To Don's surprise, the Jungle Bees did not react to his movement. They hovered calmly between the trees, their wings beating in a steady rhythmic buzz that filled the jungle with a constant hum. Their compound eyes shifted occasionally, but there was no immediate hostility, no aggression, no attempt to chase or attack. They seemed to be passive monsters.
Don's lips curled slightly. 'Perfect.'
Without hesitation, he drew the dagger from his waist. The blade slid into his hand with quiet familiarity, its edge catching a faint glint of filtered sunlight. Then he moved, a sudden burst of speed, his body cutting through the undergrowth in a straight line, silent and precise. The Jungle Bee barely had time to register the shift in air before Don was already behind it.
The dagger thrust forward. Clean, direct, merciless.
[445!]
The blade sank deep into the rear of the bee's body. Don's eyes widened slightly. That much damage? For a split second, even he was caught off guard. His full-Strength build was finally showing its true power, more than half the creature's health bar had vanished in a single strike.
The Jungle Bee let out a violent, high-pitched buzz, its entire body trembling as pain surged through it. Its wings beat erratically, kicking up dust and leaves as it struggled to regain control. Then its tail snapped upward, fast, sharp, relentless. The stinger drove forward and struck Don square in the chest. A numbing sensation spread instantly from the point of impact, seeping into his muscles like cold venom.
[Debuff: Bee Sting , Lose 20 HP every 2 seconds for 10 seconds]
Don didn't hesitate. The moment the notification appeared, he bit down on the Red Potion already held between his lips. The bitter liquid flooded into his mouth. At the same time, his dagger moved again.
[Miss!]
[124!]
He clicked his tongue. The first strike of Consecutive Slash had missed, a clear drawback of low Agility. His attacks were powerful but not always precise. Still, he didn't panic. The second hit landed cleanly, and the damage more than compensated.
The Jungle Bee retaliated instantly, its movements sharper now, driven by pain and aggression. Its stinger lashed out again.
[24!]
The impact was heavier this time. A sharp jolt ran through Don's body as his HP dropped noticeably. This thing hits hard. But he didn't step back, didn't retreat. Instead he stepped forward, into the danger, and his dagger flashed once more in a clean, decisive strike.
[259!]
The blade sliced through the bee's neck. Its body stiffened, then separated cleanly. Dead. The buzzing stopped abruptly.
Without giving himself time to relax, Don shifted his gaze to another Jungle Bee hovering nearby and moved immediately. This one reacted faster, the moment he entered its range, its tail raised, preparing to strike. But just as the skill activated, a notification chimed.
[Bee Sting resisted , Effect cannot stack]
Don's eyes lit up. A brief opening appeared and he seized it instantly, his dagger moving in rapid succession. Two strikes, heavy and explosive. Damage numbers burst out one after another, and the Jungle Bee didn't last long. Moments later it dropped from the air, lifeless.
The jungle returned to its low, constant hum. The effect of the Red Potion faded shortly after. Don glanced at his HP, 110 remaining. He nodded slightly. Not bad. He crouched down and collected the drops. Two bees, forty copper coins. He had only used one potion worth ten copper, netting him thirty. Efficient. But as he checked the loot more carefully, his frown deepened. Only one bee stinger. The drop rate was low. Still, it was manageable.
As he continued fighting, something shifted. His movements became smoother, sharper, more refined. Each step flowed naturally into the next, each strike landing with intent. Compared to the surrounding players, he was operating on a completely different level. For most people, Realms Online was a fresh start, a new experience. But for Don, this wasn't new.
For three years, while others had drifted back to traditional games, he had remained in the golden era of Realms Online. He had fought relentlessly, trained obsessively, and even sparred against high-level Assassin players from elite teams.
His understanding of positioning, timing, and combat rhythm was carved into him, instinctive and unshakable. And in this world, Assassin was simply another name for Thief. His path. His domain.
Kill after kill, the jungle became his hunting ground. His experience bar surged steadily upward, and at the same time, his Red Potions began to dwindle. Almost every bee cost him one potion. But his luck held, at some point, a faint glimmer caught his eye as something dropped onto the forest floor. Equipment.
Don stepped forward quickly and picked it up.
[LOST LEGGINGS]
[Grade: White Iron]
[Type: Leather Armor]
[Level Requirement: 5]
[Physical Defense +12]
[Magic Defense +12]
[Agility +3]
His eyes brightened. Leg armor, second only to chest armor in defensive value. He equipped it without hesitation. The leather wrapped around his legs, fitting snugly, and he could feel the difference instantly. More stability, more resistance, more control. His defense rose to twenty-two, a noticeable jump.
He tested it immediately. Another Jungle Bee, another Backstab.
[453!]
The bee shrieked, retaliating with Bee Sting once more. But this time, the damage ticked far lower, only six HP per tick. Don smiled. Much better. Fewer potions, higher efficiency, more profit.
Time passed. The jungle blurred into a rhythm of combat, strike, dodge, counter, recover. Kill after kill, his experience bar filled once more.
[Level 6]
The golden light washed over him again, restoring his body. Stronger, faster, more refined. Eventually he gathered the required number of bee stingers, and the quest objective flashed complete. Don exhaled lightly, his body relaxing for the first time in a while.
Just as he was about to turn and leave the jungle, a sound echoed from behind him. Different. Deeper, louder, more aggressive. The steady hum of the jungle shifted into something heavier and more oppressive. Don turned, and froze.
This bee was different. Larger, significantly larger. Its body stretched over half a meter in length, its thick exoskeleton reflecting faint light like polished armor. Its wingspan nearly matched the length of Don's arm, and each beat of its wings produced a heavy, vibrating buzz that seemed to press against the air itself. It hovered slowly, deliberately, as though aware of its own dominance.
Don's heartbeat quickened slightly. 'Is this… a boss?'
Without wasting time, he checked its attributes.
[JUNGLE WORKER BEE]
[Grade: Enhanced Monster]
[Level: 8]
[HP: 3000]
[Physical Attack: 39–46]
[Physical Defense: 130]
[Magic Defense: 120]
[Skills: Bee Sting, Heavy Strike]