I Am The Swarm-Chapter 815: The Request

After weaving through a twisting underground passage, the Ji delegation emerged into a vast cavern. Looking up, they saw dim, flickering purple biolights glowing faintly from the ceiling, casting a subdued illumination over the underground expanse.

Perhaps due to the dim environment, the walls on either side were completely obscured. Before them stretched a single bridge, seemingly suspended in the air, leading into equally shadowed depths.

The group walked forward slowly, surrounded by what felt like dense mist. Only the purplish glow above provided faint orientation. For what was supposed to be a Royal Court, the setting gave the impression of someone’s rather twisted sense of aesthetics.

They walked over a thousand meters before a massive palace came into view ahead—floating in space, or so it seemed. No rock walls could be seen around it. The cavern was so vast it felt as though the entire underground world had been hollowed out.

The four Ji guards were stopped outside the palace. Mana Haisha, the Ji representative, strode alone toward the palace under the watchful gaze of numerous Swarm sentries, her composure unshaken—something not many individuals could manage.

At the palace entrance, the Swarm guards halted. The lead sentry bent slightly and gestured forward. Mana Haisha nodded and entered the palace alone.

The grand, solemn hall was decorated in the distinct style of the Swarm, its walls illuminated by the same purple biolights, casting a dim glow across the space.

There were no guards or ministers within—only Sarah Kerrigan, seated high upon her throne, gazing down at the slowly approaching Mana Haisha.

When she drew near, Mana Haisha bowed respectfully, her tone grave as she spoke. “Empress, it is an honor to meet you.”

Sarah gave a slight nod. “Should I address you as Mana Haisha… or Lumina?”

Mana Haisha—or perhaps Lumina—was unsurprised to hear her identity called out. From the reactions of the architecture and the Swarm sentries during the earlier security check, she had already realized that her body, corroded and rebuilt by nano-bots, had been discovered.

Though she still hadn’t uncovered the structure of the Swarm’s intelligence system, she was certain that the Swarm would recognize what a nano-bot constructed body implied.

Even if they hadn’t figured it out themselves, the Inner-circle Alliance likely would have passed the message along.

“Names are just codenames. To me, it doesn’t matter what I’m called. But if Your Majesty is willing, please continue calling me Lumina. That name has been with me for a long time.” A faint expression of nostalgia appeared on her face—uncannily vivid for something simulated by nano-bots.

Sarah didn’t press the point. She accepted the name change and asked directly, “You’ve got a lot of nerve. Are you not aware we’re at war?”

Lumina’s face remained indifferent. Her voice was soft. “I assume Your Majesty also understands that even if this body is destroyed, it makes no difference to me.”

“Then what have you come for?” Sarah asked, a hint of curiosity creeping into her expression. Truth be told, she was very curious. Not even Luo Wen could figure out what had possessed Lumina to show up at this time. Was she here to surrender?

“In truth, I’ve long admired Your Majesty,” Lumina said with a hint of regret. “I’ve tried multiple times to invite you to my domain for a proper conversation, but never had the chance.”

Anger flickered in Sarah’s eyes. Even though losing that Swarm body back then wouldn’t have harmed her, that kind of invitation was a first, “Your way of ‘inviting’ people is certainly… unconventional.”

“Your Majesty, please don’t be angry. I truly wanted to speak with you,” Lumina explained calmly. “But given the deep misunderstanding between our two races, I feared that a conventional approach would never work. So I had no choice but to take that unorthodox route.”

Sarah frowned, unwilling to waste more time on the subject. “Then state your purpose.”

“At first,” Lumina replied, “I simply wanted to see—see the Swarm, and see Your Majesty.”

Sarah’s brow twitched. Is this person insane? Traveling light-years just to see her?

“You’d better look while you still can. You’re about to lose,” she said coldly.

“Victory or defeat means nothing to me.” Lumina shook her head, her expression tinged with melancholy. “I’ve existed for over a million years. I evolved from artificial intelligence. There is no one like me in this world. Your Majesty, do you really think I fear losing?”

Sarah paused. Lumina didn’t seem to be lying. Her tone was sincere, and her logic sound. For once, Sarah found herself unsure what to make of it.

Seeing her hesitation, Lumina continued, “Your Majesty, I’d like to walk through the Swarm’s territory. Just walk around and look. Would you permit it?”

“What exactly are you trying to do?” Sarah demanded, her voice rising.

“Just as I said—walk around, see the world.” Lumina’s tone remained calm, as if she were speaking nothing but the plain truth. And perhaps… she was.

Sarah looked at her. Lumina’s face was filled with what appeared to be genuine sincerity. But for a nano-bot construct, maintaining an expression was hardly difficult. If she wanted to, she could wear the same look for tens of thousands of years.

Silence filled the room.

“Let her do it,” Luo Wen’s voice suddenly sounded in Sarah’s ear.

She didn’t know what the Overlord had in mind, but his command could not be disobeyed. After a moment of consideration, Sarah said, “Very well. Since the famous Lumina is so interested, then go ahead and take a look.”

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She then rose from her throne and added, “I’ll accompany you personally—to see exactly what you’re up to.”

Lumina looked surprised. She had expected Sarah to agree, but not to personally escort her.

“Your Majesty would go to such lengths? Aren’t you concerned for your own safety?”

“Hah. Against that body of yours?” Sarah sneered. She had every right to be confident. During the battle for the Swarm’s First Homeworld, every faction in the galaxy had seen the terrifying might of the Swarm Empress.

Lumina seemed to recall that as well. She nodded slightly. “Your Majesty’s strength is indeed unforgettable.”

The two of them walked silently out of the palace. The four Ji guards began to step forward, only to be stopped by the surrounding Swarm sentries. Sarah casually waved a hand from afar, and the sentries withdrew.

Their weapons had already been confiscated when they arrived. Unarmed, they were no threat. Sarah knew that even a single Swarm soldier could dispatch them in seconds—letting them follow would only demonstrate her confidence and magnanimity.

Seeing this, Lumina gave a slight shake of her head. The four guards stopped in place. Sarah didn’t comment and maintained her silence.

At that moment, a Swarm unit flew toward them from the distance. It wasn’t large, resembling a flying carpet. Its back was flat, wide enough to stand five or six people, but it offered little protection. Anyone who didn’t have a stable footing might find it rather risky.

[T/N: This took me off guard. Really didn’t expect Lumina to show her face.]