“This is… a natural mark inherent to companions,” De Lorian murmured, his voice noticeably trembling, “Your Majesty, would you like to see it in its entirety?”

“This is... a natural mark inherent to companions,” De Lorian murmured, his voice noticeably trembling, “Your Majesty, would you like to see it in its entirety?”

The silver-haired insectoid was caught off guard by the Queen’s sudden interest in the hidden mark under his uniform. His already pale face flushed anew with red, his clothes and hair disheveled by Rei’s manipulation, his usual composure in front of others lost.

The air thickened with the scent of strong liquor.

“No need,” Rei released De Lorian's collar.

The companion, flushed with excitement, contrasted sharply with the ever-calm Queen in the room.

“Speaking of which, there are companions other than you and Ural,” Rei noted.

Distracted from the main issue for too long, Rei’s thoughts slowly circled back.

De Lorian, startled, asked, “Your Majesty, do you sense the birth of a new companion?”

“No,” Rei responded evenly, “He hardly qualifies as a full companion, oh... not even a complete insectoid.”

“After clearing out L032’s research base tomorrow, let’s stay for two more days before setting off again,” Rei proposed with a smile. “You’ll meet that companion then.”

“Understood,” De Lorian replied, grasping a hint from Rei’s subtle disclosure, his voice regaining its serious tone, “This companion seems linked to the Monst insectoids. Your Majesty, what level of punishment should we use on him?”

A brief exchange, and De Lorian had already internally sentenced the unknown companion to death.

Rei pondered; indeed, it was something she hadn’t considered.

“Ximon” committed countless sins, but his true host was merely an unfortunate insectoid devoured by a parasite, losing self-awareness.

Without an immediate response from Rei, De Lorian understood the situation's complexity, smiling, “Your Majesty, then I’ll temporarily spare his life.”

After discussing the details of their next journey, Rei dismissed De Lorian.

But as the silver-haired insectoid rose from the ground, he realized his appearance was somewhat disheveled, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face.

"Inside the number one laboratory, or rather on L032 star's three entire experimental bases, not a single Monstar insectoid entered hibernation."

"Long psychic tendrils hissed and intersected continuously."

"The stay of the 'Sovereign' on L032 star meant the Queen’s presence."

"For the Monstar insectoids, the mere thought of the Queen's arrival was beyond fantasy; to them, the Queen was a remote and barren entity."

"Hesitations of submission, innate guilt, yearning for the supreme being - a maelstrom of emotions intertwined in each Monstar insectoid’s heart, culminating in despair as they witnessed the terrifying power above ground."

"Ularal eagerly rushed to Rei’s resting room early in the morning."

"Aware of his premature appearance, he simply wanted to physically be near Rei for a while."

"However, as he approached the door of Rei's resting room, Ularal, like an animal with bristling fur, sensed another's presence in his master’s territory."

"A faint trace of a male insectoid lingered outside the resting room. Although the scent of strong alcohol had been devoured by icy chillness, Ularal still detected that subtle trace."

"A flicker of barely noticeable disappointment crossed Ularal’s grey eyes, his demeanor slightly forlorn."

"The owner of the resting room didn't open the door. Despite being just a wall away, under the natural power of the Queen, Ularal couldn't sense Rei's current state."

"Is Rei resting now?"

"Ularal surreptitiously traced the wooden grain of the door for a while, savoring the aura of Rei around him. After a moment of contentment, he prepared to leave."

"Unexpectedly, the door suddenly opened. Rei, facing Ularal's guilty expression, calmly asked, 'What's the matter?'"

"'Rei, I just wanted to see you,' Ularal blurted out, caught by Rei, his eyes shifting. Then, recalling something vital, he earnestly added, 'I've prepared everything.'"

"'I know,' Rei responded, her voice as even as always, without much fluctuation."

"The white-haired girl turned slightly to gaze out the window. Countless sticky tendrils seemed intent on devouring the world, a hint of bloodlight at the far edge, screams and hisses disturbingly clear."

"An impending massacre hung in the air, awaiting the master's command."

*****

"The arid L032 star experienced a rare torrential rain."

"The cold rain, rather than nourishing the earth, ceaselessly washed away vast pools of sticky blood and horribly disfigured corpses."

"Soft, gelatinous black masses slowly consumed numerous struggling traitors, leaving no chance of escape or flaw."

"Several massive tentacles even coiled around the structures of the experimental base, their secretions acting as a corrosive poison, eating away at the formidable high-rises, leaving behind rings of black scars."

"But a high platform remained untouched by the tentacles, deliberately shaped like an umbrella, shielding the space above, unwilling to let the cold rain touch it."

"The white-haired girl lowered her eyes slightly, her reflection in the eyes showing specks of red light, overlooking the horrific deaths and ruins below the platform."

"Insectoids following Rei or handling battlefield details below the platform, gazed at Ularal with a hint of fear in their eyes."

"This was the power of a symbiote."

"Though Ularal was still in his growth phase, he could annihilate all the experimental bases on L032 star in a snap. Now, he was merely prolonging the death of the Monstar insectoids for the Queen's viewing and amusement."

"All insectoids couldn't help but glance towards Rei again, whose expression remained incredibly calm throughout, seemingly unaffected by the grand display of corpses."

"The torrential rain cleansed the air of the overly decayed scent of betrayal. Terrifying tentacles wrapped around every part of the Monstar insectoids' bodies, killing them slowly in the most cruel and inhumane way."

"The mental cries of countless traitors turned bizarre."

"The repeated murmurs of 'I'm sorry.'"

"There were desperate pleas born of delusion."

"Yet still, they were tainted with a hint of frenzied resentment. They had long lost their direction, their betrayal and submission paradoxically coexisting at this moment."

"'Disgusting,' Ularal muttered, kicking away a traitor attempting to move towards the Queen. His eyes were indifferent as he added, 'Knowing even the slightest offense could lead to eternal damnation. You don’t even deserve to be consumed, Rei finds your flesh too repulsive.'"

"The maliciously attacked Monstar insectoid managed to open its eyes weakly to look at him. Its field of vision, already blurred with blood and flesh, merged the reality with the descending sins, making it hard to distinguish the boundaries."

"[I always knew... 'We' were always waiting for you, but you never appeared.]"

"The consciousness of the Monstar insectoids on L032 star briefly merged into a collective entity, speaking in fragmented, bizarre words, revealing deep desires."

"[We just wanted to extend our lives a bit longer, how else could we endure the hopeless and lengthy wait for your arrival?]"

"[We... we just wanted you.]"

"Ularal suddenly crushed the head of the Monstar insectoid under his foot, splattering his pale face with blood. His face wore a smile, but his light grey eyes revealed a frenzy of rage."

"The black-haired insectoid also heard the traitors' mental cries, reacting as if provoked, ramping up the speed of the slaughter."

"'What a hypocritical and selfish lie,' Ularal thought with disgust."

"The Monstar insectoids, never having escaped their cycle of decline, stood no chance against the formidable symbiote, especially under the watchful eyes of numerous high-ranking insectoids from the main star. Escape was an impossibility."

"The traitors' mental fluctuations grew weaker."

"'Your Majesty?' Even Delrian, with his silver hair, squinted slightly, clearly displeased with these barely hidden insubordinate traitors."

"But Rei merely chuckled softly, offering no comment."

"For nearly ten thousand years, the insect race has lost its most fundamental core bone. Countless swarms have consequently fragmented like scattered sand, splitting into different ideological factions. Even with powerful companions taking over power, it's difficult to reforge the insect race into a unified whole."

"The traitor fully exposed the insect race's hidden heart of backlash."

“'Stewart can stay,' Rei suddenly said, 'and come with us to the next planet.'"

"Yes," Darian noted Rei's order."

"Stewart, restrained by a black line to one side, watched the death of his 'kin' with a calm demeanor, seemingly indifferent. Only occasionally did he show a hint of loneliness, gazing cautiously at the queen's back."

"It was only upon hearing the queen's decision that a flicker of light passed through Stewart's desolate beastly pupils, like a drop of nectar's blessing."

"Rei pinched a quiet tentacle hanging by her side and casually conveyed the decision to keep Stewart to Ural's mental world."

"Unexpectedly, the group of tentacles reacted dramatically, except for the one she held in her palm, which trembled slightly, while the others quietly retreated."

"A flicker of confusion passed through her heterochromatic eyes, and Rei stopped playing with the tentacles, putting away her playful thoughts. However, seeing that Rei was ignoring them, the tentacles approached again, aggrieved, climbing to her wrists and shoulders as if to massage and relax her."

"The indifferent queen sighed softly, not stopping the tentacles from cautiously seeking her favor."

"Darian noticed a few tentacles stealthily baring their fangs in the shadows at him, he smirked silently, his pale red eyes filled with cold intent."

"However... The silver-haired companion recalled the message the queen shared with him last night."

"The last companion. Darian felt a hint of curiosity. What did he look like? What were his powers?"

"But given their connection with the Monst insect race, they probably no longer qualify even as competitors."