"Hmm? Something wasn't right..."
Zhang Chen looked at the Cockroach Egg Mother Empress, who had died so easily, and sensed something unusual about her consciousness. After all, she was one of the three great elders of the Insect Realm. Though she did not seek the status of an apostle, she possessed the strength of one. Zhang Chen had only used the power of his forbidden release. Without even using his divine artifact or true ghost powers, he had killed her instantly.
The most fundamental trait of cockroaches in the human world was their tenacious vitality. Although Zhang Chen had indeed killed a person with flesh, blood, a soul, and self-awareness, he guessed that what he had slain was merely a surrogate the Cockroach Egg Mother Empress often used for activities outside.
"Bug Elder, this should only have been the Cockroach Egg Mother Empress's surrogate, right?" Zhang Chen asked.
"Yes. That old cockroach's vitality is exceptionally tenacious, and it is difficult to kill her outright by any means. Her true body possesses apostle-level abilities. Among us elders, she is the strongest, with countless methods at her disposal. She handles all matters concerning the Dark Side of the Insect Realm. With the great war approaching, it is better to spare her life and let her fight against the void army. After this lesson, I trust she will not dare come looking for trouble again."
Bug Elder's performance with Zhang Chen in this act of playing weak to prey on the strong had completely deceived the Cockroach Egg Mother Empress. This was no time for internal conflict under such extreme circumstances, and Bug Elder had never intended to take her life. She merely took this opportunity to destroy one of the Cockroach Egg Mother Empress's avatars and teach her a lesson.
Bug Elder