“Lancer, We're done for the day. You can return to your responsibilities, just be ready for when I call you for our next outing in the forest.” Adam dismissed the drone.

Watching the back of Lancer as he walked away from him, he thought ‘I need to speak to the crafters to see if we can get better armor and weapons for us. We can’t keep using the system provided items.’

Knowing that he was just delaying the inevitable, he flagged down one of the hive units that was going past him and asked, “Hey you, Do you know where the General is? You do, perfect lead me to him.”

He was led to an area of the Hive that he rarely visited; the command chamber.

Near the very heart of the hive, the command chamber was a sight to behold. Crafted from the living tissue of the hive itself, the walls pulsed with a fleshy, organic texture. Veins coursed beneath the surface, carrying nutrients and information throughout the vast hive network. The dim, reddish glow emanating from the walls provided an eerie atmosphere, as if the room itself were alive.

At the center of the command chamber stood a large, imposing table formed from hardened carapace. Its surface was etched with intricate, ever-changing maps and diagrams, providing the General and his strategists with real-time information on troop movements and battlefield conditions.

The General, a formidable figure, presided over the room, surrounded by his trusted advisors and hive strategists. Each one was a specialist in their field, offering valuable insights and guidance on the various aspects of the hive's military campaigns. Their chitinous armor and the soft, chittering sounds of their speech served as constant reminders of their allegiance to the hive.

In a designated area of the chamber, a group of hive figures sat in a semicircle, their heads adorned with fleshy helmets that connected directly to the walls.

[Zentarran Hive Swarm Speaker, level 30 (Tier 1)]

These communication specialists were the hive's vital link to its armies and units across the world. With their helmets plugged into the living network, they were able to transmit messages, commands, and intelligence instantaneously beyond the farthest reaches of the hive's territory.

The command chamber was a testament to the hive's ingenuity and adaptability, seamlessly blending the natural world with advanced strategy and communication. In this room, the fate of battles and the lives of countless hive members were shaped and decided. The weight of this room could be felt, in fact it was so important that it was only inhabited by units that have awakened, not a single drone was allowed to step foot inside this room.

Adam's eyes blazed with fury as he observed the General going about his day, seemingly unaffected by the near-death experience he had orchestrated. He couldn't contain his rage any longer, and he stormed into the command chamber, his face flushed with anger.

The General, engrossed in a tactical discussion with his advisors, turned to face the intruder, his expression shifting to mild annoyance. "What is the meaning of this interruption, Adam?" he demanded, his voice stern and commanding.

Adam approached the General, his fists clenched and his voice trembling with fury. "You sabotaged my drone! You stripped it of its weapons and armor, replacing them with utterly inadequate equipment! You nearly got us killed out there!"

The General arched an eyebrow, leaning back slightly with a hint of a smirk on his lips. "I have no idea what you're talking about, boy. My concern is for the welfare of the entire hive, not coddling you or your precious drone."

Adam's anger reached new heights as he slammed his fist down on the carapace table, startling the strategists and advisors. "Don't you dare feign ignorance! You knew precisely what you were doing when you swapped out my drone's gear! You set us up to fail, and you don't even have the decency to admit it!"

The General's expression darkened, and he took a step towards Adam, his posture tense and threatening. "Watch your tone, boy. You are addressing a superior officer. I did what I believed was best for you. If you were unable to adapt to the situation, that is your own shortcoming. Remember, I told you that you are not yet ready for leadership, and you’ve proved me right especially if you cannot even inspect the gear of your subordinates."

Adam's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and he jabbed a finger into the General's chest. "Best for me? Superior? Absolute nonsense. I am sick of you! I am tired of you toying with me and using the facade of 'lessons' as an excuse. You are actively undermining me. ME! Your prince. The last time I checked, I, as the prince of this hive, hold a rank far superior to yours."

"You know what? I tried. I tried my best to learn from you, even when your lessons were sadistic and cruel. I convinced myself that your jealousy was the reason for your actions—the fact that I, a human boy, hold more importance in Mother Zara's eyes than the General of her armies."

Adam smirked as he continued. "You know, General, you are as replaceable as your predecessor. Have you ever heard of Amerix Tuvor?"

The General looked at him, slightly confused, trying to recall why the name 'Amerix Tuvor' seemed familiar.

"Does it ring any bells?" Adam taunted. "I can see you're racking your brain to remember that name. Let me enlighten you."

The General listened intently, furrowing his brow as he tried to remember why the name sounded so familiar. Adam, noticing his confusion, decided to jog his memory.

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"Amerix Tuvor," Adam began, "hails from the Tuvor kingdom. He was a general who rose through the ranks, defying the belief that he relied on the royal family's connections to gain his position."

The General's expression showed a flicker of recognition, but Adam continued, "In just a few years, Amerix managed to turn the tide for a declining kingdom. He led their forces to victory in border skirmishes against neighboring kingdoms, earning one military triumph after another."

Adam paused for a moment, watching the General's reaction before continuing, "Eventually, their enemies grew too fearful to challenge them. But then, rumors of Amerix's unique talent for warfare surfaced, and he disappeared without a trace."

The General's eyes widened slightly as the pieces came together. Adam finished his account, adding, "Now, the citizens and nobles of the Tuvor kingdom pray for the safe return of their hero, hoping that one day he'll lead them to victory once more."

Adam paused, his mismatched eyes staring intently at the General. "Amerix's talent granted him the ability to observe his armies and their surroundings in real-time, as if from a bird's-eye view."

Adam didn't let up. "Yes, you were Amerix once. Kidnapped and brought to the hive for conversion. I can still remember when Mother Zara asked for my help to find a new General after the previous one caused my first death."

Adam paused for emphasis before continuing, "There was a list of potential candidates, and I had the power to choose any of them. But it was Amerix Tuvor that caught my attention. I picked you, making you a part of this hive. I was there, standing by Mother Zara's side during your conversion, witnessing the parasite transform you."

Adam's expression grew wilder. "When I take part in this war, the citizens of Tuvor will receive... special attention from me. Rest assured, your old family—the royals—will be cared for."

The General remained stoic in the face of this threat. "I may have once been Amerix, but now I serve the hive. The unconverted, whether Tuvors or Barolans, mean nothing to me."

Adam grinned manically. "I know you don't care. That's the beauty of it. Whatever remains of Amerix that still exist within you must be screaming in fury at the threats to his kingdom and family. But now, you're a cold, heartless machine, incapable of compassion. How ironic."

The chamber had gone silent, the onlookers transfixed by the unfolding confrontation, uncertain whether to intervene or remain as passive observers. The tension in the room was thick and suffocating.

The General's eyes narrowed as he grabbed Adam's wrist, twisting it painfully. "Tread carefully, boy."

Adam gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out in pain as the General's grip tightened. "We crossed that line long ago, General. I'm fed up with your torment. Your role was to teach me, but you've turned every lesson into punishment. I won't stand for this any longer. I've faced bullies on Earth and made them fear me. I may not be able to do that to you yet, but soon... I swear, soon."

The General's face contorted with anger, and it seemed as if he might strike Adam. Instead, he released his grip, stepping back and inhaling deeply. "Your recklessness will be your undoing. I suggest you leave this chamber before I have you thrown out."

Adam glared at the General, his chest heaving with suppressed fury. Surveying the room, he proclaimed, "Let all Zentarrans here bear witness: once I rise to the General's level, I will beseech the Empress to begin the Overmind's cleansing trial against him. He is weak and unworthy of leading. I will personally excise this cancer from the hive."

The chamber fell silent as Adam uttered the words 'Overmind's cleansing trial,' a phrase that sent shivers down the spines of all present. This death combat was so rare and brutal that not even the Empress had ever presided over one in her long life. The loser would be kept alive as long as possible while their flesh was devoured by the hive, their weakness acknowledged and purged from the collective entirely.

A swarm speaker stood from his seat and stepped forward, removing his helmet. As he spoke, his voice took on an ethereal, powerful quality, clearly not his own.

"You need not plead with me, my child. You have my permission, and I shall bear witness on that day."

Realizing that the voice belonged to the Empress herself, the General bowed his head slightly. "Your Highness, this is highly irregular. The prince cannot be permanently killed."

"Ah, the prince," the regal voice echoed through the room, a subtle reprimand in her tone. "Do remember to address him as such."

"I apologize, Your Highness."

The Empress's voice resonated with authority and satisfaction. "It appears that I have stood on the sidelines for too long. I am pleased to see my son finally standing up for himself. As for the matter of the trial, should Adam lose, he will be stripped of his title as the hive's prince instead of being killed."

Tension permeated the chamber as the implications of the Empress's intervention became clear. The Overmind's cleansing trial cast an ominous shadow over them all.

The General, despite the sting of the Empress's words, attempted to maintain his composure. "Your Highness, my duty has been to prepare the prince for the challenges he will face. My methods may have been harsh, but they were necessary."

The Empress's voice remained firm, dignified, and unwavering. "I have observed your methods, General. While I understand the need for rigorous training, it has become clear that your actions have crossed the line into cruelty. The prince has my support in this matter."

Adam stood taller, empowered by the Empress's endorsement. "Thank you, Your Highness. I swear I will prove myself worthy of your faith in me."

The General clenched his fists, his pride wounded by the public reprimand. "As you wish, Your Highness. I shall abide by your decision."

The Empress's voice softened slightly. "Let this be a lesson to all present. The hive values strength and loyalty, but cruelty and malice have no place among us. I grant my advanced units greater autonomy and sentience to enhance their service to the hive, not to enable personal vendettas against one another. The Overmind's cleansing trial will be a reminder of our values and the importance of unity."

As the swarm speaker's voice returned to normal, the chamber was left to process the gravity of the Empress's intervention.

Adam took a deep breath, allowing the weight of the Empress's decision to sink in. He looked at the General, a newfound confidence in his eyes. With a sardonic smile, he uttered his parting words, a statement that reverberated through the chamber.

"General, just remember... when the time comes, and you lay at my feet in defeat, when the drones feast on your flesh, purging your weakness from the hive, you'll wish you'd treated me better."

With that, Adam turned on his heel and strode out of the chamber, his head held high. The gathered advisors and strategists exchanged tense glances as the young prince disappeared from view, leaving behind the humiliated General to ponder his fate in the impending Overmind's cleansing trial.

The stakes had been set, and the entire hive would be watching.