Chương 13: 1.1.13 - Don't Go Chasing Glimmerwasp

It was a good thing I made sure there was a fire break between when I lit the fire at the entrance and the rest of the trees. If the trees in this area caught fire, I would have literally cooked myself alive being stuck in this giant pit as it was not easy to climb out. Especially if the trees I was using caught fire. I could smell the smoke and feel the heat as I approached the cave entrance. The faint smell of burnt chitin and chemical sweetness also lingered in the air.

One of the wasps probably fell into the fire after I zapped it. There were 12 wasps total from this nest. The alpha wasp's body popped like an angry pimple and there was at least one wasp that fell into the fire based on the smell so that left me with a maximum of 10. The fire was dying down as the cave entrance came into view. There was still some smoke coming from the pile but it was clear enough for me to make out the bodies of the wasps collapsed by the cave entrance.

I quickly did a tally of how many were still in harvestable condition. In the end, there were actually two wasps that fell into the fire, and one where I hit the abdomen instead of the head. Eight wasps total, with maybe three to four ounces of nectar each, looking at the larger bodies of the wasps from this nest. Not bad for a few day's work. I gave the wasps with the intact bodies another zap on the head for good measure. Always remember rule number two, Double Tap.

Thank goodness I did not need to do cardio with my Nature's Constitution soul mutation. I went about absorbing all eight cores from the wasps before they had dissipated. I let the notifications from the Weave appear with a thought.

[Electro Perception leveled up 6 -> 7] [You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 700] [You have leveled up 13 -> 15] [Lightning Bolt leveled up 2 -> 3] [You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 600] [You have leveled up 15 -> 16] [Lightning Infusion leveled up 1 -> 2] [You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 200] [You have absorbed an Orange Core. You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 48] [You have absorbed an Orange Core. You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 53] [You have absorbed an Orange Core. You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 49] [You have absorbed an Orange Core. You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 54] [You have leveled up 16 -> 17] [You have absorbed an Orange Core. You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 55] [You have absorbed an Orange Core. You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 61] [You have absorbed an Orange Core. You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 56] [You have absorbed an Orange Core. You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 42] It seemed like the point about deterioration of cores was true, as I received less core capacity from these wasps than those I had killed and absorbed immediately. The cores from the wasps falling into the fire were probably too damaged as I could not feel anything from them. This was quite a bit of progress from the spells, as well as all the cores I absorbed.

The spells probably leveled up based on how much I pushed myself from the extended skirmish. I was probably taking an unusual amount of risk as other adventurer groups probably worked together to take down one or two beasts of the same grade at a time. I also had my lightning affinity to thank as lightning spells were unusually lethal, at least against organic targets. No wonder the royal family made military service for lightning affinity mages mandatory.

I pulled up my status through the Weave and could not help but let out a low whistle. Status Core: Lightning Affinity (Perfect) Core Stage: Orange Stage Level: 17 Mana Core Capacity (MCC) Progress to Next Level: 224/500 Core Mutations: - Lightning Brain Spells: - Electro Perception (Tier 1) - Level 7 - Lightning Bolt (Tier 2) - Level 3 - Lightning Infusion (Tier 1) - Level 2 Soul Mutations: - Adaptive Soul - Nature's Constitution Status This story has been stolen from Royal Road.

If you read it on Amazon, please report it Core: Lightning Affinity (Perfect) Core Stage: Orange Stage Level: 17 Mana Core Capacity (MCC) Progress to Next Level: 224/500 Core Mutations: - Lightning Brain Spells: - Electro Perception (Tier 1) - Level 7 - Lightning Bolt (Tier 2) - Level 3 - Lightning Infusion (Tier 1) - Level 2 Soul Mutations: - Adaptive Soul - Nature's Constitution Three more levels till I see what the threshold for yellow is, though I had a sinking feeling in my stomach it was going to be the same 5x multiplier in requirements.

I dismissed it and got to work, there were eight sacs to harvest and I was not the most proficient in using my knife. I started the painful process of cutting through the chitin and locating the sac to extract the nectar. It was not difficult but it was tedious to extract the nectar. I did not have a watch but I estimated it was close to two hours before I was done. It was already beginning to get dark and I did not want to find out what beasts roam these forests after sunset.

I climbed out of the karst with a heavy leather pouch slung around my shoulders. I made my way out of the Greywoods as the late afternoon sun was shining through the forest canopy. The weather was starting to cool, as the summer heat that used to linger even till after dark was replaced by that cool autumn air. The sun was close to setting when I could finally see the stream by the orphanage. I was running through my head what excuse I should use this time.

There was no way to hide the honey as I needed Marta to fence off the goods. I also could not say I stumbled upon an unguarded nest as Glimmerwasp Nectar was obviously extracted from their bodies. I decided to just face the music head on, preparing myself mentally for a barrage of questions from Marta. My legs were starting to ache badly and I had to walk with a slight limp by the time I reached the orphanage.

This was probably due to overusing my Lightning Infusion, reminding myself that I need to keep track of how many times I used it to not accidentally tear my muscles or tendons. Marta was almost done with dinner preparations with Merv and Thal when I walked into the kitchen. She turned around when she heard the door open.

"Oh Ash, you're back just in time. Can you help me set the table? Dinner will be ready in a minute." She looked to the heavy leather pouch by my waist and asked "What's that you got there?" I took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.

"Easier to show you than explain" I took one of the empty jars by the kitchen counter and removed the stopper on the pouch, before pouring some of that amber liquid for her to see. The savoury aroma of Glimmerwasp nectar permeated the room before she realised what it was.

"Wait... is that what I think it is?"

"Yeah..." I said as I looked to the pouch I was holding, close to one liter of that liquid from all the wasps I hunted.

"Asher... wait... how many did you have to hunt...." she fainted before she could complete the sentence. I dropped the jar on the table and hurried beside her to catch her as she collapsed. I expected her to be heavier but she was a lot lighter than I expected. I expected all kinds of questions from Marta, all of which I had a response prepared, but I did not expect her to faint. The shock of the danger I placed myself in must have been too much for her.

"Sorry, can you go ahead with dinner? Don't want to keep the hungry kids waiting. I'll bring Marta to her room" Merv just nodded and began taking bowls from the shelf.

"Do you need help? Is she fine?" Thal asked with her eyebrows furrowed. The worry on her face was apparent.

"She's fine, just a bit shocked that's all. She just needs a bit of rest." I reassured her.

"Just keep some food for me and Marta, I'll eat with her when she's awake" I lifted Marta in a princess carry, shocking both Merv and Thal as well as myself. I was strong for my age, but it was probably also Marta's frail body that made her lighter than normal. I could feel her frail arms and bones as I carried her, reminding me of the sacrifice she made for all of us. Stupid me, so much for not worrying Marta.

I knew I probably should have told her I was hunting wasps but part of me was also selfish for not wanting her to talk me out of it. I made my way upstairs to her room before placing her gently on the bed. Thal came up after about half an hour or so carrying two bowls of stew that Marta had prepared earlier.

"I thought it might be easier if she stayed in bed to eat. I brought yours up too." The room was bare with barely any furniture so Thal moved another chair beside me and placed the two bowls down.

"You know... I appreciate all that you've done for us. We've been eating better thanks to you, but whatever it is you're doing, try not to worry Marta too much. She cares for you more than she lets on."

"The rest of the kids are done with dinner. I'll help Merv clean up in the kitchen but let me know if there's anything else" Thal said before leaving. I could only mutter a "sorry..." very quietly after she had left. This weird sense of guilt was so unlike Damian, but then again, I never really had the relationship I had now with people back on Earth. I did not really keep track of how much time passed but the stew had already gone cold, as there was no longer steam rising from it.

And the grease in the stew had thickened into a thin film on the top. I sighed in relief, not realizing I had tensed my shoulder unconsciously all this time, as Marta stirred, opening her eyes. She was calm now, she just turned her head and looked at me sitting beside her. I helped her sit up in her bed when I saw her trying to get up.

"Do you want some water? Or some stew? I can go get it heated" I gestured at the two bowls beside me.

"It's alright, firewood is expensive. We should save it for when we actually need it during winter. I don't mind it cold" she replied. I passed her one of the two bowls as we began to eat in silence. She placed the spoon down and looked at me after eating a few spoons.

"Ash, do you know how much danger you put yourself in?"

"I'm fine, really, look at me! I did not get any injuries this time compared to my first boar hunt" I quickly spat out my rehearsed response.

"Don't think you can fool me, I know how dangerous it is to harvest Glimmerwasp Nectar. One wrong move and you will be unconscious from the venom. I'm not sure how you got so much nectar but it can't be just one or two wasps""I know... I was being careful.... I just wanted to make our lives easier. I have ideas I want to test and build. Ways to heat water without wood, things to keep us warm in winter, lights in the room.

But all of it costs coin we don't have" I felt guilty for the slight deception, as the real reason I wanted more money was to buy materials for my railgun.

"I get it dear, but you don't have to take such risks. I won't stop you hunting but just promise me that you won't take any more unnecessary risks. We have enough now, our bellies are full. We had always lived like this. We can live with the cold for a while longer." Remembering my promise I made to myself earlier, I quietly nodded.

"No more Glimmerwasp anymore. I'll try to stick to the beasts on the outskirts."

"I do still need your help to help me sell this stuff though," I lifted the pouch full of nectar, while giving her a wide grin. I could just see her roll her eyes, muttering something unintelligible about unbelievable excuses as we finished our stew. Author Note: This is the work of Josh Shoniix. This work of fiction will only be published on Royal Road and Space Battle for free. If you're reading this on another site or paid through Google Books, this work has been stolen.