Magic is a common power on this planet.
Many civilizations exist in the universe, and some utilize energies that are relatively metaphysical.
Magic is one of them.
Why is it called metaphysical? Primarily because... magic is a power whose true source has yet to be discovered by any civilization, including those dominated by magic.
Some believe it is something born out of nothingness.
So-called magic elements are, in many cases, just products of people's imagination.
In other words, things from one's imagination become reality.
Magic crystals are also very mystical things. In fact, a very subtle underlying law exists in this world.
When you kill a magic beast, if you believe it has no magic crystal, then you certainly won't find one when you cut open its belly.
Conversely, if at that moment you subconsciously believe it has a magic crystal, it definitely will.
This feeling isn't something you can force through deliberate thought; it appears suddenly at the moment of the kill, independent of the killer's conscious will.
If this were her previous life, it could probably only be explained by quantum mechanics or metaphysics.
Of course, for the Zerg, this situation could basically be ignored. Most Zerg fought automatically without a primary consciousness; they didn't even form a thought about whether a magic crystal existed, simply executing orders mechanically.
The result of fighting this way was that almost every magic beast at Tier 2 or above would have a magic crystal.
Meanwhile, when other intelligent life forms made a kill, they often found "empty shells"—nothing at all.
This logic was somewhat inconceivable even from the brain bug's perspective.
Especially since it had been studying magic resistance lately and found that it, too, was quite mystical.
...
Early the next morning.
Beside the main hive, Xia Jin stretched and sat up from the soft, fleshy cushion.
Her pure white hair and white silk clothing formed a sharp contrast with the terrifying creature of flesh and blood behind her.
She touched her damp hair and looked out at the forest under the drizzling rain. Hearing the birds chirping in her ears, she was in a very good mood.
“The air really is fresh today.”
The rain had soaked her body.
Though she was dressed, she had grown accustomed to the rain and didn't find it uncomfortable. She even looked down at her white-silked legs resting in a puddle on the fleshy cushion, finding the sight a bit alluring.
“As expected of me.”
Wringing the water out of her long hair with some effort, she stood up.
With a shift of her consciousness, she projected herself to the distant Clearwillow Lake.
In over a day, the Swarm had successively deployed two thousand Swimmers into the water.
This stretch of the shore was now essentially Swarm territory.
These bugs, with their outstanding abilities and low cost, didn't consume excessive resources, but they had depleted the current number of larvae.
Thus, the hive here had also begun producing some queens to assist with production.
Land was the primary focus. Even if left alone, underwater creatures wouldn't come out... well, except for that giant squid.
This time, Xia Jin's vision synchronized with the lakebed.
Over a dozen Swimmers flicked their agile tails, quickly approaching a massive monster. They fired various exploding needles, slowly killing the creature.
A few minutes later, they dragged the monster's enormous body over to the drones.
“Not bad.”
They had even killed a Tier 5 lakebed creature.
Underwater combat efficiency had remained high.
This wave had accumulated a fair amount of genetic material from underwater organisms.
While the details of the Swimmers had been enhanced, there weren't many other significant upgrades.
Mainly, the Swimmers were already at nearly the lowest possible cost.
If they wanted to produce something more powerful, it would be better to design a new species.
Upon inquiry, the brain bug provided a proposal.
“Floating Hive Bug.”
The structural design for a special giant insect was sent over.
Despite its large appearance, the actual resource cost wasn't particularly outrageous.
In appearance, it was a giant creature shaped like an American football. Its exterior was covered in sturdy scales, and beneath those scales was not flesh, but a layer of special “shelling.”
The shell consisted of two layers of insect plating with a cushioning structure sandwiched in between.
When the shell opened, a vast empty space could be seen inside.
Swimmers could live inside it.
Yes, this thing was a small mobile underwater carrier.
The Floating Hive Bug's own combat method involved firing exploding needles. Compared to the Swimmers, their needles had a much greater explosive force, allowing them to provide a degree of long-range support.
In battle, only one or two needed to approach. Upon opening their covers, they could instantly release hundreds of Swimmers to attack the enemy.
If large fish saw this fellow and thought it was an easy target, they would soon feel the agony of being swarmed.
“Specialize in defense, Great Queen. The Zerg's future will include cosmic carriers; why not create one in the ocean ahead of time?”
Hearing Brain Bug No. 1's idea, Xia Jin found it very reasonable.
“Then let's consume the resources.”
No matter how much energy was saved, a creature of that size meant they wouldn't produce many of them.
Hatching two for a trial in the early stages would suffice.
Just a few hours later, a very strange-looking creature appeared—twenty meters long, five meters wide, and heavily armored.
Its tail still resembled a fish's, but it could accelerate by ejecting compressed water or air.
After subtracting the space necessary for its own survival, this thing could ultimately accommodate 120 Swimmers.
Of course, doing so would make the interior space incredibly cramped, so Xia Jin finally decided to house 100 inside.
Rate on N.U.
