Chapter 19 – Hive Link
The faint hum echoed through the darkness.
At first, Dannie thought it was just her heartbeat — slow, muffled, and distant. But the sound wasn't coming from her chest. It came from everywhere.
It pulsed beneath her skin, through her veins, through her mind, and into her newly awakened third eye. A soft vibration — alive, harmonious, endless. Then, faint voices joined in. Not human voices, but the whispers of wings, the rhythm of fifty or so tiny hearts beating in imperfect, chaotic unison.
Protect… Restore… Survive…
Her thoughts flickered as warmth surrounded her consciousness — golden, faint, yet familiar.
And within that light, she saw her: the Queen Bee.
The majestic insect beast rested at the center of the hum, its aura steady and regal. It had changed from its previous form — its body now glowed white, surrounded by swirling golden smoke that shimmered faintly like threads of living mana. Dannie felt the faint thread between them — a spiritual bond unlike anything she had ever formed before. It wasn't dominance or control. It was recognition.
"Thank you for saving me, young mistress," a gentle voice echoed directly in her mind.
Dannie froze.
"You… you can speak? Directly through my mind?" she asked in disbelief.
"Through the power bestowed by the young mistress, I evolved to another level — and with it came awareness. I am now capable of thought, of speech, and of gratitude."
Before she could respond, the golden light pulsed brighter — and suddenly, she felt herself being pulled back into her body.
Her eyes flew open. She gasped.
"—Dannie!"
Joren's voice cut through the haze. He was crouched beside her, his crossbow angled toward the shadows, scanning the area. The faint smell of burnt venom still lingered, the ground marked by blackened acid burns from the serpent they had fought.
"You're awake," he said, relief mixing with tension. "You've been out for half an hour."
Dannie blinked, dazed but alert. Her mana flow was steady, though her head still buzzed faintly with lingering energy. "Half an hour? It… didn't feel that long."
He sighed, lowering his weapon slightly. "You're quite bold, you know that? Those insect beasts have been hovering around you the entire time. Good thing they're not attacking."
She turned her head — and froze.
The Queen Bee stood proudly a few feet away, her once-wounded body now fully restored. Her wings shimmered with translucent gold, her abdomen gleaming with divine radiance. Around her, dozens of bees hovered protectively — no longer hostile, but still uncertain. They seemed confused, torn between instinct and something unfamiliar… the faint resonance of their queen's bond with Dannie.
"She's alive," Dannie breathed softly, "and stronger."
The Queen Bee turned her gaze toward her.
"Young mistress, please bestow upon me a name," she requested, flying closer, her voice clear within Dannie's mind.
Dannie blinked, surprised. "A name…?"
"Young mistress, you may also subdue the rest," the Queen continued. "They can reside within the hive that exists inside your third eye. They are restless without a bond and yearn for belonging."
Dannie nodded slowly, still trying to comprehend the connection between her third eye and the hive. But deep down, she understood — this was the mark of a true Specialist, something she had read only briefly in her training notes.
Following the Queen's guidance, she repeated the same bonding process she used before — focusing her mana, extending her intent, and harmonizing her spirit with the residual essence of the lesser bees.
Minutes passed.
A soft golden ripple spread across the air as the swarm's buzzing shifted into a unified rhythm. Dannie's mana dimmed slightly as the link formed one by one. The effort drained her, but the results were unmistakable — the connection deepened.
At last, she felt it.
A surge of shared vitality — not oppressive, but harmonious.
She smiled faintly, though her breath came short. "It worked."
All around, the bees began to shimmer. Their forms brightened, and subtle changes appeared — sleeker bodies, translucent gold-veined wings, and faint white patterns on their thoraxes. They had evolved, much like their queen. Though smaller, their presence radiated strength and calm.
Through instinct, Dannie could already tell what they were — Doctor Bees, a rare strain of healing insect beasts capable of using their blood essence to regenerate flesh and purify toxins. Only the Queen could perform true restoration through mana, but her subordinates could sustain vitality in others.
Joren's eyes widened. "You tamed… all of them?"
"Yes," Dannie replied, her voice soft but firm. "Though I can feel the strain… it's manageable."
"Well," Joren muttered, rubbing his temple. "You might have just pushed your limits again."
Before she could respond, the system's voice chimed within her mind:
—
Ding!
Beasts Bond Established.
You have successfully formed a spiritual contract with [Low Tier Queen Bee – Level 23].
Your Beast Domination trait has been enhanced.
New Sub-Skill Unlocked: Hive Link (Lv.1)
— Creates a spiritual bridge between the host and the Hive Space.
— Allows limited empathy and mana synchronization with bonded hive-type beasts.
— Enables collection and release of subdued insect beasts inside the third eye, where the hive establishes its home.
Talent Updated: Bee Evolution
— Strengthens shared growth and emotional resonance between the host and the Hive Monarch.
Dannie exhaled, a tired laugh escaping her. "It worked… hehe."
Focusing her thought, she willed the bond to activate. One by one, the bees shimmered — and vanished into streaks of golden light. The air grew quiet. Then she sensed them again — inside her.
Within her third eye, an ethereal space had formed — a glowing golden hive where the swarm now rested peacefully. The bees buzzed softly, exploring their new home, while the Queen — her name now Althea — hovered regally above them, her voice warm and composed.
"We thank the young mistress for her magnanimity" Althea said.
"We shall serve and protect, as one hive"
Dannie smiled faintly, her mana still humming with the new link. "Welcome home, Althea… all of you."
Dannie fixed herself before looking at Joren.
"You're not going to ask me about being a specialist?" she said, brushing off the dirt on her sleeves. Her fingers brushed her forehead where the faint mark of her third eye had already vanished, hidden seamlessly beneath her skin. "Or… what about you being a specialist too?"
She narrowed her eyes. "You said too earlier—when I was subduing the queen bee."
Joren met her gaze, silent for a moment before sighing. "Not like we're friends," he replied coolly. "We just met, remember? Why should I share my secrets? Just because you revealed yours doesn't mean I owe you the same."
His tone was defensive, but not entirely hostile—more like someone protecting a long-kept secret.
Dannie crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Fine. Keep your mystery."
He gave a faint smirk. "Good. Though I wonder how you'll feed your new… friends."
Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on." He tilted his head slightly, that smug expression deepening. "Those insect beasts need nectar, don't they? Flowers? Or some mana-infused substance to keep them alive?"
Caught off guard, Dannie blinked. Right… how do I even feed them now that they live inside me?
She quickly reached out through her mental link. Althea?
The queen bee responded faintly from within her third eye. "We can sustain ourselves for a time, young mistress, but… yes, we will eventually need nourishment".
Her expression darkened slightly. "Tch…"
Joren chuckled. "Thought so."
"What do you care?" she shot back, glaring.
"Well…" He lifted his hand casually, the glint of mana flickering between his fingers. "Maybe I can help you with that. But I'll need something in return."
Dannie frowned. "What is it?"
He leaned slightly closer, his tone dropping to something quieter—but edged with confidence. "Since you're so curious about my specialty, I'll indulge you a bit. My division's Elemental. I'm a wielder."
"Wielder?" Dannie echoed.
"Yeah. You're from the Soul Division—an enchanter, right? I, on the other hand, needed the material aspect of the shadow world." His eyes shimmered faintly with silvery light. "My specialty… is Personal Dimension inside my third eye. Most porters needed an artifact to open limited storages. But, mine is extensive that I can create and maintain a living dimension inside my third eye ."
She stared at him, wide-eyed. "You mean—you can store living beings in there?"
He grinned. "Exactly. That's why I said I could handle your bees'… dietary needs."
The realization hit her instantly. He wasn't lying. If his specialty truly allowed a dimensional environment, then her flowers living inside her could temporarily exist there—safe, nourished, and alive. Her hive could maybe come and go for sustenance.
"But," Joren added, raising a finger, "in exchange, you'll have to carry me."
"Carry you?" she repeated blankly.
"Whenever we're in a group or mission," he said, grinning. "You keep me close, I keep your hive fed. Seems fair, right?"
Dannie blinked, completely thrown off. "That's your condition? Not money? Not some rare item? Just… carry you?"
He shrugged. "Rare item and money? I bet you're just poor like me. Meanwhile I can see the potential in you, you're strong, and I'm practical. We're both specialists too. Think of it as a partnership."
She stared at him for a long moment, still trying to decide if he was serious—or just insane.
Finally, she sighed, half amused, half exasperated. "You're unbelievable."
She barely knew the guy, but there's really nothing she could do since he already knew of her secret.
She signed for helplessness.
"So? Do we have a deal, Hive Mistress?" Joren said, smirking
Her glare softened—just barely. "We'll see."