Yet, why did Lakshmipati’s memory feel so real? What was truly happening to her now?

  Before Lyna could delve deeper into these questions, the mechanical voice broke through her thoughts again.

  {Queen’s memories successfully integrated into subject’s mind.}

  {Playing the Queen’s final message.}

  Suddenly, within her mind, a figure emerged, radiating warmth and extraordinary majesty. Its presence seemed to envelop Lyna’s soul, providing a sense of comfort unlike anything she had ever felt.

  The figure’s upper body resembled that of a human, with graceful and elegant contours. Her face was captivating, beautiful, and mesmerizing, with a pair of large, black eyes that exuded warmth. Her skin was covered in plates of chitin in deep crimson and emerald green, combining a sense of resilience with luxury.

  Her slender arms ended in claw-like fingers, designed with perfect precision to balance strength and dexterity. The chitin on her arms formed natural patterns resembling the veins of leaves, adding an enchanting touch to her form.

  Her lower legs were insect-like, complete with sharp joints and tiny spines, achieving the perfect balance between elegance and destructive capability. Her head was adorned with large mandibles resembling a natural crown that extended from her head plates, accompanied by long, supple antennae that added to her aura of authority. Her eyes glowed with piercing gold, as if gazing directly into the soul of anyone who dared to meet her gaze.

  She wore what appeared to be a living gown, as if it had grown from her body. This gown was composed of leaf-like structures and softly glowing tendrils, complementing her magnificence.

  The figure stood within a colossal biomechanical hive—a living kingdom filled with alien flora and glowing spores, pulsating with life in perfect harmony with her presence.

  She was Lakshmipati, the Leaf Queen of the Xynomera. A being of unparalleled beauty and wonder, like a living miracle of the universe.

  Lyna, who had once been human, could now feel the love and compassion emanating from this creature who should have been utterly alien to her.

  This warmth reminded Lyna of something she had never experienced. She had never met her mother, who had died giving birth to her. Throughout her life, the only maternal figure she knew was a family caretaker from the Kata household—someone who served more as a servant than as a source of genuine affection. Her husband was also an orphan who had never known his parents. Neither Lyna nor her husband had ever felt a mother's love.

  Yet, as she beheld Lakshmipati’s figure in her mind, Lyna instantly realized one thing: this was her mother in this life. Her presence brought a serenity that pierced through all the turmoil in Lyna’s heart. The darkness and silence that had once engulfed her were dispelled by the radiant warmth emanating from Lakshmipati.

  The pain and vengeance that had gnawed at Lyna’s soul now felt lighter, like a heavy burden lifted from her shoulders. What remained was only peace and calm.

  Unconsciously, the words escaped Lyna’s lips: “Mother…”

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  And as if responding to the call, Lakshmipati’s figure smiled gently and said, “My child…”

  However, just as the urge to embrace the vision of Lakshmipati rose within her, Lyna snapped out of the influence of the Xynomera Queen. And fear quickly gripped her heart.

  One of the three primary abilities of a Psychic is telepathy. If anyone thinks telepathy is merely the ability to send messages, they vastly underestimate it. A Psychic specializing in telepathy can pose a far greater threat than a telekinetic user and can be even more unsettling than a clairvoyant.

  Psychic abilities involve connecting one’s mind to the Mind Realm—a dimension of natural energy—and using that energy to influence the real world. When a telepath employs their abilities, the first step is to connect their mind to the Mind Realm. From there, they use this connection to establish a link with the target’s mind. But this connection isn’t limited to verbal communication; it also conveys emotions, feelings, and even memories.

  A skilled telepath can easily alter a target’s emotions and feelings, even manipulating their memories. With minimal effort, they can drive someone into despair or even suicide, simply through the influence of their mind. Additionally, the stronger the telepath's connection to the Mind Realm, the greater control they have over the target’s mind. They can extract the deepest information, download thoughts, or even upload new memories, much like a hacker manipulating data in a computer.

  It was only natural, then, that Lyna immediately heightened her guard when she felt the warmth and tenderness of a mother emanating from Lakshmipati’s presence. She quickly realized she was facing an extraordinarily powerful telepath, unlike anything she had encountered before. The psychic energy radiating from Lakshmipati’s figure was so immense that Lyna could sense it clearly.

  Even though Lakshmipati’s power did not match the overwhelming energy of Vamrah, it came close. Fortunately for Lyna, this was merely a recording of Lakshmipati’s memories. If it had been a direct telepathic connection, Lyna was certain she would have been powerless to resist. Her mind would have been wiped clean without her realizing it, and she would fully accept Lakshmipati as her mother.

  Before Lyna could ponder further, a soft, warm voice resonated within her mind, calling out to her with affection.

  “If you are seeing this memory recording, know, my child, that I am no longer alive. Most likely, you are the last of our species. But do not be afraid. I sense that our enemies are preoccupied with something that will keep them from pursuing you for the time being. However, this does not mean you are entirely free from danger.

  “The planet where you were born is called Aculeata. A world with a climate so scorching it could boil the mucus from the bodies of our enemies. Yet the harshness of this climate also presents a significant challenge for our species. Nevertheless, unlike them, we come from a cluster of stars with higher temperatures than their habitat. This gives us a better chance to adapt to Aculeata. But I know this adaptation process will not be easy.”

  Lakshmipati’s face changed, suddenly filled with profound sadness. In her eyes, Lyna could see a deep bitterness mixed with sharp regret. She could feel these emotions clearly—an overwhelming guilt she herself had once experienced. Memories of sacrificing Kilua and the entire crew of The Nest in an attempt to reach Vamrah flashed in her mind. All of it had been in vain. Vamrah was too powerful. Even the explosion of the Arcnova Cascade, which Lyna had hoped would harm the broodmother, had failed to so much as scratch her claws.

  Lakshmipati’s voice echoed softly again in Lyna’s memory.

  “If you are seeing this memory, then congratulations, my child. You have successfully adapted to Aculeata’s harsh climate. But I must warn you—this planet is not a safe place. Here, there are bloodthirsty creatures that will do anything to drain the fluids from your body. We call them Drybone.

  “We, the queens of Xynomera, have attempted to eradicate them from Aculeata, but our efforts were in vain. These creatures can hide within the planet’s crust and survive in prolonged hibernation for hundreds of years, only to resurface. Even after all our efforts to cleanse this planet so you and your sisters could live peacefully, they persist—like an unending plague.

  “But do not worry. I have designed your body to have natural weapons capable of fighting them. Even so, you must remain cautious until your body fully matures.”

  Lakshmipati paused for a moment, as if to calm her thoughts. Then she continued, her tone filled with renewed hope.