I Am The Swarm-Chapter 787: Disappointment
Although the Swarm’s forces were gathering, the vast distances of space made a blitzkrieg impossible. From the time the Swarm assembled its units to when they could launch an attack, it would take at least three to four years.
With that kind of time, the New Ji Race could arrange their defenses with ease. And based on previous discussions, it was clear they had no intention of opening the first external battlefield.
A surge of energy rippled through the void as the XM768 Star Gate, dormant for some time, began once again to absorb the energy seeping out from the surrounding star systems.
Two months later, the Star Gate activated. According to plan, warships carrying large numbers of New Ji personnel began their withdrawal. Meanwhile, the ships now fully controlled by artificial intelligence pointed their cannons outward, holding the line with strict vigilance. Inside the gate, patrols by mechanical warriors increased in frequency, and the remaining units were in a constant state of readiness, prepared to awaken and engage at any moment, in case the Anti-Ji Alliance tried to stir up any tricks from within.
However, since the New Ji Race had only just begun the evacuation, the number of troops was still high. Even if the Anti-Ji Alliance were to seize the gate, they would have a hard time holding it. As such, the defensive pressure faced by the New Ji Race was not yet great. The real test would come when their forces were nearly fully evacuated.
After nearly two years, the New Ji Race’s evacuation efforts were nearly complete. The XM768 Star Gate and the surrounding defense forces were now devoid of living personnel—only automated mechanical units remained.
At this point, the Swarm’s main force was still ten light-years away. It would take them another two years to reach this location.
Destroying the Star Gate wouldn’t take long. The New Ji Race had pre-installed a large number of remote-controlled explosives on the gate to ensure it could be destroyed when needed. Some within the New Ji Race suggested taking advantage of this setup—using the abandoned ships to engage the Swarm in a brief skirmish, baiting them with hope, only to blow up the gate at the last moment.
This plan, using discarded ships to spite the Swarm, was highly tempting—especially for a race that had long suffered humiliation at the Swarm’s hands.
But that was the extent of its effect, and there remained a small but real risk of failure. To err on the side of caution, the New Ji Race ultimately gave up on this tempting idea and decisively destroyed the XM768 Star Gate.
The New Ji defense fleet pulled back to avoid being caught in the blast radius. After the gate’s destruction, these ships would become a mobile force, roaming freely to cause trouble for the Anti-Ji Alliance.
During the retreat, all Star Gate warning systems were activated, and every mechanical soldier was awakened. Under Lumina’s control, the chance of rebellion was virtually zero.
And with no living personnel left inside the gate, the risk of internal betrayal was physically eliminated. The New Ji Race had, from a material standpoint, completely shut down any possibility of the Anti-Ji Alliance taking the Star Gate from within.
Still, before the gate was destroyed, this was the Anti-Ji Alliance’s final chance. Who knew what trick they might attempt?
But even as a dazzling explosion lit up the void and the shattered remains of the gate scattered in all directions, the Anti-Ji Alliance remained completely still.
“They just gave up that easily? It’s a bit unbelievable.”
So many unexpected events had occurred over the years that the New Ji Race hadn’t experienced a flawlessly executed plan in ages. The fact that everything went so smoothly this time felt strangely unreal.
“Nothing to be surprised about. All the unexpected outcomes in the past stemmed from our lack of understanding. This time, everything was firmly under our control. I honestly couldn’t think of any opening they could’ve exploited.”
“That’s true. The Swarm aren’t gods. We just didn’t understand them well enough. After this, we should regain our confidence.”
“But I still feel something’s off. This whole move by the Swarm—it’s not their usual style. I still think they’re hiding something.”
“Whatever their scheme, the Star Gate is destroyed. That’s a fact. They can’t use it for anything anymore.”
“Maybe their goal all along was to get the XM768 Star Gate destroyed. After all, taking a gate without shedding a drop of blood could be considered their most glorious achievement in decades.”
“Hah, well, you’re not wrong. Maybe they’ve gone so long without real victories that they needed a small win to boost morale.”
Even so, a question lingered in everyone’s minds—did the Swarm even need something like morale?
In truth, the smooth destruction of the gate left not just the New Ji Race feeling surreal—it even caught the Inner-circle Alliance off guard.
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The Swarm had caused a huge spectacle. Thirty star systems participated in this operation. Countless eyes had been watching, curious to see how the Swarm would seize the XM768 Star Gate and what kind of clash would erupt between them and the New Ji Race.
After all, though there had been a prior war involving the Swarm Empress, it hadn’t been on a large enough scale to satisfy onlookers. People had placed great hopes on this confrontation—if it played out spectacularly, it would give other races something to talk about for the next few decades.
But unexpectedly, the New Ji Race showed no intention of fighting. They evacuated their people and blew up the gate themselves—completely chickening out. That said, such a move had been anticipated. There was no reason to believe the Swarm wouldn’t have considered it.
So everyone assumed the Swarm must have had a contingency plan. All eyes remained on them, waiting, hopeful the Swarm would unleash some new black-tech marvel—just like in past Swarm wars where they created miracles out of impossibility.
But now it seemed that miracles were still as rare and aloof as ever—not something that could be summoned at will.
“The Swarm definitely miscalculated this time. The New Ji Race played them for fools and gave them a serious slap in the face.”
“Heh, maybe the Swarm just doesn’t care about saving face.”
“Exactly. The Empress’s been sealed outside for over a hundred years. If they cared about face, that ship sailed long ago.”
“But this move really does feel unlike the Swarm’s usual tactics.”
“And what do you think their usual style is?”
“Deliberate planning before action?”
“Pfft, I thought you were going to say ‘playing dumb to lure the tiger.’”
“Whichever it is, recklessness never seemed to fit the Swarm.”
“True. But maybe they’re just trying out a new style. After all, with the Empress roaming in exile, command may not be as efficient.”
“Nonsense. This whole war was launched by the Swarm Empress to return. She’s right there.”
“Maybe this is the Swarm Empress’s style. Perhaps the previous wars weren’t commanded by her personally. Who knows? Instead of worrying about that, we should focus on the real front lines.”
“Exactly. Our side is the real battlefield—the one that will shape the future of this galaxy.”
