BXBX NOVEL Chapter 74 Spageon Information Network
"This is indeed troublesome." The Fornol Empress stared in all seriousness, curling up the scroll as she handed it over to a minister, getting up as she relayed her command, "Prepare my wagon. I'm personally heading there to see for myself."
"But your Majesty," Lortwick said in fluster, "It's dangerous. There are threatening entities along the way."
"I'll be fine." The Fornol Empress said casually, staring at Luncress who stood behind her, "Luncress will be accompanying me. With him around, I won't be in danger."
"I'm ready to leave whenever, your majesty." Luncress bowed in response, "More than a hundred of my strongest Hoil Bees will accompany us. That's enough power to take down a town."
"Lead the way, Lortwik." The Fornol Empress stared at Luncress' son, "Unless you're too injured to move."
"No, I can manage." Lortwik stared at his father for a moment before nodding in response. He was pretty badly wounded, but he still had his duties to uphold, especially since the situation at hand was serious enough.
The Fornol Empress, Luncress, and his son Lortwik arrived at the palace grounds where a large carriage stood. It had enough room for more than ten people to live comfortably. It was the private vehicle of the Empress.
Varnol!
Created using the combined powers of multiple parasitic abilities in conjunction with her own, resulting in a flower whose petals flapped like the wings of a bird and allowed them to soar through the skies.
Even though its flight speed was slower than a Hoil Bee, it was stabler and provided a defensive construct. After all, the petals numbered in the triple digits, with enough forming the place of dwelling while the rest made it fly.
Embedded in its centre was a small field of Fornol Sunflowers through which the Fornol Empress controlled the vehicle. Only those with the power of the Fornol Sunflower were capable of piloting this craft, making this a royalty-exclusive vehicle.
It was also due to the fact that it burned through a massive reserve of Blight Cores every minute, a wealth that would empty the coffers of even noble families. But, just burning through Blight Cores wasn't enough to sustain flight.
Only a Fornol Sunflower's ability to absorb energy from sunlight and emit it could make this possible. Thanks to this, there was a steady influx of energy, enough to sustain it during flight. Secondly, the petals emitted mild heat, using it to create an effect similar to a hot air balloon to remain afloat better.
Without this, it was impossible to create a flying vehicle.
"A-Amazing!" Lortwik exclaimed upon coming across Varnol, staring at the over twenty-metre-wide vehicle with its expansive flowers. Situated in its centre was a house, appearing as if made using tender plant stem, was the dwelling, which seemed fragile at first glance, but was strong enough to even withstand blows from the Fornol Empress.
A Fornol Sunflower appeared on her palms as the Fornol Empress emanated corruption through it, controlling Varnol from afar, causing it to lower one of its petals, forming a bridge for them to board.
As they took a seat, the minister brought in multiple trunks filled with a variety of necessities, loading them within the storage designated in the dwelling. Following that, he took his leave, bowing at the Empress from afar.
"Let's go." The Fornol Empress said as she stared at the group of Fornol Sunflowers before her, watching them staring at her as she controlled them, causing Varnol's petals to flap in response.
A minute later, the flapping of the petals had become intense enough to lift it, causing Varnol to take off into the air and gradually make its way past the capital.
"Look! It's the Empress!"
"Her Majesty!"
"Long live the Empress!"
The citizens in the capital praised aloud the moment they saw Varnol flying past them in the skies. They had borne witness to its grandeur a few times, turning excited immediately.
As the days passed by, it felt like their Empress was becoming a deity in their minds and hearts, for her exploits were getting grander and grander. And surprisingly, ever since she became a Blight Human, the living conditions of those in the capital improved.
Therefore, the emotions of the citizens took on a positive spin, as evidenced by the excitement they displayed at the sight of Varnol.
"Lead the way." The Fornol Empress, Feleokruna said as she waved her hand, purposefully lowering the Varnol a little to allow the citizens to get a better look at her.
"Yes, your majesty." Lortwik nodded in response as he snapped his finger, causing a Spageon to arrive before him and land on his outstretched arm. It chirped a few times as Lortwik nodded in response.
"What is it saying?" Luncress asked. Only Lortwik was able to communicate with the Spageons. It was the same as how only he was able to communicate with the Hoil Bees.
Spageons consisted of two varieties based on size difference, differentiating the male and female. During their growth, both genders were of the same size. But, once they mate, the female Spageons would begin to consume more food and experience a second growth spurt.
From a height of twenty centimetres to a height between two and three metres, they grew in the span of one month.
Their lifespan was a tad shy of a decade but they were plenty useful, growing for the exact purpose that Lortwik had intended.
The male Spageons worked in bringing information from one place to another, serving as a network. They were capable of spying on others and communicating information with one another.
To the humans, their communication was no different from that exchanged between birds. So, this was the best form of transmitting information securely as the Spageons would eventually circulate the message back to Lortwik.
This was a sprawling information network that allowed him to grasp the happenings throughout the place. That was how he came across the West Guardian Village. And when he went there personally to investigate further, he was injured.
The female Spageons, on the other hand, were optimal for transportation, capable of carrying two people on their backs. This allowed them to transport people and goods from one place to another rather conveniently and at a quick pace.
The female Spageons would retain their grown body size even after laying down their eggs, remaining as such for the rest of their lives.
And, they retained the traits of insects, obtaining all the genetic material necessary after a single mating session, enough to lay eggs for the rest of their life.
A female Spageon laid eggs at least twice a year, allowing Lortwik to obtain as many as possible among his ranks. The only negative was his failure to keep up with the food production.
Those with his ability would have to regularly feed the creatures they created. And the food only had to be the nectar their abilities secrete. Otherwise, the creatures would die soon after.
The Varnol quickly moved across the sea, heading further south, travelling for a day before reaching a desert as the Fornol Empress frowned, staring at a river running across the desert.
She pulled out the map of the region, expressing her confusion as she stared at it, "Is this the wrong map? On the map, this place is indicated as a dense forest. So, why is it a desert?"
"Something happened here recently, your majesty." Lortwik said, bowing his head in shame, displaying his injuries, "Unfortunately, I was unable to investigate further. My Spageons were massacred here and when I tried to find out more, I ended up in this state."
"So, it was here." The Fornol Empress nodded in response before saying, "We'll take a look at this place first before heading to that village."
"Your majesty, it's dangerous, even for you," Lortwik said in alarm before shutting up as he judged that it was better to show than protest in vain. Soon after, the Varnol arrived two kilometres from the Pitcher Plant Forest as those on board were able to see the mysterious giant plants.
"Dad, leave the Hoil Bees here." Lortwik said all of a sudden, "Any of my Spageons that passed beyond this point were mysteriously attracted into their pitchers. And I'm sure your Hoil Bees would be no different."
"Let me verify it first," Luncress said, making a Hoil Bee test the waters first, causing it to move closer to the Pitcher Plant Forest when suddenly, it failed to listen to his commands any longer, quickly making its way into a pitcher whose lid closed immediately after.
A few minutes later, Luncress muttered, "It's dead."
"Yeah, that's how dangerous these plants are." Lortwik nodded in response before pointing at the leaves, "Those leaves are even worse. They are like blades that would clamp upon you the moment you near them. As long as they exist, you cannot even approach them."
"Oh, they also regenerate just like the plants created from our abilities." He concluded, shuddering as his wounds hurt just from staring at the leaves, noticing his hands mildly trembling as a result of the trauma.
"Wait, who are they...?" The Fornol Empress said all of a sudden, her eyes lighting up as she pointed at the entity flying in the air, staring at Lortwik, "Isn't that the humanoid from that village?"