Chapter 87: The Grand Battle (1)
The new Queen Ants were divided into three types.
The first type, the rarest, was designated for military campaigns, serving as commanders of the army. Since they were not required to lay eggs, their reproductive capabilities were minimized, and their musculature and body size were enhanced, slightly improving their mobility and self-preservation abilities.
The second type of Queen Ant was the standard version previously utilized by the swarm. These were balanced in capabilities, capable of both laying eggs and retreating from bases or joining the army when necessary. They also made up the majority of the Queen Ant population.
The third type of Queen Ant had been genetically modified with newly acquired genes, altering their abdominal egg-laying organs. By sacrificing mobility, they could produce a significantly greater quantity of eggs at a much faster rate. Consequently, these Queens were stationed deep within the swarm’s territory.
Luo Wen planned to establish several breeding bases, each housing hundreds of this third type of Queen Ant to centralize larva production. They would mass-produce specific insect species according to Luo Wen’s orders.
For example, during peacetime, these Queens primarily focused on breeding various Worker Ants. Once the larvae matured, they were transported throughout the territory. During wartime, however, these bases would become major staging points for deploying troops.
Over the following weeks, the third-type Queen Ants gradually matured, leading to an explosive growth in the swarm’s numbers.
Additionally, during this period, the swarm mastered the cultivation of “mushrooms.” This new crop could effectively clear dead branches and leaves in the territory. It grew easily, produced abundant yields, and had already been widely promoted.
Meanwhile, instead of completely mimicking the architectural style of the Yellow Bugs, the swarm adopted the multi-vent design favored by Big-headed Ants for better heat dissipation.