I Am The Swarm

The spread of the Fungal Carpet caused severe disruption to native ecosystems. If it expanded beyond the forest into the vast grasslands, the once-green expanse would soon turn purplish-gray. Most plants would vanish, harvested as nutrients for storage.

Under such circumstances, even without the Swarm actively targeting the native creatures, they would inevitably be displaced, just as the forest’s ecosystem had been. With the Fungal Carpet’s continued expansion, their habitat would shrink until extinction became a certainty—an outcome Luo Wen wished to avoid.

Under the directive of the Swarm Overlord, the Swarm halted its aggressive territorial expansion, redirecting its focus to stockpiling resources.

Instead of pressing into the grasslands, the Fungal Carpet began to extend toward the ocean floor along the coastlines.

Meanwhile, to provide Sarah Kerrigan with combat experience, the Swarm organized skirmishes targeting carnivorous species.

The encounter with the predatory bats on Great Dawn Planet had revealed a critical weakness: the bats’ capabilities effectively countered the Spider Combat Bugs’ optical stealth.

Reflecting on potential future opponents—possibly spacefaring civilizations with access to similar bionic technologies—it became evident that assassin units might face limited utility. Confrontations would likely rely on direct engagements.

The current Brood Queen’s production rate was painfully slow, particularly given its underdeveloped state. It took Sarah a full year to assemble a usable force.

The new combat unit was based on a medium predator from the dinosaur era, considered an ancestor of both wolves and dogs.

These creatures resembled ferocious giant wolves, measuring over two meters in length and standing more than a meter tall at the shoulder. Surviving among dinosaurs required at least one exceptional trait.

Their endurance was remarkable, allowing them to sustain speeds of 60 kilometers per hour for over 30 minutes. If not for their inefficient cooling systems, they could have run for hours.

On top of this template, Luo Wen integrated feline genetics, granting them explosive power. They could sprint at up to 90 kilometers per hour over short distances. The feline genes also enhanced their agility and jumping ability. Their forelimb claws became sharp and curved like a cat’s, complementing the canine jaw structure, making their strikes and bites highly lethal.

However, their hind limb structure—more canine than feline—rendered them poor climbers. Fortunately, the open grasslands suited their capabilities perfectly.

Their sensory abilities were exceptional. They possessed keen dynamic vision and heightened reflexes from feline genes, allowing them to anticipate enemy moves. Their olfactory cells numbered over 200 million, granting them the ability to detect tens of thousands of distinct scents, while their auditory faculties combined the strengths of both canine and feline biology. Though not as refined as echolocation, their hearing enabled precise sound discrimination in complex environments.

Named Terror Wolves, these units were built almost entirely from biological tissue. Designed to adapt to diverse alien environments, they featured sealed internal systems with self-contained ecological circulation.

While cost-efficient due to their lack of advanced technology, their large size necessitated massive initial eggs, resulting in slow production rates. After much effort, Sarah finally amassed a force of 10,000.

With her forces ready, Sarah used reconnaissance from high-altitude Storm Gods and low-altitude Flying Bugs to identify a target.

The chosen target was a pack of over 5,000 Feral Direwolves, one of the strongest predator clans on the grassland. Occupying hunting grounds spanning millions of hectares, they thrived largely due to the abundance of Bull Demons—a vital food source.

The Terror Wolves, numbering in the thousands, raced across the grasslands. Though concealed by the tall grass, the thunderous pounding of their paws echoed from all directions, striking fear into the hearts of nearby creatures, which quickly fled.

One Great Dawn Giant Lizard, unwilling to back down, blocked their path.

At over 20 meters long, the Giant Lizard posed a formidable challenge for the Terror Wolves. Their claws and teeth struggled to penetrate its robust defense, while its casual tail swings and head shakes inflicted significant casualties.

Eventually, sheer numbers overwhelmed the lizard, which was torn apart—but at the cost of over 100 Terror Wolves.

While the losses were significant, the 10,000 Terror Wolves were primarily intended as Sarah’s practice units, expendable if necessary.

This campaign did not escape Luo Wen’s attention.

Future wars would not be confined to space. Planetary invasions and suppression of resistance would require extensive ground forces.

Alongside assassin units like Spider Combat Bugs, the Swarm needed robust combat units capable of direct confrontation. Practical engagements provided critical data to refine these units and identify weaknesses.

The battle with the Giant Lizard highlighted a glaring issue: insufficient attack power. Facing heavily armored foes—or potential future enemies like large mechanical units—relying solely on teeth and claws would be ineffective. Luo Wen contemplated equipping main combat units with cutting or piercing weapons to address this shortfall.

The Terror Wolf army continued its advance, eventually encountering the Direwolf pack. Despite their shared lupine names, the two species were unrelated.

There were no pre-battle taunts. Both sides charged headlong into a brutal melee.

The spectacle bored Luo Wen.

While smaller than the Direwolves, the Terror Wolves, with their hybrid genetic advantages, excelled against enemies only slightly larger than themselves. The two sides clashed with ferocity—pouncing, biting, and tearing at each other. Blood and flesh flew as casualties mounted rapidly.

However, this exercise was intended to train coordinated tactics. When the battle reached a stalemate, Sarah called for air support.

Over a hundred Storm Gods arrived overhead, releasing thousands of Flying Kamikaze Bugs.

Originally designed as air-to-air bio-missiles for exterminating pterosaurs, these units had been repurposed for ground targets. Recent technological upgrades significantly improved their accuracy.

With a series of piercing whistles, the Kamikaze Bugs struck, wiping out half of the Direwolf pack in moments. Primitive creatures like these had no defense against such coordinated air-ground assaults.

Massive casualties among their kin had not deterred the Direwolves—death was commonplace on the grasslands. But the screeching whistle of the missiles instilled sheer terror. Driven by fear, they scattered, turning a pitched battle into a chaotic pursuit.

Agonized howls echoed across the plains.

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