CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER72-THE EXTERMINATION OF THE VOID ZERG

"Dad?"

Lilith’s voice pulled Leo back from his memories.

He gently smoothed her hair, hiding the turmoil in his eyes.

"When you’re rested, I’ll take you to find her. You can ask her yourself, all right?"

Lilith’s eyes lit up instantly. "Really?!"

"Of course."

"Okay!"

She nodded hard, the bright smile on her face softening his heart.

After settling his daughter back to sleep, Leo returned to his meditation chamber.

Outside the tall crystal window, the alien constellations of the Sakend Universe shimmered faintly.

He stared into that unfamiliar sky and spoke quietly.

"System."

[Ding — at your service, Master.]

"Hathaway... she truly isn’t in this universe anymore?"

Leo had already learned as much long ago through high-tier divination, yet now that he had personally come to Sakend, there was still no trace of her anywhere.

With his current power, that could only mean one thing:

She wasn’t here — not in this universe, not even in this dimensional layer.

[Affirmative. System analysis confirms that target entity Hathaway’s life signature has recently departed from this universe entirely.]

"She’s gone to a higher-dimensional world?"

[Confirmed. Destination corresponds to a higher-level cosmic domain.]

Leo was silent for a long time. Then he asked again, softly,

"System, Hathaway’s identity... it was never as simple as being just a descendant of the starborns, was it?"

[Insufficient authority. Data encrypted by higher-plane protocol. But... affirmative, she is not merely a descendant.]

"Then why... why would she refuse to see us all these years?"

The system did not answer this time. Only silence.

Leo’s expression flickered — confusion, pain, and finally calm determination.

He looked up at the endless stars.

"Hathaway... no matter where you are, or why..."

he murmured,

"Once Dalton stands firm, I’ll bring Lilith to find you myself."

Far away, in the Sakend Starfield Wastelands, within a nest drenched in void energy,

the Void Zerg Hive stirred.

Cold, damp air reeked of organic rot and corrupted mana.

"Chief!"

"The sacred barrier set by that ancient being— it’s gone!"

A void stalker with glimmering carapace rushed into the chamber, trembling.

"What?!"

A massive Zerg Ripper, its body covered in bone spurs and shadowy armor, spun around sharply.

Its compound eyes flickered with manic delight.

"Are you sure? The barrier that blocked our path to that low-magic world— it’s gone?"

"Absolutely certain, my lord! Our monitoring swarm reported the spatial gate is fully exposed! But—"

"Ha... hahaha!"

Before the scout could finish, the Zerg Ripper let out a shrill, ecstatic roar.

"Excellent! It must have been destroyed in that battle! That world’s vitality is spent — they had to drop the barrier!"

"If Her Majesty hears this, she will reward me greatly! Our swarm will finally gain a new realm for breeding and feeding!"

It howled and stomped the ground, unable to contain its glee.

Not long ago, they had spent colossal resources tearing open a rift into that world —

but an unexpected calamity had destroyed their entire army of billions.

The losses were devastating, and their Queen had been punished by the Empress herself.

That humiliation had festered ever since.

Now, the gate was open again — this time, it vowed to be first through, to feast and conquer!

Zerg from all corners of the hive began to surge toward the center like a living tide.

The reporting stalker lowered its head, trembling.

It had wanted to mention that the spatial aura of the passage had suddenly disappeared again...

but seeing the frenzied excitement of its kin, it dared not say another word.

If they found out the "feast" was gone, they might just turn around and eat it instead.

Then—

The air trembled.

A ripple of distortion spread from the entrance of the hive.

A human figure stepped through.

Instantly, the chaotic roars died out.

Countless Zerg turned their heads, stunned.

The man walked forward calmly, as if strolling through a garden rather than a nest filled with predators.

"Well," the Zerg Ripper sneered, its mandibles splitting wide,

"a snack that delivers itself!"

Its colossal forelimb slashed downward, splitting the air itself apart!

BOOM!!!

An overwhelming wave of pressure erupted — divine, absolute, irresistible.

A power far beyond comprehension washed across the entire hive.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Every Void Zerg — from the mighty Ripper to the lowliest larva — froze in place.

In the next instant, they exploded into clouds of blood and shattered shells,

their very souls extinguished before they could even scream.

Silence.

Leo stood in the midst of the carnage, his expression icy, eyes gleaming like burning gold.

"Void Zerg..." he said coldly, his voice echoing through the dead hive.

"In the name of Dalton — and the billions of lives you’ve devoured — you shall be purged."

"Arrogant fool!!"

A furious, echoing roar burst forth from the depths of the hive.

"Who dares slaughter my brood?!"

A vast shadow rose from the abyss — the Zerg Queen, her aura monstrous and hateful.

Leo didn’t even turn his head.

He raised one hand and clenched.

Invisible force coiled through the air —

and the Queen was lifted up, choking, writhing helplessly before him.

Her compound eyes gleamed with horror.

Eight bladed limbs struck out, slashing wildly —

but before they could touch him, she realized in horror that her entire lower body was gone.

It wasn’t pain — it was nothingness.

Her existence was being erased.

"What— what are you—?!"

Leo didn’t answer.

He touched her forehead lightly.

From deep within her core, he drew out a wisp of pure essence —

the genetic origin of her species.

Closing his eyes, he invoked the divine power of a Sanctuary-rank being.

That tiny spark became a beacon through which his power spread, tracing the Void Zerg’s lifeline across the universe.

He opened his eyes — divine light burning within them —

and clenched his fist.

"Bloodline... Extinction."

A deep hum resonated through the void.

Then — a silence so profound it defied reality.

An annihilating force surged outward from him,

not through space, but through law itself.

In every corner of the Sakend Universe, every creature bearing the Void Zerg bloodline — no matter their rank or realm — screamed once,

then collapsed into dust and vanished from existence.

The species that had once terrorized countless civilizations — the so-called "Void Zerg" —

ceased to exist within the span of a single breath.

Leo exhaled softly.

"This universe too... was merely one of the Empress’s breeding grounds, then."

As he erased the last echoes of their presence, fragments of information flooded into his mind.

This hive, these swarms — all of them were remnants, offshoots left by the Void Empress long ago,

allowed to grow unchecked in this isolated cosmos.

And intriguingly — the Abyssal Demons allied with them were nowhere to be found within Sakend.

They existed beyond this plane entirely.

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

He had hoped to erase both infestations in one sweep — but it seemed the demons had hidden themselves well.

No matter.

Even if they cowered on the far side of the void,

one day, he would find them.

And when he did—

He would destroy them all.