Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

The bugs' attack rhythm began to change markedly.

They were no longer like a pack of starving hyenas, fixated only on the prey they had chosen.

Nor would they abandon a target that was already weak and within easy reach simply because the human soldiers provided each other with interlocking cover.

"What's going on?"

"They seem to have gotten smarter all of a sudden!"

"Ah!"

"Help!"

Four or five bugs quietly encircled a soldier amidst the chaotic battle, only revealing their intentions at the last moment before pouncing like the most vicious hunters.

As the bone-chilling screams tore through the air, the soldier's mutilated body was torn beyond recognition by the clutches of the bugs.

The anguished cries for help that arose everywhere jolted the remaining soldiers to full awareness.

The bugs... had gotten smarter!

...

"This is the real test."

Bugs without a commander are just a mob of chaos; if humans could manipulate them so easily, they would not deserve to be humanity's greatest threat on this planet.

...

The bug commander had appeared!

Was it a Brain Bug? Or a Mantis Bug?

Only these two types of bugs in the recently played footage possessed command abilities.

Bai E leaned towards the latter; the Brain Bug was the core of a bug nest and unlikely to appear here.

But a Mantis Bug, an equivalent of a Bug Race platoon officer, could only command a limited area. Their small nest's influence couldn't cover a large range; the enemy had to be nearby!

Where?

Bai E turned around in one swift motion, scanning the entire field with his gaze.

The area surrounding the training ground was quite open, and the few small obstacles couldn't conceal a Mantis Bug that stood twice as tall as a human. The only place was... behind him, the armory storage, the ready room!

"Run outside!"

Upon realizing this, Bai E was startled, his body breaking out in a cold sweat, and in the next moment, he bellowed loudly.

"In the back! Mantis Bug! In the back!"

Bai E explained the situation as simply as possible; some of the nearby recruits were skeptical, as the front was a chaotic battlefield filled with hand-to-hand combat soldiers and bugs; others placed their complete trust in this War God who had performed miracles before and ran for their lives.

Seemingly aware that its location had been discovered, the nightmarish creature emerged from the dark shadows of the tall ready room, with ground-shaking steps.

Under the two scythe-like massive claws were the bodies of two recruits, cut in half at the waist, their blood flowing into rivers.

The upper half of a yet conscious soldier weakly tried to call for help, reaching out to touch the world one last time…

"Crack!"

The mandibles snapped shut, and the body hung limp.

The sun was setting in the west, and even the last sliver of reluctance had been shaded.

The scattered daylight spread from the horizon, casting an ominous blood-red hue over the vast training ground.

[Mantis Bug (Bug Race) (Elite) — "Lucky Strike" kill drop: Guaranteed (Bug Tribe Essence Extract*500, 3000 battle experience points); High probability (Trait: Bloodthirst Instinct); Possible (Trait: Hive Mind)]

The big boss had appeared!

On the frontline, such Bug Race platoon officers might be a dime a dozen and insignificant against human artillery and armor, but to these fleshy recruits, it was almost a reaper inducing despair.

The explode muscles of its lower limbs allowed this embodiment of death to harvest lives among the crowd effortlessly, sending soldiers in combat suits flying with a sweep of its bone-blade, crushing their ribs, spewing out blood in gushes.

Not to mention, most of the recruits at the rear were shooter-types.

A one-sided massacre!

The horrifying creature from the Bug Race spread death and terror without restraint.

As Rose was being besieged, she saw the collapse at the back and, with her eyes wide with fury, let out a heart-wrenching scream that echoed across the training field, "Run for your lives!"

...

"The alertness is too poor. At first, the Mantis Bug was in a weakened state, and you've delayed so long allowing it to feed on several people that now these recruits will have a hard time killing it."

"Should we terminate the trial?"

Using lives as fodder might work, but the costs would be too great if the losses became excessive.

With the previous battles, these recruits should be more or less battle-ready and shouldn't drag their feet on tomorrow's battlefield.

Everyone in the command vehicle watched the highest-ranking officer, Commander Weslin, as he tapped his fingers on the tabletop, pondering for a moment, "Let's wait and see a bit longer."

...

[Warning: Mission has encountered unexpected complications and may end at any moment. Please kill the target "Mantis Bug" as soon as possible! Otherwise, the mission will fail! Countdown: Unknown!]

"Run! Run outside!"

Bai E clenched his teeth tightly, waving his hand to command.

Reason told him he should retreat; there were 2000 recruits here, and even if it was a matter of piling up lives, they should theoretically be able to bury it.

At such a moment, the core condition of the mission was no longer important.

However, the impulse in his body was leaping arrogantly.

"This isn't training!"

"It's not a drill!"

Reason screamed wildly.

This was real combat arranged by the military!

Those high and mighty figures were sitting behind the monitors, watching their life-and-death struggle with cold eyes.

Only those who have been through the ordeal of blood and fire are qualified to set foot on the battlefield and fight for the survival of humanity!

Bai E knew everything!

The abnormal actions of the military camp and the red dots that lit up in the cameras had almost made everything clear.

As for the sacrifices in combat...

This era never took sacrifice to heart.

Just like the words spoken by the highest commander of the military district when he had just awakened—the foundation of the empire is built on sacrifice!

If Bai E died, no one would care.

The deaths of those recruits would be even less of a concern to anyone.

But these soldiers, who had just been born, hadn't even had the chance to properly see the colors of this world, even if it was the black color of despair!

"Help! Help!"

The genetically enhanced soldiers did not fear sacrifice, but this overly powerless death seemed to break the genetic order within their bodies.

Under the panic, the recruit who fell and rapidly retreated on all fours watched as the tilting shadow enveloped him, the flow of time before death seemingly so slow, in his eyes he could see the fearsome beast slowly raising its right claw, its pale bone blade inching down.

"Clang!"

"Sss!"

[You have used a weapon to parry your opponent's attack once, heavy weapon mastery experience +5.]

[Based on your attack block, you have gained the following information—]

[Mantis Bug (Bug Race): Health 260/260; Defensive Power: 15; Attack Power (Type: Slashing): 30~unknown; Skills: Bone Blade Projectile; Traits: Symbiotic Weapon, Chitin Armor; Mobility: 80% (Semi-weakened state)…]

Metallic combat boots scratched the ground over several meters, the terrifying force numbing Bai E's arms, lucky that the regular slash was still caught.

Standard-issue combat sword, superior in quality.

"Move quickly!"

Bai E's eyes were fixed on the fearsome beast in front of him as he whispered instructions to the recruit on the ground.

It's not training, it's not a drill... can't you be bolder?

A battle group of 2000 recruits, were they really afraid of just one enemy?

If today's minor challenges can't be overcome, what about the future?

With his chest filled with boundless pride, Bai E let it surge and swirl within him.

Surging emotions are not always a bad thing, humans... sometimes they can unleash 120% of their potential!

"Cover me!"

Blindly running away is but a prelude to collapse; the impact of the internal shooters on the delicate balance of the frontline melee soldiers' rhythm.

We must withstand it!

Even if it's hard to bear, we must persevere!

"Yes!"

The retreating recruits did not flee in terror due to the fear just now. The shadow of fear had been dispelled by Bai E, and what remained...

Zhou lifted his rifle, "Bang!"

"Bang bang bang bang!"

A series of bullets came from all directions, the thick chitin shell easily blocked each bullet, but the kinetic energy that came with the bullets still made the seemingly invincible boss take a slight step back.

The genetically enhanced soldiers would not run in fear; they were just waiting for the right moment to strike.

Bai E spread his stance, lowered his body, and braced his left arm with the combat sword, all his focus honed.