Chapter 240: Red Tape

“So Reese told me that some of the Undead working for the worm gave him a message to pass on to you,” Bee said, holding what appeared to be a metal breadbox.

They’re sending me a message? Presumably they’re not on board with working for a brain parasite and are looking for a way to kill him indirectly, so what’s in that bread box should reveal his weakness.

Maybe. Probably isn’t a trap because it’s being handled by Brianna before it makes it to me. Could be misinformation, but I’ll reserve judgement until I see what’s inside.

“You got it there?” Will asked, wondering why Bee would be the one delivering the message. She was known to be a bit more free-spirited than the others. Enough that it would be strange for her to volunteer for a simple job to hand something off to him.

Odd.

“Kind of?” She said, offering him the bread box.

Will took it out of her hand and was about to open it when Bee punched the breadbox into Will’s chest, denting the metal and sending him flying backwards.

It didn’t hurt that bad.

Will’s Resistance was outrageous, but his weight was still the same, so anything that could actually hurt him even a bit would send him flying.

Will slammed to a halt against the walls of his tower, breadbox clutched against his chest.

“That was part of the message.” She said, giving a satisfied nod as Will struggled to inhale.

I see why they sent Bee for this one, Will thought as he climbed to his feet.

“Oh, and the norworm took control of Zodiac’s Stronghold.”

“He did what!?”

“He became a Lord, then sent out a bounty that claimed Zodiac was the real worm. Then Zodiac said he WAS the real worm, flung a bunch of shrapnel at everyone and flew away laughing.”

“WHY!?”

“I’unno.” Bee shrugged. “But the whole stronghold is super stoked to hunt Zodiac down and kill him.”

“And the worm is in charge?” Will asked.

“Seems that way.”

“And is he laying eggs in people?”

“He’s actually taking worms out of people.” Bee said. “Everyone is extra sure that Zodiac is the worm because of it.”

“Despite several glaring logical inconsistencies in his story…like how a vassal became a Lord in the first place.” Loth said, inspecting the miasmatic patterns in the crystal.

Bee snapped her fingers and pointed at Loth.

“Bee, I think you guys should withdraw from the 11^th Floor.” Will said.

“Eh?” Bee asked.

“While Zodiac had control, it was great to get updates, but I don’t like the idea of your offshoots being in close proximity to this guy for an extended period of time. If he finds a way to corrupt your bond, it’s basically over for you. And us.”

“I don’t know how he would do it,” Will continued. “But he now has the resources of an entire Stronghold, and a complete disregard for social niceties when it suits him. Pull out before his attention lands on you.”

“Everybody’s disguised.” Bee said, crossing her arms defensively. “We’ll be fine.”

“Please?” Will asked.

“…Fine.”

“Don’t make me tell Jean.” Will said, invoking their highest authority. The seldom-used iron-willed grandmother who kept the girls in line. Brianna didn’t invoke her often anymore, but when she did…it was mostly for Bee.

Bee stiffened, face reddening.

“I said fine, geez!” She said, turning away.

“And Anna said she’s gathered a good group of kids and she’s in the process of getting them through their Trials.” She called over her shoulder.

It was possible, albeit impractical to carry people through their Trials. Since the Trial happened on the 1^st Floor, it was possible to find them as soon as they stepped out of the Door.

But it was necessary when you considered that some of the people might be 12-year-old girls with noncombat Classes.

…Are trials easier when the person has a noncombat class? Because I remember my Trial was basically trying to kill me.

…It might’ve been easier if he hadn’t been starving and missing a hand, come to think of it, but it was still supremely dangerous.

“Can I get a list of everyone’s Classes when she has them in her Party?” Will asked, glancing at Ria.

Ria nodded, sending that request to Anna.

Will picked up the breadbox and opened it up.

Inside was a loaf of bread that had been flattened against the side of the breadbox by the force of Bee’s punch.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author’s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

…oookay…Will thought, pulling out the bread.

I am kinda hungry anyway, Will thought, taking a bite of the flattened bread as he sat down to think.

So what does this mean about the norworm? Is he running out of food or something? Will thought as he chewed.

No, this has got to have something to do with the norworm’s weakness…But what?

“Ria, what was fighting this guy like?” Will asked.

“Hard.” Ria said. “He’s practically made of steel. I don’t know how he got his Resistance so high, but most of my attacks barely seemed to tickle him and even after I got a good shot in he healed immediately after.

“More Resistance than me?” Will asked. That’s unusual.

So he couldn’t have gotten that resistance from his Relic’s base boost. There’s no way. Each Relic would have to be individually giving him a hundred Resistance or more.

And Fabron wasn’t that tough.

So there’s some sort of synergy happening between his Abilities and his kit, which is causing him to have a HUGE amount of Resistance.

“Did he get tougher over the course of the battle?” Will asked.

“Not sure. If he did, it was so little that we couldn’t tell.” Ria said.