Book 10: Chapter 14: The Gigius Insectoid

Qin Lun’s words gave everyone a sudden clarity, like clouds parting. Since entering this world, they had all felt restrained, but due to the short time, hadn’t pinpointed the real reason.

Observing the Apostles’ expressions, Qin Lun smiled faintly. These people were clever; even without his reminder, they would likely have figured it out in another day or two. But that would have been a bit late.

Star Void had given them fifty days this time, but in this vast universe measured in light-years, that wasn’t much at all. Just take the Guidance Mission they’d received: it would take over ten days at minimum.

The reason Robin and the others had initially stuck strictly to the Gith’s arrangements was partly because of this Guidance Mission. The mission content was odd: simply requiring the Apostle team to help the Faith establish a forward base at the edge of the Scorpius Galaxy.

Of course, this forward base wasn’t chosen randomly. It was related to the Jannamer the Faith was preparing to engage. Whether they intended to kill this Jannamer or take the chance to reclaim the Gith Star System, the Faith needed a suitable staging area.

Most of the Apostles in Qin Lun’s Patroller Team had been through many Quest Worlds and had a basic grasp of Guidance Mission patterns. Star Void’s purpose for issuing them was usually to involve Apostles in a Main Plotline, preventing them from getting bogged down in other complicated Side Plots of the Quest World.

However, the Gospel World was somewhat different. First, this Quest World lacked the so-called Historical Plot. Everything about to happen was unknown, especially with Apostle interference, making Star Void’s calculations prone to errors.

Secondly, this Guidance Mission felt redundant. Because even without this mission, the Faith and the Gith were playing the leading role in confronting the Jannamer. Following their own plans, they needed to establish a forward base, Apostle involvement or not.

Regarding this strange Guidance Mission, Robin and Qin Lun had discussed it. Lacking intelligence, they could only tentatively conclude that the unknown planet Captain Marx had designated as the base might hold clues, and the Main Quest would likely trigger only once they got there.

“Captain Robin, everyone, Captain Marx requests your presence at the Bio-Research Institute!” While the Apostles were deep in discussion, Fuyutsuki, the highest-ranked among the beautiful Gith officers, arrived at their lounge and relayed the Faith captain’s order.

“Fuyutsuki, were those spider-like space creatures repelled?” Robin asked curiously as she followed Fuyutsuki.

“They were all destroyed. But… the situation is a bit unusual. Captain Marx will explain himself,” Fuyutsuki replied, her expression grave. The perceptive Robin frowned, sensing something, and pressed no further.

Taking the maglev train, Qin Lun and the others returned to the Bio-Research Institute. Though this was where the Apostles had first arrived, they hadn’t explored it properly. This time, guided by Fuyutsuki through the institute’s labs, they were truly amazed.

The upper and middle levels of the Bio-Research Institute served as a hospital; only the lower levels were dedicated to bio-research. As Qin Lun’s group entered the various lab floors, they encountered all manner of bizarre space creatures, most enormous in size, with a few juvenile specimens.

According to Fuyutsuki, this wasn’t because the Faith couldn’t capture mature specimens; it was because mature creatures were too large to bring aboard.

In the institute’s deepest level, the high-security research area, they finally saw Gith Angel Clones besides their own.

Gith biotechnology was incredibly advanced. These clones weren’t kept in the Amniotic Tanks Qin Lun was familiar with. Instead, they floated suspended in air, surrounded by shimmering clouds of particles that sparkled like colored sand.

Fuyutsuki explained that this mesmerizing, luminous “sand” was a mineral mined from planetary cores, a catalyst for the Gith Angel Clones. It allowed them to grow to maturity within just a few days.

This Stardust was very rare, however, not all planets produced it. Aside from research samples, the Faith didn’t keep Angel Clones on standby.

Although the Apostles had seen many non-humanoid intelligent species back in Devil’s Horn, none were as wondrous as space life. Many space creatures had physiological structures differing from planetary life; some lacked distinct internal organs or limbs. A common trait among most space creatures was their ability to perform direct photosynthesis.

The Gith classified space creatures that relied primarily on photosynthesis as the Non-Harmful Space Collective. Those that sustained themselves by consuming other Life Energy were categorized by destructive potential into seven levels of Predatory Classification.

Earth humans, Gith humans, and other humanoids from life-bearing planets essentially also fell into the Predatory Classification.

However, because such humans posed relatively low predatory danger to other space life, their advancing technology naturally led them, facing dwindling planetary resources, to pursue sustainable resources upon entering the space age. Hence, their predatory level was low, never exceeding level three.

Creatures like the Jannamer the Gith were facing now were completely different, however. Born in the vacuum of space, the Jannamer’s lifeform was entirely unlike humans. They instinctively plundered other Life Energy as nourishment, making them a naturally occurring Predatory Classification of the highest level, level seven.

“Are all beings born in the vacuum of space predatory beings that live by taking Life Energy?” Bobby, the youngest Apostle, couldn’t help but ask Fuyutsuki after hearing this.

Actually, according to Fuyutsuki’s description, the Wind Element people shared similarities with the Jannamer, except their birthplace was the intense atmosphere of the high winds, rich in Wind Element, rather than space.

“Not necessarily,” Fuyutsuki replied with a wry smile. “Some space creatures don’t feed on Life Energy; they consume the core energy of planets directly. While they don’t eat beings, if a planet loses its light and heat – which humans rely on – how is that different from extinction?”

“Shouldn’t large space creatures like that have some human-like intelligence? Can’t we communicate with them? With countless planets in space, they could be directed away from life-bearing stars!” Sawa interjected.

“Hmm, since entering our second space age, we Gith have tried exactly that. But all attempts failed,” Fuyutsuki frowned, recalling texts she’d read. “The mentality of space creatures is completely different from us humans born on planetary surfaces.” She sighed. “Historical records tell that during the early second space age, a Gith interstellar exploration vessel encountered a communicable space creature.

“At the time, they were swallowed by a nebula spanning thousands of light-years in diameter in an unfamiliar region. Those Gith scientists were surely doomed, but one discovered that the nebula constantly emitted radiation at a fixed frequency.

“They managed to resonate with this radiation and realized the nebula itself was a space-born intelligent lifeform named Star-Score. They were incredibly lucky; Star-Score was among the gentlest of space lifeforms. After some communication, it released them.

“While inside Star-Score, the Gith scientists discussed many topics, including space creatures devouring planets and planetary life. According to Star-Score, it didn’t consider predatory space creatures inherently evil.

“Upon being born in space, a creature gains an instinct etched deep into its consciousness. Unlike planetary life whose instincts are about survival and spreading civilization, the instinct of space creatures is to maintain the balance of the very cosmos they inhabit.”

Hearing Fuyutsuki’s explanation, most Apostles had a vague suspicion. Just like with life-bearing planets: as human civilization develops, most planets don’t improve; they age faster, becoming scarred and desolate.

Humans leaving their birth planet is partly because that planet is dying faster. The spread of human civilization inevitably signifies the exhaustion of star fields and galactic resources.

To give a very tangible example: the Stardust the Gith used to cultivate the Angel Clones was mined from planetary cores. Everyone knew, even without Fuyutsuki spelling it out, what would happen to those planets after their Stardust cores were taken.

“Do you understand now?” Fuyutsuki’s face showed rare melancholy. “From Star-Score’s perspective, the pests of the universe aren’t the Jannamer; it’s us humans. Once planetary life within a star region enters its second space age and begins exploiting galactic resources excessively, accelerating the region’s decay, creatures like the Jannamer will be drawn to it.”

“Don’t dwell on it too much,” Robin said, patting Fuyutsuki on the shoulder with a smile. “The universe gave humans the right to exist, so we have a reason to be here. The Jannamer aren’t so much maintaining cosmic balance as they are part of the natural chain. Our war against the Jannamer isn’t about good versus evil. It’s two living forms fighting for the right to survive.”

“Robin, you really think so too?” Fuyutsuki’s eyes brightened happily; Robin’s words had deeply resonated with the beautiful Lieutenant Commander.

…

“Everyone, you’re here!” Upon entering a vast hall, they saw Captain Marx standing on an observation deck.

The Faith’s Captain had met them briefly a few times before, but this major figure leading the great vessel was always immensely busy. After hurried greetings, he would return to work. This was the first time he had officially summoned the Apostles for operational reasons.

“Captain Marx! This is…” Robin approached the observation deck. A thick glass wall separated them from the large space beyond, where more than a dozen massive metal platforms stood.

Numerous busy Gith scientists worked on the platforms amidst the carcasses of over a dozen space creatures from their recent battle – the giant spiders were now only corpses.

The Apostles stared at the large spiders in confusion. They hadn’t expected the Gith not only to kill them but also bring the corpses aboard the Faith.

“Captain Marx, are you familiar with this type of space creature?” Qin Lun’s eyes flickered as he asked cautiously.

“Everyone, we have a problem!” Captain Marx paused for a moment before speaking gravely. “These things aren’t actually space creatures. They are planetary lifeforms called Gigius Insectoids. They were once an intelligent species of the Gith Star System.”