I Am The Swarm

For the next two days, Luo Wen stayed in the vicinity. With no food concerns and hopes of finding the nests of the small dinosaurs or flying insects, he scouted the area thoroughly.

Unfortunately, their hunting ranges were vast, and Luo Wen failed to encounter them again during this time.

Among the new genetic material he acquired, only the tail fat organ stood out. Luo Wen chose not to integrate the other traits into his body.

Currently, Luo Wen was already a versatile predator capable of operations on land, sea, air, and underground. His battle-hardened system of stealth and assassination was incredibly effective, and he saw no need to dilute it unless the new abilities were particularly powerful or useful.

The tail fat organ, despite its unassuming appearance and amusing name, proved to be immensely practical. It allowed Luo Wen to convert excess energy into compact fat deposits for storage, greatly enhancing his endurance in sustained combat.

What would have been a week-long supply of food from the five Tail Lard Rats and three small dinosaurs had been consumed in just two days, with the surplus energy compactly stored. Luo Wen estimated he could now go up to two months without eating, provided he rationed the energy. If this ability were distributed to the entire swarm, it could significantly alleviate logistical pressures.

With food taken care of, Luo Wen no longer had any reason to remain in the area. He set off once more on his adventurous journey.

Every day, Luo Wen remotely checked the situation at the base multiple times. Under his command, everything ran smoothly. The swarm’s numbers had surpassed 200,000, and they had quietly taken over the bottom ten levels of the Big-headed Ant nest.

The ten Type III Queen Ants were now in cocoons, nearing maturity. In addition, 50 more Type III Queen Ant eggs awaited hatching.

The swarm was currently grappling with a severe population shortage, a situation Luo Wen, once a land-dwelling apex predator, found difficult to adjust to. Strengthening the reproductive capabilities of the Type III Queen Ants was the best solution for this issue.

Once these Type III Queen Ants matured, the swarm’s numbers would explode. Luo Wen was confident that once they overcame this vulnerable period, the swarm would soon dominate the continent again.

Over the next ten days, Luo Wen thoroughly explored the five-kilometer radius around the base. Combining his observations from the air during previous encounters, he gained a comprehensive understanding of the area.

He found himself on the edge of a primeval forest, where the vegetation grew denser and more complex the deeper one ventured.

Massive trees blocked out the sunlight, their thick canopies intertwined with vines. Even at midday, the forest floor remained dim and eerie.

The forest teemed with a variety of small and medium-sized creatures, forming a tightly interwoven ecosystem.

Luo Wen encountered many strange species here, such as a giant patterned spider the size of a millstone. It had spun a massive web between two trees, preying on flying insects, small birds, and bats.

He also saw snakes of various sizes and colors. The smaller ones hunted birds and rodents far smaller than the Tail Lard Rats, while the larger ones preyed on the Tail Lard Rats themselves.

The Tail Lard Rats, relatively numerous here, occupied the bottom rung of the food chain, subsisting on insects. Luo Wen even saw them ambush Scout Worker Ants from the Big-headed Ant nest. Something about that seemed off, though Luo Wen couldn’t put his finger on it.

Smaller creatures were even less picky eaters, their diets determined solely by hunger.

Luo Wen discovered a small river and, above its murky surface, spotted super dragonflies with wingspans exceeding one meter. However, he refrained from entering the river. The water’s opacity hid potential dangers, and as the swarm’s supreme leader, Luo Wen couldn’t afford unnecessary risks. ṝÅ𐌽ÓВЁŞ

The local fauna was surprisingly “hospitable,” generously showcasing their talents and donating genetic material to Luo Wen’s collection. He gained abilities like heat detection, echolocation, and web-spinning, among others.

Additionally, his frequent consumption of birds led to a mutation in his ocular photoreceptors, dramatically enhancing his vision range. While this change wasn’t immediately noticeable in the dense forest, Luo Wen realized its impact one night when he climbed above the canopy to enjoy the breeze.

From his vantage point, he could directly see the twin moons in the night sky without relying on light detection. One was pale yellow, the other faint white, both exuding a cool, noble glow that left Luo Wen momentarily entranced.

Among his discoveries, Luo Wen finally located the nest of the flying insects.

Thanks to his newly acquired echolocation system, he detected their flight squadron from afar.

His new ability caused hidden ear holes to form on the sides of his head plate. Luo Wen could emit ultrasonic waves at frequencies near 100 kHz and use the echoes to determine the size and position of surrounding objects without relying on sight.

Though the small size of his ear holes limited the skill’s effectiveness compared to that of a bat, it still significantly enhanced his auditory system. Previously, Luo Wen had to rely on his antennae and leg hairs to sense sound.

During his first encounter with the flying insects, Luo Wen had been unprepared. Their speed, combined with the dense forest and poor visibility, caused him to lose track of them.

This time, sound alone allowed him to trail them effortlessly.

Hanging from a sturdy tree trunk, the giant hive of the flying insects loomed ahead. Its yellow-brown surface, made of unknown materials, stood over five meters tall and two meters wide. If not for the tree’s considerable girth, smaller vegetation wouldn’t have been able to support its weight.

A circular entrance atop the hive bustled with activity as flying insects darted in and out. Around the hive, numerous guard insects patrolled the air.

Luo Wen had no plans to attack the hive; he only needed to capture a single flying insect. However, these creatures always traveled in groups, so careful planning was essential.

As a squadron of around 2,000 flying insects arrogantly skimmed the forest floor, they remained oblivious to the predator lurking on a nearby tree trunk, waiting for his moment.

The main formation passed, leaving one straggler trailing behind.

Just as the last flying insect approached, a sharp lance shot out from the tree trunk, piercing it cleanly.

The insect emitted a strange sound as it died, alerting the rest of the squadron.

Luo Wen quickly stuffed the insect, shell and all, into his mouth, then froze in place, hoping to avoid detection.

Unfortunately, his optical camouflage seemed ineffective against the flying insects. Without hesitation, the squadron wheeled around in unison and charged straight at him.

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