Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

```

A shot rang out, and green fluid exploded - like a green flower blooming on the ground.

The orc's head, too, was made of various fungi symbiotically living with genetic material, forming a mush and sponge-like fungal tissue.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Now blown apart by a single shot, it splattered all over the ground.

[Hit target's vital spot, causing 120 points of critical damage!]

[Target's breathing ceased, basic life signs lost.]

Dead.

Orcs, of course, die.

The tricky part about them is that their corpses and even fur, once touching the ground, can take root and sprout, and just after two rains, a bunch can grow again from the ground.

But for individual orcs themselves, they don't possess the devilish trait of being so difficult to thoroughly kill.

[Loot acquired: Spore Colonies*2500, Combat Experience 1800 points, Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer+1, not to exceed level 5, Mastery: Heavy Weapon Specialization Layer+1, not to exceed level 5, Mastery: Throwing Specialization Layer+1, not to exceed level 5, Trait: Photosynthesis.]

Bai E's heavy weapon mastery was only at level 1. The +1 level meant keeping the current experience and directly advancing one level, reaching level 2 with 246/500.

Throwing mastery was a new specialization, thus straight up +1.

As for combat mastery, Bai E had already reached level 5, and the new loot bonus couldn't be directly converted into levels, similar to the sideline quest "Shooting" which awarded a light firearms specialization layer +1.

The reward unable to be directly converted into levels was halved and transformed into half of the required experience for leveling up, which amounted to 1750 points of universal experience stored away.

Lastly...

[Detected current character is not orc template, "Trait: Photosynthesis" is incompatible and lurks dormant.]

[Under the interference of external factors, some subtle changes are occurring in your body...]

"Photosynthesis" hadn't fully activated, which was hardly surprising, just like the two bug race traits that had popped up previously—

Without the hardware, even forcibly installed software couldn't function properly.

What Bai E was more concerned about was the last notification that popped up on the panel.

Changes?

Bai E meticulously scanned the light blue panel, finally focusing his gaze on the very bottom—

[Mutation Risk: Medium]

Last time, it had shifted from very low to low, and now... it had become medium?

Mutation?

Just as Helen had said, the latent mutation risk shared by many bioengineered soldiers?

His own body, a hybrid of orc and human genetics, became increasingly at risk of mutation the more he came into contact with orc-related factors.

To become one of those mutated human subspecies.

Neither human nor orc, but a monster that neither side cared for!

Bai E's brow furrowed slightly as he shifted his gaze away from the panel.

The light blue semi-transparent panel didn't interfere with Bai E's actual vision. When his attention moved away from the panel to the reality in front of him, the panel vanished from sight as though it had never existed.

The battle before him wasn't over yet.

There were more than a few orcs who, despite being severely wounded, still wished to land a blow on Bai E.

Looking at the young orc charging furiously toward him, left with only one hand yet still brandishing a chopper, Bai E's eyes flashed as he lifted the war blade machine gun slung over his shoulder, swinging the attached blade toward his opponent.

The hefty war blade machine gun, with its considerable weight and the burst of Overlimit Drive, cleaved through the resistance like a hot knife through butter.

"Pffft!"

A savage orc head flew into the sky, and the body, which bled far less than a human's, stood still, the brain no longer commanding the body, thus losing its target.

[Hit target's vital spot, causing 100 points of slashing damage!]

Not dead yet.

Mere decapitation was not enough to confirm the death of these orcs, and under normal circumstances, it'd be quite difficult to even achieve that.

In regular combat, not only Bai E but also those warrior specialists in heavy weapons would find it challenging to decapitate an orc with ease.

Their skulls, connecting the head to the body, were the hardest part of their anatomy, and since they had only this one vital spot, they would instinctively protect their necks in battle. Bai E had grabbed the opportunity when their physical functions were significantly impaired, to behead an orc with one strike.

"waaaaagh!" A loud shout came from a distance.

An average-sized orc turned tail and fled.

Orcs don't fear death, there is no fear.

However, when faced with an opponent of clearly superior strength, they won't fight to death mindlessly.

The lethality of Bai E's arrows was outrageous, wiping out their main force with just three shots.

If Bai E had killed so many of their brothers in close combat, they might have felt excited and ready for a world-shaking battle.

But facing an untouchable enemy, dying so easily on one side was clearly not fun.

"No need to chase!"

Team leader of Squad 1 spoke up instantly, stopping the human warriors heated by bloodlust.

The orcs, unrestricted by any armor, could run swiftly, making even bullets ineffective against them, so there was no need to waste resources.

Just as the human strategy against orcs had always been, if you can avoid fighting them, then do so, and if they run, there's no need to pursue them to the death, because they truly can't be wiped out.

Engaging them in a bitter fight was sheer folly.

"We... won?" A few warriors stood still, somewhat dazed as they watched the retreating figures of the orcs.

Facing an enemy several times their number, they had braced themselves for a fight to the death.

But they had not anticipated...

Victory?

All of this was due to that special figure.

Bai E... Bai E!

["Lucky Strike" energy charged +7.]

The leader of Squad 1 wasn't absorbed in the past events. Since he mainly directed the squad, he had to remain calm at all times.

```

Despite his appreciation for Bai E, who had displayed extraordinary abilities twice, he wanted to transfer him to his own team.

In this encounter, his team had lost another member...

Putting aside his complex thoughts, he turned to look at the chaotic scene, "Chop them up into pieces!"

The orcs whose bodies had been half destroyed by Bai E's shooting still hadn't lost their ability to move, swinging their cleavers and attempting to counterattack.

However, their mobility was greatly impaired and, being only capable of close combat, they were clearly struggling to inflict any further casualties on the human fighters.

"I'll do the chopping!"

Bai E rushed forward immediately, pushing his teammates aside.

This was a great opportunity to harvest experience; orcs were opponents he had never killed before, and their experience was full, spared from the torment of experience decay.

"No need, no need," said the warriors who were pushed aside, not daring to look Bai E in the eye, and instead continued to gravitate towards the struggling orcs with their knives ready.

The battle might be winnable, but everyone was feeling uncertain. Even if they eventually did win, it was likely to be a pyrrhic victory.

No one had expected Bai E to emerge and defeat the orcs with just three arrows.

How could they let such a fierce War God attend to these aftermath chores?

"Bai E, why don't you take a break?"

Team Leader 1, who had also heaved a sigh of relief internally, turned to Bai E and softly persuaded him.

The cave battle might have involved some trickery with words, but the encounter with the orcs had undoubtedly cemented Bai E's prestige.

Bai E, coming up with a clever solution on the spot, said with a pained expression, "This dispute arose because of our team's protest, and we must take responsibility for it. This is my duty."

"This..."

Such a loyal soldier.

Both Team Leaders 1 and 2 were taken aback, along with their team members, who didn't know whether to continue or to stop.

'He looks very guilty.'

'Should we give him a chance to redeem himself?' The two team leaders silently exchanged glances to share their thoughts.

"We'll help you."

You and Dashan, who had just dealt with the refugees up ahead and were returning, saw the current activity and immediately joined in.

"No problem, leave it all to me," Bai E said, stepping aside nonchalantly, avoiding the motion of an orc who was still reaching out an arm trying to land a blow on him, "You guys are tired too, you need rest. Leave it to me!"

"Leave it all to me!"

"..."

Watching Bai E's serious face, even his teammates fell silent.

Bai E's sense of responsibility seemed more earnest than anyone else's.

He truly viewed all of this as his own mistake to atone for...

["Lucky Strike" charge +9.]

Chop and burn!

The green blood of the orcs wasn't abundant, and its color wasn't jarring, allowing Bai E to chop without any psychological pressure.

He even enjoyed it.

+25

+30

+28

Experience points differed according to the orcs' size, with larger ones generally providing more.

Including those wounded by his teammates, there were a total of thirty-two orcs.

After dousing them with the gasoline carried on the vehicle, Bai E sparked a flame that ignited the pile of pieces.

There were strict requirements for the burning of orc corpses; chopping them up was to ensure the complete incineration of every piece of tissue because leaving even the smallest fragment could lead to a future sea of green...

Watching the flames rise before his eyes, Bai E, who had quietly observed everything, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

830 combat experience points...

The team stopped, not just waiting for Bai E.

The warriors who had just fought a fierce battle also needed to rest. The short but intense combat had drained not only their physical strength but also their will to fight.

Moreover, in the chaotic fight against the orcs, many of them had visible injuries.

"Harold, that looks like a serious wound..."

On his thigh, the wound gaped open for an inch, the flesh turned out, looking ferocious.

The orcs' weapons were covered in oddly shaped spikes, and the rust indicated they possibly carried numerous toxins that could infect the wounds.

Without proper treatment, muscle damage could be a serious consequence.

"Just bandage it up for me," Harold's cheeks trembled slightly, evidently enduring severe pain.

"I can't guarantee I'll do a good job," said one of the special squad warriors, who were generally adept in multiple fields. But specialization was key, and the ones skilled in medical treatment had already fallen in the cave, the unfortunate victims of the War God's attack, "Or maybe..."

The speaking warrior glanced towards the figure facing the flames.

The rumors about him treating the various wounds of the refugees had already spread throughout the team yesterday.

With refugees living outside for long periods, they were afflicted with numerous complex maladies. Being able to handle all of that suggested that this warrior named Bai E had top-notch medical skills as well.

"It's fine, I can make it back to the military camp," said Harold, his face set, unwilling to give in.

"Sit tight."

A shadow suddenly loomed over him, "Stretch out your leg."

Bai E's voice was calm, his gaze fixed on the wound instead of Harold's face, devoid of any prejudice.

"..."

"Hurry up, there are others who need treatment."

"Oh, oh..."

["Lucky Strike" charge +5.]