Time passed in this manner until nightfall, and the scale of the swarm gradually expanded.
However, the initial Zerg Hive's larva production was limited, yielding only about five per hour, which significantly restricted the swarm's development speed.
But she was not considering creating more Hives for now.
This type of reproductive organism consumed a lot of energy and had high costs. Until the swarm reached a certain scale, the fewer of them, the better.
“Currently, there are 35 zerglings and 10 drones. We have 200 units of regular energy and 13 units of high-energy crystals in reserve.”
Watching the hideous bugs moving back and forth in the night, patrolling the surroundings, the soldiers felt a mix of tension and complexity.
But regardless, they were much more relaxed than before.
Otherwise, they would have had to deal with the dangerous forest nights on their own.
The carriage served as Xia Jin's temporary residence.
The space inside was not very large, but it was enough for her to lie down and rest on the seat.
Meanwhile, the soldiers had already built two simple sheds during the day, which temporarily solved the housing problem.
More advanced buildings were naturally out of the question for now.
“It looks like I won't be able to bathe for the next few days.”
Xia Jin lay down on the sofa and looked at herself in the nearby mirror, feeling a bit dazed.
The swarm's collective consciousness allowed her to know the status of the bugs at any time, even in her sleep. Most zerglings could work tirelessly as long as they had energy, but considering the consumption and the dangers of the night, she still let some of the bugs rest while guarding the carriage.
With that, Xia Jin closed her eyes.
When she woke up the next day and stepped out of the building, dozens of corpses were piled around the Zerg Hive.
About six injured zerglings were crouching nearby, waiting for treatment.
“It looks like there was a fierce battle last night.”
From the information gathered from the bugs, they had encountered a Tier 3 magic beast two kilometers away from the carriage in the middle of the night.
The two bugs acting together in that area were killed in less than two minutes.
Seeing the target approaching the Queen's location, the brain bug temporarily took over command and began mobilizing 30 nearby bugs for support.
After a bloody battle, including the initial casualties, the opponent was defeated at the cost of six bugs.
At this moment, several bugs were working together to drag the corpse of this Tier 3 magic beast to the Zerg Hive for the drones to devour.
“Is that a rhinoceros?”
Seeing the creature, a chill ran down the knight commander's spine.
If not for these fearless bugs, the consequences would have been unthinkable once it got close.
“Ellie, the power Her Highness wields is indeed protecting her, but this development speed...”
Although there were many of them, they were Tier 1 after all. They could only ensure survival on the outskirts of the forest; the future was hard to guarantee.
“In any case, it is already much better. At least the Princess's safety is guaranteed. Even if she has lost the King's favor, she can live well. At worst, we can go to another country. We will definitely be able to create a good life for Her Highness.” The female knight, Ellie, straightened her back, her expression very serious.
Xia Jin, sitting on a rock not far away, saw this scene from a distance and could not help but be a little moved.
Fortunately, she had them.
The experiences of the past two days had made her believe that these warriors were completely loyal to her.
However, she was not sure if some of them would have harbored ill intentions toward her if she did not have the bugs.
But what did it matter? She was developing now.
In one night, despite losing more than eight bugs in dozens of battles, the scale of the zerglings had reached 63.
The number of drones was 15.
Such a development speed was truly terrifying.
“I'll slow down development slightly and wait for the Zerg Hive to reach LV2.”
Tier 1 zerglings were still too weak; she needed higher level bugs.
The currently stored energy had just reached 400, and the high-energy crystals were already over 40.
In a few hours at most, she could upgrade the Zerg Hive to Level 2.
Now, except for a few knights, the ordinary soldiers were fully committed to building houses and clearing land.
Of course, as for food, it could actually be solved with the Zerg Hive's nutrient solution, but the warriors really could not stand that viscous and disgusting-looking stuff.
Especially after one of them took a sip and almost vomited.
Conversely, Xia Jin, for some reason, thought the nutrient solution tasted pretty good.
Perhaps this was the uniqueness of the Queen. To avoid being looked at with strange eyes, she did not touch the stuff and instead temporarily satisfied her hunger with pastries.
...
Several hours later.
【Resources have been collected. Do you wish to upgrade the Zerg Hive to LV2?】
“Yes!”
After the command was given, the Zerg Hive began to writhe. Sanity-draining tentacles extended, slowly forming a pitted, lumpy giant cocoon.
Before long, under the input of energy, this massive biological structure began to expand.
It slowly swelled from its original diameter of three or four meters to six or seven meters.
This volume was still not very large, but the sanity-draining effect was even more severe.
After all, it was an insectoid organism, making it difficult to conform to human aesthetics.
Even Xia Jin, linked to the swarm's consciousness, found it hard to appreciate the appearance of this thing.
About twenty minutes later...
【The Zerg Hive has been upgraded to LV2.】
A screen of light passed through, and a new panel appeared before Xia Jin.
【Zerg Hive LV2】
【Produces: Tier 1 drones, Tier 2 zerglings】
【Production Cost: 10 units/drone, 20 units/zergling】
【Upgrade Cost: 20,000 units of regular energy, 500 units of high-energy crystals, 1,000 units of gold.】
【Description: A nascent Zerg Hive. Although it has evolved, it remains very primitive. It serves as the reproductive center of the swarm, replacing the Queen.】
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