Endless Horde: Through the Eyes of a Godking

Chapter 815: Berk’s Hobby

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’Anything could happen outside of the Dimensional ’Gap’—everybody who’s aware of what’s outside knows this. In fact, it’s the very first thing they’re told.

When you’re out there, expect the worst. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been lucky all your life or could survive anything. Out there, everything is against you, even your own kind.

Humans know this, the old and nearly extinct races know this, and the Horde also knows this…

The amount of strange phenomena they’ve encountered while out here has long passed hundreds in number, maybe even thousands. From the most inconsequential to the most outrageous ones, they’ve seen it, experienced it, and learned from it.

So this sudden outbreak of illness only surprised them a little bit before they started looking for ways to cure or get rid of it.

None of them thought that, instead of some weird phenomenon, it was someone—a human—that was doing this instead. Not even a lick of suspicion at all.

That’s why Urek can get away with this. They can’t see him or even sense his presence. And his ability to weave illusions to the point that they turn real was nigh unparalleled. Simple bugs like them couldn’t muster even a shred of resistance.

Did Urek escalate his prank? Why, yes! Of course! Why wouldn’t he? These bugs are the perfect victims for it?

His little actions have escalated to a whole new level, especially when they started to strongly believe that they’ve been infected by some strange and unknown viral infection that causes all types of bad things.

The more they strongly believe this crap, the easier it is for Urek to actually turn that belief into something real.

So, before long, this ’mysterious virus’ started spreading to everybody.

It only took mere months for most of the bugs in this nest to be infected. Solitary confinement didn’t stop it from spreading at all because why would it? It’s not like it’s a virus at all!

Because most bugs in this nest had been infected, their productivity dropped sharply. It did more than just delay their efforts in finishing the nest; it completely crippled their progress.

A lot of them already died from excessive vomiting, defecating, and weakness. Their bodies practically piled up to form numerous hills at this point.

Sure, the bugs tried creating more of them through carriers and breeders, but even those newly born bugs are also ’infected’ at birth because those who gave birth to them were also infected.

Every bug in this nest was in distress. Urek even heard them sending an urgent alert to their hive, asking for assistance.

They’ve also started leaving this place. Thinking that by moving, they could get away from the source of this illness. But how could that be when this source can actually follow them?

Urek had been giggling nonstop, actually. He found this whole thing hilarious for some reason. The way they panicked, from trying to contain the infection to the part where they tried to flee from this place, thinking it is what’s making them sick, was so funny to him.

’This is why it was so fun to prank these bugs.’

’When it comes to things like this, their Hive Mind just works against them.’

Urek didn’t even need to try that much. He just needed to release the spark of suspicion, and with how simple-minded these bugs were, they’d instantly believe anything. And if a few of them started believing the lies he weaved, the Hive Mind would escalate that to a whole new level, and things would become way easier after that.

’Now, unless they cry out for their mother to come here, I’ll be sticking with this nest until all of them die. Or until I get bored of them. I won’t lack victims since I already know where their other nests are located.’

’Actually, maybe I should go mess with other nests too, just to delay them even further.’

**

While Gibson and Urek did their thing, Berk was also having the time of his life.

Thanks to the clones, he’s released from his boring and thankless paper-pushing duties. He could leave that task to his clone while he spends time with his beloved children.

Berk hasn’t stopped smiling ever since. Being with his children was very therapeutic to him. It eased his mind and relieved him of his stress and worries; their attention and mischief brought warmth to his lonely heart.

Unlike before, Berk could take his time with them. He wasn’t in a limited or borrowed time anymore. He didn’t need to count and take advantage of every minute of free time he had to take care of them.

Now, he could pay close attention to them and take his sweet time giving them the loving they deserved. He doesn’t need to be in a hurry because there are papers and responsibilities waiting for his return.

Because of his freedom, Berk was able to discover a lot of things he previously missed because of his limited time.

For example, some of his children grew larger, taller, or stronger compared to the last time he closely inspected them. Some grew new appendages, limbs, organs, etc. Others have shown signs of weakness, lethargy, hurt and pain, and so on.

Some of his cross-breeding efforts have also borne fruit. New cross-species creatures had been added to his ever-growing home.

Berk took notice of all of this and was once again thankful to the Divine Cloning Art, for without it, he would’ve never been able to pay close attention to any of this at all. At least, it’d take him a while to do so.

Now that he’s basically free to do as he pleases, he could devote his time to his children. Showering them with love, care, and attention they needed to grow strong.

Hell, Berk had so much free time that he even started renovating the world where all of his children are kept.

He figured that there’s no better time to expand this place and add more features to ensure the stable growth of his kids.

Mind you, this place was already huge. About the scale of two cosmic realms combined. Now, Berk decided to expand it even more, making it as large as an entire sector domain.

The cost to do this was expensive. But Berk has never been stingy with his beloved children. He’d gladly go broke for them. He never even had second thoughts. He’d rather waste money than lack the things they could possibly need. That’s how generous he was to them.

Aside from expanding the pocket dimension where they’re kept, Berk also modified the worlds they lived in, making sure that the environment of each world suits what’s best for the growth of his children.

It took him a while to do all of this, but by the time he was done, he felt incredibly satisfied, and so were his children.

They all showered him with love in ways they knew how, and Berk absorbed all of it. Giving back as much as he received.

With how large this place is and how many creatures are in here, anybody who doesn’t understand Berk would probably feel wary about what he’s doing.

They’d probably think that he’s trying to destroy humanity from within through these creatures. And that has merit because a handful of the creatures he kept in this place have the power to deal some serious damage to humanity.

Just look at Greg the Frog (may he rest in peace), for example. Greg, as small as he was, gave even the Bug Empress some serious headaches. Had Berk wanted to, he could’ve told Greg to infect humans with his warts instead and could’ve been a serious threat to humans.

But if you asked Berk himself, he’d tell you to not worry. He’s not stupid. He, of all people, knows the risk included in this hobby of his. Nobody’s more aware of just how dangerous his children could be if they go out of control.

To this end, he ensured that all of them are marked with a slave seal. Yes, he calls them his children, but in truth, they’re his slaves. It’s incredibly ironic, sure. But it’s a foolproof way to ensure his children wouldn’t cause the destruction of humanity.

This slave seal doesn’t just make them loyal to him. It’s also designed in a way that, if he dies, the seal wouldn’t disappear. And as long as the seal remains, all of the marked creatures will never stand in opposition to humanity and its interests.

The seal would have them dead before allowing them to entertain such ideas. Hell, with how much love and attention he gave to them, it wouldn’t be surprising if these creatures have decided to love humans to death.

So much so that they would willingly jump into the mouth of the Horde if it meant saving their father or any human he cared about.

That’s why anybody’s worries, while valid, are completely settled. Every creature he cared for is marked, and betrayal would be the last thing they’d think of in their lives.

Berk wouldn’t take them in if they didn’t accept the seal in the first place.