Chapter 17: Escape from Planet Carlo (Preparations in Progress)

Outside the nest, all the insects stopped what they were doing with their pincers, staring intently at the entrance, their vertical pupils contracting rapidly.

The king was... touching the insect.

After realizing this, Youchong experienced jealousy for the first time.

His tongs made a squeaking sound:

That's just a stupid worm that's about to die!

A completely useless worm!

He was unable to find a more precious gift for the king, nor could he do anything for him.

Such a useless insect—

Why did the king touch him?

He will be more useful than him, and more obedient than him.

Can Wang Ke... touch him?

Just as all the insects were getting restless, wanting to 'accidentally' get close to the king and squeeze out that useless insect.

A gentle breeze carrying the scent of blood brushed past each insect.

They froze on the spot:

Not touching... but saving?

The king... is saving that insect!

The king is using his precious blood to save that useless worm!

Seeing the blood dripping from Wang's fingertip, all the insect cores felt a pain a hundred times, or even more, than when Wang cut his finger.

But they remained standing there, their usually intimidating vertical pupils now filled with bewilderment.

Why?

Why did you save him, Wang?

It was just an insect, a lowly insectoid. It died and that was it. Why should the king waste his precious and rare blood on it?!

All the insects stood there, bewildered and confused.

The genes and memories they passed down simply cannot answer this question.

No king would ever treat a lowly Zergling like this.

No king has ever cared about the life or death of an insect.

In front of the nest entrance.

Villa felt as if she had returned to the warm egg, just as she had before she was born.

No, at that time, his heart was filled with unease and confusion about not having a king.

But now...

Peace, happiness, his soul is resting in comfortable tranquility.

He closed his eyes and felt his shattered worm brain being repaired little by little, even becoming slightly stronger than before it was destroyed.

After being comforted by Wang, his spirits were higher than ever before, and his damaged worm core began to beat powerfully again.

When the last crack in the insect's body was repaired, Villa finally regained consciousness.

He sensed the faint scent of blood in the wind and seemed to realize what had happened; his insect body trembled even more violently than when he was injured before.

Wang... saved him with her blood.

In his lineage, the king, who never cared about the life or death of any insect... saved him.

He abruptly raised his head, and upon seeing Wang's wounded fingertips, his vertical pupils narrowed to a straight line, and his insect body trembled uncontrollably.

At this moment, his soul seemed to be branded with a mark that belonged only to Ai Ying.

From that moment on, his entire being no longer lived for the sake of the King.

He lives for Ai Ying.

The color of his gray vertical pupils gradually deepened, and the insect core in his body seemed to have an anchor point, giving meaning to each throb.

He raised his head, his gaze towards Ai Ying filled with a piety akin to offering himself in sacrifice:

"king--"

Ai Ying's hand wound has healed.

With the continuous supply of nutrient and restorative solutions during this period, not only did her mental strength increase significantly, but her physical health also improved considerably.

Small wounds heal quickly.

She looked at the insect in front of her, which had recovered its health thanks to her few drops of blood, and slowly blinked.

She was glad that the insect could continue to live a healthy life.

But--

Her heart clenched, and a nameless fear surged up within her:

Why her blood?

Ai Ying didn't notice the other insects looking at her, nor did she glance at Bilia again.

She waved her hand, her voice calm as if nothing had happened:

"I need to rest."

"You may all leave."

When Ai Ying returned to the insect hive, she belatedly felt the cold sweat on her back.

At that moment, the person behind her gripped her wrist tightly.

She turned around and met a pair of eyes that were serious and filled with lingering fear.

Charlotte said silently to her:

"We must leave as soon as possible."

"While these insects still believe you are their king, we can still leave this place by virtue of your authority."

"What if your identity is exposed..."

She never imagined that it was her blood that made the Zerg mistake Ai Ying for the king.

yes.

They were buried in the collapsed cave and lost consciousness. Apart from the blood flowing out, there was nothing else that could attract the insectoids.

If it were for other reasons, they could have made plans slowly on Carlo Star.

But now—

Whether it's due to genetic mutation or external stimuli that caused Ai Ying's blood to affect the Zerg, they now only have one path left.

That means escape!

Escape to the human world, as far away from all the Zerg as possible!

Otherwise, once the Zerg expose Ai Ying's false identity as the queen, she might be kept by the Zerg and become their blood bag.

They might also be swallowed up by the rioting Zerg.

Thinking of this, Charlotte's body trembled even more violently.

She couldn't imagine what it would be like for the optimistic and kind Ai Ying to have her soul and body trapped by the Zerg, existing only as a blood culture dish.

There's no way to imagine the cruel scene of her being torn apart and eaten by countless insects.

They must leave!

Just when her mind was in such a panic that only the word "escape" remained, the person in front of her gently embraced her.

Seeing Charlotte's anxiety, Ai Ying calmed down.

She patted Charlotte's back reassuringly and whispered in response:

"good."

She knew Charlotte was panicking because of her.

Her identity will be exposed, Charlotte will die, but she will suffer a fate many times worse than death.

The risks Charlotte faces in escaping from here are far greater than those she would face as 'Queen'.

"Don't be afraid, we are safe now."

With Ai Ying's comforting words, Charlotte finally regained her senses.

She recalled Ai Ying's softening attitude towards the Zerg, straightened up, and looked at her earnestly:

"Ai Ying, don't be misled by the actions of these insects."

They're nice to you because...

“It’s because I am the king.” Ai Ying looked at her and finished the sentence she hadn’t said.

The Zerg are kind to her because she is their queen.

It's not because she is Ai Ying.

Knowing she was a fake Insect Queen, they would probably be furious and eat her up in the next second.

Charlotte was kind to her only because she was Ai Ying.

Ai Ying gently lowered her eyes:

Their silly appearance was just too much like those little bugs that used to bother her.

She glanced in the direction of the nest entrance:

If she could really leave, she would probably miss them.

It's not because they resemble anything, it's just because of them.

Ai Ying has always been good at adjusting her mindset; she changed her thoughts in just a few seconds.

It's better to live and remember them than to be eaten by them!

Thinking of this, she turned her head and said seriously:

"Let's just ask these bugs for starships."

This was the most useful and most likely successful method she could think of.

This time, Charlotte did not object.

Her voice carried a desperate, resolute stubbornness:

"good!"

Without hesitation, she walked towards the entrance of the insect hive: "I'm not waiting any longer!"

"I'll go get the starship right now!"

Ai Ying: "...!!"

She quickly grasped Charlotte's hand: "Calm down, calm down."

"They don't want to eat me yet!"

"There's no need to be so radical!"

*

In the boundless universe.

A slender figure with long silver hair was the only bright spot in the darkness.

The light blue, transparent wings behind him gradually disappeared into his back:

There isn't one here either.

Several subordinates knelt before him, struggling against the oppressive force of the galaxy, their carapaces before the insect core heaving violently.

Their pupils held a mixture of awe for their lord and a confusion that the king could not soothe.

No insect can exist without the king.

They reported in hoarse voices:

"No trace of the King was found in the Aimor Galaxy."

Saville's silver hair scattered amidst the turbulence of the universe, just as he was about to leave the Aimor Galaxy to continue his search.

As if sensing something, it suddenly turned its head and looked in one direction:

What is it?

He lowered his eyes, and his deep blue pupils, unlike those of other insects, showed no chaos or unease, only a cold, rational calm.

He stood still, his voice seemingly transcending the space and time of the universe, firmly anchored in the brains of every subordinate insect:

"Keep searching."

A note from the author:

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Mwah to all my darlings, I love you so, so much~~

I'm still giving out red envelopes today.