“I’m glad to see you so soon—but why on earth did you bring a male to a place like this?”
The Armed species waiting at the docking orbit shifted from expressionless to a look of utter exasperation. Kleiman’s tail flicked irritably, as if broadcasting a silent accusation: *Do you even realize where we are? Why would you bring a human and a male here?*
It was a predictable flare-up of his old habits.
However, before Sakedi could speak, En, standing behind Gela, let out a warning hiss. The sub-adult stepped forward, shielding the white male. He glared at the unfriendly Armed species with a look that screamed, *Stay away, you miserable pest.*
Kleiman was momentarily choked for words.
The poise inherent to a direct descendant of a Core Gene lineage prevented him from bickering with a sub-adult lower-tier male, but the look he turned on Sakedi remained critical, as if asking, *What kind of rabble have you brought with you?*
“Where is Clark?”
Sakedi didn't want to waste breath on nonsense. None of the people around him were easy to manage, and it was making his head ache.
Gela looked perfectly well-behaved, yet he had managed the feat of burning out an entire link bolt.
Arthur was unfailingly polite, yet his taste in partners was beyond absurd.
Kleiman and his sub-adult brother seemed to be a pair of "calm and collected" versus "rash and impulsive," but in reality, all three of them were cut from the same cloth.
“He hasn’t returned yet,” the Armed species said, gesturing for them to follow. He explained as they walked, “He’s been exchanging fire with the Sub-Queen’s followers lately, clearing out those peripheral planets.”
“Krisha has deployed direct-line troops to surround the area near the Queen’s Nest. It’s a difficult defensive ring to tear open—at least, it’s very troublesome if we want to avoid heavy casualties.”
“I thought he would have just steamrolled through at maximum speed.”
That silver-grey High-tier species had always been merciless toward his enemies. Even though he had suppressed his aura well during his several meetings with Sakedi, his innate nature could not be hidden.
“If we were facing another race, certainly.” Kleiman looked equally frustrated. “But the Sub-Queen’s followers are all Greywings. We can’t simply conduct a scorched-earth campaign as we would against an ordinary opponent.”
“Furthermore, Krisha is entrenched in several Great Information Nests. If the battle causes the destruction of a Great Information Nest, we will become a thorn in the side of every Zerg tribe.”
“So, why exactly did Clark start a fight with your Sub-Queen?”
Now that they were in the core star system, Sakedi no longer avoided the subject and asked directly, “As far as I know, your boss isn't the impulsive type.”
“The specifics aren't clear. You can ask him yourself when he gets back.” Kleiman’s tail lashed with a sharp *crack* as he walked side-by-side with the Core species. “Krisha accuses him of wanting to seal the ‘Path’ and making deals with humans, but none of us can figure out what the former is all about.”
“There hasn't been a Queen for a long time. No one can open the Path to the ruins. We don't know what nonsense the opposition is spouting.”
As he spoke, he cast an expressionless glance at Arthur, who was following behind. The young man gave him a quiet, polite smile.
“What were you thinking, bringing a human to a place like this?!” The Armed species finally couldn't hold it in any longer, eyeing Sakedi with a bizarre look. “And what’s with that tail and those wings?”
The silver-grey tail swayed easily behind the young man. Arthur looked exactly like a standard Greywing.
The air and temperature of the core habitat were perfectly suitable for human survival, so there was no need for external suits. Arthur’s stride was light and graceful, his posture indistinguishable from a Zerg’s.
Along the way, many members of the Greywing tribe passed them. They couldn't help but cast curious glances at the group, but they all hurried away after meeting Kleiman’s cold stare.
Sakedi leaned in and whispered to him, “Well? Looks no different from the real thing, right?”
“Are you out of your mind?” The Armed species was practically grinding his teeth. “Do you know what one of the charges Krisha leveled against Clark is? Collaborating with humans—and then you actually bring a human right in front of everyone!”
“There’s no spinning this one.”
Compared to the bewildered Kleiman, Sakedi, who knew the whole story, patted the other’s shoulder with deep sympathy. *Friend, I hope your heart is strong enough for what’s coming.*
“It’s the truth anyway.” Sakedi’s eyes glinted with a strange interest. “Instead of suppressing it and waiting for it to blow up, we might as well take this opportunity to shut up all the opposing voices.”
“The Core Gene lineages have always been selectively cooperating with humans. The River of Time didn't just pop out of the universe on its own. Rather than trying to deny it, it’s better to provide a narrative that all Greywing members can accept.”
“Doesn't it always come down to the victor calling the shots?” The Core species smiled slowly. It was a remarkably calm smile. “Whenever I implement a new measure that meets with opposition, I’m accustomed to sweeping away all obstacles.”
“Not everything can be accepted in the beginning stages, but yielding because of resistance is the incompetence of a ruler. Clark governs nearly half of the Greywing tribe; his followers should have only one option: to obey the leader’s decision.”
Deep within the nest, facilities were covered in characteristic spiral patterns.
The Greywing tribe had two River of Time interfaces: one was set on Clark’s personal vessel, and the other was located in the habitat star system. This made their transport quite convenient, and within a few steps, they entered the reception nest.
The Sub-Queen held the Great Information Nests, while Clark held two River of Time ports. The two sides were evenly matched, locked in a state of extreme tension.
The Armed species actually found this logic appealing. Thinking it over with his straightforward mind, he offered a serious opinion: “You’re right.”
“So, the Sub-Queen must be defeated as quickly as possible.”
“We don't want this to turn into a war of attrition either.”
“I’m glad you agree with my view.” Sakedi reached out an arm and draped it over the tail-flicking male’s shoulder. “Let’s discuss something.”
However, perhaps because Sakedi had "shot him in the back" too many times before, Kleiman had developed a reflex. He instantly stepped two paces away.
“What is it?” His face was full of suspicion.
The Core species spoke to him in a gentle, reasonable tone. “You’re the one who called me here, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then you have to help me out.” Sakedi forcibly dragged the tall female back, projecting an air of brotherhood. “If Clark tries to rip my head off later, you have to hold him back a bit.”
Kleiman’s expression fractured.
“Absolutely impossible,” he answered decisively.
What a heartless Zerg. What a fragile friendship.
When an Armed species says "impossible," they truly mean it.
The silver-grey High-tier species, having finished scouring an entire border planet, arrived late to the nest. Upon hearing that the guests from the energy planet had arrived, he turned toward the reception area.
Clearly, this female had already cleaned himself. There was no sign of the intensity of the battle; all traces of blood had been wiped away.
Seeing the black Core species he hadn't seen in a while, Clark offered a faint smile.
“We meet again. Kleiman said you would be arriving soon.”
His sleek wings trailed elegantly behind him, and his tail-whip was in a relaxed posture, indicating that the battle he had just finished hadn't been difficult. At least, the High-tier species showed no outward signs of injury.
“Faster than I expected.”
Kleiman had already automatically retreated behind the tribal leader. Just like their first meeting, he stood with the other Armed species, two rows of guards waiting like a silent black wave.
The relaxed, cheerful expression from moments ago was completely gone; Kleiman stood motionless with his head bowed.
“You returned quite early too.” Sakedi had originally hoped he could at least hide out through today.
As it turned out, heaven did not grant his wish.
“Hello,” Gela greeted the other. He had been infected by his partner’s tension and was gripping the Core species’ hand tightly.
“Hello, Roxanne.” Clark responded warmly, then looked thoughtfully at the pitch-black female. “To my surprise, you actually brought your partner to a battlefield. This place can hardly be called safe—or rather, no star system belonging to the Greywings is safe anymore.”
Shaking his head slightly, his tone remained steady. “Even you cannot protect your partner every moment during a war. Only by placing him far enough away can he avoid being caught in the conflict.”
“If you simply made a rash decision in the heat of the moment, you might consider, while there is still time, sending your partner to a more secure—”
His words cut off abruptly.
Frowning as if in confusion, those light grey eyes gradually locked onto Sakedi’s face. The Core species saw the silver-grey female subtly scenting the air.
His scent gland was perceiving a familiar aura.
“What else did you bring?”
All of Clark’s movements froze in that instant. It was as if his head had rusted onto his neck, giving him an inhuman, eerie appearance.
He asked slowly, one word at a time.
“It’s me.”
While the Core species was silently composing his words, the young man standing behind everyone stepped out. The prosthetic tail flicked behind him, tracing a natural arc.
“It’s me, Clark.”
Then Sakedi saw the female in front of him visibly stun for a moment.
Immediately after, the other’s face changed violently.
His light grey pupils elongated vertically in an instant, and a second pair of pupils quietly emerged. Silver scales instantly covered his neck.
His wings flared open completely, a clear sign that the High-tier species had fallen into a state of absolute fury.
“You are far too bold.”
Eyes like leaden stone locked onto Sakedi. His pheromones almost instantly suppressed everyone present. The usually elegant and poised female displayed a semi-transformed state for the first time.
His voice was icy, carrying a rage suppressed to the extreme.
“How dare you bring him to a place like this?”
However, Arthur stepped in front of the black Core species first.
“I’m about to lose my breath.” Those soft blue eyes were full of smiles as he looked directly at the other without fear, keeping his voice very gentle and soothing. “I can’t take in too much of your pheromones.”
Zerg pheromones were somewhat harmful to humans. Small amounts had no effect, but inhaling too much would burn the respiratory tract.
Before the Zerg opposite him could make any response, the young man took two steps forward.
Taking advantage of the fact that the High-tier species hadn't had time to retreat, he reached out his arms and pulled the transformed female into a firm hug.
This audacious scene caused the Armed species standing behind their leader—who had been as quiet as mice—to stare in collective shock.
The thought written clearly on every one of their faces was: *Brother, you’ve got a hell of a reckless style.*
“I missed you very much.”
The High-tier species was still struggling with his explosive rage, quickly reigning in his pheromones and withdrawing the pressure that might burn the human.
The young man’s fingers cupped the other’s cheeks. He looked up slightly, examining him closely, just as he had when he was a child welcoming the female back to the nest.
“Please don't blame Sa. I was the one who insisted he bring me along.”
He spoke first, drawing away the intense aggression directed at Sakedi. His guardian had rarely lost his reason like this, wings spread and ready to start a slaughter at any second.
“I understand that you wanted me to live safely on Camlann, and I know the Greywing tribe is in chaos, but I couldn't bear to wait for news of you in such prolonged agony.”
Blue eyes looked directly into the other’s, and the human let out a barely audible sigh.
“I really, really missed you.”
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
亚王虫 | Sub-Queen | A high-ranking Zerg, second only to a Queen; currently a rival to Clark.
大信息巢 | Great Information Nest | A critical Zerg infrastructure for communication and data storage.
通路 | The Path | A mysterious route or gateway, possibly leading to Zerg ruins.
半异化状态 | Semi-transformed state | A state where a Zerg partially manifests their more monstrous or combat-oriented physical traits.
信腺 | Scent gland | The organ used by Zerg to perceive and release pheromones/information.
卡姆兰 | Camlann | The human-inhabited planet where Arthur was living.
