The Bigshot's Superstar Wife-Chapter 118: Appearance

Elara sat on the edge of the war table, her arms crossed, listening intently as Lawrence delivered the latest intelligence.

The holographic display above the table flickered, showing the outlines of Planet Asenus, red blinking markers indicating the locations where zerg activity had been detected.

Her brows furrowed as she studied the information, her heartbeat accelerating at the sheer number of red dots that littered the map.

"This isn’t just a small invasion," Lawrence said, his voice steady but carrying the weight of urgency.

"This is a calculated push." He tapped the screen, zooming in on one of the danger zones, the city center itself.

"They’re moving deeper into urban areas. And worse, high-level ones have been spotted."

Elara stiffened. "What level are we talking about?"

Lawrence exhaled slowly. "Seventh. Possibly eighth."

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Elara clenched her jaw. Zergs of that caliber were unheard of near human settlements.

Usually, they stayed on the fringes, lurking in abandoned territories or uninhabited regions where they could grow stronger without interference.

For them to show up in the city center, so close to civilian populations… It was a nightmare scenario.

"How long ago was the last sighting?" she asked, shifting forward.

"Two hours. Our teams have been trying to suppress them, but the damn things keep evolving mid-battle. Some soldiers have already reported that the zerg they injured, ones that should have bled out, healed almost instantly and counterattacked."

Elara’s fingers dug into her arm. "This isn’t normal. Either they’re being led or they’ve figured out something new."

Lawrence nodded grimly. "I had the same thought." He swiped the holographic map again, displaying a video feed of a previous encounter.

A soldier’s helmet cam showed a towering zerg, its jagged black exoskeleton gleaming under the city’s emergency lights.

But what was truly disturbing was the way it moved, not mindlessly charging like most low-level zergs, but strategically, dodging gunfire, weaving between buildings, waiting for openings before striking.

Then, it turned to face the camera.

Elara’s breath hitched.

The zerg grinned.

"Impossible," she murmured. "They don’t... they don’t do that."

"They do now," Lawrence replied, voice taut.

Elara tore her gaze from the screen and stared at Lawrence. "You said level seven or eight, but… if they’re developing this fast…"

Lawrence knew exactly what she was implying. He didn’t even hesitate when he said, "Then we’re looking at a potential level nine zerg in Asenus."

A cold dread settled in her stomach.

"Does Athena know?" she asked suddenly.

"Not yet," Lawrence admitted.

"Mors and Athena are still at the frontline, dealing with another infestation. I was planning to tell them soon, but I needed to confirm our findings first. If I tell them now, it could split their focus."

Elara scoffed. "You think this won’t be their problem in a matter of days?"

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know it will. But if they rush here without a full understanding of what’s happening, they could fall into a trap."

Elara pushed herself off the table, pacing. "Then we need a plan before the situation escalates any further."

Lawrence studied her for a moment. "You want to help?"

She turned, shooting him an unimpressed look. "What do you think?"

Despite the severity of the moment, the corner of his lips twitched slightly. "I thought you hated getting involved in military affairs."

Elara crossed her arms. "I do. But I hate sitting around waiting for disaster to strike even more."

Lawrence leaned against the table, considering her. "…Alright. Then I’ll need you to do something for me."

Elara arched a brow. "I already don’t like the sound of that."

He ignored her skepticism. "I need you to go into the city and see the damage for yourself."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You blend in better than I do. If I step into the streets, people will notice. But you... you have connections, you know how to move without drawing attention. I need eyes on the ground, Elara. We’re missing something, and I have a feeling the answers are in the city itself."

Elara exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. She understood the logic, but it didn’t mean she liked it.

"This is dangerous," she muttered.

Lawrence gave her a pointed look. "Since when has that ever stopped you?"

She scowled. "Fair point."

A tense silence stretched between them before Elara finally sighed in resignation. "Fine. I’ll go."

The most uptodat𝓮 n𝒐vels are published on freёnovelkiss.com.

Lawrence nodded, but there was something unreadable in his gaze as he watched her.

"…Be careful, El," he murmured.

She hesitated, the rare softness in his voice catching her off guard. But she quickly shook it off and smirked. "Please. I should be telling you that."

Lawrence snorted. "Just don’t do anything reckless."

Elara rolled her eyes. "No promises."

With that, she turned and walked out of the war room, her mind already spinning with possibilities.

She needed to figure out what was really happening in the city.

And she needed to do it fast.

Elara left the war room, her footsteps echoing in the dimly lit hallway. She exhaled slowly, trying to steady the unease creeping up her spine.

Zergs in the city center. High-level ones. It wasn’t just a random attack, it was a coordinated invasion.

As she reached the exit, she activated her optical brain, sending a discreet message to her informants across Asenus.

If there were any sudden movements, strange sightings, or unexplained disappearances, she needed to know about them.

Before stepping outside, she hesitated.

Lawrence’s words lingered in her mind.

"Be careful, El."

She shook her head. She couldn’t afford distractions, not when the city was on the brink of something far worse than anyone realized.

Adjusting the collar of her jacket, she pulled up the hood and disappeared into the bustling streets.

If these zergs were different, if they had evolved, then she needed to see it with her own eyes.

Because if there was something lurking in the shadows of Asenus, something even worse than a level nine zerg…

Then the entire planet was in far greater danger than anyone had anticipated.