《Brides War》


 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 1: Burning War (Part 1)

    The body of a dragonewt, like that of a human, is largely composed of water. In theory, this should make it difficult to burn¡ªsimilar to how a water-filled plastic bag doesn''t melt when exposed to heat. Yet, why can the body burn so fiercely?


    The answer lies in the materials within the body that fuel combustion, such as fat. Fat serves as the fuel, while oxygen in the air allows the flames to persist. However, an extreme heat source is required to trigger this process. Hellfire spells provide heat powerful enough to ignite even fire-resistant bodies.


    Now, crimson flames engulfed the body of Johan, a legendary dragonewt and the strongest spear-wielder. Once, he was a symbol of beauty and strength. His handsome face captivated women, his deep blue eyes brought peace, and his confident smile reassured his allies. But now¡­


    "AAAARRGGGHHH¡­ HELP! HELP ME¡­!"


    His agonized screams echoed, replacing the confident voice that once inspired his troops. His body was slowly melting under the searing heat of hellfire. An ordinary dragonewt would have turned to ash in seconds, but Johan¡¯s extraordinary strength only prolonged his suffering, forcing the flames to consume his body more slowly.


    The black fire began devouring his high-quality battle armor as though it were thin paper. The flames quickly reached his skin, turning his sweat into additional fuel. The heat stimulated every nerve in his body, creating pain far beyond the limits of sanity. Johan writhed on the ground, desperately trying to extinguish the flames consuming him. But hellfire was no ordinary fire¡ªit craved destruction.


    Since the body is mostly water, the initial heat evaporated bodily fluids before starting to burn the other tissues. This process required immense energy, but hellfire¡¯s intense heat was sufficient to sustain the combustion. When the body''s fluids were exhausted, the flames moved on to the fat and proteins. Body fat, highly flammable, acted as natural fuel, accelerating the chemical reaction with oxygen and producing heat, light, and gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor.


    The heat spread, consuming tissue after tissue. Johan¡¯s muscles spasmed, swelling like balloons filled with hot air before seizing and finally succumbing to immobility. The flames crept up to his face, evaporating every drop of moisture from his eyes, leaving behind hollow, blackened sockets where his once-captivating blue eyes had been.


    After countless minutes of excruciating torment, the hellfire finally died down. Johan¡¯s body, once a symbol of strength and beauty, was now reduced to ashes and charred remnants, curled up like a burned twig.


    All around him, the stench of burning flesh mixed with the odors of blood, iron, and sulfur, carried by the night wind. The battlefield was shrouded in this sickening aroma, one that could only be described with a single phrase:Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Burning War!¡±


    <hr>


    Shiki stared at Johan with a vacant gaze. Her eyes seemed to focus on the once-mighty spear wielder of Atta, yet at the same time, they pierced far beyond him. Her crimson eyes, which usually radiated charm and strength, now lacked their luster. All that remained was exhaustion and resignation, making the Dragon Eyes, often envied by other dragonewts, appear dim and lifeless. Her once-labored breathing was gradually stabilizing, akin to the breaths of someone about to drift into slumber.


    That¡¯s right... Shiki would fall asleep... A hope for forever.


    The scorching air of the burning battlefield could no longer warm her cooling body. A gaping wound in her chest marred what was once her proud and graceful form. Her resilient body had ensured she didn¡¯t perish immediately when the devastating strike from the Human Bride tore through her chest. But unfortunately, it could only grant her a few minutes more. Fighting back or turning the tide was no longer part of her hopes.


    Defeat had arrived, and extinction awaited her species.


    Perhaps, if humanity were merciful, those who survived might be enslaved.


    But...


    Dragonewts carried a pride as lofty as their ancestors, the dragons. Their only choice was to fight until none remained. That was their fate, the brutal reality of the Brides War. As the strongest warrior among her kind, the fate of the dragonewts had rested on Shiki¡¯s shoulders, but alas, it was far too late.


    Her body grew colder, crimson blood flowing endlessly from the massive wound in her chest. They say that when death approaches, one¡¯s life flashes before their eyes¡ªand it seemed to be true.


    She was nothing more than a spoiled girl, arrogant simply because she possessed the same eyes as her dragon ancestors. With crimson eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness, she had been deemed extraordinary among the dragonewts, and foolishly, she believed it herself. She grew up in an affluent family, surrounded by people who catered to her every whim, no matter how strange or selfish. Shiki saw herself as the protagonist of this world, while others were merely supporting characters meant to serve or entertain her.


    She couldn¡¯t even recall how many people had suffered because of her selfishness, for to her, they were nothing more than servants. In her eyes, there was only herself¡ªalways herself.


    Then, the day came when all children aged ten to twenty were forcibly teleported to this new world. Yet, despite being thrown into a completely different place, Shiki¡¯s haughty nature didn¡¯t change one bit. She still expected to be pampered by those around her solely because of her beauty and her captivating eyes.


    Shiki isolated herself in the Starter City, waiting for her admirers to serve her and offer her the fruits of their labor, like a queen bee reigning over her hive.


    But how long could those she deemed mere servants continue to obey a girl who possessed nothing but her looks?


    Shiki never considered this¡ªsuch a thought never crossed her mind. To her, it was only natural that others would serve and pamper her, for they were the supporting characters in her story.


    Unfortunately, the inherent nature of beings with individual consciousness is selfishness, and it wasn¡¯t long before their desire to trample upon Shiki¡¯s pride began to emerge.


    And that is exactly what they did.

 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 1: Burning War (Last Part)

    When the peaceful social order of their original world crumbled under the ancient laws of the Tower of Procession, nothing restrained them from ceasing to bow to Shiki. Eventually, those she once considered her servants turned the tables, making their "master" a mere plaything.


    Her beautiful crimson eyes, a reflection of the dragon blood within her; her unparalleled beauty, outshining all women; and her alluring, curvaceous figure¡ªall became nothing more than outlets for the stress and desires of dragonewts who risked their lives daily. Shiki was passed from one to another, like the most sought-after toy.


    She tried to resist, but all she had was empty arrogance, useless against those hardened by battles of life and death. Their abilities far surpassed hers, and Shiki¡¯s pride was shattered to dust.


    In the end, she was forced to face reality. Gone were her illusions of exceptionalism¡ªshe was just one cog in the vast machinery that spun the reality of this world. She was so insignificant that, when her body no longer held appeal for them, her fate became even sadder than being a mere ornament in a forgotten corner. Her final owner intended to sell her, but her value had plummeted. No one wanted Shiki, not even as decoration. She was discarded, left to rot like a piece of spoiled meat in a basement filled with other refuse.


    Shiki believed this was where she would end. Her eyes saw only piles of decaying garbage, and the stench of rot filled her nostrils. At last, she realized she was no different from the trash surrounding her. She was no longer of any use to the world, and the only place for useless things was the garbage heap. Her gaze grew vacant, waiting for death to claim her.


    But never in her wildest dreams did she expect that, when her heart had frozen over and her eyes were steeped in darkness, a light would appear.


    His silvery-white hair shone like rays of light descending from the heavens. His mischievous smile seemed capable of lifting any burden, and his calm, wise, and inquisitive purple eyes gave the impression that this world was merely a game in his hands. He appeared before Shiki like a beacon of light she couldn¡¯t comprehend, shaking her entire worldview and turning her broken existence upside down.


    "Hey, done playing? The fun¡¯s just starting!"


    Those were the only words he spoke, his playful smile leaving Shiki stunned and unable to respond. He hadn¡¯t come to save her; his presence felt more like that of a wanderer, drawn by curiosity, stopping by briefly, and then moving on.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Shiki could only stare in confusion, unable to comprehend what had just happened to her. Once she managed to escape from that filthy place, the man with the purple eyes vanished without a trace. Yet the image of his smile and those calm, piercing eyes remained etched in her mind, as though they had given her broken life a new purpose.


    Shiki didn¡¯t even know the man¡¯s name, but their first encounter had sparked an obsession within her. She felt as though she and the man with purple eyes were bound by fate. If her world were a story, she was its protagonist, and he was her soulmate. Shiki was utterly convinced of this, and over time, her conviction deepened into an obsession.


    Shiki changed. She used every means at her disposal to grow stronger, no matter the cost. She became calculating, evaluating everything and exploiting whatever could serve as a tool to achieve her goal. She never imagined she could transform into such a person, but she quickly ascended to the pinnacle of power in this ruined world. Yet even as the strongest of the dragonewt species, she failed to find the man with the purple eyes. Frustrated, she turned her attention to other species, reigniting the Brides War that had barely subsided.


    She annihilated species after species, making the dragonewts a terror within the Procession Tower. Her methods were so ruthless that she left no survivors¡ªnot even infants. She relentlessly sought any trace of the man with purple eyes, and as time went on, her obsession consumed her. Her terror became an overwhelming threat to the other powerful species, forcing them to unite against her.


    But Shiki didn¡¯t care. Eventually, she found a trace of the man with purple eyes, and her obsession reached its peak, compelling her to charge headlong into the traps her enemies had laid.


    However, she failed in the end. Though her power had surpassed many other creatures, she was no match for those who had been fighting since the beginning. It wasn¡¯t a lack of potential but the simple fact that she had started too late. Even so, there was no regret in Shiki¡¯s heart¡ªonly an unrelenting obsession.


    As her vision began to blur and her body grew numb, one final hope emerged in her heart: to see the man with the purple eyes one last time. Perhaps that was her only remaining regret.


    A single tear slid down her long-frozen cheek.


    ¡°I just want to see you for the last time, please.¡±


    [Do you want to start over?]


    Shiki didn¡¯t know where the voice came from¡ªperhaps just a hallucination from her dying mind. Still, she answered.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    [Why?]


    ¡°Because this time, I know what I¡¯m living for¡­¡±


    [What for?]


    ¡°For him! To live by his side and never let him go again!¡±


    [Then, I will give you one last chance!]


    With that voice, Shiki drew her final breath. What she didn¡¯t notice, however, was the crimson ring adorned with a gemstone resembling a dragon¡¯s eye, now placed on her ring finger.

 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 2: Dream or Regression (Part 1)

    "Hu!"


    Shiki woke up abruptly, her breaths ragged and her body cold with sweat. Her hands instinctively moved to her chest, searching for the scar that should mark her death, but all she felt was the softness and firmness of her skin. Slowly, she opened her eyes and was stunned by the scene before her.


    Pink walls adorned with her photos and those of top celebrities loomed around her, a panoramic light capable of displaying aurora borealis glowed in the darkness, thick golden-accented curtains were drawn open, letting sunlight stream through the glass windows, and the room¡¯s temperature was cool despite the sun being high in the sky.


    Shiki lay on a plush bed with a beautifully carved canopy. Beside the bed stood a small table with a digital clock showing 09:25 and the date May 30, 2083. A humidifier gently exhaled a floral fragrance, adding to the coolness and serenity of the room. Shiki recognized this place immediately¡ªher bedroom in Atta World, the room she had longed for since being confined in that trash-filled basement.


    In the past, whenever she dreamed of this place, she wished she could stay in the dream forever and never wake up. But every time, she would wake up to face the harsh reality of life. This time, however, Shiki was certain she wouldn¡¯t wake up again. She knew she had died on the battlefield. Her body was likely rotting away in the Procession Tower, or perhaps it had been preserved and desecrated by immoral people. But Shiki didn¡¯t care what happened to her body; the dead had no right to care.


    Now, all she wanted was to close her eyes and savor the room she had missed so much.


    Knock! Knock! Knock!


    ¡°Young Lady, are you awake? Madam requests your presence after breakfast,¡± a voice called from outside the door, making Shiki¡¯s eyes widen.


    She recognized the voice¡ªAndrea, her personal maid who had been with her since childhood. Hearing that she might meet her mother, even if only in this dream, filled Shiki with excitement. She quickly got out of bed and hurried to open the door. Standing before her was Andrea, bringing back a flood of teenage memories.


    Back in her teenage years, Andrea had been a graceful middle-aged woman whose beauty still radiated, her figure well-maintained. The house servants wore black-and-white dresses for women and black tuxedos for men, always ready to greet guests. Even the smallest mistake could tarnish the great Ganko Family name. As Shiki¡¯s personal maid, Andrea always conducted herself with poise and excellence. Her expression remained calm, even when Shiki was angry about being woken up.


    But this time, the teary look in Shiki¡¯s eyes broke through Andrea¡¯s composure. When Shiki suddenly lunged forward and hugged her tightly, her calm demeanor faltered entirely.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Yo¡ªYoung Lady?!¡±


    Andrea¡¯s voice stammered, shocked by Shiki¡¯s uncharacteristic behavior. Shiki understood Andrea¡¯s surprise since she had never acted this way before, especially as a teenager. Back then, she cared for no one, and even the word selfish couldn¡¯t fully encapsulate her arrogance. She always felt superior, looking down on everyone¡ªincluding Andrea, whom she regarded as just a servant.


    Even up until the moment Shiki was forced to teleport to the Procession Tower, she had barely ever looked directly at Andrea, speaking to her only to issue commands.


    But now, Shiki didn¡¯t care about any of that. Years of being trapped in a dark, trash-filled basement had made her realize how much she missed so many things¡ªespecially Andrea, who, in truth, could be considered her second mother. Andrea had been by her side since childhood, spending more time with her than her actual mother, who was often occupied with her vast business empire.


    Shiki froze for a moment as she felt the warmth of Andrea''s embrace. No matter how beautiful a dream was, it could never replicate this kind of warmth. The dream she was experiencing now felt so real that it almost made her wish it were reality. However, Shiki quickly pushed that feeling aside, unwilling to fall prey again to the hollow hope of her once-beautiful past life.


    ¡°Andrea, where is my mother? Is she in her office?¡± she asked hurriedly.


    ¡°Ah? Yo-young Lady, Madam is indeed in her office right now. But she suggested you have breakfast first before seeing her¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for that! Come on, take me to her! I¡¯ve missed her so much!¡±


    With an excited step and a broad smile, Shiki grabbed Andrea¡¯s arm and led her toward her mother¡¯s office. Andrea, still shocked and bewildered, could only follow. Even though Shiki had been away from home for a long time, she still remembered the layout of the house perfectly, as if she had never left.


    Without knocking, Shiki pushed open the door to her mother¡¯s office with a bright smile, followed by Andrea, whose face was still pale.


    ¡°Mother!¡±


    At the center of the room, behind a mahogany desk covered with documents and a laptop, a youthful-looking woman looked up, startled to see her daughter so lively. Her bob-cut red hair glowed under the sunlight streaming through the window on the right side of the room, while her blue eyes sparkled like the ocean, brimming with intelligence and wisdom. Her face was stunning, with a straight nose and mesmerizing red lips, captivating anyone who looked at her.


    She wore a cream-colored blazer paired with a white blouse that framed her flawless skin, along with a knee-length black skirt that accentuated her hips, enhancing her charm.


    Although not of noble blood, her resilience in the business world had made her one of the wealthiest individuals in Atta World. By marrying a prince from the Ganko Family, this woman had become one of the most influential figures in Ignisira. She was Emberlyn Ganko, the grand matriarch of the Ganko Family. Despite her many remarkable achievements, her greatest pride was the day her daughter was born.


    ¡°Shiki!¡±


    ¡°Mother!¡±


    Ignoring Andrea¡¯s pale expression and Emberlyn¡¯s wide-eyed confusion, Shiki leapt into her mother¡¯s arms, holding her tightly. The warmth, safety, and tenderness of her mother¡¯s embrace, long absent from her life, rushed back to her, reviving beautiful memories in her mind and causing tears to flow uncontrollably down her cheeks.

 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 2: Dream or Regression (Last Part)

    "Mother, I missed you so much!" Shiki cried, her voice trembling with relief, as if all the years of suffering in the Procession Tower had melted away in her tears.


    Emberlyn, though clearly puzzled, tried to understand, casting a sharp and questioning glance at Andrea. But Andrea, growing paler by the second, could only shake her head, utterly clueless about what was happening.


    "Shiki, my dearest daughter, what''s wrong? Who made you cry? Tell me everything!" Emberlyn''s voice brimmed with love and protectiveness, as though she was ready to bear the weight of the heavens to protect her child.


    Shiki had grown up in an environment filled with love and indulgence; every whim of hers was fulfilled by her parents, no matter how difficult or selfish her desires were. Perhaps this excessive pampering had made Shiki the spoiled, helpless girl she once was, ultimately leading to her suffering in the Procession Tower. But Shiki never blamed her parents¡ªtheir immense love had blinded them to any challenges that might have made their daughter unhappy.


    Shiki shook her head softly. "I just miss you, Mother." To her, whatever had happened in the Procession Tower was now in the past. At this moment, she only wished for this dream to last longer so she could savor the heaven she had longed for.


    She hugged her mother tighter, her arms circling Emberlyn¡¯s slender waist, burying her face in the soft warmth of her stomach as Emberlyn gently stroked her dark hair. Yet Shiki couldn¡¯t see the deep concern on her mother¡¯s face or the fiery anger flaring in her eyes.


    ¡®Who dared to harm my daughter? I must find out! Shiki doesn¡¯t want to talk about it, so it¡¯ll be a bit trickier. Should I tell Shinsei? Perhaps I should bring it up tonight¡­ He might hold it against me if I keep it from him. But¡­ the country has only just stabilized after the engagement debacle a few months ago. Will Ignisira hold up?¡¯


    Shiki tilted her head, resting her ear against her mother¡¯s stomach, wishing time would stop so she could remain in that embrace forever.


    But as her eyes opened, the warmth she was basking in was disrupted by a strange sight¡ªa beautiful ring now encircled her ring finger. It featured a red gemstone resembling a dragon¡¯s eye that seemed to gaze back at her.


    Shiki was certain she had never owned such a piece of jewelry in Atta World, nor did she recall seeing it while she was in the Procession Tower. As a woman with dragon blood, she had a natural affinity for beautiful objects and knew she would never have forgotten a ring as exquisite as the one now on her finger.


    Though she longed to stay lost in the warmth, Shiki was no fool. Her experiences in the Procession Tower had trained her to remain vigilant. The presence of this unfamiliar object on her finger brought a sharp realization: this wasn¡¯t merely a dream or some paradise after death.


    Shiki slowly released her embrace and looked up at her mother. ¡°Mother, where did this ring on my finger come from?¡± she asked, holding up her hand to reveal the red-gemmed ring.


    "A ring? What ring?" Emberlyn asked, staring at Shiki''s hand with a puzzled expression, as though she couldn''t see anything there.


    Shiki''s face remained calm. She then turned to Andrea, posing the same question. But Andrea, still pale, merely looked at Shiki''s hand and shook her head¡ªshe, too, couldn¡¯t see the dragon-eyed gemstone ring.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Shiki¡¯s vigilance sharpened instantly. She began piecing together details from her death to this moment. She recalled the unfamiliar voice she had heard at the moment of her last breath and the date displayed on the digital clock beside her bed: May 30, 2083.


    ¡°Three years before the teleportation!¡±


    On that date, Shiki had just graduated middle school and was preparing to enter high school. She vividly remembered Emberlyn summoning her to the study to ask which high school she wanted to attend. Casually, Shiki had declared that no high school was worthy of noble her. Hearing this, Emberlyn had decided to establish a private high school just for her daughter, outfitted with facilities and educators that even surpassed Ignisira¡¯s top universities.


    While Shiki was lost in thought, her mother¡¯s words pulled her back to the present.


    "Are you still worried about your engagement? Don¡¯t fret, my daughter. No one can force you to do anything you don¡¯t want! Your father and I resolved that matter months ago. We didn¡¯t tell you because it wasn¡¯t worth troubling you over."


    Emberlyn''s words stirred faint memories of an incident Shiki had nearly forgotten. While it hadn¡¯t felt significant to her at the time, the matter had been grave enough to send shockwaves through Ignisira¡¯s noble circles.


    A nobleman¡¯s son, from a family as powerful as the Ganko family, had once developed an infatuation with Shiki after seeing her at a banquet. Believing himself worthy due to his strong dragon blood, marked by the dragon horns on his head, he had attempted to court Shiki. However, oblivious to her feelings, he tried to coerce the Ganko family into arranging their marriage. If that had been the extent of it, the issue might have been resolved amicably by Shiki''s family.


    But the man crossed a line¡ªhe had gone to Shiki¡¯s class, bringing flowers, and grabbed her arm, only to be cruelly rejected and humiliated by her. When news of this reached Emberlyn and Shiki''s father, Shinsei, their wrath was explosive. The Ganko family openly declared total war on the nobleman''s family. The result? One of Ignisira¡¯s most prominent and powerful noble families vanished without a trace, as though they had never existed. The man himself¡ªwhose name Shiki couldn¡¯t even recall¡ªdisappeared as well. But Shiki remembered the dragon-horned skull displayed like a hunting trophy in her father¡¯s study.


    "Oh, Mother! I¡¯d nearly forgotten about that. By the way, have you had breakfast?" Shiki asked cheerfully.


    "I have, my darling. But shouldn¡¯t you eat before speaking with me?" Emberlyn replied, casting a sharp glance at Andrea. The maid lowered her head, trembling, her pallor worsening.


    Ignoring her mother¡¯s piercing look, Shiki smiled and kissed Emberlyn¡¯s soft cheek. "Of course, I wanted to see you before anything else. Andrea said you wanted to discuss something with me. What is it, Mother?"


    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no big problem. I just want to know which high school you want to attend. If you haven¡¯t made a choice yet, I¡¯ll select a school that I¡¯m sure will make you happy.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Shiki became even more certain of her suspicions. ¡°Hmm¡­ High school, huh¡­ I want to go to Vespera High School, Mother!¡± Shiki declared, altering the course of her life with this decision.


    ¡°Vespera? Hmm¡­ alright then. Ah, you must be hungry. Come on, let¡¯s have breakfast first. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll leave now, Mother. Let¡¯s go, Andrea!¡±


    Shiki walked out of her mother¡¯s study, followed by Andrea, who was still enveloped in confusion. Her years of serving the Ganko Family as a maid didn¡¯t seem enough to calm her amidst the strange events of that morning.


    Regression, huh?


    If this was truly a regression, Shiki could correct every mistake and regret in her life, including avenging those who had hurt her. However, before her mind sank deeper, the image of a man with purple eyes appeared in her thoughts, leaving her stunned.


    Her smile widened, revealing her fangs, and her dragon eyes shimmered even brighter, as if flames were swirling within them. All her mistakes, regrets, and vengeance were instantly forgotten. Her obsession with that man had persisted, even after her regression.


    ¡°This time, where are you going to run? I won¡¯t let you go!¡± she whispered, staring at the red gemstone ring on her left ring finger.

 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 3: Time Skip (Part 1)

    Two days had passed, and Shiki no longer doubted that she had regressed three years before the teleportation event. The voice she heard just before her death might have been the reason for this phenomenon. However, she neither knew who or what the owner of the voice was nor their intentions. Whether to feel grateful or wary was still unclear. Regardless, Shiki was determined to make the most of this second chance.


    Her experiences in the Procession Tower had profoundly reshaped her way of thinking.


    "Might makes right."


    Though there was a high chance she was merely a pawn of that voice¡ªdestined to be discarded once her usefulness ran out, like a spent tool¡ªfor now, Shiki had no other choice. Her weakness forced her to accept her situation. For the moment, she could only bide her time, hone her strength, and stay vigilant. When the moment came and her power was sufficient, there would be no secrets she couldn''t uncover.


    Such is how the world works. The strong always exploit the weak. Even when the weak recognize they are being used for the benefit of the stronger party, they often remain powerless to act. Conspiracy theories about the "1%" who control the world''s wealth had long circulated and were even proven. For the nobility, the lives of commoners were no more than those of worker ants¡ªrisking their lives and laboring tirelessly to gather resources for their "queen."


    Even though commoners understood that their hard work only served the nobles who were fortunate enough to be born into the right families, they could do little to resist. Everyone, in the end, is a slave¡ªto other humans, to money, to power, to carnal desires, or even to their own foolish thoughts.


    Shiki, who had spent years in a dark, garbage-filled basement, realized that such a place symbolized true freedom. Yet, there was another kind of freedom¡ªthe one possessed by the man with purple eyes. Or was he, too, a slave to something beyond Shiki''s understanding?


    Shiki didn¡¯t have the answer. The only way to find out was to capture that man and question him directly.


    Over these two days, Shiki maintained her usual demeanor¡ªa haughty girl who considered herself the center of the world. She deliberately avoided any drastic changes to prevent arousing suspicion among those around her, especially after noticing Andrea frequently casting her probing glances. Perhaps the oddities of that morning had led Shinsei and Emberlyn to suspect her and task Andrea with keeping a closer watch.


    Shiki planned to display changes gradually, ensuring she wouldn''t draw undue attention. Although she seemed to be doing nothing, her mind was working tirelessly to recall all the key events of the next three years. Remembering wasn¡¯t a challenge for her, especially with her strong dragon blood that granted her superior physical and mental abilities compared to ordinary dragonewts. Even among dragon descendants, Shiki was exceptional. In addition to her strength and intelligence, she possessed ¡°dragon eyes,¡± enabling her to recall everything she had ever seen.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    However, this ability was limited to visual perception only, not to other senses. For example, if she overheard an important conversation but her eyes were fixed on a flower in front of her, she would only remember the flower''s shape, not the content of the conversation. Thus, this power was better described as photographic memory rather than eidetic memory.


    Unfortunately, her past arrogance and egocentrism meant that young Shiki didn¡¯t care much about the words of others. Although she could recall events from three years before the teleportation, she remembered only a handful of them in detail. Yet Shiki had long forgiven her younger self¡ªbecause that version of her had "died" in the dungeon. Now, she was a new Shiki, reborn after her encounter with the man with purple eyes.


    ¡°Is there a specific reason you chose Vespera High School?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, no particular reason. I just know it''s the best high school in Ignisira. Besides, whichever school I attend will be the same.¡±


    Shinsei nodded slightly, as if he understood the meaning behind Shiki¡¯s words. At the moment, they were enjoying a rare family dinner. Shinsei sat at the head of the table as the family patriarch, with Emberlyn on his right and Shiki on his left.


    The dishes laid out on the table were, as usual, luxurious. Each course was meticulously prepared by the Ganko family¡¯s personal chef, a culinary master with decades of experience dedicated to pleasing the palates of these three nobles.


    Meanwhile, Andrea and the other servants stood attentively at the corners of the room, ready to serve and fulfill any command the three nobles might give while enjoying their meal.


    For Shiki, it wasn¡¯t the school¡¯s facilities or reputation that made it the best but her own presence. She considered herself special enough to elevate any school¡¯s status to the best in the country simply by attending it. This answer aligned with her outward display of arrogance and egocentrism, which she intentionally maintained to avoid arousing suspicion. While her answer wasn¡¯t a lie, it wasn¡¯t the full truth either.


    Although her parents doted on her to the point of near worship, they were not ordinary people. Shinsei wielded immense power in Ignisira¡¯s political sphere, enough to halt the government¡¯s operations without his consent. Meanwhile, Emberlyn was the queen of the global economy, capable of bankrupting small nations with just a word. Together, they had elevated the Ganko family to the most influential noble family in the world, surpassing even their peak in the past.


    Shiki knew that with such deep affection, a half-truth would not raise their suspicions. Though she respected her parents, she believed herself clever enough to hide her true intentions from them. After all, she was someone who had climbed to the pinnacle of power in the Procession Tower in just a few years, starting from a position no better than trash.


    ¡°In that case, leave everything to me. If you need anything, just let us know. Whatever it is, alright?¡± Emberlyn said gently.


    ¡°Hmm... I know. Father, Mother, you don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±


    Shiki nodded, looking at her parents with a gaze filled with affection.

 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 3: Time Skip (Last Part)

    ¡°Hmm... I know. Father, Mother, you don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±


    Shiki nodded, looking at her parents with a gaze filled with affection.


    These two figures were feared and respected by the world, yet in her presence, they were nothing more than loving parents showering her with affection. For a moment, Shiki felt a pang of sorrow, realizing that in three years, she would no longer be able to see them¡ªor Andrea. Only those aged 10 to 20 would be teleported to the Procession Tower.


    Throughout her life there, Shiki had never heard any news of a way to return to Atta World or to this realm. However, that feeling of sadness quickly faded. In her opinion, living in this safe world was far better than life in the Procession Tower, filled with unending danger. Moreover, when the Bride¡¯s War began, even the power of the Ganko Family wouldn¡¯t be enough to guarantee their safety.


    This was the main reason Shiki chose Vespera High School. She was no longer just a spoiled girl who believed herself to be the center of the universe. Shiki understood the importance of having a faction to support her in the Procession Tower. Even with her immense strength, the vastness of the Tower made centralized control impossible. The struggle for resources and territory, which often escalated into faction wars, was commonplace there. Furthermore, when the Bride¡¯s War began, having trusted allies would be critical for survival.


    The current rulers of the Procession Tower were all still in high school. As one of the strongest, Shiki had met most of them in person or at least seen their photos. To Shiki, only those who were previously on her level or slightly below would be of any use when the Bride¡¯s War began. At present, 80% of those individuals attended or were about to attend Vespera High School. A staggering 98% of them did not come from noble families but were ordinary citizens living lives of anonymity. Nearly none of the graduates from Shiki¡¯s previous school in her past life managed to survive ten years in the Procession Tower.


    It didn¡¯t take a genius to understand why. The primary reason Vespera was regarded as the best high school in Ignisira lay in the quality of its students and alumni. Getting accepted there was exceptionally difficult. It required not only intelligence to solve problems that would stump university students but also a personality test that evaluated the character of potential students. Coupled with strong government support, even children of noble families had to pass rigorous exams to gain admission to Vespera.


    It was no surprise that Vespera High School¡¯s graduates were the best of the best¡ªand apparently, that excellence extended to the Procession Tower as well. Students accustomed to thriving in a high-pressure environment adapted more quickly to the harsh realities of the Tower. Meanwhile, pampered noble children were swiftly eliminated once deprived of the wealth and influence of their families.


    If Shiki managed to get into Vespera, the Ganko Family¡¯s power would make it easier for her to create situations where the brilliant students there owed her a debt of gratitude. This way, she could influence them to become loyal followers devoted only to her. Shiki was confident in her charm, capable of captivating both men and women, and her decades of experience in the Procession Tower would make it effortless for her to read and manipulate the hearts of these teenagers.


    With this, even before the teleportation began, Shiki could already wield significant control over the dragonewts in the Procession Tower.


    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll head back to my room. It was nice talking with you, Father, Mother,¡± she said.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Hm...¡± Shinsei nodded.


    ¡°Ah, Shiki? Your father and I apologize for not being able to have dinner with you tonight,¡± said Emberlyn, her expression filled with regret.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Andrea will keep me company for dinner. See you tomorrow morning, Father, Mother.¡± Without waiting for a response, Shiki turned and walked toward her room.


    As her footsteps echoed through the halls, Shiki refined her plans even further. With the formidable support of a family like the Gankos behind her, executing her strategies would be far easier.


    She still had three years to prepare everything perfectly. Additionally, she considered finding a martial arts trainer and starting physical training for her pampered body. Although martial arts from Atta World weren¡¯t particularly useful in the Procession Tower, it was better than wasting her time.


    ¡°Young Lady, do you plan to leave the house today?¡± Andrea asked as they arrived in Shiki¡¯s room.


    ¡°No, I plan to meet someone. Ah, it might be better if you help me invite them for lunch, Andrea.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Who is it? I¡¯m sure they would be delighted to have lunch with you, Young Lady,¡± Andrea replied as she began brushing Shiki¡¯s reddish-black hair while the girl sat before her vanity.


    ¡°Please call Mr. Thompson for me, Andrea.¡±


    Andrea¡¯s hand paused momentarily, a flicker of discomfort crossing her face before she quickly regained her composure and resumed brushing Shiki¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Mr. Thompson? What business do you have with someone like him?¡±


    Shiki understood the hesitation and caution in Andrea¡¯s voice. Mr. Thompson wasn¡¯t someone a young woman like her would typically interact with. Among the thousands of employees and servants under the Ganko Family, Mr. Thompson was well-known in the family¡¯s inner circle. This was because Mr. Thompson handled various ¡°gray¡± matters for the Ganko Family.


    As the family¡¯s treasured jewel, Shiki was usually kept far away from individuals like Thompson. However, at this point, Shiki didn¡¯t care about the opinions of others. After all, her life in this world would end in three years, so preserving her reputation was not a priority. Besides, she had an important matter to discuss with Mr. Thompson.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Andrea. I have a specific request for Mr. Thompson, and it¡¯s very important.¡±


    ¡°¡­Alright then,¡± Andrea finally relented with a nod.


    The mirror in front of her reflected Shiki¡¯s stunning beauty, flawless like a fairy. Her broad forehead, petite straight nose, and lips as red as blooming flowers formed a perfect visage. Her long, wavy, reddish-black hair cascaded down her back, framing her smooth white neck. This perfection made her look like a living doll, leaving no normal man capable of ignoring her.


    Shiki was certain that the purple-eyed man had only ignored her because she had been filthy and covered in trash at the time. If they had met under normal circumstances, she couldn¡¯t believe he would remain indifferent.


    However, searching for him within the Procession Tower would be a daunting task due to its vast expanse. On the other hand, tracking him in Atta World was much easier. His silver-white hair and purple eyes were distinctive traits that could set him apart from others. Combined with the age range restriction, Shiki could leverage the Ganko family¡¯s resources to locate the man.


    Even so, the Procession Tower wasn¡¯t exclusively populated by dragonewts from Atta World. Other worlds were also connected to this place, along with various other species. It was possible that the purple-eyed man wasn¡¯t a dragonewt at all¡ªhe could be human, elf, beastkin, or something else entirely.


    If only she remembered his face in detail, modern technology would make the search significantly easier. Unfortunately, even with her ¡°dragon eyes¡± ability, Shiki couldn¡¯t recall the fine details of his face. All she remembered was his silver hair, purple eyes, and a mischievous smile.


    Shiki wasn¡¯t surprised by this. She was convinced that the purple-eyed man wasn¡¯t ordinary. He must be extraordinarily powerful and possibly possessed the ability to obscure detection, allowing him to move freely in the Procession Tower as if he were a tourist in a bustling attraction.


    Although the chances were slim, Shiki didn¡¯t want to miss even the smallest opportunity. That¡¯s why she needed Mr. Thompson¡¯s assistance to conduct a global search. If the purple-eyed man indeed originated from Atta World, with Mr. Thompson¡¯s expertise, he would surely find him. And if that happened...


    Hehehehe.

 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 4: A Unique Friend (Part 1)

    Three months had passed, and Shiki easily gained admission to Vespera High School. While Vespera''s entrance exam was notoriously difficult for most middle school graduates, for Shiki, it was merely a matter of reviewing the material a few times. With her photographic memory and intelligence, there wasn¡¯t a single question she couldn¡¯t solve given enough time.


    Perhaps the only challenge was the personality test, given her reputation as an arrogant girl, which might have raised concerns for Vespera about potential bullying. However, with the Ganko family¡¯s connections and support, this was easily handled.


    Shiki ultimately achieved the highest score on the entrance exam and was chosen to deliver the speech at the entrance ceremony as the representative of the new students at Vespera. She didn¡¯t plan to deliver a perfect speech because, in her eyes, the future these students envisioned¡ªone filled with college dreams¡ªwould never come to pass.


    Even so, she delivered a speech that was good enough to leave a positive first impression. After all, these students would eventually become her allies¡ªand later, her subordinates¡ªin the Tower of Procession. Making a strong first impression was essential to smooth the process of recruiting them later.


    Following the principal¡¯s long and dull speech, the new students were directed to their respective classrooms. Shiki was immediately surrounded by other students, including those from her grade and even upperclassmen. Although most were from commoner families, Vespera was still the best school in Ignisira, so there were also many children from noble families.


    In truth, Shiki didn¡¯t mind interacting with them. She wasn¡¯t someone who struggled with socializing or felt awkward. However, their excessive flattery made her uncomfortable. She knew that among these faces were those who would eventually cause her suffering in the Tower of Procession.


    Although the desire to eliminate them flickered within her, Shiki held herself back, afraid of triggering a butterfly effect that could alter the future she knew. She chose to be patient, to wait until they were all teleported or until she was certain the future would remain unchanged.


    After all, the Shiki they had mocked in the past had long since died in that underground prison. The Shiki who now stood before them was a new person, reborn after her encounter with the purple-eyed man. She was no longer someone narrow-minded or prone to blaming others for deeds they had yet to commit.


    That said, there were still some individuals she had to eliminate before they were all transferred to the Tower of Procession.


    It wasn¡¯t out of revenge or hatred but because these individuals had the potential to become major obstacles to her plans in the future. This decision wasn¡¯t driven by a desire to get back at them for their past actions. In fact, some of them were people who had helped her in her previous life. Unfortunately, their influence in the Tower of Procession was substantial, and their kindness could become a stumbling block when Shiki sought to dominate all the dragonewts with an iron fist.


    At this point, Shiki had completely let go of her desire for revenge. The hatred she once felt had now entirely faded. Her mind was consumed only by the Tower of Procession and how to dominate in the Brides War. For Shiki, the past was nothing more than a faint shadow¡ªwhat mattered now was the future and her newfound ambition.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    As Shiki entered her classroom, some of the students who had followed her broke off to go to their respective classes. Apparently, the rules at Vespera were strict enough that even noble children dared not break them. In the end, only a handful remained in the same class as Shiki¡ªno more than the number of fingers on one hand.


    This was to be expected since Shiki was placed in a special class reserved for elite students. Among them were national middle school Olympiad champions and athletes who had already appeared on television. This was Class 1-A, the place for those destined to become future rulers of the Tower of Procession. Shiki could recognize their faces one by one, including Johan, the strongest spear-wielder in the Tower.


    At the moment, none of them were eager to greet Shiki. While she was a noble from the country¡¯s strongest family, each of them was an elite with their own pride. However, they couldn¡¯t help but gaze at Shiki as she entered the room. This wasn¡¯t out of respect or fear of the Ganko family but merely because of her breathtaking beauty.


    Once she sat at her desk in the back row, next to the line of desks near the window, those who had crowded around her quietly dispersed and returned to their seats. Their homeroom teacher would arrive any minute, and no one wanted to be the first target of attention.


    The atmosphere in Class 1-A was silent, accompanied only by the soft sound of pages turning and the faint tapping of fingers on monitor screens. Each student was engrossed in their tasks, whether reading printed textbooks or studying the school handbook, famous for its strict list of rules. Vespera Academy was not merely an educational institution but a symbol of luxury and discipline for the superpower nation of Ignisira.


    Morning sunlight filtered gently through the rows of large windows on the left side of the room, spreading warmth that seemed to invigorate the spirit of learning. The windows had a sleek, modern design with thin silver metal frames, stretching nearly from floor to ceiling, providing a view of the clear blue sky and the lush school gardens. Natural light combined seamlessly with the artificial lighting from the ceiling, which was equipped with an automatic system to adjust its intensity¡ªbright enough to maintain focus, yet soft enough to prevent eye strain.


    At the front of the room, there wasn¡¯t just an ordinary blackboard but a massive white monitor screen that nearly blended into the wall. This screen could display various materials, diagrams, and learning videos with sharp, eye-pleasing resolution. To its left stood an elegant teacher¡¯s desk, equipped with a master control panel¡ªthe central hub for managing the screen, lighting, and other classroom devices.


    Although technology dominates, Vespera Academy still offers freedom to its students. Alongside digital screens, the desks have special compartments for storing physical books for those who prefer the feel of paper pages in their hands. Textbook data can be easily accessed through the school''s internal system, allowing students to download all materials onto their personal devices¡ªwhether it¡¯s a tablet, laptop, or smartphone.


    The chairs attached to each desk are designed for optimal comfort. With soft, dark synthetic leather cushions, the chairs come with adjustable backrests so students can sit ergonomically. Even the room temperature is perfectly regulated with an automatic cooling system that responds to changes in body temperature and the weather outside. The classroom is never so warm that it induces drowsiness or so cold that it causes shivering.


    The scene inside Class 1-A is a perfect reflection of how this elite school operates¡ªproviding the finest facilities to support learning while maintaining a clean, modern, and professional atmosphere. Every detail, from the lighting and desk design to the integrated advanced technology, is crafted to create a learning environment that is not only comfortable but also boosts productivity.

 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 4: A Unique Friend (Last Part)

    Shiki turned toward her seatmate, who had been staring out the window without acknowledging her presence. He had black hair, broad shoulders, and a school uniform that looked rumpled, as if it hadn¡¯t been ironed before he put it on.


    This seatmate was the only one who hadn¡¯t turned to look at her when she entered the class. Perhaps there was something so fascinating outside the window that Shiki grew a bit curious about what he had been looking at.


    Unfortunately, Shiki saw nothing but trees and the view of the school garden. Their classroom, located on the second floor, offered a perfect view of the beautiful school grounds from this window.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Shiki said, greeting her seatmate. He didn¡¯t immediately turn to face her but slowly swiveled his body in her direction, his head following after, as though it was a great effort to tear his gaze away from the view outside the window.


    He had an ordinary face, but if one looked closely, it was strikingly handsome. His thick eyebrows, sharp at the ends, resembled drawn swords. His eyes were a deep blue, bordering on purple, though not quite enough to be called violet. His lips were firmly shut, the lower lip fuller than the upper. He wasn¡¯t overweight, but his sharp jawline gave his cheeks a slightly round appearance.


    A cool breeze drifted softly through the open window, ruffling the strands of the young man¡¯s black hair and brushing against Shiki¡¯s face. Amid the gentle gusts of wind, Shiki caught a faint scent of vanilla¡ªsoft and calming. The aroma felt so at odds with the disheveled appearance of the boy in front of her, who seemed like someone who didn¡¯t care about his own appearance. Did this mean he came from a wealthy family accustomed to living leisurely, or¡­ could this fragrance naturally emanate from him?


    However, instead of dwelling further on the scent, Shiki¡¯s mind shifted to something else entirely: when did this guy even open the classroom window? Wasn¡¯t the room temperature automatically regulated to remain ideal? The cooling system was designed to be so advanced that any open window would trigger a sensor to close it again, ensuring stable temperatures. Did he deliberately disrupt the system, or was he completely unaware of the school¡¯s basic rules?


    ¡°Hello,¡± he said in a dry, uninterested tone.


    Shiki¡¯s brow furrowed; this was the first time she had ever heard someone speak to her with such a tone. Not only was his voice dripping with disinterest, but his eyes reflected the same apathy. After replying to her greeting, he turned his body back around and slowly returned his gaze to the window outside. This annoyed Shiki slightly¡ªthis brat seemed to be implying that the view outside the window was far more interesting than her beautiful face.


    Clearing her dry throat, Shiki spoke with a smile, ¡°What is your name?¡± The smile on her face could stop even a cold-blooded killer in their tracks. She was confident that her seatmate would immediately focus on her rather than the scenery outside the window.


    But what she got was¡­


    ¡°???¡±


    A tilt of the head with a face full of question marks.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to introduce yourself first?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Shiki¡¯s smile froze when she heard those words.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know me?¡±


    ¡°Should I?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    There was a brief pause in their conversation.


    ¡°Unique one, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Well, if you travel far enough, you¡¯ll meet the unique ones.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Another silence settled between them until¡­


    ¡°Pfft¡­ hahahahaha¡­¡±


    Shiki¡¯s laughter burst out, filling the entire classroom like the melodious ringing of a bell. Her laugh made everyone turn to stare at her, stunned. Even the homeroom teacher, who had just entered, paused in the doorway, frozen in awe at the sound of such uninhibited, joyful laughter.


    For the first time in her two lives, Shiki laughed freely¡ªnot out of happiness or despair, but because something was genuinely funny. She didn¡¯t even care about the stares of others because all of her attention was fixed on her seatmate.


    He looked at her with a blank expression, a bored face, entirely uninterested. While the rest of the class was captivated by Shiki¡¯s laughter, he was the only one staring at her as if silently asking, ¡°What are you doing?¡± or ¡°Please don¡¯t bother me.¡± This made Shiki laugh even harder.


    The homeroom teacher finally snapped out of it and cleared their throat. ¡°Shiki, we¡¯re about to start homeroom. Could you please quiet down for a moment?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ sorry, teacher¡­ huhuhu,¡± Shiki said, still trying to suppress her giggles.


    The homeroom teacher simply shook their head before refocusing on the class. Shiki, however, paid little attention to the homeroom announcements. She already knew who the important people in the class were, and the rest weren¡¯t particularly interesting to her.


    Her attention returned to her seatmate when he finally introduced himself in that same flat, monotone voice.


    "My name is Mujun." After those four words, he sat back down, staring out the window with an expression that remained completely unchanged. Shiki almost laughed again at his relaxed and indifferent demeanor.


    The name "Mujun" sounded strange for a dragonewt¡ªit meant "contradiction" in the ancient dragon tongue. The name was more like a curse than the honorable titles usually chosen by dragonewts. As descendants of dragons, dragonewts had immense pride and arrogance, choosing grandiose names, especially among the nobility. Mujun might not be of noble lineage, but even ordinary families rarely gave names so... unconventional.


    Shiki had also never heard the name "Mujun" during his time at the Procession Tower. It was likely that his deskmate hadn¡¯t lasted long there or had lived as an insignificant figure. Yet, for some reason, Shiki felt that Mujun wasn¡¯t someone destined for an ordinary life. Although it was their first meeting and their conversation consisted of just a few words, Shiki¡¯s dragon instincts told her that Mujun was someone valuable¡ªperhaps even more so than Johan, the strongest spear wielder. A strange yet inexplicable curiosity stirred within her.


    As homeroom class ended, Shiki''s mind was still preoccupied with figuring out how to approach Mujun. Over the years, Shiki had met countless individuals¡ªfrom the most despicable, lower than trash, to the most virtuous, nobler than saints. Yet Mujun was the first to leave her completely perplexed.


    There was no information to glean from her deskmate''s face. His expression was blank, his eyes filled with boredom, and his dry voice seemed not only external but deeply embedded in the core of his personality. Shiki was confident in her dragon eyes'' ability to detect falsehood, but Mujun appeared utterly hollow, dry, and brimming with indifference. Even if he were teleported to the Procession Tower at that very moment, Shiki doubted his expression would change.


    For this reason, Shiki sent a message to Andrea to learn more about Mujun. Initially, Shiki assumed Andrea wouldn¡¯t find much and that she might have to ask Mr. Thompson for help. However, with Mr. Thompson already swamped searching for the purple-eyed man, Shiki was reluctant to bother him unless it was absolutely necessary. Unexpectedly, in less than an hour, Andrea had sent back her findings.


    Shiki openly checked her smartphone in class, ignoring the sharp glare of the homeroom teacher. In the file Andrea had sent, Mujun''s entire life was laid out, from his birth to the present. But the information made Shiki frown¡ªnot because there was anything shocking, but because everything seemed so¡­ ordinary.


    Mujun came from a business family; both his parents died in an accident when he was one year old. He had no other relatives, so his parents¡¯ wealth was managed by a family lawyer. Without corruption or issues, the lawyer handled it well, ensuring all of Mujun¡¯s needs were met until he reached adulthood.


    There was no childhood trauma; he didn¡¯t even remember the faces of his parents. At school before attending Vespera, Mujun wasn¡¯t an outstanding student, but neither was he a troublemaker. He was never bullied, never bullied others, and had no difficulties with academics or social life. His relationships with classmates were ordinary¡ªeasy to talk to but not close enough to be called a best friend, yet not distant enough to seem antisocial. His life was so plain and uneventful that Shiki found herself bored just reading about it.


    "Did I misjudge him?" Shiki muttered, glancing at her deskmate, who was still staring out the window as if there were something fascinating there, something Shiki couldn¡¯t see.


    A faint smile crossed Shiki¡¯s lips at the absurdity of her own thoughts. Still, with this information, approaching Mujun didn¡¯t seem like it would be too difficult.


    ¡°Mujun, class is over. Come with me to the cafeteria. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal!¡± she said, her tone commanding.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Mujun replied, nodding without the slightest hint of surprise.


    And just like that, Shiki had gained her first loyal follower.

 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 5: Teleportation (Part 1)

    Three Years Later


    ¡°¡­and based on that, the number of members across the three seasons has now reached ten thousand. From the list you gave to Rose, 70% have been successfully recruited into the organization, and we¡¯ve identified all their locations. Roady has also gathered more intel to exploit their weaknesses, though it seems they¡¯d join us anyway given our current popularity¡ª¡±


    Mujun read the report from his small notebook in a tone laden with exhaustion and disinterest, embodying just how much he detested his job¡ªor rather, the boss seated before him.


    Shiki, sitting with her legs crossed, paid no mind to Mujun''s sharp gaze. Her eyes were fixed on the ceiling, her thoughts drifting elsewhere. Her long hair cascaded softly down the back of the plush leather chair she occupied. The white school uniform she wore hugged her body snugly, the buttons straining against her increasingly full chest. Her dark blue skirt rode up slightly as she crossed her legs, revealing skin as pale as milk. Any ordinary man would have been entranced, ogling her with unrestrained lust if they had been in Mujun''s place.


    Yet Shiki remained unfazed by Mujun¡¯s gaze¡ªit held no trace of desire, only pure boredom.


    Across her two lifetimes, perhaps only Mujun and the man with violet eyes had ever looked at her without a hint of lust. Still, Shiki was certain they weren¡¯t the same person.


    Why?


    Even though Shiki couldn¡¯t clearly recall the face of the man with violet eyes, she could vividly remember the sheer intensity of his gaze and aura. Those violet eyes saw the world as nothing more than a massive playground, as if his existence was entirely unburdened¡ªfree, untethered, and unbound by the rules of the mundane world.


    In Shiki¡¯s eyes, he didn¡¯t seem like a normal man. He resembled a god who regarded everything as a mere joke, while the world was a theme park he had created for his own amusement. Suffering, sorrow, happiness, even destruction¡ªthey were all just games to him. And his smile¡ªthat ever-present, mischievous smile¡ªnever left his face, as though he was laughing at everything and everyone.


    That aura of freedom and indifference filled Shiki with envy. It seeped into her soul, transforming into an obsession¡ªan obsession to capture that man. She wanted to erase that smile from his lips or, at the very least, find a way to smile as freely and carelessly as he did.


    As for Mujun? His gaze exuded a boredom so profound it felt suffocating, as if nothing in the world could pique his interest. He lived merely to exist, with no drive to resist the current or even flow with it. He was like a faint shadow that could vanish into a bustling crowd without a single soul noticing his absence.


    To Mujun, the world might seem like an old black-and-white movie with blurry visuals. Even if the storyline was compelling, he could never sit still to watch it, as his mind was perpetually blank, incapable of grasping meaning. The sounds of the world seemed to vanish, replaced by the void that filled his thoughts. Unconsciously, his attention was easily drawn to trivial things¡ªa butterfly flitting in search of a flower to perch on, or perhaps trapped in a spider¡¯s web.


    Yet even those scenes failed to stir feelings of joy, curiosity, or sadness in him. All that remained was an overwhelming sense of boredom, extinguishing the light in his eyes. His gaze was empty, like the eyes of a fish that had dried out¡ªlifeless and soulless.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Both men were unique, but Shiki knew full well they were not the same person.


    It was truly unfortunate they weren¡¯t the same. If only the violet-eyed man were Mujun, Shiki wouldn¡¯t feel this frustrated and disappointed. Her three-year search for the violet-eyed man had ended in futility. Mr. Thompson had scoured every country in Atta World, examining the records of all residents¡ªboth the living and the dead. His confidence had been unshakable: if that man existed anywhere in one of the countries, he would have been found, even if he were hiding under a rock.


    But the result was still nothing. Every candidate suspected of being the violet-eyed man turned out not to be the one Shiki sought.


    Perhaps, just maybe, if the search were extended to remote tribes untouched by modern civilization, there was still a possibility of finding him. Unfortunately, Shiki¡¯s time in this world was running out.


    ¡°¡­According to Johan¡¯s report, several foreign groups of unknown origin have begun interfering with our recruitment activities. They¡¯ve also started investigating the reasoning behind our target selections. For now, their interference isn¡¯t too troublesome, but in the future¡ª¡±


    Shiki glanced at the clock on the wall. Only a few minutes remained before the teleportation would begin. She wanted to let out a long sigh, but she knew it would only deepen the furrow in Mujun¡¯s brow. His impassive face, filled with unspoken grievances, seemed to ask: ¡°Why are you sighing when I¡¯m the one standing here reporting to you?¡± or ¡°Are you mocking me with that sigh?¡± Perhaps even: ¡°If you¡¯re so tired, why don¡¯t we just stop all of this?¡±


    But Shiki, as always, ignored the complaints written plainly on Mujun¡¯s face.


    The organization Shiki had formed to facilitate the recruitment of future dragonewt fighters was named Four Seasons. True to its name, the organization was divided into four teams, each with its own leader and function.


    Spring was led by Johan. This team handled the heavy lifting, such as picking up targets, capturing those who refused to join, intimidation, and even real threats. With his physicality and skills, Johan was the ideal leader for this function.


    Summer was led by Rose, a 20-year-old woman. The primary role of this team was to search for, monitor, and spy on targets. Rose was no ordinary individual; Shiki knew her from the Procession Tower as the queen of the black market. She was the leader of Black Canary, the largest organization dealing in the buying and selling of information. For dragonewts in the Procession Tower, there was no information Black Canary couldn¡¯t obtain¡ªthey were even rumored to know about events before they happened. Rose was assisted by her deputy and lover, Roady, who was an expert in managing surveillance networks and operations.


    If Rose was the best information seeker, then Roady was the best information processor. His ability to sift through vital information and compile it into strategically usable data was truly remarkable. The combination of Rose and Roady made Black Canary one of the most fearsome yet invaluable organizations for dragonewts in the Procession Tower.


    Unfortunately, their fate was tragic when the Brides¡¯ War began. The enemies aiming to cripple the dragonewts targeted Black Canary with full force, destroying them first to blind all factions. In the end, Rose and Roady met their demise, their bodies torn apart as they breathed their last in each other¡¯s embrace.


    Currently, Roady leads the Autumn team, tasked with processing and analyzing all information gathered by the Summer team.


    Winter is currently led by Mujun. While he is technically the head of this team, in reality, the Winter team consists solely of him. It could be said that Winter is Mujun. Initially, Shiki had no intention of involving Mujun beyond satisfying her curiosity about this brooding man. However, over time, Shiki realized that Mujun was someone she could trust and eventually made him her confidant.


    Winter has only one function: to act as Shiki¡¯s extension. Mujun¡¯s primary role is to bridge communication between Shiki and the other three seasons. As one of the strongest fighters in the Procession Tower, Shiki understood that a faction leader should not grow too close to their subordinates. This was not only to protect the leader but also to safeguard the faction¡¯s future. If subordinates became too close to the leader, there was a risk they would focus more on currying favor than on completing their tasks. Therefore, Shiki appointed Mujun as her proxy in dealing with the other members of the Four Seasons.

 Shiki Arc: Second Chance, Chapter 5: Teleportation (Last Part)

    Shiki¡¯s trust in Mujun developed in ways she herself couldn¡¯t fully understand. Perhaps it was because Mujun had no interest in her¡ªa rarity. Or maybe it was because Mujun was an incredibly simple man. He displayed no ambition, let alone any intent to usurp Shiki¡¯s position as leader. To him, leading a large organization like the Four Seasons was merely a tiresome and pointless job, a waste of time and energy.


    Even though Mujun often complained, it wasn¡¯t because of his status beneath Shiki but because of the workload he had to handle. If Shiki had asked Mujun to stand still like a statue in the corner of a room and do nothing, Mujun would¡¯ve gladly tossed aside his position as the head of Winter faster than Shiki could finish her sentence.


    Shiki could only remain silent in the face of someone like Mujun¡ªsomeone utterly devoid of ambition. Perhaps that was the reason Shiki trusted him. Despite his frequent grumbling, Mujun always completed his work efficiently, likely because he didn¡¯t want the hassle of repeating tasks due to errors.


    The Four Seasons, the organization Shiki had built, wasn¡¯t just a tool. It was the foundation of a major faction that would one day dominate the Procession Tower and lead the dragonewts into the future. However, so far, no one¡ªnot even Mujun¡ªknew the true purpose behind the organization¡¯s creation. Shiki was aware that Mujun probably didn¡¯t care at all, but the same couldn¡¯t be said for the other members. The team leaders, especially those with influence, were bound to harbor doubts.


    It was natural for concerns to arise. A princess from the world¡¯s most powerful noble family suddenly gathering people to form an organization without a clear goal? Of course, this invited suspicion. Even so, Shiki chose to remain silent, allowing those doubts to linger in their minds. Soon, everything would become clear.


    ¡°...That¡¯s Johan¡¯s report on the recruitment efforts in Kojulin City¡ª¡± Mujun paused mid-sentence when Shiki interrupted him.


    ¡°Mujun,¡± she called.


    Mujun frowned, the creases on his forehead deepening. His tone was reluctant as he responded, ¡°What?¡±


    Shiki glanced at her digital watch. 11:58:15. She knew the teleportation would begin at precisely 12:00 PM today.


    ¡°What do you think about a world where monsters prey on anyone who enters, and that world also connects you to other worlds you never imagined existed?¡± Shiki asked suddenly.


    ¡°If you¡¯re planning to fantasize or write some weird story, I¡¯d rather¡ª¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Can you just answer my question?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Shiki¡¯s digital watch now read 11:59:05.


    ¡°Ugh... It would be a massive pain,¡± Mujun finally answered. ¡°I¡¯m already struggling enough just to survive in this world by breathing. I don¡¯t need to worry about money, a place to live, or food, thanks to my dead parents leaving enough money to last me until I¡¯m old and gray. So if a world like that exists, I¡¯d choose to stay out of it. I¡¯d even erase any knowledge of that world from my mind as quickly as possible.¡±


    ¡°Well...¡± Shiki smiled faintly. The watch now read 11:59:50.


    ¡°Unfortunately, you don¡¯t have the option to stay out of it.¡±


    11:59:55.


    ¡°And going forward, I¡¯ll be counting on your cooperation too, Mujun.¡± A wide grin spread across Shiki¡¯s face.


    11:59:58.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Suddenly, their bodies were enveloped in a blinding light. So bright that their entire field of vision turned white.


    12:00:00.


    Their bodies felt as if they were floating, like being inside a car plummeting into a deep ravine. Waves of nausea, dizziness, and visual distortion hit them mercilessly. When their sight finally returned, what they saw was no longer the room they had been in moments before.


    12:00:01.


    <hr>


    Shiki watched as her surroundings transformed in an instant, as if the world she had known for the past sixteen years had been nothing but an illusion. She could feel the same disbelief emanating from those around her¡ªsharp intakes of breath, eyes wide with shock, and trembling bodies grappling with the sudden shift. Their faces betrayed their struggle to process the reality that had just shattered everything they understood. But this confusion would soon give way to chaos, which was now gradually approaching.


    As Shiki surveyed the scene before her, she recognized several familiar landmarks: a towering dragon monument visible even from outside this sprawling city, thick walls that seemed impervious even to missiles, and ancient-style buildings typically only seen in history books or tourist sites.


    This was Starting City, the place where all participants of this brutal competition were gathered.


    It was also the safest place in this world¡ªso safe that, in the past, she had found it difficult to step outside of it. So safe that she had willingly confined herself within its walls.


    But that safety would vanish the moment Brides War began. The Procession Tower had no use for the weak. Sooner or later, those seeking shelter in this city would be forced out, becoming prey for the strong.


    This time, however, Shiki would not repeat the mistakes of her past. Over the past three years, she had prepared herself for this moment. The Starting City, which had once been her prison, would now become her stepping stone to power. She would seize control of this city, rule every corner, and mark every inch with her presence. And she would find the purple-eyed man, imprison him in this city, and bind him to her side forever.


    Shiki vowed to make it happen!


    ¡°Mujun, snap out of it! You need to find the others and regroup! Wait for me at the base of the left foot of the second claw on that giant dragon monument! Mujun? Mujun¡ª¡±


    Her breath caught as she noticed something strange about Mujun. The eyes that usually held nothing but boredom now sparkled with joy and excitement she had never seen before. A wide grin spread across his face, revealing his white fangs, and he spoke in a cheerful tone, like a child who had just received a new toy,


    ¡°Ah~ it¡¯s finally starting!¡±

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 1: Eukaryota World (Part 1)

    Insects are an incredibly complex group of life forms, with extraordinary diversity in body structures, behaviors, and ecological roles. They are the largest group of animals on Earth, encompassing over a million identified species¡ªand it is believed that many more remain undiscovered. These tiny marvels inhabit numerous planets, and fortunately, their size rarely exceeds that of a human palm. Given their productivity and natural weaponry, it would be a catastrophe if insects were larger.


    Take ants, for example: a single colony of less than 1,000 individuals, with a nest no larger than a small mound of dirt in a backyard, requires more than 5 grams of food daily. To meet this demand, they must forage across areas that can span several kilometers from their nest. Ant colonies are not picky eaters¡ªthey consume nectar, honeydew, fruit sugars, small insects, insect eggs, and even leaves. This means nearly every living thing in the world is a potential target for these tiny creatures that can be easily squashed with a finger.


    For this reason, we should be thankful for their small size. The Creator seems to have designed the world''s balance by making these creatures small enough not to pose an overwhelming threat to other living beings, especially humans. This demonstrates extraordinary wisdom and compassion. Unfortunately, this principle does not apply in Eukaryota World.


    Eukaryota World is an immensely vast universe, comprising countless planets and trillions of habitable worlds. This universe belongs to the Science and Techno World, where supernatural powers are explained through the laws of physics. Although exceptions such as psychic abilities exist, they are exceedingly rare. However, civilizations that harness these psychic powers can transcend the speed of light and connect with other civilizations.


    Psychic abilities in Eukaryota World refer to supernatural powers that allow individuals to connect with a different dimension known as the Mind Realm. The Mind Realm is a place where the thoughts of all conscious beings are interconnected. Psychics can draw energy from the Mind Realm to perform miracles in the physical world, such as telekinesis, clairvoyance, and telepathy.


    When combined, these three abilities enable a psychic to locate nodes¡ªconnection points between two spaces in the universe. With the help of node amplifying machines, humans can create "spatial bridges" resembling wormholes to travel to places unreachable even at the speed of light.


    The technological advancement of spatial bridge creation has allowed humans separated by galaxies, even nebulae, to connect with one another. However, this extraordinary achievement has not been free from humanity''s egoistic desire to dominate¡ªeven over their own species. This ambition has sparked complex intergalactic wars, resulting in immense loss of life.


    On the other hand, the exchange of culture, technology, and ideas among human civilizations accelerated the evolution of society. Alliance after alliance formed, and the once-boundless universe gradually became charted. Humanity¡¯s awareness of the cosmos they inhabited grew profoundly. Generations of brilliant thinkers emerged, reshaping the laws and history that had long governed their understanding.


    Humans no longer felt insignificant when gazing at the star-filled sky. Instead, they were filled with ambition to conquer a universe they believed was created for them. The conviction that the world belonged to humanity strengthened, and faith in God began to wane. Religions were abandoned, and the gods that had been worshipped for millennia were dismissed as mere illusions.


    The existence of psychics became the cornerstone of civilization, with their status rising rapidly. The progress of a civilization was now measured by the number of Psychics born within it.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    However, every advancement comes with challenges. Alongside the benefits provided by Psychic¡¯s powers, a terrifying threat emerged to shake humanity¡¯s arrogance. The Mind Realm, thought to be an uninhabited space ripe for exploration, turned out to have long been dominated by another entity.


    They were giant insects¡ªperhaps a mistake in creation or a manifestation of divine justice sent to crush humanity¡¯s hubris. They called themselves the Arachnoax.


    The Arachnoax are a species of insects with an extraordinarily complex social structure, resembling that of ants or bees. However, their superiority lies in their collective intelligence, which is far superior than artificial intelligence.


    At the heart of Arachnoax life is the Broodmother, the queen and biological mother of the entire colony. She possesses an extraordinary ability to connect the minds of all her offspring into an intricate psychic network, far surpassing any human technology. The Broodmother is not only the colony¡¯s controller but also a being of exceptional intelligence, capable of calculations that outstrip any artificial intelligence humanity has ever or will ever create.


    Moreover, the Broodmother¡¯s psychic powers far surpass those of human psychics, making her the undisputed ruler of the Mind Realm. Through her power, the Broodmother established a psychic empire known as the Hivemind. This empire serves not only as the central command for the colony but also as a tool for discovering nodes to new worlds they can explore and conquer.


    Despite her vast intelligence and calculative abilities, the Broodmother remains driven by her animalistic instincts. She is compelled to evolve and grow stronger. To achieve this, the colony requires a resource they call biomass, which they extract from the worlds they dominate.


    Biomass is energy harvested from any organic matter¡ªplants, animals, or intelligent organisms. If a colony of 1,000 ants living in a small nest requires all the food within a several-kilometer radius to survive, then the Arachnoax, with a population exceeding trillions, demand an amount of biomass far beyond what a single galaxy can supply.


    To meet this immense demand, the Arachnoax deploy vast fleets known as Swarm Fleets. These fleets consist of colossal organic ships made of chitin and living tissue, capable of self-repair and adaptation to the harsh conditions of outer space. Equipped with faster-than-light travel capabilities, these ships roam the universe endlessly. Every planet they visit becomes a dead world, stripped of all organic life.


    Yet, the Broodmother¡¯s ambitions are insatiable. Using her psychic power, she employs the Mind Realm to locate new nodes¡ªgateways to worlds rich in organic life. However, the Mind Realm is vast, and finding nodes that lead to inhabited worlds is a task far more daunting than searching for a needle in a haystack. Even so, psychic abilities in the Mind Realm are like candlelight in utter darkness. In this pitch-black domain, the Hivemind, the Broodmother''s psychic empire, shines like a beacon.


    This light allows the Broodmother to quickly locate other Broodmothers within the Mind Realm. Consequently, the primary target of one Arachnoax colony''s expansion is often another Arachnoax colony. Despite being of the same species, there is no hesitation or mercy in the Broodmother¡¯s drive to devour her rivals for greater evolution and power.


    Battles between Broodmothers result in unimaginably devastating wars. These conflicts raged until every Broodmother in the Eukaryota World had been discovered and annihilated, leaving only the ten strongest Broodmothers. These ten are: Mraviji, Moirb, Maurr, Mier, Myre, Myra, Miere, Miera, Vamrah, and Mymrex.


    These ten Broodmothers possess psychic abilities of equal strength and fleets of nearly identical power. As a result, a fragile balance was established¡ªan equilibrium that caused inter-colony conflicts to stagnate into a stalemate for hundreds of thousands of years. None of them could overpower the others.


    This deadlock ultimately pushed the ten Broodmothers to seek new paths forward. They resolved to focus their efforts on locating nodes leading to other worlds inhabited by intelligent life.


    Although all Broodmothers in the Eukaryota World had been identified, the universe is vast. It remains highly likely that other intelligent species exist somewhere, waiting to be discovered¡ªand consumed.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 1: Eukaryota World (Last Part)

    The method devised by the Arachnoax to expand their reach is deceptively simple, even seemingly trivial. They place hiveseers¡ªArachnoax resembling moths¡ªon meteors traveling through other galaxies.


    Hiveseers possess extraordinary abilities to read star patterns and predict enemy movements. During battles, they amplify the Broodmother¡¯s psychic powers, even if separated by millions of light-years from the fleet. With the hiveseers, the Broodmother gains a detailed understanding of the battlefield, enabling her to craft more effective war strategies.


    This ability also sharpens the Hivemind¡¯s detection of new nodes. If there is a source of life at the node, the hiveseer ensures nothing is overlooked, even in the absence of psychic signals. Thanks to this straightforward yet ingenious method, the Arachnoax have successfully discovered new species amid the vast expanse of the cosmos.


    The new species discovered by the Arachnoax was the Xynomera, a group of insect-like creatures also led by a queen, much like the Arachnoax. However, the significant difference between the two lay in how their queens related to their colonies.


    While the Arachnoax Broodmother maintained total control over every individual in her colony, leaving no room for free will, the Xynomera queen granted autonomy to her offspring. To the Xynomera queen, every individual was a being with a unique personality and desires. She provided only general guidance and overarching goals, leaving the execution of tasks to the initiative of each individual. This was akin to a creator who cherished her creations, offering them a ¡°guidebook¡± for a better life without forcing them to follow her path.


    This approach was deemed inefficient and a waste of potential by the Broodmothers. Furthermore, the Xynomera were a predominantly peaceful species. They refrained from attacking or invading unless provoked. While they too required biomass for their growth, the Xynomera valued sustainable resource use and avoided excessive exploitation.


    To the Arachnoax, the Xynomera were revolting¡ªa species squandering their potential with philosophies of gentleness and freedom. Thus, the Arachnoax invasions were not only driven by the need for biomass but also by a desire to eradicate what they perceived as weakness and imperfection from the species as much special as them.


    The disparity in strength between the two species was vast. Compared to the Arachnoax, the Xynomera were a relatively young species, far behind in evolutionary development. Their experience in interstellar warfare was no match for the Arachnoax, who had been waging war for millennia.


    As a result, the Xynomera were unable to mount any meaningful resistance. One by one, their queens were defeated and consumed by the Broodmothers. The Arachnoax''s dominance over the Xynomera became a stark symbol of evolution''s cruelty, where only the strongest survive in the vast cosmos.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the Arachnoax war fleets to annihilate the last Xynomera queen, turning her into biomass for their Broodmother. With this defeat, the fate of the Xynomera was effectively sealed: total annihilation. However, just as the Swarm Fleets prepared to sweep through and erase all life in the Xynomera galaxy, a new signal echoed through the Mind Realm.


    The signal originated from one of the hiveseers sent aboard a meteor traversing a new galaxy¡ªa galaxy inhabited by humans. Although human psychic abilities paled in comparison to the overwhelming power of the Broodmother¡¯s Hivemind, their sheer numbers radiated a faint but significant light in the Mind Realm. Like fireflies flickering in the night, dim though they were, they marked their presence unmistakably.


    This prompted the Broodmothers to delay a direct invasion. Instead, they recalled all forces that had just concluded the war against the Xynomera to prepare for this new prey. The vast number of human psychics demanded caution from the Broodmothers. After all, without queens, the Xynomera species was guaranteed to collapse into extinction on its own, requiring no further intervention.


    After regrouping their entire forces, the Arachnoax launched an all-out assault on humanity. Their massive war fleets and countless insect soldiers attacked with brutal ferocity. Human psychics, once confident in their dominion over the Mind Realm, no longer dared to enter it. The moment they tried, their presence was immediately detected by the Broodmother, who could seize control of their bodies within seconds.


    However, what the Broodmother could never have anticipated was the final effort of the Xynomera. The last Xynomera queen, aware that defeat was inevitable, had already laid the groundwork for her species'' survival. Before her demise, she sent her final eggs to an uninhabited planet called Aculeata.


    Aculeata was an extreme planet with surface temperatures so high they could incinerate even the strongest Arachnoax warriors. While the Arachnoax exoskeleton was incredibly durable, capable of withstanding meteor impacts, their soft, slimy internal tissues were highly vulnerable to extreme heat. For this reason, planets with such temperatures were never used as nests by the Arachnoax.


    But for the Xynomera offspring, this planet represented their last hope. The queen had been preparing for this eventuality for a long time. With meticulous care, she forced her eggs to adapt to high temperatures in her native environment, even though their home planet was not as scorching as Aculeata. This strategy was designed to increase the eggs¡¯ chances of surviving the extreme conditions of Aculeata.


    When the time came, the eggs were launched to Aculeata just as the Swarm Fleet was preoccupied battling the queen and her forces. Using specially crafted capsules, the eggs pierced Aculeata¡¯s atmosphere and landed safely. However, the true challenge began upon their arrival. Once on the planet''s surface, thousands of eggs perished immediately, unable to adapt to the harsh environment.


    The difficulties didn¡¯t end there. Aculeata was home to bloodthirsty predators that feasted on the soft innards of the eggs. Within a short time, 90% of the remaining eggs were devoured by these predators. The few that survived continued to die off, unable to withstand the brutal conditions.


    Amid this total devastation, only a single egg managed to survive. After sixteen long years, the egg began showing signs of hatching.


    This egg symbolized the last hope of the Xynomera¡ªa chance to rise again from the brink of extinction. Yet, on a planet as perilous as Aculeata, only time would tell if the last Xynomera offspring could defy the odds and reshape the destiny that seemed so heavily stacked against them.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 2: I Only Need You (Part 1)

    {Suraian, Capital Planet of the West Human Federation.}


    BAM!


    In a modest house radiating warmth from the outside, a man and a woman sat across from each other at the dining table. Their gazes locked intensely, but the atmosphere between them was far from romantic¡ªit was tense and suffocating.


    The woman was mesmerizing. Her long, flowing hair cascaded down her back like liquid gold, resembling a golden waterfall. Her face was flawless, with a petite nose, full lips exuding elegance, and glowing golden skin that seemed kissed by sunlight. Across from her sat a man equally captivating. His jet-black hair, dark and deep eyes, and chiseled features¡ªstrong cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and sword-like arched brows¡ªgave him an aura of strength.


    Though it was evident they were husband and wife¡ªfrom the rings on their fingers and the large wedding photo displayed on the wall behind them¡ªthe air between them was cold, as if an invisible chasm separated them.


    The tension peaked when the beautiful woman with dark auburn hair slammed her hand onto the table. The resounding thud of wood shattered the silence. Her eyes, once enchanting, now burned with anger as they bore into the man before her. Her lips were pressed tightly together, holding back the sharp words threatening to spill out. The once warm home now felt oppressive, filled with an energy that seemed ready to explode.


    ¡°Lyna, I have to do this! It¡¯s my duty as a human, as a man, and as a soldier of the West Human Federation!¡± the man said, trying to calm the woman he called Lyna.


    But instead of quelling her fury, his words ignited it further. Lyna, who had been holding herself back, could no longer contain the storm inside her.


    ¡°WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY ¡®YOUR DUTY¡¯? DO YOU THINK YOU¡¯RE SOME KIND OF HERO FOR HUMANITY? OR ARE YOU JUST DELUDED BY YOUR OWN FOOLISH FANTASIES?¡±


    Lyna¡¯s roar reverberated through the room, more like the snarl of a wild beast. Her face flushed, and her eyes began to glisten with tears. Beneath the outburst of rage lay a deep-seated worry she couldn¡¯t hide.


    ¡°Lyna, please try to understand¡­ You already know the truth. All those reports saying we¡¯re winning against the Arachnoax are lies. The reality is, our defensive lines are shrinking. Hundreds of planets, along with their entire populations, have been devoured by those godforsaken insects!¡±


    ¡°AND WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH YOU?¡± Lyna shouted, cutting him off. ¡°DID THEY KILL YOUR PARENTS YOU NEVER MET? YOUR FRIENDS THAT NEVER EXISTED? OR THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE I NEVER KNEW ABOUT? ANSWER ME! WHAT DOES THIS WAR HAVE TO DO WITH YOU?¡±


    ¡°Lyna¡ª¡±


    ¡°AS FAR AS I KNOW, YOU¡¯RE JUST AN OFFICE WORKER WHOSE JOB IS TO RECEIVE AND SEND MESSAGES! YOU¡¯RE NOT A SOLDIER, NOT SOMEONE WHO WIELDS A WEAPON, AND DEFINITELY NOT SOMEONE WHO FIGHTS GIANT INSECTS THE SIZE OF A HOUSE!¡±


    ¡°Lyna¡ª¡±


    ¡°AND IF YOU THINK YOUR MUSCLE TRAINING TO KEEP YOUR BODY IN SHAPE WILL BE USEFUL IN WAR, YOU NEED TO SNAP OUT OF YOUR DELUSIONS! ANY RANDOM SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINE COULD BREAK YOUR NECK WITH ONE FINGER!¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Lyna¡ª¡±


    ¡°OR DO YOU THINK YOUR HIGH SCORES IN WAR SIMULATION GAMES WILL HELP IN AN ACTUAL BATTLE? ARE YOU STILL A CHILD? DO YOU STILL WET YOUR BED? YOU¡¯RE OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE GRANDCHILDREN ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF SOME BACKWATER PLANET! WAKE UP!¡±


    ¡°Lyna, I beg you¡ª¡±


    ¡°WAKE UP! YOU¡¯RE WEAK! EVEN I COULD BEAT YOU IN A ONE-ON-ONE FIGHT! YOU¡¯RE TOO SOFT! JUST LOOK AT YOU, YOU STILL FEEL SORRY FOR OLD LADIES TRYING TO CROSS THE STREET! AND YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ARACHNOAX? WAKE UP, PLEASE!!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The man remained silent, unable to find the right words to respond. The ensuing silence only made Lyna¡¯s anger feel even more painful. Though she was the one shouting and hurling insults, her own heart was the one most wounded. The man before her wasn¡¯t just her husband, the person she deeply loved¡ªhe was the one she trusted most in this world.


    For that reason, it was a blatant lie when Lyna called him weak. If he truly were weak, she would never have entrusted her future and her life to be by his side.


    But the pain tearing through Lyna¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t surpass the fear swelling inside her as she saw the unshakable determination in the man¡¯s eyes. He was stubborn¡ªmore unyielding than steel. Once he decided on something, nothing could stop him, short of a meteor shower wiping out the galaxy. This had already been proven, such as when he convinced the noble Kata family¡ªincluding her father, the esteemed grand commander of Suraian¡¯s military¡ªto allow their cherished daughter to marry a commoner.


    That alone was a miracle, considering her husband¡¯s sloth-like habits: preferring to laze around and hardly lifting a finger. Yet, there was one thing that set him apart. His eyes, usually blank and filled with boredom, would blaze with a fiery determination when he found a goal that truly motivated him.


    And now, those eyes burned with the same fire.


    That fire was his decision to go to the front lines and face the Arachnoax.


    Three years ago, humanity first encountered a new alien species that emerged in the region of the East Human Federation. This species introduced themselves as the Arachnoax. Initially, they were friendly and displayed no aggression toward humanity. Unlike humans, where each individual possesses their own consciousness, the Arachnoax do not live as separate entities. They are part of a collective consciousness entirely controlled by their leader, known as the Broodmother.


    Under the Broodmother''s control, each Arachnoax individual has no will of their own. They exist solely to serve the leader''s commands. This system caught the attention of the East Human Federation, which follows communal politics that sometimes verge on dictatorship. They saw potential in studying a governance system based on a collective consciousness like a hivemind.


    Interest in this grew even stronger when it was discovered that the Broodmother possessed psychic abilities far surpassing human capabilities. The North Human Federation, which reveres psychics as deities, even showed a dangerous level of sympathy toward the Arachnoax. Meanwhile, the South and West Human Federations remained cautious, though they harbored no outright hatred toward the species.


    Collaboration and knowledge exchange between the East, North, and the Arachnoax began, promising significant advancements for the Human Federation. However, everything changed two years ago.


    When human psychics began studying the hivemind, they slowly lost control over their own minds. They became puppets entirely controlled by the Broodmother, unable to resist her command. This led to a catastrophic disaster. Psychics, who held significant influence across the Human Federation, suddenly turned against humanity.


    A massive invasion by the Arachnoax ensued, dismantling humanity''s defenses one by one. A ring of destruction slowly engulfed civilization, and what once seemed like allies turned into a living nightmare.


    The psychics, who had been humanity''s most powerful weapon, were suddenly neutralized and turned against their own kind. This forced humanity to rely entirely on their technology¡ªmost of which, ironically, was designed to harness psychic abilities. However, the Human Federation was not a weak civilization. As an entity that had faced various alien species in intergalactic wars, the South, North, East, and West Human Federations had honed their strength for centuries.


    A great war erupted, spanning thousands of galaxies and nebulae under humanity''s control. Although humans had confidence in their technological superiority, reality told a different story. On the battlefield, firepower alone was not enough.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 2: I Only Need You (Last Part)

    The Arachnoax forces, with their unparalleled speed of thought and calculation, attacked with strategies that were nearly impossible to predict. Their evolution and adaptation occurred so rapidly that humanity''s ultimate weapons, such as energy rays, were effective for only a single battle. After a loss, the Arachnoax would immediately analyze their weaknesses and develop a sure-win strategy for the next engagement.


    Even humanity''s most experienced commanders were left frustrated. With every loss, human forces were forced to retreat, surrendering planet after planet to the Arachnoax. Even the corpses of fallen human soldiers were exploited by the Arachnoax to further their evolution.


    This dire situation compelled the Human Federation to reconsider the use of artificial intelligence (AI), a technology previously banned due to the immense risks it posed. Unfortunately, the current AI systems were still no match for the Broodmother. Time was desperately needed to accelerate the development of technologies capable of countering the seemingly unstoppable evolution of the Arachnoax.


    Meanwhile, thousands of planets that had once thrived under human control were now turned into feeding grounds for their enemies. The growing string of defeats was masked by propaganda, spread through mass media, reporting false victories to calm the public.


    But for Lyna, who came from a noble military family, these lies were impossible to believe. She knew a far grimmer truth: the Human Federation was on the brink of collapse. They needed every life they could throw onto the battlefield to buy the time necessary to develop the technology to fight the Arachnoax. The reality on the front lines was far worse than words could describe.


    Tragically, her husband was also aware of this horrific truth. Lyna didn¡¯t need to think long to guess where he got this information¡ªit was obvious: her father. Lyna¡¯s father, a respected military commander, was one of the few who fully grasped the severity of the crisis.


    Moreover, Lyna knew that her husband was no ordinary man. Despite his often deceptive laziness and carefree demeanor, he was a top graduate of the most prestigious military academy in the Human Federation. If he hadn¡¯t married Lyna, he might have already been a celebrated fleet captain known across the galaxy.


    Yet their love was too profound to be separated. To preserve their relationship, her husband chose a simple job as an administrative staff member, merely tasked with receiving and sending messages. This job allowed him to return home every evening, spend time with Lyna, and maintain the warmth of their little family.


    But now, the man who was usually so gentle had changed. Behind his deep black eyes, Lyna saw the blazing fire of resolve. He had decided to head to the battlefield, to join the ranks of humanity fighting against the Arachnoax¡ªeven if it meant leaving Lyna behind and risking his life.


    Lyna felt her world crumble. Her husband¡¯s decision, driven by love and an overwhelming sense of responsibility, only filled her with suffocating fear. The thought of losing the man she loved more than anything else shattered her heart. In a voice trembling with desperation, she began to speak, her tone almost like the fragile murmur of a child trying to deny reality.


    ¡°We¡­ we can run away! Yes! My love, we can escape from all of this!¡± she exclaimed, her tone brimming with fragile hope. ¡°We can go to the ends of the universe, to a place where there are no giant insects devouring us for the biomass of their queen!¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Her husband remained silent, gazing at her with a calm yet unshakable expression. That look pierced deeper into Lyna''s heart, sending her into a rising panic. Her breath hitched, and she began to speak faster, almost uncontrollably.


    "We can live anywhere, my love! I don''t need a luxurious home or a soft bed. I can sleep soundly in your arms¡ªyou know that! I don¡¯t care about eating at fancy restaurants; I can eat anything you give me. I can even learn to cook! You like spicy tofu and saut¨¦ed water spinach, right? I¡¯ll learn¡ªI promise! You¡¯ll get addicted to my cooking!¡±


    ¡°My love¡­¡± he tried to interject gently, but Lyna kept talking, her voice growing higher.


    ¡°I can clean the house! We don¡¯t need a household robot. I¡¯ve heard cleaning is good exercise, so I can sweep while staying healthy. You don¡¯t need to worry! Even if our house has a dirt floor, I¡¯ll clean it until there¡¯s not a speck of dust left! You believe I can do that, right?¡±


    ¡°My love¡­¡±


    ¡°We could live in a remote place, surrounded by green gardens. You could open a coffee shop in front of our house, serving customers while writing the fantasy novels you love. I¡¯ll take care of the flowers in the yard. At night, we could sit on a rattan patio in the backyard, staring at the stars. That¡¯s your dream, isn¡¯t it? We can live like that now!¡±


    ¡°My love!¡±


    ¡°Let me finish! Please, let me finish!¡± Lyna interrupted, her voice trembling but full of determination. ¡°I only need you! I don¡¯t care about anything else! I don¡¯t care if my arrogant father becomes food for those insects! I don¡¯t care if this useless humanity turns into waste! I only need you! Just you!¡±


    Tears streamed down Lyna¡¯s face, soaking her flushed cheeks. She clutched her husband¡¯s hands so tightly that it felt as though they might break. Her body, strengthened since childhood, made her far stronger than an ordinary human, and that strength was palpable. Yet she had never once used that strength against this man.


    There was something in her that made her feel her husband¡ªa simple man from a commoner background¡ªwas far stronger than she was. That was why Lyna had never even considered using force or locking him away to keep him from going to the front lines. But now, her fear was nearly driving her to break the principles she had always held dear.


    Her husband gazed at her with deep love, full of patience, as if the pain from his nearly crushed hands didn¡¯t exist. In a gentle voice, like a loving teacher guiding a favorite student, he said:


    ¡°My love, life has given me more than I ever hoped for. I, who was born alone, have never felt loneliness or lack. Life gave me peace and love in abundance, so much that I feel ashamed not to be grateful. Life also brought me to you¡ªthe greatest blessing of my life. You are My Beautiful Thing.


    That is why I want to repay life¡¯s kindness. Let me protect those who are oppressed, those who have no hope. Let me safeguard the small flicker of light at the edge of this universe so that those who are alone, as I once was, will know they are not truly alone. I want them to feel that one day, they too will find their Beautiful Thing, just as I found you.¡±


    Her husband¡¯s gaze was so sincere and pure that Lyna couldn¡¯t bring herself to respond. She lowered her head, avoiding those eyes, as a wave of self-loathing began to consume her heart. She knew how selfish she was being, but logic was powerless against the storm of her emotions. Harshly, Lyna released her grip on his hands and screamed in anger:


    "THEN DIE LIKE I CARE!"


    Tears streamed down her cheeks as she ran to the bedroom, locking herself inside. In the silence of that room, her sobs poured out uncontrollably. When she finally felt calm enough to come out and try to convince him one more time, all she found was a letter announcing his departure.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Seven months later, a soldier knocked on her door. With a cold yet sympathetic expression, he handed her an official letter informing her that her husband had fallen in battle. Along with the letter, the soldier also presented a wedding ring¡ªthe only thing left of the man who had been Lyna¡¯s entire world.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 3: Click! (Part 1)

    Lyna stared blankly at the beautiful ring lying on the table before her. It was the counterpart to the one wrapped around her own ring finger. Only when the two rings were joined on a single finger did their true form reveal itself. Her husband had crafted these rings with his own hands, and Lyna still remembered how proud he was when he showed them to her.


    A faint smile touched Lyna¡¯s lips, but tears once again flowed from eyes that should have already run dry. With trembling hands, she reached for the ring. Every touch deepened the ache in her heart. Regret, anger, sorrow, and despair churned within her, blending into a piercing bitterness. Unconsciously, she bit her lip too hard, drawing a small bead of blood.


    Slowly, Lyna slid the ring onto her finger, next to her own. When the two rings met, there was a soft click, and they fused together, revealing their true form.


    Now the ring looked like a living masterpiece¡ªa perfect blend of soft gold and gleaming silver, intertwining like branches rooted deeply yet growing toward the light. At the center of this intricate design was an eight-pointed sapphire star, radiating a gentle glow like a tiny star shining in the dark of night. The gem was encircled by delicate engravings of tiny flames, reminding Lyna of her husband¡¯s warm smile that had once melted her frozen heart.


    She vividly remembered the moment her husband proposed to her with this ring. The fire blazing in his eyes at that time reflected a love so vast and pure. She had been astonished to see such a beautiful ring, especially knowing he was just a fresh graduate without much money. How had he managed to afford it? But Lyna had never asked. To her, questioning it felt like doubting her husband¡¯s capabilities¡ªsomething she would never do, especially given the disparity in their social statuses.


    Oddly, Lyna had never worried about his ability to provide for their small family. There was an inexplicable certainty in her heart that he would weather storms and endure hardships to give her the best life he could. That sense of comfort and trust had been the foundation of their love.


    Lyna had once envisioned their future together¡ªgrowing old, surrounded by children and grandchildren who would visit them, even though she knew they would prefer enjoying each other¡¯s company. She could still recall her husband, with a serious expression, saying, ¡°When the kids turn 30, we¡¯re kicking them out. I want to enjoy a second honeymoon with you. Those troublesome kids can fend for themselves for a while.¡±


    Lyna had laughed back then, imagining her husband truly doing something so ridiculous just to spend more time with her.


    But now¡­


    Reality crashed over Lyna like a cold wave, relentless and unforgiving. Her husband was no longer by her side, leaving behind only promises, memories, and a love she could never forget. The home once filled with his laughter and silly antics now felt hollow and colder with every passing day. She gazed at the ring on her finger, tears flowing once more even though they should have dried long ago.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    She wanted to scream, to unleash all the anguish eating away at her, but her voice was gone after endless sobbing through the night. Now, all that remained was her frail body, like a dying tree slowly withering away.


    ¡°What am I supposed to do with this life?¡± she whispered softly, her eyes fixed on the ring around her finger.


    ¡°Should I follow you there? Maybe that¡¯s the best choice since this world feels too empty without you¡­¡±


    ¡°Or should I go on living without you? Hmm¡­ maybe that¡¯s what you would want, even though it¡¯s cruel of you to leave me¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so selfish, you know that?¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as her trembling voice continued,


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you once say that I was the most important thing in your life? The greatest blessing you¡¯d ever received? Your beautiful thing? Then why¡­ why did you leave me?¡±


    Silence enveloped the room, but her thoughts churned relentlessly.


    ¡°Oh, I remember. You once said that death was freedom. ¡®Death is the end of all sin,¡¯ isn¡¯t that what you said back then?¡±


    ¡°IF THAT¡¯S TRUE, THEN WHY DO I WANT TO CURSE YOU NOW?! DON¡¯T YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU¡¯VE WRONGED ME?! HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME ALONE IN THIS DAMNED WORLD!!!¡±


    Lyna gasped for air, her chest rising and falling as uncontainable anger and sorrow surged through her.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    ¡°My love, tell me what I¡¯m supposed to do.¡±


    Before she realized it, her body had curled up on their bed, trembling in solitude. She clutched a photo of her husband tightly, holding it as though she could still feel the warmth of the man she loved. But the embrace was empty¡ªcold and lifeless.


    She had no idea how long she lay in that position. Her body felt stiff, her muscles protesting every small movement. Then, the sound of the bedroom door opening shattered her trance. Footsteps approached, but she didn¡¯t care. The world around her had lost all meaning.


    A document was tossed in front of her, jolting her out of her stupor. Her vacant gaze shifted to the bold words on its cover: CLASSIFIED. Her husband¡¯s photograph was prominently displayed on the document¡¯s first page. Her weak hand moved with difficulty, reaching for the document. Something deep inside her whispered that she would regret not reading it.


    With a body nearly devoid of strength, Lyna began to read the document slowly. Inside were complete details about her husband and the team that had gone with him on a mission. Her brow furrowed as she read the mission description.


    The mission was classified as high-risk, with an almost zero chance of success. Yet, the document stated that the mission had been accomplished¡ªwith only one casualty. That casualty was her husband.


    Lyna froze for a moment. It didn¡¯t take long for her to realize what had truly happened. Her husband had sacrificed his life to save his team¡ªor perhaps, his team had used his life as a pawn to ensure their own survival.


    Her heart churned with turmoil. The document was undeniable evidence that could uncover the truth behind her husband¡¯s death. But what would she do with that truth? That question echoed in her mind, accompanied by the anger and grief surging once more to the surface.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 3: Click! (Last Part)

    Her heart churned with turmoil. The document was undeniable evidence that could uncover the truth behind her husband¡¯s death. But what would she do with that truth? That question echoed in her mind, accompanied by the anger and grief surging once more to the surface.


    "Your husband wasn¡¯t sacrificed by his team," the man said in a calm tone. "He chose to act as bait to ensure their safety and the mission¡¯s success. The mission he undertook was grueling, of utmost importance, and nearly impossible to execute. No soldier, not even the finest in the Federation, dared to take that risk. Yet, your husband once again proved himself to be extraordinary¡ªthe man worthy of marrying Lyna Kata, the Queen Bee who commands hundreds of battle fleets as if they were extensions of her will¡ª"


    BAM!


    The man¡¯s body was hurled violently, slamming into a wall and bringing it down. Lyna, who had been curled up on the bed moments before, now stood with clenched fists. Her punch had been so swift the man hadn¡¯t even registered what had happened. Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with rage, her body trembling with barely contained fury, and a feral roar erupted from her throat.


    ¡°SHUT THE FUCK UP!¡± she screamed, her voice filled with unbridled anger.


    The man slowly rose, his cheek reddened and blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He brushed the dust off his military uniform and looked at Lyna calmly. As a powerful psychic still free from the Broodmother¡¯s control, his body was far stronger than an ordinary human¡¯s. Just before Lyna¡¯s lethal punch struck his face, he had managed to create an energy shield around his head. Without it, his skull would have shattered like a watermelon under a hammer.


    Still, though he had survived, he fully understood the deadly extent of Lyna¡¯s strength. He dared not retaliate, let alone strike back, because the woman before him was the strongest psychic in the West Human Federation. Had she not retired a few years prior, she might have been the most powerful in the entire Human Federation.


    ¡°My daughter, is this how you greet your father after so long apart?¡± the man said, a faint smile on his face despite the blood still trickling from his lip. Even with the energy shield, he could still feel the immense impact of her punch.


    ¡°If¡­ if my husband¡¯s name leaves your filthy mouth one more time, don¡¯t blame me if the Kata Family has to find a new head,¡± Lyna replied in an icy, threatening tone.


    The man immediately clamped his mouth shut. He knew Lyna¡¯s threats were not empty words. The murderous intent in her eyes was palpable, and he was fully aware that his life depended on the thin thread of her patience.


    Lyna slowly regained her composure, though her body still trembled with anger that hadn¡¯t completely subsided. Her gaze remained sharp, scanning for any reason to continue her assault. Yet Kristo, ever adept at reading others¡¯ emotions, managed to hold his ground for the moment.


    ¡°State your reason for coming here,¡± Lyna demanded coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t you realize that you¡¯re the reason I lost the most important person in my life? Do you really think I won¡¯t kill you just because we share blood, Kristo?¡±


    Kristo met her gaze, aware that a single wrong word could mean his end. Taking a deep breath, he began the explanation he had long prepared.


    ¡°The mission your husband undertook was codenamed Hivemind. Its goal was to find a way to free human psychics from the Broodmother¡¯s control. To achieve that, they had to infiltrate the most dangerous place in the universe: the Arachnoax Hive.¡± Kristo paused, taking another breath before continuing.


    ¡°That place isn¡¯t just swarming with Arachnoax at every corner¡ªit¡¯s also directly ruled by the Broodmother herself. That¡¯s why it was impossible to send psychics on this mission. They would have been detected the moment they approached the Arachnoax solar system. Because of that, the Federation could only rely on ordinary soldiers for the task.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Kristo stopped briefly, glancing at Lyna. Her face was cold, but he knew she was like a lioness ready to pounce at any moment. He swallowed hard and pressed on.


    ¡°This mission had been planned for years, even back when relations between humans and the Arachnoax were still in their ¡®honeymoon phase.¡¯ But no soldier was brave or skilled enough to carry it out. If they were just looking for cannon fodder, that would¡¯ve been easy. But the leader of this mission couldn¡¯t be chosen carelessly. The mission only had one chance. If it failed, there would be no second attempt. We all know how quickly the Broodmother adapts to our combat strategies.¡±


    Kristo paused again, ensuring Lyna was still listening. ¡°If you think I forced your husband to take on this mission, you¡¯re completely wrong. I deliberately kept it hidden from him. I knew how strong his sense of justice was. If he had learned about this mission, he would¡¯ve volunteered without a second thought, no matter the danger. You know this yourself¡ªdespite his appearance as a lazy man without a sense of purpose, your husband loved chasing danger.¡± Kristo gave a bitter smile as he said this.


    ¡°Then how did he find out about the Hivemind mission?¡± Lyna asked, frowning. Though she hadn¡¯t used her telepathic abilities in years, she could still sense the sincerity in Kristo¡¯s words.


    Kristo shook his head slowly. ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure. Most likely, he heard about it from someone high up in the Federation.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the head of the Kata family. Is there anything in the Human Federation you don¡¯t know?¡± Lyna asked suspiciously, her eyes piercing through Kristo.


    Kristo let out a long sigh. ¡°My daughter, while the Kata family is incredibly powerful within the West Human Federation¡ªsome would even say its leader¡ªour influence doesn¡¯t extend as far across the entire Human Federation. You know yourself how deep the power structures of the Federation go; even I haven¡¯t uncovered its full depths. In my opinion, the higher-ups have been targeting your husband for this mission for a long time. Not only because of his extraordinary abilities during his time at the academy but also because of your existence as his wife.¡±


    Kristo¡¯s words hung heavily in the air. Lyna stayed silent, processing every statement. Back when she was active in the military, Lyna¡¯s name was legendary. Time and again, she had been offered promotions to lead the Federation¡¯s main fleet, but she had always refused. Her reason for joining the military wasn¡¯t power; it was to explore the vast universe. However, everything changed when she met her husband. That meeting made her choose early retirement, leaving her old life behind to spend her days with the man who filled her heart.


    If it were true that one of the reasons the Federation¡¯s leaders recruited her husband was to lure her back into the military, it made sense. To them, sacrificing thousands of husbands was worth it if it meant regaining the legendary Queen Bee. But even if their goal was for the survival of humanity, Lyna couldn¡¯t accept the fact that her husband had been made a sacrifice. Deep down, she knew she would rather sacrifice all of humanity for that man. After all, with her husband, they could create a new human civilization through their descendants. To her, that was far better than living without her soulmate, as she was now.


    But reality had chosen a different path. Her husband had taken a different road, one dedicated to protecting humanity. Though Lyna hated that decision, she couldn¡¯t entirely blame him. She knew who he truly was. Beneath his carefree and indifferent demeanor toward the world lay an extraordinary compassion and tenderness¡ªthe light that had illuminated Lyna¡¯s life all this time. That light was also what made her willing to abandon a life of adventure to spend her days with the man she loved.


    Lyna looked at the ring on her finger and sighed deeply.


    ¡®Is this what you wanted from me?¡¯ she asked in her heart.


    If it was indeed her husband¡¯s wish, she would honor it. But she would do it in her own way. Lyna would hunt down every Federation leader who had trapped her husband in the Hivemind mission.


    She would sever their heads, one by one.


    Along the path of her vengeance, Lyna would once again become the Queen Bee, humanity¡¯s protector.


    And before she joined her husband in the afterlife...


    ¡°What¡¯s the name of the Broodmother who was the target of my husband¡¯s mission?¡± Lyna asked, her tone cold yet firm.


    Kristo narrowed his eyes, conflicted. He knew why his daughter was asking this. On one hand, he was pleased that the Federation¡¯s pillar of strength would return. On the other, he feared the destruction that pillar might bring. Still, he answered her question.


    ¡°Vamrah, the Locust Queen,¡± he said softly.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 4: Vengeance (Part 1)

    In less than a month, Lyna managed to gather her entire old crew. With The Nest¡ªtheir pride and joy spacecraft¡ªthey once again ventured into the vastness of space. The entire crew, who had been waiting for the return of the Broodmother Queen, reassembled without hesitation. They had always believed that Lyna would someday come back to lead them into battle against the monsters lurking in the depths of the universe. Even during the raging war against the Arachnoax, they chose to remain silent, refusing countless offers from renowned captains who tried to recruit them. Their loyalty was unwavering. To them, only Lyna¡ªthe Broodmother Queen¡ªwas worthy of being their leader.


    Though she had been absent from the field for years, the name of the Broodmother Queen was still etched deeply in the minds of soldiers. News of Lyna''s return to the battlefield spread rapidly, drawing numerous renowned captains to join under her banner. This was especially true in the West Human Federation, where Lyna was regarded as a legend, a hero, and a symbol of pride. As a result, Lyna not only returned with The Nest but also led hundreds of warships following in her wake¡ªa fleet poised to change the tide of war.


    The coalition¡¯s first battle took place in the Nebula Hunian, a vast nebula filled with hazardous sulfuric gas. These gases were capable of melting even the strongest ships. During the war between humans and the Arachnoax, the Nebula Hunian became the bloodiest battlefield. Initially, human forces used the sulfur gas as natural protection and camouflage, turning the nebula into a labyrinth and fortress. However, the Broodmother quickly adapted, learning these tactics and adjusting her forces. They mapped the entirety of the Nebula Hunian and began setting up ambushes at strategic points. As a result, the once-familiar terrain of the Nebula Hunian became alien and deadly. The human forces were pushed back, suffering defeat after defeat, and were nearly driven out of the nebula entirely.


    Just as hope was nearly lost, The Nest and its coalition arrived on the battlefield. The war commanders in the Nebula Hunian were initially skeptical of Lyna''s abilities. To them, the legend of the Broodmother Queen was nothing more than an outdated story. But Lyna paid no heed to their doubts. She knew all too well the stubborn nature of military officers¡ªthey only trusted what they could see with their own eyes.


    Without wasting time, Lyna took direct command on the battlefield. With only The Nest and eight other capital ships, she moved to ambush an Arachnoax fleet that had appeared on their radar. The enemy forces, numbering hundreds of times more, did not faze her. In space warfare, sheer numbers didn¡¯t determine victory. A single energy ray from a capital ship could obliterate thousands of fighter craft in one shot. Victory depended on two critical factors: troop positioning and battlefield awareness.


    Calmly and methodically, Lyna crafted her strategy.


    In a short time, the two fleets collided. Led by the Hiveseer as their command center, the notoriously ferocious Arachnoax forces¡ªknown as the Swarm Fleets¡ªcreated a horrifying sight against the starry backdrop. Thousands of colossal organic ships, composed of chitin and living tissue, floated with regenerative abilities and unparalleled adaptability to the harshness of space. Surrounded by Dreadnaught Drones¡ªgiant beetle-like creatures with shells harder than the strongest alloys in the universe¡ªthe Swarm Fleets looked less like a battle formation and more like a plague blanketing the heavens. Human radars struggled to accurately count their numbers.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Even though humanity had regained access to their psionic abilities thanks to her husband''s sacrifice, Lyna understood that engaging the Arachnoax in the Mind Realm would be a fatal mistake. The Broodmother, ruler of the Mind Realm, could obliterate even the strongest psionics through her Hivemind. Thus, psionics were restricted to using telekinesis alone, avoiding telepathy or clairvoyance altogether. Enemy detection relied entirely on human technology, while the Arachnoax effortlessly tracked them through their Mind Realm network. Yet, this was still an improvement over the earlier days when exposed psionics risked being controlled by the Broodmother and turning against their allies.


    No one believed Lyna could win this battle. The enemy forces were too numerous, and the Arachnoax were infamous for their brutal ambush tactics. When battles began, Swarm Fleets would typically encircle their prey, swarming from all directions before launching devastating attacks, even sacrificing their own ships if necessary. But Lyna was not a commander who played by the book. She led with a direct, improvisational approach, and her strategies were so unconventional they transcended the term "creative."


    Instead of treating the sulfur gases in the Nebula Hunian as an obstacle or defense, Lyna used them as "shrubbery" to conceal her fleet. She coated her ships with psionic energy shields, enabling them to survive in the extreme environment for a few minutes. The sulfur gas became a veil of camouflage, blinding the Hiveseer''s detection systems, even its most powerful clairvoyance abilities. Once the Swarm Fleets were close enough, Lyna launched a chaotic, seemingly random assault¡ªnot to destroy the entire enemy fleet in one strike but to create enough disruption to prepare her ultimate weapon.


    That weapon was the Arcnova Cascade, a devastating technology exclusive to The Nest. This weapon was the result of Lyna and her crew''s research after discovering a planet that served as the nest of Space Wasps. These creatures, similar to the Arachnoax forces, attacked in massive swarms, overwhelming enemy ships from all sides and slowly dismantling them piece by piece. While conventional cannons could destroy the Space Wasps in a single shot, their sheer numbers made it impossible to eliminate the swarm before they dismantled the ship entirely.


    The battle between The Nest and the Space Wasp colony was the event that solidified Lyna''s reputation as "The Queen Bee." With only a single spaceship, she managed to obliterate the swarm of cosmic pests in record time, earning her both respect and fear across the Human Federation. However, Lyna was fully aware that the Arachnoax were not Space Wasps. They possessed exoskeletons and hides far tougher than those of the outer-space insects. A single conventional cannon shot often wasn¡¯t enough to kill them; it often required a second or even third precise strike.


    Therefore, expecting the Swarm Fleets to be destroyed by a single shot of the Arcnova Cascade was an illusion. And true to form, while the Arcnova Cascade blast created massive destruction within the Swarm Fleets, it was far from sufficient to stop them. The enemy forces continued their assault with unimaginable ferocity, systematically dismantling Lyna¡¯s fleet ship by ship. It seemed like only a matter of time before The Nest would also become a lifeless wreck adrift in the Nebula Hunian.


    However, the Arcnova Cascade was never meant to be Lyna¡¯s ultimate weapon; it was merely part of a larger plan: to locate the Hiveseer, the command center of the Swarm Fleets, hidden deep within the enemy ranks.


    Human radar technology had long been unable to distinguish the Hiveseer from ordinary Arachnoax in the Swarm Fleets. Their reliance on psionic powers had been crippled by the Broodmother¡¯s dominance over the Mind Realm. In every battle, human forces fought in near-total darkness, targeting Arachnoax one by one, even though they knew that the true core of the enemy¡¯s power lay with the Hiveseer. But through the dispersal of Arcnova Cascade energy, Lyna was finally able to pinpoint the Hiveseer¡¯s position on The Nest¡¯s radar.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 4: Vengeance (Last Part)

    Once the Hiveseer¡¯s location was identified, Lyna immediately deployed a specialized unit known as the Suicide Bees. These small-unmanned ships were uniquely designed to withstand heavy enemy fire, equipped with the strongest energy shields but devoid of any offensive weapons. Their sole mission was to infiltrate the Swarm Fleets¡¯ formation and detonate themselves right next to the Hiveseer.


    The pilots of the Suicide Bees were veterans with decades of experience, trained to maneuver ships in unpredictable patterns that made them difficult for enemies to target. Although millions of Suicide Bees were launched, only eleven managed to penetrate the Swarm Fleets, and just one reached the Hiveseer. But one was all it took.


    Each Suicide Bee carried a nuclear payload powerful enough to obliterate a small planet. Furthermore, the bomb was equipped with psionic disruption technology designed to interfere with the Hiveseer¡¯s telepathic abilities. The explosion was not just a physical devastation but a psionic attack that disrupted the Swarm Fleets'' coordination. Lyna knew that defeating an enemy as formidable as the Arachnoax required not just brute force but also unexpected strategies¡ªand that¡¯s exactly what she delivered.


    It was no secret that every Arachnoax was under the control of the Broodmother. This control was made possible through the Hiveseer, which functioned as a "signal amplifier," linking the Broodmother to the trillions of Arachnoax scattered across millions of light-years. Consequently, when the Hiveseer was neutralized in battle, the Broodmother¡¯s grip over the Swarm Fleets collapsed instantly. Without the Hiveseer, the Swarm Fleets became nothing more than a chaotic horde of wild creatures¡ªlike headless chickens.


    Just as Lyna had anticipated, after the Hiveseer was destroyed, the Swarm Fleets, which had previously moved and fought with perfect coordination, devolved into complete disarray. Seizing this opportunity, Lyna ordered an all-out attack. Not only did her forces charge into battle, but she also reignited the fighting spirit of the Nebula Hunian Army, which had been watching in awe from a distance, encouraging them to join the fray. The Nebula Hunian commanders recognized this as the best chance to drive back the Swarm Fleets, a terror that had plagued the region for so long.


    A massive assault ensued. Millions of spacecraft were deployed to the front lines, systematically dismantling the Swarm Fleets, which had lost their coordination with the Hiveseer¡¯s fall. However, it wasn¡¯t long before signs of organization began to reappear. Slowly but surely, the Broodmother regained control of her forces. But by then, it was too late. The Swarm Fleets had suffered irreparable damage. With their ranks in shambles, they were forced to retreat.


    It was then that Lyna demonstrated her leadership. Instead of ordering a pursuit, she chose to halt the attack. Lyna knew that the Broodmother, infamous for her cunning and guile, was undoubtedly preparing a deadly trap to retaliate for this defeat. Chasing the enemy under such circumstances would only place her forces in grave danger. At first, the Nebula Hunian commanders disagreed with this decision, but no soldier dared to challenge Lyna. After such a stunning victory, all eyes were on Lyna with admiration and respect. The Queen Bee was no longer just a legend; she had become a great hero who stood among them.


    This victory was not just a battlefield triumph; it was also a stepping stone for Lyna to win the hearts of the Nebula Hunian soldiers. In a short time, she became the de facto leader on the battlefield, a position that had once been unthinkable. The relentless defeats suffered by the Nebula Hunian forces had left them hopeless, but Lyna¡¯s unconventional strategies restored their morale. She was willing to take risks that appeared unfavorable, attack from unexpected angles, and make strategic moves that were nearly impossible to predict.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Lyna¡¯s leadership style was akin to the chess game of Mikhail Tal, ¡°The Magician from Riga,¡± known for his surprising and unpredictable moves. Even the Broodmother, with intelligence surpassing the supercomputer Stockfish, could not decipher her strategies. Gradually but surely, the Nebula Hunian region was reclaimed by the West Human Federation¡ªa monumental victory that shook the entire Human Federation. News of this triumph spread far and wide, and Lyna¡¯s name soared even higher as an indomitable war hero.


    For Lyna, however, this victory was only the beginning of her long journey. Her true goal burned fiercely in her heart: vengeance for her husband¡¯s death. She knew that to achieve it, she would have to climb the ranks of the Human Federation¡¯s military. Becoming a war hero was the fastest way to do so. With each victory she achieved and every medal of honor she collected, Lyna¡¯s position rose higher.


    From there, she began piecing together information and tracking the names of the high-ranking officials in the Human Federation who had trapped her husband in a suicide mission. When all the pieces of the puzzle finally came together, Lyna¡¯s desire for revenge reached its peak. She launched her assault¡ªnot on the battlefield, but at the heart of the Human Federation¡¯s political hegemony. The impact she created there not only toppled prominent names but also shook the seemingly unshakable structure of power.


    None of the major figures could escape Lyna¡¯s grasp. With cold and merciless tactics, she tightened her grip around their necks, suffocating them until no breath remained, and then severed their lifelines without hesitation. One by one, the names on her list were crossed off, and their histories were erased from existence. In a short time, Lyna had purged the Human Federation of the parasitic leeches that had been draining it.


    But her work was far from over. After avenging her husband within the Human Federation, Lyna¡¯s gaze shifted to the greatest enemy of all: Vamrah, the Locust Queen.


    Of the ten Broodmothers surrounding the Human Federation, Vamrah was the most feared. She was infamous for her extraordinarily vast forces and her ruthless battle strategies. Vamrah was known to sacrifice billions of Arachnoax simply to seize a barren planet, creating a great mystery about the true extent of her power. No one truly knew the size of Vamrah¡¯s fleet or where she hid. Even Lyna¡¯s husband, who perished on one of the planets occupied by Vamrah, only encountered her due to a stroke of terrible luck.


    To find Vamrah, Lyna utilized every connection and resource at her disposal. Years passed before Kristo, her father, came bearing crucial information that could change everything. Since their last encounter, which reignited Lyna¡¯s path as the Queen Bee, her relationship with Kristo had slowly begun to mend. Though the chill of their past lingered, they worked to rebuild their long-broken father-daughter bond. The Kata family also played a significant role in helping Lyna fulfill her quest for vengeance. While Lyna remained wary, her trust in her father and family grew over time.


    With Kristo¡¯s information, Lyna decided to act immediately. She chose not to bring a large fleet, relying solely on The Nest and her most loyal and trusted crew. This operation was an assassination mission, and too many forces would only increase the risk of detection. Her strategy was clear: strike quickly, attack with precision, and retreat before the Arachnoax forces or other Broodmothers could respond.


    In less than a day, she was determined that Vamrah, the Grasshopper Queen, would be erased from existence. With this mission, Lyna hoped to ease even a fraction of the guilt and sorrow that had haunted her¡ªa wound that never truly stopped piercing her heart.


    But what awaited her was not Vamrah. Instead, hundreds of Swarm Fleets had gathered, as if they had anticipated her arrival and were ready to greet her with full force.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 5: The End of The Queen (Part 1)

    ¡°KRISTOOO!!!¡±


    Lyna¡¯s voice thundered, filling the control room of The Nest with a reverberation that shook the very souls of those who heard it. Her scream was ablaze with fiery rage and piercing betrayal, like a monster rising from the dark depths, ready to unleash its fury.


    ¡°COME OUT, KRISTO! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR THIS! DON¡¯T HIDE! LOOK ME IN THE EYE IF YOU DARE!¡±


    BOOM!


    An explosion erupted outside. Millions of Arachnoax swarmed The Nest from all directions, bombarding the legendary ship¡¯s shields until it shook violently.


    ¡°RETURN FIRE! RETURN FIRE! WE¡¯VE BEEN BETRAYED! WHATEVER IT TAKES, WE MUST BREAK THROUGH THIS ENCIRCLEMENT!¡± Kilua shouted, trying to maintain control amidst the chaos.


    He glanced at Lyna, hoping for direction from their captain. But what he saw was a face consumed with fury¡ªlike a volcano on the brink of eruption. In that moment, Kilua realized their chances of survival were slim, almost nonexistent. But as vice-captain, he knew his duty: to act decisively and take command when their captain was overwhelmed by something far greater.


    ¡°Captain, you need to escape immediately! At the very least, you must survive¡ª¡±


    Before Kilua could finish his sentence, a face appeared on the main monitor. It was one they all recognized¡ªsomeone who had provided the crucial intel for this mission. The very person responsible for bringing them to this place, now openly admitting his betrayal.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lyna. But I had no other choice.¡±


    The face was Kristo¡ªthe head of the Kata family, a high-ranking leader of the West Human Federation, and their captain biological father.


    ¡°KRISTO!!! DO YOU THINK I CAN¡¯T SURVIVE THIS? DO YOU THINK YOU¡¯VE ALREADY WON?¡±


    Lyna¡¯s gaze turned sharp, filled with hatred. The calm and resolute demeanor she typically displayed while commanding troops in battle had vanished, replaced by a fury that underscored the dire gravity of their situation.


    Kristo stared back, his face full of bitter resolve. ¡°Lyna, I know your capabilities. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t rely on Vamrah alone to trap you. Right now, you¡¯re surrounded by the swarm fleets of Vamrah, Mraviji, Moirb, and Mauir¡ªfour Broodmothers united against you. Not only that, but the Human Federation¡¯s top officials have severed all The Nest¡¯s connections to other fleets. You¡¯ll receive no reinforcements. Lyna, understand this: for the first time in history, humanity and the Arachnoax have joined forces for one purpose¡ªto kill you.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Kristo¡¯s words pierced through every soul who heard them. The faces of the crew turned pale as the strange pieces of the puzzle finally came together. They had assumed Kristo¡¯s betrayal involved revealing their location to Vamrah, but they had never imagined this was a grand coalition operation between the Human Federation and four Broodmothers.


    Fear and despair began to envelop the entire ship. In their hearts, only one question lingered: was this the end of their journey with the Queen Bee?


    Kristo hadn¡¯t finished speaking, and what came out of his mouth next made the atmosphere even more chilling.


    ¡°With the psychics freed from the Broodmothers¡¯ control, it¡¯s only a matter of time before they reemerge on the battlefield. While we may never win the war in the Mind Realm, over the past two years, a way has been discovered for psychics to wield their powers without entering the Mind Realm. Consequently, heroes like you, with fangs that are too sharp, have become a major threat to those who wish to remain in the highest seats of power in the Human Federation.¡±


    Kristo looked at Lyna with an expression heavy with strain before continuing.


    ¡°Your vendetta, which has erased several high-ranking Human Federation officials from history, is terrifying enough to keep many of us awake at night. Your name, shining brighter with every war you win, has disrupted this balance like a sharp thorn lodged in the sole of a foot. Don¡¯t you know? On many planets, your statues have been erected in grandeur, and some have even started worshiping you. They call you the Queen Bee, the goddess of war, and believe that any war you lead is destined for victory. This is extremely dangerous!¡±


    Kristo took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting despair.


    ¡°The Human Federation was founded by the most influential noble families in this universe. West, East, South, and North maintain a balance of power, ensuring society feels secure without descending into civil war, even though all four factions compete behind the scenes. You, Lyna, have shattered that balance. You¡¯re too strong, too charismatic, too captivating. You make the masses submit with a mere gaze. The greatest threat to the Human Federation isn¡¯t the Arachnoax¡ªit¡¯s you. If you keep winning wars, the people will unite and crown you their queen. That¡¯s why... forgive me, Lyna. The Kata family isn¡¯t strong enough to bear the wrath of all the noble families in the Human Federation.¡±


    Kristo¡¯s voice trembled as he ended his statement.


    ¡°Forgive me, my daughter... you must die!¡±


    The control room of The Nest fell silent. The crew who had heard the confession were frozen, their faces filled with shock. But Lyna, who moments ago had been like a volcano ready to erupt, suddenly changed. The tension in her dissipated, replaced by a deep calmness, cold as frozen water. With sharp, unblinking eyes, she stared at Kristo.


    ¡°Kristo,¡± Lyna said in a flat yet piercing tone, ¡°was the information you provided also a lie?¡±


    Kristo furrowed his brow. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Is Vamrah not on this planet?¡± Lyna asked bluntly.


    Silence engulfed the communication screen. Kristo froze, his previously impassive face now showing shock. He opened his mouth as if to respond but closed it again. This happened repeatedly until he let out a long sigh, looking at Lyna with profound despair.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Explosions from outside shook The Nest, blending with the shouts of the crew fighting desperately to survive. Yet amidst the chaos, the atmosphere on the control room felt eerily quiet. There was only Lyna, staring at Kristo unblinkingly, and Kristo, returning her gaze with despair.


    Time seemed to slow for Kilua and the others until, finally, Kristo nodded slightly, silently admitting his lie. Then, without further explanation, Kristo severed the connection.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 5: The End of The Queen (Part 2)

    A chilling silence enveloped The Nest. The crew could only clamp their mouths shut, their faces growing even paler. Their bodies trembled¡ªwhether from anger, disappointment, or the fear gripping their pounding hearts, no one could tell. Or perhaps it was the relentless pounding of the Swarm Fleet against The Nest that sent shockwaves through them.


    ¡°C-Captain, what should we do?¡± Kilua¡¯s voice was hoarse, nearly breaking. His teeth clenched as he struggled to contain the fury at Kristo¡¯s betrayal. The crew had always respected that man¡ªnot for his status as the head of the Kata family, but because of his blood connection to Lyna, their captain. Yet they never imagined Kristo¡¯s betrayal could be this cruel.


    It wasn¡¯t just that he had conspired with their enemies, the Arachnoax, but also that he had fed them false information. If Vamrah had truly been here, they might have willingly sacrificed themselves in a suicide attack to take down that terrifying Broodmother. But in reality, this place was merely a Swarm Fleet hive, with no sign of Vamrah or any other Broodmother. They were now trapped in a deadly ambush designed to annihilate them all.


    Frustration was etched on every face. They weren¡¯t afraid to die¡ªas soldiers, they had long accepted death as a possibility. But dying in vain? That was an insult. They wanted to drag their enemies to hell with them, not perish without a fight.


    What hurt them more than the enemy¡¯s assault was the betrayal of the Human Federation¡¯s leaders, who were supposed to protect them. Leaders who had conspired with the Arachnoax for personal gain, blind to the destruction threatening humanity.


    The Nest and the Queen Bee had been symbols of terror for the Arachnoax. Even the Broodmothers, with all their cunning, couldn¡¯t match Lyna¡¯s unpredictable combat strategies. But now, with Lyna ensnared in this treacherous trap, humanity¡¯s strongest pillar of defense was crumbling. They weren¡¯t losing to the Swarm Fleet but to betrayal from within.


    Oddly, though, that frustration and disappointment didn¡¯t show on Lyna¡¯s face. She merely stared at the now-dark communication screen, her brow furrowed as if searching for something hidden in the darkness.


    ¡°CAPTAIN!¡± Kilua repeated louder, realizing his question had gone unanswered.


    Slowly, Lyna turned toward him. A faint smile appeared on her calm face, her soft voice breaking the tension. ¡°It¡¯s okay, my First Officer. We¡¯re exactly where we need to be.¡±


    Kilua froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°What do you mean, Captain?¡± he asked, his voice thick with confusion.


    Lyna turned her gaze out the ship''s window, staring at the swarm of the Swarm Fleet that had surrounded them from all sides. Her blue eyes glowed like an ocean illuminated by the midday sun, piercing through the mass of creatures and their deadly attacks. That gaze was unwavering, focused on something that even their radars couldn¡¯t detect.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Those seemingly calm blue eyes hid a storm¡ªlike the receding tide before a colossal wave crashes onto the shore. There was something wild and dangerous lurking within, a force that had been suppressed and locked away until this very moment. Her thoughts drifted to the face of her husband, a face that had never left her mind. It appeared again, as if waving to her, calling her to come swiftly. The longing burning within her felt like magma breaking through the earth¡¯s crust.


    "Wait for me¡­ just a little longer," she whispered softly.


    Suddenly, her commanding voice shattered the silence on the control room.


    ¡°Launch the Suicide Bees! All of them!¡±


    The order jolted the crew out of their shock and emotional turmoil. Years of rigorous training kicked in, their bodies moving instinctively at the sound of their captain¡¯s voice.


    ¡°LAUNCH THE SUICIDE BEES! ALL PILOTS TO YOUR CONTROL STATIONS!¡±


    The control room transformed into a hive of activity, like a beehive responding to an imminent threat. They are buzzing. The crew abandoned their doubts and focused entirely on the captain¡¯s command. The true power of The Nest lay not just in Lyna¡¯s brilliant strategies but also in her crew¡¯s unwavering speed and efficiency in executing her orders. If Lyna lifted a finger, they would follow without hesitation.


    ¡°ALL PILOTS IN POSITION!¡±


    The pilots of the Suicide Bees jumped into their control cabins. With remote controls in hand, they focused their minds entirely on the suicide ships they were about to command. In an instant, their consciousness seemed to merge with the Suicide Bees, making the unmanned ships move as though they were extensions of their own bodies.


    ¡°OPEN ALL DECKS!¡±


    The decks of The Nest swung open wide, creating paths for the Arachnoax who had been furiously burrowing through the ship¡¯s protective walls. The creatures immediately swarmed in, believing they had found a breach to destroy their enemies. But not a single crew member panicked¡ªthey knew this was part of the plan.


    ¡°LAUNCH THE SUICIDE BEES!¡±


    Explosions filled the air. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The fleet of Suicide Bees surged out, ramming into the Arachnoax that had eagerly swarmed through the openings. The Arachnoax¡¯s tough exoskeletons were no match for the impact of the Suicide Bees, their bodies crushed under the unstoppable force of the suicide ships. Every movement was deliberate, every action purposeful¡ªto bring devastation to the enemies that had surrounded them.


    Amidst the chaos, Lyna remained calm, standing tall like a queen bee orchestrating everything from her throne.


    Though the Suicide Bees successfully exited The Nest, they were immediately met with a barrage of fire from the Swarm Fleet. One by one, the Suicide Bees were destroyed in explosions, shattering into countless pieces. Yet the losses meant nothing. Thousands more waited in the wings, ready to take their place and carry out the mission.


    ¡°Scatter them! Disrupt the enemy formation! Don¡¯t hesitate to self-detonate! The primary mission of the Suicide Bees is to clear a path for The Nest!¡± Lyna¡¯s commanding voice echoed firmly, and the experienced pilots obeyed without hesitation.


    ¡°Captain, are we retreating?¡± Kilua asked. As the vice-captain, he alone had the right to ask questions in the midst of battle.


    ¡°No!¡± Lyna answered decisively. ¡°The Nest never retreats. The path backward has long been sealed. Our goal is singular: forward, forward, and FORWARD!¡± she declared, pointing ahead, toward a direction only she seemed to understand.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 5: The End of The Queen (Last Part)

    ¡°The Nest never retreats. The path backward has long been sealed. Our goal is singular: forward, forward, and FORWARD!¡± Lyna declared, pointing ahead, toward a direction only she seemed to understand.


    Kilua furrowed his brows, trying to discern what Lyna meant. All he could see was the dense swarm of the Arachnoax, so tightly packed that it seemed impossible for even an ant to slip through. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t question further. He knew that doubt had no place on the battlefield.


    ¡°PREPARE THE ARCNOVA CASCADE! MAXIMUM ENERGY! DISABLE ALL SAFETY PARAMETERS, ALLOW ENERGY TO ESCALATE FREELY! SET COURSE FOR COORDINATES XB-3435, YC-3452, ZD-9877 AT FULL SPEED!¡±


    The faces of the crew paled at the command. They understood fully what Lyna was about to do. Yet, no hesitation arose among them. Instead, their hands moved even faster, executing their captain¡¯s orders without a single complaint.


    ¡°ARCNOVA CASCADE PREPARED! ENERGY AT 40%!¡±


    ¡°COORDINATES XB-3435, YC-3452, ZD-9877 REACHED! THRUSTERS AT MAXIMUM POWER!¡±


    Lyna stared calmly at the screen before asking, ¡°How much longer can our shields hold?¡±


    ¡°MAIN SHIELD IS DOWN! BACKUP SHIELD AT 80%, BUT IT WILL BE BREACHED IN MINUTES!¡± reported one of the crew members.


    ¡°Divert all energy to the thrusters and the Arcnova Cascade!¡± Lyna ordered without hesitation, as if she had predicted the answer beforehand. ¡°All Suicide Bees, focus on clearing the obstacles in The Nest¡¯s path! Sacrifice everything if needed, make them our shield!¡±


    ¡°Captain, relying solely on the Suicide Bees, we won¡¯t survive long enough to reach the destination,¡± Kilua said seriously.


    Lyna paused for a moment, her brow furrowing as she considered other possibilities. Before she could issue another order, Kilua already knew what needed to be done. ¡°Let me and the others fight on the front lines!¡± he declared, without a hint of hesitation.


    For a moment, Lyna¡¯s blue eyes reflected deep sorrow. Finally, with a long, steady breath, she nodded. Kilua gave a small, resolute smile and saluted sharply. ¡°It has been an honor to fight alongside you, Captain!¡±


    Lyna returned the salute with equal respect, her voice slightly trembling but firm. ¡°No, the honor is mine.¡±


    Kilua merely smiled before stepping out of the main control cabin, followed by several other crew members. There was no doubt or fear in their steps. It was as if the death awaiting them outside was something they welcomed with pride.


    Lyna could only watch their backs, her gaze momentarily betraying sorrow before hardening with resolve. She still had a monumental task to complete.


    "ARCNOVA CASCADE ENERGY AT 90%!" one of the crew shouted, reporting the progress of the plan.


    Lyna heard the report but didn¡¯t respond. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, piercing through the large window in The Nest¡¯s control room, staring into what seemed like the void of space. Yet, behind her calm eyes lay a sharp focus and unshakable determination.


    "Kilua and his team have engaged the enemy!" another report followed.


    Slowly, The Nest began moving toward the coordinates previously mentioned by Lyna. Not a single crew member questioned why they were heading there. There was no doubt¡ªonly unwavering trust in their captain.


    "ARCNOVA CASCADE ENERGY AT 95%!"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Backup shields have been breached! The Nest is now unprotected! I repeat, The Nest is unprotected!"


    With the shields gone, the sounds of battle felt closer, even in the vacuum of space. Through the window, the poisonous green glow of the Arachnoax¡¯s acid, potent enough to melt steel, shone brightly. The flash of their sharp claws, far stronger than iron, was a grim reminder of the danger surrounding them.


    "Divert all remaining energy to the Arcnova Cascade and the thrusters! Leave The Nest¡¯s defense to Kilua and the Suicide Bees!" Lyna commanded firmly.


    "ARCNOVA CASCADE ENERGY AT 98%!"


    As ordered, Kilua and his team showcased their prowess. As The Nest¡¯s vice-captain, Kilua was no ordinary fighter. His reputation as an ace pilot was well-known throughout the West Human Federation. However, the illustrious name of the Queen Bee overshadowed him, making his light seem dimmer. Even so, Kilua chose to remain under the command of the woman he idolized, though he could have captained a more famous ship. To him, his respect and admiration for Lyna far outweighed personal ambition¡ªperhaps even until his final breath.


    "The last Suicide Bee has been destroyed! I repeat, the last Suicide Bee has been destroyed!"


    "ARCNOVA CASCADE ENERGY AT 100%! Ready to fire! Awaiting firing orders!"


    "Hold fire. Seal the energy valve and let the power continue to build! Maintain it as long as possible! We''re almost there!" Lyna replied decisively, refocusing the crew on their tasks.


    At that moment, signs of a breakthrough began to appear in the enemy formation. Kilua and his team, with stunningly precise and deadly maneuvers, managed to disrupt the Swarm Fleets. A gap opened in the enemy¡¯s defenses, creating an opportunity for The Nest to escape.


    Lyna wasted no time. "Break through the blockade! Full speed ahead!" she commanded.


    Seizing the opportunity, The Nest surged through the opening, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake. At the same time, the main screen in the control room displayed a transmission from one of the fighter ships outside. Kilua¡¯s face appeared on the screen, visibly exhausted but with a confident smile still gracing his lips.


    "Captain, I''ll hold these insects off. Don''t worry and keep moving forward. Not a single one of them will be able to catch you!" Kilua said firmly, his tone warm and resolute.


    "Kilua¡­" Lyna''s voice trembled, laden with the emotions she was struggling to contain.


    "Captain," Kilua gently interrupted, "perhaps you''ve realized this for a long time, but you were too kind to force me to say it, because you didn¡¯t want to hurt me. Yet, you truly are someone I¡¯ve always admired... Ah, I really envy your husband. He must be an extraordinary man..."


    Lyna smiled faintly, attempting to mask the deep emotions within her. "He¡¯s someone so remarkable that his brilliance sometimes makes me want to close my eyes," she said softly.


    Kilua let out a bitter laugh at her response. "Hahaha, is that so?" He straightened his posture as if summoning his last reserves of strength. "Well then, I¡¯ll be going ahead, Captain. Perhaps someday, in another realm, we¡¯ll meet again. And if we do, please introduce me to your extraordinary husband."


    Lyna stared at the screen, her eyes filled with respect. "Of course, my Vice Captain¡­" she replied.


    The communication link was cut shortly after. Kilua had gone to meet his fate, leaving Lyna and the rest of the crew to carry on with the mission. Yet Lyna knew¡ªthey would meet again, though not in this lifetime.


    "Captain, the Arcnova Cascade has reached energy overload! If left unchecked, then¡ª"


    "Captain, we¡¯ve arrived at coordinates XB-3435, YC-3452, ZD-9877!" one of the crew members shouted, interrupting the other report.


    At that moment, all activity in the control room ceased. Every eye turned forward, gazing through the main window. They didn¡¯t need monitors or magnification cameras to see the figure now standing before them.


    Its body was clad in an exoskeleton that shimmered with hues of emerald green and gold, resembling a high-grade jewel radiating lethal allure. In the void of space, this figure shone with an imposing majesty that made human knees tremble, compelling them to bow.


    Its legs were long, sleek, and razor-sharp, adorned with spines that seemed capable of piercing a planet through its core. Its large wings bore intricate patterns resembling glowing ancient runes, exuding a mystical aura that pierced the soul. For anyone with psychic abilities, gazing upon this figure unshielded would shatter their minds, as if blended into an unrecognizable state.


    Its eyes were massive, multifaceted, and emitted a dim yet commanding glow that intimidated all who looked into them. Long, gracefully curved antennae crowned its head, resembling a living diadem radiating unmatched regality. Even the mightiest human kings would feel humiliated in the presence of such absolute grandeur.


    No introductions were necessary. Every crew member witnessing this scene knew exactly who this being was.


    Magnificent, mesmerizing, and utterly terrifying, the figure stood before them.


    It was Vamrah, the Locust Queen!

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 6: Darkness and Silence (Part 1)

    Darkness and silence.


    That was all Lyna could feel¡ªan impenetrable darkness, an oppressive stillness. She could neither sense her body nor hear her own breath or heartbeat. In that void, Lyna could only conclude one thing:


    She was dead.


    It turned out her assumption was correct, and her husband''s belief was wrong. There was no life after death, as her husband had always claimed. Lyna wondered what had made him so convinced of the idea of an afterlife. What made him so certain of the existence of God?


    In this era of advanced technology, humanity no longer feared the unknown. There was no longer a need to believe in a divine entity born of fear and ignorance. The complexity of the human body, once considered proof of God''s greatness, was now seen merely as unresolved scientific mysteries. For modern humanity, linking ignorance to the existence of God was seen as reckless.


    Many believed that when this life ended, everything ended in nothingness¡ªjust as Lyna felt now.


    Darkness and silence.


    Yet, her husband was different. His belief in God and an afterlife was so unshakable it was as if he had seen it himself¡ªor even been there. Strangely, he didn¡¯t follow any known sect or religion within the Human Federation. When Lyna asked him about his faith, he simply said he lived to gather something called "Merit," without worshiping God through rituals like followers of other sects.


    "Because the true God," he once said, "is so grand and powerful that He doesn''t need worship from His creations."


    Lyna had never seen her husband perform any strange rituals or adhere to specific religious teachings. He was simply a kind and generous person, always helping those in need. When Lyna asked what "Merit" was, he only smiled and said, "Something far more important than the world and everything in it."


    This belief made him certain they would remain together in the afterlife. But the reality Lyna now experienced was¡­


    Darkness and silence.


    ¡°You lied!¡±


    Lyna tried to scream, but no sound came out.


    ¡°You lied! You¡¯re not here!¡±


    She sobbed, but even tears refused to flow.


    ¡°YOU LIED!! I¡¯m all alone here! There¡¯s no white light! No soothing music! Nothing! Nothing! YOU¡¯RE NOT HERE!!¡±


    Lyna struggled, but her body didn¡¯t move at all.


    ¡°Where are you? Where are you, husband¡ª¡±


    DING!


    <hr>


    {System detected life signs in Subject L-90987}Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    {Initiating Revival Project program!}


    <hr>


    ¡°Ah?¡±


    The mechanical voice shattered the silence. Lyna, who had been trapped in endless darkness, felt her consciousness quiver. Something was happening¡ªsomething she couldn¡¯t fully understand, but it felt as though it would change everything.


    Suddenly, a foreign memory intruded into her mind, as if her memories were being altered¡ªlike a video re-uploaded with additional scenes. This memory recounted the story of a queen from a species called the Xynomera, giant insect-like creatures with an extraordinary culture and civilization. The queen, Lakshmipati, was one of the last hundred Xynomera queens before their species was annihilated by the Arachnoax.


    Lakshmipati was a wise and compassionate leader, guiding her offspring with tenderness and patience, like a mother with boundless love. However, when Lyna noticed the physical similarities between the Xynomera and the Arachnoax, a wave of disgust swept over her. But, these two giant insect species might appear similar, but the differences were stark.


    If the Arachnoax represented hell¡ªbrutality and tyranny¡ªthen the Xynomera were their opposite: a paradise of harmony, freedom, and democracy. Yet, the universe rarely allowed room for freedom alone; strength was the ultimate law. As the weaker species, the Xynomera had no choice but to fall victim, reduced to a source of biomass for the Arachnoax.


    The war between the Arachnoax and the Xynomera opened Lyna¡¯s eyes to the terrifying power of the Arachnoax. Their close territorial proximity enabled the Arachnoax to unleash their full strength without the need to explore new nodes. A chilling realization struck her¡ªif the Arachnoax launched a similarly brutal assault on humanity, humankind would perish faster than she had ever imagined. Ultimately, like the Xynomera, humanity too would become nothing more than biomass for the Arachnoax¡¯s Broodmothers.


    Even without Lakshmipati¡¯s memories, Lyna had already come to terms with this grim truth: humanity had no chance of victory against the Arachnoax. She vividly recalled her final moments aboard The Nest, her proud flagship, before she and her entire crew perished on a suicide mission.


    At that time, they were closing in on Vamrah, the Locust Queen.


    The energy of the Arcnova Cascade had been charged to its limit, boiling to the point of imminent detonation. Lyna¡¯s plan was simple yet daring: to fire the energy directly at the Broodmother, Vamrah.


    She knew the shot alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to kill Vamrah¡ªa figure so powerful and nearly invincible. However, Lyna had another objective. She hoped to get close enough to Vamrah to detonate themselves right in front of the queen¡¯s face, delivering an unexpected final blow.


    Despite the relentless attacks of the swarm fleets, Lyna remained confident that The Nest, with its durable shielding, could hold out long enough to reach the target. But as they drew closer, something unforeseen occurred.


    An extraordinary psychic force immobilized their ship. Lyna had never encountered telekinesis of such magnitude before¡ªnot even the combined strength of a thousand Psychics could compare. Before their ship could be completely destroyed by this force, Lyna gave the order to release the energy valves, triggering the explosion.


    However, what happened next made Lyna, for the first time, feel true despair. The devastating explosion of the Arcnova Cascade¡ªwhich she had hoped would injure or perhaps even kill Vamrah¡ªwas effortlessly deflected by the queen. In the end, all they had achieved was their own destruction. Meanwhile, Vamrah had only lost a few hundred thousand Arachnoax subordinates¡ªa minuscule loss for her virtually limitless army.


    Lyna now understood: the power of the Arachnoax was far beyond humanity¡¯s reach. Hope seemed like nothing more than an illusion.


    She was dead and no longer cared about humanity¡¯s survival. Whether they perished or endured, it was no longer her concern. Such matters were the responsibility of the living, not the burden of someone who had passed.


    Yet, why did Lakshmipati¡¯s memory feel so real? What was truly happening to her now?


    Before Lyna could delve deeper into these questions, the mechanical voice broke through her thoughts again.


    <hr>


    {Queen¡¯s memories successfully integrated into subject¡¯s mind.}


    {Playing the Queen¡¯s final message.}


    <hr>

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 6: Darkness and Silence (Part 2)

    Yet, why did Lakshmipati¡¯s memory feel so real? What was truly happening to her now?


    Before Lyna could delve deeper into these questions, the mechanical voice broke through her thoughts again.


    <hr>


    {Queen¡¯s memories successfully integrated into subject¡¯s mind.}


    {Playing the Queen¡¯s final message.}


    <hr>


    Suddenly, within her mind, a figure emerged, radiating warmth and extraordinary majesty. Its presence seemed to envelop Lyna¡¯s soul, providing a sense of comfort unlike anything she had ever felt.


    The figure¡¯s upper body resembled that of a human, with graceful and elegant contours. Her face was captivating, beautiful, and mesmerizing, with a pair of large, black eyes that exuded warmth. Her skin was covered in plates of chitin in deep crimson and emerald green, combining a sense of resilience with luxury.


    Her slender arms ended in claw-like fingers, designed with perfect precision to balance strength and dexterity. The chitin on her arms formed natural patterns resembling the veins of leaves, adding an enchanting touch to her form.


    Her lower legs were insect-like, complete with sharp joints and tiny spines, achieving the perfect balance between elegance and destructive capability. Her head was adorned with large mandibles resembling a natural crown that extended from her head plates, accompanied by long, supple antennae that added to her aura of authority. Her eyes glowed with piercing gold, as if gazing directly into the soul of anyone who dared to meet her gaze.


    She wore what appeared to be a living gown, as if it had grown from her body. This gown was composed of leaf-like structures and softly glowing tendrils, complementing her magnificence.


    The figure stood within a colossal biomechanical hive¡ªa living kingdom filled with alien flora and glowing spores, pulsating with life in perfect harmony with her presence.


    She was Lakshmipati, the Leaf Queen of the Xynomera. A being of unparalleled beauty and wonder, like a living miracle of the universe.


    Lyna, who had once been human, could now feel the love and compassion emanating from this creature who should have been utterly alien to her.


    This warmth reminded Lyna of something she had never experienced. She had never met her mother, who had died giving birth to her. Throughout her life, the only maternal figure she knew was a family caretaker from the Kata household¡ªsomeone who served more as a servant than as a source of genuine affection. Her husband was also an orphan who had never known his parents. Neither Lyna nor her husband had ever felt a mother''s love.


    Yet, as she beheld Lakshmipati¡¯s figure in her mind, Lyna instantly realized one thing: this was her mother in this life. Her presence brought a serenity that pierced through all the turmoil in Lyna¡¯s heart. The darkness and silence that had once engulfed her were dispelled by the radiant warmth emanating from Lakshmipati.


    The pain and vengeance that had gnawed at Lyna¡¯s soul now felt lighter, like a heavy burden lifted from her shoulders. What remained was only peace and calm.


    Unconsciously, the words escaped Lyna¡¯s lips: ¡°Mother¡­¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    And as if responding to the call, Lakshmipati¡¯s figure smiled gently and said, ¡°My child¡­¡±


    However, just as the urge to embrace the vision of Lakshmipati rose within her, Lyna snapped out of the influence of the Xynomera Queen. And fear quickly gripped her heart.


    One of the three primary abilities of a Psychic is telepathy. If anyone thinks telepathy is merely the ability to send messages, they vastly underestimate it. A Psychic specializing in telepathy can pose a far greater threat than a telekinetic user and can be even more unsettling than a clairvoyant.


    Psychic abilities involve connecting one¡¯s mind to the Mind Realm¡ªa dimension of natural energy¡ªand using that energy to influence the real world. When a telepath employs their abilities, the first step is to connect their mind to the Mind Realm. From there, they use this connection to establish a link with the target¡¯s mind. But this connection isn¡¯t limited to verbal communication; it also conveys emotions, feelings, and even memories.


    A skilled telepath can easily alter a target¡¯s emotions and feelings, even manipulating their memories. With minimal effort, they can drive someone into despair or even suicide, simply through the influence of their mind. Additionally, the stronger the telepath''s connection to the Mind Realm, the greater control they have over the target¡¯s mind. They can extract the deepest information, download thoughts, or even upload new memories, much like a hacker manipulating data in a computer.


    It was only natural, then, that Lyna immediately heightened her guard when she felt the warmth and tenderness of a mother emanating from Lakshmipati¡¯s presence. She quickly realized she was facing an extraordinarily powerful telepath, unlike anything she had encountered before. The psychic energy radiating from Lakshmipati¡¯s figure was so immense that Lyna could sense it clearly.


    Even though Lakshmipati¡¯s power did not match the overwhelming energy of Vamrah, it came close. Fortunately for Lyna, this was merely a recording of Lakshmipati¡¯s memories. If it had been a direct telepathic connection, Lyna was certain she would have been powerless to resist. Her mind would have been wiped clean without her realizing it, and she would fully accept Lakshmipati as her mother.


    Before Lyna could ponder further, a soft, warm voice resonated within her mind, calling out to her with affection.


    ¡°If you are seeing this memory recording, know, my child, that I am no longer alive. Most likely, you are the last of our species. But do not be afraid. I sense that our enemies are preoccupied with something that will keep them from pursuing you for the time being. However, this does not mean you are entirely free from danger.


    ¡°The planet where you were born is called Aculeata. A world with a climate so scorching it could boil the mucus from the bodies of our enemies. Yet the harshness of this climate also presents a significant challenge for our species. Nevertheless, unlike them, we come from a cluster of stars with higher temperatures than their habitat. This gives us a better chance to adapt to Aculeata. But I know this adaptation process will not be easy.¡±


    Lakshmipati¡¯s face changed, suddenly filled with profound sadness. In her eyes, Lyna could see a deep bitterness mixed with sharp regret. She could feel these emotions clearly¡ªan overwhelming guilt she herself had once experienced. Memories of sacrificing Kilua and the entire crew of The Nest in an attempt to reach Vamrah flashed in her mind. All of it had been in vain. Vamrah was too powerful. Even the explosion of the Arcnova Cascade, which Lyna had hoped would harm the broodmother, had failed to so much as scratch her claws.


    Lakshmipati¡¯s voice echoed softly again in Lyna¡¯s memory.


    ¡°If you are seeing this memory, then congratulations, my child. You have successfully adapted to Aculeata¡¯s harsh climate. But I must warn you¡ªthis planet is not a safe place. Here, there are bloodthirsty creatures that will do anything to drain the fluids from your body. We call them Drybone.


    ¡°We, the queens of Xynomera, have attempted to eradicate them from Aculeata, but our efforts were in vain. These creatures can hide within the planet¡¯s crust and survive in prolonged hibernation for hundreds of years, only to resurface. Even after all our efforts to cleanse this planet so you and your sisters could live peacefully, they persist¡ªlike an unending plague.


    ¡°But do not worry. I have designed your body to have natural weapons capable of fighting them. Even so, you must remain cautious until your body fully matures.¡±


    Lakshmipati paused for a moment, as if to calm her thoughts. Then she continued, her tone filled with renewed hope.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 6: Darkness and Silence (Last Part)

    Lakshmipati paused for a moment, as if to calm her thoughts. Then she continued, her tone filled with renewed hope.


    "To aid you, I and the other Xynomera queens have created a miracle. By combining all of our psychic powers, we built a new kingdom within the Mind Realm, undetectable to the broodmothers. We named it Heaven Evolution."


    "Heaven Evolution will grant you the ability to evolve into something stronger and to rebuild a new Xynomera civilization. However, we know that the broodmother and her forces are not easy foes. They have existed long before the first Xynomera was born and have waged wars long before we built our civilization. Therefore, be patient, my child. Trust in the power of Heaven Evolution."


    "You must remain hidden on this planet until you feel you are strong enough. Never leave this planet before you have amassed an army and strength equal to the broodmothers. Heaven Evolution will not only help you evolve and build your forces but will also connect you to a hidden dimension. This dimension will allow you to gather biomass and train. We call it the Procession Tower."


    As Lakshmipati finished speaking, the memory recording began to fade. The image of her body wavered and became blurry. Lyna realized this memory had been recorded when Lakshmipati was not at her peak condition. On closer inspection, the organic kingdom behind her¡ªfilled with alien flora and glowing spores¡ªwas trembling violently, as if shaken by a great force. Lyna understood what was happening. This was Lakshmipati''s final memory, recorded during the assault on her and her kingdom by the Arachnoax.


    In the silence, Lyna could feel Lakshmipati''s resolve. Though this recording might be the final trace of a queen who had fought until the end, Lakshmipati still exuded an aura of calm.


    "It seems my time is coming to an end," Lakshmipati said with a gentle smile, as if the approaching death was nothing more than a distant shadow. Her gaze was filled with love, transcending time and space, as if it was meant solely for her child.


    "I know," she continued, "that this is a cruel request for you, and you are free to disregard my words. But, my child, know this¡ªrevenge will bring nothing. The dead will remain dead, and nothing can change that."


    Lakshmipati''s smile warmed but carried a hint of sorrow. "My hope for you is not to build a powerful army to destroy the broodmother. I only want you to live in peace, with your future children. Never feel sadness or loneliness, for even though we are no longer with you, we live on within you.


    "You are the embodiment of Xynomera civilization, the pinnacle of all queens who have ever existed. The DNA you carry is the culmination of Xynomera¡¯s entire history. You are the greatest and most powerful achievement of our lineage. You are not alone, and you will never be alone, because we will always be within you."


    Lakshmipati smiled gently once more before continuing. "Now, allow me the honor of giving you a name. You are Aruneshwari¡ª''Queen of the Dawn, Bringer of Hope, and a New Beginning.'' "


    With those words, the memory recording of Lakshmipati began to fade. Lyna was pulled back into darkness and silence. However, this time, the darkness no longer felt suffocating, and the silence was no longer torturous. There was warmth flowing in her chest, bringing a peace she had never felt before.


    <hr>


    {Detecting name assignment¡­}


    {Subject L-90987 has been given a new name and registered in Heaven Evolution¡­} Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    {Welcome, Aruneshwari!}


    <hr>


    Crack!


    The darkness surrounding her suddenly cracked, emitting light that slowly seeped through the cracks. Lyna squinted her eyes, disturbed by the cracking sound that shattered the silence. In an instant, she felt her body, which had been immobile until now, starting to move.


    She struggled, trying to free herself from the shell that had bound her. Crack! Crack! Crack! The cracks widened, letting in more light. Warm air flowed through the gaps, and finally, the shell broke completely, allowing Lyna to feel the free air touch her skin.


    Inhale.


    Exhale.


    The thick, pungent smell of sulfur was the first scent she inhaled in her new life. A life that began after losing everything.


    With her body coated in sticky fluid that covered every inch of her skin, Lyna crawled out of the egg. She didn¡¯t need to look to know that her body was now naked¡ªfragile yet ready to face the new world that awaited her.


    ¡°I¡¯m still alive. How is this possible?¡± she whispered softly, her voice hoarse and strange to her own ears.


    <hr>


    {Activating assistant system...}


    {Greetings, Aruneshwari. I am your assistant system. You can call me the Heaven Evolution System. Congratulations, you have successfully adapted to the harsh climate of Aculeata.}


    {According to the last command from the previous administrator of Heaven Evolution, the Heaven Evolution System is tasked with helping you become the queen of the new Xynomera civilization.}


    {Counting the number of subjects who have successfully adapted to Aculeata''s climate¡­ Number of subjects: (1).}


    {Counting the number of subjects who have survived and are still in the adaptation process¡­ Number of subjects: (0).}


    {Congratulations, Aruneshwari! With no other subjects having survived, you are automatically granted full ownership of the Heaven Evolution System. Aruneshwari will have full control over Heaven Evolution and the Heaven Evolution System. Transferring ownership to Aruneshwari...}


    <hr>


    The mechanical voice echoed monotonously, as if indifferent to the confusion Lyna felt. She stood frozen, listening to each word that sounded absurd and nonsensical. Her body trembled as she tried to stand, her knees still weak.


    This new body felt strange. Though its size resembled that of an adult human, its strength and stability were more like that of a baby just learning to crawl. When she looked down to examine herself, Lyna realized her form still resembled that of a human female. However, her thoughts returned to Lakshmipati.


    Lakshmipati, despite having a human-like upper body, slowly transformed with a strong insect exoskeleton. The thought made Lyna furrow her brow. Would her body undergo the same transformation?


    Although she knew the Xynomera body was far stronger than a human body, Lyna couldn''t suppress the faint feeling of disgust when imagining herself turning into a creature resembling an insect.


    <hr>


    {Ownership transfer complete!}


    {Displaying status screen!}


    <hr>


    Without warning, a blue panel appeared in front of her eyes. Lyna was startled, almost losing her balance as the light from the panel dazzled her. However, her curiosity soon overcame her shock. The panel looked like an information window, emitting a soft light that gradually drew her full attention.


    "What is this?" she muttered, her eyes beginning to read what was displayed on the screen.


    <hr>


    Name: Aruneshwari.


    Title: The Last Queen of Xenomyra, The Owner of Heaven Evolution, The Owner of Heaven Evolution System.


    Biomass: 0000


    Evolution Level: 0


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Head


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Body


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Gaster


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Antena Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Exoskeleton Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Pheromone Level 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Mandible Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Limbs Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Sting Level 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Eye Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Organ Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Core Level 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Brain Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Blood Vessel Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Egg Sac Level 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Soul: 346


    Unique Soul: 1


    Army: 0


    <ul>


    <li>Worker: 10 Biomass (Unlock)</li>


    <li>Soldier (Locked)</li>


    <li>Algemeen (Locked)</li>


    <li>Rezervoar (Locked)</li>


    <li>Commaden (Locked)</li>


    <li>Queen (Locked)</li>


    <li>Heaven Casting Body (Locked)</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 7: Heaven Evolution System (Part 1)

    <hr>


    Name: Aruneshwari.


    Title: The Last Queen of Xenomyra, The Owner of Heaven Evolution, The Owner of Heaven Evolution System.


    Biomass: 0000


    Evolution Level: 0


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Head


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Body


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Gaster


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Antena Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Exoskeleton Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Pheromone Level 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Mandible Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Limbs Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Sting Level 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Eye Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Organ Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Core Level 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Brain Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Blood Vessel Level 0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Egg Sac Level 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Soul: 346


    Unique Soul: 1


    Army: 0


    <ul>


    <li>Worker: 10 Biomass (Unlock)</li>


    <li>Soldier (Locked)</li>


    <li>Algemeen (Locked)</li>


    <li>Rezervoar (Locked)</li>


    <li>Commaden (Locked)</li>


    <li>Queen (Locked)</li>


    <li>Heaven Casting Body (Locked)</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    "Am I hallucinating or what?" Lyna rubbed her eyes furiously, hoping to erase the blue panel that had suddenly appeared in her vision. Yet, despite her reddened eyes from the friction, the panel remained. She gawked. Hastily, her hands reached behind her neck, searching for a lump or a metal implant she thought might be embedded there. But there was nothing.


    The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) had been accelerated by the loss of human psychic abilities during the war against the Arachnoax. One major breakthrough was the development of personal artificial intelligence. This technology allowed humans to have a personal AI directly connected to their brain network via a small chip implanted in their spine. With this device, people could see virtual screens in their vision, process information rapidly, store memories, and access data at any time.


    However, this technology carried great risks. Many users experienced mental disturbances, such as developing split personalities or even losing control of their own minds, taken over by the very AI designed to assist them. Scientists worked tirelessly to mitigate these side effects by developing more sophisticated AI. Yet, a deeper concern arose: if this technology went unchecked, humanity might not fall victim to the Arachnoax but become slaves to artificial intelligence instead.


    Unfortunately, in the context of war, humanity had no other choice. Dependency on artificial intelligence increased, even as casualties from failed technology continued to rise. Those who used personal AI often exhibited a lump at the back of their neck, marking the site of the implanted chip.


    This was why Lyna instinctively checked the back of her neck when the blue panel appeared. The absence of any lump only heightened her suspicion.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "What¡¯s going on? Have I been kidnapped and turned into a personal AI experiment?" she murmured, her voice filled with doubt. But memories of Lakshmipati¡¯s recorded message quickly shattered that hypothesis. Something extraordinary was happening. Something that defied logic and technology.


    She had been reborn.


    With a new body and a new identity. As she read the status displayed on the blue panel again, Lyna realized this was no hallucination or nightmare. She was no longer human. She had been reborn as a Xynomera, the last queen of her species, now given the name Aruneshwari.


    The mechanical voice she heard was not from artificial intelligence implanted in her spine but from the Heaven Evolution System¡ªa miracle born from the combined psychic power of a hundred Xynomera queens, creating a kingdom within the Mind Realm to rebuild their civilization.


    Lyna quickly began analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the Heaven Evolution System and her new body. There was a possibility that, at some point, she could be controlled by whoever had resurrected her and given her this system. But beneath that worry, Lyna also saw an enormous opportunity she couldn¡¯t ignore.


    The human body was incredibly fragile, and their slow evolutionary abilities made humans one of the weakest species in the vast universe. While the Xynomera had lost the war against the Arachnoax, they clearly possessed far greater potential than humanity to combat such threats. Their defeat was simply due to the youth of their civilization and the unexpectedness of the Arachnoax''s sudden assault. Even with those disadvantages, the Xynomera had mounted a far more significant resistance than the Human Federation ever could.


    If Lyna intended to wipe the Arachnoax from the face of the universe, becoming a Xynomera was unquestionably a better choice than remaining human. With her new body, she had the chance to build an army capable of rivaling the swarm fleets. Moreover, with the assistance of the Heaven Evolution System, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her forces being controlled by the broodmothers through their Hivemind.


    Yet, a profound question loomed in her mind: Did she truly want to reignite her ambitions of vengeance in this new life?


    Lyna remembered her husband¡¯s words: death is the end of everything¡ªthe end of sins, dreams, and grudges. Death brought peace to those who passed and left only memories for those left behind.


    Lyna had died. She had perished alongside her entire army. There was nothing left to fight for in her life. If her husband were still alive or if they had had children, she might have once again braved seas of fire for the family she loved. But now, in this new life, there was no one she cared about.


    She took a deep breath.


    Whatever decision she would eventually make, it would be wise to first understand what she truly possessed now. Perhaps, if she delved deeper, she could uncover the purpose of those who had brought her back to life.


    ¡°Heaven Evolution System!¡± she called.


    [Yes, Aruneshwari.]


    ¡°I am not Aruneshwari. My name is Lyna!¡±


    [Setting Lyna as Aruneshwari¡¯s nickname¡­]


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant¡ª¡±


    [Nickname created! Please issue your command, Lyna!]


    ¡°Ah, forget it! Just tell me what your purpose is!¡±


    [My purpose is to assist Lyna in utilizing the power of Heaven Evolution and facilitating the creation of a new Xynomera civilization!]


    ¡°What happens if I don¡¯t want to build a new Xynomera civilization?¡±


    [Nothing will happen. All decisions lie in the hands of the Heaven Evolution owner. Heaven Evolution System only exists to assist Lyna.]


    That answer made Lyna pause in thought. She didn¡¯t fully trust what the Heaven Evolution System had told her. There was no such thing as luck without a price. In her view, no pie ever fell from the sky without a massive meteor trailing behind it. As a skilled chess player, Lyna understood that every move of a piece was decisive¡ªthe end of victory or the beginning of defeat. Even so, for now, she had no choice but to accept the system¡¯s explanation while waiting for further answers she might uncover later.


    Refocusing her thoughts, Lyna delved deeper into understanding the system and the blue panel that had appeared before her eyes. She no longer questioned the name "Aruneshwari" with the added "(Lyna)" beside it, nor the titles listed beneath. ¡°The Last Queen of Xynomera¡± affirmed her role as the final queen of the Xynomera species. ¡°The Owner of Heaven Evolution¡± indicated that, as the sole surviving hatchling, full ownership of the kingdom within the Mind Realm now rested entirely in her hands. Meanwhile, ¡°The Owner of Heaven Evolution System¡± signified her control over the system itself, including the ability to terminate the Heaven Evolution System if necessary.


    Her attention then shifted to the term biomass. Based on the memories inherited from Lakshmipati, Lyna knew that the Xynomera¡ªlike the Arachnoax¡ªrequired biomass for reproduction and evolution. However, their methods differed. While the Arachnoax acquired biomass through pillaging, the Xynomera used a more civilized approach: cultivation. Much like humans farming, gardening, and raising livestock to sustain themselves, the Xynomera processed organic matter found in nature to obtain biomass.


    Even so, the thought of gathering biomass by preying on other creatures made Lyna hesitant¡ªnot out of disgust, but due to the sheer hassle she imagined if she had to do it piece by piece.


    ¡°Heaven Evolution System, do I have to eat to collect biomass?¡± she asked.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 7: Heaven Evolution System (Part 2)

    ¡°Heaven Evolution System, do I have to eat to collect biomass?¡± she asked.


    [Biomass can be collected by consuming organic material. However, biomass can also be gathered with the assistance of the Heaven Evolution System. Simply deposit organic substances into the Heaven Evolution Warehouse, and the system will process them automatically. To open the warehouse in Heaven Evolution, just say ¡®Inventory.¡¯ To store items in the warehouse, say ¡®Collect.¡¯ And to convert organic substances into biomass, say ¡®Harvest.¡¯]


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s pretty convenient~¡± Lyna muttered, feeling like she was in a game.


    Her attention then shifted to the Evolution Level, which piqued her interest. As a human, she wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with the concept of evolution. However, for humans, evolution often sounded more like a fairy tale. The idea that their ancestors were primates who evolved due to random events¡ªlike eating mushrooms that boosted their intelligence¡ªwas difficult to accept.


    But with the advent of Psionics, regarded as a form of human evolution, that possibility no longer seemed entirely implausible. Moreover, the appearance of the Arachnoax, capable of evolving every ten years, had reignited humanity¡¯s scientific interest in the field of evolution, a branch of knowledge they had long abandoned.


    For Lyna, the concept of evolution now felt more tangible than ever. With her new body, she began to wonder just how far her evolutionary potential could reach. Her eyes fixated on a table displayed below the blue panel, showing the various parts of her body that could undergo evolution. One question, however, immediately came to mind.


    ¡°Does evolution require biomass?¡± she asked.


    [Correct, Lyna. Each level increase requires biomass. The higher the level, the greater the biomass needed.]


    Lyna nodded, realizing that the function of biomass was similar to EXP in video games, used for leveling up. She pondered for a moment and then asked herself, ¡°Will I eventually grow claws or mandibles?¡± The thought made her frown as she pictured the possibility. The Heaven Evolution System quickly addressed her concern.


    [No, Lyna. You already have claws and mandibles, but you are currently not in combat mode. The Heaven Evolution System helps you store your weaponry and natural armor to conserve energy. As a newly hatched Xynomera, your body is still fragile and cannot sustain combat mode for extended periods.]


    ¡°Oh?¡± Lyna was surprised and looked down at her own body. She saw that her form still resembled a human. Initially, she had assumed she would fully transform into a Xynomera, like what she had seen in Lakshmipati¡¯s memory recordings. But apparently, this humanoid form was her default appearance.


    ¡°In that case, can I enter combat mode now?¡± she asked again.


    [Certainly, Lyna. To activate combat mode, simply say ¡°Activate Combat Mode.¡±]


    ¡°Activate Combat Mode!¡± Lyna exclaimed.


    Instantly, she felt her stamina draining rapidly. In mere moments, her body underwent a dramatic transformation. A layer of dense black chitin with deep crimson patterns enveloped her, encasing her slender and proportional form. The segmented armor was adorned with golden accents, exuding an aura of both grandeur and power. Her combat helmet resembled the head of an ant, complete with sharp mandibles and glowing compound eyes of crimson, composed of thousands of tiny lenses.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Her body was now reinforced with spiked joints, while her forearms bore extensions resembling razor-sharp blades, forming natural weaponry that rivaled titanium swords. From her back, four translucent wings, akin to those of a dragonfly, unfurled widely, vibrating softly in the air and emitting a menacing red glow.


    Lyna examined her new form in awe. She felt an overwhelming strength, far surpassing the capabilities of her previous human body. In fact, she was confident she could easily defeat her former self, the one once known as Queen Bee, even with her psionic powers.


    Her newly acquired compound eyes offered a completely different perspective of the world. Each tiny unit functioned as a "mini-eye" with its own lens, photoreceptor cells, and nerves. The combined array of thousands of omatidia granted Lyna nearly 360-degree vision, allowing her to see in all directions without needing to turn her head.


    Her vision also came with an exceptionally high Flicker Fusion Rate, far exceeding that of humans. Lyna could detect changes at a rate of up to 250 times per second, enabling her to react with lightning speed and effortlessly evade attacks. Furthermore, she could see parts of the light spectrum invisible to humans, including ultraviolet rays.


    Although the world now appeared differently to her eyes, Lyna could perceive every movement around her with astonishing clarity. She marveled at the level of detail she could discern¡ªeven the tiniest particles of dust drifting in the air were visible to her.


    Along with the deadly power now flowing through her body, Lyna felt her stamina rapidly deplete. She estimated that combat mode could only be activated for five minutes before her body became completely exhausted and unable to move.


    "Deactivate Combat Mode!" she called out.


    Like a sponge absorbing water, the chitin armor enveloping her body retracted back, leaving her in a naked state. Lyna looked at herself, feeling fortunate that she wasn¡¯t a man. If she had been, she might have been tempted to try some flashy moves before her energy ran out. However, she knew this wasn¡¯t the time to play around with combat mode.


    Her attention shifted back to the blue panel in front of her. There were still some functions she didn¡¯t fully understand. Although she wanted to ask about them one by one, her focus was distracted by an option labeled ¡°Army.¡±


    Lyna knew that this ability was a hallmark of a Xynomera queen. By using biomass, they could rapidly create combat troops. The thought reminded her of the seemingly endless Vamrah forces.


    "Heaven Evolution System, can I shorten your name to HES?" she asked casually. The satisfaction from trying out combat mode softened her demeanor toward this final gift from Lakshmipati. Still, Lyna remained cautious. She knew very well that she was in desperate need of HES''s assistance.


    [Of course, Lyna.]


    "Then, HES, can you explain the ''Army'' option? Do I need biomass to form it? And why is only the ''Soldier'' option still available?"


    [As Lyna suspected, creating an army does indeed require biomass. Currently, Lyna can only create ''Soldiers.'' To unlock other options, Lyna must evolve the ''Egg Sac'' to the next level.]


    "Oh!" Lyna nodded in understanding.


    Her attention returned to the army options on the blue panel. She realized that what was displayed were the basic forms of Xynomera troops before they evolved. Just like herself, who could enhance her strength through body evolution, her troops would eventually be able to evolve as well. This meant that Lyna could form a fleet that could adapt to various battlefields and conditions, much like the swarm fleets.


    Along with the army options, the descriptions and functions of each unit appeared directly in her mind. Lyna didn¡¯t need to ask HES further. She could clearly read the strengths, weaknesses, and potential evolutions of each troop unit.


    However, when she tried to access information about the ¡°Heaven Casting Body,¡± she found only a blank screen with no information. Her brow furrowed, sensing something odd.


    ¡°What is this ¡®Heaven Casting Body¡¯?¡± she asked HES, her voice tinged with curiosity.

 Lyna Arc: Queen Bee, Chapter 7: Heaven Evolution System (Last Part)

    ¡°What is this ¡®Heaven Casting Body¡¯?¡± she asked HES, her voice tinged with curiosity.


    [Heaven Casting Body is an option to create the strongest combat troops using biomass. With this feature, Lyna can design new units from scratch without relying on the initial forms available in the Heaven Evolution data bank. Once the new troop design is created, the model will automatically be stored in the data bank and become part of the "Army" options in the system. However, creating a new model requires special energy to bring that new body to life. Once the first model is successfully created, this special energy is no longer needed to make copies of the same model.]


    Lyna fell silent, digesting the explanation. Something caught her attention. "What is meant by special energy?" she asked finally.


    [The special energy is SOUL.]


    Lyna¡¯s eyes widened. Her gaze immediately shifted to the blue panel in front of her. There, she saw a shocking number: 346 Soul and 1 Unique Soul.


    She didn¡¯t know how she had accumulated so many Souls or where they came from. But before she could ask, HES responded first.


    [Soul is obtained through a loyalty contract. This contract is made when a living person surrenders their entire existence to be bound to Lyna until the end of their life. After the subject of the contract passes away and their body decays, their soul is drawn into Heaven Evolution and becomes SOUL.]


    The explanation made Lyna¡¯s mind race. She immediately realized the origin of the 346 Souls she currently possessed. They were the crew of The Nest¡ªthe people who had followed her in the mission The End of The Queen, their final mission.


    Although the crew had never directly stated it, Lyna always knew they held an eternal loyalty to her. Their loyalty ran so deep that when she decided to undertake a suicide mission and blow up the ship to kill the Vamrah, she never sought their approval.


    For Lyna, asking if they were ready to die with her would have been an insult to their loyalty. That question would only wound their pride as crew members who had already pledged their lives and deaths to her. Lyna refused to be someone who questioned loyalty that had already been proven, especially from people she considered family¡ªmore so than her own flesh and blood.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    And now, the number 346 on her blue panel stood as a concrete testament to their unwavering loyalty.


    Lyna felt her eyes well up, her chest filled with warmth. One by one, the faces of The Nest''s crew appeared in her mind. She recalled their names, their life stories, and the sacrifices they had made. She never imagined that she would have the opportunity to meet them again¡ªeven in different forms and species.


    Lyna struggled to control her mind, which was overwhelmed by memories of the sacrifices made by her crew. However, her focus quickly shifted when her eyes landed on the blue panel. Beside the Soul count, there was something else: Unique Soul.


    She knew for certain that the number of The Nest''s crew was 346, not 347. So, who owned this Unique Soul? Before she could voice her question, HES answered, as if reading her thoughts.


    [Unique Soul is different from Soul. Unique Soul is not obtained through a loyalty contract but through the imposition of a contract. A person with an incredibly strong soul can resist the pull to the afterlife, freeing themselves from death. However, merely escaping death is not enough to become a Unique Soul. It requires such a strong will that the soul attaches itself to a specific object. How this happens remains a mystery, even in the Heaven Evolution data bank.]


    "Object?" Lyna whispered. The word slipped from her lips unconsciously, and her gaze immediately fell to her finger¡ªher left ring finger.


    There, a ring circled her finger. In that instant, her body trembled violently.


    The ring was a living masterpiece, so beautiful and captivating. A perfect fusion of soft gold and shimmering silver, entwining like the branches of a tree, intertwined yet growing toward the light. In the center of the twist, a star-shaped sapphire stone radiated a soft glow, like a tiny star shining in the darkness of night. The stone was adorned with delicate carvings shaped like small flames, adding to its mystical aura.


    Lyna¡¯s vision began to blur. In her mind, the image of her husband appeared¡ªhis warm, soothing smile. She remembered the moment when he had placed the ring on her finger. With a soft voice full of love, he had said,


    ¡°My love will always stay with you. It¡¯s stuck with you forever. And I trust the universe will always bring me back to you. Because you are my beautiful thing.¡±


    Lyna¡¯s knees began to tremble, unable to support her any longer. She fell to her knees. Her back weakened, her body curling, as if the world had struck her with a devastating blow.


    But amidst her sorrow, she held her left hand close, as if wanting to bring the ring closer to her chest. She felt a warmth so real, a warmth that had long been absent since her husband¡¯s passing. For the first time in a long while, Lyna felt a sincere sense of security, as if the ring were whispering, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    Tears streamed down her face, but they were not only tears of sadness. There was gratitude, and there was hope. In her sobs, she whispered with longing,


    ¡°My love... my life... my husband¡ªMujun!¡±

 Shiki Arc: Foundation of Dread, Chapter 1: Bloodline Purification (Part 1)

    ¡°¡­MUJUN!!¡±


    Shiki¡¯s shout echoed through the air, her held breath rushing out with the force of her cry. Mujun¡¯s previously smiling expression instantly ignited Shiki¡¯s memories of the man with violet eyes. For a fleeting moment, she was certain she saw Mujun¡¯s eyes flash the same violet hue.


    But when she looked again, all she saw was Mujun¡¯s confused face, his expression a mix of surprise and unease.


    ¡°S-Shiki¡­ ah, I mean Boss¡­ what happened?!¡± Mujun stammered, his voice tinged with bewilderment.


    Mujun¡¯s nervous and flustered demeanor seemed genuine, yet Shiki couldn¡¯t ignore the strange feeling that had just gripped her. The rapid shift in Mujun¡¯s emotions was too quick, too suspicious, leaving Shiki to wonder if she had imagined it.


    After all, they were standing in the Procession Tower, the very place where Shiki had first encountered the man with violet eyes. The thought that Mujun and the violet-eyed man might be the same person had lingered in her mind. But three years of exhaustive investigation had proven otherwise.


    Even so, being here again, Shiki couldn¡¯t shake the fleeting vision.


    ¡®How strong is my obsession with that violet-eyed man?¡¯ she thought, shaking her head to dispel the distraction.


    This was no time to get lost in her thoughts. There were far more pressing priorities. She needed to rally the Four Seasons and secure key locations in the Starting City.


    ¡°Mujun, we don¡¯t have time for this. I¡¯ll explain later! For now, focus on my orders. Gather all the Heads of the Four Seasons and their deputies at the base of the second claw on the left side of the great dragon monument. Can you see it?¡± Shiki¡¯s tone dropped, her voice calm and deliberate, almost a whisper.


    When someone wants to draw another¡¯s full attention, a quiet voice is often more effective than a shout. It compels the listener to focus and strain to catch every word.


    ¡°Ah, oh, yes! Yes, I see it¡ªI see the dragon statue!¡± Mujun¡¯s eyes widened as he looked up at the massive dragon sculpture towering higher than any skyscraper.


    ¡°Good! Wait for me there,¡± Shiki repeated firmly.


    ¡°Okay¡­ okay!¡± Mujun nodded quickly, his confusion still evident, but the flood of questions swirling in his mind pushed him to focus on the clear task at hand.


    Shiki trusted Mujun to carry out her orders. Even so, with the sheer number of people crowding the Starting City, locating the Heads of the Four Seasons and their deputies would be no easy task. Mujun understood that, and Shiki had prepared for it. He knew the steps to take.


    As Mujun began his mission, Shiki realized she had something far more critical to attend to. Something that could not wait.


    Shiki moved swiftly, weaving through the crowd of dragonewts who stood frozen in place, their wide eyes and gaping mouths filled with astonishment. But she knew their confusion wouldn¡¯t last long. Soon, the ¡°Game Introduction¡± would begin.


    BING~ BING~ BING~ BONG~


    The sound rang out, like the pre-departure chime on an airplane, resonating across the Starting City. It swept away the panic and chaos, leaving the dragonewts looking upward, searching for the source of the sound. Yet it seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once, filling the air like a whisper, enveloping the entire city.


    Then came a mechanical female voice, dramatic and theatrical, as if performing for an unseen audience on a grand stage.


    [Welcome to the City of Beginnings!]


    [You are currently inside the Procession Tower, a place designed to welcome the arrival of the Predestined Bride.]


    [I am the Event Organizer for the greatest wedding in the history of the universe!]


    [All of you will help me prepare this wedding and become the greatest bride of all time. But remember, greatness isn¡¯t handed to you¡ªit must be earned. You must complete three crucial agendas.]Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    [Agenda One: The Attire of a Bride.]


    [A wedding is the most beautiful dream for a bride¡ªa moment when they stand at the altar in a gown that radiates elegance, making them the center of all attention. But the greatest bridal gown is not made of silk, velvet, or satin. It is crafted from skin, flesh, and blood. Only the strongest are worthy of donning this attire! Become the most dazzling bride in history and claim the gown that will crown your strength!]


    [Agenda Two: The Ring on the Fourth Finger.]


    [A ring is the eternal bond between two souls destined to love each other. There is only one true pair of rings in existence, symbolizing everlasting love. Make your ring the one and only! For this, only the strongest can lay claim to it!]


    [Agenda Three: The Most Magnificent Wedding Venue.]


    [The greatest wedding in the universe deserves to be held in the most beautiful, highest, and most unreachable location. This place lies at the pinnacle of the Procession Tower, under the most breathtaking sky, on ground untouched by any other. Climb to the summit and make it yours!]


    [These are the three main agendas to prepare for the most extraordinary wedding in the history of the universe!]


    [Become the greatest bride there ever was and seize a life beyond imagination!]


    [With that, I hereby declare: THE BRIDES WAR BEGINS!]


    [P.S.: For more information, open the invitation card that has now appeared before you.]


    In an instant, a glowing card materialized in the air, floating before each dragonewt. Standing amidst the crowd, Shiki glanced at hers briefly before letting out a long sigh.


    "Even though I¡¯ve heard it in previous loops, that voice still sends shivers down my spine," Shiki muttered, her hand moving quickly to grab the invitation card floating in front of her.


    As her fingers brushed the card''s surface, a radiant light burst forth, flowing into her body like a wave of energy. Simultaneously, the same mechanical voice echoed once more, piercing directly into her thoughts.


    DING!


    [Congratulations! You have earned the rights as an invited guest. However, only those who successfully complete all three agendas will become the true bride.]


    [Activating Procession Tower System: Mode: Guest.]


    <hr>


    Name: Shiki Gankou


    Title: -


    Essence: 0


    Cultivation: -


    Bloodline Purity: Level 0


    Dragon Essence: Dragon Eyes


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3" width="623">


    Completed Agenda


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Agenda One


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Agenda Two


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Agenda Three


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td rowspan="10" width="208">


    Draconis Peak: 0% Blood Purity (Level 0)


    Wyvernia Peak: 0% Blood Purity (Level 0)


    Draconium Peak: 0% Blood Purity (Level 0)


    </td>


    <td rowspan="10" width="208">


    The Ring of Fourth Finger: 1/7


    (The Ring of Infernal Guardian)


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    First Floor: Foundation of Dread


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Second Floor: Hall of Shadows


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Third Floor: Chamber of Trials


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Fourth Floor: Sanctuary of Flame


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Fifth Floor: Vault of Ascension


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Sixth Floor: Ethereal Bastion


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Seventh Floor: Pinnacle of Eternity


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Eight Floor: Dominion of Oblivion


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Ninth Floor: Crown of Infinity


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Tenth Floor: Throne of the Creator


    (Dungeon Conquer: 0%)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <hr>


    As she read her status, Shiki¡¯s brow furrowed in disgust. The lines of data were a stark reminder of how weak she had become. Once an unrivaled queen, she had now fallen to her lowest point. Shame surged within her like a fire, consuming the remnants of her pride.


    But that shame quickly transformed into a blazing determination.


    "This is only temporary..." Shiki thought, clenching her fists. "Soon, I¡¯ll surpass who I once was. No¡ªI''ll become stronger than anything that¡¯s ever existed!"


    Suddenly, something in her status caught her attention.


    "Hmm?"


    Her eyes locked onto the ¡°Completed Agenda¡± section, which listed only one item: Agenda Two: The Ring on the Fourth Finger.


    Her brow furrowed momentarily before her gaze shifted to the ring encircling her fourth finger. The ring shimmered, its beauty almost unnaturally perfect. Shiki had long suspected the mysterious origins of this ring, but no matter how many times she contemplated it, the answers always eluded her.


    Now, however, a new truth had been revealed: the ring was an Agenda Item, a requirement for completing the second agenda.


    A faint smile crept across Shiki''s lips, accompanied by a sharp glint in her eyes.


    "Fufufu~ How fascinating..." she murmured, her voice cold yet brimming with lethal enthusiasm.


    She gripped the ring tightly, as if drawing out its hidden power. Now, she knew her journey had only just begun¡ªand nothing would stand in her way as she reclaimed her throne and soared to heights greater than ever before.