I Am The Swarm

Meanwhile, in the Riken Star System, the Swarm’s two Megaliths had self-destructed and plunged into the star, completing their annihilation without leaving a trace for onlookers to examine.

However, the seemingly redundant and over-the-top maneuver by the Swarm didn’t escape the notice of certain attentive observers. As they analyzed the data collected from the event, they were surprised to find anomalies—some energy signatures appeared to have simply vanished, as if they had been obliterated.

The unusual data sparked debates among these interested parties. One faction argued that the Swarm must have done something and that an investigation was necessary to uncover the truth. The other faction dismissed the concern, suggesting that the proximity to the star likely caused data inaccuracies.

Even if the Swarm had been up to something, they reasoned, it wasn’t worth overreacting—what could the Swarm possibly accomplish with their level of technology?

Luo Wen was unaware of these debates, much less their eventual outcome. He was focused solely on executing his carefully laid plans.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the new galaxy’s political and military dynamics, the Swarm accelerated its evacuation following the Megaliths’ destruction.

Over 60% of the Swarm’s forces in the Riken Star System had already withdrawn, though their departure had been spread over more than a decade, carried out in small, stealthy batches under optical cloaking. As a result, most outside observers still had little idea of the Swarm’s true numbers.

At the Solar Orbital Base, which housed nearly 40% of the Swarm’s remaining forces in the Riken Star System, things were different. Previously, these forces had clustered together in an unassuming, sunbathing formation, drawing little attention.

But as they began their mass exodus, a seemingly endless procession of Primordial-class units stretched across millions of kilometers. For many onlookers, it was the first time they truly comprehended the Swarm’s sheer scale.