Chapter 253: The Zerg Are Coming
Citizens of these empires celebrated as the rewards brought security and prestige, making this one of the best places to live.
In contrast, smaller nations and families were happy to receive rewards, but compared to what the top received, it was nothing.
This led many of them to curse, as that was all they could do; they couldn't go against the top families or the World's Will.
However, some of the lords felt motivated and vowed to do better next time.
Just like that, 29 years passed.
Outer space was a quiet, desolate place with no sign of life.
However, inside a hive-like ship, things were anything but quiet. Zerg of all shapes and sizes moved around, their many eyes and feelers twitching with hunger and excitement.
This caused the ship to emit a dark red aura as it traveled through space, destroying and devouring anything in its way.
The ship, along with its crew, was part of a large advance invasion force that moved through space in search of planets to destroy and devour for energy.
Near the center, things were a bit quieter as the captain of the ship, the Hive Master, lounged.
It was a massive creature with a hard exoskeleton and glinting eyes, but its sharper intelligence set it apart from the rest of the swarm.
It sat perched on a throne made from bones and pieces of past conquests, watching a screen displaying a planet below. This was their next target.
The Hive Master let out a low, growling hiss, "Another new world… ripe for feeding."
The planet looked peaceful enough—green fields, blue waters, mountains that seemed to touch the sky.
Similar to Nexara, this world had a major difference; in this world, the land-to-sea ratio was more than 9:1, with land being the 1.
But the place was untouched, full of life and energy, just waiting to be devoured. Around the Hive Master, a few Zerg scouts—lean and wiry with twitchy mandibles—clicked eagerly.
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"We tear, we rip, we take it all," one hissed, its antennae flicking in anticipation of the feast.
The Hive Master gave a slow nod, one of its many eyes narrowing as it looked down at the screen.
"The Queen wants more. This world will serve. Flesh and essence—everything here belongs to her."
The scouts buzzed with excitement, feeling the hunger shared by every creature on board. This wasn't just a mission; it was a feast waiting to happen.
Even with their different forms and builds, every Zerg here had a purpose—a place in the swarming invasion.
From the small drones who'd scout the land to the hulking soldiers who'd bulldoze through anything in their path, each one knew exactly what to do.
Further back in the observation bay, a massive Zerg soldier, almost too big for the room, watched the view of the planet with a grunt.
It was all rough exoskeleton and jagged spikes, a true tank among the swarm. It snorted, antennae flicking in amusement.
"Another new world," it grumbled, almost sounding bored. "Nothing but easy meat and weak bones.
And because of this, there's not much energy in them, so the world has basically nothing for us to devour since there's no strong being to push the World's evolution forward."
The Hive Master cast it a sidelong glance, its mandibles clicking in warning. "Easy or not, this isn't a time to relax. We feed, we destroy, and we move on. The Queen demands it.
And this is one of the best jobs out there, as we get a small share out of each hunt, helping us break through at a much faster rate."
The other Zerg around grunted in agreement, their eagerness only growing. This was the way of the swarm.
They'd drop down, overwhelm everything in their path, and bring every last scrap of energy back to the Queen, keeping some of it for themselves.
The ship had everything they needed to complete this mission: attack pods, energy collectors, and feeding chambers—all set up for this purpose.
A Zerg scout trotted forward, claws tapping against the living floor of the hive-ship. "I smell pitiful inhabitants down there," it chittered, almost giddy.
"Soft creatures with no shells, nothing but meat for the taking."
"Yes, yes…" The Hive Master's eyes gleamed, one of its antennae twitching. "Prepare the pods. Soon, we will drop. No negotiations. No delay. We feed."
From above, the hive ship's chambers buzzed louder as the order spread, energy crackling through the ship.
Drones and soldiers moved faster, claws scraping and wings buzzing as they prepared. The ship itself pulsed with excitement, each Zerg feeling the pull of the hunt.
Beside the Hive Master, a lieutenant—slimmer and sharper than the others—stepped up. It was more calculating than most, with a voice that carried the hint of strategy.
"Shall we… leave survivors, perhaps?" it asked, more out of curiosity than hesitation. "Or does everything go to the Queen?"
The Hive Master's mandibles curled into something that might've been a grin. "If they fight, there will be no mercy.
If they surrender… they will be kept as slaves until needed as food for either us or the Queen."
Satisfied, the lieutenant gave a nod and chittered to the soldiers, who began lining up near the launch pods.
Each one had a role to play, but the goal was always the same—consume, take, and feed the Queen.
Around the chamber, Zerg buzzed and chattered with fierce energy. A scout with a lean body and quick limbs was practically vibrating.
"I can already taste it," it hissed, eyes flicking between the screens and the Hive Master. "Fresh flesh, soft and warm. We won't leave a thing behind."
The Hive Master leaned back, allowing itself a moment of satisfaction. "Good. Remember, we bring everything back. Flesh, spirit, energy—everything belongs to the Queen."
This was something they all said before every drop as a way to profess their loyalty, though most of the Zerg knew the advance force never surrendered everything, and neither the Queen nor the top leaders ever said anything.
This was an unspoken agreement, as Zergs were a fighting species, and many disliked the thought of being mere food gatherers.
Meanwhile, as they loaded into the pods, the energy inside the ship shifted. The launch bay began to hum, the pods vibrating with the anticipation of release.
The Hive Master watched as rows of drones, soldiers, and scouts filed in, ready to drop to the surface. Each pod pulsed, a heartbeat of its own as it synced with the hive's energy.
The Hive Master let out a long, hissing breath. "The swarm shall feast."
One by one, the pods shot out, streaking toward the planet's surface like blazing meteors. Below, the land was peaceful and quiet, unaware of what was about to come.
But that would change soon enough.
The first pods landed with a heavy crash, bursting open to reveal snarling Zerg scouts and drones.
They hit the ground running, claws digging into the soil, mandibles snapping in excitement. The drones scuttled forward, senses honed to pick up anything living.
The scouts sniffed the air, already picking up the scents of life nearby.
"Spread out," one growled, voice a mix of hunger and thrill. "Find everything that breathes. Nothing goes untouched."
As they moved out, the Zerg spread like a wave, sweeping through fields and forests with one goal: to consume everything in their path.
The pods continued to drop, one after another, each impact releasing more of the swarm.
Back on the hive-ship, the Hive Master watched the screens as the initial scouts began their work.
A few scouts encountered local creatures, harmless animals that scattered at the sight of the intruders.
The Zerg didn't care—they consumed, leaving nothing but bare ground in their wake. Each creature they absorbed added to the collective energy, feeding the hive's insatiable need.
"This place is weak," one of the soldiers grunted, slicing through the underbrush with its sharp claws. "Nothing here can stop us."
The Hive Master smirked, watching its soldiers work. "Arrogance will get you killed. Every world has its dangers. Even this one."
But even it didn't sound too worried. They were the Zerg, the devourers of worlds. They had leveled planets before, leaving nothing behind but barren wastelands.
And these soldiers were the lowest possible Zerg; their numbers were incalculable, which made them disposable.
This world, with its green fields and blue skies, would soon be nothing more than another conquest.
The lieutenant, now on the ground among the swarm, let out a high, grating laugh. "Let them try to resist. We'll tear through them, just like the others."
The swarm continued to spread, unstoppable in its hunger. Every living thing was fair game, every creature a source of strength to bring back to the Queen.
The Hive Master watched from above, a sense of satisfaction washing over it. Soon, this planet would be nothing but dust—another world reduced to nothing.
And as more pods dropped from the ship, each one loaded with soldiers and drones, it became clear: the swarm was just beginning its feast.