"Ara~"
"Well, if it isn't Doggie-chan?" Mobius said, feigning surprise as she lightly covered her mouth.
Although Cerberus's combat power was higher than any of the Apostles present, in terms of status, she was at best the Monarch's familiar. As for her actual role, it was to temporarily serve as a playmate for Cheche inside the Pillar of Earth.
"--#"
Cerberus was, naturally, quite displeased.
Though she no longer possessed her former glory and her memories were extensively damaged, she was, after all, a great figure who had lived through the Ancient Beast Cataclysm, the Twilight War, and the rise of the Astral Gods… How could a once-great figure endure such an indignity!
"Do you have an opinion on the name I just used?"
"...No."
As the saying goes, a little impatience can ruin a great plan.
Even if she truly was displeased, she certainly couldn't show it.
Not only had Cerberus's combat power declined severely, but while her act of "betrayal" had not yet been discovered by Nanook, it was only a matter of time. She had to find a reliable backer (or scapegoat). The little bug before her, though lacking in respect, truly held a higher status than her in that guy's eyes.
A Stellar-class being who had just barely reached the level of an [Emissary], mingling with these creatures who weren't even at the Star-busting level…
Alright.
It seemed that in that guy's eyes, there wasn't much of a difference anyway.
"Does Doggie-chan mean that you can take care of the Swarm's Emissary?"
After deflating her arrogant attitude, Mobius got down to business. Although Cerberus was much stronger than them, there was no need to fear her. The Monarch's [Divine Link] was locked onto Cerberus's core like a "dog leash." If she dared to have any ill intentions, it would be far easier for the Monarch to make her explode than it was when dealing with Hetet.
"Correct. Your Emperor sent me to deal with that bug."
This was a lie.
Although her main body was "imprisoned" (the dog-girl's own words) within the [Pillar of Earth], the Monarch had not cut off her access to outside information. He didn't even withhold the frontline intelligence that should have been given to Cheche from Cerberus.
She had requested to enter the battle herself.
It was not only a pledge of allegiance, but also a way to escape her identity as a playmate for a white-haired loli. Heaven knows how that fellow, a Grand Monarch, still had the mind to play repetitive, monotonous, and boring games with a little girl who was only a few thousand years old.
"Although I am not aware of its actual combat strength, as long as it does not exceed the upper limits of the Stellar-class, taking it down is only a matter of time… on the condition that you create a suitable one-on-one environment for me. After all, the Zerg's most proficient tactic is the gang-up."
"Don't worry. Without needing War or Kalpas to act, I can clear a clean patch of space for you."
A new projection replaced Vill-V's above the dry pool. First, an expressionless duck avatar appeared, and then, against a backdrop of the starry sky, a super-large mechanical Harmony lifeform: Heavy Armored Giant Rabbit 9YP.
"Haxxor Bunny."
Vill-V struggled to "squeeze" out a communication space for herself again.
Haxxor Bunny's position among the Apostles was not high, but that didn't mean her combat power could be ignored—she simply didn't focus her mind on that area.
As one of the Monarch's "children," Haxxor Bunny had the great responsibility of coordinating all Machine Race individuals from a genetic level (Dr. MEI was responsible for coordinating the Newborn Species). For four thousand years, more than thirty percent of the Empire's scientific and research achievements had come from Haxxor Bunny's hands.
Knowledge is power.
No one had ever doubted Haxxor Bunny's combat strength. If she had any intention of vying for the position of one of the [Three Pillars], it was hard to say whether "Lord Leviathan" would be a match for her. The Imperial Apostles generally believed that a fully-powered Haxxor Bunny would be no weaker than Dr. MEI, one of the [Three Great Sages].
After all, she was born different.
"Even you are here?"
The Mechanicus Church was subordinate to Haxxor Bunny, but she rarely paid attention to that legion. Their actions and deployments were mostly carried out through the Ninety-Nine Chambers, rather than through an Apostle's command.
"Although the legions here are numerous, they are clearly lacking in high-level combat power… Your heavy losses are detrimental to future plans," Haxxor Bunny explained briefly.
"But what about the parent world?" Mobius's brow furrowed slightly, and she still habitually used the old name for Shesha. "Two of the Three Sages are on missions, and one is currently undergoing treatment. Besides Shesha, the other two Pillars have also just returned from a major campaign… Isn't the parent world in greater need of high-level combat power than here?"
"The Six Great Families and the Ninety-Nine Chambers are all there. Although the long-standing rule is still 'no non-Primordial Species may enter the Ninety-Nine Chambers,' are you telling me that among the current members of the Ninety-Nine Chambers, we really can't find a few who have surpassed the [Higher Primordial Species]?"
The intelligence Haxxor Bunny possessed clearly contained much that even the Apostles did not know. The Empire received a sea of information every day, and those not responsible for a particular area would generally not interfere.
"A few? Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? I thought you were referring to a specific person just now," Mobius retorted. Biological and genetic experiments within the Empire rarely bypassed her, so Mobius was very familiar with the Empire's actual distribution of combat power.
"You mean Horaiji? She can already activate her 'Savior Collapsed State,' but the duration is even shorter than Kevin's. She'd probably be paralyzed after one shot."
Haxxor Bunny nonchalantly dropped a bombshell that no one knew—this was a level far beyond merely "surpassing" a Higher Primordial Species.
Without giving anyone time to be shocked, Haxxor Bunny continued, "I was referring to others."
"A few?"
Though it was the same question, Mobius's tone was much more cautious this time.
"Five people."
"…"
"I've never felt the position of an Apostle to be as unstable as it is today," Golem broke the somewhat quiet atmosphere.
"I feel the same way," Beluga chimed in from the side.
"That's because you few have been too idle for too long. The reason the Monarch plans to add new Apostle seats is not just to give rising stars more room to perform… but to prevent you lot from being pushed out."
Haxxor Bunny's image slowly faded in the air.
"Everyone, please be mindful of your status. This battle, which can only be considered a 'warm-up,' should not have been this difficult…"
Only her final words echoed in their ears.
"As his confidants, you should be crystal clear about the Monarch's goals."
---o---
"Retreat again?"
A deaf man could have heard the dissatisfaction in Kalpas's voice.
Dark flames transformed into a whip long enough to connect planets, and where its sweeping end passed, the vast and boundless Swarm was burned into countless specks of ash.
"According to the plan, we must retreat another 300 astronomical units."
"How far is that?"
Kalpas clearly had no concept of the "astronomical unit" Yimo'er mentioned.
"We are to hold the last four star systems."
"DIE!!!"
A furious sonic wave erupted from his throat, directly shattering the bodies of the approaching Swarm. Even those slightly farther away were stunned and began to fall rapidly toward the planet's surface. Although the Zerg generally possessed sturdy exoskeletons, their defense against concussive attacks was poor.
"Urgh—"
"RAHHH!!!"
Shattered planets, the corpses of the Swarm.
All of this useless debris and wreckage rapidly converged above Kalpas's raised palm under the effect of gravitational waves.
BANG!!
Each "spark" that erupted was comparable to a volcanic eruption.
With a great shout from Kalpas, a red-and-black pillar shot out like a thrown spear, smashing straight into the endless Swarm!
BOOOOOOM!!!!!
A gap was forcefully smashed open in the Swarm's encirclement through sheer brute force!
Five Star-busting level Overlords that had just warped in were smashed into a paste before they could even return to normal from their warp state!
"Still retreating?"
Kalpas's meaning was also clear: these weak bugs were not worthy of making him retreat.
"...Then let's go."
"?"
Yimo'er's uncharacteristically compliant reply stunned Kalpas for a moment. Normally, Yimo'er would have been nagging in his ear for a long time, trying to persuade him.
"You know Lady Mobius's orders better than I do. As long as you don't die in there… a 'final counterattack' should be more effective than a constant retreat."
"Hmph. Get these broken pieces of trash out of here."
Kalpas cracked his knuckles forcefully.
"Good, I wasn't finished yet anyway!"
"Lord Kalpas."
Just as Kalpas was about to charge toward the Swarm, Yimo'er stopped him again.
"Hm?"
The former's excitement was already building, and even a simple nasal sound was filled with impatience.
"It would be dangerous to retreat without your cover. I think it would be better to act together with you—a little friendly fire is better than being eaten by bugs."
"…"
"Don't blame me if you die."
"Of course."
Being Kalpas's second-in-command and the commander of the Beast Extermination Swarm was not an easy job.
In his long career, Yimo'er had developed a set of effective "persuasion" methods. A direct confrontation with Kalpas was clearly unwise. In such situations, roundabout tactics were effective. Although Kalpas spoke as if he didn't care, his concern for his subordinates was plain for all to see. By charging in with the entire legion, Kalpas, in order to look after the lower-ranking soldiers, would not charge in as deeply as he would have alone.
Just as Kalpas finished speaking, on the edge of the system where he was located, near the War Legion's battlefield, a shockwave on the level of a supernova explosion swept through a large swath of Zerg. The scale of the Swarm was still endless, but in this area, the adjective "sparse" could be used for a rare moment.
"That woman, War…"
The Temple of War had destroyed a star.
Through calculation, advance preparation, and her final strike, combining various favorable conditions, the Temple of War had successfully detonated a star only five astronomical units away from the Swarm. This star was already at the critical point of becoming a red giant. The resulting supernova shockwave, and the black hole that would most likely form afterward, would deal an unprecedented blow to the vanguard of the Swarm.
Incidentally, it wasn't that the Swarm was unprepared for this move, but that they had rarely seen anyone detonate a bomb in their own house.
"Legion!"
The opportunity created by the Temple of War was extremely rare. The spatial disturbance caused by the black hole could even affect the [Hive Mother]'s FTL interdiction ability for a short time. The enemy either had to protect the Swarm from being devoured by the nearby black hole, using its power to suppress it, or let the black hole run its course, allowing the two Imperial legions fighting nearby to retreat via FTL jump.
The spatial fluctuations on the scene told Kalpas that the enemy had clearly chosen the former.
But!
The direction he and his legion were about to jump was right into the center of the Swarm where the gap had been torn!
"Charge with me!"
---o---
Gurgle.
Inside the slimy Hive Mother.
Countless drones were scurrying back and forth. Diligently, they placed egg after egg into designated hatching pools, absorbing the energy collected by the Hive Mother from Imaginary Space as nutrients.
Until they broke out of their shells.
In the crowded "sky" filled with tentacles (nutrient transport tubes), the flying units of the Swarm, in time with the Hive Mother's "breathing," swarmed over the drones' heads like locusts, then poured into space through the opening and closing fleshy walls.
These were the Zagg Swarm, one of the three main branches of the Swarm.
Continuing deeper along the yellowish-green slime flowing through the pink fleshy tubes, one would soon see tall, stalk-like towers that bore some resemblance to shiitake mushrooms.
At the top of these towers, which pulsed like hearts, was a giant egg that resembled a closed pupil. Countless intubation tubes of varying thickness enveloped the egg, the other ends connected to various energy-rich substances, be it organic matter or lifeless ore.
Gurgle.
A turbid bubble floated up through the yellowish-green slime. The sphere, with tumors for eyelashes, slowly opened.
"…"
It was slowly awakening.
"Annihil—"
"Follow the will of Lord Annihilation."
As its mind began to operate, all the Swarm within the three Hive Mothers became more than ten times more active than before.
"At any cost, eliminate the enemy!"
Splurt!!
The top of the egg burst open. As the slime flowed down like a waterfall, the thick, gelatinous wall opened like flower petals.
The purplish-black sphere inside the egg began to unfurl.
Defying the normal laws of biology, an indescribable "winged, spineless, scaled insect" that looked like a hybrid amalgamation unfurled its massive body, which was comparable to a planet.
[Swarm Emissary · Ruin Worm · Magor de Vishi]
With the "birth" of this Emissary, a new command was instantly transmitted throughout the three Hive Mothers.
Amidst the chaotic yet orderly flow of the Swarm—
"Arachne!"
"Yes, my lord."
A Zerg a hundred times larger than an ordinary [Spine Serpent], covered in a thick black carapace, its giant abdomen slowly pulsing with a faint glow, came before Magor de Vishi with a hoarse voice.
"You will command the Swarm."
The "tower" where Magor de Vishi was located was the command hub connecting the three Hive Mothers.
"Force out all their resistance. I will go…"
"...and take out their nest."