Chapter 212: Insect Swarm Queen, a Prematurely Triggered Main Storyline?

After handing over affairs with the personnel dispatched by the Star Web Commonwealth, Bai Fu immediately piloted her spacecraft back to the Star Covenant Organization’s Initial Gate Galaxy Cluster Branch.

Not long after she returned, Anya and the others arrived one after another and handed over the Base Sample they had seized during the operation.

Without another word, Bai Fu took the Base Sample and everyone to Yulia’s laboratory.

The moment to witness a miracle had arrived!

She placed the six Base Samples into the glass cabinet one by one. The moment she finished, a game notification echoed in her ears.

【You have completed the hidden quest [Convergence · Dispersal], earning a reward of 30 million XP and Blessing of Life*1】

The Blessing of Life was a one-time-use item. After use, it temporarily doubled the HP cap of any target below Calamity-level, lasting for twelve hours.

For glass cannons, this item might not be a game-changer, but for Bai Fu, whose HP cap reached 34,000, it was a treasure.

"A 70k HP Psionic Priest, that's just invincible, right? Cecia would be trembling in her boots!"

But more than the Blessing of Life, what Bai Fu cared about was the change in the Dissociative Agent Base Sample.

The moment the quest notification sounded, the six Base Samples placed in the cabinet came alive, gathering together on their own and beginning to merge at a visible speed.

"Is this going to cause a problem?"

The ever-cautious Summer Poem elbowed Bai Fu, her other hand already resting on the ray gun at her waist, ready to disrupt the fusion process at any time.

Everyone else watching this held their breath, especially Yulia. She had long known the Base Sample was active and had informed Bai Fu, but now it seemed the Sample was far more formidable than she had anticipated.

"Don’t worry, nothing will go wrong."

Bai Fu reassured them.

Based on the reward from the [Convergence · Dispersal] quest, even if there were risks, they wouldn’t be able to harm her.

A few minutes later, the six Base Samples successfully fused into a red sphere the size of a fist. The orb reflected the lab’s soft lighting, exuding a luxurious aura from within.

"This… this looks like… an insect egg?" Yulia widened her eyes.

Upon closer inspection, one could see a black shadow about the size of a human pinky curled up at the center of the red orb—resembling a larva.

Bai Fu nodded.

Indeed, it was an insect egg—but not just any insect egg. This one had both story and quests attached!

【Name】: Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone

【Template】: Special - Dark Domain Insect Queen (Egg) (Insect-forming Progress: 60%)

【Main Class】: Grub Incubator Lv20 [+10]

【Sub Class】: None

【HP】: 100/100

【Stats】: Strength 1, Agility 1, Constitution 10, Intelligence 79, Willpower 250, Inspiration 30

【Skills】: None

【Talents】: Convergence · Dispersal, Lucky Star

【Favorability】: Wary (16)

【Threat Level】: Green

After reading the Psionic Vision feedback panel, Bai Fu was dumbfounded.

Grub Incubator? Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone? This thing could be the Insect Swarm Queen?

That couldn’t be right. Wasn’t the Insect Swarm Queen collaborating with the Secret Tower to fight against the Initial Gate Galaxy Cluster? Why would she appear here?

Even if her appearance here was explainable, what was truly absurd was her total level being only 30, and even then her HP was just 100.

Bai Fu felt that with just a little squeeze, she could easily solo the Insect Swarm Queen and unlock that achievement.

"Did the game bug out, causing a glitch in the Psionic Vision data?"

Bai Fu skeptically scooped the insect egg out of the cabinet. Before she could even retract her hand, a stern female voice echoed in her mind.

【How insolent! Who gave you permission to lay your hands on me? Put me down immediately!】

Bai Fu looked around and found that she was the only one who could hear the voice.

【Yes, you, insolent commoner! How dare you desecrate a queen? Unforgivable! Put me down now, and I may forgive your insolence!】

What kind of Adolescent Power Fantasy nonsense was this?

Bai Fu raised the insect egg to eye level and examined it with a bizarre expression.

"Are you really the Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone?"

"What, the Insect Swarm Queen?"

Yulia and the others were all stunned.

【Since you know my identity, then this makes things easier. Commoner, I shall bestow upon you unimaginable wealth and honor—privileges only you may enjoy. Have the others withdraw for now.】

Bai Fu recalled the [Convergence · Dispersal] quest note—it had mentioned unlocking the next phase based on her actions. After thinking it over, she decided to have Yulia and the others leave temporarily, so she could speak to the supposed Insect Swarm Queen egg in private.

She wanted to see what else this egg could say.

Clack!

The moment the door shut, the egg rolled twice in Bai Fu’s palm.

【Commoner, I won’t mince words. I was once the Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone, betrayed by a treacherous bug. I lost my throne and my body was shattered into countless pieces, scattered across the stars. Only now have I revived. Given a second life, I will reclaim everything I lost! Commoner, your success in gathering six of my Power Orbs proves you have some capability. If you help me gather four more, aiding me in breaking the shell and transforming, once I retrieve my ancestral artifact and slay the traitor who betrayed me—I shall name you my consort!】

"……"

Where did this template come from? “I, Qin Shihuang, send money”? Or “KFC Thursday Revenge Propaganda”?

Bai Fu was speechless.

But assuming this “Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone” was telling the truth, then all her previous doubts could be explained.

"This must be an internal conflict within the Dark Domain Insect Swarm. Their alliance with the Secret Tower… if this Insect Swarm Queen really has the Lucky Star talent, then the quest attached to her is very likely a main storyline quest."

Bai Fu’s eyes lit up.

However, the issue now was that this lousy bug had an atrocious attitude. It obviously wanted her help, yet offered no real benefits—only the promise of making her queen consort. What a cosmic joke! Did it think she’d fall for such a pie-in-the-sky promise?

Pure XP reward quests could no longer tempt Bai Fu. She had plenty of ways to exploit players. Her desire for main storyline quests wasn’t as strong as when she was on Origin Star. She already had Vic under her command, and as long as she performed well, her deeds could be part of the next version’s main story. There was simply no need to work hard earning favorability with the Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone.

She came here to complete a quest, not to raise an ancestor!

The insect egg didn’t know what Bai Fu was plotting. Seeing her eyes light up, it assumed Bai Fu had been moved and immediately became smug.

【Commoner, didn’t expect I’d grant you such generous rewards, did you? Hurry and kowtow to express your gratitude.】

【Oh, right, put me down now. Without my permission, don’t you dare touch me again. I am a queen after all—what about my dignity? After you thank me, go find me a nest. I know you’re most likely very poor, so my request isn’t high—just make it out of Fire Spring Stone.】

Bai Fu was full of question marks.

Seriously, girl, you really haven’t figured out the situation, have you?

"This is my home, I’m the queen here!"

The insect egg froze. Had she heard that right? Was she just refuted?

What the hell was going on here!

【Fine then, you lowly commoner, clearly you hold no regard for me. Don’t think saving me gives you license to act as you please! I am a being of Domination-level—if I unleash even one percent of my power, I could crush you into pulp!】

Wow, that arrogant?

If she really were Domination-level, that would be one thing, but right now she was just a 100 HP sphere. Was Bai Fu supposed to be scared?

Bai Fu was enraged.

This one really needed to be disciplined—how dare she threaten her!

She raised her hand, preparing to crush the insect egg.

Unexpectedly, the egg wasn’t fazed.

【Go ahead, crush me! First that traitorous bug stabbed me in the back, now even a commoner dares threaten me. You think I’m afraid? Impossible! I’ll return again. If that traitor couldn’t kill me, neither can you!】

So confident?

Bai Fu checked the insect egg’s stat panel again. Her gaze fell on the Convergence · Dispersal talent, and she understood where the confidence came from.

That exclusive talent ensured that the Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone wouldn’t truly die even if slain. As long as five or more Power Orbs were gathered, she would immediately revive on the spot. Destroying the Power Orbs she left behind was no easy feat.

Even the ambitious new queen who backstabbed her couldn’t manage it. Bai Fu didn’t think she could either. But just because she couldn’t didn’t mean someone she knew couldn’t.

"It’s true most people can’t kill you—but what about a Transcendent-rank Psionicist? Funny thing is, I happen to know one—Oathmaster. If I handed you over to him, do you think he could kill you?"

The insect egg immediately panicked.

【You’re eyeing the rewards I promised, yet you have no respect for me—not even willing to call me Queen. Is that reasonable? You’re being too cruel!】

"Cruel? Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just telling you that if you’re asking someone for help, then act like it. That ‘queen consort’ nonsense you’re spouting—do you think I care? You can offer it to whoever you want."

The insect egg trembled all over, unable to utter a single retort.

Of course she knew she was making empty promises.

But what choice did she have? She was in such a state—what treasure could she offer?

Offer some of her hoard after regaining the throne?

The insect egg was even more speechless.

Bai Fu was shocked. Seriously? Were you the reincarnation of a miser? Not willing to give even that?

"Looks like you’re just pretending to want revenge. You don’t even have a real plan. Forget it, I’ll just turn you back into a Dissociative Agent Base Sample."

【Stop!】

The insect egg hastily cried out just as Bai Fu was about to crush her.

Bai Fu waited quietly for her to offer new terms. After a long silence, the insect egg finally shouted.

【That’s not how it happens on TV!】

"?"

After some questioning, Bai Fu finally understood why this Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone was so obsessed with Adolescent Power Fantasy.

One reason was that she wasn’t actually that old—about the age of a human teenage girl, similar to Anya.

Another reason was that during her time as queen, she had watched a large number of TV dramas produced by the Edge Worlds and the Rebirth Empire, especially the court dramas made by the Rebirth Empire. She claimed it was to understand humanoid lifeforms better, but Bai Fu suspected she’d just been brainwashed by those dramas.

It sounded absurd at first, but upon closer thought, it actually made sense—this all traced back to the last power shift within the Dark Domain Insect Swarm.

The Queen’s mother died very early, causing her to inherit the throne before reaching maturity. Her mother had told her on her deathbed never to provoke the factions of the Edge Worlds. She took this advice to heart, ceased all invasions against the Explored Universe, and actively tried to understand the various civilizations therein. But with no reliable guidance, she mislearned everything and ended up spouting “commoner this” and “royal etiquette” that.

Within the Dark Domain Insect Swarm, many intelligent insects had already opposed her succession. Seeing her antics, one ambitious insect stepped up, accusing her of undermining the swarm’s foundations, claiming it was time to “educate” her on behalf of her mother.

But “education” was just an excuse to backstab her, usurp her throne, and dismember her.

After accomplishing all that, the ambitious insect formed an alliance with the Secret Tower and even had them dispose of her body. Whether due to incompetence or ulterior motives, the Secret Tower failed to destroy her completely. Instead, they disguised her Power Orbs as Dissociative Agent Base Samples and distributed them among small factions under their control.

Years passed, and only with Bai Fu’s appearance did she finally see the dawn of resurrection.

The Adolescent Power Fantasy Queen did want to offer more to entice Bai Fu to help, but the problem was that even if she took revenge, she felt it would be difficult to reclaim her throne. The reason was simple: before her ascension, the Dark Domain Insect Swarm had always waged war against the Explored Universe. Once she became queen, she halted all invasions—this angered most of the intelligent insects. Without their support, even if she defeated the traitor, it wouldn’t change anything.

There was no going back.

"You think you probably won’t become queen again, so you’re afraid to make big promises?" Bai Fu nodded thoughtfully. "As the Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone, you must have some unique abilities..."

She then explained the Base Sample’s effects to the Adolescent Power Fantasy Queen.

The queen quickly clarified—it was a special ability of the Insect Queen that could permanently enhance mental power.

Mid-sentence, she suddenly noticed that Bai Fu had accumulated multiple instances of Psychic Mutation.

【If you help me hatch, I can further elevate your Willpower!】

As soon as the words fell, Bai Fu received a notification.

【You have triggered the main storyline quest [Conflict within the Dark Domain Insect Swarm (I)]】

【Quest Description: ……】

【Quest Objective: Help the Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone collect four more Dissociative Agent Base Samples】

【Reward: 24 million XP, Mental Origin of the Insect Swarm Queen of the Dark Zone】

It really was a main storyline quest!

Bai Fu nodded in satisfaction. Excellent—this reward was perfect. With it, she could drastically boost Scarlet Leaf’s mental attributes. Once those rose high enough, Scarlet Leaf should be able to ascend to Calamity level.

A Calamity-level powerhouse—definitely worth clinging to.

"Deal!"