Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

Bai E whispered back, then slowly opened his eyes.

He certainly hadn't died.

The lethal weapon was indeed terrifying, and even if Bai E had detected the attacker's intention, he would have had trouble avoiding it in time.

Taking the hit head-on was out of the question, even with Absolute Defense activated, it absolutely couldn't withstand the damage from that ray weapon.

Split in two, that was the only fate for a target attacked, or rather, locked on by a ray weapon.

Against such a terrifying adversary, perhaps only human lives could fill the gap.

Every first-generation smart machine possessed extraordinary combat strength beyond ordinary human imagination, and this was only one, unable to cooperate with others.

If they operated in groups, even if first-generation smart machines like themselves and Zero's combination technique were hit, they could retreat behind their companions for rapid repair.

They truly were mankind's great enemy.

But fortunately, there was only one opponent this time.

Its ray weapon also couldn't be used routinely.

Today, for the first time, the "Defiance of Death" obtained from that ancient warrior exhibited its heaven-defying effect.

For a normal body, the wound was so severe it was beyond horror, but under the super organ capable of "deceiving death," Bai E's body still clung to a sliver of life.

Even under the effect of the regenerating blood, the health bar wiped out in one hit by that terrifying ray weapon was slowly recovering.

[You have taken a fatal attack, health points -200.]

[Under the effect of the "Trait—Defiance of Death," you have successfully retained 1 health point. You will maintain your current action state until the next high-value fatal damage is taken.]

[Under the effect of the "Trait—Blood of Regeneration," your cellular vitality has been greatly enhanced, rapidly repairing damaged body tissues, health points quickly recovering... Health points +1.]

[... Health points +1.]

[... Health points +1.]

...

And it wasn't just these acquired abilities from various sources, the innate talent and expertise that had come with Bai E's birth had finally completed their final metamorphosis at this moment—

[Your body is rapidly repairing the wounds, don't worry! Warrior!]

[Injury repair progress 40%, Rapid Recovery (unlocked) unlocking progress 100%.]

[Innate Talent—Rapid Recovery (Genetic Optimized Version): Your body has become familiar with nearly all forms of energy in this world. From now on, your body can draw from any perceptible and imperceptible, usable and unusable forms of energy. It will draw all usable components to restore every status of your body (including but not limited to your physical health, stamina, willpower, Spiritual Energy, etc.). For pure energy forms of external forces (including attacks), you can also absorb a "portion" for recovery.]

At the moment Rapid Recovery was successfully unlocked, Bai E could even feel every cell in his body come to "life."

The clean-cut, piercing wound that had divided him was "fatal," but the attack was straightforward, and the damage area was not extensive, making it simpler to repair.

A mere "fatal wound" is nothing to speak of.

In the gap between conversations, newly formed cells had already pushed aside the charred black debris burnt instantly by the high-energy ray.

The squirming flesh buds, as if possessing their own consciousness, stretched out their tendrils toward the other half of the body.

Amid the sticky "sizzling" of cells, the split flesh finally reattached.

Bai B looked at the scene unfolding before her eyes, filled with disbelief, "You... how did you?"

She could sense that the other party also had Spiritual Energy and that normally the other's vitality was quite robust, but when it came to something more private like the last breath of life, her Spiritual Energy wasn't sufficient to make a more precise judgment.

By all logic, it was her Spirit Energy—strong enough to be considered formidable even among the secondary stage—forcibly keeping this last breath of life, so how could he?

"I heard it," Bai E slowed his breathing and calmly sat up.

It was as if the strike that could destroy any creature had no effect on him.

Of course, that wasn't actually the case.

[Current Health: 32/200.]

This health ratio could certainly be considered critically low.

Resisting death could only maintain a certain basic level of action for Bai E, but another power from the Blood God, "Extreme Pain Suppression", was the real reason Bai E could ignore those bone-piercing, lung-drilling, heart-twisting pains and maintain the ability to fight.

Moreover, he had deliberately hidden and reserved his Spiritual Energy just now, and about half of it remained, which was enough to cope with danger.

He was critically injured, but his combat power had not diminished.

This was where Bai E's confidence came from.

And seeing Bai E in front of her, seemingly unaffected, Bai Mao's eyes revealed a visible sense of fear.

She felt guilty towards this captain of Blackwater City, but to satisfy, or rather, to quell the frantic devouring desire within, she had to consume the one in front of her.

Only at the moment of satisfying that brand would she have the chance to seal it with her Spiritual Energy, thus freeing the later soul from the brand's control.

The better the opponent's condition, the smaller her chance.

The opportunity to inflict serious injuries on him with the Hand of Primordial Intelligence came only once and must not be missed!

Her eyes hardened, and Bai Mao drew a dagger from behind her waist.

This was the first time she had revealed her weapon—

A creation of Spiritual Energy capable of easily penetrating all defenses.

Her purpose for being created was never to target heretics; even her true combat strength was assassination against humans of the same size.

"Snap!"

"Snap!"

Almost instantly, the two who were in close proximity exchanged multiple blows.

The close-quarters combat was fierce and dangerous, equally perilous for both sides.

The dagger's cold light flickered, bringing with it the chill of piercing skin as it passed over.

Fortunately, Bai E's own level-6 proficiency in hand-to-hand combat was equally remarkable, and even against the opponent's second-level Spiritual Energy suppression, he was still able to hold his own.

Knowing that Bai E's teammates could discover the change behind them and come to his aid at any moment, Bai Mao realized within two breaths of combat that the Blackwater City captain's close combat skills were also extraordinary, and her eyes suddenly filled with a thick mist.

"Boom!"

The psychic attack in the mental realm came swiftly and stealthily, like countless spikes suddenly thrusting towards the vulnerable brain, or like a heavy steel weight smashing down hard.

The violent explosion echoed in his mind, yet under the influence of something like a filter, the abrupt assault on the spiritual realm did not greatly affect Bai E's movements.

[With the help of "Self Restraint", you have successfully passed a mental resistance check, and your resistance to similar origins of assault increases for a short time.]

"..."

It was still self-restraint.

Bai E felt somewhat relieved.

The next moment, he explosively attacked.

Annihilating a Hundred Heads!