Detailed Report.
Team Uno Report, 5 Of 12.
Day 5. Part 3.
The Swarm and the Shadows.
Ben's point of view.
Many moments later, Ben opened his eyes, confused and sore but surprisingly well-rested and filled with energy. He had no idea what had happened to him or how long he had been unconscious, but waking to the sweet smell of waffles and honey was never a bad thing. If only he had some right now.
Looking down at the forest floor, he searched for any movement below. His mind was still on the source of the smell when his eyes caught sight of two weird-looking figures.
Moving deliberately and carefully, not wanting to disturb the natural symphony of the nocturnal environment as he stepped from branch to branch. The rustling leaves and distant calls of unseen creatures created an ambient backdrop to the unfolding mystery. His pulse quickened, a blend of suspicion and curiosity coursing through his veins.
The silhouettes appeared humanoid, yet their proportions were uncanny, and their movements suspicious, almost senseless, and random. A whisper escaped his lips: "Holy hell. Are those things aliens? I thought for a second that they might have been the team, but they are built too big to be them."
Doubt gnawed at the edges of his determination as he continued tracking the strange figures. Were they a threat or mere peaceful inhabitants of this forest? The air seemed charged with desperate energy, and Ben grappled with the decision to retreat or delve deeper into the unknown.
In a hushed murmur, he contemplated his options, "Could they really be aliens? If they were this close to the settlement, then they would have already made contact. If they were really aliens, we would have seen more signs and clues that intelligent creatures lived or hunted around these parts.
Maybe they are creatures from another region of space like us or maybe from another dimension. Nah. That's too far thinking. I still haven't seen what this world has to offer. Those things could be native animals, or better yet, could this be an event or a boss battle. Whoever made this game is good. The mystery and intensity of this game is beyond anything I've ever encountered. Running might be the safe play, but my gut tells me there's something more to this. I have to know, and at the very least, I can increase my tracking and trailing skills along with my stealth skills."
Still, before leaping into the chase where he was clearly out of his league, Ben began to weigh the risks, caught between the allure of discovery and the instinctual pull of self-preservation.
Taking a deep breath, Ben crouched on the thick branch, his eyes never leaving the peculiar silhouettes below. The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting an eerie glow on the forest floor, revealing a glimpse of the other bizarre figures in the area.
His analytical mind kicked into gear. "Alright, Ben, think logically. First, assess their behavior. If they were hostile, they'd likely be moving with purpose, not aimlessly wandering. Maybe they're just lost?"
He observed the humanoids for a while, noting the lack of any coordinated movement. "Could they be disoriented? Maybe I can use that to my advantage." From his time with the team, he remembered the importance of reconnaissance and understanding the enemy.
A sudden idea struck him. "I can't take them head-on, but what if I could use the environment to my advantage? Nature itself can be a powerful ally."
Searching the surroundings for a few minutes, making sure that the figures were always still in sight, Ben spotted a tree with a giant beehive; he smelt and heard a soft humming before his eyes saw it in the rays of moonlight that made it through the cracks of the canopy. A devious grin crossed his face. "Time to introduce a little chaos. Wait ain't Bees diurnal creatures," he thought, questioning the logic of using them for a diversion in the dark. However, a peculiar memory struck him.
He recalled a tidbit of information from a survival guide he had read long ago. "Certain species of bees, in unique conditions, may alter their behaviour due to environmental factors." The moon, radiating an unusually vibrant glow, seemed to be one such factor.
In this surreal landscape, where the laws of nature seemed to be rewritten, Ben considered the possibility that these bees could be nocturnal. Even though they seemed to be inactive at the moment, the potential this hive has could be a product of the same strange phenomenon that altered the proportions and movements of the humanoid figures that he had yet to identify from above.
With cautious optimism, he proceeded with his plan to use the altered behaviour of the nocturnal bees to his advantage.
Climbing up and over on the branches of the tree that housed the beehive, Ben noticed how the hives hung like cylindrical hexagonal prism vines, many clustered together to form a single massive structure. As he got closer, the intricate details became clear. The hanging cylinders had segments with small golf ball-sized holes, and at the centre of the cluster was an upside-down pyramid. Standing on a nearby branch, Ben realized that the hive structure was not only the bees' home but also an integral part of the tree itself. He could hear the bees crawling inside, which made him instantly regret coming so close.
Looking around at the different silhouettes and hearing them crunching away at something on the ground, Ben saw something intriguing. The humanoid figures were gathered together, focused on the same creature he had been watching. This was his window of opportunity. With his spear ready and some stones in his pocket, Ben threw a stone right at the centre of the hive's pyramid. The forest momentarily went quiet as the crawling sounds in the tree stopped, and the creatures below paused their chewing, being on the alert for danger.
"It's strange how this forest responds to irregular sounds, going movie-quiet," Ben thought. "Maybe it's the game's natural soundtrack getting interrupted by my actions." Seeing the humanoid silhouettes slowly backing away, Ben threw another stone at the hive. This time, a single bee flew out of the cylindrical hive vine, intercepting the stone. Despite being blocked, the stone still hit its target—the pyramid.
Like a shadowy mist geyser, the bees erupted. The swarm rushed towards Ben's direction. "What have I done? I'm going to die, I don't know what i was expecting, but it wasn't this!" he thought. Kicking off the branch to hasten his fall, Ben noticed half of the swarm broke away and returned to the air space around the hive while the other half continued to pursue the threat. Crashing against the branches, Ben grabbed his spear, raising it horizontally with both hands above his head, abruptly stopping his descent, allowing him to switch direction as he got closer to the ground.
The swarm buzzed angrily around him as he swung from branch to branch, the air vibrating with the intensity of their collective anger and the heat they generated. Panic set in, but Ben knew he had to keep his wits about him. Below, the figures scattered in all directions, disturbed by the sudden chaos.
"Alright, think, think!" Ben muttered to himself, his eyes darting between the relentless swarm and the now disoriented figures on the forest floor. The moonlight illuminated the tangled branches, casting eerie shadows that danced with the movement of the pursuing bees.
Remembering the peculiar behaviour of the bees he had heard about somewhere, Ben realized that their instinct to protect the hive was stronger than he thought. He couldn't outrun them indefinitely, especially in the dark or in a tree, and fighting them head-on would be futile. There was no way a muscular scientist with a sharp stick could fight a swarm of anything. However, a plan began to form in his mind.
Spotting a dense thicket of foliage below, Ben made a calculated decision. He steered himself towards it, narrowly avoiding the stinging fury of the bees. As he crashed through the foliage, the bees hesitated, reluctant to follow him into the underbrush, not because it was dark but because they had lost sight of him. Flying in after him could damage them, or worse, they could run into predators, but their hesitation was to Ben's advantage. Breathing heavily, Ben crouched in the shadows of the bushy branches, watching as the swarm hovered above, unsure of how to proceed.
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Taking advantage of their momentary confusion, he recalled the humanoids' last known location and could hear them cautiously regrouping in a nearby clearing. They had heard the commotion and created some distance.
"The bees should be territorial, and the forest is their home. If I can use that to my advantage, maybe I can redirect them towards the real threat," Ben mused, his mind racing to formulate yet another plan.
He waited patiently, allowing the swarm to linger above, before carefully inching his way out of the thicket. Still within the branches of the tree, Ben spotted something moving; the rich blackness of it made it sand out in the darkness. Whatever it was, it looked smooth and centaur-like below him. It was clearly unaware of his presence as it cautiously approached the tree that housed the bee hive, seemingly curious about the disturbance in the area.
"If I can make a dash closer to the clearing where the humanoids are, I can get a clear view of the tree the hive is at. If I play my cards right, I can still turn this situation around and direct the attention to the aliens and other creatures."
Quickly and deliberately, Ben jumped backwards into the opening, falling trough the light mist and hurled another stone which he had in his pocket towards the hive, aiming for the pyramid at its centre. The impact sent vibrations through the hive, and once again, the bees erupted in a furious swarm. But this time, Ben didn't flee. Instead, he sprinted towards the humanoid figures, weaving through the moonlit clearing with the swarm hot on his trail.
Now back on the forest floor in hot pursuit of the targets, while being targeted himself, Ben noticed that the forest became significantly darker than when he was in the trees, and the golf ball-sized bees looked more like flying fists. Which increased his panic.
The figures Ben was casing had now recognized the imminent threat that fell out of nowhere. As they attempted to scatter in panic. The faster of the two reached out and grabbed the other. Ben strategically led the swarm towards the creatures, calculating the path to maximize their collision.
"We are not splitting up again!" said a voice.
Ben almost paused when he realized he understood the language of the aliens. The tone and voice were familiar. Was this a dream, game, or reality? "Timmon, is that you!?" Ben shouted.
Before they could respond, the bees made contact. The collision was chaotic as the bees clashed with the humanoid figures, who turned out to be his team. Stings and cries filled the air as the bees attacked the team.
In the midst of the frenzy, Ben noticed that the bees had collectively pulled back, getting low to the ground. Then. In the low light, he saw them collectively form the shape of a three-clawed creature's arm before swiftly retreating upward into the air.
As the bees approached the sub-canopy, the swarm became harder to see as the dark swallowed them up. Shortly after that, large pieces of stones and logs fell to the ground from the sky.
Timmon: "What the fuck is happening right now!?"
Mr Major: "Where did the debris come from? Where are the bees? What was that gigantic hand?"
Timmon: "What the fuck, Ben? Where did you come from, and why did you bring the swarm to us?"
Mr Major: "Shut up and help me to my feet quickly. Let's discuss this somewhere far from here. I can still hear bees above us and the low hissing of these smooth, black-looking bug creatures that have been roaming about. I don't think we want to go up against them, adding to our situation of bees and fallen debris."
Timmon: "You're right. If we had to fight them, our weapons would be useless against them both, probably just a light snack at most to the roaming black bugs for sure."
Ben: "Where should we go? Everywhere is unsafe in the forest."
Mr. Major, wincing from the pain, took a deep breath and said, "We have to go back to the monster tree. The area around there is the safest place right now. It seems animals choose to avoid the area due to the danger it poses."
Timmon shot him a wary glance. "Are you sure about this? That tree gives me the creeps, and we have Ben with us now. Theres no need to go there. We can just head in the direction Tobi pointed out and not waste anymore time."
Mr Major: "If it means zero to no enemy interaction, he should rest in that area."
But as Mr. Major spoke, Ben mumbled under his breath as he drew his weapons. " That was close. They almost got me. This is one exciting game. Hmmm. I want to know how many lives a player has or if there is even a checkpoint to save my progress. I'm getting hunger and my wife and husband must be missing me at this point."
Timmon: "What was that, Ben? Are you okay?"
Mr Major: "I heard what he said. This might not be our Ben. Look at him. That smirk. That look in his eyes contains lust and murderous intent. I don't think he's fully here."
Timmon: "What is the play? Put him down or convince him?"
Mr Major: "Put him down. We can't take any chances. I can't trust that look in his eyes. Plus, look at him. He's more lean than bulky. Its not much but how did he lose that much muscle and fat in less than a day? If he isn't Ben then putting him down would be the best case till we have some answers."
Timmon nodded, his hand tightening on his dagger. "Ben, we don't know what's going on with you, but we can't let you become a threat to yourself and the team. I don't know what's going through your mind right now, but you need to think about what you are planning to do. Things are looking crazy from my point of view. We've been through so much to come find you for it to end like this. Why the sudden switch on us like that?"
Ben, seemingly unfazed, maintained his steady gaze. "You don't understand. This is just how the game is. But I've seen through the trickery and the betrayal. This is survival of the fittest. It's kill or be killed. Fuck multiplayer, I only play solo. It's just me, not the three of us."
Mr. Major, despite his injuries, managed to pivot to a better stance, anticipating what was to come. "Survival or not, we won't hesitate to defend ourselves. Survival is about adapting. We can't afford to be sentimental right now. Ben, if you can understand us, stay still. We don't want to hurt you, but we can't let you jeopardize the safety of the team. If you're not with us, you're against us. This isn't a game. If it was, then it would be us against the environment."
As if that was the cue to start, Ben lunged forward with surprising speed, jabbing his spear. Timmon expertly parried the attack and countered with a swift strike, but due to Ben's well-timed step back, he was only left with a shallow cut across Ben's chest. The clash of weapons echoed through the moonlit forest, each movement and deflection calculated and precise.
"Who the hell is this guy? When did Ben get this good with a weapon? No! When did you both get this good with a weapon?" Mr. Major exclaimed, trying to gauge the distance between them for better strikes and counters.
The buzzing of the bees was still in the air. Suddenly, Ben jabbed while getting low, and Timmon blocked and jumped back, clearly aware that Ben had taken something from the floor—it was most likely a stone.
With his left hand gripping his dagger in his right pocket and with the spear in his right hand, Timmon slowly crossed the spear over his left shoulder and waited in a position to sprint and strike. Ben could see that wide swing coming but was more worried about what was to come after that attack. It was clear that an attack like that would leave Timmon open, but his instincts so far had kept this fight going for this long. If this wasn't a game, he would be dead. The fact that he was still alive was all the proof he needed.
"Now that my mind has been freed, I finally remember why the name Gestment stood out to me. That is the name of the scientist who was responsible for the SS-26 Stone short-range ballistic missile schematics to be view online. How did you have the time for games when I heard you were on the run? You don't look like the wanted posters, but then again, this is a game," Ben taunted.
"Look out!" Mr Major shouted just as Ben threw the stone into the air and charged at Timmon. Distracted by the fact that someone knew of him, Timmon barely saw the attack coming. As Ben jumped to anticipate the swing and strike down on Timmon with a jab, the anticipated swing was delayed even more than Ben expected, and when it came, it had more speed and power behind it.
The impact of Timmon's spear colliding with Ben's spear sent it flying from Ben's hand off into the dark, just as a wall fell from the canopy above, blocking the dagger Timmon threw towards Ben's face.
"What the fuck is that? A log? Why?" Timmon exclaimed.
The sound of buzzing resonated in the air as more large logs with a mixture of stones fell. They were more or less launched like javelins towards the ground where the battle took place.
Ben started shouting, "Let nature rain chaos on my enemies," as the giant beast-like arm made up entirely of bees came down with a level of heat and strong wind currents, causing the darkness to feel like a hellscape.
"Let's go!" Mr. Major urged.
"Not without Ben! He ran over towards my right. That's where I hit his spear. Also, the trees on that side are close together. We stand a better chance of putting him down over there," Timmon insisted.
"Be careful. This area is already a double X zone. Who knows how close we are to it. If we get too close and we get spotted, that might be the end," Mr Major warned.
As the free-flying bees flew around, they slammed into everyone. Timmon, who couldn't really see them in the low light and gusty winds, felt them individually all over his body. Stings, pinches, slaps, and slams—he felt them all.
Swinging his dagger around while dragging his spear, Timmon noted the bees were different, not like those of Earth. Just from the feeling alone, Timmon could tell that on their head, or back, there was a flat, hard area, maybe to protect their wings? Or from the above threats, who knew, clearly not him.
They had hard, large, solid mandibles, and the ends of their legs were claws. Their stingers, on the other hand, caused the body to feel numb in the strike area, which after some time made it easier to ignore when he stopped feeling their impact.
Suddenly, Timmon heard some bushes rustling and made a risky blind gamble. He switched directions and attacked with a downward strike with his spear.
"You beast! What if I was a little helpless girl lost in the scary forest?" Ben laughed amusingly. "What level are you, Gestment?"
Timmon remained dead quiet as he focused on attacking. He knew that even though he was unable to feel pain in this moment, that could be seen as a good thing. To him, it meant that he was going to be unable to fully understand how bad of a situation he was in, especially when it came to injuries that compounded.
With the narrow spaces between the trees around them, Timmon and Ben were leaving this fight to their muscles and instincts to see who would come out on top now that wide, powerful swings were no more.
The bees once again disappeared into the canopy above, but their buzzing could still be heard from below.
"Where the hell is the Major? Did he die by bees? I didn't receive the XP from his death, so he's probably alive. Are you clever cast staging yet another ambush on me?" Ben taunted.
"You're losing your mind, brother. Let's end this soon. The area we're in is already dangerous, and baby Spunnies are running around here. Just calm down, and let's talk," Timmon urged.
Strikes after strikes came relentlessly at Timmon after he was done talking. They both deflected and darted behind trees as if this life really was a game to be enjoyed.
Ben, displaying an unnatural resilience, fought back fiercely. His attacks were fuelled by an almost primal aggression. "You don't get it. This is all a test. A game. And I plan to win."