“The Sixth Star Ring can activate the Dead Hand System, so why can’t the First Star Ring do the same?” Chu Huaizhi’s gaze was sharp as he questioned the group.
“How can this be the same? The First Star Ring is the core of the Federation. If the Dead Hand System were activated, the economic and technological losses would be incalculable. To put it bluntly, the Federation’s technological level would regress by at least a hundred years!”
“Exactly! And Mother Planet Tigre is also in the First Star Ring. It’s the birthplace of humanity and carries immense historical significance!”
The conference room erupted in opposition, each person voicing their own reasons, but they all agreed on one thing: they refused to activate the Dead Hand System.
Chu Huaizhi had anticipated this reaction and wasn’t surprised at all.
He spread his hands and asked in return, “Then tell me, what other options do we have? Almost the entire star sector is under the Zerg’s control. On the Imperial side, aside from the Traditionalists who are barely holding on, the Surrenderists have already become the Zerg’s puppets. We can’t count on the Empire.”
The Imperial Surrenderists had voluntarily integrated Zerg blood and genes into themselves, causing their own mutations. They were no longer fully human, and with Bayard’s ability to communicate with the Zerg, they rose rapidly in power, now able to rival the Traditionalists.
With the Zerg pressing in on a massive scale, the Traditionalists were finding it increasingly difficult to hold their ground.
During the meeting, someone suggested, “Maybe we should follow the Surrenderists’ example?”
Kailen Reynolds strongly objected: “Starlight Life has conducted research on this. Even if someone succeeds in integrating Zerg genes, most of them will retain a Zerg-like appearance. But the human body cannot withstand such a transformation—it will eventually collapse.”
Still, when people are pushed to the brink, they start to consider taking that chance, always believing they might be the exception.
Others grumbled in dissatisfaction, “This won’t work, and that won’t work either. So tell us—what exactly are we supposed to do?”
Kailen Reynolds and Chu Huaizhi exchanged a subtle glance.
Kailen pressed her lips together, hesitated for a moment, then proposed, “What if we perform the Divine Descent Ceremony and pray for the gods to descend?”
The suggestion was like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples in every direction.
“Divine descent? Who knows what kind of entity might show up?”
“Exactly! And that ceremony…”
The matter was far too significant for the representatives of the various factions to make an immediate decision. They could only request a recess to return and deliberate thoroughly.
Kailen Reynolds gave Chu Huaizhi a slight nod and decisively logged off.
This recess meant that the next session wouldn’t take place for at least three days.
She stepped out of her office, got into her hovercar, and made her way to the VIP ward of the First Hospital.
Inside the ward, Bayard lay in what looked like two halves, as if something sharp had cleaved him from head to toe. Only the half with most of his internal organs rested inside the repair pod.
Viscous fluid worked tirelessly to restore his damaged cells. His heart, now only two-thirds intact, had been replaced with a mechanical one to keep his blood circulating.
Standing before the repair pod was a man.
He heard Kailen Reynolds’s footsteps but didn’t turn around, his gaze fixed on Bayard’s half-face.
“Kailen, humanity has reached its end. The Zerg are the true rulers of the universe. With Baster’s successful transformation, why not let Bayard try it too? Bayard’s talent far surpasses Baster’s. He might even become a high-ranking Zerg—something like the Octopus.”
“Shut up!” Kailen’s voice was ice-cold, her glare sharp enough to kill. “I will never allow the noble Reynolds bloodline to be tainted by Zerg genes!”
The man turned around helplessly. “Alright, my dear. Bayard is my child too. His performance on the Zerg battlefield was worthy of the Reynolds name. But as a father, I want him to live. He’s so proud—I’m sure if he had a choice, he wouldn’t mind what form he takes when he returns to the battlefield.”
Zerg or not, what’s the difference?
Who knows, maybe once Bayard becomes a Zerg, he could even replace the Great Mound.
Kailen Reynolds didn’t respond. Instead, she pressed a button to summon the guards and had them escort the man out. “The Reynolds family is none of your concern. Since you admire the bugs so much, why don’t you go try it yourself?”
“Hey, Kailen! Think it over—the Four Great Golden Bloodlines and the Imperial nobility…”
The door slammed shut, drowning out the man’s persuasive voice.
The VIP ward fell silent, leaving only Kailen Reynolds and Bayard.
Kailen finally let her straight back relax slightly, leaning against the door. She stood there in a daze for a long moment.
Only when the alarm on her wrist chimed did she snap out of it. She took a deep breath and walked over to the repair pod.
She pressed her palm against the transparent glass, covering the missing half of Bayard’s face.
Bayard’s eyes were tightly shut, his lashes thick and his features finely sculpted, as if carved by a divine hand—perfect in every way.
In truth, Bayard had always been Kailen’s most beloved, most outstanding, and most prideful child.
But now he lay here, weak and unconscious. The sharpness that once defined his brows now carried a hint of fragility.
“Bayard, Mother will save you,” Kailen whispered softly.
She sat down on the floating sofa nearby, opened her smart device, and accessed the top-secret files on [Divine Descent] using her clearance.
She would memorize every detail of these documents and then use them to persuade the other factions.
The gods must descend. Only the divine could save Bayard—and save humanity.
Meanwhile, Chu Huaizhi arrived at the Lin Family Farm on one of Tigre’s satellites.
“Marshal Chu, you’re back. We’ve been watering and fertilizing just as instructed, but these plants still aren’t growing well.”
Li Qing held her daughter’s hand tightly, standing anxiously at the edge of the field.
Back when Lin Xiaohe got into trouble, the Lin family and the Li family were all detained by the Department of Security.
Lin Xiaohe had fought fiercely in court and managed to escape the First Star Ring with her family.
The Li family hadn’t been so lucky.
Fortunately, General Guo, one of Marshal Chu’s subordinates, had pulled them out and arranged for them to stay at the Lin Family Farm, giving them the job of watching over it.
The Li family was deeply grateful to General Guo and Marshal Chu.
Just being alive and free from the Department of Security’s secret prison was enough to make them thank the heavens, the earth, and their ancestors for eighteen generations.
But the farm was a handful. No matter what they did, they couldn’t get the seeds to sprout or bear fruit.
Li Qing clutched her daughter’s hand tightly, worried she might be kicked out—after all, it was dangerous out there, with bugs everywhere.
Chu Huaizhi glanced at the barren fields and said gently, “It’s alright. You’ve done your best. Don’t worry—I’m not going to throw you out of the farm.”
Li Qing’s tears fell instantly, plopping into the soil. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
In that moment, Chu Huaizhi’s image in the Li family’s hearts rose higher and higher, almost reaching the status of a deity.
Chu Huaizhi breathed in the familiar scent, feeling the pulse deep beneath the earth. A faint, almost divine smile spread across his face.
