Chapter 277: Simulated Universe·Universal Locust Plague (12)

Interstellar domination.

Cha Er's surface moans within the sulfur storm, and the veins of lava pulse beneath the cracked scorched earth.

Kai Rui Gan stands at the pinnacle of the bone‑spike nest cluster, her gaze following Xing aboard the Gondola, having witnessed countless planets swept by swarms; through Xing's perspective she stares at the writhing shadow deep in the cosmos.

It is a swarm born of Breeding—no, not merely insects. They are a materialization of a concept, a blasphemous interpretation of Breeding itself. Inorganic life replicates and proliferates into insects within its horde, spreading like cancer cells, twisting cold mechanical structures into flesh. They lack the powerful genes of the alien insects, even lack evolution, possessing only endless self‑replication, like an error in the laws of the universe.

"Disgusting," A Ba Se hissed, his multi‑segmented appendages clicking beneath his carapace, cold indifference flashing in his compound eyes. "Inefficient proliferation, meaningless accumulation of numbers. The swarm should pursue individual perfection, not… this blasphemy."

"Blasphemy?" Kai Rui Gan's mouth curved slightly. "Look at them, A Ba Se; they need no genetic sequence, no evolutionary chamber, they can even warp inorganic life into their kind. If the alien insects could wield this power—"

"Then we would summon something more terrifying than annihilation."

A Ba Se's vocal glands quivered, emitting a low hum: "Queen, you have forgotten the Star God's existence. Taiyi's gaze will fall upon any fool who attempts to break Order. If the alien insects become unrestrained Breeders, we will become yet another pile of ash under the Star God's hammer."

Kai Rui Gan fell silent for a moment. Her spiritual sense detected A Ba Se's fear—not fear of death, but fear that the swarm's evolutionary path has been twisted by the destiny of Breeding.

A Ba Se brandished his sharp forelimbs: "Observe the entity, excavate potential. Study lineage, adjust sequences, warp essence, dismantle limbs, recombine. Pursue perfection—the alien insects' future should be plunder, devour, transcend, not devolve into a blindly replicating plague."

Kai Rui Gan turned silently, offering no reply to A Ba Se, and simply gazed quietly at the star‑filled sky.

At the edge of the unknown star region… does a Star God cast a gaze upon her swarm?

——

"The starship, after voyages spanning several Amber Eras, finally reached its destination: the Yi Lai Di Xi Na Star Region."

"The first crew aboard the Gondola have perished, their offspring now aged; to celebrate everyone's successful arrival, they swore to do something to honor this multigenerational feat!"

"Dance!"

"Someone in the crowd suggested it first, and it quickly gained everyone's approval. On the barren iron sheets and reddish‑brown scorched earth, Xing and they linked hands, circling the Gondola in clumsy dance steps, while some accompanying mourners cheerfully wept."

"As Xing danced among the crowd, they suddenly caught sight of a figure standing still in the shadows."

"It was a man in a tattered uniform, the uniform bearing a Yi Lai Di Xi Na military insignia. His eyes were like two extinguished stars, bottomless. When Xing's gaze met his, the so‑called 'Self‑Destructor' slowly raised a withered‑branch‑like arm and handed over a stack of yellowed cloth."

"'An old acquaintance,' Hei Ta clicked in amazement beside them, 'The 'Self‑Destructor' is still alive.'"

"'Self‑Destructor?' Xing had never heard the term before."

"'Just a pitiful bunch who lost their sense of existence under the shadow of Void IX,' Hei Ta explained nonchalantly, 'People like them see their existential attribute gradually fade—skin rots, endocrine fails, memory and senses vanish. In dreams and hallucinations, they witness their own silhouettes disappear into a Black Hole.'"

"The man's gaze suddenly hardened; Xing followed his line of sight and saw a Memory Bubble hanging on the front of the Gondola. He swallowed, then extended his hand."

"At that moment, an odd, composite sound rose from the sky—Xing saw the people on the Gondola unable to resist it; you could not discern which dimension the notes came from, a blend of booming, whimpering, laughter and horizontally‑arranged hymns. Those nearby, as if divinely inspired, began striking the Memory Bubble together with the man, ignoring all resistance—until it shattered!"

"A Shadow of Void surged from the Memory Bubble."

"'Finally… finally…' his voice cracked, yet his arms opened wide like a pilgrim greeting a divine revelation."

"Xing had not yet stepped back when the Self‑Destructor lunged. His movement was as clumsy as a child's first steps, yet as resolute as a moth flying into flame. The instant he touched the Memory Bubble—"

"Silent oblivion."

"'Within the Shadow of Void lies the 'back side' of an entire world.' Hei Ta let out a soft sigh, like a feather that has drifted for ages finally landing, 'He has finally found the self he lost.'"

"'By the way, what's with that sound?' Xing looked up at the horizon, the sound descending from the heavens seemed to have no intention of stopping."

"'Oh, you mean that.'"

"Hei Ta smiled faintly, 'This is the signal that the War of the Pantheon Gods has begun.'"

——

Marvel Universe.

Thanos sat upon the cold throne, his fingers tracing the grooves of the Infinity Gauntlet. When the hymn of Order rang throughout the universe, he finally emerged from prolonged contemplation.

"'Master… the War of the Pantheon Gods is about to begin,' the voice from the ebony throat trembled, uncertain whether from fear or excitement; since the light curtain unfolded across the cosmos, his gaze seldom left it."

"'I once made a plan to destroy half of the universe's life; achieving it would reduce overpopulation, alleviate countless worlds' suffering, and maintain universal balance.'"

"'Heh…' Thanos suddenly laughed self‑derisively, quietly watching the swarm sweeping the cosmos within the light curtain; for a moment he realized his years‑long scheme was nothing but a joke."

"The Star Gods' clash had no plan; they simply followed their fates in silence—one endlessly breeding, the other endlessly feeding—these two simple actions casually annihilated two‑thirds of the cosmos. Even Greed need only move its mouth, and billions of galaxies and their life vanish entirely."

"Proxima Centauri caught the subtext in the master's words and tentatively asked, 'Master, the plan to seize the Infinity Stones…'"

"'I'm like a child wielding a toy sword…' Thanos shook his head, slowly removing the Infinity Gauntlet. 'The plan need not continue; my scheme can never keep pace with the Star Gods' improvisation. Perhaps someday in the future new Star Gods will arise, new calamities will emerge, and they will unleash a universe‑wide slaughter far simpler than ours.'"