Chapter 30
Nuka is an underdeveloped natural planet, with dense jungle vegetation that blocks out the sun. Perhaps that is why Hill did not die immediately.
When he was taken away, his face was covered with an air-filtering device with a built-in backup power source that could last for fifteen days.
They must survive for fifteen days in the dense primeval forest, and everything will be resolved once Nathaniel or Cyrus arrive to their aid.
A large number of star beasts lingered and tracked them at the top of the dense forest, and Celt led him to hide under the tall trees.
After leaving the greenhouse, Hill began to fall ill. She developed a fever, became unconscious, and frequently fell into a coma. Each time she regained consciousness, the wounds on the female insect's body would worsen.
Her shoulders, neck, and legs were covered in gruesome wounds, and the name on the female soldier's chest was soaked.
First Army General, Celtic.
He was held in the arms of the powerful female insect, and every time he opened his eyes, he saw that name.
After a day and a night, they finally managed to shake off the pursuing star beasts, and Celt led him to stop in front of a secluded small lake.
The lake was silvery-white under the moonlight, and the glowing vegetation beside it made everything appear deep and quiet. He breathed heavily, and his heart and lungs ached terribly with each gasp.
What about the female insect? What about the female insect named Celt? Did she give up on herself? Or did she die in the siege of the star beasts?
Hill wanted to find his body, but then he remembered that the Star Beasts would eat the corpses of the Zerg. He thought of the guard who had been chewed up and swallowed, and an indescribable sadness welled up in his heart.
He wanted to do many things, but in reality, he couldn't move at all.
He closed his eyes and felt warm tears welling up. He was going to wait to die here.
He slowly opened his eyes only when he heard the sound of water. The strong female insect stepped onto the ashore step by step, and the lake water slid down his hideous wound, over his well-defined abdominal muscles and shoulder blades.
Male insects generally loathe such a powerful and robust body, but Hill had witnessed the explosive power of every inch of this female insect's muscles—a power capable of rivaling that of a star beast.
That is the power possessed by a healthy Zerg.
He weakly extended a finger, and the female insect approached him step by step, kneeling before him. His manners were standard and meticulous, like a machine with a precise program. His gray eyes only amplified the coldness in his expression.
"Your Highness—"
"..." Seele couldn't speak. He could only move his fingers. His azure eyes were filled with tears that he couldn't control. Leaving the greenhouse had made his illness worse.
"Your Highness, I have just tested the lake and found the temperature to be suitable. Please allow me to clean it for you." The female insect's voice was neither humble nor arrogant. The young male insect's body temperature was already very low, and continued hypothermia would lead to death.
Hill nodded slightly, indicating his permission.
The female insect then stepped forward, lifted his back and knees, and led him step by step into the depths of the lake.
The lake wasn't very warm, but it was still a bit painful for the male insect, who had been in a cold environment for a long time. He tried desperately to shrink into the female insect's embrace, but he could only move his fingers.
He only felt a little relieved when Celt noticed his unease and took his hand in his large, calloused palm.
The moonlight, like flowing silver, gently sprinkled on the male insect's long silver hair. He circled his hand with his fingers, incredibly obedient.
Even soaking in warm spring water for too long is not good, as the male insect's body is fragile. Before Hill felt unwell, Celt carried him out of the water and lit a campfire by the lake.
The long robe clinging to his body made Hill's newly regained senses uncomfortable. He didn't know how to speak, but Celt had already leaned forward.
"Your Highness, the damp robes need to be changed and dried."
To survive, Hill had undergone numerous surgeries while lying naked on the operating table. He had long been accustomed to this undignified way of living, but this time, perhaps because he was in the open wilderness, he felt a rare sense of shame.
Celt didn't make things difficult for him. The female insect tore a piece of fabric from his already tattered military uniform, covered his eyes, bent down and accurately unbuttoned his robe, then picked him up and took off the entire soft robe.
Hill leaned against Celt's chest, smelling a faint scent of gunpowder. Celt's jaw was sharp, and the veins on his neck were so prominent.
Bathed in the glow of the campfire, he felt a dry yet warm sensation. Feeling exhausted, he drifted off to sleep in this position.
Unbeknownst to him, after he fell into a deep sleep, the female insect removed the cloth covering her, revealing a naked male insect in her arms covered only by his silver hair, with strands of flowing silver hair cascading down his bare back.
Tender and soft.
Hill woke up the next morning. Celt was not beside him. He was sleeping in the warm licorice, with the campfire still burning.
The soft white robe was now back on his body. He slowly propped himself up, wanting to find the female insect, but he hadn't tried to walk on his own for a long time. When he stood up, it felt as if he were walking on clouds, making him feel upside down and disoriented.
The female insect flew over from the other side of the lake, its black, bony wings having an almost mechanical coldness in the sunlight. It stretched out its arm to catch the weak male insect, and Hill instinctively gripped its arm tightly.
"Where...did you go...why..."
Not by my side? I woke up and didn't see you. I was so scared, but this feeling made him too ashamed to speak. His voice, which had been silent for a long time, was terribly hoarse. He could only lower his eyes helplessly.
The female insect seemed to understand his thoughts and apologized in a deep voice: "I went to fetch some clean water for you to drink. It was my fault for not staying by your side to wait for you to wake up. Please punish me, Your Highness."
In his other hand, he held a handful of water wrapped in a bright green leaf. Hill's throat was parched. He was helped to sit on the hay by the female insect. He lifted a corner of the air converter and leaned close to the green leaf. He wanted to remain elegant, but his thirst made him unable to control his drinking.
His movements became larger, almost as if he wanted to bury himself in the water source. The leaves, bent under the weight, drooped, and drops of cool dew slid down his fair neck.
A hand was placed under his chin; it was a little hot, but mostly warm.
Hill understood that this was because he was afraid the water would wet his only robe, but he couldn't help feeling a little ashamed, as if he felt that his ravenous eating had been too embarrassing.
He sipped the water from the source until he had drunk all the water from the leaf.
Celtic asked him, "Your Highness, is there anything else?"
He shook his head slightly and said politely, "Thank you."
Perhaps not expecting the male insect to thank her, the female paused for a moment before withdrawing her hand.
Hill had always drunk water that had been filtered and purified through multiple layers. He thought that the water in the wild this time would make him feel unwell, but strangely, it didn't. Later, he learned that the water he was using was dew collected by Celt in the early morning.
The water in these primeval forests never reaches the ground, thus maintaining a certain degree of purity.
Like when he was very young, his father would tell him fairy tales about a prince living in the forest through a glass window, and he couldn't help but want to bury himself in those thoughts.
They were en route. The place where Hill lived had been occupied by the Star Beasts, but there were several other landing sites on the planet with supplies, spacecraft, and alternative energy sources.
His subtle movements were noticed by the female insect, and Celt lowered his head to ask, "Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?"
The female soldier had a pair of cold, gray eyes, almost like those of a ruthless machine. It was hard to imagine that they could be so perceptive, with a hint of concern floating within them.
Hill shook his head, but the female insect stopped flapping her bony wings, glanced at the blazing starlight one last time, and then stopped to feed the male insect with the only nutrient solution she had.
Each female soldier carries some nutrient solution with her at all times. For males who are used to eating a variety of nutritional combinations, the taste is not very good, but it is their only food.
Celt never eats. When he is hungry, he hunts wild beasts. His agile figure never fails. Sometimes he cooks them, and sometimes he eats them raw when his tracks are discovered by the Star Beasts.
It was a ruthless and powerful predator-like allure.
Even though Hill didn't explicitly say he was afraid, Celt seemed to understand his thoughts and rarely left Hill's side. When the hunt was too bloody, he would beg the male insect to close his eyes.
Hill never told the female insect that he wasn't afraid, neither in his insect form nor in his blood-covered state.
They eventually reached the first settlement, only to find it already occupied by Star Beasts, and they astutely spotted the approaching Celt and Hill.
The female warrior's strength and sharpness were brought to their fullest extent by Celt. He carried Hill in one arm as he hunted and maneuvered among the star beasts, searching for even the slightest chance of survival. Wherever he passed, blood rained down.
Celt was powerful, but he was ultimately just an insect, hunted by hordes of star beasts. Yet he never abandoned Hill, no matter how badly he was injured.
The severely wounded female insect persisted until she led Hill to a frozen lake before collapsing. Not a single patch of her skin was intact; her reconstituted body had been torn apart by the Star Beasts, and there was even a wound that pierced through her entire chest cavity, from the Star Beasts' teeth.
The bleeding wouldn't stop, and Hill tried to stop it with his hand, but the warm blood flowed over the back of his hand like a stream.
The female insect, having lost too much blood, fell into a brief coma. Hill, however, thought he was about to die. His limited knowledge only allowed him to recall that the male insect's pheromones had a healing effect on the female insect's wounds.
Trembling, he removed the converter and, ignoring the pain in his chest, buried it between the female insect's thorax and abdomen. Warm blood rushed into his mouth, so fishy and so hot. He choked and swallowed, never before so afraid of death.
He diligently licked his wound, and eventually, whether it was the male insect's pheromones that worked or the female insect's powerful self-healing ability, the wound finally stopped bleeding.
Hill put the air converter back on, placed his hands on Celt's chest and abdomen, curled up beside him, and fell into a deep sleep.
It's so cold here, only the female insect's embrace is warm, but he's afraid of pressing on his wound, so he can only get closer and closer.
When Celt woke up, it was snowing. Nuka had no seasons; each of its many lakes had its own unique climate, and it just so happened that it was snowing here.
The little male insect curled up beside him, its loose silver hair as pure as snow, its hand warmed by his body heat over the wound.
Many years later, Celtic still remembered the temperature of that moment.
The snow was falling heavily, but his heart was burning.
The cold temperature caused a thin mist to rise from the converter. For a moment, Celt really wanted to take off the mask and see the young male insect's face.
But reason made him restrain this desire, not wanting to create unnecessary complications or take unnecessary risks, as being discovered would be a crime of disrespecting the male insect.
Celtic needed a day or two to recover from his injury, so they stayed temporarily on the frozen lake.
Hill wanted to try walking.
Yes, in the past ten years or so, Hill has not even been able to walk on his own. The snow by the lake is cold and soft underfoot, but you can hear the soft sound of the snow being crushed.
Celt used it as his crutch and support, and after walking a while, the male insect asked in a low and subtle voice, "Why don't you leave me behind?"
He could tell that Celt was very strong. Without him as a burden, he should be able to break through the encirclement of the Star Beasts easily, and even escape from Nuka Star.
But he couldn't; too high an altitude would make it difficult for him to breathe, and his body couldn't withstand it.
The female insect seemed surprised that he would ask such a question, and immediately knelt down beside him, placed her hand on her chest, and swore her loyalty: "Your Highness, Celt will swear to serve you to the death."
It wasn't until many years later that Hill realized that Celt's loyalty back then was for his future and ambition.
Not Hill.
But the young male insect didn't understand. Under the converter, his cheeks flushed slightly, and he couldn't help but put his hand on Celt's shoulder.
The female insect supported his waist and asked, "Your Highness?"
Hill lowered her long eyelashes: "My legs are a little weak..."
Celt pondered for a moment, then reached out and picked him up, placing him inside the makeshift tent made from wood torn apart by hand. He knelt down and put the boy's feet on his knees.
The boy's feet were pale and long, appearing even more frail from the lack of sunlight. The female soldier's bronze hands clasped together and gently brushed away the withered branches and leaves clinging to his feet in the snow.
Hill's toes curled up from the excessive heat, and Celtic measured the size of his feet inch by inch.
Male insects need to walk, but they can't always walk barefoot; the cold of the snow will make them sick. Male insects are always so vulnerable.
When Celt returned from his next outing, he was barefoot. He bent down and lifted Hill's calf, his voice low and deep: "Your Highness, please forgive my intrusion."
Hill was stunned for a moment before he realized that he had given up his general's boots. He was reluctant to accept them, but before he could refuse, Celtic had already put them on for him.
It's very warm, like the temperature of being held in the palm of a female insect. Perhaps fearing that the male insect would dislike it, the Celt stuffed some kind of dried animal fur inside. Stepping inside feels like stepping into a cloud, exceptionally comfortable.
He was so touched by the warmth that he closed his eyes comfortably and forgot to say thank you.
With the nutrient solution exhausted, Celtic needed to eat in order to survive. He dived into the depths of the icy lake to search for fish, as it was said that fish in deep water were cleaner.
He was gone for a long time and did not return. The vast frozen lake seemed to be the same everywhere. During this time when they depended on each other for survival, Hill seemed to suffer from severe separation anxiety.
He was anxious and had imagined countless unexpected events, such as a star beast in the lake that even the female insects could not subdue, or a highly poisonous aquatic animal in the lake. He imagined many, many possibilities, and at the moment the powerful female insect broke through the ice, she stumbled and fell into his arms.
That was the first time Hill had walked such a long distance without any external assistance.
Celt's body was covered in solid ice. When he crashed into it, warm tears streamed down his face, accompanied by the sound of thin ice breaking.
That night, Celt roasted the fish over a campfire, took the tenderest part from the belly of the fish, let it cool, peeled off a corner of the converter, and fed it to the noble male insect prince.
The fish was very tender, a little fishy, and without any seasoning. Hill ate a lot of it with the female insect's hand.
He had eaten fish before, but for the sake of a balanced diet, all his food was prepared in fixed portions and ways. He had never eaten fish that had just been taken from the fire in the wild, still carrying the aroma of charcoal.
That night, the female insect slept on the edge of the makeshift tent, using her body to shield herself from the cold wind, while Hill slept inside the tent, perhaps because his uncontrolled eating made it difficult for him to fall asleep.
He noticed that the female insect was fast asleep, and unconsciously moved closer to the heat source, closer and closer...
That night, the half-asleep male insect nestled himself into Celtic's embrace.
He automatically found the most comfortable position, spreading his legs and stepping on the female insect's taut muscles.
It's not elegant, but it's the most intimate and heat-absorbing posture.
The female insect, with her keen senses, could not possibly have failed to notice, but in the end she simply acquiesced. In a daze, Hill took advantage of the situation and placed the female insect's feverish hand on her abdomen to relieve the slight discomfort there.
Celt thought that this little male insect living in the greenhouse glass might not have any concept of male or female sex, which is why it was completely dependent on a strange female insect.
Sometimes they would hitch a ride. In the overgrown jungle, where there were occasionally migrating herds of animals, Celt would fly with him and land on the heads of the groups to save energy.
Hill was a little scared, so he hugged the female insect even tighter. It was a long time before he dared to open his eyes. Beside him were the rapidly passing tree canopies and flowers, the galloping herds of beasts, and the wind flying through his fingertips. He felt so free.
On the thirteenth day, Celtic discovered another landing point. This time, he chose to leave Hill in a safe location and went to investigate alone.
It was a huge plant, tens of meters tall, in full bloom, with a single, enormous ice-blue bud. It would only bloom for an hour at midnight, and before that, it would close its bud and not allow any living creature to approach.
As he left, the female insect promised him that if he took a nap, he would return to her side when he woke up.
Celtic was unaware that the plant was in its reproductive period. The intense fragrance of the flowers made Hill restless. That night, he sweated profusely and dreamt of a blurry female insect sleeping with him in the snow.
The female insect kissed the back of his hand reverently, then his forehead. He closed his eyes and felt the kisses falling on him like the snowflakes that night...
The cunning flower stamen sucked up the male insect's cool liquid, and the soft stamen, like a predator finally revealing its claws, bound him layer upon layer.
He struggled to breathe, on the verge of losing himself, when a sharp insect claw tore open the enormous flower bud, and a sliver of cool moonlight streamed down.
The carnivorous flower bud, which bullies the weak and fears the strong, tremblingly sheds its claws and teeth, transforming into a soft and promising flower. The pale-faced little male insect, deep in the dark blue corolla, reaches out to the female insect.
The female insect leaned over and picked him up, the faint smell of gunpowder mingling with the pheromones from his dream.
It was him.
Celt placed the baby male insect on the soft grass and asked him, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
A warm hand brushed aside his sweaty silver hair, and the male insect, unable to suppress his instinct, moved closer to him, whispering, "My...legs hurt..."
The pragmatic female soldier knelt down on one knee, her calloused hands encircling his calves as she massaged them. The warm, tingling, and stinging sensations on the areas she touched caused Hill to involuntarily groan.
He suddenly realized very clearly that this was his growing pain.
It came fiercely and unexpectedly, like a flood pouring down from the sky, plunging the world into a vast ocean, with only this female insect as his ark.
As they left, Hill asked Celt to uproot the plant. The huge blue plant made a strange, wailing sound as it withered, which made Hill's heart leap into his throat. Fortunately, in the end, it could only wither helplessly.
Hill was finally relieved after destroying the evidence.
On the fifteenth day, they still hadn't found any Zerg to come to their rescue. Nuka was too big, and the converter's resources were running low. Hill was on the verge of death.
Celtic carried him through the entire day and night without sleep. Hill's breathing grew weaker and weaker. Just as he was hoping to remove the air converter and calmly face death, the hum of a large aircraft came from the sky.
Celtic held Hill's hand as he gave up, and carried him step by step toward the source of the sound.
After sixteen days of intense fighting and chasing, even the strongest female insect was covered in wounds and unable to take flight. Before leaving the forest, Hill asked in a weak voice, "General, what is your wish?"
Hill had started experiencing tinnitus and dizziness, and finally he heard the female soldier's voice.
I hope you are well.
Hill was speechless; he could only weakly reply through the converter, "Okay..."
I will fulfill your wish.
I will be fine and try my best to live on.
Cyrus's aircraft arrived, its cacophony so jarring that it gradually severed his hand as he tried to grasp Celtic's. His labored voice was fragmented and suppressed by the various sounds, and no insect could hear what he was saying.
"I will come to find you..."
He did indeed go to see Celtic later.
Celtic had deceived him; he hadn't recognized him and didn't want him to be safe. All he needed was endless power.
He lived in a dream he had woven himself, year after year.
But even the longest dream has an end.
Now, it's time to wake up from the dream.
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