Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

One minute…

Two minutes…

In a state of ethereal selflessness, time passed without leaving a trace.

Bai E was even indifferent to how much experience he had exactly expended.

Ever since the last return from the demon lair, his experience reserves had already hit the roof; such a minor expense was nothing in his eyes.

Unsurprisingly, upon approaching a near-hundred percent completion once again, the Breathing Skill suitable for the elf physiology gave Bai E that suffocating sensation.

"Cough cough cough!"

[Node record +1, collect more tricks of the Breathing Skill, and you will become fully familiar with this breathing rhythm.]

"..." Watching the hunched-over and coughing figure of Bai E, Yue Ying moved her mouth, trying to organize her words to comfort him.

She wanted to say that all this was normal, that beginners were just like this, and not to feel discouraged or to think it was his own problem.

However, while she was considering what to say, Bai E had already sat up straight again.

"Again!"

His voice was firm, unwavering.

The words she had prepared seemed useless to him…

"..."

Yue Ying nodded slightly, "Okay."

...

"Cough~"

[Node record +1…]

"Pfft!"

[Node record +1…]

As Yue Ying went full force, Bai E's body could not withstand the high-pressure rhythm, and the frequency of his failures increased.

"Cough cough cough cough!"

[Node record +1…]

Hearing Bai E's cough that nearly expelled his lungs, Yue Ying frowned with concern.

"How about we call it a day?"

A Breathing Skill that always pushed human physical limits could invisibly harm his body. Once or twice might be negligible, but now…

It was too much of a good thing.

She never expected to teach it in one session; instructing a human-made warrior to learn the elves' Breathing Skill was an unprecedented challenge, and she had reserved a great deal of patience, not in a hurry for quick results.

"I can still continue."

Bai E caught his breath and insisted in a somewhat hoarse voice.

The Breathing Skill that exceeded human tolerances indeed inflicted no small harm on his body, and his now more sensitive sense of touch seemed almost able to perceive the cries of various organs under high pressure.

But his rapidly healing talent, having unlocked to 89%, was quickly repairing his damaged physique, even advancing to 90% completion.

There was nothing more to say.

Everyone's talents had different applications; some directly affected combat abilities, others shone in logistical support. His quick recovery allowed him to sustain long and exhaustive training.

Yue Ying looked at Bai E's profile with slight worry, but still gently agreed, "...Alright then."

Willpower was also a critical factor affecting Spiritual Training, and besides, human medical technology was impressive; even if something went wrong, he could simply be sent straight to the military camp's medical department, which should not be a big problem.

What was more valuable was his ability to endure internal pain without letting the body's distress signals affect his Breathing Skill, a testament to mental fortitude already close to their elves' strong control over hormones and emotions.

Self-restraint was a prerequisite for elves to practice the Breathing Skill, but for humans with less sensitive bodies, it was not necessary, and training that was time-consuming and difficult, not worth teaching.

In her view, humans who could achieve this without self-restraint were rare.

"Continue."

[Node record +1…]

[Node record +1…]

...

The Elf Breathing Skill had countless demands on the body and soul; fortunately, after a night's investment of experience, Bai E finally saw the chance of freestyle creation mode shifting from extremely low to moderate.

Tomorrow... when continuing the training, he could attempt a dual approach, learning and creating at the same time, developing a Breathing Skill truly suited to his body!

As for today? It was definitely not possible.

He was distinctly aware of several ruptures in his internal organ membranes, not to mention bleeding in the inner walls, and a tearing pain in his chest, as if his ribs were broken.

The beating and expansion of his heart and lungs were slowing down, and his blood flowed with a languidness.

It looked serious, but with his current constitution, along with regenerative blood and rapid recovery at play, a day and night's sleep should see no major issues.

Still, to recover swiftly, Bai E patted his backside as if nothing were amiss and headed straight for the medical room for the injured.

Watching Bai E's receding figure, Yue Ying silently shook her head.

To push himself to the limit, even if it meant enduring inhuman pain.

Perhaps it was this resolute will that was at the core of the many miracles he had achieved all along.

The weak have many excuses, but the strong show remarkable similarities.

...

On duty was the diligent Mashati.

"Doctor, I need medical attention."

"I'm just a nurse…" Mashati, who was looking down at her work, responded subconsciously at the familiar voice, pausing abruptly as she looked up and saw Bai E, "You... what brings you here?"

"Medical attention."

It was better to let the military doctors tend to him than to tough it out using his own constitution; why ignore such good medical facilities?

"You..." Mashati gave Bai E a once-over with some hesitation.

It was rare for someone to come by walking on their own...

Generally, being able to walk meant it wasn't serious.

So, he couldn't be just making up an excuse to come see me, could he?

The girl's thoughts wildly danced, but still adhering to her duty, she took Bai E to the doctor's office.

Looking at the scans, the doctor stared at Bai E with shock on his face.

"How can you still be standing?"

"…" Bai E glanced at the white bed in the clinic and obediently walked over, "Should I lie down?"

"You, you, you... do you know your organs are nearly failing?" the doctor stood up, his demeanor serious, "How did it get like this?"

"Training…"

"…"

"Awesome!" Continue your adventure with empire

["Lucky Strike" energy +1]

"You people just don't treat your bodies as bodies," the doctor with thinning hair pressed down on Bai E's upper body while speaking and working, "Lie down and don't move. Mashati, go get me some Powerful Resuscitation Powder. And don't worry, there's no one here we can't save."

"Oh~" Bai E responded, then quickly advised, "Use the Ultra-effective Heart-saving Needle, that one's more powerful."

"That usually can't be tolerated by the average person…" the doctor paused, trying to explain.

"…" Bai E looked into his eyes and sincerely said, "I'm not the average person."

"No, wait…" The doctor ignored Bai E's response and instead gripped the only three stubborn hairs left on his head, "How do you know about the Ultra-effective Heart-saving Needle?"

"…I also know a little about medicine."

"…"

"…"

The two men locked eyes.

"You kid…"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Watching Bai E who had just received an injection get up from the bed and walk away, the doctor, still clutching the remaining two strands of hair on his head, wore a puzzled expression, "Where did this kid come from? Is it really okay for him to push himself like this?"

"The dean had previously mentioned taking him as a disciple," Mashati, who knew a thing or two, looked adoringly at the fading figure.

"Oh… eh?" The doctor, now with only one stubborn hair left to hold, fell into deep thought.

["Lucky Strike" energy +1]

…

In the early morning, Bai E got up from bed feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

Seeing his tent-mates like Tiger and You, his mood was good.

After all, they were comrades who had been sleeping together every night since they arrived in this world. It was indeed fortunate to not have been transferred out of this special forces team…

"You haven't been around these past few days. What have you been busy with?" Da Shan casually asked while dressing.

Bai E replied just as casually, "I was sent to join the armored regiment for training with them."

"Ah?"

"Ah?"

All four men turned their gaze to him, filled with confusion—

What's the deal, little brother?

The armored regiment isn't something you can just join whenever, right?

There has never been a story about a man-made soldier from there who ended up with a happy ending.

Dying on the battlefield is nothing; it's a glorious sacrifice.

But spending all day in the armored regiment with that humans-first atmosphere, occasionally receiving covert hostility, is far more painful than being outright stabbed.

"Didn't we tell you not to go to the armored regiment before?" Song Ying said somewhat regretfully.

Bai E blinked and with an innocent look up from the bed, "The orders were from a superior officer…"

"You could have suggested otherwise, though. Your achievements should be enough to negotiate some leeway."

Although the team didn't know the extent of Bai E's military achievements or how the senior officers viewed him, they knew enough of his credited actions on two joint operations to believe that there was room for maneuvers.

"Yeah… Why don't you talk to the commander and ask to be transferred back? You don't belong in that place."

Not only was it a waste of time, but it was also uncomfortable to live there.

Only You noticed something amiss, "How come you're still sleeping here if you've been sent to the armored regiment?"

"The commander said I could retain my special forces assignment…," Bai E explained.

"Ah?"

Song Ying was puzzled. Since when could an armored regiment assignment coexist so harmoniously with a regular one?

Isn't that place famously autocratic?

"I just need to participate in the necessary training at the armored regiment."

"Ah?"

Tiger couldn't understand it at all. Could one actually enjoy such freedom after joining the armored regiment?

Were all the stories from the past man-made soldiers just hot air?

"Aside from controlling mechas and undergoing Psychic Pressure Resistance Training, I don't need to go at other times."

"Ah!?!?"

???

Mecha?

Psychic Pressure Resistance Training?

Da Shan found it hard to swallow, "What exactly are you responsible for in the armored regiment?"

"Mech Pilot reserve…"

"…"

"…"

"As a natural person…"

Bai E hadn't planned on keeping this a secret from his companions, with whom he spent every day. You couldn't keep all secrets buried in your heart; that would drive a person mad.

"…"

"…"

"Awesome!"

Da Shan voiced what the teammates were thinking.

They knew Bai E's achievements might be significant, but they hadn't imagined they were great enough to compel even the famously intransigent armored regiment to make compromises.

"Do good work…"

Song Ying came over and patted Bai E's shoulder, "Don't blow your cover."

"We should get to training," Tiger said, noticing his teammates engulfed in shock, his voice firm.

He knew Bai E would rise quickly, but he hadn't expected it to be this quick.

As his newness hadn't worn off yet and he was already so far ahead, they, as teammates, shouldn't always be holding him back.

It was time for them to go all out too!

"By the way…" Tiger said, lifting the tent flap and turning his head to the left, "Since you still have your special forces assignment, I expect you'll be on the list for the joint mission in a few days. The target is probably the new type of 'Sandworm' from the Bug Race that can burrow underground, recently discovered. I'm just giving you a heads up. Don't forget what preparations you need to make."

"Sandworm?" The new type of bug they encountered on the way to the Root Server ruins last time?

So the other military personnel were not just sitting on their hands; they'd already made a battle plan, had they?

Bai E nodded, "Got it, I'm aware."

As for now… today was actually the first official lesson in mecha control training.