The nights in the Solitiam Forest are fraught with danger, contrasting with the relative safety of daytime. At four o’clock in the early morning, all the female soldiers participating in the mission had already assembled. Taking advantage of the dimly lit night, they hurried to the Lagona Harbor. A vast fleet of combat starships floated in the sky, resembling cold and relentless steel behemoths. Countless searchlights pierced through the darkness, illuminating the surging waves below.
On the shore stood rows of soldiers, organized in a neat formation. They were armed with live ammunition, wearing the highest level of protective goggles and helmets. Each one was an elite carefully selected by the military high command, ranging from at least A-grade to the highest S-grade. If they exerted their full effort, they could conquer a small planet within three days.
When Yusto and Lu Yuan descended from the aircraft, they saw General Saphir and Faeus standing in front of the port, using night vision binoculars to observe something. They were accompanied by a group of officers. The salty sea breeze blew directly into their faces, mixed with the deep cold of the night, making the hems of their clothes flutter and creating an atmosphere filled with a silent tension.
Lu Yuan calmly observed his surroundings and asked inquisitively, “Why is the gathering point a sea port?”
As Yusto led him towards the port, he explained in a low voice, “The end of the Lagona Harbor is close to the eastern side of the Solitiam Forest. We’ve surveyed it before, and there are comparatively fewer mutants in that direction. Starting from here is the shortest and safest route.”
Finishing his explanation, he pulled out a silver energy gun from his waist and handed it to Lu Yuan. “Carry this with you, just in case.”
Lu Yuan asked, “Do you have one?”
Yusto chuckled at the question, his eyes shining brightly in the night. He retorted, “Do you think the military females wouldn’t have guns, Your Excellency?”
Lu Yuan also felt that his question was somewhat unnecessary. He took the small and sleek energy gun, weighed it in his hand, and then slid it into the holster on his waist. He thought to himself, thankfully, he had been practicing shooting lately, so he wasn’t a complete novice when it came to firearms.
Yusto advised, “Don’t talk later, just follow behind me.”
Lu Yuan nodded. He saw General Saphir ahead, and if he spoke, there was a good chance he would be recognized.
Yusto led Lu Yuan through the darkness, taking careful steps. When General Saphir saw Yusto approaching, he couldn’t help but express some confusion, “Your Highness, where did you just go?”
Yusto didn’t elaborate much, asking instead, “How about it? When can the troops depart?”
General Saphir replied, “If nothing unexpected happens, we can depart in half an hour. The scouting team we sent out should be back soon.”
Not long after Yusto’s inquiry, as if in response to his words, a strange sound echoed from the distant dark night sky. A group of white figures appeared, unmistakably the Southern Zerg Clan that had been sent to scout the route.
Although the humanoid form of the Zerg Race after evolution looked somewhat similar, their original forms were actually quite different. The Southern Zerg Clan, born in the Yinchatait, had a pristine white appearance. Their wings were semi-transparent and iridescent, making them universally recognized as the gentlest and most beautiful among all races. While they weren’t adept at combat, their speed and sensory acuity were unmatched, making them primarily responsible for intelligence and reconnaissance missions in most situations.
Lu Yuan observed a group of female zergs in white military uniforms descending from the sky, landing silently. It was as if a flock of gracefully poised swans were settling down, their semi-transparent wings instantly folding behind them. Leading the group, a military female with light blue eyes exuding a moonlit gentleness caught his attention—it was none other than Blairand he had met at the previous banquet.
After landing, Blairand nodded slightly to Yusto and General Saphir, “Your Highness, General, I have completed the reconnaissance. There are no abnormalities to the east of the forest, and we are ready to depart at any time.”
Upon hearing this, Yusto glanced at the terminal on his wrist, realizing that the time was almost up. After getting General Saphir’s approval, he was about to give the order to depart. However, Faeus, standing nearby, had already taken the initiative to command his subordinates, “Gather them all on the starships and prepare for departure!”
Being known for their lack of formality in the North, as soon as Faeus gave the order, a loud rumbling sound echoed from the sky. The starships, one by one, changed direction, and long boarding ladders were thrown out from the hatches.
The female soldiers from the North quickly formed teams and boarded the starships. Yusto unconsciously furrowed his brow and, addressing Faeus sternly, said, “This is the military, not Hossburgh. His Majesty has instructed that all actions are to be directed by General Saphir. If you continue to disobey orders, feel free to withdraw from this mission!”
Faeus detested the posturing of these Western females. Upon hearing Yusto’s words, he directly tossed his binoculars to his subordinate and threw his military jacket aside. Standing on the shore, he stretched lazily, coldly smirking, “Yusto, if you truly follow orders, you shouldn’t have brought your subordinates here. In terms of rules, I can’t compare to you!”
As Faeus finished speaking, he paid no attention to Yusto’s slightly changed expression. Suddenly, a pair of pure black wings unfolded behind him, creating a gust of wind that stirred up sand and stones.
In an instant, Faeus leaped, soaring towards the starship hovering above. He moved so quickly that only afterimages could be seen, resembling a black eagle soaring through the sky, accompanied by a chilling aura of death.
Lu Yuan stood by the side, marveling at the spectacle. Although he knew that the Zerg Race had wings, this was the first time he had seen them spread their feathers. He wondered what Yusto’s wings looked like; it seemed he had never shown them to himself before.
After Lu Yuan’s initial surprise, he carefully pondered Faeus’ peculiar words. Subconsciously, he looked towards Yusto, his eyes shining with a clear question: Did he recognize me?
Yusto’s expression turned grim. It was evident that he didn’t understand how Faeus had identified him. The other party was openly mocking his disguise skills, and with a cold tone, Yusto uttered a single sentence, “Ignore him!”
After uttering those words, Yusto directly grabbed Lu Yuan’s waist. Behind him, a pair of silver wings suddenly unfurled. They were adorned with intricate patterns that shimmered in various colors with each flutter, creating a dazzling display in the dark night. The wings exuded an unparalleled nobility, their edges unusually sharp. It was not difficult to imagine that in battle, they could easily pierce through enemy armor and flesh—
These were the unique silver wings of a royal zerg.
Lu Yuan, still recovering from his shock, felt a sudden tightness around his waist, and a sensation of weightlessness overwhelmed him. In an instant, Yusto lifted him into the sky. The powerful air current made it impossible for him to open his eyes, and he instinctively clutched Yusto’s shoulders tightly, exclaiming, “Holy cow!!!”
Feeling like he could fall at any moment, Lu Yuan, in his urgency, almost swore, “Slow down!!”
Yusto noticed Lu Yuan staring at Faeus’ wings earlier, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous. Hearing Lu Yuan’s response, Yusto raised an eyebrow, saying, “The silver wings of a royal zerg are much more noble and beautiful compared to those from the North, don’t you think?”
Lu Yuan thought to himself, “Yes, yes, yes. Whatever you say is right.” In this situation, even if Yusto asked him if he was a turtle’s grandson, Lu Yuan would readily agree. He quickly urged, “Stop flying! Get back to the starship!”
Damn, his heart was about to give him a heart attack!
Hearing Lu Yuan’s reluctance to stay in the air, Yusto rolled his eyes, thinking that it seemed Lu Yuan didn’t enjoy being in the sky. Yusto flapped his wings, directly carrying Lu Yuan to the entrance of the main ship. After retracting his wings, they both entered. Inside, they found Faeus already seated in front of the semi-transparent observation window, legs carelessly resting on the tea table, his black military boots shining brightly.
Yusto, displeased with the scene, snorted, “Absolutely vulgar!”
Lu Yuan’s feet touched the ground, and he finally felt grounded. Finding a seat casually, he was about to calm down when he heard Yusto’s comment. Instinctively, he turned his head and looked at him, “Are you sure?”
Lu Yuan remembered the first time he saw Yusto; the level of arrogance was comparable to Faeus. Yusto also had a lack of proper sitting etiquette, resembling more of a troublemaker than an aristocrat.
Yusto, a double standard zerg, raised an eyebrow at Lu Yuan’s question, “Of course.”
After saying that, he walked to the refreshment area, grabbed a cup of hot water, and handed it to Lu Yuan. Then, he took a seat beside him, casually asking, “Are you afraid of heights?”
Lu Yuan’s drinking motion paused slightly at the question, and with a voice only the two of them could hear, he asked, “Wait, does that mean the male zergs here aren’t afraid of heights?”
So, he didn’t embarrass himself just now?
Yusto, sitting comfortably with his legs crossed, shrugged at the inquiry, “I only know that a very few male zergs like to collect the wings of females. As for anything else, I’m not sure.”
Taking a sip of warm water, Lu Yuan thought about wings being on the females; how could they be collected? Subconsciously, he asked, “How do they collect them?”
Yusto replied, “Of course, they cut them off and collect them.”
“Pfft—!”
Lu Yuan sprayed water out at the words, nearly choking. The perverse level of these male zergs seemed to be refreshing his worldview every day. “Cut? How do they cut them?!”
Yusto raised his hand in a knife-cutting gesture, smirking as he said, “Of course, they use a knife to cut. However, once a female has his wings cut, he can never return to the battlefield and can no longer fly.”
His tone sounded nonchalant, but there was a hidden mockery: “This kind of thing is not uncommon in the Yinchatait. Because their wings are universally recognized as the most beautiful, many males specifically choose Southern females as companions to collect their wings.”
Lu Yuan recalled Blairand, “Is Blairand also a Southern female?”
Yusto nodded and cautioned, “Don’t be fooled by Blairand’s always-smiling appearance. In fact, he detests it when someone praises his wings. Never bring up this matter in front of him.”
Lu Yuan silently noted this advice and casually remarked, “Their wings are indeed quite beautiful.”
However, in a society with extreme imbalance, sometimes beauty could become a kind of guilt.
As they were talking, a faint sound suddenly came from outside. It turned out that Blairand and General Saphir had also flown into the cabin. They closed the cabin door, shutting out the cold airflow, and found seats. Controlling the starship, they flew together with the fleet towards the Solitiam Forest.
Blairand saw Yusto and the unfamiliar silver-haired aide chatting and didn’t even notice him. He smiled and asked, “Your Highness, what are you chatting so happily about?”
Out of nowhere, Faeus spoke, “They are complimenting how beautiful your wings are.”
Blairand froze at the words.
Yusto: “…”
Lu Yuan: “…”
Faeus’ single sentence successfully plunged the atmosphere into silence, and he did it on purpose. Lu Yuan acted quickly to prevent Yusto from exploding and awkwardly explained to Blairand, “He misheard us. We were just discussing how beautiful the scenery is at night.”
Blairand smiled at the words and didn’t say much. Following Lu Yuan’s lead, he said in a gentle tone, “Indeed, the nighttime scenery is more suitable for appreciation, without the noise of the day.”
After his words, Blairand found a seat closer to Yusto, whispered, and reported, “Your Highness, besides the professors from the research institute, there are also several StarNet reporters accompanying us this time. When the troops move forward, we might need to allocate some forces to ensure their safety.”
Yusto, frowning unconsciously, responded, “We are going to eliminate the origin stones of contamination, not shooting a movie. Who allowed those fools to come in?!”
Just as Blairand was awkwardly deciding how to respond, General Saphir, who had been controlling the starship in the front, calmly spoke, “Yusto, I was the one who allowed them in.”
Yusto: “…”
Seeing his silence, General Saphir explained, “This is not only my decision but also His Majesty’s. The elimination of origin stones is of great significance. Regardless of success or failure, we should have an explanation to the people of Salaranfa when we return. The presence of reporters might not be a bad thing.”
Yusto…
What else could Yusto say? Awkwardly clearing his throat, he replied, “As you wish.”
He couldn’t exactly call His Majesty a fool.
Lu Yuan, bored and idle, had a notebook on his knees and was drawing some meandering curves with a pen. Recalling the topography to the south of the forest, he detailed it more than the map he initially gave to General Saphir. Seeing Yusto frequently sulking, he couldn’t help but smirk. However, he quickly restrained himself, but unfortunately, he was still noticed.
Yusto lightly kicked Lu Yuan’s leg from below, “No laughing.”
Lu Yuan pressed a finger to his lips, making a hushing gesture, and raised an eyebrow, “Yusto, I suggest you don’t talk right now. It’s better to sit quietly.”
The more said, the more mistakes.
While they were chatting quietly, General Saphir, for some reason, stared at Lu Yuan for a long time. Frowning, he asked Yusto, “Is this your aide? Why have I never seen him before?”
Lu Yuan’s body tensed at the words; he successfully avoided his teacher but not the general. If he was recognized by General Saphir, it would be disastrous.
Yusto, with wide-open eyes, told a white lie, “He is my aide, and you’ve seen him before.”
General Saphir remained silent, just staring at Lu Yuan for a few more seconds before slowly withdrawing his gaze, saying, “Perhaps, maybe I forgot.”
After saying that, General Saphir turned to look out of the observation window, continuing to steer the starship forward. It was unclear whether he believed Yusto’s explanation or not.
With still a few hours’ journey left to the Solitiam Forest, Blairand, finding some idle time, had been chatting with Yusto in low tones. Somehow, the conversation shifted to marriage: “When do you and His Excellency Lu Yuan plan to become partners?”
Yusto paused at the words, discreetly glanced at Lu Yuan, who was focused on drawing beside him, and then averted his gaze, saying, “I don’t know, maybe after he graduates.”
Hearing this, Lu Yuan’s pen paused, thinking that it might not necessarily wait until graduation. If he managed to return alive from the forest this time, he planned to go directly to the Zerg Emperor and request to marry Yusto.
There was always a faint smile on the lips of Blairand. “I heard that His Excellency Lu Yuan has excellent academic performance at the academy. After graduation, entering the military should also yield remarkable achievements. Perhaps you will work together in the future.”
General Saphir, hearing their conversation, spoke with a meaningful tone, “Blairand, it seems like your intelligence gathering abilities have declined recently. Don’t you know that His Excellency Lu Yuan has been on sick leave for almost half a month at the academy? Whether he can pass the assessment this year is a question mark.”
Upon hearing these words, Lu Yuan’s hand trembled, nearly causing his route map to skew. He instinctively raised his head, briefly suspecting that General Saphire might have recognized him, but it didn’t seem likely.
Smiling, Blairand remarked, “Achievements are actually the least important. As long as His Excellency is sincere and kind, that’s enough.”
Lounging in his chair, Faeus lazily adjusted his posture and added, “What matters is that they won’t pluck your wings, right?”
“…”
He always had the ability to create awkward silence when he spoke, leaving the other zergs unsure how to respond. Faeus, seemingly oblivious, continued to toy with his sidearm, and with a slight smirk, he remarked, “In Hossburgh, if any male dares to remove a female’s wings without permission, I’d just shoot him on the spot.”
For once, Yusto didn’t argue with him.
Blairand frowned slightly, asking, “Why?”
Faeus, with an indifferent expression, replied with a tone of pity, “If they envy the wings of females so much, I might as well send them to be reborn. In their next life, they can become a female zerg, and then they won’t have to envy us anymore.”
Yusto crossed his legs, lightly tapping his fingertips on his knee, remaining non-committal, “Death is the quickest way to release. If they want to collect the wings of females, they should exchange them with something equivalent on their own bodies.”
Faeus chuckled, “Equivalent? Are they going to offer their lower halves? Even that wouldn’t be enough for a dog to raise an interest.”
Although a human, Lu Yuan found himself sensing a wave of malice in the conversation among these military females, leaving him with an unsettling feeling. He adjusted his sitting position discreetly, thinking that perhaps someone with a gentler demeanor, like Blairand, would have been a better choice. Why did he end up choosing Yusto, who seemed so fierce?
Fate and destiny are truly mysterious.
Perhaps sensing Lu Yuan’s uneasiness, Yusto, with a knowing smile, lightly nudged his lower leg with the military boot under the seat. He glanced at him, asking with a meaningful tone, “Are you scared?”
Lu Yuan remained silent, moving his lips without producing any sound.
Lu Yuan always felt like he had entered a wolf’s den. Skillfully avoiding Yusto’s subtle nudge, he replied without changing his expression, “Hmm, scared.”
Terrified, he wished he could teleport back to Earth right now.
Unnoticed by the others, Yusto leaned in close to Lu Yuan’s ear, lightly tapping a certain spot. He smirked and whispered, “Your ‘two ounces of meat’ is different from those male zergs’ ‘two ounces of meat’. How could I bear to throw it away to feed dogs?”
If the circumstances were different, he would probably lean in to give Lu Yuan a kiss – a kiss for this male zerg he had come to love deeply.
As Blairand had said, Lu Yuan was sincere enough, kind enough, and these qualities could change everything. Unlike Faeus, Yusto was no longer so cynical. He had even started looking forward to the future, anticipating a partnership with the male zerg he liked.
Yusto grabbed the pen in Lu Yuan’s hand and gently wrote an ancient zerg script on the paper:
“We shall repay harm with death,
We shall repay love with love,
At the beginning of the world, everything needs balance; this is the teaching of the Zerg God.”
The text was too ancient, and Lu Yuan couldn’t recognize it at all. He instinctively looked at Yusto and asked in confusion, “What does it say?”
Yusto, however, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and didn’t answer, “In any case, it’s praising you.”
Lu Yuan wondered, does Yusto actually praise himself? Why does this sound so strange?
Author’s note:
Lu Yuan: (／ω＼) It’s… it’s strangely embarrassing~
![He Lived Like You [End of the World]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/HLLY.jpg "He Lived Like You [End of the World]")
