Chapter 432: The Hive Queen! II

Rose’s emerald eyes fixed upon the Hive Queen with intensity that made local space-time pulse.

“What is your name?”

The Hive Queen studied Rose for several heartbeats before responding with voice that carried accumulated dignity spanning ages.

“I am Queen Kythara Vex’ahlia,” she said, each syllable resonating through dimensional barriers.

“Sovereign of the Eternal Swarm, Coordinator of the Memorite Collective, Heir to evolutionary processes that have shaped insect consciousness across timescales.”

…!

As she spoke, she stepped forward with movements that carried their own gravitational signature.

Her full form became visible for the first time…humanoid features that approached artistic perfection combined with insectoid modifications that spoke to evolution beyond planetary constraints.

Her beauty transcended species boundaries while remaining fundamentally alien to human aesthetic preferences.

But Rose’s perception observed something that challenged every assumption she held.

At the center of the Hive Queen’s chest, where conventional biology might house cardiac muscle, pulsed something that defied classification.

A heart…that was simultaneously black hole surrounded by multiple gravitational companions…additional black holes, suns, dwarf stars, pulsars, countless stellar bodies that rotated in perfect orbital harmony around the central cosmic phenomenon.

Her cardiovascular system had transcended biological function to become astronomical architecture operating within apparently humanoid framework!

Her power likely exceeded even Galactic Nexus Embodiment as it may rival the powerhouses in the Infinite Radiance Sovereignty and the Void Dominion Empire that she and her man wanted to decimate!

Rose stared directly at such magnificent demonstration of evolutionary achievement without the slightest trace of intimidation.

If she could get such a being under her Little Fatty…

“Okay, Kythara,” she said, using the personal designation with casual familiarity. “I observe millions of entities within your swarm. Do you consider any of them your children? How exactly do you take care of them?”

…!

Rose’s enhanced consciousness remained focused on character assessment rather than capability evaluation.

If Achilles extended his genetic legacy through alliance with this entity, the progeny produced would carry his inheritance.

The counterpart’s essential nature…how she treated those under her protection, what values she demonstrated through daily choices…would influence the fundamental character of any resulting offspring.

Queen Kythara studied Rose with compound eyes that reflected growing comprehension.

When she responded, her voice carried measured dignity.

“Even though millions comprise my domain, they remain together,” she began, her words resonating through space with waves that made surrounding entities pulse in acknowledgment.

“They consume resources together. They face threats together. They advance together according to collective planning that serves unified purpose.”

Her gaze swept across the organized chaos of her swarm with expression that mixed maternal pride with satisfaction.

“Though they were not born from my consciousness, though I did not design their individual capabilities, I provide them all with equivalent treatment. I, unlike unruly humans who eliminate each other or abandon their own families and betray and plunder each other… have achieved perfect harmony within my domain. Nobody conflicts within these boundaries. I protect what belongs to me, as natural law demands. I am…the motherfucking natural law!”

HUUM!

The declaration carried weight!

Rose listened with attention that sorted meaningful information from impressive rhetoric.

Her eyes blazed with emerald radiance as understanding crystallized.

“You protects her own,” Rose repeated, the words carrying evaluation.

She studied the Hive Queen’s form with analytical precision, then nodded with movements that carried finality.

“Okay. Someone who protects her own before anything else is sufficient qualification for partnership in genetic expansion,” she said.

Her voice reflected a decision that had been reached through careful consideration rather than emotional impulse.

Rose looked at Queen Kythara with serious attention that commanded respect despite apparent disparity in their relative power levels.

“You’ve passed my preliminary examination,” she continued, offering a gesture of approval with a thumbs up.

“I can facilitate a meeting between you and the one you call your destined mate…well, his clone anyway. You’ll get one day, and I still need to work out logistics regarding exactly how this process will function until completion.”

Her expression reflected the surreal nature of what she was organizing.

“It’s a ridiculous concept to even consider, but we do whatever proves necessary for family protection, don’t we?”

Queen Kythara’s astonishment was immediate and profound, her compound eyes reflecting disbelief at how Rose simply was.

Her laughter began as low sounds before building into something that made surrounding space-time vibrate.

“Just what ridiculous creature are you?” she asked, her voice carrying amusement mixed with growing appreciation for audacity.

Rose met the question with calm directness.

“I hold the attention and everything of the one you call your destined mate,” she replied with simple honesty that carried more weight than elaborate titles or formal introduction. “I’ve been informed you’ve sent armies searching for him. Well, you don’t need to continue that effort. I will arrange for your main consciousness to accompany me, or you can form a clone to facilitate immediate meeting.”

“You can meet your destined mate right away. The Star Seas are becoming increasingly dangerous with Outsiders pressing against territorial boundaries. Don’t you want to protect your family? This represents a method to accomplish such protection. You’ll get one day with your destined mate. Whatever you can produce from that encounter may provide the key for prolonging and protecting the tens of millions within your Kythernai Swarm.”

…!

Queen Kythara’s expression showed dangerous assessment mixed with growing comprehension of what was being offered.

Her compound eyes blazed with intensity that buzzed with cosmic authority evaluating unprecedented opportunity.

Rose met that dangerous gaze with equivalent determination, her emerald fire dancing around her enhanced form.

She had analyzed a potential entity and found her sufficient for genetic expansion purposes.

But as byproduct of such evaluation, she was also establishing foundation for alliance with the terrifying Kythernai Swarm…tens of millions of entities whose power was frightening as among them, none were weak!

Her mind blazed with possibilities as thoughts crystallized into planning.

The Adrastia Emperor King Lineage combined with the Kythernai Swarm, their millions of insectoid entities serving as extended protection.

What better method existed for safeguarding what was truly hers?

The selection process was complete…and now came the delicate work of implementation!

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