Zeus's grace is higher than the sky

The staff officer in charge of intelligence analysis quickly typed on the keyboard, but the search results that popped up on the right side of the screen were blank.

"The Terran Zerg's genetic map does match, but this kind of 'fusion mutation' has never appeared before."

The medical advisor's face turned deathly pale. He zoomed in on the details of the toxin analysis report, his fingertips tracing the molecular structure model on the screen.

"The toxins secreted by the mutants contain gene fragments from two different swarms, which intertwine to form a new toxicological mechanism. The report states that there is 'no effective neutralization strategy,' which means that our existing medical reserves would be completely inadequate to cope with a large-scale infection on the battlefield."

“The threat level is even more problematic.”

The operations staff retrieved the combat capability assessment data of the conventional Zerg hive fleet and compared it with the parameters transmitted back from the ruins. The red warning bar instantly filled half the screen.

"The threat level of a conventional Zerg hive fleet is 'B+', while the mutants in this report are assessed as 'S'."

"A mere four-person squad encountering a swarm of this size would have had an absolute chance of surviving and transmitting this data unless the two swarms had devoured each other."

The Supreme Commander remained silent, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest. The Supreme Command had been researching the Zerg for decades, and had long since established a comprehensive countermeasure system, capable of dealing with the Tyranids, who were remarkably similar to those in the database.

However, the sudden appearance of the "True Stinging Insects," the fusion of two completely different insect swarms, and the resulting mutations that even databases cannot identify, hides risks far beyond simply being "superior to conventional insect hive fleets." If this fusion pattern spreads, the entire interstellar defense line could face an unprecedented crisis.

"What about the information from energy beings?"

The commander-in-chief suddenly spoke, his gaze falling on the description of "Xiao Ai and the other person" in the briefing. The intelligence officer immediately pulled up the relevant records.

"According to the team's supplementary explanation, these two energy beings provided quantum signal data, which helped locate the core of the mutant. At present, they have been ruled out as the followers of the evil god, but their origin and purpose are still unclear. Our knowledge of 'energy beings' is even more limited than that of the true worms."

A brief silence fell over the command center, with only the points of light on the star map still flashing regularly.

Time was passing, and the mutants in the ruins might be undergoing a new fusion. The commander-in-chief took a deep breath, raised his hand to press the button on the communicator, his voice carrying an undeniable determination.

"Immediately activate the emergency response plan. First, dispatch the core team of the Gene Think Tank, equipped with the latest gene sequencing equipment, to the ruins within 24 hours to provide support; second, have the quantum technology department urgently decipher the signal data provided by the energy organisms to find out the breeding patterns of the mutants; third, issue an 'orange alert' to all border outposts, strengthen the monitoring of the insect swarm's movements, and report immediately if any signs of fusion are found, without taking any unauthorized action."

The staff quickly transcribed the instructions, and the commander-in-chief looked back at the image of the mutant on the screen with a serious expression.

"Their information is crucial. Without the support of a professional team, going deep into the area would be suicide. We told them to keep monitoring the situation until support arrives and not to act rashly. We need more data to develop an effective response plan."

Chapter 283 Emperor and King of Space

In the golden hall of the Holy Terra Palace, psychic light flowed between the pillars, and the air was filled with the heavy scent of bronze and holy oil.

The emperor sat on a makeshift council seat in front of the throne, his pure white robe trailing to the ground, his fingertips hovering over the edge of the star map projection.

Suddenly, a subtle ripple appeared in the space deep within the hall. It was neither the chaotic fluctuation of the subspace nor the teleportation technique of a psionicist.

The Emperor's fingertips suddenly stopped, and his psychic perception instantly enveloped the entire hall, but he detected no hostility. He only caught a human psychic energy that was both familiar and unfamiliar, pure and condensed, carrying the weariness of having experienced many vicissitudes, yet containing a power that could shake the stars.

"Your Excellency has abruptly entered the Terra Palace. Is it for war or for the alliance?"

The Emperor's voice was not loud, but it pierced the silence of the hall. A psionic barrier quietly unfolded beside him, serving as both defense and deterrence.

As the spatial ripples subsided, a figure slowly appeared. The person wore simple dark gray casual clothes, without the brilliance of golden armor or the enhancement of psionic runes. Only a worn metal badge hung at the waist, engraved with long-lost star map patterns.

He stood tall and straight, yet the weariness between his brows was undeniable. His gaze toward the emperor held neither reverence nor hostility, but rather a hint of helplessness born of shared suffering. He was none other than the Space King from another world.

"Neither for war nor for alliance."

The King of Space walked to the center of the hall, stopped, glanced at the gold decorations around him, and sighed softly.

"It's just that the merging of the worlds has disrupted the seal, and the rifts in the warp have begun to seep into reality again. My good-for-nothing sons probably can't even keep the family business in check. In the end, I, this 'retired old man,' will have to clean up the mess."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly. In his psychic perception, the Space King's psychic trajectory was highly similar to that of humans, yet it also carried the unique imprint of another universe.

Especially when the mention of "building the network" and "sealing the warp demons" came up, the shared sense of mission instantly made him realize the other party's identity. He withdrew his psionic barrier.

"You come from another human civilization? When you say 'retirement,' do you mean you've completed a similar career as I have?"

Similar, yet different.

The King of Space leaned against a pillar, his tone full of helplessness.

"The network is built, the demons are sealed off, and even the defenses against alien races are fortified. I thought I could find a remote planet to bask in the sun, but what happened? My good-for-nothing sons either trespassed into alien ruins and almost triggered a star core explosion, or eloped with an alien princess, causing a diplomatic crisis. Some were even more outrageous, arguing fiercely with their own legions over an ancient warship. I have to clean up their messes every day, to the point that I get a headache just seeing the word 'son'."

He paused, looked at the emperor, and his eyes held a hint of inquiry.

"You're doing well here, your expedition is in full swing, and your sons haven't reached the point of 'turning the world upside down' yet. Unlike me, I can't even take a breather after finishing my business. If it weren't for the world merging that loosened the seal, I would never have come out of my secluded planet. I certainly wouldn't have come to find you. But it's still better than going back to face those brats who can turn the world upside down."

The Emperor remained silent for a moment, then lightly tapped the star map with his fingertip, causing the point of light representing the Primarch of Genes in the projection to flicker.

"I think I understand why you've come."

The emperor's voice softened slightly.

"The crisis caused by the merging of the world is not something that you or I can solve alone. But as the common rulers of humanity, we may be able to find a way to coexist. The premise is that your 'mess' will not affect the foundation of Terra."

Upon hearing this, the King of Space took out a transparent crystal from his pocket, which contained a stable wisp of psionic energy.

"This is a sample of the core technology I used to seal the subspace; it might help you strengthen your defenses. As for my children..."

He smiled helplessly.

“I’ve already blocked their communicators. Unless the sky falls, I will never go back. I came to find you this time to find a ‘kindred spirit’ to lay low for a while. It’s better than listening to them crying and begging for help every day.”

In the Golden Hall, the psychic glow flowed once more, and the gazes of the two human lords met under the projection of the star map.

One is still fighting for the future of humanity, full of expectations for his "sons"; the other has long since accomplished his great cause, but is forced to "retire and run away" by his incompetent descendants.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, the Emperor raised his hand and pressed it in the air, and a projection of encrypted intelligence unfolded between the two of them. On the left was a video recording sent back by Xiao Ai and the Calamity Jane, showing the True Stinger and the Tyranids devouring and fusing with each other. In the bloody and mangled image, the mutated tumors were still wriggling slightly.

On the right side are several pages of briefings, printed with combat images of Space Marines from a parallel world, whose armor patterns and weapon styles have an unfamiliar feel.

"My subordinates previously sent back alien data, which, in addition to information about the swarm fusion, also included this intelligence on the Space Marines from a parallel world." The Emperor's gaze fell on the corner of the intelligence report, his tone calm. "At the time, I didn't have time to investigate further, but now that I've seen you, I think there might be a connection."

The King of Space's previously weary gaze suddenly sharpened as he scanned the few pages of intelligence. There were no extra details, only scattered markings and traces of activity, but after just one glance, he frowned, his tone filled with a helpless, gritted-teeth resentment: "These little brats... they've come all this way and they're still not behaving themselves!"

A knowing glint flashed in the Emperor's eyes as he withdrew the intelligence projection: "It seems you recognize them?"

The King of Space rubbed his temples, his tone softening slightly, with a hint of barely perceptible relief: "Besides my troublesome sons, who else could it be? Fortunately, so far they've behaved reasonably well and haven't caused any trouble. That's the only thing that can put my mind at ease right now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the King of Space shifted his gaze from the briefing on the right to the left. When the image of the Tyranids and True Swarms tearing at each other, their dark green juices and pale purple bodily fluids mixing together and eventually congealing into purplish-red tumors, came into view, his body, which had been leaning against the pillar, straightened instantly. The weariness that had just relaxed between his brows tightened again, and even his tone became more irritated and troubled.

"Damn it..."

He cursed under his breath, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the badge at his waist, as memories of the past surged uncontrollably. The very construction of the network and the sealing of the warp demons had ironically given those insectoid hordes an opportunity. Those monsters with giant claws gnawed at the cores of planets, evolving at an alarming rate. To completely expel them, he personally commanded the flagship, leading the fleet in a bloody battle against the insect swarm for three whole years, losing thirty percent of his main fleet just to barely hold onto the borders of his civilization.

The mutated sarcoma in the image before him was even more troublesome than the Zerg he had faced back then.

The Tyranids' devouring nature is already terrifying, and when combined with the True Stinger's reproductive ability, every wriggling of that tumor seems to be brewing a new disaster.

The more the King of Space looked, the more his brows furrowed, and even his psionic energy unconsciously exuded a chill.

"It was already difficult enough to drive the Zerg out back then, but these things... after they merge, they'll probably be even harder to deal with. If they're allowed to spread, the defenses of both worlds will suffer."

Chapter 284 Turmoil

Inside the golden hall of the Holy Terra Palace, the aftershocks of psychic energy still lingered among the pillars.

The Emperor's fingertip hovered at the edge of the Zerg fusion projection, discussing with the Space King the possibility of linking the warp seal with the Zerg defenses. The air was still heavy with the "mutant tumor" until a rapid psionic signal pierced through the hall's barrier, interrupting their conversation.

The emperor raised an eyebrow and caught the floating data stream with his hand.

The holographic projection switched instantly, the previously gruesome Zerg image faded away, and in its place appeared a striking red title: [Grammer Unknown Faction Insignia - "Empress Titania"].

Below are only a few lines of extremely brief information: "Source: Real-time transmission from the Imperial delegation. Grammer officials have not previously mentioned this identity. Current coordinates highly overlap with the Central Tower. Further information to be added."

The King of Space straightened up slightly as he leaned against the pillar, and his fingertips paused unconsciously when his gaze swept over the words "Empress".

Although he was not familiar with the territorial layout of Grammer, he understood the logic of intelligence exchange between equal civilizations—an identity like the "Empress," which was capable of altering the power structure, could not possibly be completely concealed in the early stages of diplomacy.

“Grammer…”

The emperor's fingertips slid lightly across the projection, his gaze landing on the words "not mentioned," a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"In previous negotiations with Grammer, its power structure was so clear as to be almost rigid—the parliament led the administration, the military controlled defense, and the research department was independently responsible for technological development. The three-tiered system checked and balanced each other, was self-consistent and stable. In such a framework, there was simply no place for an 'Empress'."

He raised his hand to bring up the Grammer diplomatic archives from the past, and densely packed clauses and lists of personnel appeared on the projector.

"From trade agreements to border defense consultations, all personnel involved have been clearly authorized by parliament or the military, and there has never been any vague 'royal' label. If there really is a 'Queen,' Grammer has no reason to deliberately conceal it in reciprocal exchanges, unless the identity itself is an unexpected event that they themselves did not plan for."

"An unexpected product?"

The King of Space raised an eyebrow, walked to the projector, and glanced at the minimalist note.

"Is it something like an uncontrollable rift suddenly tearing open in the subspace, or something like my kids' reckless activation of the ancient warship?"

"It is more likely a deviation stemming from the technology plan."

The emperor spoke with certainty, his fingertip pointing to the coordinates of the "Central Tower".

"Gramer's investment in technology far exceeds that of conventional civilizations. Although it has not revealed specific plans before, judging from its energy fluctuations and defense deployments, it must be advancing some core project. The fact that this 'Titania' suddenly appeared as an 'Empress' and its coordinates are locked on the central tower suggests that some part of the project has deviated from its intended course, giving rise to a power node that should not exist."

The words "Titania" floated silently in the projection, without any image, background, or even basic territorial boundaries, like an unknown component suddenly embedded in a sophisticated gear. The King of Space looked at the cold text and suddenly chuckled.

"An unexpected variable has emerged in the equal territory. But whether this 'Empress' is friend or foe, Grammer himself probably doesn't even know."

"Send a message to the Imperial delegation."

After a long silence, the emperor withdrew his gaze, his tone calm and composed.

"There's no need for proactive probing; we just need to confirm whether the existence of 'Titania' has been officially recognized by Grammer. The premise of equal exchange is that both sides have a clear definition of their own territories and rights. If even Grammer itself cannot explain this 'Empress,' then subsequent cooperation will need to be reassessed."

The King of Space leaned against a pillar in the corridor, watching the Emperor's retreating figure as he issued commands, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. From the Zerg mutation to the unknown Queen, the fusion of the two worlds seemed to be constantly creating new troubles.

He came here seeking some peace and quiet, but inexplicably found himself embroiled in a more complex game of chess.

......

In the emergency meeting room of Grammer, the capital city.

The holographic projections at both ends of the long table were still showing the image of Titania walking out of the central tower.

A figure in a plain white robe stood in the center of the square, followed closely by a man in a black robe. Below him were a group of panicked subordinates. Every detail in the scene was like a red-hot iron, making the officials present extremely uneasy.

"How dare she?!"

The quartermaster slammed his hand on the table.

"Central Body 001 is a war tool we've spent years developing! Not some high and mighty 'Empress'! We must immediately send the guards to capture her and bring her back to the incubation chamber, and relock her consciousness module!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the technical officer immediately shook his head in rebuttal, his finger drawing a dense stream of data on the terminal.

"Bring her back? How? The mechanical guards outside the Central Tower only recognize her commands now; even the mobilization codes authorized by the Council are invalid! Moreover, the Imperial delegation is still in the square; they witnessed her appear as the 'Empress.' Taking action now would be tantamount to telling the Empire that we can't even control our own core technologies!"

The meeting room erupted into a heated argument. Some pounded on the table, advocating for a strong crackdown, arguing that Titania's existence had shaken the foundations of the council's power. Others worried about the border defenses, fearing that the internal strife would give the Zerg an opportunity to exploit the situation. Still others stared at the black-robed figures in the projection, speculating about their origins and suspecting that Titania had already colluded with external forces.

The white-haired old man sat in the main seat, his fingers unconsciously stroking the carvings on the edge of the table, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

Past intelligence flashed before his eyes.

From the meticulous planning at the start of Project Iron Rider, to the normal parameters when the incubation pod awoke, and then to the chaos that followed the alarm sounding in the central tower this morning, all the steps point to one result: this central entity, which should have been under control, has completely deviated from its predetermined course and has even gained control far beyond what they expected.

"Quiet down!"

He suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but carrying an undeniable authority, and the argument in the conference room instantly subsided.

He raised his hand and switched the projection to the live feed of the Imperial delegation. The delegation leader was talking in hushed tones with his adjutant, his gaze occasionally sweeping toward the central tower, clearly filled with doubt about this turn of events.

"The question now is not 'whether to arrest them,' but 'whether the situation can be resolved.'"

His gaze swept over everyone present.

“During our previous negotiations with the Empire, the sudden appearance of an ‘Empress’ has undoubtedly made the Empire doubt our sincerity. What’s more troublesome is that Titania has control over the core authority of the Central Tower, including energy supply and defense systems. If we confront her forcefully, and she cuts off the capital’s energy supply or shuts down the border’s early warning network, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

The research director pushed up his glasses, his voice tinged with difficulty.

"According to the latest monitoring data, her consciousness module has evolved independent decision-making capabilities and can even modify the underlying code of the Central Tower. This is beyond all expectations, and our current technology is simply unable to forcibly intervene. Perhaps... perhaps we can try to negotiate, acknowledge her identity, and exchange it for partial sharing of Central Tower permissions?"

"admit?"

The Minister of Defense stood up abruptly, his voice filled with disbelief.

"If we acknowledge her as Empress, what are we, the parliamentary officials, then? Are we to hand over Grammer's century-old power structure to a man-made consciousness?"

"if not?"

The old man sighed wearily, raised his hand to turn off the projector, and the red light in the conference room gradually faded.

"The Empire has sent an inquiry, demanding that we explain the identity of the 'Empress'; the border garrison is also asking about the changes in the Central Tower's orders; even the common people are starting to spread rumors of the 'Chosen One's Arrival.' We have no time to hesitate."

"Immediately draft a proclamation temporarily recognizing Titania's status as 'Empress,' but clearly limiting her authority to matters related to the Central Tower, and prohibiting her from interfering with parliamentary decisions and military deployments. At the same time, send an envoy to meet with her and probe her demands. In any case, stabilize the Empire first, and then consider subsequent countermeasures."

The meeting room fell silent; no one voiced any further objections. The officials looked at the elderly man at the head of the table, their faces filled with complex emotions.

They knew that this decision meant the parliamentary power structure was beginning to loosen, and that Grammer's future would now have a huge unknown variable.

At that moment, Titania stood in the sunlight in the square, her silver-gray eyes looking towards the council, as if she had already foreseen the outcome of this emergency meeting.

Chapter 285 Four peddlers invade; the universe will surely defeat them.

Grammer was still reeling from the shock of the "Queen's Arrival" when the shadow of the warp quietly loomed over the capital. Four distinct forces of evil, following the cracks in power and the weaknesses in people's hearts, simultaneously laid their claws in different corners of the city.