106: Chapter 106 The Blueprint of the Empire
I lay on the cold metal bed, sensing the Demonic Power within me that had barely recovered a sliver after devouring the Corrosive Lizard, but my heart felt no joy, only a heavy, mountain-like weight.
I was still too weak.
Although I had broken through to the Demon Rank, this clash with Night Crow made me realize with painful clarity what a huge, desperate chasm existed between the Early Stage Demon Rank and the Peak Demon Rank.
What's more, my Demonic Power was exhausted, I was severely injured, and even that Corrosive Lizard had been such a difficult fight to win.
In front of a true powerhouse like Night Crow, I remained as fragile as a thin piece of paper that could be pierced at any moment.
I recalled the terrifying pressure that had almost completely annihilated me when I confronted Night Crow head-on.
Every time, it was Lin Qingzhi who stood in front of me.
Every time, it was she who used her seemingly delicate shoulders to hold up the sky for me.
This feeling... I was sick of it!
I didn't want to hide behind her anymore, didn't want to see her get hurt for my sake. Being on the receiving end of attacks was never my, Mo Wen's, style!
My gaze was locked firmly onto the System panel, on that domineering ability I had comprehended after breaking through to the Demon Rank.
【Swarm Monarch】.
A crazy, bold, and even subversive idea burned in my mind like a wildfire!
What if... what if I didn't just command the swarm when needed, but instead completely integrated my will into every corner, every shadow of this city?
What if the billions of insects everywhere in this city became my eyes, my ears, my... nerve endings?
By then, I would no longer be a passive "reconnaissance radar."
I would become... the will of this city!
As soon as this thought emerged, even I was shocked by its madness.
What kind of vast and resilient Mental Energy would this require? Last time, just linking to the mosquitoes in the whole city nearly shattered my Soul with the torrent of information.
This time, it would be linking to all insects! The difficulty would increase exponentially!
But I had no choice. Either be silent and passively wait for the next crisis, or strike and bring the entire chessboard under my control!
I turned my compound eyes and took a deep look at Lin Qingzhi, who was closing her eyes to regulate her breath. In my gaze was unprecedented resolution.
"This time, let me protect you."
I made a vow in my heart.
I transmitted my plan to Lin Qingzhi, who was struggling to maintain her vital signs, through the 【Symbiotic Bond】.
Her consciousness seemed to be stirred by my plan, and those long eyelashes she had kept tightly closed trembled slightly.
After a long while, a faint but determined thought, devoid of any doubt, echoed in my mind.
"...Okay."
Just one word. But it represented all her trust and support.
Lin Qingzhi slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. A trace of approval and a trace of... worry flashed in those cold phoenix eyes.
"Your idea is good, but with your current Mental Energy, wanting to control billions of insects simultaneously is nothing but a pipe dream."
"Your Soul would be instantly torn to shreds by that complex torrent of information."
"When I ruled over billions of living beings, I did not rely on simple, one-on-one absolute control."
Her words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing half the fire in my heart.
"Then what should I do?" I asked, puzzled.
"A pyramid."
The corners of Lin Qingzhi's mouth curled into a faint, wise arc characteristic of an Emperor. "Build a 'pyramid' style mental network that belongs to you."
"You are the 'Monarch' at the very top of this pyramid."
"You don't need to directly control those billions of 'soldiers' (ordinary insects and vermin) at the very bottom."
"What you need to do is first conquer and control those most powerful elite mutants in this underground world that possess a certain level of intelligence. Let them become your 'generals'!"
"Then, let your 'generals' command those massive amounts of 'soldiers' for you. You only need to give orders to your 'generals,' and they will carry out your will to every corner of the entire Empire for you!"
"In this way, you can not only build an inescapable net, but also maximize the avoidance of your Mental Energy overload."
Boom!
Lin Qingzhi's words were like a thunderbolt, striking my heart fiercely and opening a door to a new world for me!
I understood!
This was the true... Art of the Emperor!
This was what the true 【Swarm Monarch】 should look like!
I looked at the girl in front of me who, though weak, still radiated endless wisdom and dominance, and for the first time, a feeling called "submission" surged in my heart.
"I understand." I responded with the vibration of my wings, my tone filled with unprecedented... excitement and heat.
A vast blueprint of an underground Empire, one capable of casting a shadow over the entire Jiang City, slowly unfolded in my mind!
And I would be the sole Monarch of this Empire...