Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire - Chapter 280

Chapter 280: Mantises have no faith
With the increase of aggressive and dangerous fauna, the Bee Empire had to send more and larger border patrols to prevent them from entering the Empire and breeding there. To support them logistically, I ordered building a lot of military forts, and even lay railroads toward them for easier delivery of resources.

The forts were essentially just work camps. Their defenses were only slightly stronger than on average—they just had some ballistas in place to shoot off anyone who approached without permission.

This was because our enemies didn’t care about fortifications, anyway. They either ate bees, or were mindlessly looking for other food, while attacking in retaliation against anyone who stood between said food and them.

The price in time and resources that the Empire paid to build new forts every time our borders expanded was nothing compared to the increased safety.

As I predicted months ago, the flies stopped being so abundant when their natural predators caught up with their existence. I was sure it was almost unnoticeable from the position of humans—for now, at least—but to a bee, the vicious fights for supremacy were obvious.

Every few weeks, an insect or another would evolve a trait that let it dominate all others, breed until they were everywhere, and start pushing into our borders. Then someone else will evolve a trait that beats this creature’s trait and breed in the old victor’s stead.

The place I flew toward was just one of the modest military forts that kept us safe. It was built in a place without a proper shelter, so half of it was dug into the ground by bees themselves, and the other half built on top. The result looked very ziggurat-like.

The forest near it was all cut down to the grass; farther away from our borders, I saw a large swatch of trees and grass that looked so young, they couldn’t have been older than a few weeks.

Inside the fort, the border soldiers kept the caught prisoners.

It was already getting late when I and my bodyguards landed near the entrance, but I still hoped that I could return to Hive Supremo before bedtime.

The Chief Warrior Redsting of the fort was already waiting for me, and greeted me as soon as I approached. Of course—I sent a telepathic message ahead of me.

“Father! We are so glad that you could answer our request!” she said. “I won’t waste your time—if you need rest after the road, you can rest. If not, I can show you our prisoners immediately!”

I took off my flight helmet and Destroyer immediately approached to take it off her hands. She and the rest of the bodyguards kept their helmets on.

They loved the severe appearance it gave them. I knew for sure, because sometimes their thoughts about it got loud.

“I’ll see the prisoners immediately. And while we walk, you can tell me how things are going here. What was in the last wave you dealt with? Spiders?”

“Yes, Father,” Redsting said, leading me inside the hive. “These disgusting beasts! Last week, the entire forest was covered in their webs. But fire dealt with them amazingly well. Besides that, things are good! We kill many enemies while only a few sisters die, and the supplies come according to the schedule. There was one delay because of a storm, but in your wisdom you made sure the fort had supplies in case of something like this.”

I listened, nodding here and then.

“So things work like clockwork—that’s great. And the fires explain why the forest nearby looks like it just recently grew back. Just be careful with forest fires in the future…”

“Of course we are, Father! I sent a request for a Researcher to calculate everything before we started lighting the webs up!”

I smiled, looking at how almost insulted she looked at the idea of being careless with fire.

“Oh, I don’t doubt your capabilities, Redsting. Your Father just likes to worry!” I patted her head, which brightened her up immediately. “Let’s see what your girls have caught. Are those more spiders?”

“No, Father. These are different beasts, ones we have no name for. I can only guess that they are insects.”

Instead of the inner parts of the fort, Redsting led me and my entourage to the side of it. There, I saw three large pits dug into the ground with thick wooden grates cowering them.

“Here, Father!” Redsting gestured, pointing me at them. “Be careful approaching the grates—these creatures try to attack whoever they see, despite the holes we left in their hides. The grates hold them back, of course, but—”

“I get it. I will be fine!”

With these words, flew toward the pits to see at their contents.

The grates made it hard to see the creatures inside, and the amount of dirt and blood covering them wasn’t helping. But the silhouette in the first pit was distinctive, even in the version of this world.

It was a lanky humanoid about seven meters tall, with seven limbs (not counting wings)—except where most insects had two legs, four arms and a tail, this one had four long legs and two even longer arms. Its wings were growing out of its waist, although they were mangled and broken. Its eyes, despite the creature’s state, were bright and alert; and its hands, instead of fingers, ended with two scythe-like claws.

〔Mantis〕

〔Health〕: 14 / 31

〔Stamina〕: 5 / 18

〔Species〕: Elegant Dancer Mantis

It was half-dead, but still went alert and raised its claws at the sight of me. I ignored that and continued to read its new traits.

〔Special abilities〕

Enhanced Agility VI, Enhanced Perception VI, Venom Resistance V (MAX), Grabbing Claws V (MAX), Venomous Claws, Increased Venom Potency XIII, Sharp Teeth V, Flight II, Camouflage III, Precision Targeting, Predatory Instinct, Increased Pain Threshold, Reduced Sleep V, Increased Fertility VI, Faster Youth Development V

〔〕〔〕〔〕

Oh, what a list—these things definitely could become the next big threat. I flew to the next two cages and saw two more mantises of the same species.

I was about to share my findings with Redsting, when she—and a dozen other bees in vicinity—perked up in alarm.