Thesus is the most dangerous. Giant insects and humans don't inherently conflict; they can coexist. From his understanding of giant insects, they are essentially primitive organisms, scavengers of massive planets like Kepler. They eat everything but don't actively attack Kepler's native life. When they die, their bodies crystallize, becoming part of the land. Lee Hao strongly suspects that brainworms and similar creatures were evolved into offensive weapons by Thesus through countless interventions over time. The focus shouldn't be on attrition warfare with the giant insects.

Nangong Yuhang laughed. "Second Brother, honestly, you've improved these past few years. You used to just act, but now you've learned to think! But I still prefer the simple you of the past, haha. The information you provided is quite useful. What to do? I don't quite agree with your plan. Whatever happens to me is my fate. But you have such excellent conditions. Transforming you into a bug-god general would be a great addition. And I'll constantly clone and replicate your genes to find a solution to the problem."

He certainly cared about the threat Lee Hao mentioned, but he didn't plan to cooperate with anyone. He understood Thesus's intentions, but Lee Hao only had a superficial understanding of Thesus's situation. That immense power couldn't be endured by a biological body, even their current bodies were only slightly stronger than the peak of the Nemean people back then. Facing such immense power was still a drop in the bucket. What was the rush?

One or two years might not be enough, but what about ten, fifty, or a hundred years? His current body had already transcended human fragility.

Would he not be able to find a solution?

Thesus had been maintaining this state for ten thousand years, maybe even longer. The fragility and brevity of human life made them always rush, but he was no longer human. What he had the most of was time. No, the essence of time was just movement, and his body could keep moving. Time was meaningless. And even if this body failed, he could transfer to a stronger one. That was the essence of the Nemean civilization.

Thesus must have overeaten due to some situation, leading to his current state, becoming a passive energy tank. The vast, chaotic energy was concentrated in a central axis, constantly clashing and restraining each other. Perhaps the core will of that energy body wanted to turn him into its vessel, but who would be the ultimate winner was still uncertain.

Lee Hao, with his half-baked understanding, even wanted to deceive him.

"Polina, he's yours now. You can do whatever you want. My only requirement is that the cloning problem is solved. I want to create the largest bug-human legion." Nangong Yuhang smiled. "Lee Hao, I advise you not to resist, or you'll just be asking for trouble."

"Thank you, Master!" Polina said excitedly. "Brother Lee, I'm your fan. I'll definitely study you well!"

Lee Hao sighed and stood up helplessly. "You never listen when I try to reason. You always force me to act. Nangong, why bother?"

A smile appeared on Nangong Yuhang's lips as he coldly watched Lee Hao, not too surprised. It wouldn't be Lee Hao if he didn't have a backup plan. He had been waiting for it.

However, when Lee Hao's golden Zone opened, the surging power erupted like a sea. There was no sign of injury at all. Nangong Yuhang's expression changed. He glanced coldly at Romero. With a thud, Romero knelt on the ground. A terrifying pressure appeared. "You were acting?"

This was suppression from the soul level, which appeared after Romero transformed into a bug-god general. Nangong Yuhang controlled the bug-people using the methods of the giant insects: hierarchy, absolute control of the upper levels over the lower levels. Of course, as power increased, the intensity of this control decreased. For people like Van Fleet, it was complete control, while Romero had stronger resistance, but he was still completely under Nangong Yuhang's control.

Romero gritted his teeth, resisting the pressure, but didn't counterattack. His body trembled violently. Lee Hao wanted to help but was stopped by Romero.

"Why?" Nangong Yuhang asked calmly. He felt his intelligence had been insulted. Anyone could betray him, but not Romero.

Romero remained silent, slowly trying to stand up against the pressure, actually trying to defy his command. This was unprecedented. Other bug-god generals wouldn't dare to resist like this. Nangong Yuhang frowned. "Courting death!"

With the opening of the celestial eye on his forehead, the pressure from the genetic level crashed down on Romero. Lee Hao was worried, remembering the fate of Van Fleet and the others, but was stopped by Romero again. "This is between him and me."

Facing this almost absolute suppression, Romero couldn't even straighten his back, but the power in his body surged out wildly. His bones expanded, and the false eye on his forehead flashed continuously. That false eye was the same as the crystals on Van Fleet, Sawutian, and the others, bringing power but also used by Nangong Yuhang to control them. Romero's was closer to a celestial eye and could also be a detonator to create a flesh bomb. This entire set was Nangong Yuhang's double insurance, to prevent resistance.

But Romero's power was growing uncontrollably. His body expanded, his bones protruded, and his body became more inhuman, but his aura and golden Zone became increasingly ferocious. With a deep, monstrous roar, Romero stood up straight. His arms shook, and with a roar, the silicon-based armor on his body became more magnificent, with K23 crystals appearing in many places. A strange helmet also appeared on his forehead, enveloping the false eye. In that instant, Nangong Yuhang felt that his control was actually... severed???

Nangong Yuhang frowned, while Polina's eyes shone with brilliant light. This was the evolution she had always dreamed of! As expected of her proudest creation! It finally appeared.

Bug-god general—the true form of the secondary reincarnation body!

It was also the true fusion of the three genes, no longer a patchwork relying on Thesus's power. The first element of a complete organism was independence, and the helmet covering the false eye preserved power while shielding against the original upper hierarchy. Nangong Yuhang's celestial eye could no longer form absolute control, it was reduced to the weakest level of perception and deterrence. Of course, it hadn't completely broken free.

"Nangong, I think Lee Hao's plan is right." Romero didn't show hostility towards Nangong Yuhang. "I don't care about your victory or defeat, but Thesus is the most dangerous. To it, we're just materials and food."

From the beginning, Romero had no intention of betraying humanity. Otherwise, he could have accepted the help of Lee Hao and Basta. When Nangong Yuhang came with Thesus's secret, Romero knew he could do something big.

The power balance suddenly shifted. Nangong Yuhang only wanted to continuously increase the power of the bug-god generals to provide him with reference, but he didn't expect Romero to break free of his control. This kind of evolution wasn't what he wanted, but he could sense that Romero didn't want to be his enemy. He didn't want to fight Lee Hao and Romero at the same time, especially since Lee Hao was clearly seriously injured, how could he be as fine as a person who was ok?

"Hehe, Romero, you really are a grateful person," Nangong Yuhang mocked.

Romero's eyes were deep. "Nangong, we've come this far. Don't act so noble. It doesn't suit you. You just wanted to transform me into your tool and monster, a disposable test subject. But don't worry, Romero is Romero. I won't interfere in your one-on-one."

Nangong Yuhang remained noncommittal. "When did you two start colluding? No, your every move can't escape my control!"

Lee Hao smiled. "Sometimes, tacit understanding doesn't need preparation. Although he's been reincarnated, I knew as soon as I fought Romero that his self-awareness was still very clear. As long as his self-awareness is there, then he's Romero. You don't understand Romero's pride. After fighting for a while, from the rhythm, I could feel that Romero should know my intentions. He blinked, that once-injured eye."

Nangong Yuhang snorted coldly, looking at Lee Hao with a complicated expression. "Aren't you afraid it's a trap?"

Lee Hao smiled. "I trust him."

Damn it!

Nangong Yuhang was very angry, he had hated this kind of tacit understanding since the Apocalypse. "Romero, I gave you rebirth, gave you the opportunity for revenge. What did Lee Hao give you, besides failure and despair, what else is there? Romero, whether as a human or as a bug, you're a failure."

Romero looked at Nangong Yuhang and shook his head. "Nangong, you're wrong. I got what I wanted in that battle. There's nothing to avenge."

Romero didn't hold any resentment for the battle back then. Moreover, when he failed, everyone scorned him, thinking he was just an unworthy waste. At that time, even his former teammates kicked him while he was down, eagerly stripping him of his captaincy and putting all the blame on him. It was the same when he returned to the academy. Even after Lee Hao won the championship, he was just forgotten. No one cared about what he had done or said, only Lee Hao repeatedly refuted in public to clear his name.

Others didn't understand, that was why Romero didn't commit suicide.

As for those who humiliated him, what can I say, Romero was also a Martian. This was the custom of the Martians, learned from birth, just like Basta thought it was very normal.

When Nangong Yuhang found him, on the one hand it was a chance for rebirth, on the other hand he also felt that one day he could repay Lee Hao for his kindness. Of course, no matter what, Nangong Yuhang gave him a new chance, whether it was as a tool or not, so he didn't interfere, even if Nangong Yuhang won against Lee Hao, and then fought him again.

From beginning to end, Romero was a pure warrior. He wasn't afraid of death, and only by transcending death could he evolve a second time, become a completely new life form, and regain freedom, instead of being a puppet like Van Fleet.

(End of this chapter)