I Am The Swarm

Although those flying creatures were visible as small dots even from a great distance, suggesting their large size, Luo Wen estimated they were, at most, only slightly stronger than creatures from the dinosaur era.

Such a level no longer piqued Luo Wen’s interest.

In Luo Wen’s view, the battles during the dinosaur era were among the easiest and most leisurely he had ever experienced.

Although the creatures of that era possessed formidable individual combat power, their capacity for group coordination was abysmal. Individual entities were easily countered, and even group-oriented species rarely reached populations of tens of thousands.

The difficulty of fighting them paled in comparison to the epic battles of the prehistoric era of insect dominance, where hundreds of millions, billions, or even tens of billions of creatures clashed. By comparison, battles during the dinosaur era were trivial.

Thus, after overcoming its initial vulnerability, the Swarm quickly conquered Genesis Planet during that era.

Luo Wen chose not to act as the overall commander for this mission, instead allowing the Intelligent Entities of the Swarm to take the reins.

As one of Luo Wen’s rare “command-oriented talents” and a figure of immense prestige among the Intelligent Entities, Sarah Kerrigan, the first Empress of the Ratfolk, naturally stepped into the role of commander.

Luo Wen was more than happy to see this. After all, as the saying goes, “A general’s success is built on countless sacrifices.” The Swarm had plenty of resources to groom “legendary generals,” and it was time for Sarah, who had only practiced simulated command, to gain real-world experience.

Sarah was granted temporary high-level intelligence permissions by Luo Wen. Without this authorization, even with her high prestige, she wouldn’t have the authority to command others of equal status without his explicit orders.

Her first move upon receiving authority was to form a staff group, enlisting Morgan, Tella, and others.

The Great Dawn Planet, being closer to its parent star than Genesis Planet, had a higher surface temperature, averaging around 50 degrees Celsius. While this posed no issue for Swarm units, few species from Genesis Planet would survive such conditions.

The extreme heat, however, fostered unique lifeforms. As the Swarm Meteor approached the surface, the scenery below became clearer.

The planet’s atmosphere had a notably high oxygen content, with Intelligent Entities estimating it exceeded 35%. This elevated oxygen concentration allowed lifeforms to grow to considerable sizes.

The Swarm Meteor landed in a red forest.

The forest’s towering trees, often over a hundred meters tall, featured dark red trunks and vibrant red, crystal-like leaves that glistened with moisture, creating an almost magical ambiance.

Analyzing the planetary temperature and environment, the Intelligent Entities deduced in minutes that the tree leaves were likely coated with a thin film that helped retain moisture in the extreme heat. This coating minimized water evaporation, leaving the leaves looking exceptionally glossy. Combined with their natural red hue, this gave the forest its striking appearance.

A cacophony of cracking sounds echoed as the Swarm Meteor crashed through the red branches and trunks, finally striking the black, muddy ground with a thunderous boom.

Beneath the dense canopy, the temperature was slightly lower. The specialized coating on the canopy’s leaves trapped moisture, making evaporation difficult. Water vapor condensed beneath the canopy, creating a humid, sauna-like atmosphere.

This unique environment supported a thriving ecosystem where countless animals lived and reproduced.

However, the harmony was disrupted by the massive, flaming object that crashed into the ground. The shockwave from its landing flung soil and debris in all directions, frightening the local fauna into a panicked retreat.

“Sarah, the seeds have landed. Please activate them,” said a voice. Luo Wen had withdrawn into the background, observing from the shadows. Of the thousands of Intelligent Entities present, only Sarah, with her special permissions, could activate the fungal carpet seeds and Brood Queen eggs.

While all Intelligent Entities were absolutely loyal to Luo Wen, they each possessed independent thoughts. Some of the younger Entities were skeptical of the newly promoted commander.

After all, Sarah had been deceased for over a century. While many of her contemporaries held her in high regard, newer Intelligent Entities, converted in the past few decades, had little connection to her.

Although all were part of the Swarm, their work was often dispersed across reality and the network, with few overlaps in responsibilities with Sarah’s command structure.

This lack of familiarity bred some discontent among the younger Intelligent Entities toward their first Empress.

Morgan, aware of this dynamic, deliberately spoke up to remind everyone who was in charge. As the Swarm’s first Intelligent Entity, a prominent researcher, and a favorite of the Swarm Overlord, Morgan’s reputation among the scientific-minded Intelligent Entities far surpassed Sarah’s.

By lowering himself and declaring his allegiance to Sarah, Morgan set an example, ensuring the Entities fell in line and fully supported her.

No one dared defy the Overlord’s orders, as the Swarm Network’s safeguards would quash any rebellious ideas. Even without those restrictions, none would risk exile to the aphid pastures.

Sarah, having ascended from queen to empress and governed cautiously for decades, understood the subtleties of power dynamics. Grateful, she nodded slightly at her mentor before closing her eyes to focus.

Under her activation command, the Spore Capsule released the fungal carpet seeds, initiating their standard growth cycle.

Luo Wen, once overwhelmed by intellectual property theft, understood the importance of protective measures. As such, the fungal carpet seeds and Brood Queen eggs housed within the Swarm Meteors were equipped with advanced anti-theft protocols.

Without proper activation, they would remain inert, even in optimal conditions. Attempts to forcibly dismantle them would trigger self-destruct mechanisms, causing cells to disintegrate. This safeguard was designed to prevent advanced civilizations from capturing Swarm Meteors and tracing them back to Luo Wen.

Having just emerged from the “starter zone” of their home star system, the Swarm was cautious in navigating the unknowns of the broader universe. Such proactive defenses were Luo Wen’s forte.

The Meteor’s atmospheric entry generated intense frictional heat, igniting the surrounding forest. The high oxygen levels in the air further fueled the flames, which spread rapidly with the help of the wind and shockwave.

Fire spread quickly across the forest, carrying embers far and wide.

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