Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 195 The Great Insect Battle

Insects! Beetles!
The creatures that poked their heads out from the reeds were these things that looked like magnified beetles.

However, these creatures, known as giant beetles, truly live up to their name, measuring three to four feet in length and diameter, making them thousands of times larger than their miniature counterparts.

Although the beetle is still not large enough to be compared with ogres or even dire wolves, its shiny chitinous exoskeleton and pincer-like mandibles make it seem formidable.

After careful observation, Zhang Yuan understood the genus and species of these insects. After all, those biological guides he studied during his school days weren't for nothing.

The one that crawls at the front, is relatively small, has a bright red shell, and has bright red eyes, is called the fire beetle.

At first glance, the title seems fitting. This kind of insect, which is inseparable from the fire attribute, should be called a fire beetle, right? In some games from my previous life, fire beetles even breathed flames, which was incredibly cool.

But this was a misunderstanding.

"Contrary to its name, the fire beetle does not actually have fire-type attack capabilities; it mainly relies on its huge mandibles to fight."

With Zhang Yuan's memory, the description in the illustrated guide appeared in his mind exactly as it was.

Following behind the fire beetle, the greenish-blue beetle that was being protected was a creature called the bombardier beetle. Apart from its fairly strong carapace, this thing had no other strengths and could probably be easily handled by a kobold.

Unlike their clickbait relatives in front of them, their bombing tactics were not for nothing.

The bombardier beetle feeds on carrion and scraps. The waste products from digestion are sent to a sac-like organ in its body, where they undergo a special reaction to form an acidic, flammable substance that is then stored in a gland.

When it encounters an enemy it cannot defeat, it will turn around and pounce on its rear end like a skunk, giving the opponent a surprise. The mist it sprays is not only foul-smelling, but also highly corrosive. In addition, its flammable and explosive properties make it a popular ingredient for alchemists.

A flurry of information flashed through the mage's mind like lightning, but he quickly regained his senses. After informing his teammates about the attack methods of the bombarding beetles, he set his sights on the group of green, smelly bugs.

Given the strength of the Canaan squad, this group of beetles, numbering just over a dozen, would be nothing more than easy prey. The only concern, the bombing beetles, would be mainly annoying rather than dangerous.

Furthermore, thinking about those glands that could be used as raw materials for the Blazing Glue, Zhang Yuan couldn't help but have some ideas.

"Hold your ground and wait for the enemy to advance."

Zhang Yuan called out to the dwarves who were about to advance with their shields raised. He narrowed his eyes slightly to estimate the distance and range of the spell, and then began chanting and casting.

"Facio, Voco, Ferre" (I make, I call, weapons)

A short while later, a large circular area under the feet of the bombardier beetle, which was rushing forward with a rustling sound, suddenly gushed out streams of grayish-white viscous liquid. The beetles that did not have time to change direction or rush out of the area were immediately sprayed with it.

The whitish liquid gelled rapidly upon contact with air, becoming viscous and extremely tough. The bomb-throwing beetles, which were not known for their strength and had short, stocky builds, were instantly turned into white dumplings, completely trapped and motionless.

Several fire beetles ahead also fell victim to the trick, raising their mandibles to try and cut through the webs, but the slime just wouldn't stop flowing, and they couldn't do it in a short time. Red bean dumplings, green bean dumplings, brothers in misfortune, the nine beetles rolled around in a silly ball.

The remaining five fire beetles froze on the spot. If they charged forward, the enemy would outnumber them; if they retreated, they would fall into that terrible web trap. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the little creatures were anxiously pacing around in circles.

Finally, these guys gritted their teeth and charged towards the squad's defensive line, thus cutting off their own escape route.

A few beetles think they can break through the defenses of dwarven shieldbearers clad in heavily armored, enchanted armor? It might be more likely if it were rhinoceros beetles or sword spiders.

Without anyone else lifting a finger, several beetles were swatted to the ground by Kegan and Bard, and then finished off with an axe. Of the three berserkers behind them, only Münster reacted quickly and managed to steal a kill by taking advantage of the length of his two-handed sword.

After cleanly and efficiently dealing with the few irrational insects, the Canaanites looked at the ground in front of them, which was covered with grayish-white gelatinous substance and webs. They were not in a hurry to advance, but waited for the spell to wear off before going up to give the remaining beetles a quick death.

The outcome was uneventful. The bomb-throwing beetles, who relied on long-range poison gas attacks to get ahead of them, were cornered by these ravenous creatures. What could they possibly do?
After a brief killing spree, Zhang Yuanxi acquired seven sets of poison glands from grenade beetles and seven pairs of glowing glands from fire beetles. These were all excellent alchemical raw materials, which could be used to create items such as incandescent glue and cold light lamps, all of which were highly practical.

Thanks to the timely instructions, the teammates deliberately avoided the glandular areas, ensuring the integrity of these organs and tissues.

Zhang Yuan, not content with just one, even thought that it would be even better if he could encounter a rhinoceros beetle or a stag beetle. The former's shell was superior to that of a burrowing beetle, making it an excellent material for lightweight plate armor, while the latter's single horn was a good blank to be polished into a weapon.

Unfortunately, these two species have different habitats. Rhinoceros beetles are rare and usually live in tropical rainforests, while stag beetles are found in farmland and woodlands around threshing grounds and are notorious grain thieves.

In this swampy environment, encountering either of the two mentioned above is like trying to catch fish by climbing a tree.

The burning firewood crackled softly, sending sparks flying that disappeared into the black night or onto the golden-brown roasted pheasant.

This was an unexpected delight. The fact that birds resembling golden pheasants lived in the extremely harsh swamp was quite surprising. Since they were discovered by the Canaanite group, they naturally received a special kind of treatment.

It was washed clean inside and out, and coated with a layer of clear oil, a layer of honey, snow-white fine salt, and expensive spices. This was much cleaner and more hygienic than the days when I would roll around in the mud.

The warm temperature emanating from the campfire beneath the grill must be far more comfortable than the damp, cold puddles.

Whether the unexpected guests were moved or not, the people gathered around the campfire were quite touched, tears streaming from their lips.

Although there was no alcohol, the fresh fruit juice from the Misty Forest was just as sweet, and although there was no grand feast, the enticing aroma of the roast chicken personally prepared by Kaigen was no less irresistible.

Having traversed numerous treacherous terrains and overcome countless hardships and obstacles, the Canaanites have now arrived at a place not far from the banks of the Derimbil River. Although they are still within the swampy area, the renowned Daggersbill is already in sight.

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(End of this chapter)