The Primal Zerg began their ritual of consumption, devouring one another to catalyze rapid evolution. Once the bloody process was complete, the survivors emerged with elite-level strength. The Primal Zerglings evolved into Ravasaur-like predators, the Primal Roaches became Primal Igniters, and the Primal Hydralisks transformed into Primal Impalers.
However, the Overmind noticed a flaw in the design.
"It seems some units didn't actually need to 'evolve'."
The Ravasaur (Predatory Dragon) was a decent upgrade; as a ranged unit capable of launching concentrated acid globs, it filled a niche without needing specialized artillery support. But as for the Igniters and Impalers? They were essentially just slightly buffed versions of the standard Roach and Hydralisk. It wasn't so much an evolution as it was a lateral biomorphic shift.
"Hmm, the Primal strain is interesting, but it lacks the collective efficiency of the Swarm. You only truly feel the power of the Zerg when they move as an endless tide."
When Primal Zerg evolve, their numbers are effectively halved to fuel the growth of the victor. The "feeling" of the swarm—the overwhelming weight of numbers—evaporates instantly.
Zehaka began his hunt in the Underhive with his elite pack. The bottom-most levels of the Imperial Hive World were, as always, a labyrinth of chaos. Even on a manufacturing hub like Volkus, the "Under-nest" was a nightmare. Two local gangs were locked in a fierce shootout within a maze of rusted plating, trading sporadic fire from behind cover. Their aim was abysmal; after ten minutes of "warfare," only a few bodies lay in the dirt.
Suddenly, members of one gang heard the wet thud of heavy footsteps behind them.
"An ambush?!" the gang leader hissed. "You three, watch our six!"
The gangers tiptoed toward the corner of the corridor, hoping to surprise their attackers. Instead, they came face-to-face with a Ravasaur that had just rounded the bend. The creature was far more terrifying than a Zergling, its prehistoric features and dripping maw sending the gangers into a state of paralysis.
"Monster! There's a—!"
The cry was cut short as a barbed tail whipped out from the shadows, piercing through the ganger's chest. His body was hoisted into the air and tossed aside like a rag doll. Zehaka pounced from the darkness, followed by his Ravasaurs. The brutal hunt had begun.
The screams drew the attention of the remaining gangers. They turned, horrified to see a pack of strangely shaped, reptilian horrors emerging from the vents. They opened fire instinctively, but Zehaka was a blur of movement. He leaped, pouncing on one man while catching another in his powerful jaws.
Ignoring the man's frantic struggles, Zehaka tossed him into the air and swallowed him whole.
"Fighting and eating at the same time... I like this style," the Overmind noted.
Zehaka displayed a primal savagery that far surpassed the standard Zergling. Overwhelmed by terror, the gangers poured fire into him, but their low-caliber bullets merely sparked against his dense chitin. In a single, fluid motion, Zehaka swung his tail, smashing supply crates and gangers into the walls. His pack followed, biting through torsos and crushing skulls.
In less than thirty seconds, dozens of men were slaughtered.
While the gangers on the far side of the barricade wondered why the shooting had stopped, several Ravasaurs—frustrated at missing the first course—pounced on them.
"By the Throne! What are these things?!"
"Fire! Fire everything!"
The gangers panicked, assuming this was some illegal biological weapon unleashed by their rivals. While their bullets managed to nick the Ravasaurs' skin, the damage was negligible. One predator charged through a crumbling wall, pinning its prey and devouring him on the spot.
After consuming human flesh, the creatures' bodies began to swell slightly, though they didn't gain new traits. This was the characteristic Abathur had mentioned: Primal Zerg increase in size and raw power through the direct absorption of biomass.
"Eat, eat, eat."
The Ravasaurs finished their grim meal and moved to the next target. They were slightly slower than the Zerglings, but their raw lethality made up for it. Zehaka was even more voracious; he had already devoured nearly ten men and still felt the gnawing void in his stomach.
"Next time, I'll drop you on Catachan," the Overmind joked. "Let's see if you eat the jungle, or if the jungle eats you."
While an excessive craving for food could drive a creature to irrationality, the Zerg had no real shortage of biomass; the Creep provided all the nutrients the Swarm needed. But the Primals were different. Their combat strength was undeniable—Zehaka filled the gap between a Roach and an Ultralisk perfectly. He was a specialist hunter, meant for targeting Hive Tyrants or Space Marine Captains.
Within minutes, the gang war was over. Every living soul in the sector had been erased. Even for the deepest Underhive, such a complete "cleaning" was rare. The Ravasaurs that ate the most were already ten centimeters taller than their pack-mates.
"Continue, Zehaka. Grow, devour, and evolve. Become something the humans cannot defeat."
Zehaka let out a guttural roar that echoed through the vents, attracting the attention of the Underhive's true denizens. Deep in the stagnant sewage of the bottom nest, a mutant reptile—an apex predator of the filth—heard the challenge. It awoke from its slumber and glided through the toxic sludge toward the source.
A moment later, the massive reptile lunged from the sewage, its jaws snapping shut on the nearest Ravasaur. The predator barely had time to hiss before it was torn apart in a spray of purple blood.
"...!"
The Overmind was genuinely taken aback. "What? There are things like that down here?"
The Underhive contained many horrors, but the Overmind had usually just bulldozed over them without looking. Now, he saw just how terrifying Hive mutants could be. This creature, a crocodile-like monstrosity over ten meters long, was an overlord of the contaminated sumps. Its skin was so thick it was practically natural armor.
The mutant was very hungry.
Coincidentally, so was Zehaka.