Frantic skitters rustled through the leaves and bushes, desperate to escape the consuming blaze—the fire surging and devouring endlessly, a rapturous force tearing through the verdant forest.
Her limbs screamed in agony as her sisters—her loyal retinue—pulled her relentlessly, dragging her if necessary. Nearby, a tree crackled ominously before its immense weight came crashing down, its towering presence a menacing force that could inspire nothing but fear.
Thankfully, the tree fell elsewhere, sparing her and her sisters. She dragged her battered body forward, her sisters waiting anxiously nearby. Step by step, she stumbled before collapsing against another tree.
Exhaustion overcame her, pulling her into a torpor her sisters frantically tried to prevent. No matter how much they shook, pinched, or even bit her, she closed her eyes and surrendered to the darkness.
Just then, memories unknown to her spread like well-placed condiments, a flash of memories about a computer and men and women watching…Him play.
In that memory, she was in the perspective of a man playing against multiple players in an RTS game. He managed his resources, had well-played attacks, and won with tactics he conjured on the spot to counter his enemies.
This wasn't just her memory; this was Devon. It was his memories, not hers. Just as the realization settled in, the memories led her to Devon walking in an alley, hoping to take a shortcut when he was ambushed.
‘You cheater!’
‘You cheated on that game didn't you?’
‘Give me my 20 back!’
He was beaten black and blue, when they were done with him, Devon was barely breathing and he was in so much internal pain. Just as he closed his eyes accepting his fate, he woke up within the Bee’s mind.
Two souls mixed into one body. Devon woke up. No, SHE woke up! No, both of them woke up. The souls on one body mixed slowly, but they were both water and oil, which wouldn't mix.
Devon notices that the young bee struggles, as if her survival is on the line, her soul thrashes widely towards his but it does nothing, as if it was a mere tantrum of a child.
Her flame was almost burned out, but when Devon saw her memories, he slowly receded, letting her take over him as she melded his soul into Hers.
[Two souls detected]
[A single entity cannot have two Soul Cards]
[Reconfiguring]
[Reconfigured]
[8/10 Admins allowed the Unique situation]
[Devon’s Soul Card is now added to the Deck.]
[Substracting Soul Power]
[You have gained Devon’s 6-Star Soul Card “Neural Harmony”]
[Status]
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Name: Haecilly
Species: Anthobombus Queen Bee
Title:
Soul Card: Optimal Digestion, Neural Harmony.
Constitution: C rank
Soul Power:15/15(Previously 30/30)
Deck Slots:
Active:4 available
Passive:3 available
Devon, still lingering within her mind, reached out to soothe the young soul one final time. In his last moments within her mental space, he bestowed upon her a name—‘Haecilly.’ In that instant, she experienced Apotheosis. She was no longer Devon, nor the bee she had once been; she had transcended into something entirely new.
A week passed.
It has been some time since the Forest Fire and nature has shown signs of healing, Heacilly was a bit consumed by her newfound intellect and self-awareness. She was astounded by the level of detail she couldn't see before.
She looked at the bright blue sky, at the clouds that seemed to move and clash, to the green forest, how sticks seemed to snap at her weight, or how she would look whenever she stared at a pond, she was aware that the reflection was hers!
Haecilly loved her newfound self-awareness, it was amazing, she wouldn't have looked at things like these before! However, she had to hold back for a while. Something else had her curiosity bit down like a stubborn bull.
Despite her focus on rebuilding the Colony, she was very curious about what she gained after her intellect. The Cards, her soul Cards.
[★★☆☆☆☆- Optimal Digestion]
Card type: Physical Enhancement
[Efficient digestive track] [Passive]: Increases energy reserves by 20% and boosts physical regeneration by 15%. Reduced downtime between meals, allowing for more frequent high-energy activities.
[Increased nutrition absorption] [Passive]: Increases overall health and stamina by 25%. Food effects last longer, and any healing from food is increased by an additional 15%.
[Immunity to foodborne illnesses] [Passive]: Complete immunity to negative effects from spoiled or contaminated food. Poisonous or toxic substances from food do not affect the user’s health.
_______________________
This would mean that her own Soul Card is tied to her physical being, her Soul Card seemed to be giving her some effects that would not happen to another person without a card, like the last effect of Immunity to Foodborne Illnesses.
Even if Haecilly were to eat something rotten or spoiled. She wouldn't suffer any consequences from it. It was an amazing card for a bee like her. Anyway, now that she was done viewing her card it was time for Devon’s.
[★★★★★★- Neural Harmony]
Card Type: Mental Enhancement
[Perfect Pattern Recognition] [Passive]: The user can instantly recognize patterns in their surroundings, whether in combat, puzzles, or complex systems. This drastically increases their ability to predict outcomes and react accordingly.
[Unparalleled Insight] [Passive]: The user is immune from illusions of any kind. The user will have an in-depth understanding and comprehension of emotion and see-through lies.
[Supreme Comprehension] [Passive]: The user can absorb and master knowledge, languages, and skills at an extraordinary rate. New concepts are instantly understood, and the user can apply them in real-world scenarios with flawless accuracy.
[Information Bank] [Passive]: The user can store and recall vast amounts of information with photographic precision, never forgetting anything they learn or experience. This ability serves as an endless mental library that can be accessed at any time without the use of the user’s brain.
Due to unique circumstances, 15 soul powers are permanently removed from total capacity.
_______________________
If Haecilly were to interpret her abilities through the lens of an earthling's RPG player, the logic is that a six-star rating—representing the pinnacle of any tier—would signify unmatched power. By that standard, Devon’s soul card was undeniably overpowered.
Despite not being designed for combat, any mental facilities would be welcome. After all, as an RPG player, who wouldn't want a multi-tasking brain? Besides in the real world? Being smart is handy, this might be the reason for her sentience too.
Besides this was better, back then she was just any normal bee, doing things instinctually. If she were a normal bee like them, she wouldn't be able to view her system and her card in great detail.
Now that she had Devon’s card, everything had changed. Even if it removed a large amount of Soul Power from her system, despite being a setback, Haecilly wouldn't go back and change what happened.
So what having a lower Soul Power? She’s a bee for crying out loud, she had everything she needed! Aside from her newfound curiosity about everything, including cards, where she didn't even know where to get, her focus was still on rebuilding the Colony.
Well, if she thought about it, it may be more than a setback, if she were to dig deeper. If [Neural Harmony]’s six-star rating removed half of her Soul Power, it would mean that Soul Power is a part of her physical function, what would happen if her Soul Power were to run out? Especially that it implied that all those cards are being powered continuously?
Haecilly shook her head, in the future, when she finds a card she would just store it in her deck.
For now, she should focus on reviving the colony and even making it flourish, as a Queen should. Though, whilst nibbling on some fruits that the colony gathered she looked at one of her sisters.
“I wish some of you would talk to me.”
Haecilly communicated through pheromones, her message tinged with a subtle sadness. The sorrow in her signal did not go unnoticed; one of her sisters paused, parsing the emotion. In response, she nuzzled Haecilly gently, pressing her head against her and rubbing her body in quiet comfort, before instinctively returning to her duties.
Haecilly couldn't help but sigh in dissapointment, she wished she could share her intellect but she had no idea how.