Encirclement

In the early stages, the Zerg generally spread their population through merchant caravans, pharmaceuticals, and similar means. Since all of it was done covertly, the efficiency was not particularly high, but the groundwork had been laid.

By the middle stage, as the effects of pharmaceutical modification took hold, more and more regions had enough node units to meet the standard and reconnect to the Swarm Network.

With command structures in place, the Swarm's expansion accelerated dramatically. In particular, merchant caravans controlled by Intellects passed through the Epoch Clan's Star Gates and deliberately entered fog-covered regions, deploying Nano-Seeds and lighting up vast stretches of the map within the Swarm Network.

By the later stage, the Zerg had allied with the inner-circle powers and directly gone to war with the Epoch Clan. During this period, they not only made up for the lack of progress in the inner-circle powers' territories and the Epoch Clan's domains, but even surpassed most other regions.

At the same time, open warfare meant the Zerg no longer had to act so furtively. Zerg combat units such as Ancient Class entities were active throughout different regions.

Although the Star Gates had been sealed, Zerg bases existed in essentially every region containing one. During the more than two centuries of war, using those bases as foundations and relying solely on warp engines to radiate outward, the Zerg had linked together nearly every region. Their bases now covered every corner of the Star Sea Alliance.

After Rowan decided to reveal part of his hand, he carefully selected over ten thousand locations throughout the Star Sea Alliance. He gathered combat units from nearby Zerg bases and assembled them into more than ten thousand Star Gates.

These Star Gates were naturally not built as decorations. Once unknown starfields began sending troops into