CH 21

The boundless dark void stretched endlessly, distant stars twinkling with silver light. In front of the X123 Legion laid a small asteroid covered in molten lava.

Gigantic flying insects emerged from beneath the magma, resembling colorful mold growing on red bean cakes. Their appearance was utterly repulsive.

Six months ago, a global volcanic eruption had devastated this planet’s ecosystem. All Zergs had assumed it was a dead world, but recent reconnaissance missions had discovered a vast life community thriving beneath the lava.

“There’s definitely a queen down there.” Vice Commander Edmund’s expression grew increasingly serious as he observed the growing swarm of flying insects.

Listening to the voices coming from the Legion’s channel, Jun Ye, seated in the cockpit, controlled his mech, unsheathing quantum blades on both sides, and asked, “A thousand elite mech warriors can’t handle a queen on a dead star?”

This conversation felt awkward. In the language of the Zerg Alliance, both the creatures above and the menacing beings below were “insects.”

There was some connection between the two, somewhat like the relationship between humans and apes in Jun Ye’s original world.

Billions of years ago, one side had evolved towards humanoid form, losing their massive bodies but gaining higher intelligence. The other side continued following the same path, adapting to changes in their environment, and evolving different abilities, like surviving beneath molten lava.

However, unlike humans, the brutish flying insect race lacked any wildlife protection laws. Even with the same ancestors, what needed to be killed, they would kill; what needed to be eaten, they would eat.

Oh, these creatures with the same “name” might appear fierce, but their meat was quite delicious, making them regular guests on the Zergs’ dinner table.

Edmund and Jun Ye were having this conversation on the Legion channel, which all Zergs could hear. However, no one responded. Instead, various private messages circulated among the soldiers.

Of course, it wasn’t that they couldn’t handle these lower-tier insects; it was clear that the Major General was eager to lead the frontline. Military protocol dictated that even in a battlefield, pregnant females amongst the female soldiers were to be the last to engage.

Major General, we all know you’re a great fighter, but this is a unique situation, isn’t it? Please consider the eggs in your belly.

Numerous private messages circulated quietly, eventually finding their way to Vice Commander Edmund’s terminal. They hoped he would persuade the Major General.

The private messages spread wildly, however, there were some Zergs who remained unusually quiet among them, the 103 Zergs, who had been recently beaten by Major General Jun Ye a few days ago. Please believe that even though the Major General was pregnant, he was still the warlord capable of single-handedly defeating a legion and making all insects cry and call him Grandfather.

Vice Commander Edmund, who hadn’t seen the live version of the Major General beating up those Zergs a few days ago, decided to have a private conversation with him.

“Major General, it’s highly likely that there’s a queen among these lower-tier insect species. I’m not experienced in commanding battles against insect swarms with queens, and I’m a bit out of practice. It’s better for you to take command of the ship instead.”

Jun Ye understood Edmund’s intention of not wanting him to engage in combat. It was quite a feat to have the straightforward-speaking female Zerg soldiers convey such a subtle message.

So Jun Ye decisively took over command, and beneath his name on the legion channel, he added a small golden tag that read “Supreme Commander.”

As the last message reached Vice Commander Edmund, he gave himself a mental pat on the back. Then, he stood up, prepared to welcome the Major General back to the command ship, only to see the Major General leading several battalions, charging down ahead of everyone.

“…….”

Edmund’s mind froze for a few seconds before he turned to the command ship’s communication channel, where he found the following message:

[Supreme Commander: Leave 10 battalions to protect the fleet! All other battalions, follow me to attack!]

Edmund: “…”

This was quite different from the initial plan…

The black and white mechs moved through the swarm like phantoms, each swing of their blades taking out several giant insects. They were absolute killing machines, and no insect could hinder their progress.

A team of dark-clad bodyguards for the Major General’s personal use followed closely behind. A bit further back, several teams of mechs were trailing them, apparently acting as reinforcements.

The battlefield covered nearly the entire asteroid, a legion of over a thousand Zergs. As Jun Ye surveyed the scene, apart from the ten personal guards, he could spot over fifty mechs.

Jun Ye knew why they were following him. One-tenth was because he was present, one-tenth because there might be the queen mother nearby, and the remaining eight-tenths were likely due to him and the queen being in the same area.

In other words, they believed he needed protection just because he was carrying an egg in his belly.

This morning, when he was inspecting the female Zergs soldiers doing their morning exercises, many had asked if he needed an umbrella. They said the sun was very harsh and recommended he stay in the shade.

Who knew the morning sun could be so scorching? Jun Ye, feeling underestimated and protected to the point of helplessness by those around him, struggled to accept that they thought he was suddenly incompetent.

Even from the perspective of the Zerg species, he, despite being a physically formidable military individual, was being treated as he should be guarded preciously because he was carrying something in his tummy.

But there he was, slightly distracted, his actions slowed for a moment, and instantly, he found himself surrounded by not less than sixty mechas, his personal guards rushing in to shield him from the giant insects. He felt completely off-balance amidst the chaos.

A quick turn of his foot, and he regained his speed, swiftly navigating through the insect swarm, leaving the mechas far behind. He charged into the area where the giant insects continued to emerge.

In an instant, his mecha surged forward, disappearing into the masses of lower-tier insect creatures. The soldiers were stunned, and some among them, following the direction from which Jun Ye had departed, realized the significance of this, shouting, “That’s the queen’s stronghold over there!”

There was no need for further explanation. They had to go protect the Major General!

That was undoubtedly the queen’s location, the heart of the entire insect swarm’s forces. If something went wrong, if Jun Ye’s stamina gave out because the eggs were affected…

At that moment, a powerful spiritual wave emanated, causing the advancing insects to abruptly withdraw into the magma as a fierce earthquake shook the whole surroundings.

Watching from the command ship, Vice Commander Edmund had a clearer view. The entire planet’s lower-tier flying insects were converging on a single point, undoubtedly the queen’s location.

He issued a loud command, “Quick, send out the queen’s coordinates!”

Then, it was a matter of whether they would assist or rescue.

“It’s impossible! We can’t break through at all!”

This multitude of lower-tier insects, even if they weren’t attacking, simply forming a formidable defensive barrier, was not something that could be easily penetrated. Moreover, they needed to be wary of the incoming swarm from all sides. A single careless moment could lead to being knocked down by those enormous creatures.

Just then, a message appeared on the empty legion command channel, the second message sent since the troops were deployed.

[Supreme Commander: Evacuate all personnel]

Retreat? How could they retreat? Were they just going to stand by and watch him die as a hero?!

Not even using any punctuation, one could tell that this was a message sent in the most critical of situations.

After all, this wasn’t a battlefield where the soldiers had to obey orders in the face of an enemy. In this kind of extermination activity, the female Zerg soldiers were all moving on their own, resisting the tide of insects from all directions. Some of the mecha pilots with exceptional skills had even charged into the lava nest where the queen was.

Powerful spiritual waves emanated from the queen, echoing throughout the planet, driving the insect swarm into a frenzy every time.

The pressure was not only felt by the soldiers trapped within the swarm, but the female Zergs on the fleet were also extremely anxious, each one pleading for orders to be given.

Edmund, as the vice commander, saw the tense situation on the holographic map, gritted his teeth, and gave the order.

The 10th platoon also descended and joined the battle. Just as they did, the giant insects suddenly stopped, and the entire insect swarm froze, as if someone had hit the pause button.

“What… is going on?”

Seeing the insect tide halt, all the female Zerg soldiers felt something was amiss.

There were only two possibilities for the swarm to stop: either the intruders had been wiped out, or the queen of the entire insect swarm had been killed.

Edmund rushed to the command station, his eyes fixed on the full-screen image of the entrance to the queen’s nest, unwilling to miss any detail.

Just as the swarm hesitated for a moment, it suddenly scattered, fleeing in all directions.

Amidst the chaos, a clear and calm voice echoed in the ears of the Zergs: “Didn’t I tell you to retreat? Why are you still here?”

“?!”

The mission was complete, and this time, Jun Ye directly activated the legion’s voice channel, making his message heard by all the Zergs.

As a result, the female Zerg soldiers who had been at the heart of the swarm saw their Major General, in his black-and-white mecha, standing about ten meters above the lava, holding a big, blood-red mass of fluff, looking quite relaxed. It was just like the scene in the training ground when he had knocked them all down.

They had worried for nothing.

The female Zergs looked at each other, and though they couldn’t see each other’s faces through the mechas, the complexity of their feelings was the same.

It turned out that the Major General, despite carrying a clutch of eggs, still had an explosive combat capability. All the fuss about protecting him, well, hehe…

The whole formation returned.

The legion returned to their stationed planet, and the logistics personnel at the camp were there to welcome them, but there weren’t many who came forward. Jun Ye noticed the glances from the logistics Zergs and saw the little young master standing at the entrance of the airfield, gazing out.

Handing the red fluff ball that was half the height of a Zerg to his vice commander, Jun Ye, amidst the gossiping eyes, strode toward the young master.

“Why are you standing at the door?” Jun Ye approached the young master and said, “You have the access, you can wait in the resting area if you want to.”

Joshua looked up, smiling shyly, his voice gentle, “Master1He’s using a very respectful title, I hesitated between My Lord and Master, but since female Zergs call their husbands Lord Husband, I decided to go with Master I guess lol, congratulations on your victorious return.”

Jun Ye: “…”

What have you been thinking with your pretty little head while I was away?

Okay this fight came out of nowhere but I’m glad we got to see Jun Ye in action! He’s so badass haha! Also Joshua, your silly little thinking kills me everytime.

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