Xu Zhi had never imagined this moment would come.
The Mother Hive, its voice devoid of emotion, addressed him with a simple query:
"Shall I exterminate them?"
Xu Zhi had absolute dominion over all creatures spawned from the Tyranis spores, and the Bugapes standing before him were no exception.
He paused, his thoughts swirling. Then, with a quiet resolve, he asked, "Gilgamesh has assimilated the termite gene, greatly enhancing his strength and extending his lifespan many times over. Does this count as ascension?"
"No," the Hive Mind replied without hesitation. "He has merely unlocked the first step of his genetic potential. True ascension transcends passive evolution—it's the complete mastery over one's own genetic code. Gilgamesh cannot yet manipulate his genes to create the blank sequences necessary for assimilating a third set."
Xu Zhi exhaled deeply. It wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Even filling an entire planet with Tyranis spores only produced a handful of ascended beings. How, then, could three exist here?
These three had the potential to assimilate a second set of genes, aided by their remarkable talent and willpower. But even with this gift, the limits of their genetic capacity had been reached. Without ascension, assimilating a third set of genes was all but impossible.
Although Gilgamesh had potential, it didn't grant him the right to wreak havoc. His arrogance, his tyranny, and his destructive nature were unacceptable. Xu Zhi could not allow him to continue devastating the sandbox's delicate ecosystem or lead a barbaric civilization into ruin.
"Hive Mind, stay your hand," Xu Zhi commanded, his voice calm. "I wish to see how strong Gilgamesh has grown to dare challenge me."
Xu Zhi's body had been strengthened by two extinction events. He had recovered from the aftereffects of chemotherapy and his physical prowess had significantly improved. He was now at a level comparable to someone who exercised regularly.
Gilgamesh's strength, however, was more symbolic. His power stemmed from the proportions of a termite's strength—able to lift many times his body weight—but still, this didn't make him a true threat to a human being.
At the end of the day, Gilgamesh was no more than an ant in size and strength. Xu Zhi's curiosity was piqued: how far could this tiny creature go?
The earth trembled beneath the onslaught. Thousands of archers released their arrows in unison, their efforts seemingly futile. Before the Great Beast of Wisdom, Sumer's finest soldiers were nothing more than a swarm of ants.
Their arrows may have been sharp, but they lacked the force to pierce Xu Zhi's thick blue jeans. Their swords and spears stabbed in vain, unable to even scratch the fabric.
It was as if they were attempting to pierce the thick foliage of a dense forest, only to find their weapons incapable of breaking through.
"Even our most elite soldiers cannot pierce his clothing?" Gilgamesh muttered, a note of surprise in his voice. But he quickly regained his composure, striding forward. "Just as I suspected. Numbers mean nothing before the Great Beast of Wisdom's size. My conquering army is powerless."
With a forceful stomp, Gilgamesh leaped high into the air, leaving a trail of white in his wake. Landing on Xu Zhi's boot, he swiftly scaled his jeans, sword gripped tightly in both hands. He sprang upward with lightning speed, his leaps bringing him closer to Xu Zhi's knees in the blink of an eye.
"So fast! This speed rivals that of a flea," Xu Zhi remarked, slightly impressed.
An ant with the explosive jumping power of a flea was indeed a formidable foe.
Xu Zhi tried to swat him off, but Gilgamesh deftly dodged, his movements as quick as a cheetah's. He dropped into a crouch, propelling himself forward with even greater speed, narrowly avoiding Xu Zhi's hand.
Xu Zhi tried again. But it was no use.
Gilgamesh continued his rapid ascent, zig-zagging up the folds of Xu Zhi's jeans. "So, this is the Great Beast of Wisdom. The air pressure from his movements alone is enough to send me flying."
The rough fabric of the jeans, though smooth to a human touch, became an arduous challenge for a creature the size of an ant. It was like scaling a mountain, every fold an obstacle to overcome.
"Your Majesty, Ishtar has arrived to support you!" came a voice from below.
The King of the Steppes, Ishtar, arrived on the battlefield. A stunning woman, her muscular frame exuding strength, she wielded a massive warhammer with ease. She leaped upward, landing on Xu Zhi's pant leg with a thud.
"Here comes another," Xu Zhi muttered, raising his hand.
He swiped at Ishtar, but she jumped effortlessly, evading his strike. With agile, powerful movements, she ascended his enormous form, each leap bringing her higher.
A seasoned warrior, Ishtar had fought countless battles against the great beasts. Her body, covered in scars, reflected her victories. She was no stranger to the battlefield.
"She's fast, but I'm nearing the end of my test," Xu Zhi mused.
With greater speed, he swung his hand once more, bringing it down upon Ishtar.
BOOM!
Ishtar's face contorted in shock as she failed to react in time. Like a mosquito swatted from the air, she was sent flying backward, blood spilling from her mouth.
Xu Zhi raised his hand again, this time with overwhelming force. His palm descended like an unmovable mountain, aiming directly for Gilgamesh.
"No! This can't be!" Gilgamesh cried, a flash of panic in his eyes. Despite the fleeting moment, he raised his sword in a desperate attempt to block the blow.
Xu Zhi's hand struck the sword's blade.
The impact sent Gilgamesh spinning. His world spun as he was flung backward, crashing to the ground with a sickening thud.
They had both been climbing Xu Zhi's body, no more than a meter above the ground, but for them, that distance felt like a fall from several thousand meters.
Though ants could fall from similar heights without harm, the Bugapes, with their human-like skeletal structure, were not so fortunate. Bones shattered, and blood poured from their mouths. They did not die immediately, but the force of the fall left them clinging desperately to life.
Xu Zhi gazed down at them, surprised to find a cut on his hand, blood slowly seeping from the wound. "He actually cut me! What exceptional swordsmanship! The strength they possess relative to their size is astonishing. If they were human-sized, they'd be superheroes—able to leap over walls, dodge bullets, and survive falls from thousands of meters without a scratch. This is the stuff of legends!"
They had begun to gain powers beyond their current form.
Xu Zhi mused, reflecting on the changes unfolding before him. The smaller the body, the easier it was to accumulate energy, and with it, the potential for great transformation.
Yet, even with the strength of an ant-sized Hulk or Spider-Man, they were no true threat to him.
"I can't believe I lost in one move," Gilgamesh muttered bitterly, his voice raspy. "I only managed to leave a scratch."
Lying amidst the rubble, blood pooling around him, he gazed upward in disbelief.
The Great Beast of Wisdom loomed above, his towering form bathed in radiant light, a halo glowing faintly upon his brow, watching over the fallen.