Chapter 421: Fateful Cycle

**Chapter 419: The Cycle of Destiny: Part Two**

"The second potential Insectoid Hero?"

Xu Zhi was stunned.

This path was indeed terrifying.

A highly advanced civilization, working together within the mind of a deity named "Sakura," helping her deduce her cultivation path, create virtual worlds, and generate reproductive energy—this was equivalent to the power of an entire civilization being focused on a single deity, and it truly could lead to the emergence of an Insectoid Hero.

"The second Insectoid Hero has indeed been born."

Xu Zhi did not indulge in the beautiful future blueprint outlined by Caroline.

Because that was merely the ultimate realm envisioned by the Ishdarans. Whether it was possible to reach that peak of life or truly become an Insectoid Hero remained an unknown.

"Although there's the potential for an Insectoid Hero, many individuals across different eras possess aptitude and potential, but only one in a hundred can truly transform that potential into an actual realm," Xu Zhi mused. "However, the convergence of a civilization is certainly something to look forward to."

But a non-combat deity? A "farming-style" scientist god?

Xu Zhi was speechless. Before this, every deity he had encountered was a battle fanatic, an unparalleled genius who challenged higher levels. This was the first time he had seen a "research science" deity who couldn't personally engage in combat.

"However, deities are becoming more diversified, and this is what I wanted."

The 14th year of the Holy Sakura Dynasty.

Two years had passed since the demise of the Sea Race's 1.1 billion population.

Empress Sakura established a cultivation system, reshaped the city-state era, built high walls, and allowed the newly born Zombie Race to cohabit. She instituted a marriage system, promoting monogamy and completely abolishing the rule of the strong, where powerful zombies monopolized many women. The weaker members were now also able to marry and enjoy free unions.

However, while the Zombie Race had male and female desires, they were ultimately unable to reproduce or give birth to new offspring due to a certain genetic defect.

"Since no new offspring are being born, and new intelligent individuals can only emerge from hundreds of millions of zombies, then internal strife must be absolutely forbidden."

Empress Sakura established laws and policies stating that the strong could enslave the weak, but not kill them. This led to a coexistence of strong and weak within the Zombie Race. With no internal killing, their population rapidly increased.

The 15th year of the Holy Sakura Dynasty.

Hundreds of millions of zombies continued to spread the virus, which was equivalent to the insane computational power of over a billion supercomputers. The virus continued to evolve, heading towards an unknown terror.

A new message reached the Central Zombie City:

"A new 17th-generation virus has appeared in the northern part of the Southern Bright Domain!"

A faint voice emanated from the depths of the temple.

"Send someone to investigate."

This was a completely new variant virus, having undergone an unknown, utterly inconceivable qualitative change. It could now begin to infect life forms other than those with Ishdaran C-language programming, breaching their mental firewalls. The Sea Race, Dragon Race, Hydras, and magical beasts—the entire world descended into panic!

If the previous global catastrophe was confined to the 40% of territory ruled by the Ishdarans, a specific virus targeting the invading Ishdarans, then now, the remaining 60% of the world also began to experience a terrifying natural disaster.

The great catastrophe had fully begun!

"A terrifying virus! Not only the Ishdarans, but even us..."

Wails erupted.

"It's all because there are too many Ishdarans; their brains are too powerful, their computational abilities terrifying, and the mutations happen too quickly, almost possessing infinite possibilities..."

"The world is going to be destroyed!"

"Because the Ishdarans violated a taboo, a forbidden zone of the gods, not only were they annihilated, but we will also face extinction. The entire world will become a desolate ruin of zombies!"

In many great domains, powerful magical beast races wailed in despair. This was the pain of racial extinction. They had already realized that with the continuous mutation of the virus, it was as if Pandora's Box had been opened, unleashing the most terrifying devils upon the world. They too would be infected, turning into walking dead.

"Sooner than I expected."

"The Zombie Race is truly terrifying. If the creatures of this world are like computers, then they are the bane of all life. As a viral race, their infectivity is too strong; the world will sooner or later become a ruin, with only the Zombie Race remaining."

Empress Sakura, holding a red umbrella, sat on her throne and smiled quietly. It was as if she held a crimson sword of kingship, gazing down upon all living beings. "It's a good thing I dealt with the Sea Race first. Their numbers were too vast, otherwise..."

She rested her chin in her hand, her expression devoid of joy or sorrow.

"This world is ultimately destined for destruction."

In the Wind Dragon Domain.

Perched on a black cliff.

"Instead of waiting for death, I'd rather kill you myself. Because only the dead can prevent being killed or infected; only the dead can achieve eternal life."

Hearing this twisted logic, the giant dragon's mind went blank, and it was filled with raging fury, utterly unable to comprehend such a perverted rationale.

Sakura raised her hand high. "You do not comprehend the true essence of the world..."

"Death grants eternal life."

The Dragon Tribe's territory was drenched in blood.

Above the ruined Zombie City, Empress Sakura returned gracefully, holding a vibrant red umbrella. She seemed to ride on an invisible breeze, inspiring admiration for the scene's beautiful elegance.

"Who should be next?" she said, smiling as she sat on her throne.

Inside the palace, countless listeners were filled with dread.

In the hearts of many intelligent zombies, Empress Sakura, though heroic and peerless, was also incredibly cruel. She annihilated one powerful race after another. In just two short years, she traversed the world's crevices and layers, finding the Dragon, Hydra, and Chimera races that were also struggling for survival, their living spaces oppressed by zombies. She systematically killed them off, leading to mass extinctions.

The 16th year of the Holy Sakura Dynasty.

Empress Sakura traveled through the Lava Domain, annihilating thirty-seven races.

The world was shaken with terror! This was simply brutality beyond comprehension. Even in later generations, throughout the long history of civilization, Empress Sakura would be referred to as the most brutal tyrant, known for her slaughter and for killing all beings in the world to gather energy.

The 20th year of the Holy Sakura Dynasty.

"Empress Sakura possesses great vision and talent. She may be a tyrant to other races, but she is also the first wise ruler of our Zombie Race!"

"Although those races would eventually be infected anyway, using them in this way is like recycling waste, but they are still living beings!"

Higher zombies who had gained intelligence and lower zombies without it were two distinct species. The intelligent higher zombies could also ponder life and experience its myriad aspects. Among them were kind-hearted individuals who felt sympathy and reluctance. However, the spread of the virus and their own continuous "evolution" were not something they could control.

"Considering how many races she has annihilated, it must be to gather energy. She is already unrivaled, with all beings kneeling before her. Why would she still want to become stronger? Unless..." A powerful individual entertained a terrifying thought.

"Hiss! Empress Sakura's ambition is too immense! She actually harbors the ambition to challenge the ancient gods?"

"Truly audacious! Yet, she is ultimately the first empress of our race, fighting against fate, intending to kill an ancient god. Such an unholy act—will she succeed?"

"If the Ishdarans didn't still have some use, being kept in captivity to help us develop technology, perhaps even they would have been annihilated! Indeed, when they become useless, that will be the era of their extinction."

Some zombies whispered. It felt utterly inconceivable, but Empress Sakura continued to gather energy, striving for greater power. The only remaining possibility was truly to challenge the ancient gods...

The 23rd year of the Holy Sakura Dynasty.

The world suddenly returned to a state of calm. All life forms capable of being infected had been infected. Across the entire Ancient Lava Land, the whole world was left with nothing but aimlessly wandering walking dead. All had been infected by the virus, brain-dead and reduced to their most primal, beast-like state, retaining only the instincts to eat and drink.

Previously, the Dragon Race, Hydras, and the 1.1 billion Sea Race had also died from infection by Empress Sakura. Among them, many had shakily risen and developed intelligence. Zombie Dragons, Zombie Nagas, and Zombie Hydras continuously appeared.

"The world has still been destroyed."

Atop the Zombie City, Empress Sakura, with hazy eyes, stood on the peak, looking down at the vast land. Everywhere she looked, there were only wandering zombies.

"Indeed, unable to defeat it, one can only become it. In this world, only I have survived, becoming the guardian of all species and the entire ancient civilization." She closed her eyes.

Suddenly, she looked at the Ishdarans, who were the last to be protected and lived within the walls.

"You, too, must die. You no longer belong to this era. Forcibly holding on is merely futile!"

Caroline's expression was calm. She had once thought she would struggle and hesitate, but unexpectedly, when the moment truly arrived, she was remarkably composed.

With a gruesome sound, the entire walled area became a pile of bones.

She looked towards Du Xue and the balloon, realizing that the last group of people had already quietly departed. She sighed. "This is your choice."

In the 23rd year of the Holy Sakura Dynasty, the great catastrophe ended. The world was entirely infected, with no living creatures remaining. Everywhere one looked, there were only members of the Zombie Race.

The 30th year of the Holy Sakura Dynasty.

Empress Sakura had never held court before, ruling as an absolute dictator. Yet now, she summoned all the Heavenly Emperors of the Zombie Race to an audience with this great deity.

Empress Sakura sat on her divine throne. "Do you know that only our race remains in the world?"

The Heavenly Emperors around her held their breath.

"And our race has just emerged from corpses, gaining intelligence by inhabiting their bodies. However, we cannot reproduce on our own; we can only wait for new intelligent beings to be born from hundreds of millions of infected lower zombies. This is very problematic," Empress Sakura stated. "When a race cannot reproduce, they are extremely close to extinction."

"Great Deity, what solution do you propose?" the powerful individuals around her asked.

They too realized the terrifying implications of this.

"I commanded the Ishdarans to research our reproductive issues, and they successfully solved them," Empress Sakura declared.

Surrounding her, they were astonished! It turned out Empress Sakura had been far-sighted, having considered this extent for the Zombie Race long ago. However, the thought that she had immediately discarded and slaughtered the Ishdarans once their usefulness was over, like "killing the donkey after it finishes grinding the mill," was truly startling! Although they would have been infected sooner or later, such an act was still excessively cruel.

"The specifics still require further research. The Zombie Race is highly fertile; it needs to be observed," Empress Sakura stated calmly, sitting on her divine throne, enveloped in chaotic energy.

"Yes, Empress Sakura!"

Countless individuals prostrated themselves.

The 32nd year of the Holy Sakura Dynasty.

Empress Sakura walked through the palace gardens, where flowers bloomed with extraordinary vibrancy, even to a bizarre degree of brilliance. "It's terrifying. This virus is more horrific than imagined. Even some plants have been infected, and those that originally had no magic cores have developed them..."

"The entire world is becoming inconceivably vibrant and beautiful, like a fairyland, filled with vivid, multicolored plants, trees, and flowers. The walking dead roam as if they've returned to a primeval forest, yet it gives one a chilling sensation."

"The Zombie Race is a terrifying and unknown race! Their potential is unimaginable, and their virus is still evolving. I don't know how far this world will develop," Empress Sakura said, walking barefoot through the vibrant flower garden, holding her umbrella. The scene was picturesque. "I've guided them onto the right path, and now I can leave. Our old world and its people should vanish."

"The new era belongs to them."

"Our ancient Lava Land is now in another parallel universe."

Three hours later, Empress Sakura arrived in a forest. A pregnant woman lay in a pile of grass, and after a while of agonizing cries, two newborns finally entered the world.

"They've finally appeared."

Sakura immediately smiled. She held up the two infants, who were surprisingly covered in black fur and crying loudly. She suddenly spoke in Ishdaran: "I hope you walk towards a new future, the origin of new human life! I bestow upon you my most sincere blessings!"

This scene seemed to be etched into eternity.

A mysterious woman in an exquisite, vibrant long dress stood in the beautiful garden, holding up two ape infants high in her hands. Bathed in golden light, she seemed to uphold the magnificent splendor of the entire world—sacred, glorious, and vast, like a mural of a deity from an ancient religion.

This scene... felt familiar.

Sakura's pupils suddenly dilated.

Previously, the Zombie Race had no parental lineage. But now, they could be born through reproduction, meaning that from this moment onward, their memories could be inherited. If their descendants became powerful enough in the future, they might be able to trace back the most distant memories, seeing generations of ancestors, seeing herself, and the two original ancestors...

She put down the infants and suddenly turned to leave.

"Am I another ancient god?"

This was an identical scene, as if she were re-enacting ancient times, like the oldest destiny. Everything had returned to the starting point of the Ishdarans' original birth, except that she had replaced his role in the scene. She, too, now lived in the world as the last surviving being of a previous civilization, serving as its caretaker.

"Is there also a civilization within your body?"

Her body trembled, and her eyes flashed a deathly gray, as if her convictions were crumbling. Around her, the vibrant flowers, trees, and grass decayed and withered with her emotions. This was an unimaginable display of a high-level deity's unfathomable divine power.

She was a person with an incredibly resolute heart, willing to resort to any means for her beliefs. She had previously endured countless desperate situations and faced death many times, yet she had never experienced such inner bewilderment as she did today. She planned to go somewhere, to ask someone, to find an answer she had long sought: what was the true meaning of that ancient phrase spoken to the two oldest human infants?

"Is our world a cycle, with civilizations repeating the same mistakes?"