Unlike ordinary Zerg, this special Zerg—or will node, or "brain worm"—possessed a certain degree of self-consciousness.
Although its self-consciousness was minuscule compared to the main hive's will, the contrast was as stark as an iceberg versus a snowflake.
Yet even this faint self-consciousness was real.
The reason it had self-consciousness was simple: to transmit commands from the main hive and relay battlefield information back to the hive after filtering out irrelevant data.
However, even this slight self-consciousness betrayed its coordinates during the war.
Even a trace of self-consciousness could be detected by Chu Hao, who had the ability to sense the core of life.
Using his divine fire as a tool, Chu Hao pinpointed the Zerg's location and ordered the demons to capture it at all costs.
---
Contrary to most people's traditional impressions, this brain worm looked no different from other Zerg.
Amidst the massive Zerg swarm, it was impossible to distinguish.
In fact, this was exactly how a will node should appear—as an inconspicuous part of the hive.
A battlefield is ruthless. Being visually unique often makes one a prime target.
Imagine being an enemy commander and spotting a plump, commander-like Zerg among countless others.
You would focus attacks on it, saturating it with firepower first.
Unlike games or movies, real Zerg do not make important will nodes visually distinct.
Instead, clever Zerg ensure these brain worms look just like ordinary Zerg—a harsh lesson from real warfare.
The Zerg were not lacking in intelligence. As a collective intelligence, their cunning was terrifying.
---
"Capture it!"
Chu Hao issued his command.
With the command, black mist shot from the black-red vortex like an arrow toward the gray waves.
Within the black mist were Chu Hao's strongest Abyss creations, such as Yum.
"Roar!"
Receiving Chu Hao's command, Yum advanced as the vanguard of the demon army, charging into the surging Zerg.
Unlike other demons, Yum, a mythic creature with eight powers, could inflict tremendous damage just by existing.
Contamination.
As Yum appeared, many Zerg in the wave were covered with filth from the Abyss.
The filth corroded their fragile internal bodies.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
With screams, the unfortunate Zerg exploded from within.
The expelled matter was neither blood nor tissue—it was pure filth.
This filth, the universe's most terrifying pollutant, could easily contaminate other Zerg, turning them into new filth in a vicious cycle.
---
But these Zerg did not retreat from attacks.
They adapted, evolved, and fought back.
Soon, Chu Hao noticed many Zerg developing resistance to contamination.
As casualties increased, their resistance grew.
However, their infectiousness that could contaminate powerful demons was ineffective against Yum.
Yum, a being with true power and authority from another world, could not truly die as long as the Abyss existed.
With Chu Hao's divine fire supporting him, Zerg infection could not touch him.
The rest of the demon army, however, fared worse.
Without divine fire enhancement, they were often infected by Zerg, eventually mutating into Zerg themselves—attacking fellow demons or being killed by them.
Nevertheless, with the invincible Yum at the front, Chu Hao's demon army neared the brain worm's location.
---
"Trying to run?"
Suddenly, Chu Hao noticed the brain worm he had been tracking attempting to escape the battlefield.
"Not on my watch!"
He reached out.
In an instant, with the anchor deployed, Abyssal terrain erupted around the Zerg.
The entire battlefield felt the presence of the Endless Abyss—a dark, fallen world emanating terrifying energy.
It was now within range for Chu Hao to act.
Countless black mist surged toward the brain worm.
Once touched by the mist, escape was impossible—even gods could not evade the Abyss's pull without losing skin.
---
"What…"
Unexpectedly, the Zerg surrounding the brain worm moved.
But instead of protecting it, they acted to kill it.
The hive's will had judged the brain worm's fate—it must die here.
The brain worm obediently lay on the ground, awaiting the surrounding Zerg soldiers to tear it to pieces.
---
At the periphery of this proto-multiverse, a rift slowly appeared, accompanied by light.