“KRISTOOO!!!”
Lyna’s voice thundered, filling the control room of The Nest with a reverberation that shook the very souls of those who heard it. Her scream was ablaze with fiery rage and piercing betrayal, like a monster rising from the dark depths, ready to unleash its fury.
“COME OUT, KRISTO! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR THIS! DON’T HIDE! LOOK ME IN THE EYE IF YOU DARE!”
BOOM!
An explosion erupted outside. Millions of Arachnoax swarmed The Nest from all directions, bombarding the legendary ship’s shields until it shook violently.
“RETURN FIRE! RETURN FIRE! WE’VE BEEN BETRAYED! WHATEVER IT TAKES, WE MUST BREAK THROUGH THIS ENCIRCLEMENT!” Kilua shouted, trying to maintain control amidst the chaos.
He glanced at Lyna, hoping for direction from their captain. But what he saw was a face consumed with fury—like a volcano on the brink of eruption. In that moment, Kilua realized their chances of survival were slim, almost nonexistent. But as vice-captain, he knew his duty: to act decisively and take command when their captain was overwhelmed by something far greater.
“Captain, you need to escape immediately! At the very least, you must survive—”
Before Kilua could finish his sentence, a face appeared on the main monitor. It was one they all recognized—someone who had provided the crucial intel for this mission. The very person responsible for bringing them to this place, now openly admitting his betrayal.
“I’m sorry, Lyna. But I had no other choice.”
The face was Kristo—the head of the Kata family, a high-ranking leader of the West Human Federation, and their captain biological father.
“KRISTO!!! DO YOU THINK I CAN’T SURVIVE THIS? DO YOU THINK YOU’VE ALREADY WON?”
Lyna’s gaze turned sharp, filled with hatred. The calm and resolute demeanor she typically displayed while commanding troops in battle had vanished, replaced by a fury that underscored the dire gravity of their situation.
Kristo stared back, his face full of bitter resolve. “Lyna, I know your capabilities. That’s why I didn’t rely on Vamrah alone to trap you. Right now, you’re surrounded by the swarm fleets of Vamrah, Mraviji, Moirb, and Mauir—four Broodmothers united against you. Not only that, but the Human Federation’s top officials have severed all The Nest’s connections to other fleets. You’ll receive no reinforcements. Lyna, understand this: for the first time in history, humanity and the Arachnoax have joined forces for one purpose—to kill you.”
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Kristo’s words pierced through every soul who heard them. The faces of the crew turned pale as the strange pieces of the puzzle finally came together. They had assumed Kristo’s betrayal involved revealing their location to Vamrah, but they had never imagined this was a grand coalition operation between the Human Federation and four Broodmothers.
Fear and despair began to envelop the entire ship. In their hearts, only one question lingered: was this the end of their journey with the Queen Bee?
Kristo hadn’t finished speaking, and what came out of his mouth next made the atmosphere even more chilling.
“With the psychics freed from the Broodmothers’ control, it’s only a matter of time before they reemerge on the battlefield. While we may never win the war in the Mind Realm, over the past two years, a way has been discovered for psychics to wield their powers without entering the Mind Realm. Consequently, heroes like you, with fangs that are too sharp, have become a major threat to those who wish to remain in the highest seats of power in the Human Federation.”
Kristo looked at Lyna with an expression heavy with strain before continuing.
“Your vendetta, which has erased several high-ranking Human Federation officials from history, is terrifying enough to keep many of us awake at night. Your name, shining brighter with every war you win, has disrupted this balance like a sharp thorn lodged in the sole of a foot. Don’t you know? On many planets, your statues have been erected in grandeur, and some have even started worshiping you. They call you the Queen Bee, the goddess of war, and believe that any war you lead is destined for victory. This is extremely dangerous!”
Kristo took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting despair.
“The Human Federation was founded by the most influential noble families in this universe. West, East, South, and North maintain a balance of power, ensuring society feels secure without descending into civil war, even though all four factions compete behind the scenes. You, Lyna, have shattered that balance. You’re too strong, too charismatic, too captivating. You make the masses submit with a mere gaze. The greatest threat to the Human Federation isn’t the Arachnoax—it’s you. If you keep winning wars, the people will unite and crown you their queen. That’s why... forgive me, Lyna. The Kata family isn’t strong enough to bear the wrath of all the noble families in the Human Federation.”
Kristo’s voice trembled as he ended his statement.
“Forgive me, my daughter... you must die!”
The control room of The Nest fell silent. The crew who had heard the confession were frozen, their faces filled with shock. But Lyna, who moments ago had been like a volcano ready to erupt, suddenly changed. The tension in her dissipated, replaced by a deep calmness, cold as frozen water. With sharp, unblinking eyes, she stared at Kristo.
“Kristo,” Lyna said in a flat yet piercing tone, “was the information you provided also a lie?”
Kristo furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”
“Is Vamrah not on this planet?” Lyna asked bluntly.
Silence engulfed the communication screen. Kristo froze, his previously impassive face now showing shock. He opened his mouth as if to respond but closed it again. This happened repeatedly until he let out a long sigh, looking at Lyna with profound despair.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions from outside shook The Nest, blending with the shouts of the crew fighting desperately to survive. Yet amidst the chaos, the atmosphere on the control room felt eerily quiet. There was only Lyna, staring at Kristo unblinkingly, and Kristo, returning her gaze with despair.
Time seemed to slow for Kilua and the others until, finally, Kristo nodded slightly, silently admitting his lie. Then, without further explanation, Kristo severed the connection.