The Zerg: I’m Not a Mutant

Li Ruishun died. A car crash left him mangled beyond recognition, and when he opened his eyes again, he was floating in a life-support pod as a little insect. Before he could process the strange surroundings or the shock of being reborn after death, he had become Airui. “Airui.” A graceful man lifted him gently into his arms and murmured his name. This was his “father,” Fu Er'an. Airui adored Fu Er'an, but only until he was five months old. He had just learned to roll over when Fu Er'an's gamma-X38 experiment and the undisguised murderous intent in his eyes sent a chill from Airui's head to his toes. Li Ruishun was afraid, so he pretended to be good and cute, throwing tantrums and rolling around. That man was a consummate actor, watching him like it was all a show. By the time Airui was old enough to remember things, Fu Er'an had become a “good father” again. Year after year, Li Ruishun pretended to grow up obedient and considerate. He knew everything he was fed was wrong, yet swallowed it without changing expression. He knew he had to keep up the act, playing the part of a “devoted father and filial son” and a “loving family.” But when he was five, Fu Er'an took him out of that basement, and he saw the vast technological civilization and cities of the insect race. For the first time, he found the ambition and courage to escape. He fell out with Fu Er'an. Once, twice, three times, Li Ruishun failed. But it wasn't all for nothing. Standing amid the ruins, Li Ruishun thought spitefully that Fu Er'an was nothing but a pitiful insect, putting on a lousy act. “Airui.” Fu Er'an was as gentle as ever. He cradled Airui's pale, limp face, his icy fingertips brushing his throat. “What are you trying to do?” What was he trying to do? A blaze of fury burned in Li Ruishun's chest. He said nothing and squeezed his eyes shut. He clearly remembered the first time he realized he was different from the other insects. Hesitantly, he had taken his tail hook to Fu Er'an and asked him, “Why... why do I have one when you don't?” Fu Er'an kissed his forehead. His assessing gaze swept over Li Ruishun's slightly tense expression before he soothed him. Li Ruishun rubbed against Fu Er'an's shoulder, but what came next was something he would never forget. “You're mutated, child. You're a malformed specimen.” “You've grown a tail hook that doesn't fit the physiological structure of your species. Your spine is malformed, too.” “...Your tail hook looks disgusting to outsiders, and your body is revolting as well.” “Your mutated, malformed development has left you physically weaker than even a low-level, bottom-dwelling insect.” “Airui, it's all right.” Fu Er'an kissed his hair with a hint of pity and malice. “Your female father will always be here for you.” Li Ruishun's hands stiffened around his tail hook. After a while, he said, “Oh... I'm hungry.” “What are we having for dinner? I don't really want nutritional supplement. Can I have something else?” Later, Li Ruishun discovered that he really wasn't Fu Er'an's egg. He was the egg of Fu Er'an's sworn enemy! Talan was head of the Luohelubao family and also served as president of the Grand Council of the Capital Star System. His second egg had died. It had been a male insect's egg, and Fu Er'an was to blame! After tracking down Fu Er'an's whereabouts, he joined forces with Meisiseer, military chief of the Southern Tail Military District, to relentlessly hunt him across the Black Hat D9 star system. He even once pinned down and killed Airui, Fu Er'an's secretly conceived female offspring, born from illegally frozen sperm. Then he learned that Airui was the very egg he had confirmed dead... After escaping Fu Er'an and arriving on Gangge'er Star, Airui used every means at his disposal to take control of the entire southwestern district. Then, caught off guard, he was arrested and brought to the Capital Star to stand trial. In open court, tests revealed that the accused insect was actually a high-level genetic noble. Judge: “...!” Genetic testing also revealed that Airui was a genetic match for Talan, president of the Grand Council. The officials of Talan's faction: “...!” Note: The early part of the story focuses mainly on family relationships. The love interest barely appears at first, but will feature frequently once the protagonist is close to adulthood. Airui is not a malformed specimen. He is a male insect. Fu Er'an made up the lie to keep Airui under his control. The main plot begins in Chapter Five. “This is a fictional setting unrelated to reality. Please don't draw parallels to real life.” Theme: Growing stronger through hardship