Chapter 19: Perish, Insect!

The spaceship quickly pulled away from the docking bay, heading out into deep space.

Xurui pressed against the window, gazing down at the view below.

Around Silverfrost Star swirled a faint, silver translucent nebula, and near the equator, a ring of shimmering silver-white light encircled the planet.

Only after the ship had passed beyond this ribbon-like halo did Xurui withdraw her gaze, turning silently toward the box.

Sana emerged from the laboratory compartment, holding a syringe.

As she walked, she said, “Silvan, contact the others and tell them we’ve secured at least one human with an S-level gene.”

After Silvan nodded in agreement, Sana smiled warmly at Xurui. “Come, I’m going to take a bit of your blood. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt.”

Xurui slammed the box onto the table, her delicate fingers brushing over the fingerprint lock.

In the plaza, everyone held their breath, watching intently.

Even Jiang Chen and Bu Xingye, standing on the podium, were fully focused.

What was Xurui planning?

Did she intend to confront the two insectoid creatures alone, out here in space?

Wasn’t she supposed to submit quietly to adoption, resigning herself to becoming the insectoid’s research subject?

Such recklessness could easily cause the ship to crash—and she wouldn’t survive!

Sana, completely unguarded, asked curiously, “What are you doing?”

Xurui pressed her finger against the fingerprint lock; the red unlocking light flickered on.

Without hesitation, she opened the box.

The instant it opened, she swiftly crouched beneath the table.

A dark red mist rapidly spread throughout the cabin.

“Cough, cough… crackle, crackle…”

The thick fog obscured vision, but everyone could hear through the screens the human coughs slowly transforming into the distinctive clicking sounds produced by insectoid organs.

“This is an infection agent? Damn it! You’ve already developed it!”

“Ah! It hurts so much! Silvan, kill her! I just want her dead now!”

Xurui pressed one hand to her eye, and in the blink of an eye, her pupils turned a deep crimson.

Her vision displayed dark patches like night-vision goggles, clearly marking the positions and movements of the two insectoid creatures.

Under the influence of the infection agent, their bodies hunched, and their wings trembled uncontrollably and rapidly.

Seizing the moment, Xurui drew a handgun she had prepared in advance, aiming and firing at them.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The bullets struck their hard exoskeletons but ricocheted off, hitting the cabin walls.

Immediately, piercing alarm sirens blared.

One bullet, hitting an unknown target, caused the cabin lights to go out, replaced by flashing red emergency lights.

Sana screamed in frustration, “Conventional weapons don’t work on us! If you come out and apologize now, we might spare your life!”

Seeing the bullets ineffective, Xurui’s face drained of color.

But she quickly regained composure and charged fiercely toward the nearest Sana.

Her dagger thrust forcefully into the insectoid’s right foreleg at the knee joint.

Clang!

As the sound of the dagger breaking echoed, everyone in the plaza felt their breath catch.

This was bad!

The dagger was useless too!

Despair and fear flickered in Xurui’s eyes, but she reacted swiftly.

As the insectoid’s pincers—like those of a cockroach—attacked, she rolled aside like a nimble monkey, dodging behind a crate.

“Good!” Tang Feng’s eyes gleamed with excitement, unable to contain his admiration.

“That reaction speed, that explosive power—after two setbacks, she still quickly steadied her nerves, refusing to be overwhelmed by failure. She’s a warrior! The most elite kind!”

Jiang Chen merely frowned but offered no rebuttal to such high praise.

Even he had to admit that at seven years old, he could never have done such a thing.

Soon, Silvan emerged from the cockpit.

Shorter than Sana but equally fierce and terrifying, it locked precisely onto Xurui’s hiding spot.

In a flash, a dark shadow darted forward; its sharp pincers struck like a venomous snake.

Xurui rolled again, but this time ran directly into Sana’s attack.

Her body twisted in an almost impossible contortion to dodge, then she sprinted toward the cockpit.

Before the two insectoids could react, she slammed the cockpit door shut, leaving them to relentlessly assault the metal barrier.

Xurui’s delicate, round face was etched with terror.

She stared in horror at the metal door, retreating step by step, her legs trembling uncontrollably.

“What should I do? The weapons don’t work…”

It was her first time facing such monsters; every attack had failed, even the infection agent’s effect was minimal.

Bang!

The metal door buckled inward under the tremendous force.

Xurui exhaled a ragged breath, trying to calm herself, then turned to look at the cockpit control panel.

There was only one path left.

Ahead lay a gray planet—a dead world.

In mere seconds, Xurui made her decision and clumsily began manipulating the controls.

She engaged the ship’s autopilot, directing all power to propel the craft straight toward the planet.

The ship plunged rapidly downward, alarms blaring sharply within the cabin, mingled with the thunderous impacts outside and the furious curses of the Bailey couple.

Xurui’s face tightened as she sent a signal.

“I am Xurui of the Celestial Spirit Royal Lineage. On July 5th, 3056, in the T5 star system on Silverfrost Star, I discovered a pair of insectoids disguised as humans named Silvan and Sana.”

“Their mimicry is perfect; their behavior indistinguishable from humans. Instruments cannot detect them. Only I and a Nilsian named Augustus can see through their disguise—reason unknown.”

“I have taken them off Silverfrost Star. Our ship is descending toward another planet. Coordinates as follows.”

Boom!

The ship plummeted, revealing the dark yellow mountain ranges below.

The vessel shook violently, metal walls groaning under strain, emitting harsh creaking sounds as if being torn apart.

Outside the cockpit, silence fell—presumably, the couple had realized all hope was lost.

Thud!

With no chance for maneuvering, the ship crashed onto the rocky surface.

Instantly, it exploded and disintegrated, debris flying hundreds of meters forward.

Another fierce blast sent the insectoid couple’s cabin smashing into a massive reef, engulfed in flames.

Meanwhile, Xurui’s cockpit broke apart, crashing onto a vast plain.

Silence blanketed the scene.

So brave and fearless was Xurui, choosing to perish alongside the insectoids.

No matter what terrible acts she committed afterward, at this moment, she was worthy of admiration and respect.

The voice of the Commander, aged and heavy with sighs, sounded.

“She made her choice: to destroy the insectoids and herself. She is a warrior worthy of respect.”

The Commander bowed slightly, granting her the highest honor.