Chapter 1596: The Truth
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RUMBLE!
The ground quaked as an immense, armored Ox Zodiacron stepped forward, his authoritative voice resounding through the corridor. His left arm, a grotesque fusion of pulsating red and purple flesh and insectoid exoskeleton, writhed as if parasitizing his body. "There’s an important meeting occurring right now between one of the Queen’s Daughters and our guest, so don’t disturb them, you hear me? Or there will be consequences."
His black horns, one half-broken, loomed as he exuded a powerful Aura of Authority, silencing the Corrupted Zodiacrons and Hive Members, who nodded in quiet compliance.
"Looks like that guy is really important, huh?" Partner whispered.
"It seems he can even command the aliens..." Quick Hare murmured.
"Hm..." Vyperion studied the Ox. "I think I recognize that man... He... he’s General Oxetron? He fell in battle years ago, among the strongest Ox Zodiacrons... To think he became a Corrupted Zodiacron instead."
"We can deal with him later. Let’s peek at what’s happening inside," Maria said. "I’m sure it’s important."
"But how? There’s about thirty meters of thick walls in front of us..." Quick Hare protested.
"Oh, my sweet summer child, you truly don’t know what Magic can do," Maria said with a smile, waving her hand and touching the walls. Her Illusion Magic manifested, rendering the walls invisible only to her and those connected through her Aura.
They peered into the enormous meeting hall, their attention drawn immediately to a tall, slender alien. Unlike the insect-like Hive Members, she appeared almost entirely humanoid, with long legs, elongated arms, and sharp-clawed fingers. Her face, adorned with exoskeleton plates and large insect eyes above smaller, human-like ones, fixed a piercing gaze on the Zodiacron before her. Her metallic purple exoskeleton gleamed, distinct from the others, with only her large abdomen and expansive wings betraying her insectoid nature.
"What you’ve brought is insufficient. My Mother hungers for more. She is undergoing evolution and requires vast amounts of sustenance for her ascension. The battle where we intended to procure food failed. I thought you controlled your herds. What is the meaning of this?"
As she spoke, a massive mechanical figure emerged from the shadows, glancing around the hall before addressing the Queen’s Daughter, who towered over him by several meters.
"I’ve already addressed that issue, so you need not worry. Inform your mother that another battle will soon provide ample harvest. An interference disrupted the status quo, but I assure you it won’t happen again."
His voice and appearance were unmistakable.
Quick Hare and Vyperion’s eyes widened, the truth dawning on them.
Maria, too, was stunned. She hadn’t expected to encounter him so soon.
"I hope so, Drakogon. The authority and strength you’ve gained are solely due to my Mother. You must obey her commands. The only reason you’ve been spared and granted such privileges is because it’s more convenient for us to have someone cultivate our food to a suitable size and age before consumption."
"Yes, I understand. I won’t allow anyone to interfere, and I’ll eliminate them as I did the others. I trust your children enjoyed them. They seemed quite ’tasty,’ especially the small ones, those little, annoying vermin."
"Hmph, at least you remain as ruthless as ever. You may go now. Mother hungers. Procure food within a week."
"I will."
A black and purple portal opened, and he stepped through it, returning to the resplendent golden palace where he sat upon a throne.
A throne built on lies.
Maria was astonished, especially after witnessing Drakogon wield the power of Gate Creation, a capability she knew Divine Thrones could possess to teleport across the world.
This revelation implied several truths. Not only was Drakogon collaborating with the Hive Queen, but he had likely orchestrated a conspiracy with her aid to overthrow the previous leaders and seize control of the Zodiacrons.
Furthermore, his mastery of Gates was remarkably efficient, suggesting this place was indeed born from a Gate assimilating into the world.
It remained unclear whether the Gates preceded his rule or emerged afterward, but he now held the power to summon and control them.
Maria also realized that if the Hive Queen was this world’s calamity, then Calamities could originate from Gates, not solely from creation.
"..."
"Quick Hare?"
Maria noticed Quick Hare’s expression shift. Her hopeful eyes dimmed into bleak disappointment, her mouth trembling slightly, her eyebrows twitching.
"Hey, are you okay? See what I told you earlier? He’s—"
"How could he..."
"...?"
"He betrayed us... he... he was everything I ever strived to be... I held hope until now... I was so stupid... so stupid..."
"Quick... Quick Hare?"
She looked at Maria, her eyes devoid of light.
"Traitor of our kind... he’s a traitor, Maria! He... did he...! What did they do to the ancient rulers?! Was everything... a lie?! All of it?"
"C-Calm down, Quick Hare!"
Vyperion handled it better, grasping Quick Hare’s shoulders to steady her, but the Rabbit Zodiacron was unraveling.
"It was all a lie! A lie! A lie!"
She seemed on the verge of madness, clutching her head as black oil began streaming from her eyes.
"..."
Then she fell silent.
Her scream had echoed through the corridor, alerting the guards, who turned toward the shadows, sensing a presence.
"Do you think they heard us?" Vyperion sighed. "I’m so sorry... I... I’m also shocked, honestly... so much to process..."
"I know how it feels," Maria said. "To have your entire world collapse, to learn your reality was built on lies by some bastard playing god."
"..." Quick Hare glanced at Maria.
"Quick Hare, what do you want to do?" Maria asked.
"Who’s there?!"
The voice of a Corrupted Zodiacron rang out as footsteps drew closer.
"I want to kill him."
"Huh? Wait, what?"
Maria was taken aback. Quick Hare’s expression shifted, her pink eyes turning crimson.
"Y-You want to kill him? Well, okay? I mean—"
"Drakogon will pay. I will make him suffer for what he did to us all."
"Calm down, Quick Hare, what are you talking about— Ugh?!"
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