Little Pink Starfish

Logically speaking, Gu Bai should have walked over to the protagonist, expressed his appreciation, given him a few pointers, and encouraged him to aim for joining his legion in the future…
But just thinking of the similar physiological structure they shared, Gu Bai felt a vague ache in his… well, let’s say, dignity.

—Forget it. Let the true gong worry about his beloved protagonist shou.

So, having thought this through, under the eerie gentleness of Qiguan Rui’s gaze from behind him, Gu Bai veered off course and walked around instead—
As the protagonist shou Liang Xiao accidentally made eye contact with him, his black eyes especially bright and full of resolve…
Gu Bai raised a hand to stop Liang Xiao from saluting, nodded slightly, then lifted his foot and walked away.

·

Since they would still be staying in this world for a while, Gu Bai adopted a whatever-happens attitude toward the plot.
When the mecha competition ended and people came to ask if he thought any students stood out, Gu Bai casually mentioned the notably impressive low-year student Liang Xiao, and the high-year star Solal, the prince’s alpha son.
These two had performed so well that no one found it strange when Gu Bai brought them up.
But perhaps due to plot inertia, rumors soon began to spread privately…

Like how the General appreciated that first-year beta Liang Xiao or whatever.

As for alpha Solal?
He was already quite well-known, so no one paid much extra attention—nothing explosive, nothing spreading far.

Meanwhile, Liang Xiao, upon hearing the rumors, made a point to look into “Liu Rufeng.”
When he learned this was a legendary figure who became a general as a beta, he considered the grandeur of his own future career and felt that starting off in the legion of such a self-made man would be greatly beneficial.

And so, the plot returned to its original track—
Even though the general didn’t truly appreciate Liang Xiao or take him under his wing, even though Gu Bai had only casually answered someone’s questions, Liang Xiao still felt recognized, and after much consideration, chose his path forward accordingly.

Such was the will of the world—so wilful!

And Gu Bai?
He… went back to work!

No helping it.
After all, Gu Bai’s identity was still that of a general. Although there was plenty of rest time during peacetime, once needed, his vacation could end at any time.

Just like now.
He’d been summoned, because the frontline near the star he was stationed at had encountered a major crisis!
So he had to return immediately, command his army, and make a huge effort to resolve the threat!

One day later, Gu Bai arrived at the front.
Behind him was his adjutant—and the one now publicly recognized as his trusted right-hand, the one wearing “Fang Yuan’s” shell: Qiguan Rui.

·

Gu Bai looked at the surveillance screen, at the vast starry sky, and the stretch of planetary defense lines, and beyond them, the patch of black void in space where… a wormhole had emerged.
His mood was, honestly, very much orz.

Oh yes, wormholes.
In all of Gu Bai’s previous worlds, the scientific theories labeled these as gateways between universes or time-travel passages.
But in this world?
It was literal.

Wormhole → a hole for worms.
Isn’t that extremely clear and easy to understand?

That’s right.
Inside that wormhole resided the Federation’s greatest enemy—Cosmic Star Worms!

Sounds super cool, right?
And also incredibly familiar, right?

Gu Bai’s dead-fish eyes activated.

These days, if your sci-fi setting doesn’t include bugs/aliens/beasts as your final boss, you’re not even trying.
ABO, or any other mess—regardless of genre, the moment it goes “space opera,” the big bad always becomes some version of interstellar bugs.
And now, those gloriously unimaginative “cosmic star worms” had officially logged in to this world too!

As General Liu Rufeng, the original host had repeatedly led the charge in battles to eliminate these space bugs—
Even if many omegas fainted at the sight of the insects’ images, Liu Rufeng (and Liang Xiao, who was also a disguised beta) thought they were awesome, okay?
They believed in killing bugs and saving the galaxy!

Gu Bai felt a little heavy-hearted.
Based on Liu Rufeng’s memories…
Those bugs were really, seriously, disgustingly revolting!

But!
Grossness wasn’t the main point.
The real issue was that those bugs… ate people!

→ Huh, why did he say “those bugs”?
Only one reason!

That was—
He was terrified it would trigger the dead pervert’s combat instincts and make him hungry, okay!?

Gu Bai internally wiped his face. Okay, focus.

So he began issuing commands.
Fine, whatever, let’s just kill a bunch of bugs first!
At least… he was always someone who respected the job.
Becoming a city lord? Be a damn good city lord.
Becoming a star lord? Fine, do that too.
A stone-gambling master? Alright, he gambled.
Now an omega general? …Questionable, but okay!
Whatever he got thrown into, he did the job.

That’s how professional he was.
Heh… yeah right.

With Gu Bai’s orders, squads and battleships launched from the defense lines, sweeping out in a two-pronged pincer formation.
In an instant, countless mecha soldiers charged forward like moths to a flame, forming a dragonlike tide as they surged into battle—

It began!
Just like that, the war had begun!

·

One year later.

Before the massive wormhole, countless bugs floated in the cosmic void.
Most had scarlet compound eyes and bulky bodies wrapped in hard exoskeletons. Their slender mouthparts twitched constantly, emitting ultrasonic pulses that were highly disruptive.
These were male cosmic worms—numerous beyond comprehension.
Human flesh stood no chance; only mecha pilots could fight them using advanced weapons!

Inside the wormhole, huge pink masses squirmed.
Their elongated bodies stretched deep inside, and near the surface, blood-red fissures were visible.
From these cracks, gray bugs squeezed out.
After ten minutes of exposure, their shells turned black—they became full-grown males.

It was horrifying and disgusting.
But countless mechas hovered behind, in neat formations, laser cannons blazing with precision!

A wave of male bugs fell. Another wave surged out.
They never seemed to end…

Suddenly, a giant mecha appeared at the wormhole’s edge using spatial tech!
The next moment, a steel cable shot from its abdomen, with a massive hook on the end—
It embedded into one of the pink flesh masses and yanked it out!

The process was lightning-fast.
Before the bugs could react, the giant mecha activated another spatial jump!
In a flash, the bug and the mecha vanished—

They reappeared at a distant frontline, surrounded by an army of mechas.

The giant flesh mass screamed.
Its screeching disrupted signals across many mechas. Attacks misfired, or failed to lock on properly.
But the giant mecha that hooked it?
Not affected at all.

It extended another metal arm—like a massive syringe—
Stab!
Right into the bug’s body!

Immediately, the pink mass convulsed violently.
Its screams grew shriller, but nothing stopped the spasms.
Its color faded from pink to ashen black—
Until finally, it stilled completely.

—One of the cosmic star worms’ grotesque queen mothers, was dead.

In that moment, cheers erupted from the mechas!
Within nearby warships, soldiers broke into joyous shouts:

“Long live the General!”
“The General is amazing!”
“The General is invincible!”
“Kill all those bugs! Don’t waste the General’s hard work—!”

Morale skyrocketed.
No one feared the insect race anymore!

The bugs went berserk at the loss of a queen.
More types exploded from the wormhole like a volcanic eruption.
But the mechas, the warships, held their ground.

The soldiers were fired up—
They vowed to wipe the cosmic star worms from the universe!

The battle burned hotter than ever!

The giant mecha didn’t jump again.
It flew at high speed to the flagship.
Then, a beam linked it to the warship.
Its chest cavity opened—and out stepped a youth in a sleek silver battlesuit, cold and handsome.

He didn’t hover in space long, allowing the beam to pull him in.
Inside the ship, he was met with a flood of wild cheers.

Gu Bai: FCK that queen worm was nasty! I need a shower, get away from me!! Dead pervert, why aren’t you dragging me out of here already!!*

And so, the handsome “beta” standing against the wall came forward, gently parting the crowd, speaking with a soft smile:
“General, the hot spring bath is ready. You’ve worked hard. Please take a soak to relax and prepare for the battles ahead.”

Gu Bai, expressionless: “You’re very considerate. Let’s go.”
Qiguan Rui bowed: “Yes, General. Please allow me to serve you.”

The two walked off, one behind the other—
Leaving behind a sea of jealous eyes.

“Damn it, why didn’t we think of arranging that for the General?”
“Could’ve been the one scrubbing his back, you know…”