Chapter 181: Invasion
Deep beneath the Moon’s desolate surface, in a vast, cold chamber, the Krill Harvest Leaders gathered. These were the regional overlords, each responsible for the "harvest" of human essence from their assigned planetary sectors. They were dressed in noble reptilian attire, their scales glinting under the dim, alien lights. Chancellor Shuda’dar, his form large enough to dominate the central platform, addressed them, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. The leaders had been notified for a critical meeting, an unscheduled summons that had sent ripples of unease through their ranks.
"Lords and Apostles," Shuda’dar began, his voice solemn, "I have received critical information directly from the capital."
Murmurs rippled through the assembled leaders. They hadn’t received any information from the capital other than increasing harvest quotas, a constant, gnawing pressure. This was different. This was personal.
Shuda’dar let them murmur, allowing the gravity of his words to sink in. "His Highness, King Vurmak, King Vanak, King Krinak, and King Lashrak... they spoke to me personally." He paused, letting the weight of the four kings’ direct involvement settle. "His Highness has given information that his Majesty, Emperor God Mainu, is personally coming to Earth."
A wave of fear, bordering on panic, swept through the Harvest Leaders. Their expressions twisted, their scales paling. The Emperor? Coming here? It could only mean one of two things: a rare, ceremonial visit, which was highly improbable given his reclusive nature, or the worst-case scenario.
Shuda’dar continued, his voice dropping to a grave whisper. "The imperial reserves, our accumulated essence, was given to His Majesty the Emperor, due to his insatiable hunger for Anu-blood. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for His Majesty. He consumed it all, and is now personally coming to our primary farm."
Chaotic murmurs erupted. They knew of the Emperor’s escalating hunger. The recent, desperate increases in Anu-blood essence quotas were a clear indication. The worst-case scenario had begun.
Shuda’dar clapped his hands sharply, the sound echoing, bringing a semblance of order. "We cannot tolerate this much longer! The hunger of the Emperor has threatened the very survival of our species! The time will come where the Emperor will not crave human blood anymore, but ours!" This chilling pronouncement sent a fresh wave of fear through the room, bordering on outright panic.
Shuda’dar shouted for order again, his voice now ringing with a desperate, rallying cry. "Which is why we are tasked with great honor and the ultimate survival of our species. The four great kings have tasked us to initialize the Final Harvest Protocol. We will harvest Earth, and then we will escape. Away from the eyes of our gluttonous Emperor. We will establish new farms across distant star systems, ensuring the future of the Krill!"
He pointed a clawed finger at the holographic map of Earth. "Any resisting humans will be eliminated, but the harvest is paramount. We must prevent any nuclear detonation until the harvest is done. Such primitive weapons would spoil our precious cargo."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over each leader. "You are to work together in this challenging task. Our timeline must be met in twelve Earth months. His Majesty the Emperor’s coming is estimated in four Earth years. We will take the remaining time on our arc ships to travel far away, so that our race’s demise will be avoided. The 54th and 55th Battle Fleets will be assisting us in this eventful task. The humans will resist. We must not tolerate humanity’s self-destruction, lest they leave us no choice. Collect as many humans as possible. May we pass the eternal flame!"
The Harvest Leaders, their faces now a mix of fear and grim determination, rose in unison, their voices resonating through the chamber. "May we pass the eternal flame!" They turned and strode out, a new, desperate purpose in their movements.