I Am The Swarm

The new flying bug genes weren’t particularly useful for Luo Wen himself. However, their template made them suitable for mass production, potentially filling the gap in the Swarm’s aerial forces.

Perhaps soon, the first tree-based sub-base of the Swarm would be officially established.

Still, some revelations in the genetic data caught Luo Wen by surprise. The flying bugs had indeed tracked him using pollen—but not through scent.

Instead, the pollen, mixed with saliva, created a unique refractive effect. This allowed the flying bugs to accurately pinpoint him even amidst dense vegetation and blooming flowers.

In hindsight, the “Gatling” smoke barrage wasn’t effective because of its smell but because the rising white smoke obstructed their vision. It was a lucky accident.

Without understanding this mechanism, relying solely on scent to counter them in the future might have led to disastrous outcomes.

Now somewhat rested, Luo Wen didn’t feel like stopping. Although the earlier chase seemed perilous, he hadn’t been injured.

After lingering a bit longer, Luo Wen crawled out of the burrow, intending to continue exploring.

As he followed the river downstream, the forest gradually became sparser.

Thanks to multiple rounds of genetic integration, his field of vision was now comparable to his human days. Moreover, his close-range clarity had improved significantly.

Thus, Luo Wen spotted the massive creature from afar.

It was a colossal beast, and there was no exaggeration in calling it such. It resembled a Diplodocus from Earth, with a body length exceeding 30 meters, a shoulder height of 7 to 8 meters, a tiny head, and robust limbs.

While its body was enormous, its neck stretched 7 to 8 meters, and its tail extended about 15 meters. Its main torso wasn’t that large, but even so, its estimated weight exceeded 10 tons. Each step it took reverberated like thunder.

Judging by its simple head and uniform teeth, it was undoubtedly a herbivore.

This was confirmed after Luo Wen observed it for a long time. Aside from munching on leaves, it displayed no predatory behavior.

That made sense. With its size and structure, it was no sprinter. Its long neck would make catching even a tail lard rat a struggle. Luo Wen suspected the sparse vegetation in the area was likely the result of its voracious appetite.

Although it was the largest creature Luo Wen had encountered, it posed no threat to him. Knowing the source of the vibrations had greatly boosted his sense of security and even helped him sleep better.

After all, the unknown was always the most frightening.

Despite its harmlessness, Luo Wen didn’t approach it recklessly. The food source was simply too large; he couldn’t possibly consume it all before it began to rot. For now, it was better to leave it be. The creature wasn’t likely to stray far with abundant food nearby.

After circling the forest edge and finding nothing new, Luo Wen decided to return to the base.

Since gaining remote control via the Swarm Network, he hadn’t visited the base in some time. Over this period, especially after the Type III Queen Ant entered production, the Swarm had experienced explosive growth. They now controlled nearly half of the Big-headed Ants’ nest.

It wouldn’t be long before they wiped out the Big-headed Ants entirely and took full control of the area.

However, the Swarm’s current force composition was imbalanced. Besides Worker Ants, there were only assassin-type Spy Ants, with a glaring lack of frontline soldiers. Previous head-on strategies were no longer viable in the current situation.

The tracking systems of the ant-based bugs were also outdated. Against fast-moving targets like tail lard rats or small dinosaurs, they were at a clear disadvantage—not to mention the all-aerial flying bugs and various bird species.

The Swarm urgently needed new unit types to establish an integrated air-ground cooperative combat system.

Yet, with resources and production capacity still catching up, Luo Wen had time to deliberate on unit combinations.

As he contemplated this on his way back, his sharp eyes caught an unusual movement above and to the side. Snapping out of his thoughts, Luo Wen focused on the sight.

On a thick branch just beneath the canopy, a leopard-like creature crouched in an attack stance.

The creature measured about two meters long, slightly larger than a tail lard rat. Its body was well-proportioned, with muscular limbs that exuded agility. Its yellow fur was adorned with black ring patterns, and it had a small head, a long tail, and razor-sharp claws.

Its target wasn’t Luo Wen, whose optical camouflage was now practically a passive skill, continuously active. Despite his mishap with the flying bugs, the system still proved invaluable in fooling most visually-oriented predators.

A quick glance to the side revealed the leopard’s target: a bird-like creature about 30 centimeters in length. The bird’s plumage was vibrant, and Luo Wen knew from experience it tasted great—he had eaten plenty before.

The thought made him slightly hungry. That massive Diplodocus was beyond his capacity, but the leopard should be manageable—and it came with the bonus of fresh genetic material.

The leopard must have been new to the area; its sudden appearance meant the local birds, accustomed to a predator-free life, were somewhat naive.

After several moments of patient stalking, the leopard finally found the perfect position. It pounced, pinning the preening bird.

Just as it lowered its head to enjoy its prize, an opportunist approached silently.

The leopard, with its assassin-like nature, was highly vigilant. Hearing a faint noise, it froze, twitching its ears.

The movement was obvious to Luo Wen, whose high-refresh-rate vision captured it instantly. He stopped in his tracks, stabilizing his optical camouflage.

The leopard scanned its surroundings for a long time but found nothing. Pretending to yawn, it remained tense, its sharp gaze combing the area.

Luo Wen couldn’t help but admire its cleverness, though its performance was too deliberate. If it were in a talent show, it wouldn’t make it past the preliminaries.

After a while, failing to detect anything amiss, the leopard finally let its guard down. It lowered its head again, just as its jaws opened wide.

Suddenly, a gust of wind howled. The leopard reacted too late, feeling a heavy weight slam onto its back and a sharp pain at its neck.

Though the leopard’s body was several times larger than Luo Wen’s, it was lean and lighter in weight.

Pinned by the sudden weight and increasing pain at its neck, the leopard struggled fiercely, growling threateningly. However, it was perched twenty meters high in the canopy. Though the branch was thick, it lacked space for a full-blown fight.

With a series of pitiful cries, the leopard tumbled from the branch, Luo Wen clinging to its back. Mid-fall, it cunningly twisted to ensure its back landed first, attempting to use Luo Wen as a cushion.

But Luo Wen, a self-proclaimed quadrupedal amphibious soldier, planted his legs firmly on the leopard’s back and propelled himself away. In that split second, he even used a limb to snatch the bird from the leopard’s claws.

The two separated as they fell. Luo Wen’s wing covers snapped open, membranous wings unfurling to stabilize his descent.

The leopard, however, was merely a tree-climbing terrestrial predator. It hit the ground hard, looking up at Luo Wen in shock.

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