I Am The Swarm

The external environment continued to deteriorate, showing no signs of recovery in the short term. Most of the Air Force bases located atop mountain peaks had suffered devastating blows.

Under such atmospheric conditions, the Storm Gods were unable to sustain high-altitude flight. The pervasive heat and ash wreaked havoc on their respiratory systems, leading to heavy casualties.

Left with no choice, Luo Wen ordered them to fly at low altitudes and seek shelter in nearby underground bases. However, their massive bodies were never accounted for when the passageways were originally designed, making access impossible.

Luo Wen considered the situation for a moment but ultimately decided not to concern himself further. The foundation and logistics of the Swarm had improved significantly since his initial awakening. Even if all the Storm Gods perished, it wouldn’t take long to regenerate their ranks.

Near the testing grounds, which were closer to the impact site, falling fire and rock had ignited the forest. Experimental units produced by the Swarm were being directed by the Blades to evacuate collectively. Now that the Storm Gods were no longer available as transport, the survival rate of these units was uncertain.

As for the wild specimens, some had followed the Swarm’s experimental units in retreat, but many escaped amidst the chaos. Luo Wen couldn’t spare attention for them at the moment; if they ran, so be it.

The Brood Queens, Worker Ants, and Worker Drones—being situated outside the impact core zone—survived for the most part. Their long-term activity within underground bases shielded them from the first wave of shockwaves and meteorite showers. Currently, they were digging tunnels to extend the base deeper underground while relocating the Brood Queens to safety.

The Modified Spider Combat Bugs and airborne units also began migrating underground. However, with limited subterranean space and no digging capabilities of their own, they could only follow the Blades to locate caves for temporary shelter.

Days passed, yet the disaster outside showed no signs of abating. The skies remained dark, and both flora and fauna were crying out in anguish.

Since the Swarm took over the surface, the underground sections of newly established bases were relatively small, mainly designed to house Brood Queens and nurture larvae. Bases farther from the impact site could manage with new excavations, but those nearby failed to accommodate their populations in time. The fortunate ones found caves to hibernate in, while the less fortunate…

With fewer active bugs outside, Luo Wen’s control over certain areas of the continent weakened. Yet, considering that most lifeforms were barely clinging to existence, territorial control became irrelevant.

Ten days later, Luo Wen’s new body hatched. Transferring his consciousness into it, he took over the new form. This body measured only thirty centimeters in length, significantly smaller than before. Yet, it retained all its abilities. After a brief period of adjustment, Luo Wen found no abnormalities.

If he wished to restore his former size, he would only need to replenish energy and molt a few times. But he had no intention of doing so.

Too many unexpected events had occurred. Once believing himself the absolute ruler of the planet, the sudden calamity nearly claimed his life.

Now, he managed most of the Swarm’s affairs through the Swarm Network, transferring his consciousness to the bodies of bugs when necessary. Aside from lacking the Iphieash’s innate talents, these bugs were almost indistinguishable from his own body. There was no need for him to handle everything personally.

With his main body reduced in size, it became more agile. He could now fit into narrow crevices that were previously inaccessible. Luo Wen decided to separate his main body from the Brood Nest, hiding them to avoid being wiped out in one fell swoop.

Since his main body could reconstruct a Brood Nest, and the Brood Nest could produce his body, as long as either survived, he could regenerate, and the Swarm would endure.

Moreover, Luo Wen planned to delve deeper into this aspect. If the Brood Queens could also download his genetic database, wouldn’t that mean any surviving Brood Queen could create his body or a new Brood Nest?

Alternatively, he might find a way to produce more Brood Nests or backup bodies.

If any of these breakthroughs succeeded, his survival capability would be exponentially enhanced. With his consciousness existing in the network and his body infinitely reproducible, he would achieve true immortality.

The external disaster persisted. While Luo Wen wanted to separate from the Brood Nest as soon as possible, now wasn’t the right time. For the moment, he remained with the Brood Nest, instructing it and the two Brood Queens in the base to focus on producing Burrower Ants and Worker Ants.

These two units consumed less energy, and Burrower Ants excelled at digging tunnels, while Worker Ants could assist in digging, care for larvae, and tend to the Fungal Carpet. They were the most essential bugs in the current situation.

The experience of nearly being vaporized had left Luo Wen jittery, especially when confined to the same location as the Brood Nest.

Since relocation was out of the question, he ordered the tunnels to be dug deeper.

The Fungal Carpet, infused with diverse genetic traits, could thrive even without sunlight. Its robust roots penetrated hundreds of meters underground, extracting deeply buried nutrients. Additionally, it could break down rocks and minerals to absorb their nutrients, an extraordinarily resourceful process.

With the Fungal Carpet’s support, the number of Burrower Ants and Worker Ants in the underground base had reached ten billion within a short span. The two Brood Queens played a pivotal role, each capable of producing tens of millions of micro eggs daily.

Meanwhile, the Brood Nest appeared somewhat drained, possibly due to the strain of producing Luo Wen’s new body or its reduced size, shrinking from sixty centimeters to fifty.

Currently, the Brood Nest’s main task was producing Brood Queens. Compared to the Brood Queens, its ability to produce other units was negligible.

Under the relentless efforts of the Burrower Ants, the underground base had reached a depth of 500 meters. Though the environment was stifling and occasionally waterlogged, Luo Wen felt a shred of security.

While his consciousness could persist within the Swarm Network as long as bugs remained, the loss of his main body and Brood Nest would strip him of his innate talent, preventing him from adding new genes. This would effectively cap his potential.

With lofty ambitions of exploring the stars, losing his talent now would confine him to being a mere “planetary lord.” The vastness of outer space would become unattainable—a devastating blow.

Though the means of venturing into space were still unclear, Luo Wen believed time alone would eventually lead him to escape this planet as long as he retained his talent.

The asteroid impact had also brought into sharp focus his insignificance. His previous pride in conquering a planet had been shattered. In the grand scale of the universe, even a planet was a trivial entity, and being its “lord” was a perilous occupation.

If the Swarm continued to be confined to a single planet, it would be defenseless against cosmic hazards. Conversely, spreading the Swarm across the cosmos would make it nearly indestructible.

Such an expansion would also guarantee Luo Wen’s safety.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!