Day 95: Report In.

  Hazard War: The second-highest level of organized armed conflict against Hazard Beasts by the Four Races. Only Guild Masters, Nobility, and Sects have the authority to declare such a thing.

  For a guild master in the First Circle, conditions for doing so are straightforward: If any of the following Hazard Beasts are discovered within the First Circle, verify first, and if confirmed, declare a Hazard War immediately.

  It's not a matter of authority because a declaration is akin to a distress call. Some Hazard Beasts in Question include, but not limited to:

  - Grimm Bees.

  — Plaque Hoppers.

  — Magma Ants.

  — Tearmites.

  — Oni.

  — Emu.

  — Dracubats.

  These are threats to the very ecosystem and must be eradicated without delay. They have the potential to cause permanent ecological changes, cost thousands of lives, and worse yet, expand the borders of the second circle into the first.

  ---

  The morning air was crisp and carried a faint chill, but no one in the group paid it any mind. The only thing that mattered was speed. The moment they had piled into the carriage, the driver snapped the reins, and the horses lurched into motion. The wheels groaned as they rolled over the uneven dirt road, jostling everyone inside the cabin.

  Jason, Chanty, the Spear Party—Karen, Rooney, Alisa, and Terry—and their cart driver were all on high alert. Tension hung thick in the air, a stark contrast to their usual easygoing atmosphere. Everyone’s eyes darted in different directions, scanning the dense forest that surrounded the road leading back to Lassie Town.

  Chanty sat at the front of the carriage, her back pressed against the wooden frame as she surveyed the path ahead. She had explained the situation once more before they left, making sure everyone understood the one ironclad rule: Do not kill a Grim Bee. Even the cart driver, who had never faced a true Hazard War before, had nodded along, his face pale.

  “If we see one, we ignore it. If it starts following us, we drop a corpse from storage to distract it. That’s the only way we make it out alive.” Chanty's voice was firm, almost uncharacteristically so.

  Jason, seated near the back, let his senses expand. Ki threads wove through the trees, mapping their surroundings in intricate detail. He could sense the presence of wildlife, of lesser Hazard Beasts prowling in the underbrush, but none of the telltale buzzing that had signaled their trouble earlier. For now, at least, they were in the clear.

  But the silence was unnerving.

  Normally, their travels would be peppered with encounters, but this time, there was nothing. No growls, no snapping branches from unseen predators. Just the distant rustle of wind moving through the leaves.

  The cart continued rolling down the road, kicking up dust in its wake.

  “I sense one up ahead. Be careful, everyone.” Warns Jason when the road curved sharply to the left, revealing a sunlit clearing ahead.

  A single Grim Bee hovered lazily over a cluster of wildflowers, its cat-sized body gleaming in the morning light. Its wings, though nearly invisible due to their rapid motion, emitted that same unsettling droning noise.

  The cart driver froze, his grip on the reins tightening until his knuckles turned white.

  Chanty exhaled slowly, muscles coiled like a spring, ready to act if needed. “Don't move suddenly.” Her voice was low, measured. “Just keep moving.”

  The horses, sensing the tension in their rider, snorted uneasily but obeyed as the driver guided them forward with slow, controlled movements. As they passed within ten meters of the Grim Bee, the creature briefly turned in their direction. Karin could see its unnerving compound eyes, black and glossy, reflecting the world in fractured pieces. Her breath hitched.

  For a terrifying moment, it looked like the bee was going to fly toward them.

  Then—

  Chanty acted.

  With an almost imperceptible movement, she made a small hand gesture toward Alisa, who immediately flicked a wrist, dropping a fresh Hazard Beast corpse onto the road behind them. The dead creature hit the ground with a dull thud. The Grim Bee instantly lost interest in them.

  The moment it caught the scent of fresh blood, it buzzed toward the carcass, landing atop it with its hooked legs. Its head dipped as it began tearing into the flesh with its mandibles.

  No one dared to breathe until the carriage rounded another bend, putting the scene behind them.

  Chanty let out a relieved sigh, wiping sweat from her brow. Everyone else also performed their own gestures of relief. The rest of the journey was just as tense, but they encountered no more interruptions.

  After what felt like an eternity, Lassie Town finally came into view. It was a welcoming sight. Jason, who had kept his Ki strings active the entire time, finally allowed them to retract.

  They had made it.

  For now.

  The moment the carriage passed through Lassie Town’s outer gates, a collective tension seemed to ease—but only slightly.

  Jason, Chanty, the Spear Party, and their driver knew they were temporarily safe, but their minds remained sharp. They had just come face-to-face with a Grim Bee, and Chanty’s warning had been drilled into all of them. This wasn’t a minor issue.

  Chanty, sitting beside the driver, suddenly turned her head and pointed. “Take us straight to the guild. “

  The driver nodded, snapping the reins as the horses sped up. Within moments, the familiar wooden structure of the Lassie Town Adventurer’s Guild came into view, its wide double doors slightly ajar, welcoming adventurers in and out. Even from outside, Jason could hear the rowdy chatter of adventurers boasting about their latest kills, guild clerks scribbling down reports, and the occasional argument over quest rewards.

  The carriage barely rolled to a stop before Chanty jumped out without hesitation. Jason followed immediately, along with Rooney, Karen, Alisa, and Terry. The moment their feet hit the cobblestones, Chanty turned toward the Spear Party.

  “You guys can go relax in the guild lounge,” she said, brushing some dust off her pants. “Jason and I will handle the report.”

  Alisa nodded. “Okay. If you say so…"

  Rooney stretched his arms above his head, already taking the excuse to kick back. He gave Jason a lighthearted punch on the shoulder. “Let us know how it goes.”

  Terry yawned, rubbing his eyes. “I’m going to find something to eat.”

  Karen only offers a nod of understanding.

  With that, the Spear Party veered toward the lounge area—a small section of the guild filled with couches and tables where adventurers could unwind between quests. Jason and Chanty, on the other hand, marched straight toward the front desk.

  Adventurers stood in line, waiting for clerks to process their quest completions. Others crowded around the quest board, scanning for lucrative bounties. Some leaned against the walls, deep in conversation about recent hunts and rumors.

  Jason and Chanty cut through the noise, heading straight for the main reception desk, where a young woman in a guild uniform was recording a report. She had short brown hair, wore thin-rimmed glasses, and had an air of quiet efficiency about her.

  Chanty didn’t wait for formalities.

  She tapped a finger onto the wooden counter, an act that, with her strength, vibrated said counter enough to startle the clerk. “We need to speak to the Guild Master. Now.”

  The receptionist blinked confused before adjusting her glasses. “Excuse me?”

  Chanty leaned in slightly, removing her adventurers badge and handing it to the other woman. “At the risk of sanction, I request an emergency meeting with the Guild Master. It's of utmost importance. “

  The entire area went silent. Several adventurers, who had previously been chatting loudly, immediately stiffened. A few of them even paled. Jason could already tell that some of the more experienced ones understood what this meant.

  In the guild, one can request an emergency meeting with the Guild Master whereby they'd drop whatever they were doing to attend. In order to avoid abuse, if you wasted the GMs time, you could be sanctioned with a considerable fine, or jail time.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Therefore, it was only invoked in times of the most dire situations that require immediate guild action, lest there be massive loss of life. It didn't get any more serious than this.

  The receptionist swallowed hard. “Are you… certain?”

  Jason stepped forward. “One hundred percent.”

  The receptionist hesitated only for a second before getting up and leaving with Chanty's badge. As she leaves, Jason let's out a heavy sigh, then leans his back against the counter. This brings him face to face with everyone else in the guild staring at he and Chanty, which makes him sweatdrop at the attention. 'That GM better show up soon, it's so uncomfortable here!'

  The Guild Master Appears.

  It didn’t take long.

  A door near the back of the guild swung open with force, and out strode two women.

  The first was a woman in a guild uniform, holding a large leather-bound book against her chest. She had a sharp, intellectual aura—her thin glasses resting on the bridge of her nose only reinforcing the image of a librarian.

  The second woman, however, radiated presence. She was clad in light but sturdy adventurer’s gear, with a long red cloak draped over her shoulders. But what stood out the most was her fiery red hair, slit-pupiled crimson eyes, and jagged teeth that peeked out even with her mouth closed.

  Jason recognized those features immediately. Including the snagletooth. Especially the snagletooth.

  A Fire Dragkin.

  The GM stopped in front of them, arms crossed, before flashing a sharp-toothed grin as she sized up Chanty. “Alright, I'm here. Wanna speak here or in my office? Either's fine by me.”

  Chanty nodded seriously before briefly explaining the Grim Bee situation.

  The Guild Master—Ember—let out a whistle before cracking her neck. “Well, that’s a hell of a problem.”

  The librarian beside her adjusted her glasses. “Standard protocol requires direct verification. We will need to witness the creatures in the field before any official declaration of a Hazard War is made.”

  Chanty had expected this. She nodded. “That’s why my pupil and I are coming with you. I was the first to spot one. I can lead the way.”

  Ember smirked. “Good. But I want an extra pair of eyes.” She says while pointing her thumb back at the Guild Librarian behind her.

  She then turned to Chanty fully. “We are heading to Debs’ place first.”

  Jason and Chanty blinked. “Debs?” Ember grinned mischievously in response.

  Jason, Chanty, Ember, and the librarian left the guild without wasting another second.

  The sun was steadily falling in the sky, casting long afternoon shadows over Lassie Town’s streets. Despite the coming conflict, life in town continued as usual—merchants haggling, children running through alleyways, blacksmiths hammering away in their forges.

  But Jason barely paid any attention.

  His focus was locked on the road ahead, as well as the three women leading the way.

  Chanty was moving with her usual casual stride, having returned to her usual self.

  Ember, on the other hand, had a distinct presence. The way she walked, breathed, and even stood radiated confidence. Every step carried a sense of power—not just physical strength, but authority. The Dragkin woman exuded an energy that reminded Jason of a wildfire kept barely under control.

  He wasn't much of a power scaler, but his gut told him a fight between Chanty and her would be difficult to predict.

  And then there was the guild librarian. Jason had already decided to mentally refer to her as “Libby” until he learned her actual name. Unlike the other two, she was quiet and composed, walking at a measured pace while clutching the large leather-bound book against her chest.

  After several minutes, they reached a small, wooden house on the outskirts of town. It was a cozy-looking place.

  Deborah’s house.

  “Oh boy…" Was Jason's exasperated words as Ember stopped in front of the door and knocked firmly.

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  The group waited.

  A muffled voice grumbled from inside. Jason already recognized the tone—it was the half-annoyed, half-suspicious voice of a woman who didn’t like visitors.

  The door swung open. Standing in the doorway was Deborah, the Elven Tamer. Her sharp eyes immediately locked onto Ember. The moment she saw the Dragkin woman, her entire expression darkened.

  Ember grinned way too cheerfully. “Hey, Debs. Been a while.”

  Deborah’s face immediately twisted in horror. She tried to slam the door shut. But Ember was faster.

  The Dragkin jammed her boot between the door and the frame, completely stopping it in place. “Now, now,” she said with an amused tone. “I know I haven't visited as often as I should, but that's no reason to slam the door in my face. Come on! I'll make it up to you. “

  Jason couldn’t help but suppress a snicker. Deborah’s earlier irritation had turned into panic.

  “No. No, no, no. Get out. I don’t want whatever this is. I know exactly what happens when you show up at my door unannounced, Ember!”

  Chanty, arms crossed, shook her head. “You’re acting like she’s a plague.”

  Deborah pointed at her aggressively. “She IS a plague!”

  Ember laughed. “Come on, Debs. Don’t be like that.”

  She shoved the door open completely, forcing her way inside like she owned the place. Deborah immediately tried to backpedal, but Ember caught her in a headlock.

  The Elven Tamer struggled helplessly. “Gah! Let go, you overgrown lizard!”

  Ember just grinned wider, rubbing her knuckles against Deborah’s head. “Still got that bad attitude, huh? Guess I need to fix that.”

  Jason’s eyebrows raised as Deborah suddenly started thrashing violently.

  “No—No, don’t—!” But it was too late.

  Ember licked her fingers, then shoved them straight into Deborah’s ear.

  “AHHHH! A WET WILLY?! YOU DISGUSTING FIRE-BREATHING FREAK!”

  Jason and Chanty watched the scene unfold with vastly different reactions.

  Chanty just sighed, rubbing her temples. “Ahh… I get it now…"

  Jason, on the other hand, tried not to burst out laughing.

  Deborah was now violently swatting at Ember, frantically rubbing her ear with her sleeve.

  The Dragkin finally released her, arms crossed and looking completely smug. “There, now we’re properly reunited.”

  Deborah shot her a venomous glare. “You’re the worst.”

  Ember shrugged. “I know.”

  Libby, who had been silent the entire time, merely adjusted her glasses. “Are we done with… this?”

  Deborah grumbled under her breath. “Whatever. What the hell do you want?”

  Ember leaned forward. “We need a containment trap for a Grim Bee.”

  Deborah’s annoyance immediately shifted to confusion.

  “A Grim Bee? Are you joking?”

  Jason shook his head. “We saw one with our own eyes.”

  Deborah’s expression darkened. For the first time since they arrived, her demeanor completely shifted. She was no longer just annoyed—she was concerned.

  She crossed her arms, thinking for a moment before letting out a sigh. “Damn it. Fine. Give me a second.”

  She disappeared deeper into her home, the sounds of rummaging and clattering filling the air.

  A few minutes later, she returned holding a large spherical glass container.

  She twisted it in half, demonstrating how it could be opened and then sealed airtight. “This is the best I’ve got. And before you say anything—this is my ONLY one, so if you break it, I’ll mount your heads on my wall.”

  She handed the trap over to Ember, who grinned and twirled it in her hands. “Much appreciated.”

  Deborah snorted. “I don’t appreciate you.”

  “I know.”

  Ember tucked the container away, then gave Deborah a light pat on the shoulder. “I’ll buy you a meal when we get back.”

  Deborah rolled her eyes. “Screw that. Just bring my damn container back in one piece.”

  Ember smirked. “We’ll try.”

  With the mission clear, the group turned to leave. But just before Jason stepped out the door, he paused and turned back to Deborah. “You and Ember seem… close.”

  Deborah immediately shot him a glare. Jason raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, just an observation.”

  Deborah didn’t say a word. She just pointed at the door. Jason took the hint and quickly left.

  Jason, Chanty, Ember, and Libby departed Deborah’s house and immediately made their way toward the forest on the same carriage that brought the previous group back.

  The driver was reluctant, but Ember reassured him, and they were off. The ride out of town was uneventful, and it remained that way as they crossed into the wilderness.

  Jason, ever the cautious one, extended his Ki String Field, allowing him to sense movement in their surroundings.

  What he found made him frown. Activity was low. There were creatures mucking about, but fewer than usual, and most were in hiding.

  “What's up with you, kid?” Asked Ember, noticing him making a face.

  Jason shares his findings, to which Ember grinned slightly, but there was no humor in her eyes. “Well, that's just great…"

  The Librarian, who had been silent for most of the trip, spoke up. “Grim Bees are low in the food web in the 2nd Circle. But here in the first, they are apex predators. Their pheromones drive away lesser creatures. If the local wildlife flees, some Hazard Beasts from the 2nd Circle will migrate in to fill the gap and hunt the bees. Then other stronger ones will follow soon after. Soon, this surrounding area will be part of the 2nd Circle. We can't let that happen. We must wipe out the Grim Bees before it does.”

  Jason nods in understanding. “So is there a deadline for that?”

  “3 Months. We have 3 months to wipe out the hive. Any longer and we'll be fighting them plus the 2nd Stage Hazard Beasts they bring in simultaneously. We won't be able to destroy the hive nor push back the invading Hazard Beasts with a force mainly consisting of Stage 1 Adventurers. We'd be throwing lives away for nothing.”

  Chanty sighs at that, but says nothing. Silence fell over them again. Soon they came across a Hazard Beast corpse that had been stripped to the bone. This was the one dropped by the clearing to distract the lone Grim Bee hovering over a meadow.

  The group continues past the science without comment. The weight of the situation was becoming more real with each step.

  The deeper they traveled into the forest, the louder a distant buzzing became. It started as a low, almost indistinct hum in the background—like the whisper of the wind through the trees. But as they drew closer, it grew into a droning, vibrating presence. The sound reverberated through the air, through their bones.

  By the time they were within a few hundred meters of the Kill Zone, it was clear as day—there were dozens, maybe hundred of Grim Bees ahead.

  Jason instinctively lowered his stance, moving quietly. Chanty did the same. Even Ember, for all her casual bravado, adjusted her approach, her movements fluid and controlled.

  Libby tightened her grip on her book, her breathing slow and steady. As a unit, they advanced carefully, finally reaching a dense section of foliage that provided cover.

  From their hidden vantage point, they peered into the Kill Zone. Jason’s breath hitched slightly. Hundreds of Grim Bees.

  They swarmed over the pile of Hazard Beast corpses that Alisa had dumped before they fled. The bodies were already stripped down to the bone, glistening red with fresh flesh and viscera.

  The bees worked methodically, tearing apart meat, secreting some kind of enzyme onto the bones to dissolve remaining tissue, and carrying pieces away.

  The scene was horrifying.

  “Verified. They indeed are Grim Bees.” Libby wasted no time in saying as she lowers a pair of binoculars. This causes Jason to do a double take. 'When did she whip that out?'

  “Oh boy… This next few months is going to be a pain.” Ember mock lamented before revealing the trap Deborah lent her. "So... How do we go about trapping one of those." The GM asked aloud.

  Libby speaks up, stating that they are underprepared, and should postpone such a thing until a later time. However, Jason chimes in with a proposal. “That's no problem. I can get it done pronto, with your permission.”

  All 3 women turn to him. “And how do you intend to do that, kid?” Inquires Ember.

  “It's a hassle to explain in detail, it's easier if you see it yourself.” Answers Jason.

  Before Ember could form a reply, Chanty adds her two cents. “My pupil is a strange one. I have seen him do so many fantastical things. If he says he can do something, he can. As his teacher, I vouch for his ability. Plus I trust you shall see something quite amazing.”

  This got the Fire Dragkin to perk up and give Jason another one's over.

  “You're heaping a lot of praise on this kid. Now I'm dying see, what he can do.” She hands Jason the ball. “Go on, kid. Blow my mind.”

  Jason takes the ball, gives a mock salute, then slip the ball into his Mind scape. That last part made Libby and Ember raise a brow, but Jason just pointed in a direction. All 3 women turned to see a lone Grim Bee quite a distance from the others. The next moment, a spherical glass container appears around the creature before proceeding to float away while the Grimm Bee struggles to either fly within, or escape from the container.

  The sight leaves the onlookers gobsmacked. Ember points a shaky finger at the direction of the scene while struggling to speak to Jason. “... H-how?”

  “Told you. ~” Chanty comments from the side.

  Jason was loving Embers reaction. “It's a pain to explain in detail. Maybe some other time. Can we get going, though? I can't bring the ball here cuz the sucker inside is buzzing up a storm inside, and will alert the others.”

  Ember lowers her hand as she takes a deep calming breath, before snapping back to her usual demeanor. “Sure. Let's go. We're done here, anyway.”

  The group backtracks several yards until they come across the Grim Bee Jason caught, buzzing indignantly within its glass prison. Ember tentatively picks it up and observes it for a moment, before breaking into a fit of laughter.

  Meanwhile, Jason leans over to Libby to ask. “I never got around to asking, but what do you guys need to catch a live specimen for?”

  The woman adjusts her glasses before answering. “We'll give it to our Apothecary in town. They'll use it to synthesize an antidote to its venom. We shall also put it on display for the adventurers so they will have an ideal of what to look for.”

  “Oh… I see…" Was, Jason's, response as Libby turned back to her still cackling boss before sighing while rubbing her temple.

  “I'm going to be drowning in paperwork for the next few months… Damn bees…" She says with exasperation.