Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Insect Race
You may not understand this chapter fully, but It will be clear in the future.
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'Eh?'
'The Insect Race'
This touches a bit on Reji's blind spots in knowledge.
Previously, he had some understanding of elves, thanks to the notes of the Great Guardian from his first playthrough, with Malvin having communicated and connected with Elvis's world.
But for the other worlds observed by the remaining Great Guardians, which were invaded and destroyed by the demon races, such as the dragons, the orcs, and now the mentioned insect race, these were merely glossed over in the notes, rarely mentioned by Malvin.
Moreover, even after the Great Guardian passed away, leaving behind a legacy for him as the "Son of Destiny", the unique "Method of Observation" that transcends worlds was not included.
So, when Reji took over the position and became the new Great Guardian of the human world in the game, he couldn't observe other worlds like Malvin did.
Reji remembered complaining in the game at that time, feeling it was probably because the developers were lazy, and the scriptwriters didn't complete the settings of the other worlds, so they just muddled through.
What else could it be? It couldn't possibly be that the developers were playing a bigger game, deliberately keeping the players in suspense for a sequel or new DLC (Downloadable Content), right?
""
Reji suddenly felt like he had more red flags on his back.
Not understanding the Insect Race is okay.
After all, the Wisdom Demon before him has lived for tens of thousands of years. The history that humans need to record with notes and books from predecessors, for the demon race, an apostle is enough.
"My King, the Insect Race should have been eradicated by us over a thousand years ago. The most distinctive trait of this race is their belief in the same 'flesh and blood' life trajectory as Eris. Besides this, there is no second life trajectory.
So, although the Insect Race has a singular ability, in terms of mastering flesh and blood abilities, even Eris has to learn from the Insect Race."
"This egg we found on a human is based on the Insect Race's flesh and blood art as its core foundation. Currently, Eris has analyzed the state of the egg, dividing it into three types."
"The first state, which is also the state of the egg inside that human mage, is parasitic.
In this state, the magic or fighting energy(QI) cultivated by humans will be redirected and transferred, no longer stored in the host's blood vessels but all transferred to the egg, which stores it on their behalf."
"When the host needs to use magic or fighting energy, the egg will also provide power accordingly, even purer and without impurities than usual, making the host feel an increase in strength without detecting the presence of the egg."
The mage profession corresponds to magic, and the warrior profession corresponds to fighting energy(QI).
The more Reji listened to the Wisdom Demon's analysis report on the egg, the more he felt it was exactly like the "dantian" he had thought of initially.
And with Leo's report on the "second type" of state, Reji discovered that the "egg" was even more powerful than the effect of the "dantian."
"When the egg absorbs and nourishes from the host's power for a while, it will actively make the host aware of its presence, entering the second state, symbiosis.
The host can read the flesh and blood inheritance branded inside the egg, thereby aligning their own life form with the flesh and blood within the egg. When facing a strong enemy or a life crisis, the body can also be handed over to the egg for control."
Symbiosis.
'So, the egg is not only a dantian but also a library, containing specific cultivation methods? It can transform the life form of a person? It even has the effect of a "genie in a bottle," forcibly fighting on behalf of the host?'
'if the appearance of the "egg" was changed, wouldn't this be the external aid or golden finger everyone dreams of?'
'However, From Ariel's reaction before, she should be in the second state of the egg, as Leo described'
'Being aware of the egg's presence, mistaking it for some kind of "magic pill," but actually, after Shermen removed the egg, Ariel's reaction showed she clearly had never seen the appearance of the egg before'
Even so, Reji felt, upon hearing this, that being parasitized by the egg wasn't bad at all, and was even beneficial.
But obviously, There's no such thing as a free lunch.
"My King, if there's no external interference, then the egg will continue in the second state forever, coexisting with the host."
"But once the egg senses the presence of the 'Queen,' it will immediately abandon the original host, and all the magic and fighting energy, all the power gained from cultivation, will be stripped away to feed and nourish the 'Queen.'"
Following this, Leo explained the key term to Reji[Queen].
The Queen of the Insect Race is the core of the entire race, to which all members of the insect race must unconditionally obey. This is a brand carved into their flesh, and when necessary, all of themselves must be assimilated into part of the Queen's flesh and blood.
And the "egg" based on the insect race's flesh and blood technique also inherited this trait.
'So now the question is'
As if understanding his King's intention, the Demon of Wisdom nodded towards Reji.
Leo said with a grave expression: "A thousand years later, humanity has declined so much that there are hardly any strong individuals openly, My King, I suspect it's related to the 'Queen'.
In the human world, there's such a 'Queen' continuously turning humans into her pasture, devouring human strength."
Leo gestured to the Sorcery Demon, and then Dian immediately used projection magic to display a world map in front of Reji.
"My King, after we separated, I preliminarily investigated human history and the current global situation. Please look"
Reji followed Leo finger to look at the map.
The map was divided in two by a huge gorge, A wall, At the top of the map, in the northern position, was a vast power that occupied nearly a third of the world's territory.
"My King, this is the Empire, the Nox Empire. Compared to other human forces, it has absolute hegemony and a overwhelming lead, the strongest nation among humans to the extent that no other human country dares to call itself an 'Empire'."
"As far as I searched, the Empire is absolutely autocratically ruled by the 'Emperor'. Except for the seventh change, the rest of the Emperor's successions have not shaken the Empire, nor have there ever been upheavals.
On the contrary, each Emperor has had unparalleled strong governance over the Empire, making it more prosperous, until it became the behemoth among all human forces it is now."
"So you mean" Reji stared at the Nox Empire on the map, he understood the implied meaning of the Demon of Wisdom.
"Yes, My King, I suspect the 'Emperor' is the 'Queen' behind all eggs, in terms of both status and power, also fitting my expectations for the 'Queen'."
"However, due to limited intelligence, I do not yet know how the 'Queen' specifically tempts humans to accept the eggs, nor do I understand why the flesh and blood inheritance stored in the eggs comes from our demon race."
For this confusion of Wisdom Demon, Reji actually had an answer in his heart early on.
It should be said that the bystander sees the clearest.
Reji: "Immortality."
"Immortality?" Leo repeated, not quite understanding Reji's meaning.
"Our race, having the longest lifespans, takes 'immortality' for granted, while in reality, this is precisely what humans most desire. Leo, among humans, the obsession with 'eternal youth' far exceeds your imagination."
After Reji explained from a human perspective, the Demon of Wisdom appeared enlightened, as if awakened. Leo quickly nodded, his respect for Reji deepening in his serpentine eyes.
"My understanding of humans is far inferior to yours, my King. I will make it my endeavor to learn more."
"Indeed, if as you say, humans pursue immortality, and so does the egg, then it's very likely that the successive emperors are the same person, no, the same being.
Considering the empire has been recorded in human history for five hundred years, if during this period, the 'Queen' has always been the same entity."
Leo didn't continue further.
The apostles present understood Leo's implication, their expressions turning grave.
The Insect Race, believers in the 'flesh and blood' life trajectory, holds the strongest authority in life form assimilation and evolution within this trajectory.
Previously, the demon race eradicated the Insect Race swiftly and cleanly, so they hardly had time to speak, let alone analyze the demon race's flesh and blood to evolve their own.
However, on the human side, they faced a crushing defeat. The great human-demon war a thousand years ago produced countless corpses from both sides.
Looking back now, indeed, isn't this the best breeding ground for the Insect Race?
Creating a "human farm" by the Queen is terrifying.
And if the Queen who has managed this farm for five hundred years has always been the same entity, then 'terrifying' is an understatement to describe her.
"Alright, these are all theoretical speculations. Don't forget, humans also possess the 'Radiance' life trajectory. The Saintess among humans, the Son of Destiny from the past, have you all forgotten? I don't believe humans would be so easily dominated by the Insect Race."
"Don't lose your composure. No matter what the Queen does, no matter what humans do, they cannot stop our race. I will reclaim everything the demon race lost in these silent millennia."
Seeing the atmosphere turn somewhat stiff, Reji, as the Demon King, rightfully stepped in to motivate and reassure.
His words had a significant effect, especially on the Wisdom Demon, who seemed to boil with enthusiasm, his serpentine eyes filled with excitement.
Leo's strategies and schemes are always directed at other races.
In front of the Demon King, the Demon of Wisdom might seem more like an innocent child.
Reji quickly changed the subject, asking, "Leo, you mentioned that only the seventh imperial succession faced an anomaly?"
"Yes, but we can't know the specifics of this history from the existing superficial data. The most detailed record I found merely describes it as a 'rebellion against the empire' war, instigated by 'underground forces' spread across the world."
"The war was not long, lasting only three years, and this rebellion was quickly quelled by the empire in alliance with other countries."
"And now, the kingdom of Ilinor, where we are, was one of the countries that assisted the empire in exterminating the rebels during that rebellion war."