The Zerg Monarch’s Path to Godhood - Chapter 8

As the cold voice faded, the livestream chat finally quieted down. Wen Qi had started his broadcast at 6:00 AM while it was still dark. By the time he finished reading the five stories, the sky had begun to brighten.

The rotation speed of every planet was different. Compared to some worlds that received less than an hour of sunlight a day, this planet was relatively fortunate. Wen Qi closed the livestream and looked out the window just as the sun was rising.

The sun was a brilliant red, and as it crested the horizon, it chased away the lingering chill in the air. Wen Qi withdrew today’s star coins from the platform, stowed his terminal, and carefully audited his assets.

He had not spent all of his time livestreaming these past few days. He had ventured out to purchase some high-quality medicine. Although the quantity was small, it had cost a fair amount of star coins. Excluding those expenses, he now had a total of over four million star coins, including today’s earnings.

It might not be enough to succeed, Wen Qi thought, lowering his eyes.

However, he still had one use of his Suggestion ability today.

If all else failed, he had the Emerald Sound Stone and the isolation device. With multiple layers of security, he would only resort to his final method if absolutely necessary, and he truly preferred not to use it.

Wen Qi dressed himself, injected a scent suppressant, and ensured his disguise was flawless before leaving the rental apartment.

Blue Planet 6 was neither particularly large nor small. Gu Nan was a famous figure across the sixteen territories of the Zerg race. Consequently, many Zerg had traveled here specifically to witness the auction. This modest capital city on a trash planet was currently teeming with people, looking more like a bustling metropolis than a wasteland.

Taking a flyer to the auction house, Wen Qi saw a vast crowd. Among them were factions that had once been hostile to Gu Nan, high-ranking Females who had failed to court him in the past, and those simply looking for a spectacle. He knew all this thanks to the Star Network. In an era of advanced technology, finding information was effortless.

At the entrance of the auction house, two Sub-Females were verifying assets. They looked gentle, but their power levels had both reached A-rank.

Because so many wanted to see Gu Nan, the venue could not accommodate everyone. The first step was a financial check. Wen Qi’s assets were not high on a galactic scale, but for this planet, they were significant. He passed the check easily and found a seat.

At 9:30 AM, the auction officially began. After a series of bizarre items were sold, a cage was brought onto the stage.

“Everyone!” The Sub-Female auctioneer smiled and gestured toward the cage. “This is our third-to-last item of the day.” His voice was high and filled with an infectious excitement. “A C-rank Female.”

The auctioneer looked at the Female in the cage with a hint of greed and began a dramatic introduction: “As we all know, Females are extremely rare on our Seven-Color Sequence planets, especially those of C-rank. This Female was originally from the Capital Star but fell into the hands of star pirates. To save his own life, he lured over ten C-rank Females, five B-rank Females, and even an A-rank Female into the pirates’ lair, leading to their deaths.”

“Once the pirates were caught, they surrendered him. The Female Protection Association has confirmed his crimes and sentenced him to be a slave female for life, with no chance of restoration.”

“You do not need to worry about the psychological burden of winning him. You can even play with him until he breaks. He has already been struck from the Association’s records.”

As the last words fell, the hall erupted. Bids flew fast, and the Female was soon sold for three million star coins. Had this not been the remote Blue Planet 6, the price likely would have been several times higher.

The atmosphere was electric.

“Next is our second item,” the auctioneer said mysteriously. “Even as a Male, I find this item irresistible. Please look at our second lot: a Sub-Female.”

Another cage was pushed out, containing a Sub-Female in red clothes with white hair. He did nothing but cast a single glance across the room, yet he radiated charm. His slender physique was even more beautiful than a pampered Female. The Females in the audience immediately perked up. Following the auctioneer’s passionate pitch, the Sub-Female was sold to a Female for three million star coins.

As the bidding ended, Wen Qi opened his clenched hands and realized his palms were soaked with sweat. He had tightened his grip the moment those two were brought out. His throat tightened. He had to admit he was nervous.

He was afraid the final item would be Gu Nan, yet he was equally afraid it would not be. He looked at the auctioneer, his heart a chaotic mix of agitation and panic.

The auctioneer smiled mysteriously. “Now, for our main event. I believe you all know what this is.”

This time, the auctioneer said nothing more. He simply clapped his hands. As the sound echoed, the floor opened, and a large frame rose to the stage.

It resembled a drying rack but was much thicker, with iron supports the size of a Zerg’s thigh. It sat on wheels with a thick iron bar crossing the top. A black cloth draped over the frame, concealing the figure within. The auctioneer stepped forward and whipped away the cloth, exposing the figure to the crowd.

It was a robust, green-haired Male. His hands were bound together and hoisted high so only his toes touched the ground. His white clothes were reduced to tattered rags. Bright red blood seeped from his body, sliding down his clothes to drip from his toes, forming a dark crimson pool on the floor.

The Male’s head hung low. He appeared to have fainted. He did not stir even as the cloth was removed. Two jagged sword wounds pierced the massive, silver-white bone wings extending from his back, nearly severing them entirely. His wingtips had also been slashed, hanging only by a shred of skin.

He looked like a broken, senseless doll. The auctioneer reached out, grabbed his hair, and forced his bloodied face upward.

In the audience, Wen Qi froze the moment Gu Nan appeared. He stared blankly at the unconscious Male being displayed so callously, feeling his heart skip a beat. An overwhelming sense of disbelief surged within him. Looking at the battered Male being handled so roughly, Wen Qi’s eyes involuntarily reddened.

Was this my protagonist?

The question rose in his mind and immediately became a certainty. This is him. Even without having met him, Wen Qi knew. Green hair, green eyes, and silver-white bone wings are the unique hallmarks of his protagonist. This was the character he had written, his best friend who had accompanied him through his darkest times.

Seeing him like this, Wen Qi’s eyes burned.

Perhaps the rough movement aggravated his wounds, for the Male on stage twitched his eyelids. In the next second, Wen Qi saw those enlarged green eyes, the eyes he loved so much, on the screen behind the auction block.

The spark he had bestowed upon those eyes was gone. There was only vacancy and gloom. The owner of those eyes seemed to have lost all will to fight. He had resigned himself to his fate. Even facing a crowd of Zerg eager to buy him, his eyes remained dead, filled only with ashen numbness.

How did it come to this? Wen Qi thought blankly. This character was supposed to remain confident even in the face of a thousand hardships!

Wen Qi’s fingertips trembled. His seat was close to the stage, allowing him to clearly see the emotions on the projected face. The impact hit him like a tidal wave, crashing against his heart.

A pearl covered in dust, his wild spirit extinguished.

The phrase pierced Wen Qi’s heart like a needle. He felt a sharp pang of pain, his nails digging into his palms. After the initial shock, a hatred deeper than anything he had ever felt surged through him.

His protagonist, his friend, had been humiliated to this extent by a transmigrating Task-Taker from another world. This was an intolerable insult.

His intense emotions left his eyes bloodshot. He stared at his protagonist, unable to look away for a long time. Whether by coincidence or something else, the Male on stage seemed to look in his direction as well.

The moment their eyes met, Wen Qi forced himself to calm down, though his internal hatred only grew.

Expulsion? No, that was not enough. If the Task-Taker wanted to drive someone to death, why could he not, as another transmigrator, do the same? How could mere expulsion be enough?

The Task-Taker must die. He had to pay for what he had done.

Fuming inwardly, the veins on Wen Qi’s hands bulged, yet he forced himself to rein in his emotions. He knew that outbursts were useless now and that he could not afford to act recklessly. There were likely minions of the Task-Taker here. He could not show any inappropriate emotion, even seeing his protagonist in such a state. He had to endure.

I must endure!

Wen Qi stared at the Male on stage, his eyes unblinking.

The auctioneer, sensing the excitement of the crowd, offered no flowery descriptions. He tilted Gu Nan’s face up and said, “Everyone knows who this is, so I will not introduce him further. However, please note: this Male was originally SS-rank. Unfortunately, a year ago, the Emperor ordered an attack on him for disobedience. His rank plummeted. According to our tests, his current rank is only C.”

“He is not very cost-effective. He is heavily injured. He might not survive two months after you take him home. However, there are perks. Owning him will bring you immense prestige. If you are interested, please bid.”

“The auction starts now.”

“Starting price: one star coin.”

Wen Qi tuned out the rest of the speech. The moment the auctioneer said C-rank, his heart shuddered. He looked at Gu Nan. Previously, he had been too focused on the injuries to notice, but now he saw the glaring C on the display. He had never found a letter so piercing.

Gu Nan. His protagonist. An SSS-rank character. Now, only C-rank.

Was it a rank drop? No, Males do not suffer rank drops in that sense. It meant Gu Nan’s injuries were so severe he could only exert C-rank power. And it had been a year since the incident. He had carried these injuries for a year without anyone caring for him.

How dare they!

Wen Qi gritted his teeth, his eyes red. His hands were clenched so tightly in his sleeves that his nails drew blood. His entire body trembled.

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, the bidding began.

“Two star coins.” “One hundred.” “One thousand.” “Ten thousand.” “Twelve thousand.” “One million.” “One million one hundred thousand.”

When the price reached 2.55 million, the voices began to falter.

The auctioneer asked, “2.55 million! Any higher?”

“Three million,” Wen Qi said coldly, forcing down his emotions. He immediately widened the gap.

“Very well! This gentleman bids three million! Any higher?” the auctioneer cried.

“3.1 million.” Not far away, a young master from the Lin family frowned.

Wen Qi’s expression remained unchanged. “3.2 million.” “3.3 million.” “3.4 million.” “3.5 million.” “3.6 million.”

Young Master Lin’s frown deepened. He turned to look at Wen Qi and said unpleasantly, “Sir, the Lin family of the Capital Star wants this Male. I hope you will give me some face. 3.65 million.”

Wen Qi replied, “I like him too. 3.7 million.”

Feeling insulted, Young Master Lin snapped, “3.8 million.”

Without blinking, Wen Qi followed up, “3.9 million.”

“Four.” Just as Young Master Lin was about to bid again, a Male beside him stopped him. “Master, Gu Nan is broken. He is not worth this much.”

“He has dropped to C-rank. His life is basically over. Buying him is not only useless, but you will also have to support him.” The Male spoke quickly, appearing to have the young master’s best interests at heart. “If you really want him, you could always pay the winner to have him for a night. He really is not worth this. Look, the other young masters stopped bidding once it crossed two million.”

As the Male spoke, a glint flashed in his eyes, vanishing as he looked back at the young master.

A Sub-Female beside Young Master Lin thought for a moment and added, “Master, he is right. Besides, Gu Nan has been here for six months and looks like a ghost. His loyal subordinates are a headache too. If something happens to him while he is in our hands, we will be the ones blamed.”

Young Master Lin hesitated. After a long pause, he glared at Wen Qi and gritted his teeth. “Four million. If you bid again, he is yours.”

Wen Qi glanced at him and said without hesitation, “Four million and one star coin.” He then looked at the young master. “Are you going to add more?”

He looked ready to continue the fight indefinitely. As he spoke, he activated his Suggestion ability. No one noticed his lips move, but in that instant, Young Master Lin’s eyes glazed over.

The room went silent. No one expected that after the bidding wars of 50k and 100k increments, Wen Qi would only add a single coin after the young master’s ultimatum, and then proceed to provoke him.

The haze in Young Master Lin’s eyes cleared. He said directly, “He is yours.”

Only after saying it did he snap out of it and frown. Those were not the words he had intended to say. He had wanted to keep bidding after the provocation, but since he had already conceded publicly, he felt he could not take it back. He suppressed his frustration and accepted the loss.

The auctioneer was the first to recover from the dramatic conclusion. “Final lot! 4,000,001 star coins once, twice, three times! Sold!”

“Congratulations to this gentleman for winning the final lot.”

As the gavel fell, Wen Qi saw Gu Nan’s gaze sweep over him. The look in those eyes grew even darker. His expression was more hopeless than before. Seeing this, Wen Qi’s cold mask finally shattered.

Gu Nan should not be like this.

Wen Qi stood up and walked toward the stage, his steps hurried with a panic he did not even realize he was showing.

In the audience, the Zerg who were about to leave stopped and watched him intently. The auctioneer noted Wen Qi’s agitation and joked, “It seems this gentleman is very fond of his purchase! Very well, I declare this auction a success. We look forward to seeing you again.”

As the auctioneer spoke, Wen Qi reached Gu Nan’s side. He had always thought of himself as a rational person, but looking at Gu Nan now, he could not lie to himself. He cared for this character, cared so much that he had unconsciously exposed himself to danger. Seeing Gu Nan’s disheveled state, Wen Qi’s eyes quietly turned red. His frantic heart grew more chaotic, though he still had enough presence of mind to realize where he was so he did not try to seize the character by force.

The bound Male shifted his eyes slightly, and Wen Qi met those green depths. He was stung by the desolation within them. Every emotion eventually settled into a profound, aching pity. Wen Qi could not believe this was the character he had created. His body trembled. He could not imagine the torture required to break the pride and confidence of the Male he had written.

He could not bear to look into those eyes any longer. He reached out uncontrollably and gently closed the green eyelids. His voice trembled as he asked, “Are you willing to come home with me?”

The words were incredibly soft, laden with a weight of unspoken emotion. The soft audio was picked up by the equipment on stage and broadcast throughout the entire hall.

The already quiet room grew even more silent. All eyes were on Wen Qi. Some Zerg showed disdain, some interest, and some were thoughtful, but none of it mattered to Wen Qi. He touched the character as if he were a precious treasure, his movements slow and his face filled with emotion.

“Sir, for the sake of the auction, this slave has not been fitted with an electric collar. You should be careful,” the auctioneer said, frowning in disapproval. “I understand your excitement, but he might hurt you.”

“It is fine.” Wen Qi realized he was surrounded and forced himself to calm down. Looking at the bound Gu Nan, he wanted to release him, but the chains were locked. He looked at the auctioneer. “Unlock him. I am taking him.”

The auctioneer shook his head. “Sir, we will deliver him to you. But since he is leaving our house, we must perform a series of security protocols. Otherwise, we would rather auction him again than let you take him. This is for your safety. Please understand.”

The auctioneer spoke seriously, and several robust Males appeared, staring at Gu Nan. It seemed that if Wen Qi refused, they would immediately strike down the threat to ensure Wen Qi’s safety.

The auction house did indeed have an obligation to protect its clients. Faced with this implied threat, Wen Qi had no retort. His fingertips shook. His protagonist…

No, he could not take risks. Wen Qi, stay calm.

He had already saved Gu Nan. He could not push him back into the abyss. Furthermore, he had already exposed too much of himself today. If he persisted, both he and Gu Nan would be in danger. Wen Qi lowered his eyes and apologized silently to Gu Nan, not daring to look at him again for fear he would lose control and try to free him.

He was still too weak, so weak that he had no power to decide anything. The determination to become stronger had never been as intense as it was at this moment.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and looked at the auctioneer. “I was over-excited just now. I will follow the auction house rules. Thank you.”

He paused, realizing he had strayed from his persona. He did his best to retract every surface emotion as if his earlier outburst had been a mere illusion. His gaze returned to the sharp, guarded look he had when entering the city.

The auctioneer waved his hand, and two tall Males pushed the frame backstage. Wen Qi prepared to follow, but the auctioneer made a gesture for him to wait. “Sir, please come with me to settle the payment first.”

Wen Qi’s worry was overflowing, yet he could show nothing. He followed the auctioneer and paid. About fifteen minutes later, two robust Males pushed a cage in front of him. Gu Nan was sitting cross-legged inside. Compared to before, there was now a red collar tight against his neck. If it were to tighten further, Wen Qi did not dare think about it.

The auctioneer stood beside him. “Please tell them where you live. They will deliver him to your home.”

The refusal was on the tip of his tongue, but seeing the auctioneer’s serious face, Wen Qi did not dare say a word. “I will lead the way.”

Wen Qi returned to his rental apartment at his fastest speed. The two Males settled the cage, handed the key to Wen Qi, and left in a hurry. As soon as they were gone, Wen Qi opened the cage.

Inside, the Male sat cross-legged, his face dim and a sickly pale white. There was blood on the corners of his mouth, giving him a sort of tragic, abused beauty. His shredded clothes had been replaced with something relatively clean, though even these were stained with blood, adding to his miserable appearance.

He seemed to be in very poor shape, remaining silent and motionless throughout the journey from the auction house. As the cage door creaked open, he opened his eyes.

This was the third time, and the only time, Wen Qi had met those eyes directly. Those green eyes seemed capable of seeing through a person’s soul. The first two times, Wen Qi had been too afraid to look closely due to guilt and heartache. This time, he did not look away. He reached into the cage toward him.

As his dark-stained hand entered the cage, a gentle, nervous voice broke the silence of the room. “Gu Nan, come out.”

The voice was light, filled with trepidation and care, but it was enough for the Male to hear. The young Female was tense, his eyes red as he tried to show his goodwill.

“I will not hurt you. Do not be afraid.”

Wen Qi did not know why, but as he approached, that swelling, aching feeling in his chest returned, more intense than ever. The tears finally spilled from his red-rimmed eyes and slid down his cheeks. “Come out, please. Do not be afraid.”

The sob in his own voice startled him. He wiped away the tears with the back of his hand and held his hand out firmly to Gu Nan.

The Male in the cage stared at the tears for a moment. An unknown emotion rose within him. By the time he snapped out of it, he found he had instinctively reached out and placed his hand on the Female’s.

Tears fell again, but Wen Qi smiled through them as he guided Gu Nan out of the cage. His expression was focused and tender. In that moment, Gu Nan felt as though every word used to praise a Female could be applied to the one before him.

The thought lasted only a second before being heartlessly crushed.

The Male slowly crawled out of the cage that had barely been large enough for him to sit in, his movements small and humble. Wen Qi’s eyes burned again. Seeing Gu Nan out of the cage, he could not help but step forward and gently embrace him, murmuring through his sobs, “I am sorry, Gu Nan. I am so sorry I was late.”

He felt a wave of relief. “Thank goodness you are still here.”

The Female holding him did not notice the Male in his arms stiffen. A flash of thought crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by a piercing, icy coldness.

Gu Nan narrowed his eyes.

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