The Legendary Beekeeper-Chapter 40: Beentinel Negotiations

’The architect’s soul? That’s it?’ Han thought. It wasn’t as if it was a guarantee he would’ve been able to kill it anyway.

But with this mad titan by his side, then perhaps...

"Profaner! Blasphemer!" the priestess spat, startling Han. "My lord, do not let this vile thing steal from you what is rightly yours."

Han was afraid the sentinel would act out at the provocations, but oddly enough, it only laughed in response.

"It means to make you look weak in front of the Hive. To take from you what would give you right to the throne," the priestess snarled.

Han perked up at that. "No one ever mentioned anything about thrones," he said.

"And no one should," the sentinel boomed. "I have watched you since you fell into that wasteland of a planet."

"Peered into the thoughts that plague your mind as you slumber and fester even when you wake."

"And I know this of you, whisperer. You are no king." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Han was not sure what to be more offended by: the fact that it had outright deemed him unfit to rule, or that it had invaded the innermost sanctums of his mind.

All he did know was what he did know is that he was pissed.

Just as He was about to reply:

"I do not mean to sully your honour. There is nothing wrong with your humble crusade for homecoming. But why must you bore yourself with the burden of titles you do not even seek?"

’Humble, huh?’ Han thought. There was nothing humble about a human boy attempting to enslave gods. However, he let the offence fly. He would not allow trivialities like anger to disrupt his thinking.

As he mulled over this new bit of information, he let silence sink in —more out of pettiness than anything else, really.

However, he noticed the sentinel become uneasy.

"I assure you, within the infinite expanse of the Hive, there are fewer than a handful who are versed in battle as I."

"If you are to accept this offer of anyone. It should be me."

Han smiled at that. ’These gods, so used to getting what they want.’

However, he refrained from replying. His response to this creature would be silence.

His mind had already clawed at a possible path to victory.

Despite the sentinel’s power, it was Han who had leverage here. Sure, if this deal fell through, he would’ve missed the opportunity of adding a world breaker to his arsenal. But so long as he held the reins of fear in this creature’s mind, he was in control.

And what a great fear it must’ve been for one so powerful: the fear of never rising to the top.

For now, he would let the silence fan the flames.

...

"I accept-" Han said finally.

He cut his sentence long enough for the sentinel to sigh in relief.

"-but there are conditions."

The glowering gold behind the sentinel’s helm darkened at this. What was that, scepticism? His mind made a mental note of the strange gesture for future interactions.

"You may have the soul," he continued, "Granted you teach me everything you know."

The creature clicked its tongue at this, the simple gesture sending shockwaves from its mouth.

Han’s body swayed against that pressure, but in his eyes... his resolve remained steady,

"And I mean everything. Flight, combat, even the magic you used to defile this place," he added.

The sentinel was about to respond, but Han raised a finger. "And if the time comes that you ever are king, you are to keep the Hive as far away from Earth as possible. Do you understand?"

The sentinel stomped the ground in frustration. "Those are many clauses more than you can bargain, whisperer. You think me a fool to accept such a one-sided agreement?"

The priestess took a slow step forward, so that she stood slightly in front of Han.

"Lord whisperer, this is not a creature to be reasoned with," she said, radiating the message so that only he could hear it. "If it pleases you, I can sever all links to this plane." Han could tell she hadn’t meant to sound so scared in that last bit.

However, he could not falter now.

"One-sided?" Han replied to the sentinel, adding in a bit of laughter for dramatic effect. "Who else can offer you the chance to be king?"

Silence filled the air once again.

"No one."

"And that’s why you are here, isn’t it? That’s why you’re willing to give up everything and bet it all on false whisperer."

"Because I can make you more than what you are. More than a god."

In his mind, ’false whisperer’ made him sound like some devilish figure... a mask he so desperately needed to hide the fear that stormed his heart.

And as expected, the sentinel did not have a response.

"Then shall we?" Han said, tapping the priestess on the shoulder. "The big guy accepts the deal. Begin whatever linking process we need to get over with this farce." In truth, Han just wanted to be out of here before the sentinel decided his disrespect was not worth a title.

However, the priestess did not respond, still standing in a fighting stance as she waited for the sentinel’s say.

The sentinel clicked its tongue again, but this time it was softer. "You are indeed an interesting one," it said, before holding out one of its hands.

The priestess instantly got to work, weaving strings of golden light into existence with her flicker quick fingerwork.

"But know this, whisperer..."

The priestess began weaving faster; it seemed even she wanted this to be over and done with just as much.

"...I have outlived many such as you, those who fight with words and riddle, instead of might."

"And I can foresee your end."

"Do tell," Han said.

"Betrayed and alone. For alliances built upon silver tongues are made weak with the saliva of their makers."

Han brushed the warning off with a wave of his hand. If this was some attempt at the sentinel sounding wise, it fell flat.

"I foresee my end on a beach with my father." At this point, the sentinel’s entire body began glowing, and after a few seconds, it was bright as the midday sun.

Its figure began to disintegrate into a golden dust, sending out shockwaves of energy.

’I did it,’ Han thought as the priestess presented a glowing orb. A strange euphoria burned from his mind... an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

’I beat a god...’ he thought, smiling to himself.

’I beat the gods again.’