TCFGBH Chapter 122

The Zerg.

Humanity’s most powerful enemy.

They are massive in size, with natural armor, tough skin, and strong reproductive abilities. A single Queen can lay millions of eggs every month, with eighty percent of them hatching into larvae.

Of these larvae, only seven percent will evolve into advanced Zergs, while the rest will become cannon fodder on the battlefield. They lack intelligence, feel no pain, and only act according to the Queen’s commands.

They are the ultimate expendables in war.

To protect their people, the Empire and the Federation each control separate parts of the battlefield, strictly monitoring and never allowing any Zerg to cross into their territories to breed.

No one expected that on this planet, which had been thoroughly inspected, Zergs would appear.

The rescue team immediately sprang into action, but no matter how fast they were, it would still take several minutes. The live-stream feed was in chaos, with everyone worrying about the contestants.

Grover, the leader of the rescue team, had been the one to lead the team during the initial assessment of the planet’s suitability for the finals.

Now, with this unexpected disaster, he bore an unavoidable responsibility.

His expression was serious, his eyes flickering with panic as he raced toward the site of the incident.

A subordinate contacted him: “Captain, should we request military support?”

“A single Zerg—” he started to reply, but before he could finish, the smoke in the dense forest finally began to clear, and the live-stream camera dutifully transmitted the scene to the viewers.

Zergs!!!

Countless Zergs were pouring out of the collapsed “mine,” emerging in a continuous stream, their numerous limbs emitting a chilling aura. Their compound eyes fixed on their prey, charging fearlessly into battle, driven by the Queen’s hunger for food.

Among the Zergs were flying species as well. The Federation team in the sky was also under attack, their position shaky.

The situation below was even more dire.

Xia Yan had long lost count of how many times he had swung his lightsaber. His longsword accurately pierced the Zergs’ fatal weak spots… Tengying Zerg’s weak point was the joint at the back of the neck; the Wind Mosquito’s weak spot was its mouth; the Golden-Bone Serpent’s weak point was in the seven inches…

The original owner had diligently studied these details, and during the practical training, Xia Yan had reviewed all of them to summarize his findings.

He had always been a smart person, and now, in the midst of life-and-death danger, the knowledge he had accumulated surfaced clearly in his mind.

In his steady black mech, adorned with beautiful golden patterns, he moved with the agility of a hunting leopard, skillfully weaving through the Zergs, each strike landing a lethal blow.

The gorgeous and beautiful dance of death made everyone’s blood boil and their faces turn red.

People unknowingly quieted down, staring in a daze at the young man’s mech.

Grover tightly shut his eyes. When he opened them again, there was a hint of despair in his gaze. He weakly said, “Large Zerg gathering detected, suspected presence of a Queen. Requesting military support.”

“Understood, Captain.”

The Empire’s league was already the center of everyone’s attention, and the military had naturally seen what Grover had witnessed. The military stationed outside the planet quickly sprang into action.

…

There was no end to it; it was impossible to kill them all.

When the Zergs began to emerge, Xia Yan suddenly realized that he had made a fatal mistake.

The map provided by the system only marked the Queen’s location, so he had assumed avoiding that area would suffice. He forgot that the Zergs would expand outward from the Queen.

When they entered the second poison zone, they had already crossed into the Zerg territory.

To the Zergs, humans were a delicious, high-end food source, an energy-rich delicacy. As the number of humans dwindled, despite knowing the risks, the Queen could not resist attacking them.

Using the power of artillery, the distance between the ground and the Zerg tunnel was shattered.

Fortunately… the remaining ten people all had impressive combat abilities, so they could hold out until the rescue team arrived.

Two minutes felt like an eternity to Xia Yan. Time seemed to stretch infinitely. With the rescue team rushing forward at full speed, in three minutes and twenty-one seconds, their figures finally appeared in the sky.

A team of thirty couldn’t kill all the Zergs, but they were enough to rescue the students.

As for after that…

The military would naturally take over and wipe them out.

They had arrived.

Xia Yan quietly exhaled in relief.

At that moment, a powerful, irresistible force enveloped everyone, as though a transparent, invisible steel needle had pierced their minds, stirring their brains.

Pain!!!

It hurt so much!!!

This was a pain unlike any physical agony—it was a soul-crushing torment.

The mechs flying in the air lost control of their mental energy and crashed violently to the ground. If it weren’t for the cadets’ strong physical abilities, they would have been turned into pulp under the immense impact.

Even when Xia Yan had been in car accidents, he had never experienced such pain.

His exquisitely beautiful face couldn’t show any expression, golden eyes filled with physiological tears, his slender fingers weakly grasping, his whole body like a beautiful woman in an art gallery painting.

A painted shell concealing an empty body.

Fortunately, the system detected the anomaly immediately and activated the pain shield.

In an instant, the stunning exterior was infused with soul, shining with enormous brilliance. He quickly surveyed the surroundings, multitasking—killing Zergs while asking the system,

[What just happened?]

System: [The Queen’s mental attack.]

The Queen, the breeder and ruler of the Zergs, had a fragile body but powerful mental energy, able to control the Zergs and attack humans. Of course, using mental attacks took a toll on the Queen, and she wouldn’t do so unless absolutely necessary.

Perhaps the Queen didn’t expect anyone to break free from her control so quickly. In her shock, the Zerg swarm briefly paused.

Seizing this opportunity, Xia Yan swiftly grabbed nearby teammates still under control and threw them out. After all, they were just tough, resilient soldiers—being tossed wouldn’t do much damage.

The duck that was about to be served flew away. The Queen was furious and used her mental control to command the advanced Zergs to capture as many as they could.

The advanced Zergs scanned the surroundings in confusion.

A claw tackled Ludwig, the second person to break free from the Queen’s control, pulling him down rapidly. But his speed was still too slow.

The endless Zergs continued to overwhelm him. No matter how many were killed, more kept coming, and his mech was forced out of a depression, step by step, burying itself in the mine.

Xia Yan: “???”

The protagonist gong!!!

One of the world’s pillars.

If he died, the world would collapse.

He’d be working for free!!!

This couldn’t be happening! Corporate slaves can work overtime, but not for free overtime!!!

There was no time to think. Xia Yan immediately dove into the Zerg mine.

The Zergs: “?”

Ecstasy. Food delivered to their door.

The people who had just regained consciousness: “…”

What just happened?

–

If someone posted asking what kind of person Xia Yan Gardner was, the comment section would be filled with endless answers.

A tall, slender figure, a strikingly beautiful face, beauty that surpassed human limits, and a simple glance that could make anyone risk their lives for him.

An affluent family background, noble demeanor, naturally arrogant nobility.

Flawless grades, immense strength, the future star of the military.

…

No matter whether good or bad, people were endlessly curious about him.

But none of the answers would include that he would risk his life and personally jump into the Zerg lair to save his teammates.

So when he actually did this, everyone, including Grover, who had been competing with him for the throne and thought he understood his character the best, was stunned.

How long had passed?

After a long period of silence, the comment section finally saw someone shakily ask:

【What just happened?】

【Where’s my wife? I have such a big wife!】

【Fuck & ￥@￥ rescue team, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and save them! fuck & *@@……】 Someone sent a long string of insults, which the intelligent system blocked and censored.

【Ahhhhh!!! I can’t accept this!!! Save my wife!!】

【The rescue team can only save the people outside. With their numbers, they’re just walking into the Zerg lair to be served as food.】

【How long until the military arrives?】

【This isn’t a border area. The military stationed outside the planet only has a thousand troops. They can’t directly engage the Queen in the Zerg lair. Every time the Queen is killed, it requires large team cooperation, and even then, there are heavy losses.】

If the Queen were that easy to kill, humanity wouldn’t have been fighting the Zergs for thousands of years.

【The nearest troops are in the capital, it will take at least twelve hours to get there. By then, everything will be too late.】

Originally, this was just a military academy competition. The venue had been thoroughly inspected, the military stationed around the perimeter, and the organizers had provided multiple shields. Even if the Zergs unexpectedly found this place and launched an attack, those shields would last at least 48 hours, enough time for the military to arrive.

But no one had expected the Zergs to attack from within, leading to total chaos, and the shields suddenly became a joke.

【What about my wife?】

【…】

No one answered his question.

The war between humans and the Zergs was brutal. Even though Xia Yan was the son of a duke, the Empire wouldn’t sacrifice other soldiers to fight a battle with only a five percent chance of success.

Unless the captured person was the crown prince.

The next emperor of the Empire.

The Empire was founded by the Gardner family, and every monarch had been on the battlefield, achieving real military accomplishments, protecting the people, and serving as the spiritual pillar of the Empire’s citizens.

Although Xia Yan had royal blood…

He had not yet officially become the heir.

There was also Grover.

Even if he were sacrificed, it wouldn’t shake the foundation of the Empire.

But… was that really the case?

From the moment Xia Yan jumped into the Zerg lair, the internet exploded. Countless people prayed for his safe return, but knowing that a large military force couldn’t reach him in time, people became disheartened.

The entire Empire was filled with a sense of despair.

It felt as though he had gone from the vibrant energy of youth to the frailty of old age, losing the sharpness to move forward.

Who could be more suited to be king than Xia Yan?

In his brilliance, Grover seemed dull and insignificant.

It was as if they had found a dazzling diamond, only to end up with ordinary, mundane glass. It would have been better if they had never seen the beautiful gem in the first place—then they wouldn’t have longed for it, unable to forget.

…

Ian watched in disbelief as his boyfriend jumped into the Zerg pit for another man.

The mental attack from the Zerg Queen caused a brief moment of blankness for Ian, rendering him unable to think. When he regained his senses, he rushed forward, wanting to join Xia Yan.

However, as soon as he took a step, two mechs blocked his path.

His face darkened. “What are you doing?”

Huo Ruihe’s voice was tired. “Xia Yan told us to stop you.”

Gong Changyong added, “Young master said you’re not allowed to go down.”

“Don’t you want to save him?” Ian was on the verge of losing it, his voice rising in pitch. “That’s the Zerg pit!!!”

Huo Ruihe fell silent for a moment. “…I… must obey his orders.” Xia Yan was the master he had chosen, and he should obey, even though he himself was on the brink of madness, wanting to go in and save him.

Gong Changyong was a straightforward kid, not very good at thinking, always obedient.

Even if Xia Yan had told him to be the first to jump into the Zerg pit, he would have done it.

It turned out that Xia Yan had made the right choice.

Ian was very strong, but for a moment, he couldn’t break through the blockade of Huo Ruihe and Gong Changyong. A few seconds passed, and by the time he was delayed, the rescue team arrived, and the Zerg swarm scattered like flowing water.

The Zerg pit was enormous. Even if Ian jumped in now, it would be hard to find Xia Yan.

Cough cough!

Xia Yan himself wasn’t afraid of death. If he died, he could just return to the system space. And jumping into the Zerg Queen’s territory was the perfect way to complete task seven. Even if he died, it could still count as completing the mission.

But the two protagonists couldn’t die!

He didn’t want to jump down, just to save Ludwig, only for Ian to meet his end shortly after. That would have been all for nothing!!!

No way!!! He couldn’t let his efforts go to waste!!!