The extermination battle inside the ship lasted a full day and night. Sometimes even the Swarm Overmind couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
†This ship is huge!†
Relying on automated turrets, servitor weapons, various shipboard traps, and sealed bulkheads, the crew managed to hold out for a day against the combined assault of Roaches, Hydralisks, and Zerglings. Even the Overmind had to admit.
†Few Imperials are cowards.†
Of course, this was just a last-ditch resistance.
The Swarm Overmind couldn't let a single Imperial escape. It's not that it's anti-human, but because these Imperials are fundamentally very different from humans in its original world.
To reiterate the classic meme: you could take a banana, and its DNA sequence would resemble modern humans more than humans in Warhammer 40K.
Moreover, if even one Imperial survived, they'd dare to throw grenades at the Zerg.
The crew's bodies were hauled out and transported to the Hive.
The Swarm didn't need a massive troop surge immediately, but this Imperial ship could be utilized. Besides the "one spawns ten thousand" trait, the Zerg Swarm has another difference from the Tyranids.
†Infestation is absolutely a good thing.†
Creep spread over the entire Imperial ship, extending inward. Simultaneously, Cerebrate Zasz personally oversaw the infestation and transformation of the ship's interior.
This Imperial cruiser began growing massive tentacle turrets and Zerg spore cannons. The once magnificent, obsidian-like vessel now had pulsating veins writhing on its surface, looking exceptionally bizarre.
Inside the ship, a special Zerg unit called the [Infestor] was deploying Toxic Nests. These nests accelerated the infestation process throughout the entire ship.
Until every corner of the vessel was covered in Creep.
"Assimilation, complete."
The entire ship was infested. Even though it was empty inside, the Swarm Overmind could now control the ship.
However, the ship itself was heavily damaged, and most of its original weaponry was inoperable. The Overmind merely used the hull as a carrier, a platform for the tentacle turrets and spore cannons to root themselves. Most of the Imperial ship's original functions were unusable.
But being able to fly was enough. It was never expected to perform at 100% of an Imperial ship's capabilities anyway.
†Once my Leviathan is built, I can transfer into it. Then I can go to any planet I want, la la la.†
It was clear the Swarm Overmind was in a good mood.
And why not? Over there, the mushroom farm continuously produced biomass. Over here, the Leviathan was about to hatch. The Swarm's numbers were still growing.
In this dark and hopeless Warhammer 40K universe, this was a fantastically good start.
But as everyone knows, the Warhammer 40K universe is a place where even the most overpowered protagonists can't have it easy. You like killing? Khorne comes for you. You like pleasure? Slaanesh comes for you. You like scheming? Tzeentch comes for you. You just want to lie down? Nurgle comes for you.
Even if you overcome these issues and become a benevolent, loving, upright, diligent individual, the Orks and Tyranids will always come up with something new to mess with you.
Even the Imperial humans, whom you might consider allies, could slap you hard to wake you up.
This world is a cesspool, a hopeless cesspit!!!
Reality is that cruel. While the Swarm Overmind was peacefully farming and building up its forces at home, a Tyranid Hive Fleet from a distant segmentum had already arrived in its star system.
The Overmind's psychic power was so immense that it detected the Tyranids' arrival immediately.
But only for a moment. Its psychic probe was forcefully repelled by the Norn Queen commanding that fleet, preventing further scouting of the Hive Fleet's position.
The psychic pain informed all Zerg Swarm units of the enemy's arrival. The Zerglings roared skyward.
†At least twenty Hive Ships. Damn it, how are we supposed to fight this?†
Each Hive Ship was larger than a Leviathan. The largest among them approached the size of the Spear of Adun. The Norn Queen inside was the highest command-level individual among currently encountered Tyranid bio-forms.
See those Norn Emissaries beside her?
Those Norn Emissaries, over ten meters tall, could take on a ten-man squad of Imperial Custodians, including a shield-bearing Custodian Warder.
Not to mention the countless, ravenous Tyranid organisms.
†This is incredibly unlucky. Why are the Tyranids here? I knew we'd meet them eventually, but meeting them now, I'm just going to get completely crushed.†
Tyranids versus Zerg Swarm is truly like a father disciplining a son. First, the numerical disparity: Tyranids absolutely overwhelm the Zerg Swarm in numbers. That's unquestionable. Even the Hive Fleet appearing here is just a tiny fraction of the Tyranid swarms.
Second, the disparity in individual combat power. At the lower tiers, they're roughly comparable. Zerglings versus Termagants should at worst be 4:6, not like Space Marines who can take on hundreds. But at the high-end tier, if the Tyranids deploy a Hierophant (Titan-level bio-form), the Zerg Swarm, without a Brutalisk, gets crushed.
A Hierophant's size still doesn't match a Brutalisk's.
Finally, psychic power confrontation. Some might think the Overmind has the advantage, being the most powerful psychic entity below the Xel'Naga in StarCraft.
But unfortunately, Tyranids aren't very afraid of psychic power. Their Hive Mind, the [Great Devourer], specifically targets psychic entities. Or rather, psychic entities are tastier and more nutritious in the Tyranids' eyes.
†Time to consider running away.†
As if sensing the Overmind's will, Cerebrate Zasz inquired:
"Overmind, what are your orders?"
†Enemies are coming. Dedicate all nutrients to the Leviathan's incubation. Accelerate the process.†
I'm getting the hell outta of here!!!
"Yes, Overmind."
Cerebrate Zasz firmly executed the Overmind's command. He needed no doubt or question, only execution.
With the entire Swarm's support, the Leviathan's incubation accelerated. The mountain-sized egg continued to swell, striving to hatch in the shortest time possible.
If there wasn't enough time, forced hatching would be necessary, which would impair the Leviathan's combat capabilities.
Forget about building up forces and fighting the Tyranids head-on. It's a losing battle. The Overmind even considered having the entire Swarm burrow underground to hide, making the planet appear lifeless. But Creep already covered the land, making hiding impossible.
The more bugs there are, the happier the Tyranids are.
As long as you're a biological entity, never try to outlast the Tyranids in a war of attrition.
†Kind of envious of the Protoss next door. The Protoss probably don't have to worry about Tyranids.†
Protoss bodies are teleported back to the mothership upon death, similar to Warp Daemons. The Tyranids probably aren't very interested in them.
Genuinely envious.