I Am The Swarm

Two leisurely months passed, and the insect hive underwent a dramatic transformation.

Above the hive, a decoy transit station had been established. Four spacious tunnels now connected it to the surrounding four ant nests. Worker Ants scurried back and forth through these tunnels, transporting food from the ant nests to the transit station.

Each evening, the tunnels between the transit station and the hive were reopened, allowing the food to be transferred into the hive.

Above the transit station, the soil excavated during the digging of the hive and tunnels had been piled into a tall mound. This mound not only prevented rainwater from flooding the tunnels but also concealed large, unprocessed food stores, including the corpses of numerous sentry Worker Ants.

Thanks to the steady influx of resources from the four ant nests, the hive thrived. The number of adult insects exceeded a thousand, and there were over two thousand eggs, pupae, and larvae.

These newly bred insects were not ordinary ants. Their genes had undergone significant upgrades, transforming them into hybrids that retained the appearance and behavior of ants but were composed of traits from multiple insect species.

When the temporary hive was first established, Luo Wen had instructed the Brood Nest to produce over 200 Burrower Ant eggs, incorporating soil-eating genes to ensure their survival in the harsh early conditions.

Burrower Ants were not only capable of performing all the functions of regular Worker Ants but also excelled at excavation. The four connecting tunnels, spanning over a thousand meters in total, were a testament to the capabilities of these new ants.

With the tunnels completed and a stable food supply secured, Luo Wen shifted focus to breeding Worker Ants equipped with formic acid spraying abilities. These ants had poor close-combat skills but excelled in food transport and long-range combat support.

The next step involved developing new Soldier Ants. Using the standard Soldier Ant template, Luo Wen integrated various gene fragments. These upgrades resulted in visible differences in their weaponry: some bore the hook-shaped mandibles of Yellow Earth Ants, others had enlarged mandibles resembling those of Black Ants, and a few were equipped with massive jaws akin to those of Black Beetles.

In addition to enhanced weaponry, the new Soldier Ants inherited the robustness of Black Beetles, combined with their original Soldier Ant traits. As a result, their mature forms were significantly larger and more powerful than standard Soldier Ants.

There were also a few specialized breeds. Among them were Scout Bugs, equipped with exceptional vision capable of seeing over twenty meters. However, their limited intelligence hindered their ability to report findings effectively, necessitating further upgrades.

Another innovation was the Spy Bug. With the four ant nests spread out, Luo Wen couldn’t personally infiltrate them and transport food daily. Thus, he developed this species, capable of altering their pheromones to blend in.

Unfortunately, their limited intelligence initially resulted in poor performance. However, after a month of meticulous training under Luo Wen’s guidance, the Spy Bugs eventually learned to complete their tasks independently. Despite occasional shortcomings, they became responsible for stealing food from the ant nests—a decision Luo Wen made with careful consideration.

The Spy Bugs had decent safety measures. Black Ants couldn’t detect their disguises and, at most, noticed the traces they left behind in the stolen tunnels.

Even if the theft was discovered, Luo Wen wasn’t worried. The hive had grown considerably in strength. Although the ant nests outnumbered the hive several times over, Luo Wen was confident in his ability to defeat them if necessary.

If not for the efficiency of the Worker Ants, some of the nearby ant nests might have already been eliminated.

Just a few days ago, the southeastern ant nest discovered one of the stolen tunnels. Several scout Worker Ants infiltrated it, followed by a significant military force.

The hive responded immediately. The transport team Worker Ants, doubling as scouts, marked the retreat path with pheromones as they slowly withdrew from the tunnel.

Soon, the hive’s Soldier Ant Corps entered the tunnel, and the transport Worker Ants stopped retreating, falling in behind the soldiers as they advanced toward the battlefield.

When the two forces met, there was no preamble—they clashed instantly.

The Soldier Ants blocked the tunnel while Worker Ants launched surprise attacks, biting antennae and pulling at limbs. However, the hive’s side had a trump card: a ranged attack formation. Several rounds of formic acid sprays devastated the enemy Worker Ants, inflicting heavy casualties. Even the more durable Soldier Ants suffered burns to their eyes and antennae.

The hive’s insects, having been modified with acid-resistant genes, were unaffected by the sprays. Aside from gaining a glossy sheen on their carapaces, they sustained no damage.

Without the support of their Worker Ants, the ant nest’s soldiers couldn’t withstand the hive’s fully intact army. The hive’s Worker Ants swarmed them, immobilizing their limbs and leaving them vulnerable to the Giant Mandible Soldier Ants, who swiftly decapitated them.

Led by the Soldier Ants, the hive forces broke through the enemy ranks. Some Worker Ants followed closely, while others lagged behind to finish off injured foes.

The assault reached the enemy’s incubation chamber. Only Luo Wen’s intervention prevented the hive from completely annihilating the nest. As the losing side, the ant nest had no choice but to accept defeat quietly.

Post-battle reports revealed that the hive had lost nine Soldier Ants and several dozen Worker Ants, while the enemy nest suffered devastating losses: 71 Soldier Ants and nearly a thousand Worker Ants, leaving it crippled.

The hive, despite its losses, gained a substantial haul of ant corpses—a valuable protein-rich resource. Most of these war spoils were stored in the mound above the transit station.

However, food supplies from the defeated nest sharply declined afterward. This prompted Luo Wen to reflect deeply. Why resort to such hostility? Couldn’t disputes be resolved peacefully? Even if conflict was unavoidable, couldn’t it have been less severe? Though leading the swarm’s charge had been exhilarating, crippling the ant nest ultimately hindered the hive’s growth.

In a gesture of goodwill, Luo Wen temporarily closed the stolen tunnel to allow the nest time to recover. Fortunately, its eggs remained unharmed. Luo Wen hoped that with this “recovery policy,” the nest would soon resume its role as a resource provider and perform even better.

Luo Wen didn’t participate directly in the battle, as his significantly larger size rendered him unsuitable for the tunnels. His involvement would have blocked pathways and hindered the effectiveness of the swarm.

Reflecting on the war, Luo Wen noticed a marked increase in the intelligence of this new generation of insects. Previously, they behaved like simple machines, requiring constant instructions. Now, they displayed traits akin to rudimentary AI, capable of performing complex tasks and even learning.

What caused this change? Luo Wen speculated it might be the hive’s continuous growth or the interaction of diverse gene fragments. This was merely a hypothesis, requiring further observation and experimentation.

Regardless of the cause, Luo Wen regarded this development as a promising sign.

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