Hermes had never been willing to be a puppet. Whether it was back when he was controlled by the Zerg King, or just now when he nearly lost control of his body again, both experiences touched the most violent and brutal emotions buried deep within him.
Lin Kong’s soothing voice echoed beside his ears again and again, unconsciously helping him regain a sliver of clarity. His already shattered consciousness, from somewhere unknown, found the strength to once more struggle against the wisp of divine will from the Zerg King.
If the psychic power in Hermes’ mind could take physical form now, it would probably look like a field of shattered glass. Each time he reached his limits, the sweet, metallic taste of Lin Kong’s blood would replenish him with an endless stream of vitality. In the end, his awareness grew so hazy that he couldn’t even remember how he eventually lost consciousness.
Outside the cave, the howling wind knocked over swathes of grass and trees. Snowflakes filled the sky, falling thick and heavy, blanketing the entire mountain forest in pure white, erasing even the faintest trace of any other color.
Hermes had spent countless winters in the dense forest and had long grown immune to the cold. But perhaps it was because Lin Kong’s blood had been so warm that now, for the first time, he actually felt a chill. When he slowly opened his dazed eyes, the first thing he saw was Lin Kong’s pale, exhausted sleeping face.
[…]
Hermes closed his eyes. Memories of the previous night rushed back all at once, and a stabbing pain shot through his brain like needles piercing into him. Groaning in agony, he clutched his head, his body curling up uncontrollably, and in doing so, jolted Lin Kong awake from his sleep.
“Hermes? What’s wrong?!”
Seeing that Hermes had awakened, Lin Kong hurriedly bent down to check on him, terrified that the wisp of the Zerg King’s consciousness might have seized his body.
Enduring the searing pain churning in his mind, Hermes struggled to squeeze out two words: [I’m fine…]
His face was deathly pale, so weak that for a moment he couldn’t even speak. The black robe he wore was soaked with blood, frozen stiff in the bitter cold.
Lin Kong could tell he was forcing himself to hold on. “Your chest wound hasn’t even healed yet— how can you say you’re fine? Are you cold? Hold on, I’ll start a fire for you.”
As he spoke, he moved his numb limbs with difficulty, staggering to his feet while holding Hermes in his arms. He bent down and carefully laid him onto the stone bed.
Lin Kong’s wrist had been bitten badly by Hermes the day before— torn flesh and blood everywhere— but because of the freezing temperatures, the bleeding had quickly stopped and the wound had clotted. Enduring the pain, he gathered the firewood scattered around the cave and rebuilt the fire. Then he used an eggshell to fetch two full bowls of frozen creek water and set them over the fire to thaw.
Hermes lay on the stone bed, watching Lin Kong’s busy figure. With great effort, he moved his fingers and pushed the wide-open stone door nearly shut, blocking out the biting wind and leaving only a narrow gap— just wide enough for Lin Kong to slip through sideways.
After finishing this, Hermes completely ran out of strength. His wrist hung limply over the side of the bed, revealing a wound so deep that the bone was faintly visible.
Lin Kong heated the water in the eggshell, then tore one of his old garments into strips, soaked them, and walked over to the bedside to gently wipe Hermes’ face. In a low voice, he said, “Bear with it for a bit. I’ll help you change into some clean clothes.”
Hermes closed his eyes and nodded silently— surprisingly obedient at this moment.
There weren’t many spare clothes left; the ones they had were worn, washed over and over again until the lettering and patterns had faded completely. Lin Kong carefully undid Hermes’ divine robe, revealing several fierce, ragged wounds slashed across the left side of his chest, now sealed under thick, heavy scabs.
Lin Kong carefully wiped Hermes’ body with the cloth soaked in warm water, changed him into clean, fresh clothes, and finally covered him tightly with a thick fur blanket. “All right. Close your eyes and get some sleep. If you need anything, just call me,” he said gently.
Hearing this, Hermes opened his eyes and looked at him. The red in his pupils wasn’t as bloodshot as yesterday, but there was still a wary unease in his gaze. As if afraid Lin Kong might disappear right before his eyes, he frowned and grabbed Lin Kong’s wrist tightly. [Where are you going?]
Lin Kong’s answer remained the same: “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay right here.”
After speaking, Lin Kong got up and quickly tidied the cave, using animal pelts to block the drafts leaking through the stone door. Only then did he squat by the fire and begin washing the dried blood from the wound on his wrist.
It was only now that Hermes, his mind no longer clouded by instinct, noticed the injuries on Lin Kong’s wrist — wounds he had inflicted in his bloodlust the day before. Turning his head slightly, Hermes watched silently, thinking to himself: This prey of mine had always been delicate, spoiled— afraid of pain, afraid of hardship, someone who would whimper endlessly even from a fall. Yet yesterday, even after being bitten so badly, Lin Kong hadn’t made a sound.
Lin Kong had indeed been pampered growing up, but at critical moments, he was unexpectedly resilient. After cleaning his wounds, Lin Kong noticed Hermes staring at him. Without saying anything, he simply stripped off his dirty clothes, lifted the blanket, climbed into bed, and gently pulled Hermes into his arms.
Seeing this, Hermes instinctively leaned into Lin Kong’s embrace. Only then did his taut nerves finally begin to relax, as if he had found a trace of safety at last.
Lin Kong asked, “Is that fragment of the Zerg King’s consciousness still in your mind?”
Hermes closed his eyes and shook his head. [I’ve suppressed it for now. But that fragment is entwined with my psychic power— I can’t completely destroy it.]
In other words, Hermes had gained the vast psychic power of the Zerg King, but in exchange, a “time bomb” had been buried in his mind. Fortunately, Hermes had managed to suppress that fragment of consciousness, so for now, it shouldn’t resurface.
Lin Kong couldn’t help but feel a bit worried upon hearing this, but after a moment’s thought, he realized that at least both he and Hermes were still alive— that was already a stroke of luck amid all the misfortune. Muttering to himself, he said, “Just… please don’t turn into another zerg.”
Hermes: [Why?]
Lin Kong carefully avoided his wounds and pulled him even closer. “I still like you like this.”
It was always Hermes who hunted for him, who found animal pelts to keep him warm. Eating, sleeping, kissing, making love— it was all, without exception, with him.
Lin Kong didn’t want this body to be taken over by some unknown creature. He didn’t like it, not even a little.
Hermes froze for a moment when he heard the word “like.” He had asked Lin Kong before what that word meant, but Lin Kong couldn’t explain it clearly. Now, with their skin pressed together, the flames crackling and the heat of his chest burning unbearably, Hermes felt something stir inside him.
Like?
Hermes thought to himself, Is this what “liking” feels like? It was too intense, too burning, and it made him feel a little uncomfortable.
[Lin Kong…]
Suddenly, he asked, his tone devoid of emotion: [Why didn’t you run away yesterday?]
In a life-or-death situation, the instinct for survival is paramount. Why, then, did the other creature insist on staying? This action went against the survival instincts of any creature, and Hermes couldn’t understand it.
Lin Kong spoke honestly: “I have nowhere else to go.”
Holding Hermes close, it was as if they were two beasts tending to each other’s wounds. In a soft voice, Lin Kong murmured to himself, “My home is far, far away… I can never go back. As long as you don’t kill me, I’ll stay with you. And when you finally want to kill me, I’ll let you.”
As Lin Kong spoke, he instinctively touched his neck. “As long as you don’t make it too painful, that’s fine.”
Hermes frowned at his words, his voice low and serious: [I told you, I won’t kill you.]
Lin Kong didn’t doubt him. Yesterday, Hermes had been afraid of losing control and strangling him, nearly biting through his own wrist. How could this zerg be so ruthless?
But Lin Kong was still very happy. When he smiled, a curve appeared in his eyes. “Alright, let’s both live well together.”
Hermes thought Lin Kong looked really good when he smiled like that. He stared at him for a long, long time, and eventually, the weight of sleep took over. Unable to resist, he slowly closed his eyes and drifted into a hazy dream.
Hermes slept for a full three days. During this time, he was busy sorting through the chaotic psychic energy within him. Lin Kong didn’t dare wake him. He simply checked on his breathing every day to make sure Hermes was still alive.
At night, the red moon rose as usual, its crimson hue even more intense than before, as if it were heralding something.
During its winter slumber, the Zerg King remained curled up in the temple. As time passed, its skin became more wrinkled and yellow, resembling a crumpled piece of rubber. A light tug would have it peeling away.
To conserve its strength, it had temporarily sealed off some of its spiritual senses. However, that night, its massive body suddenly trembled as if startled. It quickly raised its head and looked toward the western part of the dense forest, its voice trembling with shock:
[Such powerful psychic energy!]
If the Zerg King had hair, it would have been standing on end by now. It seemed as though it was trying to confirm something, so it extended its senses again. This time, its shock deepened even further:
[How is this possible?! Who is it?!]
In the dense forest, there could only ever be one king. The appearance of any powerful entity could threaten the authority of the reigning ruler. The Zerg King had just detected a massive surge of spiritual pressure coming from the western part of the forest. Even the worker zergs inside the temple, busy with their tasks, were paralyzed with fear, unable to move. No wonder the Zerg King was so alarmed.
The drowsiness of winter sleep vanished in an instant. The Zerg King began to thrash wildly inside the temple, its tail whipping so violently that it shattered several floor tiles. Agitated, it muttered to itself: [Who could it be?! Could it be that the golden egg has hatched?!]
It quickly dismissed the thought: [No, that’s impossible. Without my hatching, how could that egg possibly have come to life?!]
The Zerg King was at a loss. It awkwardly maneuvered its massive body toward the temple door, looking out at the vast expanse of snow. Without hesitation, it sent out a summons to its attendants, the signal rapidly spreading outward from the temple:
[Hermes!]
[Gayan!]
[Xue Po!]
[Hurry to the temple! Quickly!]
The Zerg King was like a mad, elderly man, screaming frantically. Gayan, who had been meditating and cultivating in the snow-covered mountains, immediately rushed over upon hearing the Zerg King’s spiritual summons. Xue Po, hiding in a cave to escape the cold, also heard the summons, but he hesitated for a moment before heading out to find Hermes.
[Hermes!]
[Are you there, Hermes?!]
Xue Po folded his wings and landed outside the cave. He hurriedly walked into the cave and saw a zerg sitting in the center of the stone bed, meditating with his eyes closed. It was none other than Hermes.
At that moment, Hermes had finally managed to sort out the chaotic psychic energy within him. Hearing Xue Po’s voice, his eyes suddenly snapped open. His red pupils flashed with a dark gleam, and the residual psychic energy around him suddenly surged uncontrollably, sending Xue Po flying several meters away.
“Bang—!”
Xue Po failed to dodge in time and was sent flying out of the cave, crashing heavily into a pine tree. He coughed, and before he could get up, a pile of snow from the tree branches above fell right onto him.
Xue Po: […]
This damn Hermes… this piece of trash who ate zerg shit!
Xue Po wiped the snow off his face, staggering as he stood up from the ground. His face turned pale with anger. [Hermes, are you doing this on purpose?!]
Hermes truly wasn’t doing it on purpose. He had just finished his cultivation, and when he tried to withdraw his psychic energy, he accidentally released some of it. He hadn’t expected Xue Po to walk right into it.
Hermes leapt out of the cave, and the next moment, he flashed right in front of Xue Po, moving so quickly that only a blur could be seen. His crimson eyes locked onto Xue Po, looking like two bottomless whirlpools. His voice was low and cold:
[What are you here for?]
Xue Po was momentarily silent, his sharp instincts sensing that something was wrong. He stared at Hermes, whose face had grown even colder than before, and stammered, [Hermes… your psychic power… why has it suddenly become so strong?!]
Even though Hermes had tried his best to suppress it, the overwhelming pressure of his pychic energy still made Xue Po shudder with fear, as if he were a rabbit facing a large predator, so startled that his soul almost left his body.
Hermes, of course, couldn’t admit that he had absorbed the Zerg King’s psychic energy. He closed his eyes for a moment, sensing the atmosphere, and then suddenly asked, [Is the Zerg King calling us?]
As soon as this was mentioned, Xue Po immediately forgot his earlier question. His expression turned anxious as he said, [Hermes, the Zerg King suddenly summoned us to the temple. There’s definitely something suspicious going on. We can’t go there, no matter what!]
Hermes seemed to have guessed what was going on. He narrowed his eyes coldly, [But it placed a psychic imprint on us in the past. If we don’t obey its orders, it will immediately kill us.]
Xue Po was worried about this exact thing. His face turned pale as he said, [I’d rather be killed than eaten. It’s so disgusting and messy… The Zerg King is in the middle of its second molting period, and it can’t find any prey in the winter. What if it decides to swallow us whole?]
[Hermes, are you going to the temple?]
Hermes clasped his hands in his robe, expressionless, running his fingertips over the fabric. After a moment, he looked up at the setting sun, his gaze unreadable as he replied, [I will go, but not now. I’ll wait until the Blood Moon rises before going to the temple.]
Xue Po’s face changed immediately, [The Blood Moon? What are you planning to do?!]
Hermes turned to look at him, his silver hair flowing as if moved by an unseen wind, and with his crimson eyes, he resembled a god of death descending upon the world. Every word that left his thin lips struck like a massive hammer, leaving Xue Po stunned and rooted in place:
[Xue Po, isn’t it better to kill it?]
Xue Po, isn’t it better to kill it?
These words, almost rebellious in nature, shattered Xue Po’s worldview. His ears rang, and for a moment, he even doubted whether he was hearing things.
Hermes’ eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty gleam, but his voice was laced with a tempting allure: [If we kill it, we’ll no longer be puppets.]
[The Blood Moon night is when the Zerg King is at its weakest. We strike then. If we lose, it’s just death. But if we win, we can regain our freedom.]
[Don’t you want freedom?]
Hermes liked the phrase “high above” as he didn’t need anyone to be his ruler; he was born to be his own king.
Lin Kong was originally washing dishes by the creek. Carrying two egg shells, he trudged through the snow, stepping deep in some places and shallow in others, heading toward the cave. However, he unexpectedly saw two familiar figures standing outside and overheard their conversation. He immediately froze and hid behind a tree.
Hermes wants to kill the Zerg King? How is that possible?
Lin Kong’s first reaction was disbelief. After all, in his mind, Hermes was nothing more than a killing machine severely brainwashed by the Zerg King. He couldn’t possibly have the ability to resist. How could he even think about killing him?
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