Chapter 444: Cooperation

The spore cloud suddenly surged violently, and fifteen seconds later, a humanoid silhouette outlined by electric arcs emerged in the consciousness field of the humanoid Brood Mother.

"You are actually monitoring us!"

The Element Elder's voice carried the tremor of thunder; the violent thunder made the humanoid Brood Mother hurriedly reinforce her consciousness field as she replied.

"That is not the point. The point is, we are also being attacked by the Cyberk, and we have a common enemy.

I believe you are aware of the Cyberk's strength; their appearance now proves they are prepared for war. They have launched a war against both our races simultaneously, which will be a strategic error on their part. As long as our two races cooperate to jointly resist the Cyberk's offensive, they will surely pay the price for this!"

The Element Elder remained in Silence for a long time before voicing his doubts.

"Then what exactly is our cooperation? To what extent shall we cooperate?"

Seeing the Element Elder relent, the humanoid Brood Mother immediately replied.

"Naturally, it is to eliminate the Cyberk! We will assemble our forces in our territory to launch an offensive against the Cyberk, and likewise, you will also assemble your forces to launch an attack on the Cyberk, making the Cyberk feel the pressure.

At the very least, let them know that if they want to invade our territory, they must pay a greater price!"

Upon hearing the humanoid Brood Mother's words, the Element Elder shook his head slightly and said.

"As far as I know, the Cyberk's main direction of attack is still on your side; on our side, there are only small units raiding. If we launch such a large-scale offensive, what if the Cyberk launch a counterattack? Wouldn't that bring a crisis upon us?"

Hearing the Element Elder think this way, the humanoid Brood Mother could only try to persuade him again.

"However, if the territory we have lost to the Cyberk increases, the Cyberk will sooner or later set their sights on the Elemental race. By then, we will have no spare strength to help you draw their fire, and won't the outcome be exactly what you least want to see?

It would be better to take this opportunity for our two races to confront the Cyberk together. Even if we cannot wipe out the Cyberk, we must let the Cyberk know that we are not to be trifled with!"

"Very well, you launch the attack first. After I request the Patriarch to assemble our forces, I will also launch an attack on the structures the Cyberk have suddenly sprouted."

The Element Elder finally agreed to the proposal for the two races to jointly oppose the Cyberk, and the humanoid Brood Mother did not express any refusal to the Element Elder's final words.

Even if the two races had not reached a unanimous decision, she would still send troops to attack the Fortress built by the Cyberk.

"Very well, I hope those Cyberk will know when to retreat."

After the humanoid Brood Mother's consciousness returned to her main body, she disengaged from the state of controlling the Hatching Mother Nest.

"Next, I hope the Humans in the Ninth Defense Zone do not go too far; otherwise, I would not mind dealing with them first!"

At this moment, outside the Zerg Incubation Nest, the spore cloud returned to its former calm, and everything returned to Silence.

In a Zerg Breeding Ground below, a group of children dressed in rags and thin as skeletons were currently beating a child of the same age.

"What kind of daydreams are you having all day, you son of a b*tch! We are Humans raised by the Zerg! How could there ever be a day where we are no longer oppressed by the Zerg! If you want to die, don't drag us with you!"

"Exactly! F*ck you! If the Zerg find out that we are thinking those things right under their noses, we'll all die!"

"Did you listen to that crazy old man too much? Have you gone crazy yourself?"

The beating continued for a long time until the group of children felt tired, at which point they scattered, leaving only the child curled up in the corner holding his head.

After a long while, the child curled up in the corner stood up from the ground, grimacing in pain, a trace of confusion in his eyes.

Why? Was he content to be livestock raised by the Zerg? Was this right? But he didn't want this; he had only spoken his thoughts, and in return, he was beaten. Was this right?

The boy clutched his stomach and walked away step by step. At this moment, a voice came from behind the boy.

"Afudao, you shouldn't have said those things. For us to say such things now will only bring disaster upon ourselves."

Afudao looked back and saw an old man with gray hair standing in front of a ruin, watching him.

"Grandpa Jiaodi, was I really wrong?"

Afudao clutched his stomach, came before Jiaodi, and said with a bitter expression.

"As Humans, we all have some thoughts in our hearts to some extent, but the environment we are in now is not suitable for speaking our true inner thoughts. This neither changes the status quo nor puts one's own situation in danger; it is not wise."

Jiaodi looked at the somewhat dejected Afudao with cloudy pupils and said in a calm tone.

After hearing Jiaodi's words, Afudao nodded thoughtfully and said.

"But didn't you also speak your own inner thoughts? Aren't you afraid that the Zerg will come and take you away?"

Upon hearing Afudao's words, Jiaodi laughed out loud as if he had heard some interesting joke, then stopped and said to Afudao.

"Hahaha, *cough, cough, cough*, Afudao, I am an old bag of bones. If I don't speak my thoughts and don't sow the seeds of resistance, then I will die with my thoughts.

At the very least, I want to do something before I die."

As Jiaodi continued, his tone became increasingly serious. He looked at Afudao and said in a solemn tone.

"Afudao, do not doubt yourself because of others' lack of understanding! How could we be content to be livestock for another race? However, you must know that in the environment we are in now, remember: when the situation is unclear, hide yourself!"

Afudao looked at the unusually behaving Jiaodi today and was about to ask him, but saw Jiaodi shake his head at him, then turn and leave, leaving only one final sentence.

"Humans will not submit! Never!"

"What you said is all fake! How is that possible!"

Following the usual practice, Afudao shouted at Jiaodi's retreating back, but his inner doubts remained unanswered, so he had to return to the survivors' gathering place in the Breeding Ground first.

Soon, Afudao heard several survivors discussing something. They did not deliberately lower their voices, and as Afudao listened carefully, his body stiffened.

"Did you hear? That crazy old man was snatched away by a Zerg."

"Hey, it's true. I saw that crazy old man on the roof. He was truly crazy; he didn't even let out a scream when he was snatched away by the Zerg."

"It's a good thing we didn't believe what he said, otherwise we might have been sanctioned by the Zerg too!"

Hearing these survivors' words, Afudao only felt a chill in his heart. Did Jiaodi just die like that? If he hadn't listened to Jiaodi's words and added a statement of disbelief every time after listening to him, would he have met the same fate?

Thinking of this, Afudao's body, which had been aching all over, felt some relief.

He was right; now is not the time.