Chapter 3 – A Special Queen (3)
“Where am I exactly…”
Rather than moving with my own legs, I called one of the workers to carry me and finally made my way out of the nest.
Our nest is located amidst a forest filled with the Demon Realm’s characteristic dull rocks, soil, and bizarre trees and plants growing in abundance.
Of course, I had no idea where this place was. The in-game view differed completely from the perspective I saw here, and more importantly, I’d rarely paid close attention to the map itself due to the existence of the minimap.
The knowledge I gained from the Black Rot Insects upon possession was equally absent. After all, a creature that lives its entire life in a narrow vicinity after hatching from an egg wouldn’t know how vast this world truly is.
[Additional ways to acquire food are necessary]
“Of course, continuing to do things the old way will never be enough.”
As the system message indicated, we needed more food—whether to gain attribute points for evolution, to achieve my goals, or ultimately, to survive in this place.
Though I knew little about the ecology of the Black Rot Insects that appeared as minor enemies in the game, I understand it now. Mostly they scavenged corpses, gathered edible plants, and hunted when possible to secure food.
And it was the same for us.
‘What should I do?’
From now on, we can’t proceed as we have in the past. Doing so won’t allow us to change.
Being their queen in this world as a player, I have to change this entire colony for my own sake.
“First, send scouts further out to explore. We need information to make better decisions.”
I ordered the workers to venture beyond our territory for further exploration.
I was certain that nothing we do in this confined space we call our world would make a difference. In the game, reconnaissance activity—observing what’s on the map and what other factions are doing—was a crucial action.
Gathering information is definitely the first step to turning the situation around.
[Workers have been sent for reconnaissance]
At my command, a few worker insects began to crawl and disperse in all directions. It was the first time since arriving in this world that I was stepping out toward the outside through their eyes.
“Harshness beyond compare, really.”
[Five reconnaissance workers dispatched, three of them killed]
It didn’t take long for that message to appear.
Among the five sent for reconnaissance, three were dead. One was impaled by the sharp beak of a towering monstrous bird swooping down from the sky. Another was killed by an attack from a giant scorpion-like Mana Beast that had dug a burrow waiting there. The last was devoured by a huge toad-like creature. Only two survived.
“Far too weak…”
I never realized just how harsh it was to be at the bottom of the food chain. The monsters I used to mock as weak had turned into terrifying predators, and in this hostile Demon Realm, a careless moment could mean being killed or devoured.
“There’s no time to lose.”
Gnashing my teeth as I pounded the wall, I lost three valuable workers. There’s no choice but to move quickly and use any means necessary to ascend in this world.
[One scout has discovered a new region]
Still, their sacrifice paid off—we could now see further into our world. After venturing beyond the usual range, one surviving scout crossed through the forest safely and entered a new area.
The scenery here was similar to where our nest is, but it was still an unknown space.
[Achievement – First Step Towards the World (1) achieved. Reward: 1 Attribute Point granted]
The system even recognized this as an achievement. Though I don’t fully understand what achievements are, they don’t seem too difficult to accomplish in these early stages.
“What is that?”
Then the scout discovered something.
A single insect with a black carapace, crawling through the opposite thicket.
[Achievement – Encounter (1) achieved. Reward: 1 Attribute Point granted]
The insect turned out to be a worker from another queen’s dominion.
*
“…Is it threatening us?”
The enemy worker started hissing and waving his front limbs as a guard posture upon spotting our scout. Black Rot Insects are territorial creatures—even among fellow racemates, they would reject and guard against intruders within their territory.
“First, withdraw.”
As more enemy workers gathered, I cautiously ordered my scout to retreat. Luckily, the foes were satisfied and returned to their own tasks.
Still, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from that spot through my scout’s eyes.
‘If we continue as we have been, we will forever be at the bottom, cleaning up corpses. We can’t grow stronger.’
There was only one reason for my hesitation.
What must we do to transcend our species’ limits and grow stronger?
The answer had already been revealed since the moment I arrived as their queen.
We could keep evolving. That was the only solution we had.
The problem was where and how to gain the nourishment and experience needed for this evolution. Scavenging corpses as we’ve done so far is absolutely insufficient.
Thus, we had to break the constraints. We needed to tread a path entirely different from what other kin followed.
「1. Maintain the status quo and steadily increase population」
「2. Cannibalize fellow racemates」
The system helpfully outlined the options in my mind, and the decision was crystal clear.
“We will attack another colony.”
My eyes gleamed as I made the decision.
Black Rot Insects didn’t typically fight among themselves—because engaging in such conflicts only caused mutual losses.
But I intended to break this unwritten rule. If the odds of victory were clear, then for our currently weak state, there is no smoother path to growth than consuming our kin.
[Your faction will follow your lead]
“Is that so?”
When I glanced at the system message, I noticed all the workers around me looking at me.
Their loyalty was palpable even without the message—it was deeply satisfying. Reflecting on it, the occasional rebellions or internal affairs events that happened in the game wouldn’t apply to us.
The underlings born with my genes will exist and live solely for me and for our colony.
[Attribute Page accessed]
I decided to gift them.
In preparation for the upcoming war against our own kind, I intended to use the three points we’d accumulated so far in attributes to strengthen ourselves as much as possible.
「Mind Enhancement 1-1」
I allocated one point to mind enhancement.
There was no drastic difference yet. It would likely only speed up judgment and information exchange until reaching the second stage.
「Body Enhancement 1-3」
The two-point investment in body enhancement, however, had more notable changes.
After molting and shedding dead cells, our bodies became noticeably stronger.
“Our bodies seem larger.”
My workers had grown, clearly visible to the naked eye.
Once fully grown, the size of adult Black Rot Insects in our faction was at least 1.5 times larger than those of our previous rivals.
“Does Body Enhancement connect with my passive abilities?”
[The more you invest in body enhancement, the stronger your omnipotent cell ability becomes]
I grew even stronger too.
By manipulating the cells that compose my body, I transformed my arm into a sharp blade akin to the worker’s jaws, and I grinned at the improved strength of the omnipotent cell ability.
Now my preparation was complete.
No more hesitation. I immediately mobilized all available forces.
Prolonging our stay at the nest would only lead to food shortages. The only ones left behind were the minimal forces necessary to protect the eggs and larvae.
[If you personally fail in combat, your entire faction will perish]
“Either way, if we lose, we’re finished.”
I mounted the strongest male and went with them.
Though the system warned that my defeat as the player meant the end, I smirked.
Even if my main forces are wiped out, I am done for. There’s no escape for us.
With the currently insufficient mind enhancement, I had to personally join the fight to command my forces effectively in this upcoming war.
“—…”
About fifty Black Rot Insects moved in unison.
Small predators that usually wouldn’t hesitate to attack our workers instinctively drew back upon seeing our massive formation.
‘If we grow stronger and become more numerous, no one will dare to hunt us.’
This realization caused my heart to race.
I knew well, as someone who enjoyed this game of nurturing and conquering factions, how powerful a collective could be.
In such a world, the abilities we possess are clearly specialized for maximizing the strength of our group.
If things go well, I might even create a monstrous group that I’ve never seen before.
If so, there might be possibilities beyond mere survival.
