Chapter 196 | Swarm: I Became a Cataclysmic Disaster

“But in any case, given the current situation, nothing would be surprising.”

After returning home, Lin Miao paced in front of the terrarium.

Ye Yunshang, who had obtained the hive mind trait and grown stronger, was undoubtedly an outstanding Awakened.

With just a little more growth, she would be strong enough to have a shot at becoming a Tier 5 Awakened.

But at the same time, Ye Yunshang's importance was also very high.

Not only was she the only Tier 4 Awakened Lin Miao possessed, but she was also the queen of the human colony.

If she were to be killed by the servants of opposing deities, the human colony Lin Miao wanted to nurture on Earth would effectively collapse.

Even if he wanted to appoint a new queen, there didn't seem to be anyone suitable.

So, before sending Ye Yunshang to America, Lin Miao wanted to give her a gift.

Judging by the situation on the Divine Net forum, the deities did not want to expand their territories and the number of their servants for no reason.

While the size of their territory and the number of their servants were directly related to a deity's Divine Status, more importantly, the larger the faction, the more their extra income would skyrocket.

The “tributes” they often spoke of were one such form of extra income.

In the past, the Great Devourers knew nothing and brought weapons or equipment containing divine power to Lin Miao, which in a broad sense could be considered a type of tribute.

‘It's indeed quite nice.’

In fact, even now, the Great Devourers were still constantly bringing items containing divine power to Lin Miao.

Lin Miao would recycle these items, store them in the warehouse, or convert them into necessary funds through the Divine Net when needed.

But these spoils of war could hardly be considered true tributes.

The deities who traversed the universe, conquering various worlds and incorporating them into their territories, expected tributes from their servants that were special items only the servants themselves could create.

The deities wanted to use those special items as tools to conquer other worlds and serve other servants.

“Symbiotic carapace ant?”

Lin Miao saw Celia look up at the sky with wide, surprised eyes after hearing his oracle.

That was the first time Lin Miao had asked the Great Devourers to offer a tribute.

That was precisely the symbiotic carapace ant, one of the tools used to fuse people who originally belonged to other races, like Celia and Lisette, with the Great Devourer.

“Why on earth would that Great One want that?”

Lisette pondered with a serious expression nearby.

Celia shook her head. “This is the Great One's first command. We have no choice but to obey.”

Just as Celia said, this was the first time Lin Miao had asked the Great Devourers for something.

The spoils of war received so far were merely things the Great Devourers had brought of their own accord before growing to their current extent.

“It is only natural.”

Elise immediately began creating the symbiotic carapace ant to offer to Lin Miao.

The symbiotic carapace ant was a very special variant, fusing the genes of mollusks like slugs, planarians, and leeches, as well as animals with outstanding regeneration and morphing abilities like the fire-bellied newt and octopus.

Its slimy, squishy body only possessed the ability to produce Universal Cells, so it could not survive without a host.

However, once attached to a special host like Celia or Lisette, it would fuse with their body, hardening or shifting its shape to become the ultimate armor.

“The Queen willingly offers a part of herself to the Great One.”

Elise stood up and personally handed the completed symbiotic carapace ant to Lin Miao.

Elise used the spider legs extending from her back to climb up the opening in the ceiling; her figure could now be seen with the naked eye outside the terrarium.

“Is she imitating Celia?”

Lin Miao watched as the wriggling symbiotic carapace ant held in Elise's arms was placed on the ground, and she herself knelt in an awkward posture, drawing a wry chuckle from him.

It was impossible for Elise to know the posture or etiquette of serving a deity, and Lin Miao didn't care about such things anyway.

She was completely copying whatever Celia did.

‘Though I feel like it should work, will it really succeed?’

His interference force was sufficient. Unlike other deities, Lin Miao hadn't used much interference force, so he still had this kind of surplus.

However, this might still not be enough.

Putting living things into the terrarium was a common occurrence, but “taking them out” was a first.

“Did it succeed?”

Lin Miao nudged the ground with a pre-prepared test tube, scooped the symbiotic carapace ant inside, and then drew it out.

As soon as the test tube came out, Lin Miao understood immediately.

As long as he used a massive amount of interference force, the symbiotic carapace ant currently inside the test tube would restore to its original size.

Without hesitation, Lin Miao called out to Ye Yunshang.

Ye Yunshang looked at him. “Proxy, did you call for me?”

Lin Miao said slowly, “Actually, before you head to America, that Great One said he wants to give you a gift.”

This was the underground warehouse, safe and secure, perfect for private conversations. Ye Yunshang had even subdued and imprisoned a servant of an enemy deity here, who had now become an ally.

“W-What is that?”

Ye Yunshang gasped in shock when she saw the slimy liquid inside the test tube in Lin Miao's hand, but Lin Miao had already opened the cap.

“It might look a bit gross, but don't worry, the effects are absolutely outstanding.”

Looking at her shocked expression, Lin Miao felt it was a pity.

If he could tell her what he had seen, she would know just how powerful those who borrowed the strength of the symbiotic carapace ant—like Celia and Lisette—could become.

“N-No!”

The symbiotic carapace ant dropped onto her trembling hand.

Sensing something was wrong, Ye Yunshang instinctively screamed and tried to shake her hand, but the symbiotic carapace ant was already firmly anchored on her palm.