Chapter 41: The Return of the Massive Insect

Drawing upon its memories, the massive insect slowly swam back from the Cosmic Desert. Given that the opposing force had deployed Imperial Special Forces during the final pursuit, it was clear that the former alliance now fell under the Universal Empire’s dominion.

Moreover, the enemy was clearly a cautious individual, choosing not to risk entering the Cosmic Desert in pursuit. This decision, of course, was also heavily influenced by their own self-interest.

Yet, the massive insect was convinced that such a foe would not leave themselves entirely defenseless against it. The moment it attempted to re-enter human territory, it would undoubtedly be detected instantly, drawing a barrage of attacks.

Though the massive insect remained unaware of humanity’s current strength, it was certain they had grown more powerful than before.

After all, its analysis of the memories it had devoured from humans suggested that humanity was a species whose combat prowess increased proportionally with time and preparation. Most species followed a similar pattern, with the exception of certain races born with inherent power, who then amplified their strength further through technological enhancements. These specific races, however, possessed both strong technological foundations and innate life talents.

‘Such races must be delicious…’

As the massive insect slowly pondered these thoughts, it began to leisurely patrol the edge of the Cosmic Desert.

“Hmm, it seems there are indeed human monitoring devices. How troublesome. I feel like I’ll have to take a detour…”

Yet, as the massive insect grappled with this dilemma, the human forces had already detected its presence and swiftly sounded a Level One alert.

“What’s happening?!”

With the blare of the alarm, the former Alliance Central, now the Imperial local administrative center, erupted into chaos. Fortunately, they quickly regained their composure once orders came down from leadership, then began to carry out their respective duties.

Odinxis frowned, observing his subordinates. Indeed, there was a vast difference in quality between the Imperial Special Forces and these men from a remote corner of the galaxy.

However, due to various interests, he had no choice but to keep these ‘useless’ individuals under his command. All he could do was strive to raise their work standards as much as possible.

In contrast to Odinxis’s own perception, his subordinates were truly starting to notice a change in their leader. For reasons unknown, ever since his return from the Universal Empire, he had developed a subtle, inexplicable arrogance and a mysterious sense of superiority. This feeling was so deeply hidden, however, that they often wondered if they were merely imagining it.

Under this delicate balance, Odinxis’s policies slowly advanced. Bolstered by the support of an Imperial legion, he rapidly expanded trade within his controlled region, using both forceful and threatening methods to secure the maximum possible benefits for his territory during this period. It could be said that under Odinxis’s leadership, the entire nebular region’s prosperity and civilization had surged upward by several levels.

This soaring happiness index among the populace naturally translated into increased support for their leader. Furthermore, according to Imperial law, Odinxis, as a viscount, held absolute command over this territory. In recent years, he had been steadily eroding the vested interests of former alliance members, those relics of the past. Just as he was on the verge of replacing these ‘useless’ individuals, that damned monster reappeared!

“Damn it! Not a moment too soon, not a moment too late, but precisely now.”

Odinxis reluctantly halted his current plans and began to don his armor, preparing to rush to the battlefield.

After putting on a brand-new Imperial military uniform, Odinxis glanced in the mirror, marveling. As expected of the Universal Empire, the uniform’s design was incredibly stylish, equipped with various practical functions for daily life, and offered exceptional protection.

The massive insect had been gone for twenty to thirty years—a period that could be considered long or short. For the most ordinary, lowest-tier humans, this represented a significant portion of their lives, from the terror experienced in infancy to facing it again in middle age.

For Odinxis, however, these two or three decades had passed remarkably quickly. Every day had been filled with countless matters awaiting his attention. The transformation bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor had concluded at an unknown time, and Odinxis dared not slacken in the slightest. Thus, he had seized every moment to put his understanding into practice.

It was evident that the current flourishing prosperity of the entire region was entirely attributable to His Majesty the Emperor’s grace.

But it was still far from enough. The massive insect’s continued existence remained a knot in Odinxis’s heart, even though he knew that if it were killed, he would have to relinquish command of the fleet to the Zerg.

Yet, Odinxis had, at some point, become stubbornly fixated on this matter. He found his own behavior strange, but ultimately attributed this mindset to His Majesty the Emperor’s benevolence. After all, sometimes the subconscious actions stemming from such a high level of thought were beyond his comprehension.

Just like his subconscious actions when the fleet emerged from the Quantum Channel all those years ago, Odinxis now placed absolute trust in his subconscious sixth sense.

And when the alarm sounded, Odinxis’s subconscious told him: ‘This is the moment. We can win this one.’

Holding this conviction, Odinxis resolutely stepped onto the battlefield.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace at Alliance Central, His Majesty the Emperor sat before an intelligent computer, watching it continuously maneuver Odinxis toward the battlefield. He then leisurely pulled out a bottle of drink and began to sip it.

“Master Filis, you’ve spent time in this place. How does it feel?”

His Majesty the Emperor took another sip of his drink, then turned to ask the elderly man beside him.

Master Filis had a fruit platter in front of him, along with a bottle of his own drink, but he showed no inclination to touch either.

“Blind arrogance and ignorance drive them to challenge the Zerg. Do you truly believe your single fleet can kill that insect?”

“No, hmm, of course not. Why would I believe that my fleet’s strength could defeat an opponent that even the combined forces of myriad races only barely managed to overcome? Besides, whether they truly defeated it is still a question… The Zerg’s mysterious disappearance and equally mysterious reappearance are truly bizarre.”

“Then why let him lead the entire fleet to fight alongside that fool?”

“This is a necessary sacrifice.”

His Majesty the Emperor gently caressed the ring on his index finger.

“Isn’t this what you taught me, Master Filis?”