Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Someone hurriedly approached Norton. "Sire, here are several coordinates showing anomalous activity. The warships are already in position..."

Ye Mo looked back. Norton sat there, amid his staff. Ye Mo could only vaguely see his hand resting on the armrest through the crowd, his fingers naturally curled.

The atmosphere in the command center seemed tense. Ye Mo didn't know what was happening and looked at Arnold.

Arnold prompted him, "Look at the screen."

On the screens in the command center, scenes of the rift valley were now displayed. Multiple screens showed images of the same location from different angles. They were magnified, making the footage hard to make out.

These images were not holographic but two-dimensional. Holographic transmission technology had high requirements for equipment and environmental stability. 2D feeds were easier to obtain. Furthermore, it was to reduce realism and, to the greatest extent possible, maintain objectivity during operations.

At the military academy, Ye Mo had specialized courses teaching him how to interpret such footage.

The moment he saw it, he naturally combined the images from multiple angles, mentally reconstructing the scene.

The view zoomed in further. Multiple monitoring devices descended into the rift valley simultaneously. The monitoring devices were compact, similar to those Ye Mo had seen on the simulated battlefield.

On the command center screens, the view panned from the edge of the rift valley downward, scanning the inner walls. The inner walls were almost perpendicular to the ground, and the light grew increasingly dim.

As the monitoring devices continued their descent, the light from above dwindled. Finally, what was displayed on the screen were only varying shades of black. Dark rocks were mixed in, almost indistinguishable.

It was unclear how long they had been descending.

The descent halted. Finally, the monitoring devices stopped.

But then, the small monitoring devices simultaneously turned on their lights, illuminating gray-black rocks. Then the monitoring devices slowly adjusted their angles, finally shifting to another side.

The color of the rocks in the footage darkened slightly, filling the screen. The rock seemed laced with ore, occasionally reflecting a warm luster as the light adjusted.

It wasn't until all the feeds shifted that Ye Mo's eyes widened.

Those weren't dark rocks at all. Black carapace filled the screens.

The feeds from multiple screens combined to show a massive King Insect clinging to the rock wall. Its body was covered in black carapace, its enormous form motionless. Its maw was shut as it quietly clung to the stone.

The monitoring devices began their descent from the middle of the rift valley. Even so, a single device could not fully observe it.

Ye Mo had seen warships deploying supply pods on screen. The warships were standardized. By comparing them to the warships above the rift valley, it gave a rough idea that the width of the rift valley was astonishing.

Even in recordings, Ye Mo had rarely seen such a massive King Insect.

Nations, to showcase their strength or for teaching purposes, generally leave video records when hunting King Insects. Powerful King Insects might even have their own names and museums.

Ye Mo didn't know the strength of the King Insect before him, but based on size alone, it was worthy of having its own name.

Looking at the screen, Ye Mo suddenly understood why these scenes felt familiar. He remembered the fragments he saw from Norton's memory during the mental resonance.

Norton had stood at the edge of the rift valley, slaying the massive King Insect that emerged from what seemed like an insect nest.

Ye Mo's face paled slightly. Now it seemed that was not an insect nest at all, but a rift valley, with tens of thousands of King Insects at the bottom.

The King Insect on the screen suddenly moved. It pulled its limbs free from the rock. Small stones fell into the bottomless rift valley. Then it slowly turned its massive head towards the monitoring devices suspended in mid-air.

The people surrounding Norton began to discuss. "It has already started moving."

"A King Insect of this class shouldn't appear this early. It's already a mature form. We must deal with it, or it will soon reach the surface."

"Several other coordinates showed abnormalities earlier, four in total. Monitoring devices are still searching. We should have feedback soon. There's a seventy percent probability those coordinates also have King Insects landing."

"But at this time, sensor data shows they've only consumed forty percent of the deployed supplies. This means the brood hasn't reached sufficient numbers yet. We can't use heavy ordnance for now..."

Currently, numerous King Insect larvae are still developing at the bottom of the rift valley. If they are startled, the landing will occur prematurely. If the number of King Insects is insufficient, King Insects from other places will automatically replenish the numbers, making the Insect Tide uncontrollable.

The worst-case scenario is that dormant insect colonies deep within the resource planets will begin to move and begin mass reproduction.

Especially in the unclaimed sectors, they don't even have the capability to clean up the active insects on surrounding planets, and they themselves have limited defenses.

If a large number of insects infest the inhabited sectors, not to mention other losses, even with sufficient military force, just clearing them would take a massive amount of time.

Arnold looked at the clearly adult King Insect on the screen and also frowned almost imperceptibly. "This Insect Tide is indeed earlier than before. No."

He murmured, "It's specific individuals that are early."

Sixty percent of the dropped supplies haven't been digested, meaning most King Insects should still be developing. This is also abnormal.

King Insects inherently do not tolerate other King Insects. Unless evenly matched, once they detect a companion is too weak, they will swarm it.

Therefore, they will race to hatch within a certain timeframe to ensure a certain survival rate, preventing excessive size differences between individuals, which would cause them to be at a disadvantage and become food for other King Insects. Then, within a few days, they will make landfall in a concentrated wave.

Grath's forces will use heavy firepower to cover the entire rift valley. Norton, along with A-grade and S-grade powerhouses, will guard the edge of the rift valley, killing King Insects that cannot be quickly eliminated by firepower. Blades capable of channeling psychic energy, when infused with it, can pierce armor that most artillery can't crack.

This is a very long process. During this period, the bombardment will be continuous.

Finally, Norton will lead others down to the bottom of the rift valley several times to ensure no omissions.

But now, adult forms have appeared prematurely.

The people around Norton suddenly quieted down, making way, and all looked at Ye Mo and Arnold. Norton reached out his hand towards them.

Arnold stood up first.

Ye Mo hesitated a moment, then also stood up and walked to Norton's side with Arnold.

Norton said, "Arnold, you go."

Arnold nodded, said nothing, turned, and left. Some people followed Arnold.

Ye Mo watched Arnold's back until Norton tugged at him, and he turned back.

Norton said simply, "Arnold's gone to handle them. Before he returns, you stay by my side."

Norton pulled Ye Mo to his side, having him sit on a chair in front of him.

Ye Mo sat down, in the middle of the crowd, and suddenly understood. Norton said 'them,' referring to those King Insects.

What Arnold was going to deal with was the massive creature on the screen that couldn't be fully observed by a single monitoring device.

The discussion continued. Norton, surrounded in the center, closed his eyes, only listening, not speaking.

"...The sudden appearance of such a massive King Insect is a very bad sign. If no measures are taken, the bottom of the rift valley might not produce enough King Insects this year."

King Insects are creatures that prioritize using individuals weaker than themselves. For them, eliminating their own kind is more urgent than fighting enemies.

"Just clearing those that climb up or are in the middle might not be enough. If this situation continues, we might need to send teams down to cull the early developers."

"The number of King Insects discovered so far is still within a safe range. We don't need to take such a big risk yet."

Opinions were divided, and they began to argue.

"No, this is only the number we have observed. The number we haven't observed may already have reached a dangerous level. If this trend continues at the bottom, by the time we can observe it, it will be too late. We should send people down immediately."

"But the King Insects haven't fully consumed the food yet. We can't saturate the canyon floor with fire first. Sending people down like this, do you know how many casualties we would suffer?"

He grabbed another man by the collar and pointed at the guards standing not far away.

"Look at our young people—most are just this age. They mostly have no lovers, no children, and have just begun their lives!"

The man he had grabbed wasn't angry but calmly replied, "Of course I know. My daughter was among them last time and didn't make it back. My son graduated the year before last and is now among them too."

Norton opened his eyes. He raised his hand slightly, and the argument instantly ceased. The surroundings fell silent, with only Norton's voice echoing throughout the command center.

"Grans will remember everyone who has sacrificed for the empire."

Moving forward, bloodshed is inevitable. But whenever on the battlefield, a Grans always stands at the forefront, sword in hand, shedding more blood than anyone else.

They all clenched their fists, touched them to the emblem of blood and fire on their chests, and bowed their heads.

"Long live the empire's glory, and may Grans endure forever!"

...

Someone prepared Arno's weapons, and the battleship underwent multiple inspections. Everything was ready.

But Arno didn't depart immediately. Before boarding the battleship, he first went to the base's medical center, where several doctors swiftly and skillfully conducted tests.

"Mental energy data is stable. I've already transmitted the data to His Majesty."

"Mental energy inhibitors have been delivered to the battleship."

Then, a doctor used a precise instrument to remove the mental energy inhibitor from Arno's neck and replaced it with a new one. The new inhibitor was specifically designed for such occasions—easier to break through and easier for Arno to break himself, in case he was overly suppressed and faltered at a critical moment.

Better safe than sorry when dealing with King Insects.

As he replaced the inhibitor, he said, "Since the 34th checkup earlier this year, your condition has stabilized significantly. We've also saved quite a few mental energy inhibitors."

Arno grunted. He had almost forgotten his state back then, remembering only endless despair, shackles, and nauseating rooms. It was probably pretty bad.

"The director has been very keen to find out the reason why. She applied a few days ago for your cooperation in an experiment but hasn't received a response. She isn't here this time, as she's still working on a project in the drifting star sector. She asked me to inquire if you received the application."

Arno didn't hesitate at all: "Tell her to give up. I won't agree."

Arno knew their director—a formidable woman. She had been the director for as long as he could remember. All the Little Grans got their vaccines from her. Her methods were so rough that the tough-skinned Little Grans would turn tail and run the second time they saw her, preferring to face their father's discipline.

It wasn't until Arno grew up that he realized not everyone gave injections as if they were stabbing someone.

The man clearly knew the reason too. He smiled, conducted another check on the mental energy inhibitor, ensured there were no issues, and concluded the examination.

"All done. Wishing you a smooth journey."

Arno stood up, took the sword handed to him by someone nearby, and several others gathered around to help him put on protective gear, especially for his hands and feet—areas vulnerable to King Insect bites.

Several soldiers followed behind him.

The staff in the medical center all knew what they were about to do. They stopped their tasks, saluted, and said in unison, "Long live the empire's glory, and may Grans endure forever!"