The overall change wasn't significant, but the zerglings' strength had increased by one tier.
In exchange, the production cost had doubled. However, compared to the boost in strength, the increased consumption was practically negligible.
“Replenish the energy and upgrade the currently hatched zerglings.”
Following the command, the remaining 100 units of stored energy were completely consumed.
Ten Tier 1 zerglings lined up near the Zerg Hive and began their evolution.
At this stage, the number of larvae produced per hour had also reached eight.
This meant that under the condition of working twenty four hours without rest, 192 bugs could be produced.
Ten minutes later, all ten zerglings had finished evolving on the creep.
Their carapaces were now a deeper, glossier black, and their sickles had become even sharper. Their size hadn't changed much, but they gave off a far more terrifying aura, and their eyes seemed to glow brighter.
Swish! Swish!
One of the Tier 2 zerglings swung its sickles, causing Ellie to gape in surprise nearby.
“These guys... they've gone up a tier?”
They were born just yesterday at Tier 1, and after only one day, they were already Tier 2?
Feeling the pressure radiating from the bugs, Ellie felt her worldview being shaken once again.
“Heh, these bugs follow my orders completely, and I am their Queen,” Xia Jin said proudly from the carriage.
“Queen?”
Although in the kingdom, Tier 2 was only the strength of a weaker soldier, the rate at which these bugs multiplied was simply too fast. Moreover, each one was fearless. Unlike human armies, they wouldn't collapse once casualties reached a certain point.
“Let's head out. Go and slowly hunt the monsters in the surrounding area.”
Following Xia Jin's command, the evolved bugs let out a screech and sprinted out at extreme speeds, leaving the area.
Meanwhile, the Tier 1 zerglings on the perimeter received their orders and began to return one by one, waiting their turn to upgrade.
“So far, we haven't encountered any large scale beast swarms, which is very lucky. However, relying solely on supplies from the forest is terrible. Is anyone willing to go back to town to buy some food?”
“Let us go,” two warriors stepped forward.
“Mm, change into ordinary clothes first. The kingdom's armor is too conspicuous.”
The official Imperial Guard wore blue black armor. Their equipment was too high quality, but if they switched to commoner gear, they wouldn't be suspected.
In fact, there was one benefit to the Princess being cast out: all of the King's children were currently fighting for power and inheritance. By being here, she had essentially left the whirlpool of power and gained a certain sense of safety.
“Princess, now that you have so many of these... creatures, what do you plan to do next?” Knight Dylan couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
In their memory, this usually obedient and likable little Princess had displayed such eerie power after coming to this place, which was truly inconceivable.
But ultimately, they were exiles with no legal status within the kingdom, and the forest was extremely dangerous and unsuitable for survival.
Under these circumstances, deciding on their future was of the utmost importance.
“What do I plan to do?” Xia Jin brushed her silver white long hair and whispered, “Don't you see?”
Dylan looked confused.
“The bugs call me their Queen, and they haven't even shown their true power yet. This is only the beginning. In the future, I will lead a million strong swarm back to the capital with the force of a thunderbolt, making all the princes and princesses kneel on the ground and call me their Queen.”
Dylan and the warriors around him were dumbstruck.
Was this ideal... perhaps a bit too grandiose?
However...
Looking at the bugs being born continuously and thinking about how they had gone from insignificant to this in just one day, perhaps the Princess's words... weren't just a delusion.
In the distance, the knight commander's heart suddenly surged with uncontrollable excitement.
Seeing the young girl standing on the carriage speaking such completely unrealistic words with such confidence, he actually felt a thrill.
What was this feeling called?
Right, ambition!
Though it was a bit over the top and even absurd, for some reason, even if it ended in failure, he wanted to give his all for this Princess.
Right now, in this place, there were a dozen or so of the weakest warriors who had been discarded.
A few incredibly weak knights.
And a devastatingly beautiful sixteen year old Princess who looked like she couldn't even truss a chicken.
Surrounded by the praise of dozens of strange creatures of unknown origin, whose strength was only Tier 1 or 2.
They wanted to overthrow the entire kingdom.
“This is revenge, but of course, it's also a thank you to those bastards. Otherwise, how would I have found such a great opportunity for development?”
Xia Jin gently swung her dangling legs, revealing a row of snowy white teeth. “In short, go and purchase supplies. Once my Zerg develop in the future, you will also have the chance to show your abilities and obtain greater power than you ever had before. I will have my swarm cover the entire world, even the stars above, but the premise... is that you are loyal enough.”
The knight commander's body trembled. Hearing these words, he suddenly knelt on the ground and struck his chest hard. “Your will is the meaning of my existence!”
Ellie stood by, stunned.
He actually believed those words?
However, seeing the Princess's serious expression, she took a deep breath and likewise dropped to one knee. “No matter what, I will always be loyal to you!”
The other soldiers seemed to be infected by the mood and knelt one after another.
Rate on N.U.
