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墨書 Inktalez
New Era of Humanity in the Apocalypse
This worm has a unique scientific name: Sticky Worm. Mature Sticky Worms are covered in pits and depressions; although they look grotesque, when prepared as a delicacy, many humans praise their texture, comparing it to crispy chicken.
However, this is also a type of livestock that is fostered on human farms, and they are quite easy to raise. If fed just once a week, these worms are indeed very easy to cultivate, and even with such infrequent feeding, they can still gain weight remarkably well.
They are evidently easier to care for than traditional livestock like chickens, ducks, or geese. It sounds absurd to consider such worms as livestock, but the purpose of bringing in the Sticky Worms is likely quite clear.
"Do you want us to tell you its location?" one of the inspectors asked.
"No, I think I have a rough idea of where it is. I can smell it," Nosty replied, shaking his head before moving closer to the Sticky Worm.
Although the Sticky Worm is a type of livestock, it is rarely allowed to be seen by humans. They are kept confined behind gates and only fed at designated times. These Sticky Worms can endure hunger well, but as time passes, their appetite becomes astonishingly large; when they reach maturity, each one consumes about thirty pounds of leaves at a time.
Clearly, if these worms continue to eat like this, they would exhaust the nearby foliage long before they were satisfied. No one believes they can only be fed once a week; if food is plentiful, who wouldn't indulge?
Moreover, they are truly terrifying omnivores when it comes to their food sources. Sometimes, out of desperation or prolonged hunger, they will even turn on their own kind. A few might share one Sticky Worm to minimize casualties. To facilitate this process, they are fitted with special shackles that only allow them to open their mouths during feeding. The iron chains on their bodies form a mechanical matrix that applies pressure; the more resistance they show, the stronger the pressure becomes. The only way to counteract this force is to give up resistance and follow human instructions. Aside from experiencing hunger, these worms are otherwise well cared for and treated like breeding stock, waiting day after day for growth.
Interestingly enough, during the mid-stage of maturity, these worms have an exceptionally tender texture reminiscent of pork belly. Some targets have a crispiness akin to crispy chicken, especially when prepared as gourmet dishes featuring gem-like meat that is an irresistible temptation.
Thus, Sticky Worms are typically harvested for their lives during this mid-maturity stage; consequently, they remain a highly sought-after source for kitchens every day. Even immature ones are sometimes rushed into sale.
After all, the price per pound for this worm's meat is significantly lower than that of chicken. Skilled chefs can prepare these meats to achieve textures comparable to chicken, duck meat, or beef.
Perhaps this is the only redeeming quality of such insects. Although people despise bugs, they will always prioritize food, especially since this particular insect can solve the residents' hunger problem. In comparison, their terrifying hatred for the Zerg has diminished significantly.
This is what they call turning conflict into harmony. However, humanity still tends to focus on the bigger picture. Confronting these Insectoid beings has always been driven by a singular thought: to eradicate them. It’s either their extinction or humanity becoming the Zerg's subjugated servants.
In fact, whether humanity can avoid a fate similar to that of the Sticky Worm depends entirely on their current defenses and the strategic vision of their commanders.
"I have a general idea of what it wants. It's hungry. You’ve bound it with mechanical chains and stuffed its mouth to reduce its eating frequency, but this type of insect grows by consuming food. Feeding it a vegetarian meal once a week will only slightly alleviate its appetite. Moreover, this insect is truly carnivorous; your definition of it is far from accurate. It’s hungry and needs meat—do you believe that?" Nosty said as he lightly touched the iron chains, a thought suddenly bursting into his mind.
That was the name of this insect and its current desire. Although this was his first instinctive thought, some things cannot be resolved just by his will. The only way to free it would be to wait until it reaches mid-maturity; at that point, perhaps it would meet its end in a slaughterhouse, transforming into a delicious meal on the table—made into strings of cured meat, canned goods, and the precious gem-like flesh formed from years of vegetarianism. These are all valuable food reserves.
"Hahaha! It’s hungry! The Beast Tamer told us how long it has been since it last ate," Flat-Top Auditor pondered for a moment before responding.
"Well, it's been about two weeks, right? It's starving; can’t you see how thin it is?" The Beast Tamer beside him suddenly speculated as he checked the time.
Everyone was taken aback; no one had known this information beforehand. How could this man know? He had merely touched it and understood the situation. However, this alone does not prove he possesses any special mind-reading abilities; thus, this test cannot definitively conclude that he has passed.
"Do we need to continue testing? I know that just one test can't determine if my abilities are real. You can keep asking questions; I don’t mind." Despite saying this, the other auditors turned to look at their Leader.
The Leader pretended to cough softly and continued with a smile, "It's not as simple as you think. I don’t believe you have this ability. If you pass the upcoming assessments, then we can conclude you’ve succeeded; it's too early for conclusions now. Show me his report; I need more precise testing results."
"Captain, his results have come in!" An auditor rushed in from outside, holding a report form that resembled a medical report from a hospital.
The leader hadn’t expected the report to arrive so quickly; he had just called out for it. This efficiency is impressive! After thinking for a moment, he nodded and gestured to take the report form from the auditor's hand. "Alright, you can go now."
The Beast Tamer over there seemed to understand the situation immediately. He increased the current on the electric baton, holding one end of the chain attached to the Sticky Worm while using the baton to strike at its weak points. The sound of its roars echoed through the area as he forced it to move forward.
At first, the Sticky Worm appeared dazed from hunger, but after the surge of electricity, it seemed to regain some spirit. After crashing into a corner of the wall, it gradually stabilized. "You beast, slow down! If you break anything, I'll make you pay with your flesh! You filthy creature, die already! Keep moving and stop playing dead!" The Beast Tamer shouted, swinging the electric baton again. However, no matter how hard he struck, the Sticky Worm lay motionless on the ground, lifeless and starved to death, while two weeks had passed since its last meal.
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