sign the agreement with a signature. Instead, the Hive Queen pressed its forehead against the contract paper, and the contract automatically took effect.

The intricate patterns on the unfolded contract paper began to glow gradually. The entire sheet then rolled itself up and flew back to Athena, directly entering her system backpack.

Although neither Athena nor the Hive Queen felt any different, the contract had indeed become fully effective. Should either party breach the terms, they would face the consequences.

The system, capable of countering both darkness and daylight, certified the contract, ensuring that neither party could escape its bindings—at least, not currently.

With the contract now in effect, Athena felt obligated to act. She collected her explosive balls, flame enhancers, and the black abyss axe, placing them all in her backpack. She then called Mikmik back and took the explosive ball beside the Hive Queen.

Under the watchful eyes of all present, Mikmik scurried to the hatching nest and retrieved another explosive ball, causing the two Bee Queens to have complex emotions.

After storing all these dangerous items in her space backpack, Mikmik leaped into Athena’s arms, comfortably nestling there.

Athena didn’t remain idle either, assisting Mikmik by grooming its fur.

At this moment, the Hive Queen resumed its production, with worker bees continuously transporting the eggs away. Athena watched the process with a furrowed brow but said nothing.

“Agasi, take her to the rear. Deploy one of the units to prepare the materials she needs.”

Agasi, the more aggressive of the two remaining Bee Queens, was visibly displeased. However, the contract applied to the entire yellow giant bee clan, leaving it no choice. They had gambled with the safety of their entire clan.

The balance of power had shifted. Initially, the black giant bee clan was evenly matched with them, but in recent years, the black bees had changed tactics, allying with other monsters. The dark fruit was no longer exclusive to any one group, being divided and contested among many. The yellow giant bee clan realized too late and now found no potential allies.

The Hive Queen pondered, wondering if this alliance was a desperate move. Nevertheless, their only option was to unite with these Third World beings.

For them, the most important thing was not individual survival, but the continuity of their hive.

As Athena was about to leave, the Hive Queen fixed its gaze on her and said, “If possible, tell your companions that we are open to friendly trade.”

“Alright.”

Agasi’s wings had healed, and it flew impatiently, occasionally darting ahead. But seeing Athena’s slow, deliberate pace as she carried Mikmik, it had to stop and wait for her.

After another pause, Agasi turned, glaring at Athena with evident frustration.

This human was doing it on purpose. Clearly, she could walk faster, yet she chose this leisurely pace. However, remembering the Hive Queen’s instructions, Agasi had to comply.

As she walked, Athena observed the surroundings. The vast expanse of the hive seemed endless, and the massive honeycombs felt oppressive.

Given the current wartime state, almost all the yellow giant bees were out, leaving only a few football-sized ones occasionally flying by.

After walking for some distance, they finally arrived in front of a jet-black hive. Agasi led Athena inside. Despite being a hive, the structure had a metallic sheen and seemed indestructible.

The floor was equally smooth, resembling more a spacious military fortress than a hive.

Once inside, Athena found it completely empty—a giant hollow shell.

“You’ll conduct your experiments here,” Agasi told her. “Tell me what materials you need, and I’ll have them delivered. You must experiment inside; the outside can’t withstand your explosions!”

After listing the required materials to Agasi and having them confirmed repeatedly, Agasi flew off to await the newly hatched giant bees that would help Athena gather the materials.

Athena wasn’t worried about them knowing the components. She had included a few rare materials she had seen in Mu’s collection. If they found them, great; if not, it didn’t matter.

Even with the complete materials, knowing the proportions was essential. And even with the right proportions, the necessary technique and experience were crucial. Each step was as challenging as ascending to the heavens. The yellow giant bee clan could never replicate her work.

As Agasi went to fetch the materials, Athena carefully examined her surroundings. The walls bore scratch marks, indicating that this was likely the training ground for the bees.

Surprisingly, it seemed quite user-friendly.

For now, Athena felt safe and secure. She didn’t need to worry about her safety, and soon the bees would bring her the materials she needed.

While crafting explosive bombs, she could not only stockpile weapons but also improve her crafting skills, perhaps even surpassing her current quality.

Meanwhile, others were still engaged in a fierce battle on the battlefield. The black and yellow giant bee clans had a temporary truce, focusing on eliminating the players before resolving their internal conflicts.

The sky was filled with black and yellow bees. Instead of congregating in the central area, they spread out, pursuing players across various areas.

The players, naturally, avoided direct confrontation, scattering and fleeing in all directions. Not all bees chased them; most remained in the central area, fighting to provide nourishment for the tree monster there.

However, the situation changed dramatically. The yellow giant bees that had been pursuing the players suddenly ceased their attacks and flew back to the central area, leaving only the black giant bees in pursuit.

The Black Giant Bee King was displeased and somewhat puzzled. To prevent the yellow giant bees from gaining the upper hand in the central area, it also recalled its forces, leaving no time to deal with the players.

Although the players didn’t understand the reason, they breathed a sigh of relief, eager to escape despite their injuries.

Just then, the system issued a prompt: