Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

After explaining the key points of injecting the Gene Optimization Solution, the scientist in the white lab coat fell silent, and for a moment, the only sound in the room was the occasional light "beep beep" of the equipment.

As time slowly passed, a continuous humming was followed by Bai E's medical report landing in the hands of one of the scientists.

[Physical Fitness]: 14.7/15

[Insight]: 12.5/15

[Reflex]: 12.9/15

These were the basic attributes, a must for the physical examination.

But they weren't the deciding factor for the injection.

The scientist glanced over the other crucial indicators and found them mostly within the acceptable ranges.

The only issue was the activation rate of the foreign genes...

It was flirting with the danger threshold.

Seeing the scientist frowning heavily, Weslin, who had been waiting to the side, stepped forward, "What's the problem? Is there an issue?"

The scientist nodded slightly, speaking with some hesitation, "The indicators are mostly okay, but his foreign genes are a bit too active. Forcing the injection could likely lead to his genes mutating out of control... "

Turning into a monstrous mutant neither human nor beast.

Weslin's eyebrows furrowed, "Is there a way to lower it?"

He knew there wasn't one, but he said it for Bai E to hear.

If he wanted to win someone over, he had to show his concern; silent protection isn't worth a fig.

"No," the scientist shook his head in resignation.

So far, the research had not produced a perfect way to control foreign genes. Perhaps keeping calm, reading more books, eating less meat might help?

But that was even more esoteric than the notion of firmly believing one is human.

In the past, they wouldn't have taken the risk under these circumstances.

"What should we do then..." Weslin pondered, his finger on his chin.

The scientist looked at Weslin, not understanding why the marshal cared so much for a regular artificial soldier, but nonetheless he cooperated and directly presented the options, "There are only two choices: either proceed with the injection, but the risk of mutation is high, so be prepared for emergency contingencies; or... give up the injection."

"Tat tat tat~"

The sound of metal military boots approached, and Weslin moved above Bai E's head, looking down at him with eyes full of worry and sincerity, "I leave this choice to you."

"I want to go through with the injection," Bai E answered without hesitation.

This might be his only chance to get the Gene Optimization Solution. If he gave it up now, there was no telling if he would ever get another chance.

Hope for the players to develop it on their own?

Their facilities were nowhere near as comprehensive as the Scientific Research Institute's full suite of services.

Better to take the risk today than at the players' later.

Human, right?

I was always human!

What about beastmen, bugs, demons? Sooner or later, I'll take a sword to them and wipe them out completely!

Hearing Bai E's response, the scientist hesitantly looked to Weslin, "Marshal?"

Weslin spoke firmly, "I support his decision."

"Fine," the scientist nodded, "then let's proceed with the direct injection. He will need absolute silence afterward; I must trouble the marshal to maintain Order outside. The absorption time of the Gene Optimization Solution may be quick, or it might take long, this varies from person to person. I hope no one will come to disturb him during this period."

"No problem, leave it to me," Weslin spoke in a brief and decisive manner, filled with a military demeanor that instinctively inspired trust.

Finally, with a pat on Bai E's shoulder, Weslin spoke sincerely, "I believe in you."

After leaving the room, Weslin gestured to the guards outside. Immediately, a squad of soldiers outside clicked their safeties off and chambered their rounds.

No matter how much he trusted, he still had to prepare for the worst—and trust wasn't that abundant anyway...

If things turned out well, he'd gain a fiercely loyal little fan; if not... then so be it. Enjoy more content from empire

Stepping out into the corridor, the nearly wintery sun cast a warm temperature on him, and a dark silhouette, Yueying, happened to pass by not far away.

Weslin's eyes brightened, and he quickly chased after her, "Miss Yueying!"

...

Bai E glimpsed the solemn actions of the three scientists.

A silver-gray metal case was placed with grave care onto the flat workbench, and under the sound of electronic prompts for a password, the dampened metal case slowly opened.

An icy chill instantly spread as three differently colored tubular syringes were quietly arranged inside.

Red, blue, green.

What effects each had was unknown.

Bai E simply tried to remember everything he saw, as this knowledge might come in handy with the players in the future.

"Close your eyes, feel every change happening in your body. Occasional muscle twitching is normal, as is feeling a warm flow or frost moving through your body's meridians and veins. Don't panic. Remember, control your emotions. Stay calm and relaxed, keep a level head.

Shifting emotions can more easily trigger and amplify the activity of foreign genes; you're already on the edge, and we can't afford any mistakes. Don't answer, just blink to let me know you heard."

As the other two scientists made their final preparations, the lead scientist's voice grew more solemn.

Bai E blinked rapidly, signaling his awareness.

Control emotions? Perhaps "self-restraint" could be helpful.

The expertise that was originally thought to provide little enhancement to actual combat ability is now indispensable in various aspects!

"Begin injection."

"Injecting No. 1 drug."

"Injecting No. 2 drug, start timing."

"...3 minutes have passed."

"Injecting No. 3 drug."

"Monitor the body's data!"

[You have used a dose of "Low-grade Gene Optimization Solution", your body is absorbing and transforming...]

...

"How is it?"

"Breathing steady, body data isn't fluctuating too much."

"Seems like this synthetic human is pretty lucky..."

If mutations were to occur, they tend to come very quickly.

If there's no sudden fluctuation in data within the first few minutes of injection, it essentially means that this warrior is unlikely to encounter any complications afterwards.

Three individuals in white lab coats, two standing by Bai E's side holding sedatives at the ready, and one in front of a monitor, watch the screen attentively, chatting softly with a relaxed tone.

"How much do you think he will improve?"

"At most one or two degrees, the best record in our city was only a 2.1-degree improvement..."

"I wonder if he can awaken a new talent. This synthetic human seems pretty stable."

"It's probably difficult... Out of a hundred who undergo optimization fluid injection, there may not even be one who awakens an additional talent; he's probably not that lucky one..."

The voices of the individuals in white lab coats faded away, and Bai E's mental world plunged into darkness.

Then... his brain felt dizzy, as if everything was upside down and in disarray, followed by an unparalleled sense of clarity spreading throughout his body. His consciousness perceived his body with great lucidity.

Limbs, arms... blood vessels, bone joints... fascia, skin... nerve endings...

Bai E's consciousness swiftly coursed through his body, like a cold probe sweeping over every inch of his tissues.

At a particular spot, the consciousness closed in rapidly. Cells, which were nearly invisible to the naked eye, quickly magnified in the field of vision of the consciousness.

Some cells with green-hued walls stood out conspicuously amid the flood of other cells and seemed disproportionally large on the ramparts.

Yet this magnification did not cease; focusing on a selected cell, vision plunged into it.

The instant a certain boundary was breached, the double helix structure slowly spiraled in the dark Consciousness Space, extending toward the far-off darkness without end in sight.

Numerous glowing particles emerged from the dark "Space" right before Bai E's "eyes", and they floated consciously around the double helix structure, gradually sinking into it.

As those particles infiltrated, certain segments of the double helix structure began to glow faintly.

New "segments" generated from nowhere, replacing the existing structural segments.

Clear, visualizable changes to his genes occurred before Bai E's eyes, yet he could hardly understand the meaning behind each subtle alteration.

While immersed in this enigmatic sight, Bai E could also feel real-time changes occurring in his body.

The changes in his body were as the white lab coats described, like countless warm little snakes roaming within him, with the most notable change being to his brain.

His head progressively became lighter, as if a layer of invisible, intangible membrane was punctured with a "pop," and his thought processes felt quicker to him. His "mind's eye" view of the world became instantly clear.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

...

His eyelids twitched lightly, and milky light intruded into the narrow slit.

More immediate than the light to his senses, was the sound that began to echo beside his ear.

"He's waking up, he's waking up... only two hours have passed."

"He came through it so steadily..."

"Wonder how much he improved."

[Gene optimization complete, your attributes have undergone significant changes...]

[Template changed from "Gene Modification Prototype" to "Gene Modification Optimization Stage I".]

[Due to the change in the template, the health points formula from "Base 60 + (Stamina - 10) * 15" has been changed to "Base 100 + (Stamina - 10) * 20". Current health points: 180/180.]

[Gene optimization level changed from "0.1/100 (orientation: Orc)" to "3.3/100 (orientation: None)".]

[Due to the increased gene optimization level, the upper limits of the three basic attributes, Stamina, Insight, Reflex, have changed from "15 points" to "24 points".]

[You have guided the direction of the changes through willpower during the gene optimization process, and your trait has changed: "Trait — Blunt Emotion" has disappeared; a new "Trait — Keen Senses" has been added.]

[During the gene optimization process, you have absorbed enough power, and your "Talent" specialty has undergone changes: Specialty — Fast Recovery (Locked) progress "39%" → "89%", and additional effects have been added, details to take effect after the specialty is unlocked.]

[Trait — Keen Senses: Can add to any ability related to the "Insight" attribute, while thought speed +10%. (Current applicable abilities: Trait — Well Trained, Specialty — Blind-Fighting.)]

Bai E opened his eyes...