As the insects intensified their assault, the entire northern city wall fell.
The swarm pouring into the city began to sprint through the streets, constantly encountering various defense units from different directions, leading to fierce combat.
Several thousand insects, moving in small squads, charged through the various streets of this large city.
Every single building was subjected to an inspection by the zerglings.
Anyone daring to harbor soldiers was ruthlessly executed.
Of course, even for civilians, if their strength reached Tier 4 and they displayed hostile behavior, they would also be killed.
The brain bug’s method of handling this was quite direct.
Inside a household, if even one person was judged to be hostile, the entire family would be purged.
Conversely, if no one was hostile and no one had reached Tier 4 strength, they were temporarily left alone.
When Xia Jin saw that the top of the city wall was completely cleared of enemies, she slowly walked up.
With a light leap, she sat on the edge of the wall, leisurely drinking a specially flavored nutrient solution as she calmly looked down at the battle below.
“Brain Bug No. 1, tell me... how do you think I should handle the vast occupied territories moving forward?”
Her consciousness sent out the inquiry.
The brain bug quickly provided an answer.
“If we followed the former Overlord's plan, we should kill every last one of them. It would be best to even convert the microorganisms in the soil into Zerg individuals. However, that plan is actually fraught with danger and cannot be considered a rational use of resources.”
“Then what do you think is a better way?” Xia Jin asked with a clear mind.
“We only need to allow them to live as free-range livestock, maintaining basic stability. Then, set a strength cap. Once anyone's strength reaches this cap, they will be eliminated in secret.”
Xia Jin was stunned for a moment.
“Like ranching?”
“Once strength reaches Tier 8, the energy an individual provides is much purer than those at lower tiers; they can even be compressed into life crystals that are purer than high-energy crystals. Therefore, from this perspective, if the Zerg carries out a rational rule and provides a better life for the commoners under our control, it is conducive to releasing their potential. Based on this, geniuses among these foreign races can provide their intellect to assist us in research, deciphering certain civilization technologies that the Zerg are not as proficient in. For example, pure technological civilizations or idealistic power systems. Furthermore, if a foreign individual under our rule reaches Tier 8, we can immediately screen them. If they are beneficial, they can be converted into a part of the Zerg to continue assisting us. If they are useless, they can be converted into pure energy to produce more insects.”
Hearing this, Xia Jin fell silent.
It really has a way, doesn't it? As expected of Brain Bug No. 1, it thinks just like me.
Though this fellow is a bit more thorough.
From the perspective of civilizational development, this viewpoint did have a certain degree of rationality.
It was indeed very beneficial for the Zerg.
“If I do this, won't it be exposed? After all, if they disappear as soon as they hit Tier 8, they'll find out sooner or later.”
“Being exposed might actually be better,” the brain bug's intent was very flat. “The vast majority of intelligent life possesses strong curiosity. When they discover that the strong within their race are disappearing, it will instead give rise to more curious people who want to investigate. Perhaps a few geniuses will discover it was our doing and develop hatred. Such hatred can incite resistance in some, and they might cultivate harder, which precisely provides us with more high-quality resources. Conversely, if they completely give up and never reach Tier 8, living happily under Zerg governance is also a good option. They can still contribute to the prosperity of the civilization. This is a very good win-win method.”
“Erm...”
What kind of 'win-win' is that?
As expected of the Zerg. If another race heard this 'win-win' logic, it would certainly have a rather eerie flavor to it.
But upon careful thought, Xia Jin felt there wasn't much wrong with it either.
The universe was extremely cruel. When many fledgling civilizations encountered stronger ones, they were basically either enslaved or destroyed.
And many flourishing civilizations were like drifting sparks in the night, extinguished in an instant.
There was no reasoning with it.
Although Xia Jin had become a Zerg, she had indeed learned of past memories from the brain bug.
Life forms within the same planet might cooperate because of a shared ecosystem.
This was the so-called coexistence.
But once out in the universe, any race could only use strength as their bargaining chip.
The death of hundreds of millions of lives occurred every single moment.
No one would care about a civilization that had already failed.
“I think we can try ranching magic beasts now too.”
Xia Jin took a large gulp of the Zerg nutrient solution and then wiped the corner of her mouth.
“Mm—” She looked down at the nutrient solution.
Uh... there was always a bit of a strange feeling.
She tapped her own head, telling herself not to think too much.
...
“Judging from the current situation in the City of Darkness, I’m still treated the commoners quite well.”
It was entirely free-range. After the Zerg occupied that territory, public security had actually improved.
Everyone could support themselves through their own labor.
Of course, they also had the opportunity to cultivate.
It was just that no one knew Xia Jin would secretly eliminate the powerful individuals who reached the dangerous threshold.
On one hand, it was to weaken the threat of subordinate races; on the other hand, it was to harvest... cough.
“Let's leave it at that. We'll set the limit at Tier 4 for now. Once the strength of the Zerg increases, we can slowly raise the tier limit for the subordinate races.”
Rate on N.U.
