Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 440, Section 49: The Swarm believes you are not only lacking, but also missing a screw in your head - Bonus Chapter [55]

(Bonus chapter for "konstanzzz" [5/5])
"Look what this is."
A hero!
"A wounded and dying hero? Heh, I don't even need to guess; I know what those corrupt bastards from Kharakshi were trying to do by sending you here."

The royal prime minister arrived with a large group of royal guards.

It saw the hero in the almost completely destroyed palace passageway. The hero was in a terrible state, clearly having suffered a fierce battle. His hero amber armor had been completely destroyed by some kind of monstrous weapon, and even half of his own limbs had been cut off.

This formidable hero is now on his last breath.

At Zorlock's command, several mantid warriors stepped forward and lifted the pitiful defeated general so that the Grand Chancellor could see his face. Upon seeing the iconic broken amber helmet and the amber sword embedded in his heart, the Grand Chancellor sneered:
"So it's Lord 'Windbreaker'. It's said that you're invincible. How did you end up like this? Ha, the legendary Zerg hero with a strong sense of honor has come to be a despicable assassin and has failed miserably."

You've really made the elders proud.

Kerruk was currently suffering from at least five diseases. Even though the uninjured hadn't killed it, it was now only one step away from death, and could only use its last strength to warn:
"A little monster is hiding in you."

"No need to remind me, that monster is right outside. Even a mantis demon with eyesight can see it!"

The Grand Chancellor assumed the Windslayer was referring to Agamaggan, the leader beast that was attacking the Sacred Tree Palace. He didn't expect the despicable assassin to say anything more and initially intended to execute him. However, he changed his mind and said to his guards:

"Send it to the Amber Master and give it to His Excellency Angshuk, the Queen's chief scholar. Heroes have survived the ravages of time by relying on the secret technique of 'amber preservation and regeneration.' Powerful figures like Kerruk have been awakened and then fallen asleep again several times."

It contains valuable samples of amber's ability to regenerate.

Tell Angshuk that the Queen has lost patience; that young, brilliant scholar must unravel the secret of 'amber regeneration' as soon as possible!

"As ordered!"

Several burly mantis warriors dragged the dying Windrider toward the Amber Shaping Grounds beneath the palace, determined to make the Windrider's last bit of value before it perished.

When Onshuk, the most favored genius scholar under the Queen and an amber sculptor, saw this experiment, he was overjoyed.

It is only one step away from cracking the secret of amber regeneration, which is monopolized by the Elders of Klaxxi. With this hero who has experienced amber regeneration several times, it will surely be able to bring the most perfect "birthday gift" to its beloved Great Queen.

The messengers sent by the Grand Chancellor have already risked their lives to cross the blockade of the Shadow Chaser swarm, and they will deliver the news of the Queen's attack to Kun-Lai Summit as quickly as possible.

At this moment, Wind Lord Melgalak and Blade Lord Tayak, who were commanding their armies to conquer cities and territories, had to return to reinforce the palace. If they were any slower, that damned royal beast would storm the palace and attempt to assassinate the king.

What the hell!

Where did these damned bugs come from?

Curse them!

Meanwhile, at the Shadow Chaser swarm's main base, Diakum and the Twins, who had come to "inspect the battlefield," also encountered their latest "prey."

The enhanced Zerg hero "Malik the Unwounded" humbly kneels at the feet of the Lightforger who granted him "new life," while beside him, the half-dead Ricard the Cutter and the Zerg Guardian Hissek, whose limbs have been severed, are being transported deep into the hive by the worker swarms.

The genetic experts are already eager to "study" the new samples.

Once the dominant genes in these two creatures are thoroughly studied, they will undergo the same swarm enhancement as the Unharmed, becoming "Swarm Heroes" that can be commanded by the Overlord.

The most terrifying aspect of this matter is that, in order to ensure the quality of the genetic fragments, those genetic masters, Abathur, would perform the autopsy while the hero was fully conscious.

The most valiant mantis heroes must witness the entire process of being "dismembered." Their vitality will be preserved through the special biological toxins and fungal nutrition provided by the gene master. Finally, after the research is completed, they will be "stitched" together and thrown into the incubation chamber for secondary modification.

They remained conscious throughout the entire process.

Even for mantises, who are "born to chase death," this process is a bit too terrifying.

"You did a great job, no one was injured."

Diakum encouraged him with satisfaction:

"You have made a brilliant contribution to the strength of the Swarm, and you deserve to be honored and rewarded. In addition to the territory prepared for you by the Overmind, I also have a gift for you."

He stretched out his hand.

Madam Guo Su, the "representative of the Jade Lotus Gang" who was already trembling with fear from the swarm of insects, stood there stunned. She only reacted after being kicked by the twins and quickly handed over the weapon box with both hands.

The vigilant took out a "fiercely weapon" that had been seized by the Jade Lotus Gang.

Compared to the original weapon made by the Klaxxi elders, this thing was personally engraved with the Shadow Chaser rune by Diakum, allowing it to gather entropy energy even when enhanced by Sha energy.

Most importantly, this thing is a "power of faith".

That was Diakum's profound exploration of the power of faith, drawing on the precious knowledge shared by the Loa gods, allowing such a weapon of faith to invoke "divine enhancement" from the Devourers of All Realms when necessary.

"Hold it in your hand."

Diakum handed the Swarm Halberd to the Unharmed, offering words of encouragement:

"I will grant you the talent of 'Unbreakable Body' to fully unlock your war potential. You have become the 'Hero of Swarm' of Shadow Chasers. May you go even further on the path of Shadow Chasers."

"Supreme glory!"

The uninjured one roared.

Upon receiving the "Shadow Chaser," the factional enhancements from the Lightforged caused its already robust vitality to visibly expand.

The gift of mythical talent was clearly a rare blessing. When the unharmed creature stood up, its body had swelled to twice its original size, becoming a true "half-giant worm".

The recognition from the Lightforged also made it a true "tyrant of the swarm." After returning to the hive in the Sea of ​​No Light, it will be able to command hives and territories. In the swarm's system, this means that the Unwounded will be given more "individual will."

It will be upgraded from a simple weapon of war to a "Swarm Will Node", truly entering the level of a commander.

The experience and strategies accumulated by the Mantis Heroes in countless battles have enabled them to effectively alleviate the problem of system bloat that inevitably occurs when the swarm reaches a certain size.

In industry jargon, this is called "opening a branch base".

"Every hero will become a tyrant of the swarm in the future."

Saloras said softly:
"Once we take over all the heroes under the Klaxxi Elder Order, the Shadow Chaser Swarm can expand exponentially in a short period of time."

"But we can't rely solely on heroes."

Aurecis shook her head and said:
"It took the Mantis Demons ten thousand years to gather twelve heroes, each of whom is unique. The loss of each one would cripple the insect hive. The swarm under the commander's command obviously needs some sufficiently 'cheap' replacements."

In low-intensity conflicts, these guys go first; only when they can't hold on can the heroes step in.

"There will be."

Diakum, on the other hand, was quite optimistic.

He gazed into the distance at the Sacred Tree Palace, which was under siege, and said:

"The Klaxxi elders' criteria for selecting heroes are too harsh. The Overmind can certainly relax the criteria appropriately. Not only the Mantid, but also the Spider Kings of Azjol Nerub are perfect candidates for Hive Tyrants."

Furthermore, the genetic masters are researching the forbidden mysteries of 'soul shaping,' and perhaps in the future, those conquered by the swarm will also become a source of power for the swarm.

At this point, Diakum glanced back at Madam Guo Su.

This pandaren woman in a red dress is the cousin of Madam Guo Ya, the leader of the Jade Lotus Gang. She is said to be quite shrewd and capable, but she was so frightened by the imposing presence of this swarm that her face turned pale.

It's no easy feat to make a furry panda turn pale, which shows just how terrifying the psychological pressure can be for ordinary people when facing a swarm of insects.

“My Shadow Hunters need information sharing from the Jade Lotus Gang, madam.”

The vigilant said in a gentle tone:
"It's not easy to operate in the Fear Wasteland, but I believe the Jade Lotus has its own methods. Madam Guo Ya hopes to maintain good relations with the Lightforged Chapter, and this is the diplomatic responsibility she needs to undertake."

I assure you that after the Mantis Demon War ends, all the diplomatic channels I have outside the fog will be open to the Jade Lotus Gang!
In addition, she promised me that the supply of the Sha-infected weapons is currently in severe shortage.

As you can see, my swarm is highly compatible with this dangerous weapon. I need more Sha-tainted weapons to arm my elite swarm, so...
"Your collection efficiency needs to be improved a bit, okay?"

Lady Guo Su wanted to explain, since there weren't many of these Sha-stained divine weapons even within the Klaxxi Elder Order. These divine weapons, which required multiple Sha energies to be forged together, were exclusively for the heroes.

But after glancing at the few warrior insects around her who were staring at her like she was food, she didn't dare to argue and just nodded silently.

Now the Jade Lotus Gang will probably have to use all their trump cards to satisfy this vigilant's demands, which will cost them many elite troops.

However, my cousin has already made up her mind to latch onto this powerful figure. The Jade Lotus Gang, which has been lying in wait for thousands of years, must make a big move. That's how things are in this world. You can't expect a reward without giving something in return.

"Mentor! My strategy worked!"

Anvina floated over and reported excitedly to Diakum:
"The dragons on reconnaissance sent back news that the mantids of Kun-Lai Summit are turning back. Although not all mantids are returning to defend, the two mantid lords who command their armies are leading their elite forces at high speed toward Panlong Ridge."

The Abathurs assessed their state of war and concluded that the Mantid lords all had the potential to become Champions, so they also counted them as 'potential Champions'.

I have already laid an ambush in the mountains near Panlong Ridge and Gaolan Formation, ready to intercept and capture them alive!
After this battle, my initial estimate is that I can get six Abathurs from your Zerg swarm.

"Well done, keep up the good work."

Diakum encouraged:
"Six alone won't be enough for your future savior swarm to develop quickly. Conservatively speaking, you'll need at least ten gene masters to get the swarm on track quickly in the early stages of hatching."

Your insect swarm in the material world doesn't have as many opportunities for war. If it can't 'fight to sustain itself' like the Shadow Chaser swarm, its internal evolution can only rely on the daily research of the genetic masters.

There are many more gene masters under the Dominator's command; you'll have to step up your game.

"Ok."

Anvina stood at attention and bowed, but then asked curiously, "But why did you bestow the surname 'Abathur' upon the gene masters? Does this surname have any unique meaning?"

"Of course, 'Abathur' represents my high expectations for all genetic masters."

Diakum said with a sigh:
"Don't worry about where the name comes from. All you need to know is that 'Abathur' represents absolute efficiency, perfect skill, and an undying pursuit of the highest evolution."

For the swarm, this is naturally a noble name.

Perhaps in the future, a true 'Abathar' will emerge from the Shadow Chaser swarm, but for now, I can only say that the genetic masters still have something to lack; they need to diligently fulfill their duties and constantly pursue perfection.

He shook his head, then put on his usual gentle smile, and reminded Anvina:

"I will be going to the 'Thor Islands' off the coast of Pandaria with the Pandaren afterward. We will stay there for several days. During this time, you and your operations officer will be in charge of advancing the Zerg war."

Take it slow and steady, but you must be quick.

Also, after this battle, remember to send Lord Garrod Shadowsong a gift as a reward.

They've put in so much effort for you; a proper recognition is essential.

"What should I give as a gift?"

Anvina blinked and said:
"I've never given a gift to anyone before, do you have any suggestions?"

"Well, let me think."

Dick stroked his chin, and after a moment, he said:

How about a 'Heart of Azeroth' pendant?
Congratulations to Lord Jarod Shadowsong for becoming the second Kaldorei Savior after the Nightsworn.

The Supreme Star Soul needs more than just warriors like Khadgar; she also needs outstanding commanders with a broad perspective, and Lothar and Jarod are prime examples of this.

------

In the besieged Sacred Tree Palace, the Great Queen Shakhir said she needed to rest, so the loyal Mantis Guards retreated outside the palace.

But the Queen did not rest; instead, she stretched out her overly "delicate" claws.

There was a peculiar "fossilized insect egg" on her fingertip.

This is not a mantis egg. The Great Queen, who is in charge of the reproduction of her race, can confirm this. She can even sense that this thing is "of the same origin" as herself through her "ancient bloodline".

Perhaps it comes from the legendary Yaqi Empire?
Shakoshir didn't know how this thing had appeared near her palace, but she guessed that it must have been specially delivered to her by the strange insects on the other side.

Because the other mantises wouldn't pay any attention to this little thing, only she could sense the "ancient call" within it.

The appearance of this thing means that the opposing swarm has no intention of disguising its origins; they have revealed their identities. They are the swarm of the Aqir Empire, or at least have a complex and close relationship with the ancient insectoid empire.

This is an "invitation".

But Shakshir hesitated for a moment about whether to open the "letter".

She was somewhat worried that this thing might contain some strange curse, but that wasn't a big problem; the Mantis Queen herself was a fairly good spellcaster.
The queen's royal pheromones prevent them from flying and engaging in melee combat; however, a queen possesses a natural majesty, and their powerful mental strength is an innate gift.

It is said that this is also a secret power passed down among the swarm nobles of the Aqi Empire, and Shakshir has always been proud of his unique and powerful strength.

"boom"

Another loud bang rang out outside the Sacred Tree Palace. The Great Queen knew that it was the ferocious King Worm attacking the palace. If her reinforcements did not arrive soon, it was only a matter of time before the Sacred Tree, which had grown for thousands of years, was destroyed.

The leader beast is a monster!

The Great Queen tried to soothe it with her mental power, but the other party ruthlessly tore apart her mental shackles.

The other party's king beast was not buying her act at all, but in that brief encounter, Shakoshir clearly sensed the disdain and weariness in the king beast named "Agamaggan".

The other party did not use its full strength to attack its palace; it was merely following orders to put pressure on the mantises here and maintain its intimidation over them.

However, it was in a state of complete lack of motivation and was not threatened even when the mantis attacked desperately.

This is terrible.

This means that the Zerg swarm on the other side must have a bigger plan for trapping him here. Shakshir couldn't help but think about the worst-case scenario he could imagine. Could it be that the Aqir swarm on the other side had secretly joined forces with the Klaxxi's old dead?

They intend to slaughter all the loyal mantis warriors on this battlefield as a "lesson in virtue" for the future great empresses.
A brutal execution used as a demonstration?

The Empress felt increasingly frustrated.

Finally, she couldn't resist any longer and used her immense mental power to contact this "ancient fossil".

She was young and had a fierce courage in her heart.

Even if I'm going to die, I want to die knowing why!
But at the moment of contact with her mind, Shakshir felt her will being dragged into a strange place, not in the material world. When she opened her "eyes" again, what came into view was a "mountain" made of flesh and blood.

The corrupted black blood surged beneath the twisted and grotesque carapace, and the wildly dancing spikes and tentacles were like a swarm of snakes. Large numbers of Faceless Ones and Kheirs were born from all parts of this mountain of flesh and blood, and under the gaze of the ever-rotating black giant eye, they obeyed the frenzied horn and charged forward.

This is a fortress! A terrifyingly great life form, which is alive itself!

It occupies a "fertile land" in the Sea of ​​No Light, which is clearly the territory of some Void God. However, it is being invaded, and a vast swarm of insects is besieging this Void God's territory from all directions.

They tear with sharp teeth, fight with bone blades, and corrode with deadly poison.

Their individual strength is far inferior to that of the Faceless Ones, but their numbers are their most prized weapon.

It's like ants attacking an elephant, but it's a carnival for army ants.

Even if each insect can only tear off a piece of flesh, when the swarm sweeps across, the living ground will be torn apart, revealing the original brown soil.

Wherever the insect swarms went, only desolation and famine remained.

The sky above the Sea of ​​Light is forever dark, with streaks of black lightning leaping through the clouds. These are the only sources of light in this land, and every time the battlefield is illuminated, the black blood of the evil god is drunk up by the advancing swarm of insects.

Ultimately, the besieged Temple of Flesh and Blood was enraged.

The black, colossal eye atop the highest point of the temple unleashed blinding twilight, reducing all creatures on the battlefield to dust.

The tentacles, the faceless beings, the swarms of insects, and the wailing earth all returned to deathly silence at this moment.

The enormous, magnificent eyes closed again, satisfied, but a moment later, industrious worker bees appeared on the battlefield.

Silently, they dragged everything in front of them back to their insect nest on the shore. Just as the Great Queen turned around in astonishment, another mighty swarm of insects had already launched an attack on the evil holy temple, stepping over the corpses of their predecessors.

Shakshir then noticed that the entire coastline as far as she could see had been taken over by this swarm of insects.

Instead of building fortresses with mediocre flesh and blood, they covered their nests with chitin, laid out their kingdoms with fungal carpets like green grasslands, and used the eroded mountains as incubators and dragon nests.

Even in the dim, lightless seawater, giant worms resembling sea dragons quietly rise to the surface.

That was a "troop transport ship".

"boom"

Another bolt of dark lightning illuminated the battlefield, which had become noisy again. Shakshir snapped out of his daze and realized that he had not yet met with the person who had invited him.

But she was truly desperate at this point.

Because she realized that the swarm attacking the Mantis was not the main force, and that the Shadow Chasing Swarm that roamed the Mantis Plateau was very likely just a "tentacle" of the large swarm that was challenging, or rather, "hunting" the evil god.

A tiny, insignificant tentacle!

Even though she and her mantis demons defeated the insects, they couldn't harm the swarm of insects in front of them in the slightest.

Every second they celebrate their victory, more insects are hatched in this void and thrown into a battlefield so vast that even she, the Great Queen, cannot imagine it.

“Shakshir.”

The Overlord's wailing echoed in her mind along with the sound of the swarm's advance.

There was no special emotion involved, just a formulaic expression, as if this "invited" empress wasn't worth wasting too much of its time.

"After 30,000 heartbeats, the evil god you see will become food for the swarm of insects; after 30,000 heartbeats, we will be free to act."

"Are you threatening me?"

The Empress, striving to remain calm, rebuked:
"You want me to surrender?"

"?"

The Overlord, with a doubtful consciousness, banished this clueless Empress back to the material world, saying:
"Whether you surrender or not, the Mantis Demons will perish! You are clearly not as important to us as you think."

"We are merely announcing to you the moment when the war has truly begun, nothing more. Until then, enjoy your insignificant 'childish fun' with Anvina; you know nothing about war or the Zerg swarm."

Ps:

This concludes the bonus chapter. Currently, there are 110 chapters owed.

The next bonus chapter will be released on May 5.21st.
(End of this chapter)