Chapter 292

Chapter 292: Motherly Love and Filial Piety

"That’ll work, that’ll work."

"Perfect for selling to them, hehe."

Trilobite comfortably curled up and snored away in Mrs. Toothfish’s home,

smacking his lips while asleep.

He dreamed.

In his dream, he bought various accessories for his spawn.

Of course, thanks to the System, the actions taken in the dream and the Chaos Energy spent counted for real.

"This one, maybe…"

"Hmm… just a bit pricey."

"Costs 100,000 Chaos Energy."

Trilobite stared at an upgrade project, pondering.

The upgrade project had three words—【Endosymbiosis】.

"Endosymbiosis, huh."

"Like the relationship between mitochondria, chloroplasts, and cells."

Biology’s mainstream view holds that mitochondria and chloroplasts aren’t our cells’ original organelles, but outsiders entering through engulfment—or even voluntary inclusion.

Mitochondria were likely bacteria seeking shelter within ancient bacteria membranes. Chloroplasts? Probably cyanobacteria swallowed but undigested by ancient bacteria, choosing symbiosis instead.

Naturally, this skill suited…

"My microorganisms spawn."

"After this upgrade, they could find work inside other large animals?"

"Not a bad idea."

Trilobite figured his microorganisms spawn entering other "large animals" for "work" gave them a decent home.

Those "hired" large animals gained benefits too—a win-win.

Plus…

Trilobite noticed small print beneath 【Endosymbiosis】—【This project doesn’t affect the bond between spawn and host.】

"So, physically present but mentally elsewhere?"

"Even inside another’s body, their loyalty stays with me?"

"Huh, might prove useful later."

Trilobite estimated his microorganisms spawn numbered in the tens of millions at least.

This upgrade benefited all "spawn," making 100,000 Chaos Energy absolutely worthwhile.

"Fair value for sure."

"Alright, you’re the one!"

"Endosymbiosis!"

Setting aside all doubts, Trilobite gritted his teeth and bought 【Endosymbiosis】 for his microorganisms spawn!

"Great!"

"The work is finally done, I can get some good sleep!"

"Ah—ugh…"

Trilobite buried his head under his body. To keep outside changes from disturbing his sleep, he used the "lungfish sac" he’d bought earlier to seal the cave entrance.

All traces of his presence were completely blocked off.

He could sleep soundly, without any worries.

It felt just like home, not caring at all about Mrs. Toothfish and her daughter struggling to find the entrance and get inside.

—-

"Boom—!"

The clash between deities was incredibly spectacular!

The huge, long divine bodies suddenly smashed into each other, stirring up massive waves in the Ether Sea. The waves crashed against the already broken "Predatory Tree bulb"!

"Hurry—!"

"Everyone, huddle close!"

Only the Giant God’s "Chosen Warriors" and Purity Officers could still survive the waves in this mess.

Of course, as the avatars of the Giant God’s kindness, they couldn’t just think about their own safety.

"Hurry! Grab my hand!"

Sylvia shouted and quickly grabbed an engineer’s hand, pulling him into the huddled group.

To stop everyone from getting separated, they formed a "human ball."

Mortals stayed inside the "human ball," while the Solar Knights linked hands in their thick armor as the "shell," shielding against debris flying wildly in the Ether Sea.

The force field on the armor turned on, keeping some air inside the "human ball."

"Bang… Bang… Thud…"

The Primal Mud and other messy debris hit the "Chosen Warriors’" shell, making dull thudding sounds.

"But, Purity Officer, this isn’t working!"

A chosen knight said worriedly.

"If this keeps up, we’ll get scattered apart!"

"And we’re moving farther from the ‘Holy Tree’!"

Sylvia shook her head.

"Don’t worry about how far we are from the Holy Tree, we need to hold onto something…"

"That one!"

Sylvia pointed to a fragment of the Holy Tree floating in the etheric liquid; that piece was about a hundred meters across, big enough for everyone in the "human ball."

"Chosen Ones warriors!"

"Activate the power backpacks!"

"We charge ahead!"

At that moment, the decisive battle between the colossal deities continued!

—-

"Roar—!"

Ether Dragon Clodius roared in anger.

"Who dares to disturb me?"

"I, the great Clodius, unleash my wrath on these pitiful bugs!"

"Do you not know that my endless anger will shift onto you?"

"Do you not know that I, Clodius, am the Emerald Shadow, the strongest son of the powerful Cassius Tiberea, and her transcendent…"

"Huh?"

Clodius abruptly halted his arrogant introduction.

Because he finally saw the true identity of the newcomer!

Those dazzling, beautiful emerald green scales!

That long, graceful body!

"Mother!?"

"You…"

Emerald Shadow, Cassius Tiberea, also looked at her long-absent son.

"Hehe…"

"You’ve really grown powerful."

"And now, you still need to announce your mother’s name to back you up. In mortal terms…"

"Haven’t you been weaned yet?!"

"You little brat!"

At that moment, Clodius first took a surprised step back, then a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes.

"Mother, do you also like this shattered Bubble World and plan to nest here?!"

Tiberea shook her head.

"No, but there is something I need here."

"Hiss…"

Emerald Shadow felt the chaotic ether currents brushing against her nostrils, sensing the aura flowing with the water!

It was exactly the same as the scent of the flesh expelled by that strange "monster deity"!

"That’s right, it’s right here!"

"I need this place intact!"

"So… my foolish child, if you don’t want to be culled by me, scram!"

Ether Dragons strictly followed the ways of "filial piety."

Mothers commonly drove half-grown offspring from the Nest, and showed no mercy eliminating those who returned to compete for territory.

Of course, offspring also had precedents of expelling aging parents—even delivering fatal bites to seize their domains.

In their eyes, the weak deserved culling; only the strong earned the right to claim territory and continue their legacy!

Granting weak offspring swift death was "mercy"—sparing them from hunts by the Chaos Demon God and other deities. This was parental "love."

Giving feeble elders a glorious end—rather than letting them wither into lifeless stones from old age—was the ultimate dignity.

With such instincts, Clodius was never one to back down.

"Mother!"

"You left the Nest, yet your condition remains… pitiful!?"

Ecstasy surged from Clodius’s core, fermenting into…

"Hahahahaha…"

The young Ether Dragon stared at his mother and roared with laughter.

"Perfect!"

"You delivered yourself to me, Mother!"

"Don’t blame me!"

"This… is the perfect moment to slay you!"

"Killing a titled kin means I’ll gain a title too!"

"Hahahaha…"

"ROAR—!"

His laughter twisted into a drawn-out, vicious draconic shriek as Clodius lunged at his mother.

He bared his fangs toward her!

"Heh…"

"Let’s see if you’ve improved since leaving the Nest, whelp!"

"Tiberea! Fall back!"

Emerald Shadow charged toward her son—not with maternal warmth, but…

"SWISH—!"

She whirled around, her massive tail smacking Clodius’s snout!

"CRACK—!"

"GYAAH!"

Clodius howled, tumbling backward with eyes rolling white.

Before he recovered—

"CHOM—!"

Teeth sank into the back of his skull!

With blinding speed, Emerald Shadow bit down on her offspring’s nape.

Then Tiberea wrenched savagely!