Chapter 75
Cass's eyes were fixed on that patch of red; it was... a red tide worm!
But how could the Grim Reaper encounter the Red Tide Worms? Aren't the Red Tide Worms in his home star system? Could it be that the Red Tide Worms have already spread here? But he deliberately avoided the direction of the Red Tide Worms' spread along his way, and he didn't see any trace of them. It shouldn't be this fast!
In contrast to the chaotic thoughts swirling in Cass's mind, the various races of the Star Beast Domain were much simpler. They were discussing the Intelligence Race's starship fleet, and it was only a moment later that someone noticed the unusual red in the starry sea. However, even though they noticed it, they still didn't understand what the red was. It was certainly strange that such a vivid color had appeared in the deep starry sky.
Until the Grim Reaper's starship fleet got closer to that red ocean, close enough for them to see its true red form.
"Huh, what the heck? You scared me!"
"These, these are all insects?! These insects look terrifying."
"My God, it's so ugly. I've never seen such a disgusting-looking bug."
"It's probably not just ugly. Look at its teeth, they look menacing."
Many people couldn't help but focus their gaze on the open mouthparts of the red worms, and when they saw the layers of teeth inside that resembled sharp serrations, they couldn't help but shudder.
While they were still immersed in shock and discussion, the Grim Reaper's starship fleet did not stop advancing, and the insects, not being inanimate objects, actively gathered around the starship fleet.
Unsurprisingly, the Intelligence Clan's starship fleet was surrounded by the swarm of insects.
To be honest, the Qi Clan's starship fleet is truly enormous, consisting of countless majestic starships, along with evenly distributed space fortresses throughout the fleet. Its imposing presence is the kind that would terrify any race in the Star Beast Domain.
However, at this moment, this massive starship fleet suddenly appeared thin and frail against the backdrop of the endless stream of red insects surging from the depths of space, seemingly capable of covering the entire cosmos. It gave people an inexplicable feeling that the fleet was surrounded by the swarm of insects and was about to be devoured.
The feeling of being surrounded made all the races tense, but would the intelligent race be at a disadvantage against these insects?
After pondering for a moment, the various races of the Star Beast Domain, having some understanding of the Intelligent Race, did not rush to conclusions but instead prepared to continue observing.
But on Carlo's planet, everyone watching the scene in the sky couldn't help but gasp in surprise, and some even covered their eyes, unable to bear watching any longer.
Just as the two star systems had completely different guesses about what would happen next, the towering steel behemoths in the Intelligence Clan's starship fleet moved. The two space fortresses at the forefront of the fleet slightly changed their shape, and then the next moment, the Annihilation Light Waterfall poured down directly, just like when it cleared away the meteorite turbulence in the road, evaporating the Crimson Tide Worms in front of it and clearing a flat road.
Moreover, not only that, the entire starship fleet began to emit rings of white light. Any red tide worms that approached the starship fleet and entered the range of the white light were all turned to ashes. The speed was so fast that they didn't even have time to struggle or let out painful screams.
This scene elicited drastically different reactions in the two star systems. On Carlo's side, it was shock, utter shock. The moment the annihilation waterfall poured out and cleared a flat road, the upheaval of their understanding was no less than the day the intelligent race descended, when they saw countless rays shooting down from the clouds and wiping out most of the red tide worms on the ground.
They had thought that was the strongest method of that cold race, but who knew that today, this powerful scene would completely refresh their understanding.
Compared to Carlo's side, the situation of the various races in the Star Beast Domain was much better. Although they were still breathless at the scene, they also had a vague feeling that it was not unexpected. Sure enough, the intelligent race was still the intelligent race. The action of kicking away the roadside stone was still so neat.
However, the fact that the Grimaldi still possesses such powerful attack methods suggests that they should be grateful that the Grimaldi treat them as property within their own territory and have never used such methods against them.
While the races in the two star systems were staring at the scene on the sky, speechless with shock and even questioning their own understanding of the world, the intelligent race's starship fleet did not stop and continued to advance as always.
As the swarm of insects rushed over, they cleared a smooth path with annihilation cascades. A moment later, the path was covered by the insects again, and another annihilation cascade was unleashed. Meanwhile, the insect swarms that frantically attacked the starship, wanting to directly attack it, were unable to get close at all. Countless insects that rushed forward were instantly carbonized into ashes.
The scene before them was truly shocking, especially for the races in the star field where the Red Tide Worms lived. They had personally encountered the Red Tide Worms, but in their hearts, the Red Tide Worms, which were so powerful and ferocious and made them live in the shadows, were now as fragile as paper. In front of those steel behemoths in the starry sky, they were all turned to ashes with just a breath. This scene was deeply etched into their minds and hearts.
The Intelligence Clan's starship fleet seemed to have a clear objective, advancing steadily in one direction without being slowed down by the swarm of insects.
As the Intelligence Clan advanced, the swarm of insects in the starry sky became even denser. For a long time, only a patch of red could be seen in the sky, and the starlight was completely obscured by the endless red.
At the same time, the swarm of insects seemed to become even more agitated, showing no sign of backing down despite the deaths of so many of their kind around the starship fleet. Instead, they became even more ferocious and launched a more rapid attack on the starship fleet.
As a result, they all followed in the footsteps of their predecessors who turned to ashes.
The obvious changes in the insect swarm were noticed by the races of both star systems. The races of the Star Beast Domain could only marvel at how ferocious and fearless these insects were.
Carlo, on the other hand, clearly sensed that something was wrong. Having personally fought against the Red Tide Bugs, they naturally understood their habits even better.
Red tide worms are insects with low-level intelligence. They set traps for their prey, lure them, and swarm them. Naturally, they will also choose to retreat temporarily when they see that things are not going well or the losses are too great.
Logically speaking, if the attack from the sky had no effect and instead killed a large number of red tide insects, they should have chosen to retreat temporarily according to their habits. How come the situation on the sky was completely the opposite? Not only did the red tide insects not retreat, but they attacked even more frantically.
At the edge of the Star Beast Domain, Cass stared intently at the scene on the sky, pondering the same question. He stared at the red expanse covering the sky, watching the Crimson Tide Worms frantically and fearlessly attack the starship. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he focused even more intently on the terrifyingly dense Crimson Tide Worms in the sky.
No, this isn't right. This density of Red Tide Worms is rare even in his home star system, let alone the fact that the density of Red Tide Worms in the sky has not decreased over such a long period of time as the Intelligence Clan's starships have been advancing. Instead, it has been increasing. This is definitely not a Red Tide Worm that has spread to this star system. The number of Red Tide Worms that have spread here would not be this many.
So where exactly are the AI's starships now? In their home star system?
Cass's eyes were fixed on the dense swarm of insects that obscured the starry sky. Watching the Crimson Tide Insects attack the starship fleet like madmen, trying to stop them at all costs, as if they were guarding something, a bold idea suddenly popped into his mind, and his heart began to beat faster.
Perhaps the Grim Reapers are not in their home star system right now, but in the Red Tide Worm's lair, where no one knows where it is!
Only at the source of the red tide worms can there be such a dense and huge swarm of worms. Only in such a place can those ferocious and cunning worms attack fearlessly, because behind them is a place they cannot retreat to, a place they also want to protect.
As Cass looked at the images on the sky, he became even more certain of his guess.
And Cass's guess was clearly correct.
Despite the relentless obstruction of the Red Tide Worms, the Intelligence Clan's starship fleet, guided by the landmarks within the glass dome, ruthlessly breached the protective wall formed by the worms, reaching their target. What finally appeared in the sky was a strange planet, hollowed out like a giant, openwork artifact, yet strangely, it did not disintegrate. This was the Red Tide Worms' lair.
Upon seeing this scene, even some races that hadn't reacted before widened their eyes and held their breath.
Meanwhile, the Aztecs in that starship fleet, upon seeing the planet that appeared before them, all smiled in unison. Finally, they had found it!
However, that smile had a sinister feel to it no matter how you looked at it.
The Intelligence Clan's starship fleet stopped for the first time upon spotting the Red Tide Worm's nest, then dispersed to surround the nest, which had been gnawed into the shape of a planet.
Upon seeing this, the surrounding red tide insects went completely mad. They surged towards the starship fleet like madmen, but the encirclement formed by the starships was an impenetrable barrier of death. No matter how many red tide insects surged forward, they were instantly carbonized into ashes.
Besides the Red Tide Worms outside frantically trying to rush in and protect the nest, there were also many Red Tide Worms inside the hollowed-out nest. Upon discovering the situation, they all crawled out of the nest and attacked the starship surrounding the nest. Of course, the result was the same as that of the Red Tide Worms outside the encirclement trying to enter.
The red tide worms outside the encirclement surged forward like a tide, relentlessly sacrificing themselves. However, the number of red tide worms inside the nest was clearly limited. After a frenzied attack that consumed them all, they gradually became sparse.
At this moment, many small combat ships and combat mechs filed out of the starship, ignoring the increasingly frenzied Red Tide Worms outside the protective perimeter, and rushed straight towards the hollowed-out nest.
No one knows what happened inside the hollowed-out nest, only that loud bangs kept coming from inside, and that blinding white light would occasionally shine through the hollowed-out holes.
After a moment of chaos, a sharp hiss suddenly rang out from the nest. The hiss was a bit strange; it sounded somewhat like the call of a red tide worm, but not exactly the same.
Upon hearing this hiss, the red tide worms outside the encirclement went completely berserk.
They charged forward recklessly, frantically attacking the encirclement formed by the starships, oblivious to their companions and their own bodies constantly turning to ashes. Many of the red tide insects also let out hissing sounds, as if echoing the cry emanating from the nest.
Under the tense gaze of numerous races in both star systems, the strange hissing continued for a while before the combat mechs and small combat ships that had gone in earlier emerged. However, they did not come out empty-handed; they dragged out a huge, unidentified creature, about the size of a starship.
The creature was enormous, entirely white, and apart from a head that looked like an insect, the most striking feature was its abdomen, which made up 99% of its body. The enormous, white abdomen was constantly contracting, making it seem as if it was having difficulty moving.
After seeing the intelligent beings drag the creature out, the red tide worms went completely mad. Countless red tide worms let out sharp hisses and rushed towards the intelligent beings' encirclement with the fastest and most ruthless movements. Even though the red tide worms' eyes were originally red, at this moment they gave people the feeling that they were desperate and bloodthirsty.
Hearing the piercing screech that filled the starry sky, the enormous creature that had been dragged out struggled to raise its head and screech back, as if in response. This sound was the same screech that had come from the nest earlier, somewhat like a red tide worm, but not quite the same.
The numerous races across the two star systems were completely stunned by this development in the sky. After a long while, someone finally stammered, "That's... the Insect King?"
The Red Tide Worms actually have a queen?! And now she's being dragged out of her lair so roughly?! The people in Carlo's star system clutched their chests, feeling they needed to catch their breath.
While the various races in the two star systems were still immersed in shock as they watched the scene on the sky, the intelligent races who had dragged out the Crimson Tide Insect King moved it to a more open area within the encirclement, as if on display, letting it float in the air so that all the Crimson Tide Insects could see it more clearly and become even more frenzied.
Then, the intelligent beings surrounding the insect king sneered and simultaneously raised their weapons to fire.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
The Red Tide Insect King suddenly struggled and let out a painful hiss, with blood splattering continuously from its pale body.
The intelligent beings around them, armed and firing at the insect king, had cold eyes and did not stop for a moment. They were simply doing what they had wanted to do when they discovered that these insects had an insect king.
Everyone continued to coldly treat this Red Tide Worm King in the same way they had treated the Red Tide Worms on the planet where Chen Xi had been stranded.
The Red Tide King's agonizing screams echoed across the starry sky, and the entire Red Tide swarm went completely mad. Even though they were not very intelligent, they still had things they cared about, and the only thing they cared about was their king. But their king, who had always been well protected and kept in the nest, was dragged out alive and tortured in front of them. How could they bear it?
Driven by their instinct to protect the Insect King, they desperately tried to save him. However, the encirclement formed by the intelligent starships was like an insurmountable barrier, preventing them from reaching the Insect King. This inability to save the Insect King caused them, with their limited intelligence, to truly feel the pain. Meanwhile, the thickest mental link in each insect's mind, connecting it to the Insect King, continuously transmitted the Insect King's pain and cries for help to them, undoubtedly making their suffering even more intense.
From afar, this endless sea of red insects looked like a pot of boiling water, constantly bouncing and struggling in agony. Any red tide insects that could squeeze around the starship rushed over without hesitation. Their eyes were fixed on the tormented insect king, and their simple thoughts tried to send out a signal: "King, I'm coming to save you."
But the next moment, these insects were vaporized into nothingness. No matter how hard they tried, no matter how many times they rushed forward, they still could not touch their king. They could only watch helplessly as their king was beaten to a pulp and tortured to the point of being a bloody mess...
The execution of the Crimson Tide Insect King, broadcast live across the entire internet, undoubtedly had a tremendous psychological impact on the countless races watching the scene on the screen in both star systems. This psychological shock even surpassed the previous power of the attacks by the Intelligence Clan. Watching the entire Crimson Tide Insect swarm struggle in agony as if being fried in hot oil, watching the swarm frantically rush towards the encirclement, the scene of watching their most cherished Insect King become a bloody mess even though they were so close, suddenly sent a chill down their spines.
They had never felt the coldness and ruthlessness of the Ghibli as deeply as they did at this moment.
Although the Insect King is a creature that is supported and has no tough skin or sharp teeth, and moves slowly and sluggishly, as the breeder of the entire insect swarm, its vitality is extremely tenacious. Of course, at this point, it is hard to say whether its tenacious vitality is a blessing or a curse.
Because of the insect king's tenacious vitality, this was a torturous ordeal for the entire Crimson Tide swarm, lasting for more than twenty minutes before it ended. When the Crimson Tide Insect King, whose original form was no longer recognizable, completely stopped moving and lost all life, the thickest link in the minds of the entire swarm was severed.
The closest connection that existed from the very beginning of life vanished in an instant. The entire swarm of insects froze. The most important thing in their lives had disappeared, and this feeling left them unsure of how to react. All the insects stood there, dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, aboard the Intelligence Clan's starship, the Intelligence Clan looked at the lifeless corpse of the Insect King and the other Red Tide Insect swarms that seemed to have lost their souls, and knew that it was time for everything to end.
The commander of this operation stepped forward expressionlessly and pressed a red button. The next moment, the space fortresses in the starship fleet emitted a circle of white light. Unlike the previous light emitted by the starship fleet, which only stayed close to the starship, this circle of white light spread out over an extremely long distance.
Any Red Tide Insects touched by the white light in the starry sky were instantly carbonized into ashes. The entire starry sky resembled a red sheet of paper with a hole burned in the middle. Sparks then spread outwards from the hole in concentric circles. The intact red parts first turned into charcoal black, then into hollows. In just a few minutes, the seemingly endless sea of insects that had filled the entire starry sky was completely washed away, and the entire starry sky became open and clear.
Meanwhile, in those two star regions, countless races watching the live broadcast were speechless as they looked at the scene on the sky.
They clearly had other methods, they could have easily wiped out the swarms of Crimson Tide Worms that filled the starry sky, but the Sogdians chose to use the previous method, the one that inflicted the most painful torment on the entire Crimson Tide Worm swarm. Sure enough, it was to vent their anger.
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