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| The Beloved Little Mother Insect (LITTLE MOTHER) |
Time rewinds to one hour earlier—
The psionic turmoil caused by Pearl had forced several high-ranking Narga People to revert to their human Mimicry forms.
The Sandworm died, the Beast Tide completely scattered, and the Titan-class warships, arriving belatedly, had just approached the planet. The Radiation Storm that had raged for days, and sparking numerous conflicts, was finally drawing to a close.
The radiation particles floating across the planet finally settled, and the intangible interference that had been a shadow over the warships vanished instantly. Several warships hovering high above the Irradiated Wasteland descended, closing in on the land.
A Star-class battleship that initially carried high-ranking Narga People into the Beast Proving Ground, a Galactic-class Battleship that was the first to deploy that were led by Tilan, the youngest Star Alliance joint officer in the Narga Empire, and a Titan-class warship that arrived urgently after passing the Star Alliance's application for reinforcement.
Three warships that were larger than the last cast vast, continuous shadows over the desert grassland below, instantly blotting out the sky and sun. The sunlight beyond the shadows seemed distant and unreachable, as if dark clouds had swept across the land.
Beneath the shadows, aside from the few high-ranking Narga People participating in the trial, the reinforcements who had arrived with the warships also reverted to their humanoid mimicry forms. Like soldiers falling into formation, they silently divided into distinct groups, standing behind Olovikin, Hui, Ega, and Xagai.
Different insect species and action teams were clearly demarcated; their attire and demeanor made the distinctions obvious at a glance.
From over ten meters above, Tilan, clad in a sleek black-and-white military uniform, agilely descended. With a light tap of his toes, he landed gracefully, not a single strand of hair at his temples out of place.
He gave a slight nod to the other members of his kind but averted his gaze the moment it met his twin brother Hui's. Tilan crouched down, his slender fingers that were covered by half-finger gloves, mimicking Olovikin's earlier action as he picked up a handful of sand—the very sand from which the white mycelium had erupted and vanished instantly.
Olovikin, unusually unable to maintain his usual elegance, addressed the crouching Tilan, "It's the Silver Species, guardians of the Hive Substance. I wouldn't mistake that scent of frost and blood."
Tilan lowered his eyes. "The Silver Species... Haven't they been gone for many years?"
"Now is not the time for this," Hui interjected, his clear voice urgent and tinged with anger. "The Mother Insect has been taken by the Silver Species. They've always preferred dwelling in underground caverns. Since the Radiation Storm has subsided, we should quickly use the warships to scan the planet's subsurface for life forms. We'll eventually find where the Silver Species are hiding."
Tilan rose leisurely while brushing the dust from his gloves under his twin brother's cold stare, exuding an air of unhurried calm.
He said, "The scans are already underway. Both the Galactic and Titan-class ships are scanning. Can you not wait a few minutes?"
Hui pressed his lips together, his expression darkening.
Ega, standing almost silently in place, cast an icy glance at Tilan. The tail hook at the base of his spine had not fully retracted, resembling a scorpion's stinger—flexible, vicious, and imbued with terrifying force, as if it could crush any prey that crossed its path at any moment.
The other stealth operatives in the Empire's Scorpion group knew all too well that when Ega began to slowly sway his tail hook like this, someone had provoked their Chief. The outcome would be dire—either death or severe injury, with no pleasant end in sight.
The atmosphere in the desert clearing that was littered with Beast remains, was far from pleasant. Even Xagai, who had only spent half a day with the Little Mother Insect and had initially been full of harsh words, grew restless. Irritated to the extreme, he randomly smashed a nearby weathered rock, his tone dark and brutal:
"Be thankful it wasn't some King-level Mutated Beast that took the little thing. Otherwise, by the time the warships finish scanning, we'd just be in time to collect the corpse!"
His words were harsh and primarily directed at Tilan, but even so, upon hearing the phrase "collect the corpse," Olovikin, who had been tightly pursing his lips, couldn't help but twitch his brow.
The geological scanning time that once felt brief now stretched into an agonizing eternity.
Olovikin hung his head, his disheveled platinum-blond hair swaying in the wind behind him. Each flutter reminded him of that heart-wrenching scene that gripped his entire being—
The frail body falling, the pale hair whipping upward, and those words that shattered his very bones when they reached his ears: "Thank you all..."
When had the King of Narga ever appeared so pitiful, so utterly heartbreaking?
Olovikin's stiff lips twitched as his platinum eyes swept over his kin. His voice emerged hoarse: "...Do you know what he said to me in his final moment?"
Tilan, standing nearby with crossed arms, showed no interest.
Hui's lips parted slightly. Remembering Pearl's fragile physique and gentle nature, he ventured, "Did he say he was scared? Or begged not to be left behind?"
Xagai let out a derisive snort before adding with irritation and disgust, "Maybe he demanded your protection!"
Ega remained silent as stone, with his piercing gaze fixed on Olovikin, waiting for the final answer.
The platinum-haired noble, watched by all Narga People, suddenly laughed bitterly. He raised a hand to his brow, his voice low and heavy as he revealed an answer none had anticipated.
He said—
"He told me, thank you all."
The arid wind seemed to still abruptly.
Hui's lips trembled, Xagai muttered curses under his breath, Ega stared blankly and his normally swaying Tail Hook dropped straight down.
Only Tilan's expression remained unreadable. His gaze swept over these clansmen who had spent merely weeks with their New King, a strange unease stirring within him.
They've all been bewitched by those two words—"Mother Insect"!
Have these fools lost their minds at the mere mention of the Mother Insect? Have they forgotten what it was like when they fought against the empire's conservatives?
Tilan clicked his tongue dismissively. Before he could speak, his wrist communicator projected a screen displaying geological scan results from three Starships.
"Good news," Tilan announced, "the scan results are in—"
Meeting the expectant gazes of the high-ranking Narga People, he shrugged, "Along with some unfortunate news."
His thumb and forefinger spread the screen outward, instantly enlarging the three scan reports before everyone.
"Seventy-five percent of this planet's subsurface is honeycombed with caverns," Tilan declared, "with Silver Species Mycelium vitality coverage reaching 98.99%—nearly three-quarters of the planet's interior."
He drawled, "The ancient Silver Species lives up to its reputation... It appears this search mission might be rather extensive?"
"Then we search," Olovikin stated flatly before gesturing to his Royal Guard subordinates. "Until we find him."
The squad, still clad in platinum Scales over their human Mimicry forms, sprang into action. The humming of Elytra rose from the surface as they swiftly fanned out.
Not only the Royal Guard mobilized—simultaneously deploying were Ega's Scorpion group, Xagai's Blood-burning group, and the Order Alliance represented by both Hui and Tilan—initiating a carpet-like downward search.
For the Narga People, finding someone was neither particularly difficult nor entirely simple.
The data scanned by the warship remained fragmented. Under the envelopment of the Mycelium, every location transformed into living information, making it impossible to pinpoint the exact position of the Mother Insect.
But the Narga People were different.
Within roughly 75% of the approximate location, they possessed an innate sense of the Mother Insect.
Even though most of them had never seen the Mother Insect, when they drew near, when their blood and psionic power resonated with attraction, they instinctively knew it was the Mother Insect—the New King of the Narga.
After the Narga People set out, a prolonged silence fell.
Tilan stood in the shadow of the warship, his gaze dark and unreadable, before ultimately giving chase as well.
He refused to believe that a newly born Mother Insect could be any different.
...
A Beast Tide gathered by the King-level Sandworm silently dissipated. After that psionic outburst, many Beasts broke free from control instantly. They fled in panic, and as the Radiation Storm subsided, they regained a sliver of reason and a lingering sense of fearful dread.
Vast stretches of the Irradiated Wasteland’s desert fell into tranquility. The surviving Beasts hid deep within their nests while occasionally peeking out to warily watch the Narga People, who seemed to be searching for something across the planet.
As an empire-designated Beast Proving Ground, in the absence of Radiation Storms and King-level Mutated Beast control, these captive native Beasts were ferocious and predatory. Yet, they held a slight fear of the Narga People, who visited every few years.
While the Narga People busily searched for traces of the Little Mother Insect, a somewhat familiar sand lizard poked its head out of a burrow. It blinked its large, round eyes. Its previously dull and dusty yellow skin was now shed, and replaced by a faint, glossy sheen.
It turned its head while sniffing the air, then suddenly leaped and clung to the Tail Hook of a Scorpion group Narga, hitching a ride.
Unnoticed by the Narga people who were focused on finding the Mother Insect, the small disturbance on his Tail Hook went ignored. He continued swiftly, like a cold-blooded creature gliding through grass while swinging his Tail Hook as he raced across this stretch of desert.
Then, as he passed a withered old tree, the Scorpion group member paused slightly.
He turned back. The black scale mask covering his entire face was seamless, obscuring even the contours of his eye sockets, nose bridge, and lips. Only the chest of his form-fitting combat suit, resembling a gel-like material that outlined a stylized scorpion tail number.
02—the code name for the deputy chief of the Scorpion group, while 01 represented the Chief, Ega.
02 tilted his head, his matte black mask revealing no emotion. He stepped toward the withered tree, but the cold heart hidden within his chest suddenly began to pound violently.
Thump, thump, thump.
It was the unbreakable connection between the Mother Insect and their Offspring.
A warm, viscous, transparent thread that could never be severed in this lifetime.
【Mother... Mother...】
【Where... Mother...】
【Found it.】
The tall Scorpion group member 02 lifted his head. The moment he emitted a buzzing-like gathering signal, his powerful, serpentine black Tail Hook that was trailing behind him, swiftly lashed out, shattering the withered tree into splinters.
The agile sand lizard that was clinging to 02’s dark combat belt at his waist, secured itself there to avoid being flung away by the terrifying force of that Tail Hook.
In less than half a minute, the scattered members of the Scorpion group gathered.
Other Narga People who sensed the signal soon followed, with only the swaying, indifferent Tilan remaining nowhere to be seen.
Hui subtly furrowed his brow, finding no way to deal with his twin brother who had always been at odds with him.
02 tilted his head while looking at Ega, the Chief of the Scorpion group, his voice equally hoarse and deep, as if he seldom spoke. "—Here."
No reminder was needed. When all the Narga People stood around the shattered withered tree, they had already transcended the sand, soil, and stones as mediums, sensing their mother's call from deep within the underground cavern.
……
The downward path was torn open and the obstructing rocks was shattered inch by inch until the massive pincer legs of the Blood-burning group and Order Alliance members were coated in dust.
The eerie, pure-white stalactites beneath the earth were finally exposed in their entirety, entwined with countless white mycelium that pulsed as though alive, stirring the hearts of the Narga People into a frenzied rhythm.
[Mother… Mother…]
[Found him.]
The murmurs echoed thickly within the viscous psionic power of the Offspring, an unconscious call spurred by genes and instinct—an obsessive yearning.
It was only natural for the Offspring to crave their "Mother."
The fissure in the cavern below let in a dry, scorching daylight. As the floating dust settled, the pupils of several Narga People constricted simultaneously—
At the center of the pale mycelium stood a tall, imposing male with his expression cold as he cradled a small, violently coughing figure in his arms.
That silhouette faced away from them—frail, delicate, with only the tips of its ears that were flushed red from coughing, providing the sole burst of color in the cavern.
Not far away, a massive StarCloud Hound lay ensnared in mycelium, immobilized.
The Narga People, fresh from war, recognized it instantly—it was another King-level Mutated Beast summoned by the SSS-class Sandworm not long ago.
The air grew eerily still.
After assessing their surroundings, the high-ranking Narga People fixed their gazes on the Little Mother Insect. But Pearl, the one being watched, remained oblivious to the tension as he still buried his face against the deep tan chest before him as he coughed weakly.
Olovikin stepped forward, only to be blocked by agile mycelium. With the Little Mother Insect still held in the other’s embrace, they dared not act recklessly and could just stand frozen in place with their eyes burning into that distant figure.
The psionic power surrounding Pearl, which had served as "earmuffs," dissipated—yet his dulled senses remained unaware of the newcomers.
Aslan held Pearl with one arm while the other gently patted his back—a soothing gesture meant for a wheezing youngling, one that felt oddly dissonant coming from him. Those hands seemed better suited to wielding bloodstained blades or clutching the heads of Beasts, not cradling and comforting a fragile Little Mother Insect.
Pearl coughed until his ribs ached, but the steady rhythm of the hand on his back gradually eased the frantic gasps brought on by terror.
—The eyes from his psionic memory had been too horrifying, eclipsing even the fear he’d felt upon first witnessing the Beast battlefield.
As his violent coughing subsided, Pearl drew a deep breath—only to tremble the moment he realized who was holding him.
He feared those eyes.
Terrified beyond measure.
Aslan lowered his gaze and bended slightly to set the small figure back on the ground.
The moment he released Pearl, his sharp features hardened, radiating brutality and authority—before swiftly receding, though not without a trace of displeasure.
He rarely showed emotion.
The instant his feet touched the ground, Pearl clutched at his loose clothes and shrinking back like a frightened quail.
Pitiful and endearing.
The hive markings growing on Aslan's body seemed to flow slightly faster for a moment.
Ega, who had been silent all this time, couldn't help but speak out: "...Pearl!"
The sudden hoarse call was somewhat startling to Pearl, who had just begun to recover from his panic. Like a fledgling bird fearing a fierce raptor yet instinctively seeking refuge near someone stronger when frightened—
Several slender white fingers grasped Aslan's arm.
From behind his broad, upright frame, a small head crowned with fluffy white hair peeked out halfway. Though his pale blue vacant eyes revealed no discernible emotion, his face showed traces of startled curiosity and confusion.
It was at this moment that Tilan stepped in, and walked slowly over the scattered fragments of stone covering the ground.
His attention was instantly captured by those clean, pure pale blue eyes.
Crunch.
His footsteps paused slightly as he crushed a stone underfoot.
The abrupt sound made Pearl tighten his grip on Aslan's arm and turn his head to "look" in that direction.
Tilan froze.
In that moment, he felt he had successfully made eye contact with that beautiful little creature.
Who was that?
The beautiful little treasure the Silver Species had hidden away all these years?
How... utterly adorable!!
But soon, the beautiful artificial human shifted his gaze.
The captivating eyes that had sent Tilan's heartbeat into disarray now turned toward Ega—the one who had first spoken with that hoarse, muffled voice reminiscent of a damp, cold snake.
"...Is... is that Ega?"
A soft, gentle voice echoed through the underground cavern.
Tilan clearly heard that annoying black scorpion suppress a barely audible "Mother" filled with peculiar emotion, then pretend to respond with an "It's me."
Tilan: ???
This beautiful little treasure is the Mother Insect? Really?
Tilan felt a breath catch in his throat—unable to be expelled or swallowed—leaving him unbearably uncomfortable.
With great difficulty, he tore his gaze away from the Mother Insect while mentally repeating "Don't be deceived by appearances." Yet whenever there was any movement from that direction, he couldn't help but immediately look back.
Tilan: Damn eyes, control yourselves! How can he be this damn cute?
Eyes: Unable to resist even a little.jpg
Over there, after receiving Ega's response, Pearl's misty eyes widened slightly. His damp eyelashes that were moist from coughing, trembled before he tilted his head up slightly to "look" at Aslan, whose arm he was still gently holding.
Pearl: "C-can I go over?"
Aslan remained silent.
The mycelium hanging around them approached Pearl and took hold of the fingers still resting on Aslan's arm.
Pearl pressed his lips together, carefully turning and stepping forward along the mycelium's guidance. Just as he was about to leave Aslan's side, he softly whispered, "Thank you."
The mycelium laid out a path for the little artificial person toward Ega.
Ega, having resumed his human mimicry form, visibly stiffened as Pearl approached him step by step. His tail hook hung motionless in the air, his black hair and pupils cast in a cold, metallic shadow, his skin so pale it appeared nearly transparent.
Yet he was tall and imposing. His muscular frame was covered in form-fitting scales that left no skin exposed.
When Pearl was just one step away, Ega naturally knelt on one knee.
Guided by the mycelium, Pearl reached out tentatively, and Ega gently took his hand in his own.
"It's good that you're unharmed."
A hoarse, chilling voice carried a trace of relief.
Ega's emotions were pure and simple. During his chaotic period of frenzy, the Little Mother Insect had already captured his entire attention. Unlike his other clansmen who overthought matters, he would quietly and dutifully offer all his loyalty and devotion—whether as a blade or a shield, it was all acceptable...
Perhaps only occasionally, in the shadows unknown to anyone, would he indulge in some unspeakable fantasies.
At this moment, Ega gently kissed Pearl's hand.
He bowed his head, his breath falling upon that pale skin. "The Scorpion group pledges our loyalty to you."
As his words fell, 02 was the first to lower his head in salute, followed by the other masked members of the Scorpion group standing behind him—each with different numerical codes—who also bowed in unison.
Their voices were cold and hoarse, made even more muffled by the featureless masks covering their faces, repeating their leader's command—
"The Scorpion group pledges our loyalty to you."
Of course, this wasn't just the leader's command—it was what they all desired.
Every member of the Scorpion group, like Ega, operated in the shadows and was known as the empire's daggers. Shunned by most, they were nevertheless purer and simpler than the majority.
Olovikin, the Chief of the Royal Guard standing at the rear, had a contemplative gleam in his eyes, though his expression was far from pleasant.
Hui, representing the Order Alliance, remained silent as well. Xagai, leader of the Blood-burning group, ran a hand over his buzz cut, his face expressionless.
As for Tilan... he was staring fixedly at the section of the Little Mother Insect's hand that Ega had kissed, his smooth cerebral cortex barely able to process anything else.
The Scorpion group's declaration of loyalty still echoed through the underground cavern, while the listeners each harbored their own thoughts.
Pearl, standing at the center, narrowed his eyes slightly, his heart overwhelmed with confusion.
Remembering the incident where the Narga People had mistaken their target, he immediately withdrew his hand while shaking his head in a fluster as he tried to explain, "N-no, it's n-not, I, I-I, didn't..."
The more anxious he became, the more he stammered; the more he stammered, the more nervous Pearl grew. He knew these Narga People should be leaving by now, and he ought to admit to being the "thief"—whether scolded or struck, he could endure it. Lying had been his mistake to begin with...
But in his panic, he couldn't form a single coherent sentence.
The shadow of countless past belittlements clung to him like an ever-present flaw hanging over Pearl's head. He was inherently defective, incapable of doing anything right—just as the auction house owner had said, he was an unwanted flawed product...
He couldn't even speak clearly.
At the moment when these emotions nearly swallowed Pearl whole, a very faint, soft sigh drifted through the pure white cavern.
An invisible, silvery-white psionic power flowed into the Little Mother Insect's slender body, propping up his last ounce of strength and allowing Pearl to finally speak coherently, uttering the words he wanted to say— "I-I'm n-not the p-person you're l-looking for."
Though stammered, his tone was gentle yet firm, accompanied by silent tears of distress that spilled forth.
The tears were scalding hot, and the surroundings were utterly quiet.
But Pearl's voice was earnest. He had finally, boldly and resolutely, claimed the right to express himself—even if this confession might never be forgiven.
He said he was not the Narga People's Mother.
He laid bare his thoughts and greed, exposing his ugly side, calling himself a thief who had forcibly taken an identity that was never rightfully his...
In this strange silence, Pearl said, "I'm sorry, I'm just... just an Artificial Human, a defective product."
—A defective product that had been returned seven times.
So it didn't matter that no one truly loved him, because he was inherently flawed and unworthy of love.
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