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Chapter 213: Bug Queen, Early Unveiling of the Main Quest? [4k]
After handing over to the person sent by the Star Network, Bai Fu immediately piloted her spaceship back to the Initial Gateway Subcommittee.
Not long after returning to the branch office, Anya and the others also returned one after another, handing over the prototype they had acquired during the mission to her.
Without hesitation, Bai Fu brought the prototype and everyone else to Youlia’s laboratory.
The moment of truth had arrived!
She placed the six prototypes in a glass cabinet, and the instant she did so, she heard a game prompt in her ear.
[You have completed the hidden quest [Aggregation · Dispersion], earning 30 million experience points and 1 Life Blessing.]
The Life Blessing was a one-time use item that temporarily doubled the maximum health points for targets below the Catastrophe Tier for up to 12 hours.
While this might not be much for a fragile target, it was a significant boon for Bai Fu, whose maximum health points were as high as 34,000.
“A spiritual prayer mage with 70,000 health points, unbeatable, even Tessia would tremble at the knees!”
However, Bai Fu was more concerned about the changes in the dissociative medication prototypes.
The moment the task prompt sounded, the six prototypes inside the glass cabinet seemed to come alive, automatically gathering together and fusing at an observable rate.
“Should we be worried?”
Xia Shi, being cautious, nudged Bai Fu with her elbow. Her other hand was already on the ray gun at her waist, ready to interrupt the fusion process if needed.
Everyone else’s hearts sank too, especially Youlia. She had known that the prototypes were active and had informed Bai Fu about it, but now it appeared that the prototypes were far more powerful than she had imagined.
“Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen.”
Bai Fu reassured everyone, feeling confident given the rewards from the [Aggregation · Dispersion] quest.
A few minutes later, the six prototypes successfully fused into a fist-sized red orb, reflecting the soft lights of the laboratory with an aura that seemed unaffordable.
“This looks like an egg?” Youlia widened her eyes.
Upon closer inspection, there was a black shadow, about the size of a human thumb, curled up at the center of the red orb.
Bai Fu nodded.
Indeed, this was an egg, but not just any ordinary egg—it was a bug egg with plot and quests attached to it!
[Name]: Dark Domain Bug Queen
[Template]: Special – Dark Domain Bug Mother (Egg) (Metamorphosis Progress 60%)
[Main Profession]: Pupa Master Lv20 [+10]
[Secondary Profession]: None
[Health Points]: 100/100
[Attributes]: Strength 1, Agility 1, Constitution 10, Intelligence 79, Spirit 250, Inspiration 30
[Skills]: None
[Talents]: Aggregation · Dispersion, Fortunate Fate
[Affinity]: Cautious (16)
[Danger Level]: Green
After reading the data panel returned by her spiritual vision, Bai Fu was stunned.
Pupa Master? Dark Domain Bug Queen? Could this really be the Dark Domain Bug Queen?
This didn’t make sense. The Dark Domain Bug Queen wasn’t supposed to be cooperating with the Secret Tower against the Initial Gateway Star Cluster; why would she appear here?
Even more bizarrely, her total level was only 30, and despite being at level 30, her health points were only 100.
Bai Fu felt she could easily kill the Dark Domain Bug Queen with a little effort.
“Is the game bugged, causing the feedback data to be incorrect?”
Bai Fu picked up the egg from the glass cabinet, her mind suddenly filled with a stern female voice.
[How dare you! Who allowed you to touch me? Put me down immediately!]
Bai Fu looked around and realized she was the only one who could hear the voice.
[That’s right, disrespectful commoner, you dared to desecrate a queen. You should be put to death for your insolence, but I can forgive you if you put me down now.]
What a middle school syndrome patient?
Bai Fu held the egg up close, scrutinizing it with a strange look.
“Are you really the Dark Domain Bug Queen?”
“What? The Dark Domain Bug Queen?”
Youlia and the others were all stunned.
[Since you know my identity, things will be easier. Commoner, I will bestow upon you boundless wealth. This is a privilege reserved for you alone. Have the others leave for now.]
Recalling the note on the [Aggregation · Dispersion] quest, which mentioned unlocking the next stage based on her actions, Bai Fu decided to let Youlia and the others leave, leaving her alone with the suspected Dark Domain Bug Queen egg.
She wanted to see what this egg could say.
Smack!
As the door closed, the egg rolled in Bai Fu’s palm.
[Commoner, I won’t beat around the bush. I am the Dark Domain Bug Queen, betrayed by traitorous bugs. Not only did I lose my throne, but my body was split into countless fragments scattered across the celestial sea. Only today have I been reborn. I must reclaim what was lost! Commoner, you managed to collect six of my power beads, showing you have some ability. If you collect four more, help me break out of the shell and transform, and when I retrieve the ancestral artifact and kill the traitor, I will make you my queen consort!]
“…”
Where did you get this template from, “I, Qin Shi Huang, give me money,” or “KFC’s Revenge Campaign”?
Bai Fu was increasingly speechless.
But assuming the “Dark Domain Bug Queen” was telling the truth, all previous doubts would be resolved.
“The situation involves internal strife within the Dark Domain Bug Clan, their cooperation with the Secret Tower, and considering the queen’s fortunate fate talent, her quest is likely a main quest.”
Bai Fu’s eyes lit up.
But the problem now was that this bug had a terrible attitude, wanting her help without offering any real benefits, merely promising to make her queen consort. It was absurd.
Experience rewards alone no longer appealed to Bai Fu. She had ways to exploit players, and her desire for main quests wasn’t as strong as it was on the Source Star. She already had Wei Ke, and if she performed well, her actions could become a main quest in the next update. Thus, she didn’t need to go through the trouble of increasing the Dark Domain Bug Queen’s affinity.
She came to do quests, not to raise someone’s status!
The egg, unaware of Bai Fu’s thoughts, thought she had moved her and became smug.
[Commoner, you didn’t expect such generous rewards from me? Show your gratitude by kneeling!]
[Oh, and put me down. Without my permission, don’t touch me again. Even if I am a queen, I deserve respect. After you’re done kneeling, find me a place to stay. I know you’re probably poor, but I don’t ask for much—a place made of fire spring stone will do.]
Bai Fu was puzzled.
No way, lady, you clearly don’t understand the situation.
“This is my home, I’m the queen here!”
The egg paused, realizing it had been rebuked.
What’s going on?
[Alright, you commoner, you clearly don’t take me seriously. Don’t think saving me gives you free rein. I am the Sovereign Form, and with just a fraction of my strength, I could crush you!]
Wow, so arrogant?
If you were truly a sovereign, fine, but now you’re just a ball with 100 health points. Why would I fear you?
Bai Fu was furious.
Really, you need training. Threatening me like that!
She pretended to squeeze the egg.
To her surprise, the egg didn’t react.
[Squeeze me, go ahead. A traitorous bug stabs me, and now even a commoner threatens me. Do you think I’m scared? Impossible, I’ll return. That traitorous bug couldn’t kill me, and neither can you.]
So confident?
Bai Fu glanced at the egg’s attribute panel, focusing on the Aggregation · Dispersion talent.
This exclusive talent meant that even if the Dark Domain Bug Queen was killed, she wouldn’t truly die. As long as five or more power beads were placed together, she would instantly revive. Destroying these beads completely was no easy feat.
Even the new queen who had backstabbed her predecessor couldn’t manage it. Bai Fu didn’t think she could either, but just because she couldn’t, didn’t mean others couldn’t.
“Ordinarily, killing you would be difficult, but what if it were a Transcendent Superpower User? Conveniently, I know one—The Sworn One. If I gave you to The Sworn One, do you think he could kill you?”
The egg panicked.
[You covet my promised rewards, yet show me no respect. You won’t even call me queen. Is that reasonable? It’s outrageous!]
“Outrageous? Stop it. I’m just telling you, if you’re asking for help, show some humility! And this queen consort? Do you think I care? Whoever wants it can have it.”
The egg trembled, unable to retort.
She knew she was making empty promises.
But she couldn’t help it. She had become this way, what good could she offer?
What, she’d offer part of her wealth after regaining her throne?
The egg was rendered speechless.
Bai Fu was surprised. No, you stingy ghost, not even a small benefit?
“It seems you’re just talking about revenge, but you have no real plan. Forget it, I’ll turn you back into a dissociative medication prototype.”
[Stop!]
The egg urgently stopped Bai Fu, who was about to crush her.
Bai Fu waited quietly for her to propose new terms. After a long silence, the egg shouted.
[This isn’t how it’s done on TV!]
?
After questioning, Bai Fu understood two reasons behind the queen’s middle school syndrome behavior.
Firstly, she was young, equivalent to a teenage girl, similar to Anya.
Secondly, while she was queen, she watched many Edge World and Rebirth Empire dramas, especially those about the court. Supposedly to deepen her understanding of humanoid life, though how much she truly understood, Bai Fu wasn’t sure, but she was certainly brainwashed by these dramas.
This seemed far-fetched, but upon reflection, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable, given the last power transition in the Dark Domain Bug Clan.
The queen’s mother died early, leaving her to inherit the throne before reaching maturity. Before dying, her mother told her not to provoke the forces in the Edge World. She took this advice to heart, stopping all invasions by the Dark Domain Bug Clan into the explored universe and actively learning about its civilizations. However, without reliable guidance, she learned incorrectly, using terms like “commoner” and “queen etiquette.”
There were already many intelligent bugs dissatisfied with her ascension. Seeing her mismanage the clan, an ambitious Dark Domain Bug stepped forward, accusing her of destroying the clan’s foundation and taking over her education from her mother.
Calling it “education” was a euphemism for backstabbing her, taking her throne, and dividing her body.
After these actions, the ambitious bug collaborated with the Secret Tower, letting them handle her remains. The Secret Tower disguised her power beads as dissociative medication prototypes and distributed them among their controlled factions.
Years passed until Bai Fu appeared, giving her hope for resurrection.
The middle school syndrome queen actually wanted to offer Bai Fu more benefits to attract her help, but she felt that even if she avenged herself, she wouldn’t regain her throne. With the Dark Domain Bug Clan constantly invading the explored universe before her reign, stopping these invasions angered most intelligent bugs. Without their support, even killing the traitorous bug wouldn’t change anything.
“I probably won’t be able to become queen again, so I don’t dare make empty promises,” Bai Fu mused. “As the Dark Domain Bug Queen, your abilities must be extraordinary…”
She explained the prototype’s effects and the middle school syndrome queen’s explanation about the special ability to permanently boost spirit force.
[If you help me transform, I can further enhance your spirit force!]
Immediately, Bai Fu received a notification.
[You have triggered the main quest [Dispute Among the Dark Domain Bugs (One)]]
[Quest Description: …]
[Objective: Help the Dark Domain Bug Queen collect four more dissociative medication prototypes]
[Reward: 24 million experience points, source of the Dark Domain Bug Queen’s spirit force]
It was indeed a main quest!
Bai Fu nodded contentedly. This reward was perfect for her. With it, she could significantly boost Scarlet Leaf’s spirit attributes, allowing her to smoothly advance to the Catastrophe Tier.
The Catastrophe Tier powerhouse, she wanted to embrace.
“Deal!”
PS: Today’s word count is less, but tomorrow I’ll add around 7k.
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