The day wore on with a deceptive stillness. Despite the warnings of the incoming Beast Tide, Lin Shen's territory remained eerily quiet. The faint clicking of mandibles and the soft rustle of shifting dirt were the only signs of movement, yet below the surface, evolution stirred.
Inside the Hive, the Fusion Matrix pulsed steadily. Lin Shen sat cross-legged within the command chamber—a hollowed-out node just above the Hive Core. The floor beneath him vibrated with subtle rhythms, syncing to his heartbeat.
---
> [Lord Panel – Lin Shen]
• Lord Level: 3
• Swarm Link: Stable
• Hive Core Status: Developing
• Resources: 143 stone, 87 iron, 31 biotic spores
• Fusion Matrix: Active
• Mutation Preferences: Reinforced Exoskeleton | Hive Sync Extension
---
> [Hive Alert – Passive Evolution Ongoing…]
Progress: 78% toward next Hive Trait
He reviewed the subtle upgrades that had emerged overnight: Worker Ants developing minor toxin resistance from consuming nearby fungal deposits. Foragers expanding their detection radius. Soldier Ants gaining hardened forelegs suitable for front-line clashes.
They were growing—efficiently and silently.
But while the Hive refined itself, the regional atmosphere thickened.
---
[Regional Chat – Region 7 – Open Channel]
[Lord SteelBranch]: Some of us are organizing defensive coalitions. Anyone interested in forming a three-Lord barrier grid?
[Lord WhisperWind]: Not interested. If you can't handle one Beast Tide alone, you're not making it to the Global Rankings.
[Lord ViciousBlade]: Word is Region 3 already has 10 Tier 5 Lords. Region 4 might have a Tier 6 already.
[Lord FangBreaker]: LIES. Nobody gets Tier 6 this early unless they cheated the system.
[Lord AshThorn]: It's possible. Some talents are just broken. I heard a guy in Region 6 fused a Tier 4 Legendary Falcon using a Hybrid Path.
[Lord ShadeFeather]: No joke. He's already dubbed the "Skyborne Tyrant." Think he's going for Top 1 World Rank.
---
Lin Shen read each message without reacting. Boasting. Bluffing. Fear disguised as chatter. He closed the chat and focused inward.
> [Talent Fusion Matrix – Territory Trait]
Fusion Tier Unlock: Tier 6 Pathway Preparation Available
Warning: Evolution Pressure Detected. Beast Tide Proximity Altering Hive Response.
> New Trait Emerging…
[Swarm Coordination LV.1]: All troops move 15% faster when within range of Lord's Heart. Increases with loyalty and resonance.
> Progress: 91%...
He narrowed his eyes. "The Hive's adapting faster… because of the Beast Tide?"
It made sense. The Lord System wasn't just testing survival—it was accelerating growth. Everything in this plane—from monster aggression to talent evolution—was pressure-based.
The more pressure applied, the more rewards unlocked. But only if you didn't break.
---
Back above ground, he emerged from the tunnel just as his Ant Generals began patrol. They stood like armored shadows—two-meter-long beasts of iron-like carapace and intelligent glints behind multifaceted eyes.
They bowed their antennae slightly at his approach.
"Three days remain," he murmured, staring out across the silent horizon. "We won't just survive."
His hand clenched.
"We'll dominate."