Sieph managed to react quickly enough to reinforce the metal mesh she had been using to protect herself with solid slabs of metal. The changes to the cage made it impossible for the insects to find purchase for mandibles, so the damage that she needed to repair was greatly reduced. It effectively took her out of the fight until we could distract the bugs from her, but it worked to keep the insects enraged and focused.

The acid attacks from the insects were delivered with such force that they were actually putting dents in the metal walls surrounding the Knocker. The substance was so caustic, the metal she was using sizzled as the acid burned through.

[Inspect] identified the insects' levels ranging from three to six, seriously over our level. Bob, Sieph, and I had only reached level three. And I had only 53 experience points of the 600 needed to reach level four. Not only were we seriously under-leveled for this encounter, but they also outnumbered us. The insect hive included at least twenty Horvee.

The fight was frustrating for me. Our only saving grace was that they seemed to have no defense. One or two attacks were all that was necessary to take all but the level five insects down. As the battle progressed, my frustration grew. My abilities weren't well suited for aerial combat. Up to this point, I had been focusing entirely on melee combat, using [Shadow Passage] and [Backstab] to do the most damage.

Beag was doing slightly better than me, so I used [Shapeshift] and tried attacking in my Cu-sith form. But no matter how I tried the insects seemed to anticipate my actions. I had no idea if it was heightened perception, situational awareness, or if the swarm acted as one cohesive body, each insect acting like a limb. If that were the case, the hive mind had such a high standard of proprioception that any melee attack I could make while they were flying was bound to fail.

And the insects were always moving, swarming and attacking the fortification that Sieph had created with single-minded purpose. My miss rate was so high that it wasn't worth the effort of using that combo. I had no choice but to change tactics and begin casting the one spell I had.

Which meant I would need to rely on my ranged abilities. One spell. A spell I only received after System integration with the planet Ijal. I probably should have used the [Ring of Hidden Depths] to gain at least basic mastery of the spell, but I had spent too long training with weapons, it was hard to adjust my focus and embrace spells.

I had read the System message when I'd been given the spell and promptly ignored it. I was going to have to adjust my psyche, learn to embrace all my skills and talents, and fast. It was insane to ignore any of the gifts or abilities that System had provided for my Shadow Druid class.

Grandfather had never had me trained with ranged weapons, he had tried. I'd been tested, I simply had no proficiency with those weapons. So the one spell was the only ranged ability I could rely on. Not training in multiple weapon styles was probably a failing on my part, I should have insisted no matter how badly I was.

Part of that could be attributed to bias, Sidhe were taught from the cradle that you choose one weapon type and spend your entire existence training with that type to the exclusion of all others. Very few people, the Unseelie Queen Bodb for example, took the time to train in two weapon types, and even she only began training her secondary weapon after eons of perfecting the Chakram.

I had been training with daggers, and because there were so many weapons that could be technically classified as a dagger, that training had left no time for anything else. Rondels, Bollocks, Stilettos, Sicas, Dirks, Pushes, and Sgian-dubhs. Each unique. Each iteration requiring time to master.

Although there was some overlap, the more I learned and trained, the more I came to understand that each dagger was remarkably suited for specific tasks. My main weapon was the dirk. The other weapons had their uses, as I'd learned, but the dirk was originally created by the Sidhe for the Sidhe. It was a well-rounded weapon and had enough versatility to be both utilitarian and functional.

It was well suited for me by heft and weight, and a well-crafted dirk was like an extension of my arm. Mine had an enchantment placed that allowed for the blade to change from a single blade to a Tri-pronged weapon, allowing me to use the dirk to trap my opponent's blade. It was an effective tool when used sparingly; I had disarmed more than one trainer who had not been aware the dagger was enchanted with that feature.

[Death's Icy Breath] was a gift from and based on my Cyronax bloodline. It could be both an instant cast spell that conjured an ice projectile that did, piercing cold damage, and had a chance of adding a [Slow] debuff. Or it could be channeled as an area effect spell that created a debilitating fog. Used in this manner the spell had an area effect damage coefficient, obstruction to line of sight, and a guaranteed [Slow] debuff for all targets that were hit with the spell.

To channel the spell, I was unable to move during the duration of the casting at the early levels. Once I had increased my levels as well, as my proficiency, I could become more mobile. The trick, now when casting the spell, required intent and will. I had to make an effort to amplify the [Ice] component.

When I realized that I had to actually use my breath to channel the spell, I made the decision to find a new spell as fast as possible. Standing around and breathing at a swarm of monsters was humiliating, thankfully I could use gestures when I was utilizing the instant cast component. I could already hear some of my trainers on Talahm making jokes about bad breath. I did not want to become known as the member of House Teigh that slew my foes with halitosis.

The spell required five seconds for full effect, but it became active immediately on whatever I had initially targeted. I thought it best to select something in the middle of the swarm since I was uncertain of range or resistances. I needn't have worried about resistance. The insects had no resistance to cold, in fact, they took additional damage to ice and cold attacks.

The Horvee that I had targeted not only slowed, it froze, other than the buzzing of wings beating, all motion was negated. I watched with eyes widening in surprise as I continued to breathe on them, the expanding effects of the spell jumping from insect to insect until all twenty had been enveloped in the fog my spell had created.

"They taste like honey," Bob informed us as he continued eating gathering the insects quickly, content to satisfy his sweet tooth. It was a simple matter for Bob and Beag to tear them apart from that point on. They offered no resistance and offered no further challenge.

After the last Horvee was consumed, and Sieph had dismantled her metal fortification, I scrutinized the area thoroughly using [Inspect] on everything that had to do with the nest. There didn't seem to be anything dangerous left in the area, but I still hadn't received a System notification informing me that the quest was complete.

The only thing that was even showing up with a level was the flower itself. Maybe we had to harvest the pollen and nectar, pick the flower, and destroy the root system for System to consider the quest complete, I thought.

I failed to notice that System had labeled the flower as an enemy and made the mistake Sieph had earlier. Moving in before making sure it was safe to do so.