Hundreds of Glow Zerg larvae, each no larger than a fingernail, crawled out of their cocoons.
Their bodies were extremely small. Even after devouring the discarded cocoon shells, they had barely grown.
Once their urge to feed subsided, the larvae instinctively gathered around the Commander that had gestated them, clustering protectively at its side.
Unfortunately, this seemed to cause the Commander some trouble.
The plump Zerg had not cared for larvae in who knew how many years. The moment they crowded around it, it began crying “aow, aow” and trying to press itself against Qi Heng.
‘Male Father, save me!’
Qi Heng stood nearby and pretended not to see what was happening.
Smiling, he tapped the plump Zerg on the head.
“We don’t have enough spare energy to gestate a Zerg specifically responsible for feeding larvae. You’ll have to care for this group yourself.”
It was much better for them to cling to the plump Zerg than to him.
They were so small that one careless step could genuinely crush them to death.
“Are you confident you can do it?”
The plump Zerg’s little mind turned.
Once it realized this would help Male Father, it immediately stopped disliking the useless little Zerg pressed against it.
Its loud voice entered Qi Heng’s mind through their mental link.
‘I am! I can do it.’
‘Don’t worry, Male Father. Leave it to me!’
“Gather them together.”
Qi Heng poured a pile of broken Starstones from the cloth pouch at his waist.
With sufficient energy, Glow Zerg larvae required only two hours to progress from the larval stage to adulthood.
The stellar power inside these Starstones was continuously dissipating. Using them to feed the larvae provided more than enough energy.
The plump Zerg might still be in its juvenile stage, but it at least remembered how to command the Primordial Zerg.
It would not create additional trouble for Qi Heng.
Under the Commander’s orders, the Glow Zerg larvae crowded layer upon layer around the Starstones, absorbing as much of the released energy as possible.
There were nowhere near enough Starstones for all the larvae to absorb energy at once, so they needed to take turns.
Whenever a larva absorbed enough energy to enter adulthood, it crawled away from the Starstones.
Another larva waiting nearby immediately filled the empty space.
The entire process proceeded in perfect order.
The plump Zerg moved beside the egg.
It curled its tail around the egg, then coiled its soft body on top of it.
It appeared sleepy but stubbornly forced itself to remain awake.
Qi Heng noticed.
“Sleep if you’re tired.”
‘If I fall asleep, Male Father will leave.’
“I won’t.”
He still needed to remain until the Glow Zerg reached adulthood.
The plump Zerg rested its head on top of the egg and hugged it with its foreclaws.
‘Then… I’ll sleep for a little while.’
“Mm. Go to sleep.”
Before Qi Heng had even finished speaking, the plump Zerg closed its eyes and fell asleep instantly.
【Overlord, there is still one point you have not explained.】
A0 wanted to understand more of the Overlord’s thoughts so that it could formulate plans that would satisfy him.
Qi Heng had not expected A0 to be so eager to learn.
After considering it, he said, “The third reason is that I don’t understand enough about the forces behind Tianyun Star.”
“No. More precisely, I haven’t even investigated the situation inside District 49.”
Qi Heng sounded partly as though he were speaking to himself and partly as though he were answering A0.
“A0, I remember you calculated the Zerg population of District 49.”
【Yes.】
A0 had created a mathematical model to improve its planning.
Since the calculation did not consume additional energy, it had appeared only inside the system’s work log.
The Overlord reviewed those logs every day, so it was perfectly normal for him to know about it.
【According to the calculation, District 49 should contain between forty thousand and fifty thousand Zerg.】
“There are forty-nine districts. If we use forty thousand as the average, the northern slums contain approximately two million Zerg.”
“Why do you think the Tianjia Zerg continue living such primitive lives despite having such a large population?”
【You previously said that another civilization controls the Tianjia Zerg on Tianyun Star.】
A0 responded extremely quickly.
It often found the appropriate answer before Qi Heng had even finished asking his question.
“Mm. I did say that.”
Tianyun Star was still an entire planet, and the Tianjia Zerg living upon it were hated by interstellar civilizations.
Any force capable of retaining part of the Tianjia Zerg after the war ended ten thousand years ago had to be an interstellar civilization itself.
With more careful deduction, that civilization should be no lower than Level 4.
“Tianjia Civilization was destroyed, but the Zerg still exist.”
“The One-Horns appearing in District 49 are both administrators and observers. They must monitor any abnormalities appearing on Tianyun Star.”
“The Primordial Zerg possess extremely distinctive characteristics. Even after so much time, once they’re discovered, others will easily connect them to the former Zerg civilization.”
“If they’re exposed, we can’t rule out the possibility that the controlling civilization will simply destroy the entire planet.”
For an advanced civilization, destroying a planet was extremely easy.
Had Qi Heng heard that the Primordial Zerg had reappeared while standing on the opposing side, he would not have stopped after destroying the planet.
He would have erased the entire star system.
“I’ve reviewed your plans. Occupying a single planet would not be especially difficult, but it would easily attract the attention of powerful civilizations.”
“With Tianjia Civilization’s current strength and my own, being noticed means death.”
“A0, don’t forget how powerful the many civilizations that attacked Tianjia were.”
“At its peak, Tianjia Civilization could suppress them so completely that they were incapable of resisting.”
“That doesn’t mean we can afford to disregard them now.”
“To put it unpleasantly, the present Tianjia Civilization isn’t even worthy of carrying their shoes,” Qi Heng said coldly.
And truly, it was not.
The species had forgotten the brilliant civilization it once created.
Its present level of development was only slightly above that of a primitive civilization.
Even that was partly thanks to the “benevolence” of the civilization raising the Tianjia Zerg in captivity.
A0 recalculated its plans several times.
Once the new variables were included, enormous flaws became apparent.
It moved dozens of similar plans into the recycle bin.
【Overlord, you are correct.】
【Then what do you intend to do?】 A0 asked humbly.
“Tianyun Star belongs to Tianjia Civilization. There’s nothing wrong with taking it back.”
“The only question is how we should take it back.”
Their present starting position was even more nightmarish than when Qi Heng first began the game.
They possessed practically nothing, and their diplomatic environment was likely equally terrible.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the entire world was their enemy.
Regardless of what had caused the war that swept across the Milky Way, or whether hidden circumstances had existed, ten thousand years had now passed since the dust settled.
Tianjia Civilization and the Zerg had unquestionably been nailed to history’s pillar of shame.
They had practically been assigned the role of great villains who would be beaten to death the moment they showed themselves.
The slight smile at the corner of Qi Heng’s mouth faded.
“Obviously, I’ll have them take it back themselves.”
“They should retrieve what they lost with their own hands.”
“Does something that simple truly require me to do it personally?”
Could the present Tianjia Zerg, who possessed neither education nor military ability, truly accomplish that?
A0 could not resist calculating the probability of success.
Looking at the resulting 0.1 percent, it hesitantly said:
【Overlord, your proposal may be somewhat difficult for the current Tianjia Zerg.】
Qi Heng was speechless.
“That is why I need to teach them, just as I once guided them in developing their civilization.”
“A civilization’s development is the result of collective effort. Do you expect me to elevate the entire civilization’s level by myself?”
As the intelligence officially assigned by the system to save Tianjia Civilization, A0 could summon one hundred percent enthusiasm for anything related to that objective.
【May I have the honor of learning your next plan?】
“It isn’t time to tell you yet. First, explain the treatment method you mentioned.”
【Yes…】
A0 began explaining the treatment.
When Qi Heng heard that its success rate was only thirty percent, he interrupted.
His voice remained calm, yet it caused A0’s processing to stall for 0.01 seconds.
“Thirty percent?”
“A method without even a fifty-percent chance of success can be called a treatment?”
【Overlord, you understand the circumstances. Incomplete Zerg wings prevent female Zerg from undergoing their First Metamorphosis after reaching adulthood.】
【Considering the present female Zerg’s physical condition as well, a thirty-percent success rate is already reasonably high.】
A0’s proposed treatment would stimulate the Zerg wings to regrow.
Female Zerg with weaker constitutions would not survive this stage.
That meant the method could not be used to restore the wings of juvenile female Zerg whose wings had already been removed.
Adult female Zerg could use it, but that created another problem.
The First Metamorphosis delayed by their incomplete wings would begin the instant their wings finished regenerating.
The constitutions of the adult female Zerg in the slums were also poor.
If they failed to endure the metamorphosis period, they could easily die during the process.
Furthermore, the cultivation methods of male and female Zerg differed subtly.
The completeness of a female Zerg’s wings was also connected to the speed at which he cultivated stellar power…
Had this still been a game, Qi Heng might merely have felt some pain over the thirty-percent success rate.
Players could sacrifice NPC data to build up a chance of success without much concern.
Now, however, these were living, intelligent beings.
Qi Heng was not cold-blooded enough to treat them as expendable materials.
“Is there another method?”
【…There is. However, under present circumstances, the probability of fulfilling its conditions is approximately zero.】
That was why A0 had not originally considered it.
“Tell me.”
【A Level-1 Gene Evolution Pool. Regenerating Zerg wings within the evolution pool would increase the success rate from thirty percent to eighty-five percent.】
【Construction requirements for a Level-1 Gene Evolution Pool include: a complete Level-4 industrial system chain; cellular activation fluid manufactured using Level-5 genetic technology; and large quantities of converted, mild energy that can be freely absorbed. The required energy-conversion equipment belongs to Level-6 energy technology…】
A0 briefly listed the general requirements.
More detailed information could be opened separately.
Qi Heng did not examine it.
The three conditions A0 had already mentioned were all extremely difficult to fulfill.
The refined requirements would include even more technological reserves, energy sources, and materials.
A Level-1 Gene Evolution Pool possessed only simple foundational functions.
Nevertheless, it was still genuine Level-6 technology.
Qi Heng truly could not construct one at present.
After thinking for a while, he asked, “I remember that Tianjia Civilization’s database, managed by the Central Think Tank, contained its complete industrial systems and entire technological reserve.”
“Do we still possess the technology required to build a Gene Evolution Pool?”
【Database search complete. The formula for the cellular activation fluid belonging to Level-5 genetic technology is missing.】
【You may expend energy to perform [Targeted Data Restoration]. The energy cost will be ten times that of one [Random Restoration].】
Once again, everything came back to energy points.
【…According to calculations regarding future development, constructing a Gene Evolution Pool will consume enormous quantities of energy. A0 recommends abandoning this objective.】
“When did I say I intended to build it now?”
Qi Heng continued, “Keep the Gene Evolution Pool construction task active. An opportunity will appear in the future.”
If no opportunity appeared, he would create one.
He was determined to obtain that Gene Evolution Pool.
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Qi Heng planted the Dreamglow Fungal Mat seeds in the outer passage and assigned the adult Glow Zerg that awakened first to care for them.
He also directed the Devourer to excavate groundwater on the opposite side.
Plants could not grow without water.
The Dreamglow Fungal Mat did not require much sunlight. The Glow Zerg’s radiance was sufficient to support its growth, but it still needed irrigation.
After finishing these tasks, Qi Heng woke the plump Zerg.
“I need to leave. I’ll return the day after tomorrow.”
Still half asleep, the plump Zerg gave an “aow” and shook its head to wake itself.
‘Goodbye, Male Father. I’ll miss you.’
“Go back to sleep.”
“Aow.”
Qi Heng rubbed the plump Zerg’s head one final time, then turned and left the fourth underground level.
After returning to District 49 from the dead-egg pit, he did not go back to Yan Ning’s home.
Instead, under cover of darkness, he headed toward the central trading area.
Previously, Qi Heng had no plans to take action, so he had made little effort to investigate the slums.
Furthermore, he did not want to reveal that he lacked even basic knowledge about this world.
As a result, he had always learned about it passively.
Continuing to gather information that way would now be far too slow.
Besides, Qi Heng did not believe the Zerg living in District 49 possessed the information he wanted.
Tianyun Star was a vast prison built to confine the Tianjia Zerg.
District 49 was merely a smaller cell inside it.
Prisoners living within a cage could not know what happened in the “outside world.”
Only the “jailers” could possess such knowledge and maintain contact with the outside.
The One-Horns’ residences were extremely easy to find.
Even among normal buildings, their houses stood out conspicuously, although they had all been constructed independently in one corner of the district.
【External environment scan complete.】
【Concealed laser weapons detected: 80.】
【Hidden surveillance devices detected: 40.】
【Sensor and detection devices detected: 18…】
【Detector signal responses have been blocked. Camouflage invisibility shield activated…】
[Which building has the weakest defenses?] Qi Heng asked.
【The outermost building on the left.】
He walked toward it.
[Scan the interior.]
【Life-forms inside: one.】
【Internal safety assessment: Safe. Infiltration possible.】
Qi Heng pushed open the door and slipped inside.
With the system interfering with the surveillance and blocking the detection devices, his arrival did not create even the slightest disturbance.
The system had already displayed a layout of the one-bedroom house during its scan.
The furnishings were ordinary.
However, such an ordinary house was extremely unusual inside District 49.
A green arrow appeared within Qi Heng’s vision.
A0 was pointing him toward the owner’s bedroom.
Qi Heng followed the direction of the arrow, moving as silently as a ghost.
Inside the bedroom, One-Horn 49-058 wore a dream helmet and remained completely immersed in an artificially constructed fantasy.
He had no idea that an impossible black figure was standing beside his bed.
[He doesn’t respond when I call him.]
【Overlord, you must first remove the helmet he is wearing. It appears to be a virtual login device.】
【His mental entity is currently immersed within the virtual world generated by that device.】
“Wake up.”
The helmet was roughly pulled away.
Hearing the voice, One-Horn 49-058 opened his eyes in a daze.
He saw a figure completely covered in black looking down at him and instinctively attempted to shout.
No sound emerged.
Only then did he realize that a hand had closed around his throat.
The tightening force not only prevented him from making a sound, but also created the sensation that the bones in his throat were about to be crushed.
Unable to breathe, One-Horn 49-058’s face turned purple.
His eyes widened at the black figure through the pain.
【Overlord, if you continue, he will die.】
One-Horns possessed strong constitutions, but they were still carbon-based life-forms.
They could not survive prolonged oxygen deprivation.
The Overlord was already physically powerful.
After reinforcing his hand with stellar power, even a genetically modified One-Horn could not endure his grip.
[Mm.]
Qi Heng answered A0 internally.
Aloud, he told the One-Horn, “I bear you no ill will. I merely have several questions to ask.”
Despite his words, he showed no intention of loosening his grip.
One-Horn 49-058 struggled to lift his head and produced strained gasping sounds, signaling that he could no longer breathe.
“Apologies. I forgot that you can’t speak like this.”
Qi Heng’s apology contained no sincerity.
Just as One-Horn 49-058 believed his suffering was about to end, an intense electrical current surged through his entire body.
He convulsed violently.
By the time the current stopped, he had completely lost the ability to resist.
[As expected, shocking him is much more convenient.]
A knife appeared in Qi Heng’s hand as though by magic and pressed against One-Horn 49-058’s carotid artery.
His voice, deliberately altered by A0, sounded low and sinister.
Combined with the sharp, icy blade, it sent a chill down the One-Horn’s spine.
“Now we can have a proper conversation.”
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