The Omega Becomes The Zerg Queen - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Unlocking the First Card

Outside the training room, Zephyros stood as still as a stone statue, his deep gaze fixed on the sealed door.

What were the King and Phelan doing?

Time felt like heavy seawater, pressing down until one could hardly breathe. Just before he reached his limit, the metal door was pushed open from the inside.

The King and Phelan walked out, one after the other.

Zephyros stepped forward to salute, his focused gaze immediately falling upon the King. Her white shirt was neat; the buttons weren’t misplaced despite the darkness, meaning it likely hadn’t been undone inside. Her neat ponytail was slightly disheveled, her pale face flushed with a layer of crimson, her lips moist, and her expression wore a look of satiated contentment.

Was the King… that satisfied with him?

Sour jealousy turned into a double-edged blade. One side stabbed into his own heart; the other side, he wanted to plunge deep into Phelan.

Zephyros looked grimly at Phelan. His former comrade walked slowly behind the King, the white silk scarf still tied perfectly over his eyes. Unlike the King’s tidy attire, he looked much more disheveled. His white shirt and black trousers were messy, the honey chamber on his collarbone was red and swollen, and the surrounding skin was scattered with mottled water stains and red marks.

He looked like he had been toyed with ruthlessly. Yet, he didn’t seem embarrassed at all; instead, he stood tall with his head held high, projecting an air of composed triumph. It was as if his intimacy with the King was the natural order of things.

Utterly shameless!

Sensing the murderous gaze, Phelan untied the white scarf. His crimson eyes, swimming in a hazy mist, gave Zephyros a fleeting glance.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Zephyros.” He flashed a provocative smile. “Apologies, the King was so satisfied with me that we spent a bit extra time.”

“It wasn’t long,” Zephyros countered, his tone serious as he glanced sideways at him. “In fact, I think you were quite fast.”

Seeing Phelan on the verge of losing his temper, Zephyros took a step forward and lowered his head, saying in a low voice, “I am willing to wait for the King for as long as it takes.”

“I have you to thank this time, Zephyros,” Su Lili said with a nod of gratitude. “If you hadn’t arrived, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Despite the fact that it was their incompetence that put the King in danger, the King did not punish him; she thanked him instead. The King was so kind, so benevolent.

Zephyros’s eyes flickered with a watery light, and his heart squeezed tight. “Please allow me to escort you back to your chambers.” He dropped to one knee, making an inviting gesture.

“Very well,” Su Lili agreed. This suggestion suited her perfectly; though her mental energy had recovered, she felt exhausted.

“And what about me, Your Majesty?” Phelan squeezed in front of Zephyros, looking like he was about to burst into tears. “Is Your Majesty going to discard me now that you’ve finished using me?”

A massive bone wing swept forward, the sharp edge grazing Phelan’s cheek as it blocked him behind the wing. Zephyros spoke with dissatisfaction: “To sacrifice yourself for the King is your honor. Or are you saying you weren’t willing?”

“Of course I was willing!” Phelan replied aggrievedly. “I just want to stay with the King a bit longer.” He glared at Zephyros. “And you—are you jealous of the King’s favor toward me, so you’re deliberately twisting the truth?”

“I have no such intention,” Zephyros said coldly, looking straight ahead.

“Enough.” Su Lili rubbed her aching temples, cutting them off. The exhaustion from mental overexertion was hitting her; she just wanted to sleep. “Zephyros, please take me back to my room. Phelan, you go back to your own quarters first.”

A flicker of a smile appeared in Zephyros’s eyes. Without waiting for Phelan to respond, he scooped the King up with a powerful arm around her waist. The bone wings on his back vibrated, and he soared into the air.

High in the sky, the contrast of the man’s dark skin against the girl’s snow-white skin created a striking visual. The strong airflow made their clothes rustle loudly, and Su Lili’s soft black hair brushed against Zephyros’s cheek. Beneath his white hair, his sharp golden eyes were filled with determination.

So what if he had a honey chamber? The King still chose him.

The King was so beautiful, kind, and merciful; it was impossible for her to have only one attendant. He tilted his head, his lips grazing her floating hair. Phelan, Lucius, or whoever else—he didn’t care. As long as the King was willing to keep him by her side, he was content. They could all be the King’s inns or toys.

But he… he wanted to be the King’s home.

System: Zephyros Affection: ★★★★★, Loyalty: ★★★★★. Congratulations! You have successfully unlocked the “Zephyros” card. Rewards are ready. Would you like to check them now?

It’s done? Su Lili’s pupils dilated slightly as she turned to look at the man beside her. His sharp jawline was tensed. Sensing her gaze, he looked back with focused, earnest eyes. At such close proximity, she saw her own reflection in his pupils.

“What is it, Your Majesty?” he asked softly.

“Nothing.” The gentle golden eyes were easy to drown in. Su Lili looked away; she couldn’t exactly tell him she was wondering why his affection level suddenly maxed out.

“Mmm,” Zephyros hummed in response. He adjusted his hold slightly to make it easier for the girl in his arms to see. “Do you see?”

Su Lili turned her face. The man had already reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The palace, carved from white marble and ornate gold, was beneath them. From above, the magnificent buildings looked like ivory-embossed circles.

“Yes, that’s the bedroom,” she recognized quickly. “Let’s go back fast.”

“Fast?” Zephyros tightened his arms, lightly weighing the girl in his embrace. She was so light and soft. “Does Your Majesty wish to try the true flight speed of a dragon?”

The sudden feeling of weightlessness in mid-air made her heart skip a beat. She instinctively hugged Zephyros’s neck, burying herself in his chest for security. The tiny girl pressed against the man as if they were made to fit together.

Zephyros’s smile widened. “Here we go.” With a flick of his bone wings, he dove toward the ground.

As the lords of the sky, the speed of a dragon is nearly unrivaled in the universe. Under the high-frequency vibration of his wings, their movement left almost no afterimage. Su Lili held onto him with everything she had, her white fingers leaving scratches on his shoulder blades and her slender legs gripping his waist. She didn’t dare look up, keeping her face buried in his neck.

She said she wanted to be fast, but this was too fast!

After what felt like a century, a deep voice spoke near her ear. “We have arrived, Your Majesty.”

“Oh,” Su Lili hummed slowly, lifting her head. Because her skin was so thin and pale, any pressure left a mark. Because she had pressed her face so hard into his shoulder to keep from screaming, her forehead, eyes, and nose were now flushed pink. Her dark eyes were misty with tears.

Zephyros’s gaze landed on her lips. Because she had been so nervous, she had bitten her lip, leaving a deep mark where her pearly teeth peeked through. His eyes darkened. He rubbed his thumb over the mark, pressing down firmly to smooth it out. The soft lip yielded under the pressure, and the mark faded. Satisfied, he pulled his hand back, surreptitiously rubbing his slightly damp fingers.

He held her waist, intending to help her stand. But Su Lili squirmed, her legs hooking tighter around his waist as she clung to his neck. Her white skin pressed against his black combat gear like melting frosting.

“My legs are weak,” she whispered, her voice still trembling. “Carry me inside.”

Zephyros chuckled lowly. The vibration of his chest traveled into her own. Su Lili’s ears burned. What’s he laughing at? She wasn’t like him; she’d never flown like that before. It was his fault for accelerating so suddenly, and now he was laughing?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. As an Omega raised in luxury, she had never been treated like this. She bared her small tiger teeth and bit down on the man’s throat. She completely forgot that she was the one who told him to be fast.

…

Back in his room, Phelan was busy. In front of a red-framed floor mirror, he was admiring his honey chamber from every angle. The pale pink had turned into a deep, ripe peach color. The tip was slightly open, the golden honey having been sucked clean. Because the girl had been so eager, there were deep red marks on the surface.

He traced them with his finger, but it wasn’t enough. He went to the window to find the best light and took several clear photos of the marks. Then, he opened his Star-Brain and sent them to his recent contacts: Zephyros and Lucius.

Zephyros replied almost instantly. Zephyros: ? Phelan: The marks of the King’s favor. How are they? [Smile.jpg] Phelan: Aren’t they beautiful? Jealous? Do you have any? Hehe.

Zephyros: [Photo.jpg] In the photo, the man’s prominent Adam’s apple was highlighted, and the bite marks on his neck were even more conspicuous. The teeth were small and neat, but the tiger teeth had pierced deep. It was clear the person who left them had used a lot of force.

Phelan: ? Zephyros: The King bit me. Zephyros: Hehe Smile.jpg.

Phelan’s next message was blocked by a red exclamation mark. A mechanical voice reminded him: “Sorry, you have been blacklisted by the recipient.”

Zephyros smiled with satisfaction and screenshotted the block to keep as evidence of Phelan’s lack of “comradely affection.” Such a heartless bug deserved to be ignored. He then forwarded the history to Lucius.

…

In the Holy Temple, Lucius sat on his white carved bed. His gaze moved from his Star-Brain to the white indoor shoe in his hand. The sweet scent on the shoe had faded, but it was still his most precious treasure.

He knew exactly what the photos from those two meant. He had only just left, and they had already been graced by the King’s favor? His green eyes dimmed with sorrow. Zephyros was steady and reliable; if the King favored him, Lucius was at peace. But what was Phelan? Just a broken-minded trash bug. Being able to brew honey was a blessing; how dare he dream of serving the Majesty?

He couldn’t let the King be misled by such a shameless bug! Lucius moved to sit up, but then slumped back. He stared at the shoe. Hadn’t he promised not to interfere with the King’s decisions? The King was young and liked to play; playing with these bugs didn’t matter. When she grew up, she would know who truly suited her. By then, these bugs would be discarded, and he would still be her right-hand man, her High Priest.

But… his fingers tightened on the shoe, leaving deep marks in the soft material. He wasn’t reconciled. They could all be near her. Why couldn’t he? What if, he thought, what if she doesn’t actually mind? What if she could accept me?

…

System: Lucius Affection: ★★★★☆, Loyalty: ★★★★★

Su Lili rolled around on her massive bed. Today was a huge harvest. Phelan and Lucius’s affection had grown, and Zephyros’s card was fully unlocked. The fully unlocked card face had changed: the neat white uniform was now hanging off his arms, his tie pulled aside to reveal a broad, honey-colored chest. On the edge of the card, the girl’s skirt was pulled up to reveal a white thigh and a gold leg ring. She had one foot pressed against the man’s firm thigh. The man was kissing her calf, eyes closed. It was a very ambiguous scene.

A pink gift box with a yellow ribbon was bouncing on the screen. System: Rewards for “Zephyros” card are ready. Check now?

“Check.”

The box exploded into confetti. A new skill appeared: Space Leap (Cooldown 30 days): Consume mental energy to teleport to another location. Distance depends on mental strength level. Note: You have already experienced the speed of the Dragon Clan.

Su Lili studied the skill. It was useful, though the cooldown was long. It would be great for escaping or surprise attacks. Along with the skill came a “Stamina Enhancement Potion” in a glass bottle.

It looked like shimmering silver liquid. “Can I really drink this?” she wondered. “I won’t be poisoned, right?”

Hmph, the system’s cold voice replied. System products are always premium.

She opened it. It smelled like sweet vanilla ice cream. She closed her eyes and downed it in one gulp.