Amon asked Yeresdyx, "Do you know what is asked of you?"

"Elder Xlasstazh had informed me. Yes, I do," Yeresdyx answered.

"Are you willing to follow me?"

"My will matters not. All is for the good of the brood."

"Good."

Arrasixx entered the room when they were still conversing. He told Amon and Xlasstazh, "The supreme leader is ready to meet you."

"Let’s go then. We shouldn’t let the supreme leader wait," Xlasstazh said.

Amon told Yeresdyx, "Pack up your personal things as well as the equipment you need for work. I will pick you up before I leave."

Yeresdyx nodded at the command. Amon and Xlasstazh left with Arrasixx at the lead. Amon was again brought through a confusing series of mazes. During the journey, Amon asked Xlasstazh about the conflict between the Hyanids and the humans.

Xlasstazh told Amon that their force had grown throughout the years. Cryanids breed at a faster rate than most beasts. With the Cryanids under their control, they could afford to keep throwing forces into the war without concern for loss. However, the humans had also increased their presence at the border. More powerful cultivators were gathering. This caused the Hyanid’s advance into the mainland to be excruciatingly slow. Based on intel from captured humans, the human force was preparing to mount a serious counterattack. A bigshot was rumored to come to the border soon.

Xlasstazh explained that they were not worried. They hadn’t used the altered Hyanids from the captured humans, and the number of the altered Hyanids accumulated through the years had been massive. They had been keeping them at bay. If humans sent their main force, they would catch the enemy off guard with the altered Hyanids.

Amon was relieved to hear that. This meant the situation was not far off from when he arrived at the border.

After journeying midway, Xlasstazh asked Arrasixx, "We are not meeting the supreme leader in the main chamber?"

"No. Supreme leader Krassazh is in the middle of a task. He doesn’t want to stop the task, nor does he wish to delay meeting the prophesied human. Hence, we will be meeting the supreme leader elsewhere."

"This direction... the Supreme leader couldn’t have asked to meet at the birthing chamber, could he?"

"That is exactly where we are going," Arrasixx answered.

Amon turned to Xlasstazh. "What is the birthing chamber? I thought your kind birth in a similar way to humans. Do you need a special chamber to help your kind give birth?"

"It’s a birthing chamber, but not for our kind... You will see."

They approached a large gate guarded by a couple of Hyanids with the cultivation level of the Intermediate Supreme Stage. To have such powerful cultivators protecting the place, whatever was inside the room would surely be precious to the Hyanids.

The two Hyanid guards bowed when they saw Arrasixx and Xlasstazh. The guards opened the gate for them. When Amon followed through the gate, the two guards eyed him suspiciously.

Behind the door was a huge cavern filled with giant eggs. Creeping around the cavern, tending to the eggs, were giant ants similar to the Cryanid Soldiers but slightly smaller. He later learned that this was a weaker strain of the Cryanids who served as workers for the other Cyranids. They were called Cryanid Ants.

At the ceiling, far above, was a hole that led outside, similar to the one above the trial pit, but smaller. Amon could see the mists up there. Unlike the hole above the trial pit, this one didn’t have a barrier covering it. He saw several Cryanid Ants creep outside through the hole. If Amon wanted to flee, he could.

At the center of the chamber, surrounded by the million eggs, was a towering insect creature. It was tethered in place by countless organic cables. Behind it was a large organic tube. The tube’s skin was translucent. A column of eggs was visible inside the tube. At the end of the tube, the outermost egg was placed on the ground. A Cryanid Ant came and brought the egg away.

"This is Cryanid’s birthing chamber?" Amon asked.

"Yes. The one that gave birth to this egg is the Cryanid Queen over there. The queen is the key to us controlling the Cryanids."

It was Arrasixx who explained to Amon. Xlasstazh looked at her with a surprised face.

Amon’s eyes moved from the Cryanid Queen to the smaller being standing under it. This being was a female Hyanid. She was caressing one of the Cryanid Queen’s many legs. Compared to the colossal Cryanid Queen, she was but an ant. Yet, the Cryanid Queen responded to her tenderly.

The female Hyanid was not alone. Beside her was a male Hyanid. Both had smaller bodies than the average Hyanids. Amon conjectured that they should still be teenagers. Arrasixx brought Amon to the two teenage Hyanids and introduced them to Amon.

"This is Ibizisx," She gestured at the Hyanid girl, before moving to the Hyanid boy. "And this is Zetridh. These two are the key to us having a chance to win against the humans and claim the mainland."

Xlasstazh interrupted Arrasixx. "Arrasixx, are you sure it is wise to reveal these two?"

"Aren’t you the one who insists that this human is our ally? If you truly believe that, then it should not be a problem, should it?"

"Well, I..." Xlasstazh couldn’t refute Arrasixx’s statement.

Arrasixx continued her explanation. "Zetridh here has a special constitution that lets him control weak-minded Hyanid. We learned that we can enhance his ability and significantly expand his area of influence by using talismans. I believe Xlasstazh showed you the humans we had fully altered into Hyanids when you first came here, didn’t he? Zetridh here is the one who controls those altered Hyanids."

’Like a living Mental Regulator, except for Hyanids,’ Amon thought.

"And Ibizisx here is the one responsible for us having control over the Cryanid swarm," Arrasixx continued. "She has a special constitution that lets her bond with a Cryanid, like the beast tamer’s soul-link ability, but without restriction to grades. As long as it is a Cryanid, she can soul link with it."

"And this Cryanid Queen is her tamed beast," Amon looked at the towering Cryanid Queen.

"She is not my tamed beast. She is my partner, and her name is Xclthsytx."

Amon looked at Ibizisx, who just spoke. Her body language told Amon that she was offended by Amon calling the Cryanid Queen her tamed beast.

"Mm," Amon responded. He was sure now that Ibizisx was a teenager. He returned his attention to the Cryanid Queen and asked, "What is its grade?"

"Not it! It’s her!" Ibizisx exclaimed.

Xlasstazh came between Amon and Ibizisx. He soothed Ibizisx with a series of strange clicking sounds before turning to Amon. "Please don’t antagonize her, and to answer your question, a Cryanid Queen is a Higher Primordial Beast."

’The same grade as Yao Ai’s Vermillion Vulture,’ Amon thought. To be able to control a beast of this level, Ibizisx’s special constitution was indeed not simple. But then again, he believed in terms of combat ability, the Vermillion Vulture should be stronger. The Cryanid Queen’s power came from her control over her brood.

"So, in other words, these two young Hyanids are your greatest treasures. If they are assassinated, then your race will lose all its dreams."

Xlasstazh and Arrasixx went silent after Amon’s remark. Amon could see them become tense.

"In that case, you must protect them. Xlasstazh is right. Even if you trust me, you shouldn’t expose them to a random stranger like me. Go, bring them to a secure place."

"... You are right. Ibizisx, Zetridh, follow me," Arrasixx instructed.

The two young Hyanids followed her instruction. Ibizisx again caressed the Cryanid Queen’s leg. This time, as a sign of goodbye. The Cryanid Queen responded with a strange purring sound and a gentle tap of the leg Ibizisx had touched.

Amon watched as the three left the chamber. When he was about to ask Xlasstazh where the supreme leader was, he sensed something behind him. He jerked to the front and whirled his body. His hand held the Broken Justice, and his tail was in a position ready to sting.

Standing behind him was a tall Hyanid. His body was covered by a long, black cape. This Hyanid was the first one Amon saw who wore apparel. The carapaces that weren’t covered by the cape seemed greyish and ancient.

"... You have good awareness," the Hyanid told Amon.

Amon was alarmed. Even with his cultivation sense dulled, he was confident no one could sneak up on him. However, this Hyanid came dangerously close to his back.

Xlasstazh bowed before the Hyanid with the cape.

"Xlasstazh greets the supreme leader," Xlasstach uttered with a bowed head.

The supreme leader waved him off. "Rise, good Xlasstazh. I’ve told you many times already. You needn’t bow to me. That is human customs. I understand you have studied humans for a long time, but there is no need to mimic their customs. I might be your leader, but I am not your king nor your God. I don’t demand your obedience or worship, I just wish for support to achieve our mutual goal."

Xlasstazh rose, but his head remained slightly bowed. He told Amon, "This is our most venerated supreme leader, Krassazh Kahn."