Chapter 84

Chapter 84

"Sob, sob, it hurts so much..."

Huddled in the corner, the young male cried, blowing on his bleeding knee while trembling at the sound of explosions from time to time.

But for a moment, it seemed as if everything around him fell silent.

It was as if a vast spring breeze had swept through his body, melting away the cold and pain, dispelling fear and despair.

He stopped crying, looking up at the sky, only to realize that the dense "clouds" that had been surging had somehow lessened, no longer appearing quite as terrifying.

At the very top.

Yale closed his eyes, feeling the storm of mental energy brewing in the palm of his hand.

Starting small, it gradually grew stronger, surging forth like a tidal wave of immense power—

The pure mental energy originated from his mental landscape, but it was merely a catalyst. The mental energy within this world seemed to sense a call, rushing together from countless streams and rivers into a vast ocean.

"Hisss!"

A monstrous creature had landed on the rooftop, its face grotesquely distorted. From a mouth split open to behind its ear, it spat out wriggling tentacles with a "pfff" sound.

"Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!"

But before it could approach Yale, the creature was shot down by the military females guarding the area. However, the monsters seemed inexhaustible, and the guards were gradually showing signs of fatigue.

"We're running low on ammunition! Your Highness...?!"

A gentle breeze tousled the strands of hair across Yale's forehead. With his eyes still closed, he sensed the vibrations in the air, diverting a fraction of his attention when he detected movement.

"Stay still."

His voice was low and hoarse. As he spoke, the invisible waves instantly rippled outward.

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

Almost shrill sounds of air being pierced echoed abruptly as countless mental energy needles were unleashed in an instant.

With a sweeping motion, he repelled the hundreds of alien beasts around him, clearing a vast open space like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves.

The god of effortless life-taking chuckled softly, his face serene and composed.

"Step back a bit, I don't want to accidentally harm you."

Yale's expression turned slightly solemn as he raised his hand palm-up, as if bearing an immense pressure upwards—

His immense mental energy expanded outward, forming an invisible protective barrier. After encompassing the vast expanse before them, it continued to spread, engulfing half the planet in a blink of an eye.

Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The mental energy shield rose continuously, and countless unsuspecting beasts collided with it, their heads bursting like overripe watermelons. A thick, pungent scent of blood instantly filled the air.

When the barrier finally reached its optimal height, the sudden halt sent many of the beasts clinging to it flying off.

Yale grunted, his face turning paler.

Baring his teeth against the metallic tang in his throat, he felt a warm trickle seep from his ear, descending along his neck and staining the collar of his white shirt red.

"Shields! Are the shields back up?!"

A bug, looking up inadvertently, was startled into an exclamation of delight.

"No, wait! It's rising! It doesn't seem to be the shields..."

Others, regaining their composure, observed carefully. Following the strange oscillation, they lifted their heads and saw a vague, white silhouette, causing their eyes to widen in shock.

"It looks like His Majesty! He's using his mental power to protect us!!"

A loud cry from an unknown source roused all the dazed bugs. One after another, they looked up at the top floor, the highest point of all—

There, they saw a towering figure standing right in the heart of the raging storm, steadfast like a polestar, instilling an unprecedented sense of security.

Many male bugs, who were under strict protection, were also drawn to the windows. A mere glance at that distant silhouette was enough for them to sense a formidable oscillation that shook their very souls.

"Goodness, such immense mental power. I've never seen anything so vast, like an endless ocean or sky..."

Amidst cheers and tears of relief, hushed whispers of astonishment could be heard. The nobles, sheltered beneath their small force fields, exchanged glances before they bitterly chuckled and shook their heads.

"One month's worth of energy channeled in half an hour by His Excellency Yale – I thought that was impressive. But it seems it was just a trivial feat for him."

"A shield that protects the entire planet, enduring both beast tide and pirate attacks... It's terrifyingly powerful."

The scene was captured by war correspondents and broadcast live, soothing countless terrified inhabitants across the planet.

That figure had become an embodiment of salvation amidst adversity.

"Is this the legendary S-Class Male Drone, His Excellency Yale?"

The female ruler held her offspring, watching the news projection in the living room, and asked Vito in awe, "He actually stopped a disaster with his mental power. How incredible."

"Yes, indeed."

Vito turned around and gazed at the somewhat blurry figure on the screen, unable to suppress a soft laugh.

"After this, His Excellency Yale's reputation will surely reach the level of awe-inspiring."

"With Emperor Augusgro, Marshal Monte, and Lord Yale on our side, there will be no more obstacles to reform. No amount of tantrums from the hardliners can halt the Empire's march down a new path."

...

The commotion outside seemed to be subsiding.

Lance, sharp as ever, sensed something amiss, a subtle shift in his expression.

Click.

His ears picked up a faint sound, and he spun around, only to see a corridor strewn with the lifeless bodies of guards.

Something was off; the situation was gravely wrong.

Lance promptly stripped the guards of their uniforms and weapons, swiftly disguising himself. He planned to slip out through a side door undetected.

He had already prepared an escape route—

A few small jumpships docked at the Starport, ready to silently flee the primary planet amidst the chaos should circumstances take a turn for the worse.

Cano had already been there beforehand and had access to more real-time information than him. If there was truly something amiss, he would have fled long ago, so there was no need to worry anymore.

He silently traversed the winding corridors, heading for that side door based on his memory.

"Screech."

A soft noise echoed, and rays of sunlight instantly poured in invisibly.

Lance, who had one hand pushing the door open while the other tightly held his weapon, was caught off guard by the sudden glare in his eyes.

It had been so long since he last saw sunlight that he almost forgot what a bright glow looked like. It warmly enveloped his outstretched forearm, casting his overly pale skin almost into a bluish tint.

Lance was momentarily dazed, but in the next second—

"Ahh!"

A tremendous force suddenly yanked the door open, followed by a sharply angled kick that snapped his weapon-holding arm with a sickening crack!

The laser gun flew away, and he was forcefully pressed to the ground, with several guns aimed at his head, rendering him immobile.

"Stay still!"

Regaining his composure from the dizziness, Lance lifted his head, ignoring the fierce command at his ear, and fixed his gaze on the pair of leather boots before him.

"It's been a long time, Lance."

Augusg peered down at him with a detached expression. Upon seeing the struggling female insect, he ruthlessly struck it with his scepter.

A muffled thud echoed as flesh was impacted, only ceasing when blood began to flow.

Augusg closed his eyes, panting heavily, before finally managing to regain some composure after a long while.

"You had a chance to turn back, Lance. I wasn't an unwavering opponent of the nobility back then."

He crouched down, enunciating each word softly, "But why did you provoke my youngling to catch those golden fish in the lake, only to watch him drown?"

The image of his swollen, lifeless youngling lying peacefully on the ground, reminiscent of his nightly slumber, stirred up a deep-seated resentment and murderous intent within him every time he thought about it.

"I initially intended to carry out a normal execution, not to let hatred cloud my judgment and corrupt the law."

Augustus lowered his gaze, a flicker of ruthlessness passing through his eyes. "This time, you've stumbled into my hands."

"Cough... Huhu, me... You ask why..."

The fallen male insect laughed hoarsely, nearly gasping for breath. He was no longer the gentle creature he once was, resembling more of a fiend risen from the depths of hell.

"In political strife, there are no taboos. Whatever it takes to make the enemy suffer, that's the tactic used. Even as a king, are you still that naive?"

"Once victory is achieved, all underhanded methods become signs of cunning."

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his voice strained. "I aim to ascend to the highest position, to wield immense power and wealth, never again..."

Never again to be left bleeding in a corner, his flesh devoured by rodents and ants, crushed by unending pain and hunger, ultimately dying like garbage without a sound.

"Take him away."

Augustus rose coldly, not casting another glance at the male insect on the ground.

...

"Is it almost fixed?!"

With the origin of the alien beasts severed, Rachel finally let out a sigh of relief. After obliterating the last descending alien beast, she turned to urge the progress of the shield repairs.

"His Highness probably won't be able to hold out for much longer. Such a massive mental shield is consuming an enormous amount of mental energy with each passing second. Once it's completely drained—"

Not only would the defense line be immediately breached, but Yale himself would be in grave danger.

He gritted his teeth, recalling Silze's parting request to look after the alpha if possible, and felt a profound sense of helplessness.

"Nearly there, nearly there, nearly there… Forty minutes, and we still need thirty more!"

A swarm of specialized worker drones had arrived promptly to assist Kou Yi Jun in repairing one of the more intact control systems. Their progress was swift and efficient.

However, due to the intricate nature of the machinery and the harsh conditions of the emergency repair, it would still take at least half an hour to complete.

Rachel took a deep breath, refraining from urging them further to avoid adding to the risk of errors. Finally, she could spare her attention to address other pressing matters—

"What is the current situation with the Third Army… Admiral Huoer?!"

A familiar voice echoed from the other end of the communicator. Despite their recent political fallout, the mere sound of it still instinctively soothed him.

After all, no matter how outrageous Huoer's choices and actions might be, he had served in the military for over a century. Unlike those nobles, there was absolutely no chance that he would betray the Empire.

It was only reasonable for him to offer assistance in such a life-and-death situation.

"Hold your ground and keep an eye on that kid. Secure the shield. There's nothing to worry about here."

With a stoic expression, Huoer landed his mech with a resounding boom on a high ground. Observing the panicked Third Army soldiers outside, he transformed his mech into a combat-ready form.

He immediately spotted Harris, the Third Army's general, whose mech seemed to sense his arrival and promptly transformed to gather energy for a getaway.

Bang!

A cannonball struck the rear of the mech, detonating violently. In that moment of pause, Huoer had already commandeered his own mech to slice through the smoke and engage in a fierce battle.

As the instigator of the rebellion was being dealt with, the Fourth Army, who had nearly fallen into the alien beast trap after being led astray, rushed to the scene. Gradually, the chaos subsided.

"Follow the original plan! Get ready for combat, or we'll be the ones holding them back when reinforcements arrive!"

"Team C, urgently repair the damaged mechas. Those that are still functional, hand them over to Team A immediately! Assist His Excellency in eliminating the onslaught of alien beasts outside. If not, we won't be able to hold them off!"

No longer trusting the Third Army, Rachel's adjutant could only arrange for as many reliable detachments as possible to resume the interrupted plan, sharing the burden of the alien beast tide.

Rachel organized the information and transmitted it through an encrypted channel to Hillez, who was far out in the cosmos. After hesitating for a few seconds, she professionally included His Majesty Yale's situation as well.

There has been no response from that side, likely because they are too occupied with fighting the alien beasts to reply. However, the mech should have a video relay system, so Xilze should have been aware of the situation already.

His gaze fell upon that distant and indistinct figure, and he was struck with a profound, wordless awe.

Above and below that protective barrier, it seemed like the dividing line between hell and the world.

And Yale was that towering pillar, holding up the sky amidst a overwhelming and perilous tide of alien beasts, keeping them at bay beyond the heavens.

Countless insects, just like him, gazed in gratitude and awe towards that direction, praying devoutly for safety with utmost sincerity.

Now, the primary planet had begun to regain its rhythm, gradually pushing back against the invaders. The situation was improving bit by bit. As long as they could slow down the onslaught of the alien beasts, they could smoothly weather this war.

Countless lives would thereby be spared from the fate of death.

All of this was owed to the achievement of His Excellency Yale---

In this war, he might not have been the main combat force, but he was undoubtedly a deserving savior.

...

It hurt immensely.

Every inch of bone within his body seemed to creak, as the distorted and churning space pressed relentlessly upon him.

Yale could even hear the sound of his flesh tearing bit by bit.

Trapped at the heart of the storm, he struggled to maintain his initial posture without faltering.

Should he retreat or lose strength, these spatial turbulence would be more than enough to tear him apart, regardless of those alien beasts.

Yale's eyes remained tightly shut, feeling the warm blood seeping beneath his eyelids, coursing down his face before coagulating, only to be covered anew by fresh blood.

"Cough..."

A tickling in his throat made him cough softly, and the metallic taste spilled from the corner of his lips.

"Your Majesty?!"

Amidst the piercing ringing in his ears, other voices began to intertwine. Yale's mind drifted for a moment before he mustered the strength to focus on identifying the source.

"Your Majesty! Transform into your primal form, its carapace is harder than this current mimicry...!"

Primal form.

He couldn't help but chuckle, recalling the bizarre limbs and hard shells that came with it. For a moment, he was unsure whether to feel fear or embarrassment.

Every examination had confirmed that Yale was a genuine male insectoid, yet he could never shift into his primal form. They were unable to determine what species it might be, and eventually, the matter was left unresolved.

Yale sighed inwardly, sensing the surging mental energy within the mental landscape. The vast ocean there was now reversing, nearing depletion.

It seemed he could hold on a little longer... How much time had passed?

His thoughts drifted hazily, but he sensed something being triggered. It condensed into a tiny barrier in the surrounding space, encapsulating his body.

"?!"

The pressure on his body seemed to lessen slightly. Yale forced his eyes open, blinking away the remaining blood in his eye sockets.

As his vision cleared, he glanced at the inside of his wrist and saw a faint glimmer.

That was... the chip Xi Ze had given him during their training session. It was supposed to protect him from strong impacts and spatial distortions, encapsulating him within a sphere.

Recalling the queen, a slight curve formed on Yale's lips. Then, remembering the hurried words during their communication, he suddenly felt a twinge of regret.

It was the first time Xi Ze had scolded him so sternly; he must have been genuinely upset.

Whenever Yale pulled all-nighters without his knowledge or secretly met with dangerous insects, the queen would only sigh helplessly, then work tirelessly in various ways to ensure his safety and peace of mind.

Yale wanted to heed Xi Ze's words, to hide under the tight security and survive this massacre caused by his mistake.

No matter how dire the situation, as a precious S-class male insectoid, he would undoubtedly receive excellent protection. All he needed to do was wait quietly for two hours and enjoy the fruits of victory.

In the past, he might have done just that. But after everything he'd experienced, and realizing that he could continue living happily within the insectoid clan, he couldn't ignore this bloodbath.

This wasn't just his home; it was also the place where Xi Ze had lived for a long time.

Despite all the pain and darkness, the Zerg had started anew here, achieving success and earning glory, step by step climbing to the pinnacle of brilliance.

"Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!!"

"Roar——!!!"

Numerous mechas had already charged forward to confront the alien beast tide outside.

The sky was filled with deafening explosions and roars, further aggravating Yale's ringing in the ears.

He slowly shook his head, no longer feeling the existence of his body. But suddenly, a voice that shook the heavens resounded in his ear, briefly jolting him back to awareness.

"Majesty! Reinforcements will arrive in ten minutes!"

It sounded like... Rachel's voice?

Yale took a moment to react, dimly comprehending the meaning behind those words. His exhausted mind instantly perked up.

Then hold on just a little longer.

For only ten more minutes.

...

The tide of alien beasts outside visibly dwindled. Amidst the fierce battle, a sudden commotion erupted within their ranks, as if an explosion had originated from somewhere else.

"Grarh?!"

Some of the beasts sensed something and tried to turn back, but they were crushed against the protective shield and reduced to a grotesque paste by the relentless bombardment.

"It seems the Marshal has returned to reinforce us!"

A voice filled with delight sounded from the front line and quickly echoed throughout the engaged troops.

Morale soared, and even more intense laser fire rained down upon the alien beasts, gradually turning the tide of victory in their favor.

Rachel piloted her mecha on the front lines, immediately spotting that familiar silver-blue streak of light, akin to a meteorite plummeting rapidly towards them.

"Back already? So soon?!"

The army trailing behind had yet to arrive, but the mecha was already in the lead, its exterior splattered with the blood of alien beasts now washed away by the fierce winds.

"Just in time! I'll clear the way—"

With excitement, he mounted a heavy laser cannon and fired, forcefully carving out a path through the swarm of alien beasts, allowing the mecha to pass unscathed.

Before he could continue his sweep, an urgent cry came through the communication channel, "The shield's repaired!"

Amidst the explosion crater, the ashen-faced group of insectoids erupted into cheers.

Under their control, that invisible shield rose once more, replacing the mental barrier within mere breaths and establishing a brand new defense.

What was once an extremely perilous battlefield instantly transformed into a one-sided victory and counterattack.

"..."

Perceiving the emergence of the new protection, the mental barrier flickered a few times before gradually fading, its power dissipating back into the universe, no longer stirring the chaos.

Boom!!

The distorted space around them suddenly shifted. The burst of pressure in an instant crushed the spatial bubble, but it also relieved much of the impact, allowing the insects inside to survive unscathed.

"Cough..."

Yale was now covered in blood—fresh and congealed—turning his white lab coat a deep crimson. A small pool of blood had even formed at his feet.

"Victory! Your Highness! Your Highness!!"

"We're saved! Thank you, Your Highness! Aaaahhh!"

The moment the protective shield rose again, countless insects erupted into cheers. Tears streaming down their faces, they rushed towards the towering structure, like a pilgrimage of the masses.

In the meantime, the military female who had been guarding nearby dashed forward, attempting to support the male insect not far away.

"Your Highness!!"

Countless insects watching the news broadcast cried out in alarm, witnessing the wavering figure in white. They sprang to their feet with anxiety, "Be careful!"

...Is it over?

Realizing this, Yale struggled to curve the corners of his lips. He tried to move his legs, but his body was numb, causing him to sway to the left and nearly fall.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty?!

However, he didn't hit the ground. Hands, seemingly from nowhere, caught him.

Not just one pair, but hands from all directions supported him firmly, gently laying him down on the cushion.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?! Don't move, we need to get a doctor here immediately!"

In his dazed state, Yale sensed dampness on his face as if someone was meticulously wiping away blood. A hard object pressed against his lower lip, then slowly fed him an energy serum.

"Your Majesty? Can you hear me?"

Unable to open his eyes, he could sense numerous insects around him. Their footsteps and movements were quiet. A doctor arrived promptly, or perhaps they had been waiting nearby all along.

"Disperse slightly to allow air circulation. I'll assess the situation!"

"Troops, stand by and maintain vigilance around us!"

The deafening roar in Yale's mind gradually subsided, and he regained consciousness with great effort, opening his eyes to gaze dazedly at the sky above.

The swarm of alien beasts had significantly diminished, no longer overwhelming the heavens. Warm sunlight returned, casting a vast and clear expanse across the sky.

His breaths were shallow. Suddenly, his eyes flickered as he caught sight of a silver-blue mecha plummeting rapidly downward.

The mecha was covered in damage and blood, indicating it had endured a brutal battle. It was hurtling swiftly in their direction.

"That seems to be the Marshal's mecha?!"

A profound sense of detachment swept over him, leaving his body numb and his soul feeling disconnected from his physical form. He drifted weightlessly into the air, gradually dissipating.

A gentle tremor emanated from nearby, and the silver-blue mecha finally came to rest at this altitude.

The hatch slid open, and the female insectoid inside unfurled its bone wings, flying swiftly towards them.

"Master...!"

Yet, amidst the encroaching darkness, that black door abruptly swung wide, emitting a formidable suction force that almost instantaneously pulled him in.

Yale's head lolled to one side, a trickle of blood slipping from the corner of his lips.

"Your Highness? What's the matter... Your Highness!!"

As consciousness faded, one final thought crossed his mind.

Fortunately, we had the chance to say a proper goodbye when we parted ways; otherwise, it would have been a regret to leave without even seeing each other one last time.