The powerful leader was tough on the outside but soft on the inside; the aloof major general fell fo

How could this happen?

Cen Li sat up and realized that the female soldier's gaze was not fixed on him, which gave him a bad feeling. He turned around and found that "he" was still lying on the hospital bed, his eyes closed and his lips pale.

The current situation is truly unbelievable.

Cen Li was like a transparent soul separated from its body.

No insects could see him.

Cen Li was shocked and was about to ask the system what was going on when the system suddenly spoke up.

"Host, you are dead."

Cen Li:? ? !

"How could that be?"

"Then now..."

Cen Li looked down at his semi-transparent body and suddenly couldn't speak. He realized that what the system said was true.

The system kindly explained to him, "You suffered a fatal wound. You're lucky you didn't die on the spot, and they didn't save you."

In the end, its tone seemed to carry a hint of pity.

Cen Li then looked at the female soldier.

Ashel stared quietly at himself on the hospital bed. Cen Li tried to keep his tone calm as he asked, "Then why am I still lying in a hospital bed instead of... the morgue?"

The system said "Oh," and then added, "This is just an illusion I created. Your heart has stopped beating, so you are really dead, host."

The system tried very hard to convince Cen Li that he was dead.

Cen Li's mind went blank for a moment.

The system continued, "Host, if you wake up any later, I won't have enough energy to keep your body from decaying, and your soul will simply dissipate."

Cen Li keenly sensed something: "Can I still go back?"

I mean, my body.

The system paused for a second, then said, "There is indeed an option for you here."

Suddenly, a glimmer of light appeared in Cen Li's eyes. "Can I be reborn? I remember you said that I could receive a reward after accumulating a certain amount of humiliation points."

Aside from the first instance of credit, the system hasn't proactively mentioned any subsequent rewards so far.

Cen Li has figured out a convenient way to quickly collect humiliation points, and he believes that his humiliation points must have reached a considerable number by now.

That's probably what the system is trying to say.

"No."

The system rejected Cen Li's conjecture.

"Host, our ultimate reward is rebirth."

"You've collected half of the humiliation points, unlocking the second stage reward, but it's just a potion to boost mental strength and won't help you in your current situation."

Upon hearing this, Cen Li exclaimed, "Since there was a reward, why didn't you tell me sooner? If my mental strength had increased to S-level, I might not have died."

The system was silent for a moment, "Because... at that time you were just a little short of humiliation points, only 49999 humiliation points. That little bit of humiliation points only increased after Ashel saw you injured and coughing up blood."

Cen Li was speechless for a moment.

How ironic.

It was just a little bit short.

If this had happened sooner, the outcome might have been different; at least we could have held out until Ashel arrived.

"So, what kind of choice are you talking about?"

The system said, "Considering that our initial binding was due to my negligence in mistakenly binding you, on the day you had the accident, I applied to the Supreme God for compensation for you—a chance to be reborn, and it has now been approved."

Cen Li's temples throbbed; his emotional rollercoaster could be described as follows: "I just asked you if you could be reborn, and you said no! You scared me to death, you know?!"

The system is innocent. "What I mean is that the phased reward is not a rebirth. This is a special approval."

"Host, don't forget to rate my service as excellent when the time comes."

A system that actively advocates for the interests of its host believes that there is no system in the world that is easier to get along with and kinder than itself.

Cen Li didn't want to say anything more to it, so he suppressed his frustration and urged, "Then what are we waiting for? I want to be reborn now."

The system exclaimed, "Wait a minute, host."

"You must think this through carefully. You only have one chance to be reborn. The choice you need to make is to stay in the mission world or return to your original world."

"If you choose to stay with the Zerg, it means you will never be able to return to the human world."

The system subtly suggested, "I suggest you stay here. If you choose to stay, I hope you can continue to complete the tasks, as this is related to my performance evaluation."

"Of course, I must remind you that even if you complete the mission, you will not be rewarded with a second chance to be reborn."

Therefore, staying with the Zerg means continuing to work for the system for free.

Cen Li can only make one choice.

Should he return to the place where he grew up, or stay in this strange world where he has only been for less than a year...?

The host remained silent for a long time.

The system knew he was thinking, so it didn't disturb him. It only saw the host looking at Ashel kneeling by the bed with a complicated emotion in his eyes.

The eerie atmosphere was broken by Derek entering the room.

He first went to the bedside to check on his only insect offspring, then called the doctor over to ask questions. After receiving the same answer, Derek looked gloomy.

They turned their attention to Ashel.

"So what if you keep kneeling? Will my Xiaoli wake up?!"

"It's all your fault..."

Derek, his face grim, pointed to the door. "Little Li definitely doesn't want to see you. Get out!"

Ashel froze, her face pleading, "Father... I want to stay here..." to keep the male master company.

Something must have touched a nerve with Derek, because his tone became stern. "You want to stay here? Have you asked Xiao Li's opinion? Is he willing? Does he want to see you?"

"If it weren't for you, if it weren't for you..."

Derek was furious, his chest heaving with anger.

One sharp question after another pierced Ashel like a sword, causing his straight back to bend abruptly. His wounds began to ooze a dense, unbearable pain, and he even began to agree with his father's words.

Perhaps, the powerful ruler... truly did not wish to see him.

Otherwise, why haven't they woken up yet...?

"Father, this has nothing to do with Ashel."

Seeing Derek's one-sided rebuke and complaints against Ashel, Cen Li spoke up to defend Ashel.

It's hard to imagine that during the time he was unconscious, his female father also placed all the blame on Ashel, just as he did today, while the taciturn female soldier silently endured it all, never uttering a word in her own defense.

But obviously, no insect heard Cen Li's words.

Derek continued to treat Ashleigh coldly.

A deep sense of powerlessness welled up in Cen Li's heart. He saw Asher stand up and purse her lower lip, a small gesture that female soldiers often made when they were not in a calm mood.

Cen Li suddenly caught a glimpse of something in the corner of his eye.

His expression changed slightly. He took two steps forward and looked closely at the several whip marks on the back of Ashel's neck, the skin and flesh turned outwards, with glaring bloodstains inside.