In Kiana's perception, the majority of the planets had already completely fallen, their internal energy being drained by this swarm of insectoids.
Furthermore, a large contingent of elite warriors, commanded by several suspected leaders, were engaged in a direct confrontation with the Qingqiu Army of Yaoqing.
However, since the Qingqiu Army returns to the Hall of Valor upon death and is subsequently resummoned by Feixiao, their immortal and indestructible nature prevented the overwhelming number of insectoids from gaining any meaningful advantage.
Until... several planets surrounding the battlefield shattered, and several locusts, resembling colossal space battleships, flew out from the planetary cores.
White beams of light shot from the locusts' compound eyes, instantly obliterating a Yaoqing battleship that had failed to react in time.
Simultaneously, they released massive numbers of Hopper insectoid warriors from their mouths, who swarmed toward the various Yaoqing battleships.
It was then that everyone realized these gigantic locusts were, in fact, the living battleships of the insectoid swarm.
Along the perimeter blockade, countless Hopper insectoids began to breach the encirclement, attempting to escape the star system and enter the Imaginary Void.
However... in several areas where the Hopper insectoids were most concentrated, several beings appeared—beings that, even to the insectoids, were considered top-tier Breeding Mothers... "Bronya is experiencing severe physical and mental discomfort. Activating Annihilation Mode."
The sheer density of the Hopper insectoids before her made Bronya involuntarily shiver.
Yet, the actions of her hands did not cease. Using the Authority of Truth, she created countless Wangshu battleships.
"Fire!"
Following Bronya's command, the massive fleet of battleships initiated a saturation strike against the insectoids.
In an instant, the insectoids flying at the forefront were completely annihilated, causing the insectoids behind them to halt.
The insectoids' antennae, thin as dry branches, trembled slightly, as if receiving a command. They then flew to either side, clearing a space in the center.
An insectoid twice the size of an elite warrior flew out. This creature had clearly integrated characteristics from other races.
For instance, apart from the locust's compound eyes, its face lacked the chitinous texture typical of the other insectoids.
It was actual skin.
"You are an excellent vessel. Join our great Abundance Swarm, and with the power of Abundance, restore the former breeding glory of the Insect Emperor to the world. What say you?"
This unusual insectoid extended a hand toward Bronya, its tone sincere as it invited her.
Bronya, who understood its language, instantly felt a wave of profound disgust.
Being a 'vessel' meant nothing less than breeding new insects for them!
Bronya looked at the creature's slightly agitated tail stinger, and as if realizing something horrifying, her face turned pale green.
"Die...! You damned perverted insect!"
Bronya extended both hands and, between her arms, constructed a casually imagined, highly technological Star-Shattering Cannon.
Destructive energy accumulated in the cannon's muzzle, causing the seemingly less barbaric insectoid to feel a definite threat.
"What a pity. It seems I will have to use force."
The insectoid spread its hands, its tone leisurely yet tinged with helplessness.
Although the energy in Bronya's hands was sufficiently threatening, that only mattered if she could actually hit it.
"Project Bunny Star-Shattering Cannon, fire!"
A destructive beam of white light shot toward the insectoid, but the creature only offered a contemptuous smile, its body dissolving into a phantom as it swiftly fled the blast radius.
After its escape, the insectoid soldiers it had brought with it were devastated, with few survivors remaining.
It felt no distress over this.
To it, these low-intelligence creatures were not considered the Abundance citizens of their kin.
They were merely mass-producible tool soldiers.
Just as the insectoid evaded the blast and let down its guard, it suddenly felt the antennae on its head twitch violently.
"Could it be...!"
Instinctively raising its head, it saw another Star-Shattering Cannon muzzle pointed directly down at it.
It was about to dodge, but its body was swiftly pierced by a blue spear, momentarily jolting its senses.
"Be reduced to cosmic dust, you repulsive creature..."
Bronya, standing nearby, held her throwing posture and stated flatly.
Rumble—!
A beam of white light instantly engulfed the insectoid.
Just as Bronya felt certain she had eliminated the leader of the swarm, a tattered figure emerged from the dissipating white light.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Crack—
Bronya frowned as she looked at the figure.
That figure was the insectoid that had been hit head-on by her Star-Shattering Cannon—and it hadn't been completely destroyed!
Not only was the opponent still alive, but its body was continuously repairing itself, although the creature looked visibly distressed.
"Why is it so hard to kill? Is it not a locust, but a cockroach...?"
Bronya frowned, muttering in confusion.
Normally, even one of those slightly stronger 'Abundance citizens' should have been reduced to ash by a strike like that.
"Never mind, I'll just make sure it's dead first."
Bronya shook her head, and a blue radiance enveloped her body as blue and white armor began to cover her limbs.
As Bronya continuously utilized her Authority, the silver-white energy within her core began to fully integrate.
A plume of blue energy began to diffuse outward from the core until it completely enveloped Bronya.
"Bronya feels her current condition is unprecedentedly good."
The moment Bronya finished speaking, the area around her was instantly overlaid by a silver galaxy.
"This... is Kiana's aura. I can feel it now..."
Bronya's eyes flickered. She glanced at the surrounding galaxy, speaking with a hint of shock.
Before, she could only visually perceive Kiana's power, but now that she could feel Kiana's aura... she finally understood the true scale of Kiana's immense strength.
Kiana, who was meditating in the core region with closed eyes, suddenly opened them and turned her head toward Bronya's location.
"Bronya succeeded first."
Kiana had previously speculated that if they truly began cultivating the divine aura, the Herrschers might achieve true godhood.
And no longer rely solely on the Authorities granted by the Imaginary Tree.
With deeper cultivation of the divine aura, the Herrschers might be able to transform the Tree's Authorities into powers that belonged entirely to themselves.
Even achieving godhood independent of the Tree's system.
For example, Bronya could become the God of Truth, wielding the Authority of Analysis and Construction.
It seemed the theory was proving effective... Bronya, after her brief astonishment at sensing Kiana's aura, turned her attention back to the insectoid.
"It is time for this to end..."
Bronya spread her limbs; numerous cannon barrels extended, firing countless missiles toward the remaining insect swarm.
Once the missiles were launched, a blue-glowing lens appeared over Bronya's right eye, displaying a circular crosshair that precisely locked onto the insectoid still repairing itself.
"Have you ever witnessed the shattering of a star?"
The moment Bronya finished speaking, the surrounding constructed Wangshu battleships dissolved into energy and returned to her body.
As the aura surrounding Bronya intensified, a deep blue, highly technological stargate—the size of a planet and constructed of two concentric rings—appeared directly above the insectoid.
The center of the stargate instantly filled with destructive blue and white energy.
Following a resonant hum, the blue and white energy cannon struck the insectoid directly.
In an instant, the cosmic space before Bronya erupted in scattered firelight, resembling fireworks exploding after a star had fallen.
"Bronya. Mission complete."
Once the firelight subsided and she confirmed the absence of hostile units, Bronya prepared to turn and depart.
At that moment, the Imaginary Energy in the region suddenly surged.
Buzz—
"I pose a question to you: What is Truth?"
The phantom of a gigantic mechanical head appeared in the cosmic space, gazing down at Bronya.
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