"Chapter 32"

"Could there be any mishaps on Her Majesty's end?" a young female insectoid assisting Carriesha asked with concern.

Carriesha, initially focused on processing several complex datasets, glanced up and replied indifferently, "With Her Majesty's capabilities, there's no need for concern."

"Yes," the young female insectoid, seemingly overly cautious and sensitive, persisted, "But, Her Majesty is still in her juvenile phase, isn't she, Carriesha? Are her powers truly as stable as always?"

Carriesha finally paused her work, this time not answering immediately.

Breaking through developmental norms comes at a cost.

Her Majesty requires more and more sustenance to replenish the power she expends from her future reserves.

The high offensive but low defensive nature of Rei's powers is a testament to this. Even queens historically not adept at combat wouldn't have such diminished physical capacities.

Moreover, Rei's symbolic white line of healing power seems ineffective on herself.

But this issue clearly does not concern the current Her Majesty.

Karissa raised her hand again, sending a request for reinforcements to the main star, softly saying, “No rush, let’s deal with the situation on Xita Star first.”

The state of the Xita Star insect race was much more severe than predicted; the alliance attempted to use Xita Star as a pivot to reverse the perennially oppressed status of their race.

The insectoid race is in a period of decline; naturally, they would abandon assistance to this least cost-effective planet in order to conserve their strength and resources.

But then Her Majesty appeared.

The Alliance's higher echelons received this news, but aside from the incident at R27, they have little understanding of the new queen's true nature, leaving them in a dilemma.

But what exactly does Her Majesty aspire to achieve? Is it an unequivocal declaration of war or a negotiation with some room for maneuver?

*

Rei and Ersula proceed together to the core battlefield's observation deck.

Even though an elite squad was arranged to guard them nearby, ensuring their safety, the brutal realities of war are starkly evident. Starships in the sky explode into fragments that dissipate into the air, ground turrets spew white lasers, creating ravines that will take centuries to mend.

Xita Star's once-prided gemstone structures lay in ruins, quietly scattered in every corner, their rainbow hues now indistinguishable from dull stones.

"Whether human or insectoid, the lives of the innocent and weak are easily crushed, their anguished cries filling the world in their final moments."

"Rei's eyes reflected the image of a freshly fallen corpse below."

“Your Majesty…” Ursula spoke with a hint of worry in her voice.

"It's nothing," Rei replied calmly, "I just find it hard to understand."

"Unless there are explicit conflicts of interest or survival crises, she rarely uses her power for destruction."

"So it's hard to understand why engage in such meaningless, destructive acts?"

"Rei sighed softly, touching the railing of the observation deck. Her silver right eye sparkled momentarily like a fleeting meteor. Countless coiling, slender white lines cascaded down, indiscriminately covering everything—land and spirits alike—with mountain-like power, briefly quenching the flames of war."

"A profound silence enveloped everything."

"This was a moment of considerable duration."

"When both the insectoids and the Alliance detected this strange power, it caused a massive stir within their higher ranks."

No commander in the alliance dared to issue orders at such a critical time. Who knows what the nature of the newly born queen is? Is she here to turn the tide on Xita Star?

"However, Rei suddenly frowned slightly, her expression puzzled as she raised her palm, noticing that the white lines emanating from her hand were returning a strange, dark, and twisted energy."

"It felt familiar..."

"Inform Derian and the others to prepare for battle," Rei said. "Can you establish communication with the Alliance?"

"Yes." Without further words, Ersula immediately began sending a communication request to the Alliance commanders and relayed Rei's instructions to Derian.

"The communication rang for about ten seconds before it was answered."

"Greetings, Ersula," a young man in a neatly pressed military uniform appeared on the screen, his polite smile strained and stiff, betraying an unnatural inner turmoil.

"Her Majesty will speak with you," Ersula announced.

"As soon as she finished speaking, the air was filled with an eerie silence."

"The young man on the other end seemed to touch another micro communication device at his ear."

"A girl with white heterochromatic eyes appeared in the center of the cyber-brain video, her expression detached, dressed in a simple combat uniform."

"Her demeanor indeed carried a cold, insectoid-like detachment, but her appearance seemed too harmless and ordinary."

"Still, the Alliance maintained a cautious stance."

"Hello, I am Commander 032 of the Alliance," the young man said with a slight smile.

"After a moment of thought, Rei also offered a faint smile: 'I am Rei.'"

"She didn't deliberately emphasize her status."

"'The conflict on W0199 Xita Star has been ongoing for some time. I intend to reintegrate it as a priority development planet and do not wish for senseless aggression. Considering peace for both sides, if you withdraw your forces, the Xita Star insectoids will not hinder your departure.'"

"Rei’s tone remained calm and gentle, inadvertently creating an illusionary image for the Alliance."

"The young man pondered for several seconds, listening to other commanders' inputs, before smiling: 'If that’s your request, of course. But our losses have been substantial, and it will require serious deliberation by various personnel internally before a final decision can be made.'"

"Upon hearing this, Rei, without much further thought, continued calmly: 'You could also choose to stay, but that would mean you can never return.'"

"The young commander's features twisted briefly in a moment of anger and fear, attempting to maintain a polite smile but appearing almost comically conflicted."

"[All equipment and personnel in the core war zone are under the control of the insectoid queen's powers; we can't discern the situation inside.]"

"[She’s threatening us! Given her human form, she's just a queen in her juvenile phase. Are we really going to relinquish such a significant planet?]"

"[We have no other choice. Since she's willing to back down, let's comply for now. Besides, initiating conflict during our first diplomatic exchange would be unwise. The commander at R27 has already angered a group of high-ranking insectoids.]"

"[The insectoids' decline cycle is also ending earlier than expected.]"

"[032, agree to her terms.]"

"We..." The young commander was about to agree.

"[Static—]"

"The video communication was suddenly engulfed in darkness, as if initiating the spread of a black, fog-like, eerie power throughout the world. Inhuman shrieks seemed intent on devouring everything."

"The sky darkened slowly, like the closing scene of a film."

"Rei's white lines, from the beginning to end, never retracted, but a significant portion of their power was rapidly consumed by the strange invading force."

"Your Majesty!" Ersula instinctively shielded Rei with her towering figure, slashing down an attacking slimy tentacle.

"But the effort cost Ersula, as her arm began to show dry, cracked patterns resembling parched earth."

"Just when Ersula thought her life was being sapped away, a gentle white line coiled around her body, pulling her back from the brink of death in just a few seconds."

"Rei's face was mostly obscured by shadows as she looked up into the sky."

"Finally, the horizon was lined with countless majestic starships, the leading one only slightly inferior to the Sovereign."

"The Alliance was never their most important enemy from the beginning."

"This was something she had only realized a few minutes ago."

"Too adept at hiding, too skilled at ambush, so secretive that even Rei, proficient in sensing all changes, failed to notice."

"Had they evolved? Or was the last encounter merely a probe? Was it their unwillingness to see the insectoids gain an advantage that spurred them into action?"

"'How interesting...' Rei murmured to herself, as a sharp, tangible gust tore through the observation room's shield, leaving a vivid wound on her face."

"Numerous white lines, following Rei's thoughts, instantly transformed into more lethal black threads."

"Two forces collided and intertwined in an instant, like two beasts tearing at each other, with the dominant, violent black quickly ripping a chunk from its adversary."

"The scene was beyond any brutal imagination."

"Ersula saw nothing, relying solely on her psychic senses to barely grasp the rapidly changing situation. Yet, when she sensed Rei's psychic strength, her thoughts froze for a brief moment, and a tear unconsciously fell from her unfocused eyes."

"The young queen, Her Majesty, was right behind her."

"But an ancient power, as deep as the universe, pure and unadulterated, stood before all catastrophe and destruction."