Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 208: A Scene from the Struggle for Royal Power - The Old King

Within just a few hours, the mimicry scout insects had spread to every corner of the capital, and the information they returned surprised Aburame Shisei.

This seemingly magnificent mobile kingdom actually has a population of just over three thousand.

More than half of them were soldiers and artisans, while the rest were nobles, their families, and slaves plundered from various islands.

Most of the buildings in the city are of mixed stone and wood structure, with only a few core buildings using metal materials.

It's less of a country and more of a large village perched on a giant mobile platform.

"However, the level of technology is indeed quite high."

Aburame Shisei stared at the images transmitted by the surveillance insects: simple steam pipes were laid between the streets, and complex gears and transmission devices were running inside some buildings.

The soldiers' weapons can fire energy beams, which, while not as powerful as ninjutsu, are far superior to ordinary swords.

What concerned him most were the warriors known as the Holy Knights. They wore armor inlaid with Regel Stones, which could draw upon the energy of the crystals to construct shields or amplify their attacks.

The strongest leaders are roughly equivalent to peak Chunin, and when equipped with armor, their destructive power rivals that of Jonin.

"That's about the standard."

Aburame Shisei lost patience to continue observing.

He was preparing to appear and take direct control of the palace when suddenly, deafening shouts of killing erupted in the distance—a coup had begun.

Minister Kai was clearly unwilling to wait any longer. News of the old king's serious illness had been circulating for quite some time, and he feared that the longer he delayed, the more the princes would join forces against him. So, on the afternoon of the day Aburame Shisei arrived, he made his move without hesitation.

Soldiers loyal to Kai suddenly launched an attack, charging straight for the palace. The knights supporting Prince Alphonse fought back fiercely, and the two sides clashed in the square in front of the palace.

Energy beams crisscrossed, weapons clashed and roared, screams and roars intertwined, echoing across the sky.

Aburame Shicheng stood aside, observing coldly. On the battlefield, Kai's soldiers had a numerical advantage, but the Holy Knights under the Second Prince were even stronger. The two sides were deadlocked, and casualties rose rapidly.

Just as Kai's troops were about to break through the defenses and reach the palace gates, the heavy palace gates slowly opened.

The second prince pushed a wheelchair and slowly walked out. Sitting in the wheelchair was an elderly man with white hair, a hunched back, and a sallow complexion, but his eyes were as sharp as knives.

It was the old king who was rumored to be seriously ill and on his deathbed.

The moment he appeared, the sounds of fighting ceased abruptly, and everyone froze in place.

Kai's expression changed drastically, and the princes were also shocked and then panicked.

The old king's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, finally landing on Dina, then looked at the soldiers beside her who were being controlled by insects, and sighed softly.

"Everyone's here? Did you come to see how I die? Too bad, you'll be disappointed."

He looked at the second prince, Alphonse, beside him. Alphonse was a young man with blond hair, blue eyes, and a resolute face.

"Alphonse, I warned you long ago. Your kindness will ultimately become the poison of the kingdom. Your brothers and this 'loyal' minister are all hidden dangers and must be completely eliminated."

Alphonse's lips moved slightly, but he ultimately lowered his head: "Father...I..."

The old king stopped looking at him and gently raised his withered arm.

A heavy, drum-like crawling sound came from deep within the palace.

Three enormous creatures slowly emerged, covered in beetle-like shells, their compound eyes gleaming crimson, and their mouthparts dripping corrosive mucus.

Its size is comparable to that of a small spirit beast, and every step it takes causes the ground to tremble violently.

"Biological weaponry..." Shisei Aburame narrowed his eyes.

These giant insects bear obvious signs of modification, with Regel Stones embedded in their carapaces, and their energy fluctuations are extremely powerful.

"These are guardians I nurtured using ancient techniques," the old king said with a hint of pride. "Now, I will show you the true power of the kingdom."

The moment the giant insect joined the battle, the situation instantly reversed.

They charged wildly, and the attacks of ordinary soldiers could not even leave a mark on their armor.

The energy beam that struck him only caused a faint ripple.

Several commanders of the Holy Knights stepped forward to stop them, but were swatted away by the giant insect's claw, their armor shattered, and they collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood.

"Help!"

"Your Highness, save me!"

"Lord Kai, please save us!"

"Your Majesty, we surrender!"

The chaos lasted only a moment before the ordinary soldiers blocking the way were slaughtered by the giant insects, their blood and limbs scattered all over the ground.

Only a few knight commanders clad in Regel's Stone Armor could barely put up a fight, but the number of giant insects was simply too great.

Several battalion commanders fought desperately, yelling warnings: "Your Highness, run—"

Unfortunately, even without their reminders, Kai and the princes already knew that the situation was hopeless, and they all tried to break out with their confidants.

Unfortunately, this moving island is only so big. Even if they escape, where can they escape to?

The old king did not order a pursuit, because at that moment, there was an even more troublesome matter at hand.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the direction where Aburame Shisei was standing.

"Outsider, were you sent from the mainland to hunt us down?"

Aburame Zhicheng slowly walked over and said, "Actually, you're not that important. The mainland has long forgotten about you."

"Forgot?" The old king scoffed, his laughter dripping with sarcasm. "We took away the greatest secret of the entire ruins! How could anyone easily forget something like that?"

"Believe it or not," Aburame Shisei said, too lazy to explain further. "I have no interest in your past. I'm here only for the Regel Stone."

Upon hearing this, the old king's eyes instantly turned icy: "Then there's nothing to discuss. Kill him!"

The three giant insects turned around at the same time and pounced on Aburame Shisei!

Yu Nu Zhicheng stood motionless. Only when the first giant insect rushed close and opened its huge mouth to bite down did he slowly raise his foot and gently kick it.

"Bang--!!"

The giant insect's massive body was sent flying backward as if hit by a cannonball, crashing heavily onto the palace wall. Half of its body was embedded in the bricks and stones, its carapace shattered, and corrosive slime splattered everywhere.

The entire room fell silent.

The old king stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief.

"A physique at the Chunin level, with the strength of a Jonin. This kind of insect might be able to dominate on Giant Insect Island, but in my insect swarm, it would be fit to be a patrolling soldier at best."

"Who...who exactly are you?!" The old king's voice trembled.

"I've had enough fun."

Yu Nu Zhicheng raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

"The swarm of insects has descended."

In an instant, countless poisonous insects surged out from his sleeves, his bosom, and even the shadows beneath his feet, blotting out the sky.