Chapter 007 - Birth of a New Insect Queen!
Wang Chong was determined to escape!
He had been planning this for several days. In their long struggle against the queen insects, humans had been cautious about using nuclear weapons.
Except for nine low-yield nuclear bombs dropped in Brazil and Argentina with the Brazilian government's approval, nuclear weapons hadn't been used.
Now, humans had developed radiation guns specifically designed to counter queen insects. If nuclear weapons were to be used, they would surely be packed with these devices.
Although Wang Chong didn't have detailed knowledge in this area, he had never been optimistic about the queen insects' chances.
When he "died" in his previous life, it was during a Level 4 insect swarm, the maximum a country could tolerate. If it escalated to a Level 3 swarm, it could shake the very foundations of a nation!
What would the government do then?
In recent years, the government had been expending tremendous effort, facing public outcry, to relocate cities and villages near forests. Considering the implications of this action was chilling.
The border regions were now almost completely deserted...
Nuclear weapons were likely to be used!
This grim realization made Wang Chong contemplate how to separate from the swarm as soon as he emerged.
Suddenly, Wang Chong felt a surge of tension, as if something was remotely controlling him!
His body involuntarily changed direction, buzzing for a short while before landing in a small clearing.
Wang Chong struggled against this mysterious control, filled with fear.
Could it be the Insect Queen?
As this thought struck him, he suddenly stopped resisting, allowing himself to be guided. It seemed that whatever was controlling him didn't know he could truly fly rather than just glide, only directing him to fly short distances before landing and then taking off again.
After a while, they arrived at a small open area.
Wang Chong received a strange command in his mind, which his human consciousness interpreted as 'Herd!'
Then the controlling force disappeared.
Wang Chong felt a chill.
He was almost certain that the mysterious force controlling him was the Insect Queen!
This was a swarm with a Queen!
No wonder humanity's war against the queen insects was so challenging. The Queen's control over the swarm had reached such a terrifying level! It was as simple as moving one's fingers!
If the Insect Queen possessed a certain level of intelligence...
Now, Wang Chong dared not even think about escaping. He had observed that insects similar to himself were the most numerous, likely worker insects.
He calmed himself, deciding to observe the situation before making any moves.
The clearing before him was crudely enclosed by branches and stones.
Recalling the "herd" command, Wang Chong was surprised. Did queen insects understand herding? What were they herding? Ants? Spiders?
Soon, Wang Chong's eyes widened in shock!
A massive wild rabbit appeared before him, two to three times larger than normal, almost the size of a large cat!
However, it was grotesquely swollen, covered in disgusting tumors that looked like dozens of water sacs. Some were even oozing pus.
Wang Chong's jaw dropped. Could it be... they were herding wild rabbits?!
Why had the rabbit grown so large?
The answer came quickly as several queen insects with long, mosquito-like proboscises arrived.
These needle-insects swiftly "injected" the rabbit, causing it to convulse and collapse. They seemed to be pumping something into the rabbit's body, as its flesh visibly pulsated and muscle tissue grew at an alarming rate, forming new tumors.
Wang Chong was stunned. After a long moment, he could only exclaim, "Holy crap."
They even had specialized queen insects for accelerated growth!
How complex could the queen insects' social structure become?!
Wang Chong stared in disbelief.
After a while, the rabbit struggled to its feet, staggering a few steps before collapsing again. It got up once more, seemingly afraid of this treatment, and tried to escape the "fence."
Immediately, several worker queen insects pounced on it, biting and drawing blood.
The rabbit, having likely experienced this before, retreated. The soldier queen insects then released it.
Wang Chong examined the scene closely. These soldier queen insects were clearly similar to those in the insect cave, though slightly larger, about the size of bees. This suggested that what he had thought were adult soldier queen insects could still grow larger.
Considering everything he had seen over the past few days, Wang Chong reached a chilling conclusion: The insect colony was hiding its true strength!
This realization made him even more uneasy. What was already a Level 4 swarm, combined with these hidden capabilities, could potentially reach Level 3!
A Level 3 swarm would force any country to take desperate measures!
Wang Chong was certain that as soon as the swarm reached Level 3, nuclear weapons would be used!
For expendable units like himself, the chances of survival in a nuclear war were practically zero!
He worried about this for several days.
As he slowly contemplated how to escape, one of the rabbits, presumably pushed to its limit by the accelerated growth, died.
A group of soldier insects quickly arrived and devoured it completely.
The swarm was growing relentlessly, and Wang Chong's concerns grew with each passing day.
He knew a final battle between humans and the insect colony was inevitable.
At this point, he wasn't sure if he was human or insect.
He reasoned that having died fighting for humanity, he had fulfilled his duty as a human. Now, perhaps he should work towards strengthening the insect colony.
Moreover, after days of reflection, he realized that the sudden order to investigate that day likely meant the higher-ups had discovered something, yet still sent him and his comrades to their deaths!
Wang Chong was furious! But what should he do now? Lead the swarm to slaughter humans?
He no longer knew which side to support. Now, he just wanted to escape this war.
He fantasized about digging a small hole by the sea, marrying a golden female insect, facing the ocean in peaceful retirement...
Though these were just jokes, having died once already, Wang Chong was truly tired and didn't want to be involved in such bloody affairs again.
Yet, the idea of peaceful coexistence was impossible to vocalize.
After all, this was a war between species for living space. There was no way to reconcile it!
If he were still human, Wang Chong would probably be lying on a large rock, chewing on a blade of grass, watching clouds drift by.
"Buzz—"
A thunderous sound exploded near his ears! A noise powerful enough to shake every nerve in his body.
Wang Chong was startled, wondering what was happening.
He saw that the swarm had descended into madness!
Frenzy!
A terrifying frenzy!
A frenzy that swept through the entire swarm!
Queen! Queen! Queen!
A new Insect Queen had emerged in the swarm!
Now this swarm had two Insect Queens!
The swarm's jubilation alarmed Wang Chong, and gradually he too was swept up in the excitement, feeling a rising heat.
The green line on his elytra glowed brightly, emitting a faint light.
Buzz buzz buzz—
The swarm flew about chaotically, filling the entire forest with a dense mass of insect shadows.
These queen insects seemed drunk, crashing about like headless flies.
It took a full half hour for the commotion to subside.
Compared to before, it was now as silent as death.
Wang Chong's heart pounded...
What would happen next?
Would they launch an all-out attack on humans?
Somehow, Wang Chong had a feeling of brief calm before a storm...