Having the genes of a demon king, I never intended to be a kept man.

......

The summit of a mountain with a high elevation and a wide view.

The Dream Butterfly hovered quietly here, its shimmering wings fluttering gently at a constant frequency.

She looked down at the vast crimson plains and forests below. Everywhere she looked, explosions erupted, flames shot skyward, and deafening roars, the shrill screams of exploding spells, and the distant cries of warriors from all races echoed through the air. Small mushroom clouds bloomed across the woodlands. Chaotic energy fluctuations and flashing magical lights transformed the once desolate plains into a burning battlefield.

Upon spotting the Golden Queen Mother Insect, the Allied Forces of the Myriad Races swiftly charged into the Crimson Plains, where they clashed fiercely with the Insectoid army of the Dream Butterfly.

"Empress, our army has already engaged in battle with the allied forces of all races, including demons, dragons, beastmen, fire races, winged races, giants, and blood elves."

A female Zerg warrior stood beside her, looking worried: "The location of our army's Golden Empress Mother Zerg has now been exposed. Although our army is large in number, we have to face the armies of many powerful races, and most of them are led by their Soul Emperor level clan leaders."

"These allied forces of all races are all coming for our insect hive. Once they breach it, I'm afraid..."

"..."

The Dream Butterfly remained silent for a long time, a heavy cloud of gloom hanging over her face.

Sima Qing is clearly trying to make her Zerg army act as the biggest cannon fodder here, using the entire Zerg's resources and the lives of countless Zerg soldiers to buy him time to seize the Azure Dragon Treasure!

If they truly follow his orders and hold out to the bitter end, the six Queen Mothers will be hunted down, and the Zerg will suffer a severe blow, possibly even becoming a stepping stone for others' ambitions!

This must not be allowed...

The Dream Butterfly's gaze turned cold as she made a decision: "Order the troops to retreat. Command the Digging Insect Force to immediately open at least three deep underground tunnels to prioritize the escort of all the Queen Mother Insects, including the Golden Queen Mother Insect, away from the battlefield and out of the Crimson Plains!"

The Zerg female general perked up and immediately clasped her hands in a fist salute: "Yes!"

However, the Zerg female warrior froze as soon as she turned to carry out the order.

"Hmm?" The Dream Butterfly sensed something, turned slightly to the side, and shifted its gaze backward.

Karl's tall, slender figure had already silently appeared on the rocky platform not far behind her. He still wore that impeccable, gentle, and elegant smile as he slowly walked over.

Behind him were Ji Cangyuan and more than a dozen demi-human warriors.

Among the dozen or so demi-human warriors, the leader stood out. He was exceptionally tall and robust, like a silent iron tower. He appeared to be around thirty-five years old, with sculpted features as if carved by a knife and axe. Beneath his high, hooked nose were tightly pursed thin lips, and his deep, sharp, silver-gray pupils seemed to pierce through skin and gaze into the soul. He exuded a cold, hard, and dangerous aura honed by countless battles.

His uniform was clearly of a higher standard, with epaulets and insignia on his chest highlighting his status as a high-ranking commander.

Adam crossed his arms over his chest, his posture seemingly relaxed, yet exuding a sense of imminent pressure as he scrutinized the Dream Butterfly with interest, a sharp, assessing glint flashing in his silver-gray eyes.

Is this the Zerg Empress, Dream Butterfly?

Another arrival, huh...

“Karl…” The Dream Butterfly’s expression gradually darkened, a cold wariness flashing deep in her eyes.

"Empress of Dreams, I apologize for being late." Karl gracefully performed a gesture of respect, his smile warm, as if he hadn't noticed the coldness on the other's face. "By order of the Chairman, I have brought the most elite squad of the demi-human race to reinforce you. The Chairman said that we must assist you in defending the insect hive and completing the interception mission."

Help me?

The Dream Butterfly sneered inwardly.

Perhaps Sima Qing sent him to oversee the battle?

"Is that so? Mr. Karl is really kind." The voice of the Dream Butterfly was emotionless, but every word seemed to be wrapped in ice: "But the elite demi-human team you mentioned that came to help, are you referring to these dozen or so people behind you?"

Karl smiled. "Of course, there's also the Sea Clan's army. Mr. Ji Cangyuan will also assist you and fight alongside you against the Allied Forces of All Races."

"The chairman has only one requirement. Under no circumstances should the Allied Forces of the Myriad Races leave the Crimson Plains within a week, especially Night Song and his men."

The Dream Butterfly frowned slightly.

She quickly glanced at Ji Cangyuan, who stood motionless behind Karl like a puppet, his eyes vacant.

This once-powerful sea lord was now lifeless, standing there expressionless, indifferent to everything around him.

It's just like... a puppet whose soul has been extracted...

'Something's not right...' A chill crept silently down the body of the Dream Butterfly.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint the chairman.” The Dream Butterfly withdrew her gaze, her voice regaining the coldness and decisiveness of an empress. “I have no intention of continuing to have my Zerg army engage in a meaningless war of attrition with the entire Alliance of Races here. The Alliance of Races has already located my Zerg hive and the Golden Empress Mother Zerg, and they will soon be attacking the hive.”

"Isn't that perfect?" Karl chuckled and shrugged. "We can set a trap inside the hive and attack from both sides with the Golden Queen Mother."

The Dream Butterfly narrowed its eyes to slits: "Heh, this tactic is not bad, but the strategies you have devised all seem to come at the cost of sacrificing my Zerg soldiers, and even my Zerg's most precious 100,000-year-old Golden Queen Mother Zerg."

“You can’t say that,” Karl said. “In war, sacrifices are inevitable, and their sacrifices are for the company’s grand plan. As a member of the company’s board of directors, aren’t you going to be one of the beneficiaries of the company’s grand plan in the future? Besides, your Zerg race has never lacked population, has it?”

"Absurd!" The sneer of the Dream Butterfly was now laced with barely suppressed rage. "I am a director of the company, possessing independent decision-making power. I am not a pawn that Sima Qing can manipulate at will! I have no obligation to obey orders that would push my race into the abyss. Delay the Allied Forces? Let him use his own elite forces!"

Before she finished speaking, the pair of dazzling seven-colored butterfly wings on her back suddenly fluttered, stirring up a circle of dreamlike light dust, and she turned to leave.

"ah--!!!!!"

However, just as she moved and flew less than two meters away, a shrill and extremely short scream suddenly rang out from behind her, as if it had been forcibly cut off!

The Dream Butterfly's expression changed drastically, and she turned around abruptly!

The female insectoid warrior who had previously received the order was now being lifted high off the ground by Adam, the tall demi-human leader, who grabbed her by the neck with one hand and lifted her as if she were a powerless little insect!