Citizens of these empires celebrated as the rewards brought security and prestige, making this one of the best places to live.
In contrast, smaller nations and families were happy to receive rewards, but compared to what the top received, it was nothing.
This led many of them to curse, as that was all they could do; they couldn't go against the top families or the World's Will.
However, some of the lords felt motivated and vowed to do better next time.
Just like that, 29 years passed.
Outer space was a quiet, desolate place with no sign of life.
However, inside a hive-like ship, things were anything but quiet. Zerg of all shapes and sizes moved around, their many eyes and feelers twitching with hunger and excitement.
This caused the ship to emit a dark red aura as it traveled through space, destroying and devouring anything in its way.
The ship, along with its crew, was part of a large advance invasion force that moved through space in search of planets to destroy and devour for energy.
Near the center, things were a bit quieter as the captain of the ship, the Hive Master, lounged.
It was a massive creature with a hard exoskeleton and glinting eyes, but its sharper intelligence set it apart from the rest of the swarm.
It sat perched on a throne made from bones and pieces of past conquests, watching a screen displaying a planet below. This was their next target.
The Hive Master let out a low, growling hiss, "Another new world... ripe for feeding."
The planet looked peaceful enough—green fields, blue waters, mountains that seemed to touch the sky.
Similar to Nexara, this world had a major difference; in this world, the land-to-sea ratio was more than 9:1, with land being the 1.
But the place was untouched, full of life and energy, just waiting to be devoured. Around the Hive Master, a few Zerg scouts—lean and wiry with twitchy mandibles—clicked eagerly.
"We tear, we rip, we take it all," one hissed, its antennae flicking in anticipation of the feast.
The Hive Master gave a slow nod, one of its many eyes narrowing as it looked down at the screen.
"The Queen wants more. This world will serve. Flesh and essence—everything here belongs to her."
The scouts buzzed with excitement, feeling the hunger shared by every creature on board. This wasn't just a mission; it was a feast waiting to happen.
Even with their different forms and builds, every Zerg here had a purpose—a place in the swarming invasion.
From the small drones who'd scout the land to the hulking soldiers who'd bulldoze through anything in their path, each one knew exactly what to do.
Further back in the observation bay, a massive Zerg soldier, almost too big for the room, watched the view of the planet with a grunt.
Meanwhile, as they loaded into the pods, the energy inside the ship shifted. The launch bay began to hum, the pods vibrating with the anticipation of release.
The Hive Master watched as rows of drones, soldiers, and scouts filed in, ready to drop to the surface. Each pod pulsed, a heartbeat of its own as it synced with the hive's energy.
The Hive Master let out a long, hissing breath. "The swarm shall feast."
One by one, the pods shot out, streaking toward the planet's surface like blazing meteors. Below, the land was peaceful and quiet, unaware of what was about to come.
But that would change soon enough.
The first pods landed with a heavy crash, bursting open to reveal snarling Zerg scouts and drones.
They hit the ground running, claws digging into the soil, mandibles snapping in excitement. The drones scuttled forward, senses honed to pick up anything living.
The scouts sniffed the air, already picking up the scents of life nearby.
"Spread out," one growled, voice a mix of hunger and thrill. "Find everything that breathes. Nothing goes untouched."
As they moved out, the Zerg spread like a wave, sweeping through fields and forests with one goal: to consume everything in their path.
The pods continued to drop, one after another, each impact releasing more of the swarm.
Back on the hive-ship, the Hive Master watched the screens as the initial scouts began their work.
A few scouts encountered local creatures, harmless animals that scattered at the sight of the intruders.
The Zerg didn't care—they consumed, leaving nothing but bare ground in their wake. Each creature they absorbed added to the collective energy, feeding the hive's insatiable need.
"This place is weak," one of the soldiers grunted, slicing through the underbrush with its sharp claws. "Nothing here can stop us."
The Hive Master smirked, watching its soldiers work. "Arrogance will get you killed. Every world has its dangers. Even this one."
But even it didn't sound too worried. They were the Zerg, the devourers of worlds. They had leveled planets before, leaving nothing behind but barren wastelands.
And these soldiers were the lowest possible Zerg; their numbers were incalculable, which made them disposable.
This world, with its green fields and blue skies, would soon be nothing more than another conquest.
The lieutenant, now on the ground among the swarm, let out a high, grating laugh. "Let them try to resist. We'll tear through them, just like the others."
The swarm continued to spread, unstoppable in its hunger. Every living thing was fair game, every creature a source of strength to bring back to the Queen.
The Hive Master watched from above, a sense of satisfaction washing over it. Soon, this planet would be nothing but dust—another world reduced to nothing.
And as more pods dropped from the ship, each one loaded with soldiers and drones, it became clear: the swarm was just beginning its feast.