Ruan's body buzzed with new energy as he scuttled back through the twisting tunnels of the underground colony. The familiar scent of damp earth and the sound of countless tiny legs clicking against stone surrounded him, but Ruan barely noticed. His mind was entirely consumed by the Qi that now pulsed through his veins. His senses were sharper; every shift in the air, every tremor in the earth felt magnified. What was once a mundane world now shimmered with possibilities.
As he passed through the central chamber of the colony, Ruan saw the elder council gathered. They sat atop smooth stones, their aged antennae twitching as they discussed the latest tremors from above. The elders, old and wise, had lived through many shifts in the human world. They knew of the constant battles, the rise and fall of powerful sects, but they also knew to keep their distance. The Zu Roach lived by one rule: never interfere with the world above.
"Ruan," called Elder Chu, his voice raspy from age. His beady eyes narrowed as he observed the younger cockroach. "You've been close to the surface again, haven't you?"
Ruan hesitated. "I… I have, Elder Chu."
The other elders turned their attention to him, their antennae twitching in unison. Ruan could feel the weight of their judgment, but he also felt something else—power surging through him, making him stand taller than before.
"What were you thinking?" another elder hissed. "You know it's forbidden. The world above is dangerous. We do not meddle in human affairs!"
Ruan clenched his mandibles, the Qi humming inside him, urging him to speak. "I didn't meddle. I only… I only witnessed something. A battle between two humans. One of their Qi blasts hit the earth, and… it hit me."
The elders gasped in unison, a ripple of shock passing through the chamber. Elder Chu's antennae trembled, but his eyes remained focused on Ruan.
"And yet you stand here," Elder Chu said slowly, "alive."
Ruan took a step forward, his voice steady. "Not only alive, but I have absorbed their Qi. I can feel it inside me, strengthening me. I've gained their arts."
Silence fell over the chamber. For a moment, the only sound was the quiet clicking of distant cockroach feet in the tunnels beyond. The elders exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them.
"The legends…" whispered one of the elders, her voice tinged with awe. "Could it be true?"
"The Roach Immortals," another elder murmured, his eyes wide. "They were said to be few, but those who absorbed the Qi from the humans became something more… something beyond our kind."
Elder Chu raised a hand to silence them. His eyes remained fixed on Ruan, unreadable. "And what do you plan to do with this power, young one? Will you use it to seek revenge on the humans? To conquer them? To make a name for yourself among their kind?"
Ruan shook his head, his heart pounding. "No. I do not seek war with the humans. But I also can't ignore what I've become. This power… it can help us. The Zu Roach don't have to live in the shadows, hiding in fear. We can be more."
Elder Chu's gaze softened, but the weight of his years hung heavily in his voice. "Power like this is dangerous, Ruan. The moment you step into their world, you will be noticed. And when the humans notice you, they will crush you."
"I don't intend to fight them," Ruan replied, his voice firm. "But I also won't hide. The Art of Resilience teaches us survival, but it doesn't mean we have to cower in the dark. I want to see what more this Qi can do for us—for our colony. We could be stronger, more capable. Imagine the Zu Roach with the strength to defend ourselves, to thrive without fear."
The elders remained silent, their eyes filled with both fear and curiosity. Elder Chu finally spoke, his voice softer now. "You walk a dangerous path, Ruan. One that no Zu Roach has walked for centuries. But perhaps… perhaps you are the one meant to walk it."
Ruan nodded, determination blazing in his heart. "I won't disappoint you, Elder. I'll master this power and protect our colony. The world above may be dangerous, but I'm not afraid. Not anymore."
With those words, Ruan turned and scuttled deeper into the tunnels. He felt the weight of the elders' eyes on him as he disappeared into the shadows. His journey had only just begun, and with each step, the Qi inside him pulsed, whispering of new possibilities.
He was no longer just Ruan, a simple cockroach of the underground. He was something more now—an insect touched by the heavens, destined to carve his own path in a world far bigger than his kind had ever imagined.