MORIC - Chapter 174
Chapter 174: Wife in Labor
There isn't much information passed down about the final battle of the Prime Century that was enough to cripple the Zerg.
It is said that on that day, all communications failed. Even the internal comms for the officers piloting the mechas were intermittent.
The Zerg Tide came in wave after wave, the most difficult one in history.
It even broke through the royal palace, making the palace that seemed to pierce the sky look as if it were shrouded in a chilling frenzy, like a flower about to be devoured by a beast.
Wen Liuyun hadn't expected this Zerg Tide to be more ferocious than all the previous ones. Even the high-grade Zerg seemed to have fully evolved, as if they had gained a leader overnight and were no longer just crushing their enemies with numbers.
Only the commander who had told her her name was Xi Nianchi was still calmly directing the battle. It was just that the communication failure caused her voice to stutter.
Wen Liuyun didn't pay much mind to Xi Nianchi's words. Even though they hadn't known each other for long, a suspicion, the same as her daughter's, arose in her heart.
But she didn't think the other person was some celestial being from beyond the heavens, only suspected she wasn't from this world.
Because Xi Nianchi was too calm, as if nothing could ever make her feel apprehensive. Even with this terrifying Zerg Tide attack, her voice remained serene, as if she were facing nothing more than a common farce.
"I'm leaving this to you."
Xi Zhoumeng said to Wen Liuyun. Her mecha was still the Moon-Swallower. But after all, the Prime Century didn't have light-brains, so she couldn't bring out the Moon-Swallower mecha she used later. It was also possible that due to the causality of time and space, Xi Zhoumeng didn't dare to easily disrupt the original trajectory.
The first-generation mecha, unmodified by Chi Yueshan, was indeed not as powerful. However, the people of the U-Galaxy were masters of mechanical technology, and their craftsmanship was beyond question. They were able to make precise improvements for every problem Xi Zhoumeng raised.
She looked at the dot displayed on the map, and at the royal palace in the distance that seemed to be suspended in mid-air.
It was no longer the pure, untainted white palace in the eyes of the public; it had been occupied by the Zerg and had completely fallen.
Xi Zhoumeng didn't even need to guess to know that Sheng Xilin would never let Sheng Xiwu go.
Wen Liuyun: "You're the commander. Where are you going?"
Although Xi Zhoumeng had trained the mecha squadron for the past few months, Wen Liuyun had rarely seen her fight herself.
Her observational skills were incredibly sharp, as if she were more sensitive than a monitoring device on the battlefield. She could quickly find breakthroughs and give the most correct commands.
Xi Zhoumeng: "I'm the supreme commander, not your commander."
Her voice was still languid and lazy as she headed to the royal palace alone.
Wen Liuyun inexplicably recalled that person's line, "I'm about to die." She didn't engage in battle either, instead handing command over to another mid-level officer and leading a team to follow her.
The area around the royal palace was originally protected by a dedicated army, but now they had all been killed in action. The closer one got, the more interfering the magnetic field became.
The Zerg carried their own radiation. Every Zerg Tide would cause contamination, leaving the land barren. Ordinary citizens without any protective measures would suffer from degenerative diseases of varying levels.
Xi Zhoumeng went alone. Wen Liuyun encountered many Zerg while chasing after her. But before she could even reach the royal palace, she felt a powerful tremor, followed by specks of silver light. The high-pitched roar of the mecha stirred up a tide of air, and she could even feel the external armor plates of her own mecha shaking.
The sounds of explosions were incessant, and the severed limbs and carapaces of the hideous creatures littered the ground.
Wen Liuyun had never been to the royal palace before. She was just an ordinary baker's apprentice on the capital planet. Her impression of the royal family came from television; they represented the supreme power admired by all. To become the queen meant to hold the pinnacle of power.
The royal palace's exterior was magnificent, comparable to the city in the sky from the ancient civilizations she had studied in school. It was shrouded in greenery, and even the most exaggerated soap operas about wealthy families couldn't match its luxury.
But now it was all ruins. This queen hadn't been on the throne for many years before the Zerg war broke out. When her colleagues talked about it during breaks, they all sighed with regret.
In the early years, there were also anonymous forums speculating why this particular person had inherited the throne, but the posts were quickly deleted.
No one could discuss the secrets of the royal family. What one could see was only what they wanted you to see.
The Zerg were creatures with super-strong reproductive abilities. Even if their limbs were blasted to pieces, they could sometimes reattach and crawl again.
Wen Liuyun frantically delivered finishing blows, heading towards the light source. She could already see Xi Nianchi's mecha, and a Zerg that looked terrifying even from a distance.
But before she got close, she saw a decapitated corpse on the ground.
It was the queen she had once seen on television, accepting her coronation. Now, her crown had fallen to the ground, her scepter lay in the green fluid of the Zerg, and the fingers of her severed hand had been crushed one by one. Only her bracelet was intact, lying on the ground.
The glory of the empire seemed to have been mercilessly trampled. Wen Liuyun had never thought such a day would come.
With another loud bang, the right protective plate of the Moon-Swallower mecha fell to the ground. That high-grade Zerg was a horrifying sight.
No, it might have been the Zerg Queen, which had also had several of its tentacles severed.
Xi Zhoumeng had originally thought that Sheng Xilin had already invaded Sheng Xiwu's consciousness. She hadn't expected to find such a Zerg when she rushed over.
The multicolored carapace was simply too familiar.
Wasn't it the Mary Sue Zerg she had encountered back then?
But this one was stronger. Xi Zhoumeng, who was in sync with her mecha, almost vomited. She was already suffering from the rejection of her soul by this time and space, and now it felt as if she had been stabbed.
Xi Zhoumeng tried calling out the other's name, but it seemed to provoke an even stronger rage.
After turning into a Zerg, one was indeed no longer human. Even if it spoke, it was no longer in a human language.
During her practical training, when Xi Zhoumeng was resisting the Zerg Queen's invasion, she had briefly captured its language, but it was completely different from Sheng Xilin's language now.
What, was it a generational change?
This time, she had also brought the Magnetic Star Meteorite component from the ZR main planet. In such a dangerous moment, she relied on the synergy between the Magnetic Star Meteorite and the Soul Chain to amplify her attacks, but it meant her spiritual power would be consumed at double the rate.
But at this moment, she could barely fight it to a standstill.
The first-generation Zerg Queen is already this strong, so was that Mary Sue Zerg I met that day really the Zerg Queen?
Was it the one from the royal palace?
Xi Zhoumeng controlled her mecha while thinking, and the high-speed rotating blades, accompanied by a fuel-ignited explosion, attacked Sheng Xilin once more.
Another mushroom-like cloud of smoke rose. The power of this attack was so great that even the ground collapsed, and Wen Liuyun's mecha skidded, almost crashing.
It seemed to be raining again, yet it didn't seem like rain.
Green biological fluid mixed with human blood.
Wen Liuyun charged into the smoke cloud. The giant Zerg crashed to the ground. It had a multicolored carapace and wings as thin as a cicada's.
But now, its carapace had been blasted off, its tentacles had been cleanly severed by Xi Zhoumeng's blades and were still trying to reassemble and squirm on the ground, and its wings seemed to have been vaporized, leaving only bare, struggling wing cartilage.
And a hundred meters away from it, the Moon-Swallower was severely damaged. Its turbine blades had fallen to the ground, warning alarms blared one after another, and the cockpit's airbag suddenly deployed.
The surrounding low-grade Zerg were all slain by the squad Wen Liuyun had brought. The empire's first commander lay on the ground, her blood splattering like a red lotus blooming on a jade lake.
Wen Liuyun's mind buzzed as she once again recalled how this person had looked when she arrived.
Appearing out of thin air, carrying an exaggerated suitcase, like an unknown traveler who had stumbled into a war-torn world.
But she wasn't surprised at all, even sighing a little. When she saw her, it was as if she'd met an acquaintance, and she even said "hi."
And asked what year it was.
How could a person like that possibly die?
Just as Wen Liuyun was about to exit her mecha, she heard Xi Nianchi's voice through the comms: "Don't come down."
She was panting heavily. "Its... its heart is... still..."
Do insects have hearts? The Zerg Queen clearly had no ability to move anymore.
A strange Zerg language filled the space, mixing with the real snowflakes now falling, as if fate was demanding its complete submission.
Xi Zhoumeng didn't understand it, but her intuition told her it was crucial. Even as her consciousness was about to dissipate, she desperately tried to remember it.
"I'm counting on you, great hero."
She was truly exhausted, but this exhaustion was completely different from her former life of imprisonment.
Her exhaustion should be worth it, right?
If that fellow Chi Yueshan were here, would she praise me?
Ah, forget it. She would definitely chew me out and ask why I'm like this.
Like what?
I never thought I'd see a day like this.
Willingly fighting a bloody battle for humanity.
It doesn't feel too bad.
"Take me back to my room..."
"No need... no need to go to the hospital..."
Wen Liuyun wanted to say something, but she couldn't get the words out. A great sorrow enveloped her. This world was devastated, and some truths were on the verge of being revealed.
For example, why Xi Nianchi had called the Zerg Queen by that name.
It was clearly the name of the former Eldest Princess.
War has always been man-made.
If there had been no war, she would surely still be that useless apprentice at the bakery. She'd had a crush on the blacksmith's youngest daughter next door for a long, long time, but would never have confessed.
How could I be worthy? I have nothing. Even my affection is like inconspicuous breadcrumbs.
But life is inherently unpredictable. War comes when it comes, and life is fleeting.
No wonder, no wonder people say to live in the moment, just like now.
She raised her long blade and stabbed it into the Zerg Queen's heart, and was surprised to see all of humanity's emotions in the eyes of a Zerg.
The only thing missing was regret.
This battle was not widely reported. All the mechas were sent for repairs to the Mecha Engineer's Guild, which had been established by Xi Nianchi.
Including the Moon-Swallower and the War God.
The royal palace was blood-washed, then quickly restored to its original state. Without an absolute holder of power, the council took charge, negotiating with the nobles about a new queen and deciding to establish a new nobility.
Wen Liuyun clutched her letter of appointment as she walked towards Xi Nianchi's castle.
The other party had been utterly shameless, taking advantage of her free choice to pick a mansion that included an entire mountain.
It was just so damn big, so big that Wen Liuyun found it annoying.
Guided by a maid, she arrived at the other's room. The smell of medicine filled the air. The person in question was sitting on the bed, reading a book.
Wen Liuyun: "Are you feeling better?"
Xi Zhoumeng: "Can't you tell I'm about to die?"
Wen Liuyun said expressionlessly, "To become a top noble in one leap, what a pity it would be to die now."
Xi Zhoumeng sighed. "It's not like I'll stop being a noble after I die. Didn't I ask you to help take care of the children under my name?"
Even though she said she was dying, she actually seemed quite spirited.
At least, Wen Liuyun had learned from the Xi family's butler that she wasn't that fragile at all, though her face was indeed very pale.
Wen Liuyun: "When are you accepting the medal?"
Xi Zhoumeng: "Not going."
Wen Liuyun: "How many times have I had to cover for you?"
Xi Zhoumeng turned a page of her book. "It's your honor."
Wen Liuyun: "..."
Xi Zhoumeng: "The labs have all been destroyed, right?"
She paused. "My mecha can be donated to Guyun Academy in the future. No one can pilot it except me."
Wen Liuyun: "So certain?"
Her perpetually grim face showed a rare hint of curiosity. She asked the question she had asked before: "It's been so long. You said you have a wife and child, why haven't you brought them over?"
She asked sincerely, but Xi Zhoumeng felt that this ancestor of Wen Xinghuo was not honest at all.
A baker's apprentice couldn't rely on just being good in bed to win over the blacksmith's youngest daughter.
Xi Zhoumeng: "Don't you know in your heart?"
Even wearing pajamas and leaning against the bed, she was still peerlessly magnificent, as if all luxury was merely her backdrop.
Yet, it was precisely this person who was the key to the final battle. Wen Liuyun felt she didn't deserve the credit, since she had only delivered the finishing blow. As it turned out, beheading the queen was also attributed to her.
She grunted, not knowing what to say.
But then she saw Xi Zhoumeng's hand, which was turning a page, pass right through the book.
She shot to her feet, nearly knocking over the tea beside her.
Xi Zhoumeng looked up impatiently. "Can't you be a little more dignified?"
That word really didn't suit Wen Liuyun. Xi Zhoumeng took a deep breath. "I've said everything I need to say."
She really couldn't concentrate lately, because she couldn't understand why, even though the Zerg Queen was completely dead and Sheng Xiwu was also completely dead, there would still be upper and Lower Worlds in the future, and still be generations of queens who would be invaded.
A few days ago, she had used her meritorious status to inspect the queen's scepter, and there was no residual consciousness.
But Xi Zhoumeng was really out of time.
She needed to know what Sheng Xilin's last words in the Zerg language meant.
The thought of being able to return soon brought an increasingly gentle smile to Xi Zhoumeng's face.
She said to Wen Liuyun, "Take care of those two children under my name. In the future, I'll consider taking care of your unlucky kid."
Wen Liuyun: ...
Are you sure you don't mean bully?
But seeing the other's deteriorating mental state, she also knew it was because of the mecha's spiritual link. The Moon-Swallower was so severely damaged, this person's spirit must have suffered a heavy blow as well.
Wen Liuyun left the Xi family's castle at dusk. But before she could get in her vehicle, she heard the Xi family's distinctive bell.
It was the high-standard funeral bell that Xi Nianchi had mentioned as a family rule.
A shiver ran down Wen Liuyun's spine. She spun around and ran back with large strides, bumping into the Xi family's children who were just returning from school.
Xi Nianchi, who had just been talking to her, was dead.
Her face was peaceful, but strangely, Wen Liuyun noticed that the wound on her forehead had suddenly healed, without even leaving a scar.
Xi Zhoumeng had killed that version of herself and left the body in the Prime Century. After all, that group in the council was not easy to deal with.
They had always been wary of her origins, afraid that she was also a human who had been turned into a Zerg.
In addition, at that time, Xi Zhoumeng could already feel the magnetic field emanating from the Magnetic Star Meteorite she was wearing.
She first returned to the ZR-Galaxy, but couldn't find Chi Yueshan.
And was even asked by Xuan Rujia if the two of them had had a fight.
Xi Zhoumeng could only use the Magnetic Star Meteorite to jump through space again. The spiritual power consumed this time almost drained her dry.
When she opened her dizzy eyes, she found herself back in the corridor of the Xi family's castle.
The corridor was full of vibrant flowers and plants, and a flashy selfie of Xi Li hung on the wall.
She placed her hand on the railing. Just then, a few maids came around the corner of the corridor. They were startled to see Xi Zhoumeng suddenly appear, and the fruits in their hands fell to the floor.
"E-E-Eldest Miss??!!"
Then came the screams of the maids.
Immediately after, a door in the corridor opened, and an impatient male voice came out: "What's all the noise? Don't you know someone is giving birth in here?"
Xi Zhoumeng was about to faint again. She turned, trembling, and looked at the golden head.
She even forgot to call him Big Brother, her palms sweating. "Wh-what did you say?"
Xi Li was also stunned. His mind went blank, and he thought, This can't be a fucking dream, can it?
But he also answered mechanically—
"Your wife is in labor..."
"Damn it, you stinking little sister, where have you been? Your wife is giving birth! Aaaah! Get your ass over here right now!"
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