The Tough Guy Forced To Become The Broodmother - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: First Encounter with the Zerg

In an instant.

Astra’s dark eyes lit up, and a trace of surprise appeared on his usually indifferent face.

“What is it?” Eros asked.

Astra didn’t speak. He glanced at the surviving bodyguards nearby. His black stinger pierced their bodies; in a single second, the guards melted into black venom before they could even scream.

Astra looked up at Eros. “He has Mother’s scent on him.”

“Impossible!” Eros snapped.

“The second one,” Astra added calmly.

Eros felt as if he were being choked. “How is that possible… is the world going mad?”

“He’s nearby,” Astra stated.

Samoyed instinctively realized they were talking about Luo Jia. Er-Ha had already lost his will to fight; if he didn’t want to become a puddle of black water, he knew he should be begging for his life right now.

In a fit of reckless bravery, Er-Ha shouted, “Alaskan! Take Luo Jia and run!” He lunged forward and bit Astra’s trouser leg.

Alaskan leaped up and bolted for the exit.

The next second, both Alaskan and Samoyed were pinned to the ground.

Eros finally deigned to look at them properly. “Mother’s little pets?”

Astra nodded, though his gaze toward Eros held a hint of warning.

Eros sneered. “Do you think I’d kill them? I’m not an idiot; I don’t want Mother to hate me.”

“I wasn’t sure,” Astra replied.

“I won’t take that risk,” Eros said.

Astra was about to say more when he suddenly sensed a wave of fear radiating from “Mother”—and it was very close. He shot out of the room instantly, leaving Eros in the dust.

The back of Luo Jia’s neck felt hot and swollen. Nearby, a Beastman sniffed the air. “What’s that smell?”

Luo Jia stumbled forward, only to be blocked.

Two dark-skinned men, tall and sturdy as mountains, stood in his path. They were far larger than the Sled Three Idiots. One of them had a thick, jagged scar across his face. No beast traits—he was human.

Not someone to mess with.

Luo Jia assessed the situation, hoping he could still run. His eyes turned fierce. “Move.” His hand gripped the hilt of his dagger.

“Haha. Look at this, isn’t it Luo Jia?” The scarred man reached out to touch his face. The other man stood still, watching.

Luo Jia’s heart sank. These were people from the original owner’s past.

“Hey, Scar, don’t we have things to do? Don’t waste time here,” a familiar voice spoke from behind.

It was A-Luo.

Scar spat on the ground and glared at him. “Last time, this little bitch ran off with my Star Credits before I could even get him in bed. I’m not letting him go today. A-Luo, if you talk any more, you can either pay his debt or—hehe—take his place.”

A-Luo raised his hands and backed away. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Satisfied with A-Luo’s submission, Scar turned back to Luo Jia. “Hey, now it’s your turn.”

Luo Jia turned to bolt.

Scar grabbed his cloak. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Let go of me!” Luo Jia spun around and bit Scar’s arm. Blood sprayed instantly.

“You brat!” Scar raised his other hand to strike Luo Jia’s face.

Luo Jia closed his eyes.

The pain never came. Instead, he felt something warm and wet splash across his face. He opened his eyes to see that Scar’s raised arm was gone from the elbow down. Scar stared at his stump in shock before he realized what happened.

“AAAAHHH—!” Scar collapsed, clutching his arm and rolling on the ground. A second later, something invisible sliced his throat, and he fell silent.

“ZERG!!!”

That one scream sent the entire street into a stampede. Within moments, the area was deserted.

Luo Jia, terrified, slumped to the ground.

The sound of crisp footsteps on the pavement drew his attention. He looked up. A handsome man in a white military uniform was walking toward him. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and cold, with eyes like a lifeless abyss. He stood silently, gazing at Luo Jia.

Luo Jia stared back. Behind the man trailed a hard, flexible, black scorpion tail.

A Beastman?

Luo Jia clutched his chest. Why did his heart feel so strange?

The man with the scorpion tail studied him for a moment, then his expression softened. He dropped to one knee and gracefully extended a hand covered in a pristine white glove.

Confused, Luo Jia placed his hand in the man’s. A faint smile flickered in the man’s eyes. He pulled Luo Jia’s hand toward him and kissed his fingertips.

“Finally found you. I am Astra.”

“Huh?” The spot where he was kissed felt like it had been branded. Luo Jia pulled his hand back. “Thank you for saving me, but… you might have the wrong person. Sorry.”

“Impossible. Mother, we have finally found you.”

Luo Jia looked up to see another pair of leather boots. A youth stood there with striking pink hair and a flower tucked behind his ear. His peach-blossom eyes were full of mirth. He bowed elegantly. “Hello, Mother. I am Eros.”

Luo Jia couldn’t help but stare at the flower. What kind of bug is this one?

Astra said, “Eros, take care of the others.”

Eros replied nonchalantly, “Understood.”

“Take care of?” Luo Jia said quickly. “What are you going to do? A-Luo is my friend, don’t hurt him.”

Astra sighed. He picked Luo Jia up and settled him on his shoulder. “Rest easy, Mother. We won’t do anything bloody. Come, it’s time to go home.”

Luo Jia resisted. “No, no, no, I’m a human…”

Eros giggled. “You might have been human once, but not anymore. Humans don’t have fangs that can pierce skin. Mother, just come back with us quietly.”

Luo Jia: “I have friends… I can’t leave them.”

Eros asked, “Those three dogs? What a headache. If you really want to keep them, I suppose we can allow it.”

Luo Jia was shocked. “No, we’re friends!”

Astra steadied Luo Jia on his shoulder. “Mother, what will it take for you to come with us?”

Luo Jia: “…I won’t.”

Eros blinked. “That’s not an option, Mother. If we leave you here to wander, someone will eat you up just to have a taste of your beauty.”

Luo Jia hesitated. If Astra hadn’t saved him just now, he would have been in real trouble. He was also confused—he was supposed to have great strength, but what happened back there?

Seeing his hesitation, Eros added, “If there is anything you need, just ask. We will fulfill every wish.”

I don’t need anything… Then Luo Jia remembered the Sled Three Idiots and their desire to go home. He asked tentatively, “I’ll go with you, but can you promise me one thing?” He added, “Since I’m ‘Mother,’ you’ll listen to my request, right?”

Astra took Luo Jia’s hand and kissed it again. “Your wish is our command.”

Luo Jia knew his fate with the Zerg was sealed, but he could at least get something for his friends. “My three friends want to find their collars and their master. Please help them leave this place.”

Astra frowned. “Is that all?”

Luo Jia nodded. “That’s all.”

Eros laughed. “That’s easy. Are you sure you don’t want to wish for more?”

Luo Jia shook his head. “Just that.”

Astra kissed his fingers once more. “As you wish, Mother.”