The Fallen Male Zerg's Self-Cultivation

Born a rebel, an absolute menace, and an attack who pursues freedom all his life VS a believer who refuses to follow blindly, both a hopeless romantic and a man in power, the receiving partner (Iris)

Title: Freedom's Fall

Setting: An insectoid society with many females and few males. Includes original worldbuilding, but is not an extreme male-dominant society.

***This is a fictional setting with no connection to reality. Please do not apply it to real life.***

Synopsis:

Qilian is a high-ranking male insect. Every day, the first thing he thinks about after waking up is how to start a rebellion.

This world is always telling him that the greatest worth of a male insect lies in his worth to female insects. Qilian dislikes this idea.

While in the Federation, Qilian once achieved what was supposedly the "greatest outcome": his partner was a Federation general.

But he didn't want that outcome, and personally sent his partner, who should now be called his ex-husband, to the guillotine.

After arriving in the Empire, he has another chance at the so-called "greatest outcome," since he and Iris, the Empire's highly sought-after major general, share a secret past. Their genes say they are fated to be together.

But he doesn't want that outcome either. Instead, he becomes an online celebrity and plays a game with the masses: "Be my lover for a week." He becomes the dream lover of tens of millions of insects.

The traditions of polite society have no idea what he is thinking.

He could have lived comfortably as a pampered caged bird and taken the broad, easy road, but instead he insists on choosing ruin.

It seems rebellion is the theme of his fate.

Qilian doesn't deny it, but he would correct them: rebellion is only a means to achieve his goals.

Only he knows what he wants, and what he wants most is what he can't have: freedom, justice... His fate is defined by longing for what he can never attain.

He is determined to fight authority to the bitter end.

So he takes up the executioner's blade once more, turning it on the maggots who seek to lock male insects back in their gilded cages.

Just as he is about to go too far to ever turn back, a hand suddenly grabs him from behind...

Qilian turns around. The owner of that hand is Iris...

*

The Federation government surrendered, and the Empire emerged victorious.

At the founding of the new Empire, a secret trial was held in the tribunal of the imperial capital.

The defendant was Qilian Reeves, a male insect and former lieutenant in the Federation's expeditionary forces.

As an interrogator in the intelligence division of the defeated nation, he was charged with war crimes and a series of other offenses.

Faced with the charges, Qilian, standing in the dock, pleaded guilty to every one of them.

But Qilian's defense lawyer stood and explained how crucial he had been to the Empire's victory. If he hadn't betrayed the Federation and voluntarily become an imperial spy, the war could never have ended so quickly. His contribution was enough to offset his crimes. He had been a member of the Federation, and much of what he did had been beyond his control.

Before the final recess prior to the verdict, the chief justice asked Qilian, "Defendant, do you have anything you'd like to say?"

Everyone in the courtroom waited with bated breath.

The white-haired male insect, his hands cuffed, held his back straight and said calmly, "You must find me guilty."

Reading Guide and Content Warnings

1. The leads have complicated pasts. The attacking partner is no paragon, is not sexually inexperienced, and has a harem magnet quality. The story includes angst for both leads.

2. The relationship is complicated: they loved... hated... and loved again...

3. The setting includes fantastical insectoid elements that aren't explained through human science.

4. The author's knowledge is limited, so there may be worldbuilding inconsistencies.

5. Both leads grow over time, and each has their own strengths and flaws.

6. ...That's all I can think of for now. I'll add more later.

Recommended only for readers without any content triggers.

Insults and hostile comments are prohibited in the comments. Comments may be deleted at the author's discretion.

Theme: Look beyond appearances to see the truth