Clack… clack clack…
On some unknown planet, a sound like carapaces tapping against stone echoed from the crevices of the rock formations.
The surface of this planet was utterly desolate, covered in yellow sand and dotted with rocks of all sizes. A lethal atmosphere sealed off all life from the outside. This was, in the truest sense, a forbidden zone of life.
But no matter how harsh the environment, there are always resilient life forms that can adapt and survive.
However… this particular life form was not born on this planet…
Beneath the yellow sand, deep within the earth, massive "insects" writhed in the relative safety of the underground. Their hard shells could withstand the fierce winds of the outside world and allowed them to tunnel through the earth like digging machines.
But… there were too many… Their numbers were simply too great! Countless insects propagated here. Compared to the deathly surface, the underground was more like a paradise for them.
Here, they had no natural enemies. Or rather, their natural enemies were simply more powerful insects.
And deep within this subterranean world, a broken statue emitted a faint, starlike glow. The statue was immense, but it lacked an upper body, with only the lower half of its limbs remaining. Even so, one could sense its immense power from those surviving fragments.
Insects continuously died beside it, transforming into specks of light that merged into the statue, adding but a single spark to its majestic form…
Insects continuously returned from other places. They crossed star systems, nebulae… and finally came back here, offering up that small, missing part of themselves, even at the cost of their lives…
Soon… It is only a matter of time. Soon, the coming doomsday will arrive. Soon! All of this will end! When the last star in the universe has faded into a dim white dwarf, the entire cosmos will return to quietude, not this infernal heat!
It waited quietly, waiting for the day all Its parts were reassembled. It was immortal. As long as "life" still existed, They would endure!
---o---
"Something is not right… Not right at all. The Legion's recent movements are truly strange."
Inside the Divine Foresight Commission, Fu Xuan stared at the recent sighting reports of the Antimatter Legion that had come in from near the various Xianzhou ships, her face a mask of confusion.
"Lady Fu, there is no need to be alarmed."
Jing Yuan's voice came from behind her. Hearing it, Fu Xuan closed her eyes, then turned, her almond-shaped eyes filled with indignation as she looked at the "General" before her.
"What? Had a comfortable vacation? Have you already forgotten that you are still the General of the Xianzhou? To only return now, are you already planning your next trip?"
"Ahaha, Lady Fu, I wasn't completely idle. The Luofu has established a brand-new trade route with our good allies. I wonder if Lady Fu is satisfied with this outcome?"
Jing Yuan, smiling, pulled a document from his robes and handed it to Fu Xuan. After seeing the contract, Fu Xuan's expression softened slightly, but she still looked angry. Clearly, her resentment towards Jing Yuan ran deep.
After all, what kind of good boss dangles empty promises in front of you, makes you do his work, but stubbornly refuses to "abdicate for someone more worthy"? And yet, every time, she allowed herself to be conned by his smooth words into working for free!
"Alright, alright, Lady Fu, we can chat more later. How about I treat you to a meal cooked by Wende? You've missed his cooking since we left the Luofu last time, haven't you?"
"Really?"
Fu Xuan looked at Jing Yuan with suspicion. Was this guy trying to trick her again?
"Of course. Once the recent matters are dealt with, Lady Fu can visit miHoYo Planet at any time. I believe Wende will be more than happy to host you."
Jing Yuan smiled and gestured with his hands, his harmless face looking completely sincere.
"Tch… I have no particular desire for his food. But a vacation is a decent option. So be it."
Fu Xuan turned away, feigning indifference. She crossed her arms and spoke with disdain.
Jing Yuan wasn't angered by her reaction, merely smiling and nodding.
"Then it's settled. Once the work here is finished, Lady Fu can go over anytime. I will contact them to ensure you are well received."
"Hmph, there's no need for that. I shall return to the Divination Commission for now. I've been so busy cleaning up the mess you left behind that I haven't even had time to use the Matrix of Prescience for a divination."
With that, Fu Xuan left the Divine Foresight Commission without a backward glance.
"Take care, Lady Fu."
Watching Fu Xuan depart, Jing Yuan shook his head slightly, returned to his seat, and began to read through a scroll from the beginning.
It seemed that starting last month, various Xianzhou ships and their merchant fleets had been frequently spotting traces of the Antimatter Legion. Sometimes it was just the trail of their departing warships; other times, they would pass by Antimatter Legion forces completely.
The strange thing was, these Antimatter Legion combat units did not attack the merchant fleets or any other planetary units. The Xianzhou's reconnaissance reports hadn't even found any traces of Stellarons. From this perspective, the Legion's current behavior was highly abnormal.
"It seems the heavens are about to change…"
Jing Yuan gently put down the scroll in his hand and looked at the holographic star chart in the hall. At some point, a new piece seemed to have appeared upon it.
---o---
Pier Point, Interastral Peace Corporation Headquarters.
"Director Zaitian, are we really recalling all employees of P40 rank and above? Isn't that a bit too rash?"
A young employee looked at Director Zaitian, whose temples were already gray, and asked with confusion.
"Yes. See to it."
Zaitian's voice was old but still magnetic, giving one a feeling of gentleness and profound depth, like a sword returned to its sheath.
Seeing that Zaitian's attitude had not changed in the slightest, the young subordinate could only suppress the doubts in his heart. Anyone who reached this position knew that what you were meant to know, you would eventually know. What you weren't meant to know, you would never know.
And clearly, he was not going to ask any unnecessary questions.
"War… is about to begin again…"
In the empty conference room, Zaitian muttered to himself…
---o---
"What are these Legion guys up to? Just passing by like that, without even giving me any face?"
In the Herta Space Station, Herta watched the Legion warship skim past the edge of the Azure Star on her monitor, her arms crossed and her face full of doubt.
"Looks like I'll have to analyze their movements. These guys are clearly acting very abnormally…"
Concise, Essential, Cumulative Glossary (Updated with Vol. 3, Ch. 50)
Factions, Groups & Aeons
Tayzzyronth the Propagation (繁育, Fányù): (Implied) The Aeon of Propagation. The chapter describes a planet populated by a massive swarm of insects worshipping a broken statue, sacrificing themselves to restore it. This is a strong allusion to Tayzzyronth and his Swarm.Chapter 50 - The Strange Behavior of the Antimatter Legion
Clack… clack clack…
On some unknown planet, a sound like carapaces tapping against stone echoed from the crevices of the rock formations.
The surface of this planet was utterly desolate, covered in yellow sand and dotted with rocks of all sizes. A lethal atmosphere sealed off all life from the outside. This was, in the truest sense, a forbidden zone of life.
But no matter how harsh the environment, there are always resilient life forms that can adapt and survive.
However… this particular life form was not born on this planet…
Beneath the yellow sand, deep within the earth, massive "insects" writhed in the relative safety of the underground. Their hard shells could withstand the fierce winds of the outside world and allowed them to tunnel through the earth like digging machines.
But… there were too many… Their numbers were simply too great! Countless insects propagated here. Compared to the deathly surface, the underground was more like a paradise for them.
Here, they had no natural enemies. Or rather, their natural enemies were simply more powerful insects.
And deep within this subterranean world, a broken statue emitted a faint, starlike glow. The statue was immense, but it lacked an upper body, with only the lower half of its limbs remaining. Even so, one could sense its immense power from those surviving fragments.
Insects continuously died beside it, transforming into specks of light that merged into the statue, adding but a single spark to its majestic form…
Insects continuously returned from other places. They crossed star systems, nebulae… and finally came back here, offering up that small, missing part of themselves, even at the cost of their lives…
Soon… It is only a matter of time. Soon, the coming doomsday will arrive. Soon! All of this will end! When the last star in the universe has faded into a dim white dwarf, the entire cosmos will return to quietude, not this infernal heat!
It waited quietly, waiting for the day all Its parts were reassembled. It was immortal. As long as "life" still existed, They would endure!
---o---
"Something is not right… Not right at all. The Legion's recent movements are truly strange."
Inside the Divine Foresight Commission, Fu Xuan stared at the recent sighting reports of the Antimatter Legion that had come in from near the various Xianzhou ships, her face a mask of confusion.
"Lady Fu, there is no need to be alarmed."
Jing Yuan's voice came from behind her. Hearing it, Fu Xuan closed her eyes, then turned, her almond-shaped eyes filled with indignation as she looked at the "General" before her.
"What? Had a comfortable vacation? Have you already forgotten that you are still the General of the Xianzhou? To only return now, are you already planning your next trip?"
"Ahaha, Lady Fu, I wasn't completely idle. The Luofu has established a brand-new trade route with our good allies. I wonder if Lady Fu is satisfied with this outcome?"
Jing Yuan, smiling, pulled a document from his robes and handed it to Fu Xuan. After seeing the contract, Fu Xuan's expression softened slightly, but she still looked angry. Clearly, her resentment towards Jing Yuan ran deep.
After all, what kind of good boss dangles empty promises in front of you, makes you do his work, but stubbornly refuses to "abdicate for someone more worthy"? And yet, every time, she allowed herself to be conned by his smooth words into working for free!
"Alright, alright, Lady Fu, we can chat more later. How about I treat you to a meal cooked by Wende? You've missed his cooking since we left the Luofu last time, haven't you?"
"Really?"
Fu Xuan looked at Jing Yuan with suspicion. Was this guy trying to trick her again?
"Of course. Once the recent matters are dealt with, Lady Fu can visit miHoYo Planet at any time. I believe Wende will be more than happy to host you."
Jing Yuan smiled and gestured with his hands, his harmless face looking completely sincere.
"Tch… I have no particular desire for his food. But a vacation is a decent option. So be it."
Fu Xuan turned away, feigning indifference. She crossed her arms and spoke with disdain.
Jing Yuan wasn't angered by her reaction, merely smiling and nodding.
"Then it's settled. Once the work here is finished, Lady Fu can go over anytime. I will contact them to ensure you are well received."
"Hmph, there's no need for that. I shall return to the Divination Commission for now. I've been so busy cleaning up the mess you left behind that I haven't even had time to use the Matrix of Prescience for a divination."
With that, Fu Xuan left the Divine Foresight Commission without a backward glance.
"Take care, Lady Fu."
Watching Fu Xuan depart, Jing Yuan shook his head slightly, returned to his seat, and began to read through a scroll from the beginning.
It seemed that starting last month, various Xianzhou ships and their merchant fleets had been frequently spotting traces of the Antimatter Legion. Sometimes it was just the trail of their departing warships; other times, they would pass by Antimatter Legion forces completely.
The strange thing was, these Antimatter Legion combat units did not attack the merchant fleets or any other planetary units. The Xianzhou's reconnaissance reports hadn't even found any traces of Stellarons. From this perspective, the Legion's current behavior was highly abnormal.
"It seems the heavens are about to change…"
Jing Yuan gently put down the scroll in his hand and looked at the holographic star chart in the hall. At some point, a new piece seemed to have appeared upon it.
---o---
Pier Point, Interastral Peace Corporation Headquarters.
"Director Zaitian, are we really recalling all employees of P40 rank and above? Isn't that a bit too rash?"
A young employee looked at Director Zaitian, whose temples were already gray, and asked with confusion.
"Yes. See to it."
Zaitian's voice was old but still magnetic, giving one a feeling of gentleness and profound depth, like a sword returned to its sheath.
Seeing that Zaitian's attitude had not changed in the slightest, the young subordinate could only suppress the doubts in his heart. Anyone who reached this position knew that what you were meant to know, you would eventually know. What you weren't meant to know, you would never know.
And clearly, he was not going to ask any unnecessary questions.
"War… is about to begin again…"
In the empty conference room, Zaitian muttered to himself…
---o---
"What are these Legion guys up to? Just passing by like that, without even giving me any face?"
In the Herta Space Station, Herta watched the Legion warship skim past the edge of the Azure Star on her monitor, her arms crossed and her face full of doubt.
"Looks like I'll have to analyze their movements. These guys are clearly acting very abnormally…"