“No horses.”

The spirits within the hive groaned in disappointment. They had been hoping for more horses so that they could create more unicorns, or some other version of horses. This group of humans however did not have any horses. Instead, they walked.

There were 6 of them and they were looking at the wagon outside the tunnel. The werewolves had taken the wagon from the hunter’s camp and since then, it has been sitting idle at the entrance of the tunnel. This group of human was clearly surprised to see the wagon there and were talking to each other. The hive tried to listen in but found that they were speaking in a language the hive did not understand.

The hive went through their knowledge and tried to focus. Then, the humans began to make sense. The hive discovered they were speaking to each other in a language called Clan. Of all the humans the hive had killed, this was a language only two of the humans had. This group of humans must be different from the humans who usually tried to kill it. Several spirits within the hive cheered at the thought. New humans meant new knowledge. The hive concentrated on the group.

“…this wagon doing here?”

“You don’t think it belong to the city folks do you?”

“It’s not a clan design so yeah, it probably is. What do you think Boss, Yachium or Yaslay?”

The big man who was the Boss of the group shrugged. “Who cares? City folks are city folks. It doesn’t change why we are here.”

“We are here because the shamans said there was a great loss of spiritual power in this area,” one of the humans said. “If this was done due to the meddling of the cities…”

“If it was due to the cities, the meddling would originate at Yachium or Yaslay, not at the foot of Big Keg.” The Boss said.

“True, this probably has nothing to do with those idiots in the cities.” Another of the humans said. “If it does, it’s probably one of those “dark mages” type who found living in the cities to be too stifling.”

“Which means there would be no problems between the Clans and the cities when we find and then kill this mage?”

“Ha,” the Boss laughed. “They would probably give a reward if they found out. The nobles in the cities despise anyone they can’t control, like you know...us!”

The group laughed at the joke and entered the tunnel. Once they did so, the hive noticed once again that this group was different from the previous two groups of humans that had entered the tunnels.

This group of humans did not come into the tunnel in a tight formation. Instead they spread out with one of the humans well in front of the others. The others walked in a loose formation with some of the humans walking together and others away from each other.

The hive also noticed the weapons the humans were carrying were slightly different. So different that the spirits had to go through it’s knowledge to know what they were carrying.

The human in front was carrying a bow that was shorter than the bows other hunters had carried inside the tunnels. The hive also saw that human having several knives struck to his belt. The spirits assumed this human was the hunter of the group.

Behind him came three of the humans walking together in a loose group. Two of the humans were carrying swords with the last human walking behind them carrying a weapon that looked with a staff but with a pointed end. Behind them came the last two humans; one of whom was carrying a staff while the other was carrying two small axes. The werewolves had brought an axe beck from the hunter’s camp but the hive recognized these two the human was carrying were different.

The spirits within the hive immediately decided they need to kill this human for the axes, maybe even that human with the pointed staff as well. The spirits within the hive were delighted by all the new knowledge it was going to get. Unlike in the past when it was worried by things new, now it exactly looked forward to new things it would gained. A few of the spirits within the hive were exactly worried that their increasing power was leading the hive to take unnecessary risks but they were drowned out by the other spirits.

With all the creatures it had created, most of the spirits believed the hive was safer than ever. Some of them, like the Fire Spirits, exactly hoped some humans managed to reach them. That was why the hive hadn’t down to the fourth floor yet. They hoped this group of humans had what it took to get to them.

Any question about that was answered when the group reached the room of You-Who-Are-Not-Bear.

As usual, You-Who-Are-Not-Bear appeared out of the wall when the group reached its room. The Nature Spirits of the hive picked Mana this time and the humans were clearly surprised by the spirit bear’s appearance. However unlike other groups, this group’s reaction to You-Who-Are-Not-Bear was immediate. They attacked!

The two humans with swords screamed at the top of their lungs and attacked You-Who-Are-Not-Bear. When the spirit bear swiped at them, both warriors jumped back out of the spirit bear’s reach. The warrior with the pointed staff then came forward and thrust his weapon at You-Who-Are-Not-Bear. He then easily dodged the return swipe of You-Who-Are-Not-Bear. On the back foot already, You-Who-Are-Not-Bear did what it usually does in such situation. It roared.

However just as the effect of the roar was taking place, the human mage raised his staff and casted a spell. A small spirit bear appeared above each human. The small spirit bear floated down and disappeared. The hive sensed the Mana of the spell spreading out to all the humans and the effects of the roar was negated.

The humans attacked once more. The human with the short bow fired several arrows in such quick succession that it amazed the hive. The warrior with the twin axes came straight up at You-Who-Are-Not-Bear and attacked. The human turned into a whirling mass of movement as his axes swung with a speed that was too quick to see. From either side of the axe wielding human, the two humans with swords also attacked. Before the hive knew it, You-Who-Are-Not-Bear was dead.

The hive wasn’t that surprised by the loss but the speed of the loss astounded the spirits. These humans were strong. The spirits were also surprised by the reactions of the humans. The humans were laughing and slapping each other on the back, saying what an easy fight that was. These humans seemed to enjoy the fight more than anything.

The laughter only died when You-Who-Are-Not-Bear disappeared and the blue crystal was left in its wake. The human with the staff picked it up and told the rest of the humans it was filled with Mana.

As the human talked, the spirits within the hive went into discussion. Two things were clear; they need to kill some of these new humans as they clearly had some skills the hive didn’t know about and something need to be done about the room of You-Who-Are-Not-Bear. It was getting too easy for these humans.

As the humans went down to the second level, the spirits within the hive got excited. These humans were strong. The spirits couldn’t wait to see how they would do against the new creatures the hive had created.

This was going to be fun.

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