Chapter 110 Infiltration and Transformation

Although the war was only a brief engagement, the fleet's fighting spirit had been ignited. However, the command remained remarkably calm, refraining from rashly treating the enemy as mindless insects. The fleet's soldiers merely vented their feelings through chat, recognizing that this was no game.

Actively preparing for war, the expeditionary force mobilized. They would conduct continuous probing attacks against Kepler's giant insects to identify weaknesses in their formations. Presumably, the giant insects were not inexhaustible and must have vulnerabilities. Securing the battlefield at the lowest possible cost was General Commander Markum's primary consideration.

Li Hao and the others maintained their daily training, but the intensity was reduced. During wartime, all soldiers, including reserves, had to be ready for combat at any moment. The atmosphere was drastically different from when they first set sail. However, the warriors of the Hunter Battle Group were eager to test their mettle. The Overlord Body (Ba Ti) was not forged overnight. They had undergone a genuine transformation, discovering a way to match physical and mental strength. Their high-intensity combat endurance was greatly enhanced. With the power of a peak Ryushin Martial Artist combined with the Overlord Body and their current K23 mecha, their combat prowess was extraordinary – single-soldier strength that was incomparable.

While the humans were planning how to breach the enemy lines and find weaknesses, in space, swaths of illusory shadows, blending with the dim void, flew towards the human fleet like afterimages of starlight.

The human radar systems did not react. These membrane-like entities gradually drifted into the human fleet and adhered to the surfaces of the warships, quickly taking on the same color as the ships.

The membranes continued to enter, beginning to infiltrate the Fifth Fleet. The entire process was silent and undetectable. Once settled, there was no movement. Everything within the fleet remained normal. Even mobile suits patrolling the warship surfaces showed no unusual reactions. These strange objects did not attack, or perhaps they lacked any offensive capabilities?

After some time, the surfaces of some warships in the Fifth Fleet began to exhibit slight biological reactions. The settled membranes slowly swelled.

Kepler's five human bases had become giant insect testing grounds, or rather, Nangong Yuhang's testing grounds. Except for essential personnel, everyone was being transformed into insectoids. These staff members would undergo transformation once the new insectoids could take over their work, ensuring loyalty through shared identity.

Nangong Yuhang disregarded their petty thoughts and resistance. Once they gained new bodies and new lives, they would thank him.

In Kepler Planet's Base One, the experiments proceeded smoothly. The scientists, gathered over the years by Noah's Ark and Mores, were all here. Outwardly, Nangong Yuhang completely controlled the situation. He had supreme authority over the giant insects, using their vision and feedback to observe the battlefield. This was the power only a god could possess – infinite and omnipotent. He was gradually experiencing and mastering it. Due to his body's still-growing strength, using this power placed significant strain and limitations on him, but he had tasted the flavor. Given time, these issues would be resolved. His body could be further strengthened. Cultivating Romero and the others was also a form of experimentation, using their successes and failures to correct errors, ultimately finding the ultimate secrets of human apotheosis.

He didn't need to dwell too much on the initial skirmishes. He understood human thinking – probing, seeking opportunities, and sensing the opponent's strength, causing them to waver inwardly. This level of game was effortless. They didn't know who their opponent was. The giant insects were truly born as servant creatures. Once combat orders were issued, they had a complete strategic system. Their master only needed to input commands, and the rest would be executed perfectly.

Of course, relying solely on the giant insects would not defeat humanity. This time was different. If not for Li Hao's interference, he could have completed this mission more perfectly and with less consumption, possessing a vast number of experimental subjects.

Nangong Yuhang suppressed his anger. It was unnecessary. His focus was on another level and height. He would become the supreme leader, the sole king, of three combined civilizations – the new god of humanity, the Nibelungs, and the Kepler giant insects. Why bother with an ant?

Achieving perfect modification was a complex and difficult process, but the first successful subject was the most challenging and powerful Insect God General.

Romero. Nangong Yuhang was extremely satisfied, demonstrating Romero's powerful soul and desire. Yes, the soul – this concept was not humanity's superficial gene-based understanding. Genes were merely a manifestation of the soul. This was the Nibelung worldview. Soul strength was a cosmic rule, predetermined, even encompassing causality. That was why he had specifically sought out Romero. Romero had not disappointed him.

Nangong Yuhang had, of course, conducted in-depth investigation and consideration of Blee. To him, the world existed to serve him. He trusted no one, not even "Gods," because only he could control himself. Combining human and Nibelung understandings, Blee was not limited by form and could even appear in dreams, manifesting as Blee. It could be temporarily understood as a code or signal of a macroscopic force at the specific civilizational level. In Nangong Yuhang's judgment, this was likely the operating principle of the universe. He firmly believed that everything in the universe was not random but rather a prearranged, predetermined law, giving hints and guidance to those with cosmic imprints in their souls. It could be understood as a higher level or dimension, and he was the only chosen one among billions of humans. He would lead everything.

They were one – God is me, and I am God. Of course, even as a god, one needed people to convey his will. Thus, he would cultivate more new humans. He would view this game from another angle. One reason for choosing Romero was to give Li Hao a surprise, personally obliterating and destroying a future man, appearing in an even stronger and greater form. How amusing that would be.

The flesh sphere cracked open, and foul-smelling amniotic fluid flowed out. Romero slowly stood up, his body larger, still retaining its complete human form, but covered in a layer of flowing silicon-based armor with exquisite patterns. A vertical pupil of unknown material adorned his forehead, its light swirling. Countless pieces of information flooded Romero's mind. He could even sense the condition of countless giant insects in the sky, their power, confidence, and supreme authority. The next moment, his thoughts expanded, sensing the ground, the countless giant insects busily working in Kepler's boundless underground world. This was infinite power, capable of high-speed production and evolution through any food source. Romero could see the obese queen insects feeding in luxurious caves, consuming humans, sensing human wisdom and weakness. The queen insects were trying to birth more advanced giant insects specifically designed to target humans. This was the giant insect civilization's unique survival rule.

His consciousness continued to rise, and for a moment, Romero seemed to feel overwhelming majesty, the true master of the entire Kepler world in the ocean.

The next moment, his mind severed, Romero gasped weakly. Those few seconds felt as if they had drained him.

After a long while, Romero's eyes opened, seeing Nangong Yuhang watching him with a noncommittal smile, seemingly waiting for him to declare his allegiance.

Without hesitation, Romero knelt on one knee, offering his highest submission.

Nangong Yuhang nodded in satisfaction. "You felt it."

"Yes, unimaginable power... and threat," Romero said in a deep voice.

Nangong Yuhang smiled. "Good. You can still maintain vigilance in this situation. The giant insects are merely tools, tools for me to conquer the solar system and stride towards the universe. I will assimilate the elite among humans, granting them better lifeforms."

Romero was silent for a moment. "My concern is..."

Obviously, he was referring to the immense power shrouding the ocean. Nangong Yuhang smiled slightly. "Very well, let me open your eyes. This is the greatest reliance for our victory in this war, and also the source of power."

Over the next week, the human fleet launched several small-scale probes. Both sides suffered losses, but the giant insect legions were also cunning. Their operational range remained around Kepler Planet, refusing to leave, foiling several attempts by Markum to airdrop forces onto Kepler. Currently, humanity had completely lost contact with Kepler, and the giant insects stubbornly refused to yield any gaps, indicating they had something they didn't want humans to know. Since Noah's Ark and the Nibelung civilization were also involved, understanding the internal situation of Kepler was even more important.

During these probes, three fleets also staged a feigned concentrated attack, attempting to lure the giant insect legions to one side of Kepler Planet, allowing cruisers to forcefully break through with transport ships. However, the operation failed. The enemy maintained constant vigilance over Kepler, and vast amounts of fog, seemingly appearing from nowhere, covered the sky, rendering human reconnaissance equipment useless.

This level of mutual antagonism further proved that there was a major problem within Kepler.

The Solar System Alliance also issued a resolution, stating that this battle was imperative. Of course, the front lines were given sufficient authority, as the actual situation needed to be assessed based on battlefield conditions. Supply ships were also heading to Kepler, initiating a second wave, but the integrated fleet that Markum requested was not forthcoming.

Mainly, after synthesizing various pieces of intelligence, a possibility was raised in the council – what if Kepler was deliberately opened to the solar system by an alien civilization to lure humanity into a trap? If humanity sent all its fleets, deploying everything to Kepler, who would protect the solar system?